Hungary » Shopping in Budapest

Shopping in Budapest can be an attractive and worthwhile experience. Prices here are higher than elsewhere in the country, although they remain slightly lower than most Western European or North American countries. Budapest Hungary's range of shops has expanded in recent years by leaps, as big international names such as Mango and Benetton have appeared in its streets and malls. A main shopping area for tourists is located south of Vörösmarty tér in downtown Pest, in particular in and around the pedestrians "only" street Váci utca and Petofi Sándor utca, which have the biggest concentration of "high end", alluring and classy shops.

Shops are usually open Monday to Friday 10am to 6pm and Saturday until 1pm, with most food stores operate from 8am to 6 or 7pm. Recently some shops in the center of the city have been staying open later on Saturdays. The main streets radiating out from the center - Bajcsy-Zsilinszky, Andrássy and Rákóczi út are major shopping avenues that the "locals" mostly use. The two ring boulevards, the Great Boulevard and the Kiskörút, while the small streets inside the Nagykörút are also worth exploring.

As shopping areas in Budapest are well planned, you should find that shops along Váci Utca or along the Nagy Körút meet with even the sharpest tastes. In addition, you're likely to see signs advertising small shops in the courtyards of residential blocks. Although some sell cheap toys, dodgy fashions and trinkets, others may specialize in souvenirs and interesting gift items.

 

The Ecseri Flea Market in the 9th district has many treasures for collectors, browsers and anyone looking for an unusual souvenir to take home. There are shopping malls at major intersections and metro stations throughout the city. The Westend City Center with 400 shops, a 14-screen cinema complex, entertainment center and a huge food-court, is changing the cityscape.

On the Buda side, two new shopping complexes opened one after the other: Mammut shopping center at Széna square has more than 300 shops on 7 levels in two buildings. The center also houses several restaurants, an entertainment center, fitness facilities and a health center. The elegant Mom Park is the newest shopping and entertainment center of the City, with 70 shops, a restaurant and cinema.