Hódmezővásárhely hosts a bustling weekly market through late December and into the New Year, drawing locals and travelers for produce, snacks, and vendor finds across multiple dates. Set at 6800 Hódmezővásárhely, Szabadság tér 96, the Hódmezővásárhely Market keeps friendly hours and a regular rhythm that makes planning easy, whether you’re passing through or building a winter weekend around it.
Market Schedule and Hours
The Hódmezővásárhely Market 2025 runs Thursday to Sunday, December 18–21, with further market days on December 23, December 25–28, December 30, and January 1–4, 2026. It all happens in Hódmezővásárhely, with weekly opening hours set as:
– Tuesday, Friday, Sunday: 6:00–12:00
– Thursday, Saturday: 13:00–18:00
Expect a lively crowd and a weekly flow that keeps regulars coming back and first-timers lingering longer than planned.
Where to Stay: From Cozy to Four-Star
Hotel Fáma sits on a quiet street about a 20-minute walk from downtown and the thermal bath, offering a warm, family-style welcome. Rooms come with a minibar, TV, and private bathroom. Guests can dine in the hotel restaurant or on the terrace, and there’s a secure, enclosed parking area. Pets are welcome, so bring the dog and settle in.
The refurbished Alkotóház (Creative House) (2016) offers five twin rooms and a studio that serve as a creative retreat for artists from photography to fine and applied arts. Each room is named for artists who worked here or shaped the house’s story. Tucked into a protected heritage area near the city center, it includes five rooms, a lounge, a studio, and a well-equipped kitchen, plus a charming garden. Expect twin bedrooms furnished mostly with period pieces for extra character.
Hotel Ginkgo**** strikes that comfortable, quietly polished tone of a modern, quality-focused hotel. It’s not flashy—just well run, with a team committed to making sure you feel good while you’re in town.
Kenguru Panzió offers comfortable rooms and both guesthouse and apartment-style stays for those who want flexibility around the clock. Right next door is Kenguru Csárda, promising regional flavors and generous, rustic plates for a real taste of the area.
For nature and horses, Kentaur Lovaspanzió és Pihenőpark sits outside town along the Szentes road between the 47–48 km markers, right by the main highway. It’s quiet and calm, designed for deep rest and a different pace of day.
Another guesthouse option offers eight en-suite rooms with 23 beds and practical amenities like Wi‑Fi, enclosed parking, a garden area, a TV in every room, a dining room, a conference room, breakfast, and main meals on request.
The Hódmezővásárhely Vocational Training Center dormitory is centrally located and opens its doors to visitors as well as out-of-town students, offering a simple, budget-friendly base near the action.
Eat Local: Hearty, Home-Style, and Bistro Bright
Bagolyvár Restaurant (Bagolyvár Étterem) channels a turn-of-the-century home with antique furnishings and period objects. In summer, you can linger in a brick-paved garden that feels like a wine cellar; in colder weather, settle into the restaurant’s warm, old-world atmosphere. The kitchen revives long-forgotten flavors, while the well-trained staff keeps service discreet and attentive.
Bandula Inn (Bandula Kisvendéglő) delivers small-town charm and swift, friendly service with a standout wine list. Specialties range from köcsögleves to a mighty, garlic-oil-marinated Wiener schnitzel, the Sunday-at-grandma classic of breaded chicken thigh fillet, and the Kishomok salad. It’s an easy favorite for a long lunch or relaxed dinner in Hódmezővásárhely.
Looking for a contemporary vibe? You’ll find a perfect setting and elegant interiors with a classic bistro mood, plus a terrace that comfortably seats up to 80—ideal for unwinding over drinks or something hearty from the kitchen.
Prefer comfort food straight up? Expect homestyle, countryside flavors, with dine-in, delivery, and takeaway all available. Daily menus make weekday meals simple, and custom orders are welcome when you’re feeding a crowd or craving something specific.
Fans of varied cuisine can also tuck into a changing lineup at a venue with inviting outdoor seating when the weather’s warm. If you’re near Petőfi Street (Petőfi utca), swing by Falcon Bistro (Sólyom Bisztró) inside the college restaurant for daily-changing menus, bistro picks, and well-loved homemade tastes.
Wine Country, Cellars, and Tastings
Hódmezővásárhely sits in the Csongrád wine region, with quality winegrowing rooted for centuries in the Sóshalom area. Vásárhelyi Róna Ltd. (Vásárhelyi Róna Kft.) coordinates nearly 100 hectares of vineyards there, growing Chasselas, Kövidinka, Welschriesling (Olaszrizling), Grüner Veltliner, Blaufränkisch (Kékfrankos), and Cabernet Franc. The processing facility and cellar were built at the end of the 1960s and have grown and modernized since. A tasting counter attached to the cellar pours local wines for visitors to taste and buy; groups are welcome by reservation, and a one-dish meal can be arranged on request.
A family-run craft winery works vineyards on the edge of Csongrád and Bokros, with varieties including Blaufränkisch (Kékfrankos), Zweigelt, Cabernet Franc, Kadarka, Kövidinka, and Pölöskei Muscat (Pölöskei muskotály). Grapes are processed and wines stored in Hódmezővásárhely in a region-style cellar room inside a 150-year-old adobe house. There’s a tasting room for intimate sessions—usually Friday and Saturday evenings by booking—hosting up to 20 guests. New: a show cellar on University Street (Egyetem utca) in Szeged now hosts tastings for 30–40 people.
A Grand Venue for Big Moments
Where a 19th-century inn once stood—single-story at first, later raised to two—today you’ll find a beautifully restored Event House and Café. The upstairs still hums with elegant balls, concerts, and cultural gatherings, and the ballroom is open to visitors during café hours. It’s Central Europe’s second-largest column-free ballroom, holding up to 400 guests. From engagements and weddings to reunions, balls, conferences, and meetings, the house offers the right setting and support to match the occasion.
The organizers reserve the right to change the program and dates.
