Shopping in Budapest: where to buy clothes, shoes, food or souvenirs? Addresses, description, assortment of goods. Where are located best stores and malls in Budapest, flee and antique markets – in a detailed review of good Time for Trip.
Those who have visited many places, that is, experienced tourists, will say that Budapest is not very good for shopping. For although it has large stores and luxury boutiques, real sales and discounts are rare there. And to find something inexpensive at the Central Market, or valuable – at the Budapest flea markets – you need to try very hard.
However, this also has its own meaning – when you wander around the city in search of some (unique) things, one way or another you will see all of its main attractions. Okay, most of them.
Yes, and in principle, you can enjoy shopping in Budapest in Hungary – if you know a lot about it. Initially, don’t expect to buy a branded item for nothing or just get some significant benefit.
However, let’s go in order. And try to organize the information.
Tax Free
Those who have the right for getting tax refund (VAT) in 2024 in Hungary, need to buy goods worth more than HUF 68,001. And it should be done in one place.
At the current exchange rate, this is more than € 170, so you will have to look for the actual thing you need. For example, by concentrating on really branded and quite expensive ones.
Well, or initially throw out the idea of economy from your head. And just enjoy walking around Budapest. As well as about trips outside of it – there is something to see in Hungary.
Big Malls in Budapest
For convenience, we have divided the main shopping points into those that are large centers, and others that are shops and luxury boutiques. Naturally, we didn’t forget about art galleries and antique markets, where you may be lucky enough to find a really worthwhile thing.
Big Stores
There are four large shopping malls in Budapest. Two of them are located right next to the train stations in Pest. The third, Mammut, occupies two buildings connected by a glazed gallery in Buda.
The latter is praised by tourists, but considered quite an expensive shopping center in Budapest. But anyway Mammut is a good choice for purchasing having a nice time: inside there are a lot of all kinds of shops, cafes, and also the Spar grocery supermarket.
A serious disadvantage of Mammut is paid parking. A big plus is its location – just in 2-3 minute walking distance from the Budapest metro station Széll Kálmán tér.
Arkad Budapest Shopping Center
is situated on the eastern outskirts of the Hungarian capital. And usually not spoiled by the attention of travelers who come here for a few days.
There are a lot of shops inside for every taste, and a large food court. The number of cafes and fast food eateries is about 30! There is also an INTERSPAR hypermarket nearby, where you can buy literally any products.
The Arkad car parking is huge and the first 2 hours – free! Official site of the mall – arkadbudapest.hu/en/.
Arena Plaza
A very popular shopping mall in the center of Budapest which is located in Pest district, near the East Station. Inside there are many mass-market stores: from H&M to Geox, expensive brands like Karl Lagerfeld are also represented.
Here you can buy products, including sausages, cheeses and wines, in the Tesco supermarket
Due to the popularity and advantageous location, discounts in this shopping center are rare. And you can buy really worthwhile things only during the Christmas sales period in Budapest.
The Arena Plaza is usually loaded a little less compared to the famous West End shopping mall. And parking here is free for the first 2 hours.
West End Shopping Center
is located near Nyugati train station. The latter was built by the firm of Gustav Eiffel in the second half of the 19th century, and therefore considered the one of the pearls of Budapest and Hungary itself. In addition, it has straight connection with a huge railway museum.
In general, Nyugati is often included in the list of “mandatory” attractions in Budapest. Along with the Parliament, the Buda Castle and Széchenyi, the largest thermal baths in Europe.
As for the West End shopping center in Budapest, it is slightly smaller than the already mentioned “colleagues”, but contains stores of almost similar brands. However, this mall has an individuality that somewhat distinguishes it from its fellows.
There is no free parking!
Premier Outlet Center
The only outlet available in Budapest, as expected, is located on the very outskirts. You can get there by public transport, but it’s quite difficult.
First, you will have to get to the terminus of the subway on the green line. And then 20-25 to go by bus No. 760, 763, 767.
The benefit of the trip is questionable. Although some reviews of travellers happily report a successful trip to local shops.
But in most others they complain about the wasted time – the prices there cannot be called especially low. And the assortment of the largest Hungarian outlet is not too wide!
Markets of Budapest
A foreign traveler will not be interested in ordinary markets, which are probably available in almost every district of the city. But the Central Market is always in the spotlight.
It is located next to the popular Vaci shopping street, its beautiful facade catches the eye. You can’t even say that shopping arcades are hiding behind it, rather a station or a museum in general!
At the Budapest Central Market, you can buy souvenirs, spices, sausages, cheeses, marzipan, and other sweets. But this is not always justified – the prices here are higher than in modest shops and chain stores on neighboring streets.
Echeri
This Budapest flea and antique market is worth a visit for those who intend to buy a truly original thing. Whether it’s an old doll, a cute soft toy that is no longer made today, an etching, a painting, a book, a tea set, a gramophone or a coffee grinder.
Most sellers are well versed in antiques and know the real value of their goods, so you need to bargain here. Don’t expect to buy something worthwhile for a couple of euros – if you do it at the Echeri market, then you should spend from 50 euros.
There are a lot of visitors on Saturday but on Sunday only half of tents are open
Shopping Street in Budapest
Vaci in the Belfaros district is unofficially considered the main trading artery of Budapest. For which it even received the name “Street of shops.”
Vaci street stretches from Vörösmarty Square, where the main Christmas market of the country begins to operate at the end of November, and to the Central Market. So you will almost certainly pass through it if you stay in Budapest for 3-4 days.
Some enterprising people even manage to rent not so expensive apartments near Vaci. For doing this, however, you need to start planning your trip at least 5-6 months in advance.
On Vaci Street you can buy souvenirs and “hungarikums”, there are also some shops of inexpensive brands on it. In any case, in comparison with Andrássy Avenue, which has the largest concentration of boutiques in Budapest, it’s more and more democratic here.
By the way, it is better to buy magnets and other souvenirs, food and gifts at the Central Market. Where the assortment is larger and prices are lower than in the shops on Vaci Street.
There is an ALDI grocery store right in the market building. With a modest assortment of products, but reasonable prices
Art Galleries
Falk Miksa Street in Budapest is worth a visit if you are into art. Here you can buy works by little-known (Hungarian) artists for absolutely sane money.
The concentration of art galleries, auction houses and antique shops are a maximum on this street. And they sell items that are almost guaranteed to be the highlight of your trip to Hungary.
Try to participate in the auction. And for a relatively modest amount to get a real ( (who knows) masterpiece!
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