55 Best Places to Shop in Budapest, Hungary

One of Hungary's most popular secondhand shops has extended into the boutique trade. You'll find unique, quirky, or just plain bizarre items at rock-bottom prices here.

For a look back into the world before video games and action figures, stop in at this tiny store, where fabulous reproductions of antique European toys are sold. From simple paper puzzles to lovely stone building blocks to 1940s wind-up metal monkeys on bicycles, these "nostalgia toys" are beautifully simple and exceptionally clever. Even if you're not a collector, it's worth a stop just to browse.

Massolit Budapest Bookstore and Café is an excellent place to find rare English translations of books by Hungarian and other Central Eastern European writers. A popular meeting place with expats, it serves good coffee as well as delicious homemade cakes and cookies, and regularly hosts book launches, poetry readings, and literary events.

If antique weapons are your thing, then check out this esoteric shop, which specializes in 18th-century weaponry. A curious array of militaria and firearms and torture devices will keep even the casual browser interested.

A trip to Budapest wouldn't be complete without a visit to this spectacular grand food hall, a 19th-century iron-frame construction that was reopened in the mid-1990s after years of renovation. Pictures on the east wall show the history of this market, when it was Budapest's central location for meat and produce coming in from the countryside. Even during the leanest years of Communist shortages, the abundance of food came as a revelation to shoppers from East and West.

Like most markets in Hungary, seasonal products prevail: in summer tomatoes and peaches are abundant; in November celeriac and pumpkin. The stalls on the ground floor sell meat and produce as well as prepared food. This is the place to buy Hungarian delicacies such as piquant salamis, robust paprika, and buttery goose or duck liver pâtés. Upstairs is filled with folk-art vendors, souvenir shops, and a few fast-food kiosks. Handmade tablecloths, painted boxes, and traditional embroidery are the best buys among the handicrafts. For the full experience, go morning or midday in the week, as its only opened until 3 on Saturday and closed on Sunday.

Part designer boutique, part artisan coffee shop, the flagship outlet of this high-end Hungarian fashion brand is well worth a look. Founded by London College of Fashion graduate Sandra Sandor (whose nickname is Nanushka), it has gained a loyal international following for its stylish, feminine, but functional designs. The clothes aren't cheap, but you'll get more bang for your buck than at the big-name luxury brands on nearby Fashion Street. The coffee is fantastic, too.

Eastern European fashion featuring dark colors and elegant, minimalist cuts with a focus on sustainability and durability, the clothing line of NUBU is subtle and graceful and definitely carries Hungarian design elements throughout its collection.

Skincare enthusiasts are more than familiar with Omorovicza, a brand that's taken the world by storm since its launch in 2006. For the rest of us: they harness the healing properties of Budapest's thermal baths, infusing its richness into a premium range that spans cleansers, moisturizers, serums, and much more. The brand's Andrassy flagship shop is seen as a holy grail, featuring exclusive products as well as in-store spa treatments ranging from face masks to massages.

The city base of this design studio, run by a couple in the town of Szentendre, showcases cool, modern Hungarian and European design and homewares, from lamps to cutlery, bowls to pans.

Point is a furniture and home accessories shop featuring internationally known Hungarian interior designers. Their Pest showroom just off of Szabadság tér includes fresh concepts by Vitra, Diesel Living, Milliken, and KAZA Concrete. A modern take on traditional styles, the warm dusty colors and smooth rounded shapes are worth a visit for home design fans looking to discover new brands.

Printa is a local design house dedicated to offering modern, environmentally conscious fashion with Budapest flair. This store is part design shop, part art gallery, plus a screen-printing studio and café. You'll find one-of-a-kind pieces, some with vintage, repurposed elements; be sure to check out limited edition clothing collections and zero-waste products.

The small, newly opened art gallery facing the Budavári sikló (Buda Castle Funicular) has ever-changing exhibitions, which mostly showcase local Hungarian artists. Much of the artwork on display is available for purchase.

This vintage and designer shop also features creations by a host of local Hungarian designers. It's a designer shop, and not often cheap, but filled with fantastic treasures old and new.

This quirky art and design store is a browser's paradise, with a variety of eye-catching artwork on sale, including original paintings, prints, photos, posters, and postcards. But that's just the start: shoppers can also pick up original clothing, jewelry, cosmetics, homeware, toys, books, and even foodstuffs. The store is located in a passageway between Semmelweis utca and Károly körút (and accessible from both).

This boutique Belváros chocolate shop has a tempting selection of artisan bars and truffles, many with unusual flavor combinations, and the sweet treats are wrapped in lovely, arty packaging.

This is an old, established music store carrying the best selection of Hungarian composers on CD, as well as a good selection of sheet music. There's a small number of recordings by the best Hungarian classical performers as well, including celebrated pianist Zoltán Kocsis.

Marzipan has always been a favorite in Central Europe, and this well-loved confectioner has spent more than 75 years mastering the art. The store has always been most famous for its marzipan cookies, cakes, and candies, as well as its edible marzipan roses, but today just as many people come for the ice cream.

Located next to Szimpla Kert, Budapest's most famous ruin bar, this quirky shop is one of the easiest spots in town to find unique and interesting antiques, clothing, toys, furniture, and decor. With Szimpla Kert being famed for its eclectic style as well as recycled and upcycled wares, it makes sense that their design team would peddle lovingly restored and repurposed finds, along with works from other local designers. It's pricier than the dusty antiques stores you'll find dotted around town, but a safe choice for travelers. 

This hip clothing and accessories shop sells new and used (upcycled) items. Carrying fashion brands with eco-friendly policies, it's not just a store, it's a concept.

A favorite of Elton John, Elvis Costello, and Richard Branson, this Hungarian-founded high-end eyewear brand upcycles old vinyl records into designer frames. Drop by the showroom for a peek into the process while sampling potential new looks. Be warned: prices start at an eyewatering 145,000 HUF per pair. For some, it's a small price to pay for fashion that tells a story.

Award-winning Miklós Varga's flagship store off Váci utca is a big and welcoming one. Expensive gold and platinum necklaces with Tahitian pearls are showcased in the front of the store, but don't miss the unusual sterling silver collection in the back. There are some lovely pieces for everyday wear.

If you are looking for a really luxurious indulgence, why not consider a pair of handmade leather shoes, specifically measured to your feet? You can choose from a variety of traditional styles, from cordovan to nubuck. Though wildly expensive when compared to the cost of ready-made shoes, prices are still very competitive with bespoke shoes elsewhere in Europe and the United States. There's a small selection of ready-to-wear shoes available as well.

If you're a vinyl-head looking for deep cuts, there's no better store than Wave. A beacon for alternative music since the 1990s, it stocks some of the rarest records in the region, from Hungarian jazz and folk tunes to Yugoslavian rock bands.

Central Europe's largest shopping mall is home to many luxury retailers, including Italian handbag maker Mandarina Duck, Austrian lingerie purveyor Palmer, high-end watchmaker Orex, and fashion-forward but relatively low-priced Mango (in the same league as Zara). There's a good offering of sports apparel here as well, with Nike, Champion, Puma, Adidas, and Quicksilver shops. The mall's roof is thoughtfully landscaped with benches and paths, providing welcome relief from the sometimes teeming floors below. The 14-screen cinema on the top floor is abuzz with activity most nights, with popular restaurants and bars right beside the box office. In addition to the metro, the mall is served by the 4 and 6 trams. It is open daily 8 am to 11 pm.