This traditional Hungarian town centers around its active market square where farmers sell local produce. Its 19th-century center includes Art Nouveau buildings and Orthodox churches.
Kecskemét lies in the Great Hungarian Plain, 86 kilometers southeast of Budapest. In the main square, you'll find the green-and-gold Cifrapalota, an Art Nouveau masterpiece with wave-like walls and floral patterns. Children splash in the Adventure Spa's pools while adults sample barackpálinka, the local apricot brandy, made from fruit grown in the surrounding orchards.
Getting to Kecskemét
You can reach Kecskemét by train from Budapest's Western Railway Station, with departures every hour and an 80-minute journey time. Buses run from Budapest's Népliget Terminal, taking about one hour. From Budapest Airport, take bus 200E to Ferihegy Train Station, then catch a train to Kecskemét.
Art Nouveau Architecture
The main square showcases early 1900s Art Nouveau design. The Cifrapalota (Ornamental Palace) stands out with its green-and-gold ceramic roof tiles and walls decorated with folk art patterns, flowers, and birds. Next door, the 1895 Town Hall rises above the square with its red-brick facade and geometric patterns. As you walk through the square, you'll pass Lutheran, Catholic, and Reformed churches, each with distinct architectural styles.
Museums and Culture
Visit the Hungarian Museum of Photography (open Tuesday-Sunday, 10:00-17:00) to see changing exhibitions of vintage and modern photographs. The Museum of Hungarian Native Artists displays paintings and sculptures by regional artists from the past two centuries. At the Leskowsky Collection, you can examine over 500 musical instruments from different eras and regions. The József Katona Theatre puts on plays and concerts throughout the year, with English subtitles available for many performances.
Local Food and Agriculture
The sandy soil around Kecskemét grows some of Hungary's best apricots. Local distilleries turn these apricots into barackpálinka, a strong fruit brandy. Shop at the main market on Budai utca (Tuesday-Sunday, 6:00-14:00) for fresh produce, locally made honey, and seasonal fruits. Small vendors sell traditional Hungarian pastries and regional specialties.
Parks and Recreation
Cool off at the Adventure Spa & Waterslide Park, which has indoor and outdoor pools, water slides, and a wellness area. At Kecskemét Wild Park, walking trails lead past enclosures with deer, wolves, and birds native to the region. Take a day trip to Kiskunság National Park to walk across protected grasslands and wetlands, where you might spot traditional Hungarian Grey cattle grazing or rare bird species in their natural habitat.
