Budapest Shopping Introduction:
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 Budapest
Shopping offers plenty of options to find good bargains. The number
of shops in Budapest has increased since the 90-ies, big shopping
malls, new fashion shops appeared everywhere.
Budapest shops had poor choice and often shortage of certain goods
in the communist era, so people were hungry for shopping when the
new political system and economy broadened product choice.
If you love charming, small shops with unique products, instead
of the faceless shopping centers you'll find some in Budapest too.
Food stores are open from 6.00 or 7.00 to 18.00, 19.00, Monday to
Friday, on Saturdays from 6.00 or 7.00 to 14.00. Other Budapest
shops are open Monday to Friday from 10.00 to 18.00, on Saturdays
from 10.00 to 14.00. The large supermarkets have longer opening
hours and are open on Sunday. Some of them, like Tesco are open
24 hours. In the town centre, mainly in Pest, you'll find non-stop,
24-hour shops. They sell cigarettes, alcohol, soft drinks and snacks,
and other foodstuffs at a higher price.
Large shops accept credit cards, especially in the touristy part
of the town. In small shops and markets you have to pay in cash,
so make sure you have enough Hungarian forint in your purse.
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Budapest Antiques:
Porcelain, Collectables, Jewellery, Silverware, Furniture
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BÁV
(Bizományi Kereskedõház és Záloghitel
Rt.)
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Polgár
Gallery and Auction House |
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 The
address: Kossuth Lajos u. 1-3, Metro: M3 Ferenciek tere
Web
site: www.bav.hu
This
shop isspecialized in fine art, chandeliers and porcelain. |
The
address: Kossuth Lajos u. 3, Metro: M3 Ferenciek Tere
Web site: www.polgar-galeria.hu
The Polgár Gallery and Auction House has been in the art
trade since 1987. Organizing auctions since and during these years
over nine thousand paintings and tens of thousands of artifacts
have found owner.
Gallery offers a rich collection of paintings, antique pieces of
furniture, jewelries and various works of art as well. The auction
is becoming a popular and fashionable means of selling and purchasing
- on the one hand, it includes the possibility of reaching the highest
selling price, and on the other hand, from the buyer's point of
view, it does not exclude the chance of picking up a good bargain.
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Classic Home Antiques &
Gallery
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The
address: Váci utca 36, Metro: M1 Vörösmarty tér
City auction house with an extensive catalogue of furniture and
paintings. |
The
address: Szt István tér 4-5, Metro: M1, M2, M3 Deák
tér
Good range of furniture on display, with an easy to find location
near to St. Stephen's Cathedral. |
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The
address: Falk Miksa u. 24-26, Metro: M2 Kossuth tér
Specializing in Biedermeier furniture, Darius also carries objet
d'art and Viennese antiques. |
The
address: Kempinski Hotel Corvinus, Erzsébet tér 7-8,
Metro: M1, M2, M3 Deák tér
There are usuaaly antique prints, foreign language books and rare
editions. |
Nagyházi
Galéria |
BÁV
Jewelry (Rubin Ékszerbolt)
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The address:
Balaton utca 8, Metro: M3 Nyugati pu.
Web site: www.nagyhazi.hu
TIt is the largest of Budapest's antique contingent, mainly furniture,
paintings and porcelain. |
The address:
Párizsi utca 2, Metro: M3 Ferenciek tere Web
site: www.bav.hu
Chain stocking mainly watches and antique gold and silver jewelry.
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Budapest
Shopping Malls
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Over
the last couple of years Budapest has seen more than ten major malls
open for business - an adventurous attempt to attract Hungarians
to western style shopping and leisure. Most of the shops in each
mall are owned by western retailers.
Budapest Shopping Malls sell everything you need in every day life,
food, cosmetics, clothes. Have also souvenir shops, though Budapest
Markets are better places to get authentic Hungarian souvenirs.
You'll find all major brands and trendy fashion retailers: Saxoo,
Levis, Kookai, Nike, Adidas etc. Besides these glitzy big name outlets
some lovely, small shops sell crafts, toys and unique gifts.
All shops have ATM machines, should you need some cash. It's still
not common to pay with credit cards in Hungarian shops, though most
shops accept major cards. You'll also find a few banks and a post
office.
A listing of the best is as follows:
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| Duna
Plaza |
Campona |
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 The
address: Váci út 178, Metro: M3 Gyöngyösi
út
Web site: www.dunaplaza.net
More than 100 shops, multiplex cinema, eateries, cafés. Hungaroton
Gigastore is the largest Cd and DVd store in Budapest. There's also
an Internet club for those who just have to 'surf the Net' while
on their holidays. |
 The
address: Campona Bevásárlóközpont, Nagytétényi
út 37-45, Bus 3 to Nagytétény.
Web site: www.campona.hu
It's situated a bit far from the city centre, so do count in the
time of getting there by public transport. Once you get there you
can while away the hours going to the cinema or the Tropicarium
aquarium. Of course Campona has many shops too. Leroy café
has live music every night from 20.00.
Be warned though, it's far easier to get to nearly all of the other
malls listed below.
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| Mammut |
WestEnd
City Center |
 The
address: Széna tér, Metro: M2 Moszkva tér
Web site:
www.mammut.hu
Located near the busy transport hub of Moszkva tér, Mammut's
glowing dome acts as a homing beacon to the many shoppers who
arrive by metro. Although big name fashion and sport shops predominate,
a good range of smaller outlets means that even the most discerning
shoppers won't leave disappointed.
Mammut offers both big brand and smaller shops. For high-tech
electronic gadgets visit Saturn on the underground level. The
market at the back end of the mall sells fresh fruits, vegetables.
The best place to take some snacks, like lángos or pancakes.
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 The
address: Váci út 1-3, Metro: M3 Nyugati pu.
Web site:
www.westend.hu
Situated close to the city's Western railway station (Nyugati pu.)
the WestEnd City Center is Central Europe's largest shopping mall.
With over 400 shops, there were legitimate worries over the effect
that the Center's opening will have upon small businesses in the
district.
Underground you'll find a Match supermarket, a Libri bookshop
and one of my favourite shops Kotányi Fuszervilág,
that sells spices. Buy the famous and delicious sweets at Szamos
Marcipán. You can have good meals at the numerous eateries
and cafés. Designer shops, jewelleries, gift shops drugstores,
toy shops and many other shops. The 14-screen Palace Cinema shos
the latest blockbusters.
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Budapest
Markets
Looking around in Budapest Markets is a must if you want to get
the feel of everyday life in the city. The vegetable and fruit markets
sell fresh fruits, vegetables, bakery, dairy products, honey and
other food stuff all the year round.
Five large market halls replaced the open-air markets at the turn
of the 19th-20th century. They all have similar architecture: cast
iron structure, spacious interior. They have been renovated in recent
years. The reconstructed markets had lost most of their old world
charm.
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| Esceri
Flea Market (Használtcikk piac) |
Józsefvárosi
V (Chinese Market) |
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The address: Nagykörösi
út 156, M3 Határ út and 54 bus from Boráros
tér (get off at Fiumei út stop).
T he grand market halls such as Esceri Flea Marketis great for Communist
memorabilia, textiles, porcelain and antiques. You'll need to haggle
to get the best deals though. |
The
address: Kõbányai út 21-23, Bus 9.
A place with mainly Chinese and Turkish stall-holders selling cut
price designer fashions, shoes, and house wares. |
| Central
Market Hall (Nagy Vásárcsarnok) |
Lehel
tér Piac |
 Web
site: www.piaconline.hu
The most impressive and largest market in Budapest. It's worth a
visit just to admire its architecture. In the more than 100-year
old building you can get almost everything on its three levels.
So if you have limited time for shopping pop in the Great Market
Hall.
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The
address: Lehel tér, Metro: M3 Lehel tér
The ship-shaped modern architecture replaced the old market a few
years ago. Smaller than the Great Market Hall, but offers a wide
variety of groceries. Mainly locals from the neighbourhood do their
everyday shopping here. |
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