Budapest’s Hidden Gem: Szimpla Kert Market

My friend and I decided to spend a few days in Budapest, Hungary, during our spring break while abroad. Obviously, we knew we wanted to go to the famous baths in the city, but other than that, neither of us really knew what there was to do in Budapest. We got to our Airbnb- a cute little apartment right near the tram station-dropped off our bags and headed into the city to walk around and explore the streets. After walking around for a bit, we wandered into the Szimpla Kert Market.

It was one of the coolest places I’ve ever been to, and it was as exciting as it was unexpected. From the street, the market looked unimpressive. There didn’t seem like there was much there, but when you walked through the door, it opened up into this vast, vibrant market with tons of different vendors. On the bottom floor, there were tables and booths set up with all kinds of foods. There was everything from a butcher’s counter to a large pot of traditional goulash (which sounds gross but tastes fantastic). We walked around, tasting some of the foods and taking in all of the various scents and scenes.

Finally, we made our way upstairs. It seemed like a maze. There were all of these different rooms graffitied from the ceiling to the floor. Lights were hanging everywhere, and plants were growing in the most random places. Honestly, we didn’t know where we were, but we loved it. We walked through the various rooms, taking pictures along the way, of course, trying to find all of the different nooks and spots around the market. People were sitting it the rooms hanging out with friends enjoying a drink or sharing a snack, and everyone seemed like they were having the best time.

We were in the market for just an hour but could have easily stayed longer. It was an eclectic place flooded with the best vibes! Everything about it was unique. I, without a doubt, will be back to Szimpla Kert and encourage anyone who finds themselves in Budapest to take the time to stop by!