Main Shopping Areas in Budapest
The main shopping areas are located in Pest's City Center. One of them is Váci Street (Váci utca), perhaps the most famous shopping street in Budapest. Designated as a pedestrian precinct, it runs from Vörösmarty Square to Vámház körút (Central Market Hall) featuring a large number of fashionable shops, restaurants and cafés. Neighboring streets like Fashion Street on Deák Ferenc utca, which links Vörösmarty tér with Deák tér, also offer a great shopping experience. Shops like Hugo Boss, Max Mara, Tommy Hilfiger, Lacoste and Mexx are some of the stores located here.
Other major shopping sections are the main streets radiating out from the city center. Andrássy Avenue, for example, has some of the most glamorous and expensive shops. Upscale boutiques like Louis Vuitton, Ermenegildo Zegna, Burberry, Gucci, and Roberto Cavalli are located here. Bajcsy-Zsilinszky utca and Rákóczi út have many shops as well. Budapest also has plenty of shopping malls.
Shops You Won’t Find Anywhere Else
Should you need another reason to visit, Budapest has an emerging design scene. There's a monthly design market (WAMP), featuring homegrown fashion; Budapest Design Week takes place every October, Budapest Fashion Week each April; the city is the base for "The Room", an international art and fashion magazine; and there are several shops selling creations by talented Hungarian designers.
If it's Hungarian authenticity you're looking for, join budapestUNDERGUIDE's strictly Hungarian Responsible Design and Fashion Tour or check out our collection of Shops You Won't Find Anywhere Else. Here is a list of stores and boutiques we have already added: GOUBA, Insitu, Lokalwear, Matyodesign, Mono Fashion, Printa, Retrock, Szputnyik, Tisza, Varga Design, WAMP. We are regularly adding unique shops featuring Hungarian designers.
For some inspirational gift ideas from contemporary designers check out Király utca, Budapest's Design Street, filled with design galleries and funky boutiques.
Budapest Markets
There are five large market halls (piac) in Budapest; all were built in the 19th century in the same style and all five buildings opened on the same day:
Central Market Hall (Központi Vásár csarnok)
This is the largest indoor market in Budapest. There is a huge variety of vegetables, fruits, cheeses and meats. Souvenirs such as paprika and Tokaji are also available. On the second floor you'll find vendors selling folk art, as well as a small food-court and a restaurant serving traditional Hungarian dishes.
Address: Vámház körút 1, Budapest 1093
Location: Pest, City Center, District 9
Klauzál Square Market Hall (Klauzál téri piac)
Address: Klauzál tér 11, Budapest 1072
Location: Pest, District 7, located within the former Jewish Quarter
Rákóczi Square Market Hall (Rákóczi téri piac)
Address: Rákóczi tér 7-9 , Budapest 1087
Location: Pest, District 8, located next to Grand Boulevard
Hold Street Market Hall (Hold utcai piac)
Address: Hold utca 13, Budapest 1054
Location: Pest, District 5, close to the U.S. Embassy
Hunyadi Square Market Hall (Hunyadi téri piac)
Address: Hunyadi tér 4, Budapest 1067
Location: Pest, District 6
Read more about Budapest markets with recommendations on which ones to visit. To get an insiders' perspective, consider joining a market tour guided by local foodie experts.
Souvenir Shopping in Budapest
The most popular souvenirs to bring home are wine, especially Tokaji, and porcelain, like Herendi and Zsolnay. Other products such as paprika and embroidery are also popular. A great source of Hungarian products is the spectacular Central Market Hall. Fancy bottles of Tokaji, a variety of paprika, tablecloths, chessboards, dolls, and clothes made in traditional Hungarian style are available in large selection. One of the best souvenir shops is Memories of Hungary, located near the Basilica and selling products made by a select group of contemporary artists.
Shops on Castle Hill carry almost exclusively souvenirs, and Váci Street has some shops designed primarily for tourists, offering a selection of Hungarian folk art, porcelain and embroidery. For one-of-a-kind local finds and gift ideas check out Chic, Homegrown Gifts from Hungary.
Falk Miksa Street, the antique row of Budapest, and the Ecseri Flea Market are also great places for finding unique souvenirs. If you are into antiques, check out our Antiquing in Budapest post.
Shopping for Wine in Budapest
See our selection of wine shops in Budapest.
Budapest Shopping Malls
Budapest has many shopping malls, including the largest shopping mall in Central Europe, the WestEnd City Center. These soulless malls, like everywhere else in the world, combine brand name shops with entertainment facilities. Due to a lack of space, most malls are located outside the City Center. The closest shopping malls to the City Center are listed below.
WestEnd City Center
WestEnd is the largest shopping mall in Central Europe.
Address: Váci út 1-3, Budapest 1062
Location: Pest, District 6, at Nyugati Railway Station
Website: www.westend.hu
Getting there: Take Subway (M3) to Nyugati station
Major brands at WestEnd include: Adidas, Bershka, C&A, Calzedonia, Clinique, Douglas, Esprit, Geox, H&M, Jackpot & Cottonfield, Lacoste, Libri, Mango, Marks & Spencer, Media Markt, Mexx, Nautica, Promod, Puma, Retro, Rossmann, Salamander, Springfield, Tatuum, Tisza and Women' Secret
Insider Tip: Check out the rooftop garden. Budapest's first Starbucks is also located in the WestEnd City Center, on the second floor, close to the main entrance.
Corvin Plaza
Address: Futó utca 37-45, Budapest 1083
Location: Pest, District 8, behind the Corvin Cinema
Website: www.corvinbevasarlokozpont.hu
Getting there: Take Subway (M3) to Ferenc körút (Corvin-negyed)
Major brands at Corvin Plaza include: Alexandra, Butlers, C&A, Camaieu, Charles Vögele, Deichmann, H&M, L'Occitane, Mango, Müller, New Yorker, Promod, Tamaris, Tatuum and Yves Rocher
Arena Plaza
Built on a former horse race track, Arena Plaza has a nice ice-skating rink, open during winter.
Address: Kerepesi út 9, Budapest 1087
Location: Pest, District 8, across Keleti Railway Station
Website: www.arenaplaza.hu
Getting there: Take Subway (M2) to Keleti station
Major brands at Arena Plaza include: Adidas, Bata, Benetton, Bershka, C&A, Camaieu, Esprit, Geox, Guess, H&M, Mango, Marks & Spencer, Mexx, New Yorker, Peek & Cloppenburg, Promod, Replay, Retro, Springfield, Stradivarius, Tatuum and Zara
KöKi Terminal
KöKi Terminal is the newest shopping mall in Budapest.
Address: Lehel utca - Vak Bottyán utca - Sibrik Miklós út corner
Location: Pest, District 19
Website: www.kokiterminal.hu
Getting there: Take Subway (M3) to Kőbánya-Kispest, the last stop
Major brands at KöKi Terminal include: C&A, Calzedonia, Deichmann, H&M, Humanic, Libri, Müller, Orsay, Promod, Rossmann, Swarovski, Tesco, Tezenis and Yves Rocher
Mammut
Address: Lövőház utca 2-6, Budapest 1024
Location: Buda, District 2, next to Széll Kálmán tér (formerly Moszkva tér)
Website: www.mammut.hu
Getting there: Take Subway (M2) or Streetcars No. 4 or 6 to Széll Kálmán tér
Major brands at Mammut include: Alexandra, Benetton, Bershka, Butlers, Clinique, Esprit, Estee Lauder, Humanic, Jackpot & Cottonfield, Mango, Marks & Spencer, Mexx, Promod, Springfield, Swarovski, Tatuum, Tezenis and Women' Secret
Árkád, and Árkád2
Address: Örs Vezér tere, Budapest 1106
Location: Pest, District 10
Website: www.arkadbudapest.hu
Getting there: Take Subway (M2) to Örs Vezér tere
Major brands at Árkád include: Butlers, C&A, Camaieu, Esprit, Geox, H&M, Humanic, Lego, Marks & Spencer, Media Markt, New Yorker, Orsay, Promod, Replay, Retro, Rossmann, Springfield, Swarovski, Tamaris and Zara
Allee
Address: Október 23 utca 8-10, Budapest 1117
Location: Buda, District 11
Website: www.allee.hu
Getting there: Take Streetcar 47 from Deák tér to Fehérvári út
Major brands at Allee include: Bershka, C&A, Calzedonia, Geox, H&M, Humanic, Jackpot & Cottonfield, Mango, Marks & Spencer, New Yorker, Orsay, Promod, Springfield, Stradivarius, Swarovski, Thomas Sabo and Zara
Mom Park
Address: Alkotás utca 53, Budapest 1123
Location: Buda, District 12, next to Déli Railway Station
Website: www.mompark.hu
Getting there: Take Streetcar 61 from Széll Kálmán tér (formerly Moszkva tér) to Csörsz utca
Major brands at Mom Park include: Benetton, Butlers, C&A, Camaieu, French Connection, Gerry Weber, Guess, H&M and Promod
Outlet Stores in Budapest
Budapest doesn't have many options for outlet shopping. There's only one outlet mall, Premier Outlet Center, which is located in the outskirts, south-west of Budapest. Premier Outlet Center is accessible by bus (buses leave from the Etele tér bus station in Buda) or by car. A large outlet mall that many locals go to is a bit further away, on route between Budapest and Vienna. This is the Designer Outlet in Parndorf, Austria.
