Discover the tastes of the Badacsony wine region and shop straight from local producers at the Hegymagas Market, set on the edge of the village along Szigligeti Road (Szigligeti út). The community-run market serves up the region’s freshest seasonal produce and handcrafted specialties every Saturday, with an easygoing village vibe and plenty of reasons to linger—from breakfast surprises to kid-friendly corners and dog-welcoming stalls.
Open from 7:30 a.m., the eco and organic producers’ market was founded and is run by locals with deep ties to Hegymagas. It’s the place to fill your basket and your calendar: chat with growers, swap recipes, meet neighbors, and take your time over tastings. Come hungry; you’ll be greeted with a breakfast treat so you can start your Saturday right.
The lineup is as generous as it is honest. Expect fresh vegetables and juicy fruit picked in season, artisanal cheeses and dairy, smoked meats, crusty breads and pastries, gluten-free, diabetic-friendly, and vegan bakes, plus house-made syrups and jams, golden honey, gingerbread, and additive-free cosmetics. Newcomers are joining the community too: Hegymagasi Marhaságok brings fine smoked meats, while Levendula Porta rolls in with showstopping cheeses. Whether you’re a first-timer or a regular, the stalls blend tradition with new discoveries.
The market is easy to reach by car, bike, or bus, and it’s designed for relaxed browsing and real conversations. Bank card payments are accepted, the kids have their own play area, and dogs are welcome—so the whole crew can come along. The setting on the route toward Szigliget gives you that Badacsony backdrop, with vineyards, volcanic hills, and the slow rhythm that makes market mornings the best part of the week on the north shore of Lake Balaton.
Mark the dates: the market runs on December 13, 20, and 27, 2025, and January 3, 2026—all in Hegymagas. If it’s Saturday, it’s market day in Hegymagas.
What to Taste and Take Home
Producers pour their attention into clean, chemical-free growing and traditional methods. You’ll find cheeses shaped by local pastures, smoked meats with depth and balance, butter and yogurts from small dairies, and bakery counters stacked with loaves and sweets. Special diets are part of the offering: gluten-free, diabetic-friendly, and vegan options sit comfortably beside classic pastries and farmhouse breads. The pantry staples shine: syrups that turn water into summer, jams that capture sun and soil, honey gathered from nearby hills, and gingerbread that looks as good as it tastes. Skincare lovers can hunt for minimalist, additive-free cosmetics made in small batches.
Community, Sourcing, and Slow Time
This is a market built for more than shopping. It’s for recipe sharing, swapping harvest tips, and meeting makers who know each field and flock. Between stalls, you’ll find time to pause—grab that breakfast surprise, sip something local, and settle into the rhythm of a place where the faces are familiar and the food tells you where you are. The people behind the tables live here, farm here, and decided to build a market that reflects the landscape: thoughtful, grounded, and generous.
Stay a Little Longer
Make it a weekend. Kovács Guesthouse welcomes visitors year-round right in Hegymagas—ideal if you want those early market hours without the drive. Around St. George Hill (Szent György-hegy), part of the Badacsony wine region, wineries and agritourism options multiply your reasons to linger. One small-label cellar cultivates 4.94 acres on the volcanic slopes, their tiny size a promise of attention and care; book in advance for a two-hour tasting flight of six top bottles, with a rare regional emphasis on elegant reds. A family estate farms 49.42 acres on the southern side, offering guesthouses among the vines. The smallest winery on the hill focuses on delicate, handcrafted, boutique wines from distinctive local grapes and pairs tastings with a mood you’ll remember. Gilvesy’s volcanic wines, launched in 2012, are available in a vinotheque for walk-ins or by arrangement, with delivery options and tailored tasting programs.
Hegymagas also hosts family-run cellars with a Badacsony mix of varieties: Welschriesling (olaszrizling), Müller Thurgau (rizlingszilváni), Zengő (zengő), Gewürztraminer (tramini), Rhine Riesling (rajnai rizling), Chardonnay (chardonnay), and Rózsakő (rózsakő). Horváth Cellar (Horváth Pince) has been welcoming wine lovers since 1996 on 44.48 acres, blending modern processing with extended barrel aging for selected wines. Nyári Cellar (Nyári Pince) pours by the glass and by the bottle on the southern slope, just 656 feet from Tarányi Cellar (Tarányi Pince) and the Lengyel Chapel, with a sweeping view; tastings are by appointment. The St. George Hill (Szent György-hegy) estate vinotheque stays open year-round, every day, and from spring to autumn the Viridárium kitchen at the renewed estate center serves food crafted for wine travelers.
Plan the Practicalities
– Location: Hegymagas, Szigligeti Road (Szigligeti Ăşt)
– Opening: Saturdays from 7:30 a.m.
– Payment: Bank cards accepted
– Family and pet friendly: Kids’ corner and dog-friendly grounds
– Access: Car, bike, or bus
The organizers reserve the right to change dates and programs, so check in before you go. But when Saturday comes around, there’s one sure bet: Hegymagas wakes early, the coffee’s on, the cheeses are cut, and the market feels exactly like home.
