Budapest Flea Market - Antique bazar by Margaret Bridge

Shoppers at the growing flea market Saturday morning

Budapest has a new growing flea market at the area north of Margaret Bridge on the Buda side. To be exact, this is not a new flea market, it has been there for a few years but recently in began to grow. It is held every Saturday morning in the park between the Danube and the first row of buildings.

In the past decades, the Ecseri Flea Market in the southern suburbs used to be the place to go if you wanted to buy old watches, antique paintings, Russian icons, pre-war photographs, etc. However, antique dealers have gradually pushed all other vendors out and now most of the things are overpriced there. You really have to know what you are doing to get a good deal there: but mostly likely the dealer will be a lot more knowledgeable about his trade than you are so you will not get a bargain.

Not so at the new flear market by the Margaret Bridge. Although there are a few professional dealers, most of the vendors are ordinary people who take their unwanted stuff to the market and spend the morning trying to sell those. As a result, of course, most of the things are junk. In fact, the market looks like a giant garage sale, mixed with items right out of the trash. Still, occasionally you might come across some interesting items at a great price. Even if you do not buy anything, visiting the market is fun.