Shopping in Budapest

Shopping in Budapest can be very convenient. It is possible to buy all the most typical Hungarian products, which are called “hungarikum”: among these items, there are the famous porcelains Herendi or Zsolnay, as well as some food and wine, such as the wine Tokaj, the Hungarian salami from Szeged, the Hungarian paprika, and rum chocolate.

During your visit to Budapest do not miss the opportunity to visit its typical pastry shops and taste some of the delicious local sweets such as Rigo Jancsi, a chocolate sponge cake named after the gipsy violinist player Rigo Jancsi, as well as the Dobos, the famous cake layered with chocolate created by Jozsef Dobos.

Where to shopping in Budapest

Small shops are mostly located in the streets of downtown Pest, while big malls, such as Arena Plaza – which is the biggest mall of Hungary – are located in the outskirt of Budapest.

Vaci Utca, the shopping street

Vaci utca, which connects Vorosmarty Square to Fdvam ter Square and the small streets of the center of Budapest, is full of small boutiques and shops selling the most typical Hungarian products. That is why Vaci utca can be considered the shopping street of the Hungarian capital city.

The street is full of shops, local artisan shops, and some of the biggest international brands; it is impossible to go there at least once during your trip to Budapest! Here are some of the most interesting shops that are worth a stop:

• Folkart Artisan Market
  Here you will find traditional handicrafts from every town in Hungary. Folkart is located in the V district, in Regipostau. 12, at the corner between Vaci u. and Regipost u
• Folkart Centrum 
  V district, Vaci u. 58. (at Sdrhaz utca)
• Millennium Antik 
  V district, Vaci u. 67
• Antiques at Falk Miksa utca 
  Where to find numerous antiques shops
• Herendi Porcelain
  V district, Jozsef nador ter 11. Metro stop: Deak Ferenc ter
• Hoiidhazi Porcelain
  VII district, Rakoczi ut 32. Metro Stop: Blaha Lujza ter
• Pick Delicatessen Products 
  V district, Varoshaz utca 14. Metro Stop: Ferenciek ter
• Zsolnay Porcelains 
  XIII district, Pozsonyi ut 11. Metro Stop: Jaszai Man ter
• Unicum Zwack – Budapest Museum and Visitor’s Center 
  IX district, Soroksari ut 26. Metro Stop: Haller utca
• Vass Shoes
  V district, Haris kbz 2. Metro Stop: Ferenciek ter

Central Market Hall

The Central Market Hall opened its doors in 1987, framed into a wrought iron building. This beautiful architectonical monument today hosts the largest market of Budapest. Among the market stalls it is possible to purchase beautiful Budapest souvenirs and some typical products from Hungary and the Carpathian Basin, as well as taste some local delicatessens.

The Central Market Hall is located in the IX district, in Vamhaz kdrut 1-3, near the Fdvam ter metro stop, as well as the tram stops n.47 and 49, which pass also through Kalvin Ter.

More over, in Budapest there are two flea markets, the Ecser market, in the outskirt of Budapest, and the Petofi csarnok market, which takes place at the City Park every weekend.

• Ecser Second Hand  – Flea Market
  The Ecser flea market is a place where it is possible to find anything, from the precious Hungarian ceramic statues to antique furniture and violins, to objects from the socialist time. The Ecser market takes place in the XIX district, in Nagykdrdsi ut 156. You can reach it by bus n.54.

The Bookstores district

The bookstores district is located in the center of Budapest, near the National Museum. Here you will find numerous old and modern bookstores selling books, manuscripts, and printings in Hungarian and other languages. Do not miss a visit to the following bookstores:

• Central Antiques 
  V district, Muzeum korut 13-15
• Muzeum Antikvarium 
  V district, Muzeum korut 35
• Antiquarium Hungaricum 
  V district, Muzeum korut 29

Shopping Malls

Since Budapest became a modern capitalist city numerous shopping malls were opened in its suburbs, such as the Arena Plaza, the largest mall in Hungary.

• Westend City Center 
  VI district, Vaci ut 1-3. Metro stop Nyugati ter, metro line M3 (blue line)
• Mammut
  II district, Ldvdhaz utca 2-6. Metro stop Moszkva ter, metro line M2 (red line)
• Arena Plaza
  VIII  district, Kerepesi ut 9. Metro Stop Keleti (Est) metro line M2 (red line)
• Köki Terminál
  Is located at the last stop of metro line M3 Kőbánya-Kispest. It can be reached also by bus 200E, the same bus that connects the city to the airport.