Welcome to the Árkád.
The name boasts just what it is, a shopping arcade. Now arcades have been around a long time. Ancient Grecian arcades were a form of architecture combining arch and pillar into one unified structure–much like the famous colosseum. However, today we’re considering the shopping arcade, the kind with covered walkways that houses a variety of storefronts.
Consider Japan. Various city centres have shopping arcades not unlike these long Grecian passages. They are in fact covered pedestrian-friendly walking streets and are found in many other countries as well. Modern shopping malls are something similar. With the addition of various levels and unique building design, there you have it. The shopping mall. We’ve gone from Ancient Greece, to Japanese shopping arcades and to malls just like that. Now on to the Szeged Árkád.
How to Find Szeged Árkád
Szeged’s Árkád shopping centre is located rather central to its downtow core. If you’ve travelled by bus to get here, you need only pass the Mars téri piac and past the JYSK. Árkád is just next door. Day or night you just can’t miss the hatalmas (large) glowing signage and entrance along the Londoni körút (London ring road).
Árkád, not too far from the city centre.
Our Experience
During our stay we visited the mall once or twice. And both visits were great. But in all our excitement we walked around way too long and ended up collapsing into a cafe to refuel and recharge.
And on the subject, there are a few things to note about malls in Hungary. Don’t be fooled! When you step in the elevator ground level is “0” or zero. This was new for us. We ended up travelling up and down past our destination floor more than once, and I think our confused looks entertained other shoppers. And note, if you’re heading below ground level select “-1” or “-2” accordingly. These minor differences didn’t take long to get used to at all.
As for the Water Closet or WCs, be prepared as you often have to pay a minimal fee–about 200 HUF (roughly a dollar)–to use the facilities.
Some of What’s On Offer
Ah, the shops at Árkád. We were delighted to see Zara and H&M. The fashion at these stores really ‘fits’ the streets here. It’s Europe after all. We ended up buying a tiny pair of shoes for our toddler. Another neat shop was SiNSAY, a sort of youthful boutique boasting all sorts of funky and colourful fashion. We again ended up shopping for our toddler here.
Worth mention is RESERVED. This shop is a lot like Zara but with more muted, mature overtones. With cool vibes throughout including block coloured fabrics and a few prints, I would definitely return to shop here. One item of note was a Freddie Mercury portrait t-shirt. Nothing says cool like a printed tee.
And finally, nothing says shopping mall like a food court. To keep things brief, I strongly suggest that instead of a burger and fries you ought to enjoy the Hungarian főzelék (a delightful vegetable-like creamy stew) of the day or cigány pecsenye (gypsy-style fried and seasoned meat) dish with köret (sides of potato, salad, etc.) Try it all.
Forget Jack’s Burger next door. Eat Magyaros (Hungarian) and don’t forget the Erős Pista (Hungarian hot pepper paste)!
This was just one day at Árkád, and boy was it fun. It’s interesting how shopping, something we do in our own parts of the world, can be so similar and yet different somewhere new. When we travel we learn. That’s something we definitely love to do. And when it comes to food, order something you may not be sure of. You might just be pleasantly surprised.
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