By CRISTINA DUMITRU
Photo: TRAIAN BADULESCU
We all want to preserve the memory of the places our steps take us. That is why we take photos, we go to shopping. And Budapest, as any other great European capital, lure tourists with thousands of temptations. It is still better to know quality Hungarian products and the stores where they are located before starting the shopping tour.
For those who wish to find specific Hungarian items I recommend Hungarian hand-
One of the most popular areas for shopping enthusiasts is Vaci utca. This famous
street is the core of Budapest, and can be divided into two areas: the north, where
there are many restaurants and cafes, and the south, which is more commercial. The
best would be to walk through from an end to another. You will spend this way a
very nice and especially useful time: seeing the windows of well-
Andrassy Boulevard lays at short distance from Vorosmarty street. The last is included
on the list of UNESCO world heritage, and is famous due to its buildings with impressive
facades. Here you will find shops that sell famous porcelain, Herend. A visit to
the shop is like a walk in an art gallery. These porcelains are the pride of the
industry in Hungary. Herend porcelain hand painted pots, plates and saucers services
have won numerous gold medals at international exhibitions.
If the shopping fever
embraced you, take a walk on the fashion street called, guess how smart.. „Fashion
Street”. It connects Deak and Vorosmarty Square, and allows the investors to put
Budapest on the European catwalks. Here you will find all the international brands
such as "Benetton", "Lacoste", "Boss, Tommy Hilfinger," Puma, "Mexx", "Sisley", "Giancarlo
Ferre." There are also shops for shoes as "Lloyd" and "Zengarini. In this area you
can buy as well sports clothing or mountain equipment (you can buy a pair of sport
pans with about 20,000 HUF). Shops are open from Monday to Saturday, from 09:00 –
19:00.
If the shopping exhausted you, go into a cafe or restaurant in the area. In Vorosmarty
Square you will find the famous cafe "Gerbeaud Cukraszda”, where you can take a coffee
and a cake, all served with the elegance and the style of old times. Founded in 1858,
it is the most famous cafe in Budapest.
When you go shopping, try to removed yourself
from the so-
Vaci Street extends into Central Market. In a
perpetual bustle, here you will find only quality products. The building that houses
this market is really beautiful and is older than 100 years. Everything is colourful
and sweet from red pepper paprika garlands, piles of fruits and vegetables, ropes
of garlic, fish, cheese. Upstairs, you find large bouquets of flowers, a cafe and
souvenir shops. Here you will find Hungary in colour, smells and sounds. Canvas bags
with paprika and a bottle of wine Tokaji or Unikum can make a useful and pleasant
gift that can be purchased here. Add a cookbook to this package and, voila, the perfect
souvenir!
It would be good to make some time to visit the bookstores in Budapest as well. It is the city with the largest number of libraries in Europe. Their offer is varied, and you could find here translations of the most important Hungarian writers.
Shops selling antiques, old furniture and porcelain have to be found also on Vaci
street. If you are a collector, you might want to visit Moro Antik: V, Falk Miksa
u.13, and the flea market held on Saturday and Sunday from 07:00 to 14:00, in Varosligeti
park. There you have opportunity to find rare collectible items.
If you are not interested
in purchasing brands or handicrafts, you can go into the huge outlet stores or supermarkets. One
of them, quite central, is the WestEnd Shopping Center. It has three floors and houses
approximately 400 shops. You will surely find what you are looking here, but prices
are not lower than in other stores. It is located on Vaci ut., 1-
If you are short of time or simply do not want to walk through so many stores, you
can buy gifts from the tourist information points. Downtown is located Tourinform
office, open daily from 08:00 – 21:00, near Deak ter metro station, on Suto street,
no. 2.
Budapest has its own discount period as any major European capital, when prices
fall off by 20 to 80%
Since I outlined above details about shopping in Budapest, you
need to know details about payments, too. Most shops accept credit card payments.
Their symbols are displayed at the entrance, and you'd better check this before buying
anything. If you want to pay cash, would be very nice to have forints. You can pay
in euros, but not in all the shops, if it is possible to pay in euros in the shop,
the exchange rate will not be very convenient for you (1 EUR = 250 HUF). At the currency
exchange offices, the rate is better: 1 EUR = 268 HUF. Also, it would be nice to
have small banknotes with you, in case the shopkeeper will not be able to give you
the change.
Useful information
WestEnd shopping mall
Vaci ut., 1-
Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00
Central Market Vamhaz Korut 1-
Herend porcelain shop -
BAV Antiques -
