For cultural charm and cosmopolitan Hungarian life, Váci Street, Budapest has it all. This cobblestone street, one of Budapest’s most famous, stretches from Vörösmarty Square to the Central Market Hall and is lined with grand, late-19th-century buildings.
Take your coffee in one of the old-style cafés here, visit some boutiques, then enjoy street art, galleries, Hungarian restaurants, and pretty courtyards tucked away out of sight, all while experiencing the fun and lively atmosphere of this dynamic Budapest shopping street.
Top Attractions
Vörösmarty Square
Vörösmarty Square
One of the best things about exploring Váci Street is that you’ll get to see some of Budapest’s most well-known sites. A good place to start your tour is at Vörösmarty Square, a large and energetic plaza at the street’s northern end.
Many different types of buildings, including the Baroque revival and Art Nouveau Gerbeaud House, surround the square. Vörösmarty Statue, portraying Mihály Vörösmarty, a celebrated 19th-century Hungarian poet, is also here, depicting the poet in a contemplative pose.
Christmas market
Vörösmarty Square is the southern terminus for the Yellow Metro line, which is significant, as it was the first metro ever built in continental Europe. London’s Underground is older. Vörösmarty hosts Budapest’s Christmas Fair and the Vörösmarty Spring Fair as well.
The square is also where you’ll find the historic Gerbeaud Café; you’ll want to make a beeline here for some rich chocolate-glazed zserbó layered Hungarian cake, known as the “Gerbeaud slice,” or zserbó szelet, and some Arabica coffee.
Read: The Ultimate Guide to Budapest’s Christmas Markets
The Little Princess Statue
The Little Princess Statue
While this beloved statue is not technically located on Váci Street, it’s nearby and well worth visiting. It’s situated on the Danube Promenade, one street west of Váci. László Marton came up with the idea for this playful artwork in the 1970s after observing his daughter at play.
The statue portrays a young girl sitting on the railing as she dangles her legs, swinging them back and forth. She is also wearing a makeshift crown. Her peaceful, innocent expression, along with a slight air of nonchalance, makes her truly endearing.
Visitors often rub the princess’s knees for good luck. This has been done so frequently that the bronze on her knees has been polished to a gloss. You can even find a replica of this popular statue in Tokyo, Japan.
Central Market Hall
Central Market Hall
Walk to the far southern end of Váci Street, Budapest, and you’ll end up at Central Market Hall, also known as Nagyvásárcsarnok. It’s a massive indoor market in Budapest situated within a steel neo-Gothic building constructed in 1897. The building features colorful Hungarian Zsolnay ceramic tiles on its roof.
The three different levels offer a variety of places to hunt for fresh produce, kolbász sausages, paprika, cheese, embroidered souvenirs, Zsolnay ceramics, or to grab a bite to eat at one of the hall’s food stalls.
Central Market Hall
Brimming with color, life, and lots of tantalizing aromas, the Central Market Hall is a great place to experience everyday Budapest life and pick up some unique gifts to take home to family and friends.
Church of Saint Michael
Church of Saint Michael
Built for the Dominican religious order in the late 1700s, the Church of Saint Michael is a pretty little Baroque church where, inside, you will find a Rococo-style high altar, as well as restored, biblically-inspired ceiling frescoes.
This beautiful church also hosts live classical music concerts and small music festivals, such as the Baroque Music Festival, capitalizing on its outstanding acoustics, which will enhance your enjoyment of works by composers like Vivaldi, Bach, Mozart, and others.
Ödön Lechner’s Thonet House
Ödön Lechner’s Thonet House Photo by Fred Romero on Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0
Keep an eye out for Ödön Lechner’s Thonet House at Váci utca 11/A. Lechner is often referred to as the “Hungarian Gaudí.” Hungarian motifs and Art Nouveau heavily influenced his work, helping him create his distinctive, idiosyncratic Hungarian-inspired architectural style.
The house, dating back to the 1890s, features a hefty dose of light blue Zsolnay ceramic tiles, as well as curvy, undulating shapes incorporated into its design. It’s a prime example of Hungarian Szecesszió, or secession architecture that you won’t want to miss.
Pesti Theatre
Pesti Theatre Photo by Misibacsi on Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Váci Street is more than just a street to shop and eat on. From a particular perspective, it’s a place that offers an outdoor history lesson, where, in addition to the late 19th-century buildings, you will also find structures dating back even further.
One of these is Pesti Theatre, or Pesti Színház, featuring a more restrained neoclassical façade with clear lines and more reserved ornamentation, which sets it apart from many of its latter 19th-century neighbors.
Pesti Theatre opened in the 1840s—although it was initially intended to open earlier—and soon became a significant cultural hub. Notably, it was the site of a concert performed by the 12-year-old piano prodigy Franz Liszt in 1823, when the theater was still just an inn.
The building currently serves as one of the main stages for the Vígszínház Comedy Theatre, which presents modern and contemporary drama in Hungarian, sometimes accompanied by surtitles—live performance subtitles—in English.
Rubik’s Cube Store
If you enjoy puzzles, you’ll definitely want to visit the Rubik’s Cube Store, located at Váci utca 67. It offers a unique experience, dedicated to celebrating the legendary homegrown puzzle of Hungary.
Ernő Rubik is the Hungarian who created this enduring cube-shaped puzzle. Inside the store, you’ll find Rubik-themed merchandise and gifts guaranteed to give your brain a workout.
Things to Do
Shop Till You Drop
Paprika
Váci Street is a shopper’s delight, offering everything from global fashion brands to local Hungarian goods. You can window shop at upscale labels, pop into stores that sell hand-stitched leather bags and hats, or hunt for authentic Hungarian folk crafts.
If you’re looking for Hungaricums, which are products that represent the country’s national identity, you’re in luck.
You will find items such as traditional paprika, sweet Tokaji wine, Unicum herbal liqueur, embroidered tablecloths, hand-painted ceramics, hand-stitched hats and gloves, acacia honey, and more—all of which make excellent gifts and keepsakes.
Váci Street Photo by xorge on Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
If you’re drawn to high-end shopping, “Fashion Street,” located on Deák Ferenc street, which also connects to Vörösmarty Square, is the place to go. It’s a fancy boulevard for shopping in Budapest, filled with chic stores and renowned luxury fashion brands.
Wander Past the Oldest Building on Váci Street
Váci Street
Váci Street has been around for a while. As noted, most of its current neo-Baroque and Baroque style buildings date back to the late 19th century—but not all of them.
Hence, if you have time, go and take a look at the three-story residential building on Váci utca 13. It is often labeled as “the oldest” on Váci Street. It was built in the early classicist style in 1805.
And don’t be surprised if it seems a bit out of place among the more ornate buildings nearby. Taking a moment out of your day to check this structure out will help you appreciate the progression of architectural styles in Budapest over the decades.
Go “Café Hopping”
Café Gerbeaud
Váci Street is peppered with lovely cafés that embrace the coffee culture Budapest is famous for. In addition to Gerbeaud, you may want to visit Molnár’s Kürtőskalács Café, where you can enjoy hot, sugary chimney cakes fresh from the oven, or perhaps a flaky croissant, a strong espresso, or a slice of layered and spongy Dobos torte.
Explore some of the side streets while café-hunting, too, to visit places like Double Shot Partisan Coffee, where you can find quieter spots offering coffee, afternoon wines by the glass, beer, lunch, and other tasty menu items.
Take an Architectural Walking Tour
Váci Street
Speaking of side streets, to learn more about Budapest, consider booking a walking tour—or organizing one on your own—to explore Váci Street and the surrounding area in greater detail.
You’ll discover more about this district’s neo-Baroque buildings, elegant courtyards, and cool bookshops. Discover a boutique wine cellar, hidden passageways, old staircases, and small art galleries that would be all too easy to overlook.
You can also try to find specialized tours that focus on your particular interests, such as local history, architecture, and cuisine.
Restaurants
St. Andrea Wine & Sky Bar
St. Andrea Wine & Sky Bar Photo by Globetrotter19 on Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
Váci 1, which should be easy to remember, is where you’ll find the St. Andrea Wine & Sky Bar. Kick back at this rooftop bar and restaurant to savor its modish interiors, excellent wine list, and a menu that combines a touch of French flair with Hungarian classics.
Order a glass of local wine or indulge in a refined duck dish that combines Hungarian-style cooking with modern flavors.
Fatál Étterem
Fatál Étterem is a reliable spot for Hungarian comfort food. You’ll enjoy the wooden plates, checkered tablecloths, and vintage ceramics here.
You can order goulash, pörkölt (paprika meat stew), stuffed cabbage, and other traditional Hungarian dishes, diving headfirst into the local cuisine. Fatál is not the place to go if you’re watching your calories, as it’s known for its generous portions.
Szamos Gourmet Palace
Got a sweet tooth? If so, look no further than Szamos Gourmet Palace, near Vörösmarty Square.
Dobos torte
This café and bistro doubles as a dessert shop, chocolate workshop, and charming destination for lunch, offering everything from creamy Dobos torte to various coffees and lighter Hungarian dishes. Head upstairs for the chocolate museum to continue your “sweets” journey.
Spago by Wolfgang Puck Budapest
Spago by Wolfgang Puck Budapest, situated in the restored Belle Époque Matild Palace at Váci utca 36, offers a sophisticated take on traditional Hungarian dishes with international influences.
Expect a stylish interior, complemented by a menu that combines California-inspired creativity with locally sourced ingredients and flavors. Menu items include braised beef, miso black cod, and goulash, as well as gourmet interpretations of steaks, pastas, and pizzas.
Rustico
Goulash
Stop by Rustico for a warm and folksy atmosphere where you can sample classic Hungarian staples, such as pork tenderloin and goulash soup. It’s a lively restaurant, often featuring live music, adding to its overall friendly appeal.
Travel Tips
Central Market Hall
Váci Street is a car-free, pedestrian area of Budapest, perfect for strolling and window shopping without having to dodge cars or wait at traffic lights.
It’s also great if you’re traveling with children or elderly family members; you can walk and stop as much as you like; there are some benches along the way, plus cafés where you can stop for refreshments and use the restroom.
And while Váci Street and most of the surrounding area are perfectly safe and welcoming, some bars, particularly those a few blocks off the main street, are notorious for targeting tourists with so-called “clip joint” scams.
Váci Street Photo by xorge on Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
These scams involve friendly strangers attempting to lure you into a bar with a seemingly attractive promotion. Once there, you’ll be presented with an unbelievably high drink price or bills for additional charges. If a stranger you don’t know in the street invites you to a bar, say, “No, thank you,” and walk away.
The best time to visit Váci Street is often in the morning, especially for a stroll and to treat yourself to a good breakfast. You’ll see blooming flowers and people at outdoor café terraces when the weather is nice. Most shops tend to open around 10 am.
St. Stephen’s Basilica
Another benefit of morning visits is avoiding large crowds. Also, take advantage of Váci Street’s central location to visit nearby attractions such as St. Stephen’s Basilica, the Chain Bridge, and the Danube Promenade.
Finally, it’s worth noting that Váci Street has cobblestones, with some areas smoother than others, so be sure to wear comfortable shoes if you plan on doing a lot of walking.
Castle Hill
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