Season one - Episode 3: Budapest, Hungary

Today's episode of Café and Cake in Every Country is brought to you by the Great Market Hall in Budapest, Hungary.  Tourist maps, tour guides, and pre-planned excursions showing another country's people and culture may be fine for some travelers, but Donna and I think the best ways to experience the true culture of a foreign city is by visiting one of their local open markets or grocery stores. That’s where everyday life happens—where locals shop, interact, and reveal what they eat, value, and enjoy. It gives a more authentic glimpse into the culture than any Chamber of Commerce brochure ever could.

The Great Market Hall in Budapest while not offering an elegant café and cake experience it did give us exactly what we wanted - A Café and Cake date in Budapest. The coffee was good, but the cake was even better. It’s called Chimney Cake, and it is served in a waffle cone, but before the cake is inserted in the cone it is dipped in Nutella!  Given our love of all things about open market, people, and old buildings, the Great Market Hall itself was a bonus.

---

When we stepped into the Great Market Hall, it felt like walking into a place where history and daily life meet under one incredible roof. The building itself immediately caught my attention, with its colorful glass tiled roof and grand steel framework, it was both beautiful and photographic.
 
We learned that the Market Hall first opened in 1897, during a time when Budapest was growing rapidly and needed a common local, organized marketplace. It was the largest and most important of several market halls built in the city, designed to bring ease of commerce for food acquisition while supporting local farmers and merchants. Even after surviving wars and periods of decline, it has been restored and continues to serve as a vibrant hub of activity.
 
As we wandered through the market, we found ourselves immersed in a sensory experience with lots of colors, designs, sun light coming through the glass roof, and chatter. The ground floor was alive with vendors selling fresh produce, meats, spices, and paprika in every shade of red imaginable. I had no idea how big of a produce that Paprika was to the Hungarian history and commerce.
 
There was a rhythm to it all—locals shopping for daily meals, tourists like us taking it all in, and merchants proudly hawking their goods. As we engaged with the local merchants, we felt a warmth of connection as we inquired and purchased their goods and services.
 
Upstairs, the atmosphere shifted slightly, offering more prepared or prepackaged foods and handcrafted items. This is where we enjoyed watching the constant movement below. It felt less like a tourist stop and more like a living, breathing part of the city.
 
For us, the Great Market Hall wasn’t just a place to shop—it was a window into Hungarian culture. It told the story of a city that values tradition, community, and good food, all brought together in one remarkable space.

---

Food for thought: Paprika
Hungarian Paprika is primarily grown in the country, particularly in the Kalocsa and Szeged regions, where the climate is ideal for cultivating the peppers used to make this spice. It is considered a significant part of Hungarian cuisine and culture. A little-known fact about paprika is that it has seven times more vitamin C than oranges.

Paprika means "pepper" in Hungarian and is a spice made from dried, crushed red peppers. Its taste can be mild or hot, depending on which parts of the pepper are used, and its reddish-orange color comes from carotenoids.
 
Paprika adds flavor to dishes like Hungarian Chicken Paprikash, goulash, stews, and soups. While it's often used as a garnish for potato salad or deviled eggs, its best taste comes out when heated. After a long display and explanation of Hungarian Paprika from a delightful college student working a market kiosk, we purchased what she suggested for us to take home.

Budapest’s Old Town
Budapest's Old Town is a fascinating patchwork of narrow streets and colorful houses.  In the Castle District, the Matthias Church soars in gleaming glory. The expansive wall of the church and seven turrets of Fisherman's Bastion overlook the Danube, the Chain Bridge, and the Pest side of the river. The centerpiece of the district is the Buda Castle. Constructed in the 13th century and expanded to its current state in the 18th century, this castle was home to Hungary's kings for almost 700 years.
 
Budapest’s Modern Town
The newer part of Budapest offers a captivating mix of riverside charm, (hey, it is the Danube), and an artsy culture, making it one of Europe's most sought out destinations. Hungary's capital spans the Danube. I never knew until we arrived that it used to be two towns, Buda on one side of the Danube and Pest on the other.
 
During the day, visitors can admire striking architecture, sturdy castles, and historic palaces while enjoying scenic walks or relaxing in thermal baths. When evening comes, the city glows with lights shimmering on the Danube, and the Chain Bridge becomes a visible focal point, connecting both sides of the city.

The Hungarian Parliament Building
The Viking Daily, The River Cruise’s newsletter, describes the Hungarian Parliament Building as, “Budapest's most impressive symbol.  It is a huge, neo-Gothic Parliament, dominating the Danube's left bank.”
 
The building's long front and 24 slim towers, along with its arcades and tall windows that complement the large central dome, create a distinctive sense of space for this landmark.
 
The building’s exterior features 90 statues representing Hungarian heroes, while 242 allegorical figures decorate the corbels. Inside, there are 691 rooms, 10 courtyards, and 29 staircases, many adorned with nearly 88 pounds of gold. The most revered possession in Parliament is the Szent Korona (Holy Crown), which rests beneath the cupola alongside other royal relics.
 
The Crown of St. Stephen is the recognized legal symbol of Hungarian sovereignty, respected even by communist regimes. In 1945, Hungary's army gave the crown and its regalia to the Americans to keep them from the Soviets; they were returned to Hungary in 1978.
 
The Hungarian Parliament Building lit up at night is one the most spectacular photo opps I’ve ever seen. It. Was. Stunning!

Hungarian Horseman
One of the most memorable excursions we took in Budapest was when we took a Viking bus out to Lajosmizse, in Hungary’s renowned horse country, where we were warmly welcomed with a glass of pálinka, the traditional Hungarian plum brandy. 

First, we climbed aboard a horse-drawn carriage and toured the park, where we had the chance to meet a variety of Hungarian farm animals—including the distinctive long-wooled Racka sheep, gray cattle, and the elegant Lipizzaner horses. 

Later, we settled in to watch a lively performance that brought centuries-old Hungarian horsemanship traditions to life with skilled riders demonstrating their talents. From the horseman’s riding skills to the way they directed the horses to gently execute everything upon command was something I had never seen before.  It was cool. 

We learned that Hungarians are deeply proud of their equestrian heritage; horses have played a pivotal role in the nation’s history, from winning battles to supporting migration and farming. Many locals remain devoted to preserving these traditions, holding fast to their rural roots and elevating horsemanship to an art form. 

The park itself covers 2,200 scenic acres in a protected natural area, just 22 miles from Budapest in the beautiful Domonyvölgy valley.