Top Places To Go Shopping in Budapest
Budapest is the cultural hub of Hungary and one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. It is known for its cozy ruin bars, healing thermal baths, and famous historical sites, such as Chain Bridge and Castle Hill. In addition, Budapest is an exciting and relatively cheap shopping destination.
Whether you’re looking for designer clothing labels, handmade shoes, or flea-market bargains, you’ll find them in this stylish city. To provide you with an idea of what the city offers, we’ve compiled a list of some of the top places to go shopping in Budapest.
All of these places on the list are easily accessible by public transportation or by car if staying in one of Budahome’s centrally located vacation rentals.
Places you can reach with public transit
1. PALOMA Budapest
Paloma Artist Courtyard is a shared showroom space where local Hungarian designers and craft artists produce and display their goods. This design emporium is located in a gorgeous old building with impressive interior archways. In the 1990s, Paloma was a successful shopping center. However, the emergence of giant shopping malls in Budapest resulted in the eventual closure of shops in the center, until all that was left were abandoned retail spaces.
In 2014, a group of local artists moved into these empty shops on the ground and first floor, opening up showrooms, concept stores, and ateliers. Patrons can shop for custom-made jewelry, clothes, shoes, bags, and much more. A nice perk of shopping at Paloma Artist Courtyard is that you get to meet the designers in person. In this way, you can acquire special memories to go with your purchases!
OPENING HOURS:
MONDAY to FRIDAY: 11:00 - 19:00
SATURDAY: 11:00 - 15:00
LOCATION:
2. Great Market Hall
The Great Market Hall, which was built in 1897, is both the largest and the oldest indoor market in Budapest. According to many, it is also the most beautiful. Situated in the famous pedestrian shopping street, Váci Utca, the market has a central location, which is why it is often referred to as the Central Market.
Markets, in general, are great destinations if you’re into fresh produce, local delicacies, and people watching — and the Great Market Hall provides all of these in abundance. Three floors of stalls display anything from fresh fruits and vegetables to pickles to fresh fish. On the main floor, you’ll find a wide selection of meats, pastries, spices, and even caviar. The two upper floors provide food stands and various souvenirs, such as embroidered items and crafts.
OPENING HOURS:
Monday: 6 am - 5 pm
Tuesday to Friday: 6 am - 6 pm
Saturday: 6 am - 3 pm
LOCATION:
3. Retrock
Widely popular with the college crowd, Retrock is a large, hip store that sells a vast collection of vintage clothes, jewelry, shoes, and bags. They also stock experimental items and the latest streetwear, designed by Avante-Garde Hungarian designers. You can expect to receive useful tips and guidance from Retrock shop assistants, who are typically young fashionistas who are well-informed regarding the latest trends in Hungarian couture.
After you’ve selected a vintage dress or designer jacket, take some time to browse through their collection of comic books and movie posters. Even if you don’t purchase anything, browsing this two-story shop is still a great way to pass some time.
OPENING HOURS:
Monday to Friday: 1pm - 6 pm
Saturday: 11 am - 7 pm
LOCATION:
4. Szimpla Farmers’ Market
Budapest is well-known for its ruin bars. For those who are not familiar with the term, ruin bars started to pop up on the nightlife scene in the early 2000s. These joints are typically located in formerly abandoned buildings. However, the quirky furniture and eclectic décor of ruin bars provide a stark contrast to the rundown state of the buildings. These unpretentious, yet trendy, spaces, have become hugely popular since they provide the perfect setting for anything from a quiet drink and something to eat to dancing the night away.
The Szimpla Bar is Budapest’s most famous ruin bar. It consists of various sections, including a shisha lounge and a large courtyard where patrons can listen to live music. On Sunday mornings, however, the bar is transformed into a farmers’ market. Various stalls, which are set up aside the graffiti-clad walls, offer sausages, smoked cheeses, homemade jams, and freshly baked bread. Patrons can also enjoy huge servings of stews, goulash, and soups that are provided by a charity cook-a-thon in the courtyard.
OPENING HOURS:
Sunday: 9 am - 2 pm
LOCATION:
5. Czako Kert Farmers Market
At the foot of the panoramic Citadella, on famous Gellért Hill, Czako Kert is a bistro, pastry shop and farmers market. Growers from all over the country meet to offer visitors their freshest and most delicious produce. You can simply purchase whatever you fancy or opt to taste these delicacies in the bistro. There’s also a 250-year old wine cellar with top selections and the entire venue is hosted inside the only remaining traditional Hungarian farmhouse in all of Budapest.
OPENING HOURS:
Saturday: 8 am - 2 pm
Sunday: 9 am - 3 pm
LOCATION:
6. MOM Park
MOM Park is an indoor mall located just minutes from the city center that offers a variety of shops, movie theaters, an elegant 10-lane bowling alley and a supermarket. It’s part of a larger complex which also includes MOM Sport, a multifunctional event and sports venue. Shops include H&M, Douglas, Michael Kors, Lui Jo, Intimissimi and much more.
OPENING HOURS:
Monday to Saturday: 7:30 am - 10:00 pm
Sunday: 8 am - 8 pm
LOCATION:
7. Westend and Lehel Square Market
Westend is one of the most famous shopping complexes in the city located next to Nyugati Railway Station and featuring more than 400 shops, food courts and movie theatres. It’s easily accessible by subway (M3 line) and is very close to Lehel Square meat and produce market. The subway hallways leading to Westend are also full of street vendors (mostly clothing) so it’s highly unlikely that you won't find what you’re looking for here. Shops at Westend include Arena, C & A, Calvin Klein Jeans, Desigual, Helly Hansen, LEGO, just too name a few.
OPENING HOURS:
FOR STORES:
Monday to Sunday 8 am - 8 pm
FOR RESTAURANTS:
Monday to Sunday 8 am - 8 pm
FOR CINEMA CITY MOVIE THEATERS:
Monday – Friday 11:30 am - 10:45 pm
Saturday – Sunday 9:30 am - 10:45 pm
LOCATION:
8. Lehel Square Market
Lehel Square Market is very popular with locals and a pleasant discovery for visitors looking for high quality meat and produce. Once an open-air market (operating since 1890), the place was totally revamped about a decade ago to create a modern, spacious indoor venue where shoppers could comfortably buy every day regardless of the weather.
OPENING HOURS:
Monday to Friday 6 am - 6 pm
Saturday: 6 am - 2 pm
Sunday: 6 am - 1 pm
LOCATION:
9. Budapest Flea Markets
A trip to Budapest is not complete unless you visit one of the city’s popular flea markets. The flea market at Klauzál Square Market Hall is conveniently located in Budapest’s Jewish Quarter, which is near the city center. This market offers an eclectic mix of unique and retro items, including clothes, artwork, jewelry, porcelain ware, and vintage cameras.
OPENING HOURS:
Sunday: 10 am - 5 pm
LOCATION:
10. Esceri Flea Market
If you’re prepared to take a 30-minute bus ride out of the city center, a visit to Ecseri Flea Market is a pleasant way to while away an hour or two. It is not only the biggest and most popular flea market in Budapest but also rated as one of the top flea markets in Europe. If you’re into antiques, such as vintage musical instruments, old furniture, and Zsolnay porcelain, a visit to Ecseri simply has to be on your itinerary. The fact that this flea market is open seven days a week will make it easier to fit a visit into your schedule.
OPENING HOURS:
Monday to Friday: 8am - 4 pm
Saturday: 6am - 3 pm
Sunday: 8 am - 1 pm
LOCATION:
11. Herend
Herend is the shop to go to if you want to buy a special décor piece for your home or a memorable gift for a friend. The company, which has a presence in 60 countries, had its humble beginnings in the Hungarian town, Herend. If you’re so lucky to find yourself in Budapest, make sure to pop by the company’s flagship store in the V District of Budapest.
Here, you can marvel at their world-renowned porcelain and pottery ware, which has enamored many celebrities and members of the upper class enough over the years to reach deep into their pockets. In 1851, for instance, Queen Victoria ordered a Herend dinner set for Windsor Castle.
Spoil yourself with an exquisite vase, tea set, or figurine. All of the wares at Herend are handmade and hand-painted by artisans. As such, Herend products are works of art, which is why multiple pieces are displayed in museums.
OPENING HOURS:
Monday to Friday 10 am - 6 pm
Saturday: 10 am - 2 pm
LOCATION:
12. Mammut
Although it’s fun to visit unique small businesses when you’re exploring another country, the convenience of shopping malls makes them difficult to resist. If you find yourself looking for a mall where you can shop till you drop in Budapest, head for Mammut. This mega mall, which is divided into Mammut I and II, consists of more than 300 shops. Whether you’re looking for shoes, sports gear, perfume, cosmetics, health products, or tools, you’ll find it at Mamut.
Some of the international brands at the mall include Clarins, Bagatt, L’Occitane en Provence, and Pierre Cardin. Apart from retail outlets, the mall is home to a food court, a fitness center, a Thai massage parlor, banks, a bowling alley, and a cinema. A special feature of this shopping complex is the so-called Bio Promenade, an entire hallway dedicated to healthy living. The stores on this promenade sell nothing but organic products and natural cosmetics to live a toxin-free life.
OPENING HOURS:
FOR STORES:
Monday to Saturday 10 am - 9 pm
Sunday: 6 am - 6 pm
FOR SPAR Supermarket:
Monday to Saturday: 6:30 am - 10 pm
Sunday 8 am - 8 pm
FOR BIO PROMENADE:
Monday to Saturday: 9 am - 8 pm
FOR RESTAURANTS:
Every day: 10 am - 10 pm
LOCATION:
13. Szputnyik
If you don’t like to look like the rest and are a fashionista with your own, unique style, Szputnyik may be well worth a visit. Szputnyik states that it caters for “fashion adventurers and treasure hunters” and that it provides “fashion from the past, style for the future.” These statements should give you a good idea of what this shop is about. They offer a wide selection of vintage and one-of-a-kind items.
New collections with art-like designs that can easily be mixed and matched with vintage treasures are also offered. In addition, the shop carries a few popular brands, such as Toms shoes and Kanken backpacks. The best part of shopping at Szputnyik is the shop’s reasonable pricing. So, if you find that your budget is stretched thin while on a trip in Budapest, drop by Szputnyik for quality bargains.
OPENING HOURS:
Monday to Saturday 10 am - 8 pm
Sunday: 10 am - 6 pm
LOCATION:
14. Printa Design Shop
Located in the bustling Jewish Quarter, Printa Design Shop is an eco-friendly design shop and artist’s studio. The shop offers a wide range of products, which range from silkscreen print T-shirts to vintage-style paper sacks with a Budapest motif on them. You can also purchase stunning knitted items at Printa, including stylish cardigans, sweaters, shirts, and dresses.
Other items in stock include a variety of accessories, such as gorgeous leather bags, unique belts, and fashionable jewelry. Those who are eco-conscious can purchase zero-waste products, which are all made from natural and compostable materials. You can choose from a wide selection of zero-waste products, including kitchen accessories, bags, pouches, and brushes. Spoil your friends and family with nice gifts from Printa, such as a zero-waste cutlery set, a beautiful wooden salad picking set, or a silk print inspired by Budapest’s unique culture and beautiful landscape.
OPENING HOURS:
Every Day: 10 am - 7 pm
LOCATION:
Places you can reach by car
1. Budaors
Budaörs is a suburb of Budapest easily reachable from the city center along the route leading you to Lake Balaton. It features basically two shopping complexes (one on either side of the highway) that have everything you may need for a short or longer stay.
Brands include Auchan, Tesco. Aldi, Lidl (supermarkets), Praktiker, Obi, IKEA, Diego (home improvement), MediaMarkt, eMAG (electronics), H & M, Humanic, Mountex, Sports Direct, New Yorker, Decathlon (clothing, shoes and sportswear), Rossmann (beauty products).
OPENING HOURS:
Every Day: 9 am - 8 pm (might vary from store to store)
LOCATION:
2. Arena Plaza Mall
Located not too far from the city center in District X is the Arena Plaza Mall. This is a brand new venue featuring international chain stores such as Adidas, Calvin Klein, Geox, Carl Lagerfeld. Also featured are an IMAX and regular movie theaters, a food court, a Tesco hypermarket and pharmacy. It can also be reached by public transport.
OPENING HOURS:
FOR STORES:
Monday - Saturday: 10 am - 9 pm
Sunday: 10 am - 7 pm
FOR RESTAURANTS:
Monday - Saturday: 10 am - 9 pm
Sunday: 10 am - 8 pm
FOR TESCO:
Every day: 8 am - 9 pm
FOR PHARMACY:
Monday - Saturday: 9 am- 8 pm
Sunday: 9 am - 7 pm
LOCATION:
With this, you’re ready to shop ‘til you drop during your vacation to Budapest!