Souvenir Shopping (Self Guided), Budapest

It will definitely be a pity to leave Budapest without exploring local specialty shops and bringing home something authentically Hungarian. A large number of the city’s specialty shops are found on Váci Street, a pedestrian thoroughfare that parallels the Danube, extending for more than 15 blocks, with something for every taste and wallet. At its most southerly end, you will find Central Market Hall, worth poking around inside to find local delicacies such as spicy ‘kolbász’ salami, as well as paprika, caviar, traditional dolls, chessboards, t-shirts and other souvenirs.

Don’t forget to pass by Millenium Antik and the neighboring Folkart Centrum if you want something other than the usual tat. The latter has a very nice assortment of handmade items – from clothing and table wear to pottery, ornaments and magnets. Not the usual tourist stuff!

Fancy some mouth-watering ‘chimney cakes’? You can get them rolled in a number of toppings (chocolate, cinnamon, walnuts, almonds, coconut, etc.) at Molnar’s Kurtoskalacs. Try a sample before ordering!

Further along the way, you may find everything from handmade dolls to amazing hand-crafted porcelains and crystals, plus a masterpiece of the Hungarian shoemaker’s craft: the elegant “Budapest shoe” made using traditional methods.

To search for souvenirs that are unique to Budapest, follow our self-guided walk!