Something for everyone!
We all need a day set aside on holiday for some retail therapy. What’s a holiday if you can’t browse all the shops and take home some unique holiday purchases? Luckily Budapest has expanded its shopping options in recent years and now includes a variety of options from large shopping malls, boutique stores and even a complete ‘Fashion Street’ in the city centre.
Local Shopping
If you’re into traditional products, such as folk-art souvenirs, pottery, food specialities and other local wears you can check out the Castle District or Gellert Hill where the streets contain many vendors that sell these types of products. For a more traditional shopping experience, you could even visit some markets, like the Paprika Market – which are very popular among locals as well as tourists.
Paprika Market
The best recommended markets are the new “Paprika Market” located in Vörösmarty tér 1., district V, Belvárosi Piac in Hold Street or the “Central Market” on Fővám tér where you can buy locally made food and souvenirs at good prices.
Great Market Hall
The oldest market in the city is also worth a visit due to its architecture and ambience; named the “Great Market Hall” at the Pest end of Liberty Bridge.
“Fashion Street”
The Deák Ferenc Utca, is dedicated to world fashion brands such as Tommy Hilfiger, Lacoste, Puma and others. The street also contains international branded restaurants such as Starbucks, T.G.I Friday’s as well as some other local gourmet coffee and deli houses.
Budapest Malls
There are many large shopping centres in Budapest that not only house retail shopping for clothing or other items such as electronics, but they also contain food shopping places, banks, hairdressers, fast food places, cafes and restaurants. A large majority of the shopping centres are in the city centre, are easily reachable by public transport and all centres have free wi-fi available. The best and largest malls are the Aréna, Allee, Árkád, Corvin, Duna Plaza, Europeum, Lurdy.
Tip* Bear in mind, if you are a non-EU citizen, you can claim your VAT (tax) back at the airport from any purchases you make in the city. Make sure you ask the shop assistants for the VAT receipt in places that display the “Tax-Free” logo. You can usually get this back on most purchases over 50,000HUF.
