Things to do in Kecskemét
-
A
Hungarian Museum of Naive Artists
Arguably the city's most interesting museum and one of the few of its kind in Europe, the Hungarian Museum of Naive Artists is in the Stork House (1730), surrounded by a high white wall, just off Petőfi Sándor utca. Lots of predictable themes here, but the warmth and craft of Rozália Albert Juhászné's work, the drug-like visions of Dezső Mokry-Mészáros and the paintings of András Süli (Hungary's answer to Henri Rousseau) will hold your attention.
reviewed
-
B
Kecskemét Gallery
One of the buildings in the square is among the city's finest. The Art Nouveau Ornamental Palace (Cifrapalota), which dates from 1902 and is covered in multicoloured majolica tiles, now contains the Kecskemét Gallery. Don't go in so much for the art; climb the steps to the aptly named Decorative Hall (Díszterem) to see the amazing stucco peacock, bizarre windows and more tiles.
reviewed
-
C
Great Church
Kecskemét's main square is dominated by the Catholic Great Church built in 1806. The big tablets on the front honour (from left to right) a mounted regiment of Hussars that served in WWI; citizens who died in the 1848-49 War of Independence; and the Kecskemét victims of WWII. From June to August its tower can be climbed for views of the city's sun-bleached rooftops.
reviewed
-
D
Toy Museum & Workshop
The Toy Museum & Workshop has a small collection of 19th- and early-20th-century dolls, wooden trains, board games and so on, dumped haphazardly in glass cases. But the museum spends most of its time and money on organising events and classes for kids. Much is made of Ernő Rubik, the Hungarian inventor of that infuriating Rubik's Cube from the 1970s.
reviewed
-
E
Hungarian Folk Craft Museum
The Hungarian Folk Craft Museum, the granddaddy of all museums in Kecskemét, is further southwest and a block in from Dózsa György út. Some 10 rooms of an old farm complex are crammed with embroidery, woodcarving, furniture, agricultural tools and textiles, so don't try to see everything at once.
reviewed
-
F
Calvinist Church
Walking northeast into Szabadság tér, you'll pass the 17th-century Calvinist Church and the Calvinist New College (Református újkollégium) from 1912, a later version of the Hungarian Romantic style that looks like a Transylvanian castle and is now a music school.
reviewed
-
G
Calvinist New College
Walking northeast into Szabadság tér, you'll pass the 17th-century Calvinist Church and the Calvinist New College from 1912, a later version of the Hungarian Romantic style that looks like a Transylvanian castle and is now a music school.
reviewed
-
Aqua and Water-Slide Park
Kecskeméts main summer attraction is its Aqua and Water-Slide Park which, as the name suggests, is a swimming complex loaded with fun things for the kids, but it's also equipped with three spas to soothe any aches and pains.
reviewed
-
H
Zoltán Kodály Institute of Music Education
The Zoltán Kodály Institute of Music Education occupies the baroque monastery behind Kossuth tér to the east. Inside, one of the corridors has been devoted to the institute's composer-namesake.
reviewed
-
I
Fodor
This pink ice-cream and cake shop not only serves some of the finest confections in Kecskemét, but - with its position right on the main square - also has one of the best spots in which to consume them.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
J
House of Technology
One of the buildings in the square is among the city's finest. The House of Technology, a Moorish structure dating from 1871, was once a synagogue and is now used for temporary exhibitions.
reviewed
-
K
Otthon Cinema
A beautiful example of this mixture of mixture of Art Nouveau/Secessionist and folkloric elements is the restored Otthon Cinema, on the corner of pedestrian Görögtemplom utca.
reviewed
-
L
Görög Udvar
Görög Udvar looks grubby from the outside but inside it's another story; excellent Greek food is served either in its quiet inner courtyard or open restaurant rooms.
reviewed
-
M
Italia
Italia is a less atmospheric pizzeria than Labirintus but it does a roaring trade with students from the nearby teacher's college, serving sizable pizzas at bargain prices.
reviewed
-
N
József Katona Theatre
A 19th-century theatre that stages dramatic works, as well as operettas and concerts by the Kecskemét Symphony Orchestra; check with the ticket office for details.
reviewed
-
O
Leskowsky Musical Instrument Collection
The Leskowsky Musical Instrument Collection traces the development of music-making over the centuries and has a decent collection of instruments from five continents.
reviewed
-
P
Country Pub
Like so many Hungarian towns, Kecskemét has a plethora of 'Wild West' themed pubs. One convivial example is Country Pub, west of the József Katona Theatre.
reviewed
-
Q
Túróczy
Túróczy is Kesckemét's silver service restaurant, with set menus of Hungarian and international cuisine, and a terrace overlooking the main square.
reviewed
-
R
Market
Kecskemét's large market, with both a covered and an open-air section, is located north of Szabadság tér behind the Piarist church.
reviewed
-
S
Labirintus
A cellar restaurant with a smattering of charm close to the centre; its vast array of pizza and pastas is popular with the locals.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
T
Baranyi
On Kecskemét's very own yellow brick road, Baranyi is another popular ice-cream shop that produces particularly tasty cakes.
reviewed
-
U
Franciscan Church of St Nicholas
On the eastern side of Kossuth tér is the Franciscan Church of St Nicholas, dating in part from the late 13th century.
reviewed
-
Leisure Time Park
Join local frolickers at the lake in Leisure Time Park just north of the swimming complex.
reviewed
-
-
V
