The Kistelek Flea and Animal Market throws open its gates on the first Sunday of every month, drawing bargain hunters, farmers, traders, and the simply curious from across the Southern Great Plain and well beyond. It’s one of the region’s biggest open-air fairs, with hundreds of vendors setting up stalls and crowds that can swell to 10,000 on peak days. The 2026 season kicks off on Sunday, January 4, at 6760 Kistelek, Rákóczi u. 42, and the rhythm stays steady all year: February 1, March 1, April 5, May 3, June 7, July 5, August 2, September 6, October 4, November 1, and December 6, all in Kistelek.
What to Expect: From Livestock to Local Goodies
The fair stays true to its roots as a sprawling flea and animal market, but there’s a clear shift toward food. Expect stands piled with fresh produce, cured meats, and ready-to-eat bites, alongside processed foods, organic goods, and a wide selection of seedlings for gardeners planning the next season. It’s a cross-section of rural life in motion: cages with clucking hens and rabbits, rows of tools, vintage odds and ends, handmade wares, and tables groaning under stacks of sausages and wheels of cheese.
A Parkside Setting with Room to Roam
Set inside Kistelek city limits, right by the Industrial Park and close to the railway station, the fair spreads across a leafy leisure park covering 6.18 acres, prettied up by two small lakes. It’s spacious enough to wander at your own pace, but busy enough to feel lively from dawn till packing up. The setting makes it easy to reach by car or train, and once you’re there, the trees and water give a breezy backdrop to the bargaining.
Dates You’ll Want to Save
Mark these Sundays for 2026: January 4; February 1; March 1; April 5; May 3; June 7; July 5; August 2; September 6; October 4; November 1; December 6. Each market day is in Kistelek, and while the core mix of traders stays familiar, the seasonal spin is part of the draw—spring seedlings, summer fruit, autumn preserves, and winter comfort foods appear as the calendar rolls on.
Staying Nearby: Budget Beds in the Heart of Town
If you’re planning to make a weekend of it, there’s a practical, affordable option in central Kistelek: a refurbished high school dormitory offers discounted accommodation on Fridays, Saturdays, and during school holidays. Rooms are arranged across three floors, with shared facilities and 2–4 beds per room. It’s no-frills, clean, and well set up for groups, courses, or camps—there’s a 300-seat ceremonial hall for larger events and a 50-seat club room for smaller gatherings. Hot meals aren’t served on-site, but nearby restaurants fill the gap without fuss.
Eat Your Way Around the Region
Within easy reach of Kistelek, food lovers can dig into classic flavors of the Southern Great Plain. In Kiskunmajsa, Lópofa Csárda serves Hungarian comfort dishes next to the local thermal and adventure baths and surrounding accommodations, welcoming guests every day of the year. The menu leans hearty and homespun—exactly what you want after a market morning or spa afternoon.
Closer to the Tisza River, the Algyő Fisherman’s Tavern (Algyői Halászcsárda) sits by the Algyő Tisza Bridge on the Szeged side, roughly halfway between Szeged and Hódmezővásárhely. It’s a shrine to traditional Tisza fish cooking: filleted carp, mixed fish soups, sour fish stews, and catfish broth, crowned by the famed Szeged (szögedi) halászlé. House hits include filleted carp paprikash with curd cheese noodles, garlicky Szeged-style fried fish, and crunchy fish cracklings. Service is brisk, portions are generous, and the recipes are the kind locals argue about—in the best way.
Szeged itself has a lively dining scene. A2 Gastro Caffé turns breakfast and brunch into a daily ritual, blending simplicity, tradition, quality, and a bit of elegance. It’s the kind of place where regulars come for the atmosphere as much as the coffee—because, as the owners like to say, a building is just bricks and coffee is just coffee unless guests bring the feeling.
Then there’s Alchemist (Alkimista), a hidden 16-seat dinner spot tucked into Szeged’s historic core. It’s intimate, intentionally under the radar, and runs independent, chef-led evenings built around 9–11 course tasting menus. The approach has earned a nod from the Michelin Guide, and the experience feels like being invited into a tiny culinary workshop—fine dining without the pomp, creativity without the attitude.
Classic Menus, Big Groups Welcome
If you crave the greatest hits of Hungarian cuisine—fish dishes, poultry, pork, beef, and pasta with that unmistakable Szeged touch—several restaurants in the area deliver. Kitchens are flexible and often happy to accommodate off-menu requests when possible, and for events they’ll assemble special menus that go beyond the printed list. In downtown Szeged, just three minutes from the Tisza riverbank and two minutes from the National Theater, a large dining room can seat 200 guests at once. Expect everything from goose liver to chicken, turkey, tenderloin, pork, and fish. With advance notice, the kitchen will tailor individual menus, even for dishes not listed.
Make It a Sunday Tradition
Whether you’re bartering over barnyard stock, piling your tote with jars of preserves, or tracking down seedlings for the garden, Kistelek’s first-Sunday fair is built for repeat visits. Come early, bring cash, and make time for a proper meal nearby—because in this corner of the Southern Great Plain, market day isn’t just shopping, it’s a weekly ritual with flavor.
