Every Thursday from 1:00 to 4:30 PM, Szombathely’s (Szombathely) open-air Farmers’ Market comes to life beneath the canopied arcades of the city market hall on St. Martin Street (Szent Márton utca). This isn’t your average grocery run — it’s a celebration of local flavor, real connection, and farm-fresh surprises. Dozens of producers offer an ever-changing array of goods, from just-picked vegetables and orchard-fresh fruits to honey, syrups, jams, and artisan crafts. Everything is free from additives and preservatives, while the buzzing, friendly atmosphere exudes pure market magic.
Why Shop Local?
“Quality, tradition, lasting values.” That’s the mantra here. Shopping locally supports Hungarian (magyar) small producers and guarantees fresher, nutrient-rich food for you and your family — free from artificial additives. Thursday shopping trips become mini adventures, with ongoing culinary discoveries and real face-to-face encounters with those who grow and make your food.
A walk through the aisles brings you to meat, fish, dairy, nuts, seeds, and a broad selection of nutrient-packed groceries: pumpkins loaded with vitamin D, tangy sauerkraut for a probiotic boost, apples for natural detox, omega-3-rich walnuts, immune-strengthening honey, and legume powerhouses filled with B vitamins, iron, and zinc. Buying directly from the farmers means you’re not just filling your basket—you’re building a more sustainable and eco-friendly community, thanks to minimal or zero packaging.
Meet the Producers
The market’s core is its people — traditional smallholders and producers, often representing generations of skill. Each brings their signature specialties:
– Józsefné Krajczár (Krajczár Józsefné): famous pickled goods, fresh garden vegetables, and pumpkinseed oil.
– Teruska Horváth Lászlóné (Horváth Lászlóné Teruska): seasonal vegetables and fruit.
– The Nagy family: honey and honey products, offering a 5% loyalty discount for purchases under $26, and 10% for purchases over $26.
– Hilda Joós (Joós Hilda): fresh meats and eggs.
– Richárd Nagy (Nagy Richárd): “Ják-style eggs” (referring to eggs from Ják).
– Zoltán Desits (Desits Zoltán) of Desits Meat (Desits Hús): premium meat and smoked delicacies, with 5% off after $13 spent.
– Szilvia Balogh (Balogh Szilvia): honey, honey products, and walnuts.
– Erika Bödő & Péter Rimóczi (Bödő Erika & Rimóczi Péter): sugar-free jams, premium additive-free juices, dried fruits, and syrups — all with loyalty deals.
– Zsolt Szabó (Szabó Zsolt): homemade pickles (classic Hungarian mixed pickled vegetables, csalamádé), and more produce.
– Sourdough Delicacies (Kovászos Finomságok): artisan sourdough bread, honey, and 5% off for regulars.
– Ferenc Faragó (Faragó Ferenc): apples, apple juice, and seasonal vegetables.
– László Janzsó (Janzsó László) from Colorful Manor Orchard (Szinesemajori Gyümölcsöskert): a wide variety of apples.
– Mrs. István Németh, Andi, and István Németh (Németh Istvánné Andi és Németh István): handmade and gluten-free pasta, available every other week.
– Angelika Gaál (Gaál Angelika) from Csehi Wonder (Csehi Csodás): rustic sourdough, pastries, homemade cakes, traditional Hungarian strudels.
– Balázs Francsics (Francsics Balázs): select meat and smoked cuts.
– Krisztina Czupy & István Tóth (Czupy Krisztina & Tóth István): sea buckthorn products, with a 5% loyalty discount on non-discounted items.
– Abda Quail Farm: quail eggs and delicacies.
– Veronika-Veritee Hajdú (Hajdú Veronika-Veritee): syrups, tinctures, jams, and spices (biweekly).
– Őrség Region (Őrségi): seed oils, jams, pumpkinseed spread, and dried mushrooms (biweekly).
Stay for More Than Shopping
If you need a place to rest after filling those baskets, Szombathely (Szombathely) is ready to host you. The city’s guesthouses and hotels offer easy access, homey comfort, and surprisingly friendly rates. Many are set in green areas with private parking, homemade food, and plenty of room for families and events.
Looking for something historic? The Forum Hotel and Restaurant (Forum Hotel és Étterem) evokes the city’s ancient Roman past, while the lakeside Garda Hotel (Garda Hotel), just steps from the city’s renowned swimming and thermal baths, offers modern comfort for all budgets. The King’s Park Hotel (Király Park Hotel) invites guests to unwind in style, with wellness options from sauna to jacuzzi, and more than 100 free parking spaces.
For a cozy, home-away-from-home vibe, private apartments provide relaxing space and privacy. And if you’re hungry after a day at the market, local restaurants like 108 Restaurant (108 Étterem, named for football legend Gábor Király’s 108 Hungarian national team appearances), or the contemporary eatery in the Artis Hotel, fuse European, Mediterranean, and even Asian flavors with a youthful touch and plenty of surprises. Weekend evenings often feature live music, while the bars and cultural centers are always ready with coffee, cocktails, and movies.
Plan Your Visit
The Farmers’ Market takes place every Thursday at the Szombathely (Szombathely) Market Hall, with special upcoming dates: July 24, July 31, and August 7, 2025. Vendor spots are still open: farmers and artisans are welcome to join.
If you want to shop healthier and greener and get a taste of real local life, Thursday’s Szombathely (Szombathely) Farmers’ Market could become your new favorite tradition. See you under the arcades!
