Budapest Shopping Tips by MedioLatino

Name of Shop: In Vino Veritas and Bortarsasag

1.The "In Vino Veritas" wineshop. You can find them in the 7th district, on Dohány u.58-62 (near Blaha Lujza square metro station. From there go on Akacfa u. until Dohany u. and then turn right).

2. The "Bortarsasag" (Wine Society) wineshop. They have 4 shops in Budapest, the main one is on the side of the Castle Hill, near Moszkva ter, under Batthyany u. 59., near the corner of Ostrom u. However their shop in the center might be easer to find. This one is in Raday u. 7, near the Kalvin ter metro station.

What To Buy: If you come to Hungary, you definitely should buy at least some Tokaj wines, but I would say, ask the dealers for some other decent wines form the prestigious regions of Hungary (but don't pay more then 5-6000 for a bottle, the "star" winemakers are overpriced...not counting of course the Tokaji Aszú wines which are usually more expensive than this)

I would say You should at least try:
- Tokaji Aszú (and aybe one other Tokaji type)
- a good red wine from the Villány area
- a lighter red wine from the Szekszárd area

What To Pay: Tokaji Aszu: 3000-8000 and above
other Tokaj types: 1500-5000
Villany wines: 1200-4000
Szekszard wines: 1000-3000

Leave a Comment

Theme: Food and Drink
Address: 7th district, on Dohany u.58-62 - In Vino Veritas
Directions: See above in the shop description!

Name of Shop: Central Market Hall (Nagy Vasarcsarnok)

The 19th century building wes restored in 1994 to it's original splendor (not counting the canal it had before to deliver the goods directly with ships...this is long gone).

The building has a nice and huge interior, which gives me the sense of an open air market. It's worth to see it from outside as well though, especially the tiles on the roof made by the famous Zsolnay manufacture.

What To Buy: All kinds of fresh produce, meat, fish, flowers and also souvenirs (tableclothes, etc.) on the upper level.

You can get all the "famous hungarian food products" here: Pick salami, wine, Paprika from Szeged and Kalocsa, Palinka (a spirit made by fruits - I recommend taking the so called "whistling peach" - fülyülös barack palinka), goose liver, Unicum.

And also of course the handmade embroided tableclothes and Halasi laces.

What To Pay: It depends, but souvenirs are worth to buy here due to the easy accesibility and relativly good prices.

Leave a Comment

Theme: Other
Address: 9th District, Fovam ter
Directions: The building is, between walking distance from Kálvin tér (M3 station) as well, but you can also get there with the trams 47, 49 and 2 (station: Szabadsag hid or Fövam tér), but if you will just walk on the new part of Váci utca you can't miss it either.

Name of Shop: Westend City Center

Westend is a huge mall in the very heart of Budapest, next to the Nyugati trainstation (Nyugati statiion on M3 metro line, or with the tram No. 4 or 6, etc.).

It has everything, clothes, food, cinema, crafts, whatever. It might be not the right place to by specific souvenir items (for this you might visit the Central Market Hall, see in my tips soon), but if you need a new T-shirt, a good ice-cream, an extra tie, or a lens cleaner for your camera, just go there!

What To Buy: Everything you might need in everyday life :)
But do not buy hungarian embroided tableclothes, wine, salami and things like that over there (check my tips!! :)

What To Pay: A lot, but be moderate! :)

Leave a Comment

Theme: Other
Address: The building is between Nyugati and Lehel square
Directions: Walk from Nyugati square to the direction of Lehel sqaure and you will see it! :)

If you arrive with the metro, just come up in the direction of the railway station and you will arrive directly to the entrance.
Website: www.westend.hu

Name of Shop: Alfoldi Majolika Shop

Majolika is a way of doing pottery started in the XV century in Italy.

Nowdays they make it also in Hungary and usually they are modern, colorful items for general use.

Not as fancy as the world famous Zsolnay and Herendi, but if you just need a mug in happy colours for your breakfast table, then this is the thing to chose! :)

The shop is open from 10:00 am until about 5:00 pm at least (maybe not on sunday...)

What To Buy: Majolika items - mugs, plates, etc.

What To Pay: Items starting from 1-2 EUR

Leave a Comment

Theme: Local Craft
Address: 5th district, Váci u. 46.
Directions: The shop is on the "newer" walking part of the Váci street, between Ferencziek tere and Fovam ter.

Name of Shop: Kaczian tie shop

Kaczian Maria's shop in the downtown of Budapest is one of the very few shops which ddidn't changed at all but are still alive and prospering.

If you need a tie and want something traditional or something you won't get elsewhere (They actually make ties and sell them only over there) this is the place to go.

What To Buy: Ties of course

What To Pay: 3000-9000 HUF

Leave a Comment

Theme: Men's Clothes
Address: 5th district, Regiposta utca 14
Directions: Regiposta utca is in the walking are of the center, the street is off Vaci utca.

Name of Shop: Tisza shop

The Hungarian "Tisza" brand (it's actually a river's name originally) was big during the communism. The "Tisza cipo" (Tisza shoes) was for long the only sportshoe available over here (besides some chinese ones...).

Now, that the retro style is such a good business, someone decided to renew this brand and sell the original stuff and some newly designed ones as well.

Open from 10 am to 7 pm on weekdays, and from 10 am to 2 pm on saturday.

What To Buy: A pair of shoes from here and your friends abroad will be looking up to you! :)

What To Pay: Average sporting goods prices...maybe a little less :)

Leave a Comment

Theme: Sporting Goods
Phone: (+36 1) 266-3055
Address: 7th district, Karoly krt 1.
Directions: Karoly krt starts at Astoria, the shop is just opposite from the Astoria Hotel.

M2 underground, trams 47 and 49, bus no 7, etc...:)
Website: www.tiszacipo.hu

Name of Shop: Red Bus - Secondhand English Bookstore

Run out of reading stuff during your trip? Try this little shop for a new book for your next 14 hour train trip! :)

Open from 11 am to 19 pm during the week and from 10am until 2 pm on Saturday.

What To Buy: Well...books, what else! :)

What To Pay: Depends on the book, but you can get some good deals.

Leave a Comment

Theme: Books
Phone: (+36 1) 337 7453
Address: 5th district, Semmelweis u. 14
Directions: The street is between Astoria and Ferencziek tere. If you walk from the Astoria underground station to Ferencziek, it' on the right hand side.

Name of Shop: Hologram Galeria

The hologram was invented by the famous Hungarian Nobel prize winner engineer, Denes Gabor. From 1934 he was working in the UK, for the Thomson Houston Society's laboratory where he found the basics of the holography while his electro-optical researches.

The shop is a gallery of holograms, but of course all of them can be yours. :)

What To Buy: Holograms, what else :)

What To Pay: Depends on the size.

Leave a Comment

Theme: Other
Address: 5th district, Parizsi udvar
Directions: The Parizsi udvar (Paris Garden) is near Ferencziek tere underground station. It has two entrances. One from the Petofi Sandor utca and one from the Kigyo utca. You can also get there with the buses 7, 173, etc.
Website: www.hologram.hu

Every year starting from the end of November the Vorosmarty Square in the very heart of Budapest is hosting an excellent christmas bazaar full of handcrafted items.

And don't forget to drink some hot-wine (but be sure to do it at one of the charity booths - Rotary/Rotaract, Lions/Leo...).

What To Buy: Hot wine and then anything you like! There sure will be some items close to your taste! :)


Leave a Comment

Theme: Other
Address: 5th district, Vorosmarty ter
Directions: M1 underground station Vorosmarty ter or just walk in from Deak Ferenc ter through one of the streets going in the direction of the Danube.

Name of Shop: Vorosmarty square Christmas fair

At the hot wine sellers of the Christmas fair on Vorosmarty ter, you can "rent" (and keep for yourself if you want) this antique looking "Budapest" mug.

If you are willing to help others, buy the mug in their shops, but the hot wine itself from the Rotary/Rotaract or the Lions/Leo booth close to the Gerbeaud Café's side of the square, so your donation will land on the best place! :)

What To Buy: Mug and then some hot wine!

What To Pay: Normal hot wine sellers: 200-400 HUF
Rotary/Rotaract, Lions/Leo booths: as much as you want to donate! :)

Leave a Comment

Theme: Food and Drink
Address: 5th district, Vorosmarty ter
Directions: Vorosmarty ter M' underground station or just walk in from Deak Ferenc square.