|
Over the last couple of years Budapest has seen
more than ten major malls open for business - an adventurous attempt to attract Hungarians to
western style shopping and leisure. Most of the shops in each mall are owned by western retailers
(often being well-established brands) or Hungarian companies trying to emulate their success.
Although initially there was a great deal of skepticism as to whether such
ventures would take off, Budapest's malls have proved popular with both locals and tourists
alike. And, with even more on the way it seems that residents of the city should have their
own 'personal mall' by 2007. A listing of the best is as follows:
Budapest Malls
Árkád
X. Őrs vezér tere 25, Tel: 434 8200, Fax:
434 8207, Open: Mon-Fri 10am-9pm, Sat 10am-7pm, Metro: M2 Őrs
vezér tere and HÉV stop
The German owned Árkád shopping center is among the newest in Budapest, having opened
in March 2002. Benefiting from a huge catchment area and excellent transport links (both via metro
and HÉV) Árkád boasts over 170 retailers including big names such as Nike,
Budmil, Mexx, Esprit, Salamander, Humanic and MediaMarkt. Well-built, with a very pleasant
atmosphere, although it can get rather busy!
XXII. Campona Bevásárlóközpont,
Nagytétényi út 37-45, Tel: 424 3000, Website: www.campona.hu, Bus 3 to Nagytétény
Despite
being located on the very outskirts of Budapest, the Campona the shopping center has been
a surprising success. If you have a car - and just happen to be
travelling along route 6 (E76) - then it's well-worth a visit. If not, then the No. 3 bus will also
get you there (at a leisurely pace). Be warned though, it's far easier to get to nearly all of the
other malls listed below. That said, highlights include an aquarium, Suzuki car showroom and
11
screen UCI Palace Cinema.
XXI, Rákóczi F. út 154-170, Csepel Plaza, Tel: 425 8111,
Website: www.csepelplaza.net, HÉV
to Szent Imre tér
60 or so outlets, including a Bata shoes store, Libri bookshop and a
Cinema City Multiplex. Not the most centrally located mall for tourists (being located on the
sprawling Csepel Island), although if you're planning a trip south on the HÉV then it's
well-worth a visit.
XIII. Váci út 178, Tel: 465 1666, Website: www.dunaplaza.net, Open: Mon-Fri
10am-9pm, Sat-Sun 10am-7pm, Metro: M3 Gyöngyösi
út
With over 120 shops, a nine screen "Hollywood
Multiplex", video arcade and bowling alley, the Duna Plaza is more reminiscent of malls in
Edmonton or Toronto than Budapest. The Hungaroton Gigastore stocks one of the largest selections of CDs
anywhere in Budapest, while other stores include an Alexandra bookstore, B & J Sport,
Budmil and Marks & Spencer.
XIX. Üllöi út 201, Tel: 347 1549, Website: www.europark.hu, Open: Mon-Fri 10am-6pm, Sat
10am-1pm, Metro: M3 Hátár út
Among the smallest and least impressive of Budapest's malls, there really isn't much here to
recommend (other than a large Spa supermarket), especially when compared to both Duna Plaza and the Pólus Center, which offer an
infinitely better shopping experience. Stores/restaurants with a presence at Europark
include Hervis, T-Com, Jeans Club, Griff Gentlemen's, Paris Boutique, Saturn (electrical
store) and McDonalds.
IX. Bevásárló Központ, Könyves
Kálmán krt. 12-14, Tel: 456 1100, Website: www.lurdyhaz.hu, Metro: M3 Népliget and
HÉV stop Vagóhíd
An impressive complex that, as well as housing a Marks & Spencer Store, contains a Zsolnay
Márkabolt, big name sports retailers (Adidas, Umbro, Nike), trendy fashions (Levi's,
Kookai, Saxoo, Roger McGill) a multiplex cinema and ten-pin bowling (good, but expensive at 2,300 HUF per
hour). Over 120 shops in total, including an excellent range of food/drink options.
II. Nagyajtai út, 4/a Széna tér, Tel: 345 8000,
Website: www.mammut.hu, Open: Mon-Fri 10am-9pm,
Sat-Sun 10am-6pm, Metro: M2 Moszkva tér
Opened in August 1998, Buda's Mammut is arguably the most successful (yet) of the capital's malls.
Located near the busy transport hub of Moszkva tér, Mammut's glowing dome acts as a homing
beacon to the many shoppers who arrive by metro. Although big name fashion and sport shops
predominate, a good range of smaller outlets means that even the most discerning shoppers won't
leave disappointed. A decent choice of cafés and restaurants on the upper floors (the
swankiest of which is the café Miro MkII) also come in handy for taking a well earned rest.
For technology junkies, the basement Saturn electrical store is one of the best in Budapest.
Mammut II
II. Lövöház utca 2-6, Tel: 345 8020, Website: www.mammut.hu, Open: Mon-Fri 10am-9pm, Sat-Sun
10am-6pm, Metro: M2 Moszkva tér
Conveniently located next to the original Mammut building, this extended shopping centre now offers
a sprawling Benetton, plus Mexx and Kookai stores.
XII, Alkotás út 53, Tel: 487 5501, Fax: 487 5505, Website: www.mompark.hu, Tram 59, 61, Bus 8, 139
Aside from having one of the best new cinemas in Hungary (the nine-screen UCI Palace), Mom Park is
actually a fairly ordinary, albeit recently built shopping mall. There's a somewhat retro feel to
the materials used - circa 1970s if we were being unkind - although plus points are a nice Match
supermarket (on the lower food court level) a well-equipped Matáv Internet café and
rather less people than in Mammut or the WestEnd Center!
XV Szentmihályi út 131, Tel: 414 2145, Website: www.polus.com, Open: Mon-Fri 10am-8pm, Sat-Sun
10am-7pm, Shuttle bus from Metro: M2 Keleti pu.
With distinctly American leanings (even down to the various concourse which have names such as
Sunset Boulevard and Rodeo Drive), the Pólus used to be the biggest of Budapest's malls
(until the WestEnd Center below opened). Home also to a giant Tesco (the British supermarket chain)
the mall is well laid out but extremely busy.
Rózsakert
II. Bevásárló Központ, Gábor Áron u.
74-78, Tel: 391 5998, Website: www.rozsakert.hu, Bus 5, 22, 49, 56E
Located off Szilágyi Erzsébet Fasor, the Rózsakert is another new and
impressive mall, with a Kaiser's Supermarket, specialist food shops, CIB bank, post office and a
whole host of furniture/home improvement retailers. With good transport connections from Moszkva
tér.
III. Új Udvar Bevásárló és
Szérakoztató Központ, Bécsi út 38-44, Tel: 437 8383,
Website: www.uj-udvar.hu, Tram 17 to
Kolosy tér, HÉV stop Szépvölgyi út
Smaller in scale than other malls listed here, although Új Udvar does boast a Cinema City
multiplex, CBA supermarket and Budapest Bank. A location close
to Margit Sziget is a boon, being just a short walk from Szépvölgyi út
HÉV stop.
VI. Váci út 1-3, Tel: 238 7777, Website: www.westend.hu, Metro: M3 Nyugati pu., Opening hours to follow
Situated close to the city's Western railway station (Nyugati pu.) the WestEnd City Center is
Central Europe's largest (and arguably most impressive) shopping mall. Developed by Canada's
TrizecHahn corporation, the award winning architecture is both futuristic and imposing, with a
wonderfully angular facade that's straight out of Logan's Run.
With over 400 shops, there were legitimate worries over the effect that the
Center's opening will have upon small businesses in the district. That said, the WestEnd City
Center aptly demonstrates the pace and grand scale of new developments in the city. Incorporating
the Hilton WestEnd Hotel and a pleasant roof garden, it's certainly a near perfect model for
similar large-scale developments in the future. Budapest is thinking big. And let's face it, none
come bigger (or better) than the WestEnd Center.
Budapest Department Stores
Larger shops are often owned by Western
retailers and, as a consequence, the quality of both goods and service has improved over the last
few years. What's more, plenty of bargains can be found, particularly on clothes, leather goods and
shoes.
VIII. Blaha Lujza tér 1-2, Tel: 338 4160, Open: Mon-Fri 9am-7pm, Sat
10am-3pm, Metro: M2 Blaha Lujza tér/Tram 4, 6
Home furnishings, clothing, underwear, toys and other goods (such as towels, kitchen accessories)
predominate as this centrally located store. A worthy find, especially as it boasts a well-stocked
Kaiser's supermarket on the ground-floor. And, contrary to what some (rather outdated guides on
Budapest) say about the Corvin, a docket system is not used to purchase goods and credit cards are
instantly accepted!
C & A
V. Váci utca 16, Tel: 327 0024, Open: Mon-Fri 10am-7pm, Saturday
10am-3pm, Metro: M1 Vörösmarty tér
Situated just a few doors along from the Taverna Hotel, C & A stocks good value women's and men's
fashions, along with baby clothes and sportswear.
Bershka (Previously Luxus)
V. Vörösmarty tér 3, Tel: 318 3550, Metro: M1 Vörösmarty tér
Previously home to the long established, but vastly overpriced Luxus department store,
this landmark Secessionist building has opened its doors once more as Bershka. Spread over
three floors, it contains a good range of
men's and women's fashions, plus a whole host of accessories. Conveniently located in
District V. near to the main tourist drag of Váci utca.
Skála Metro Divatáruház
Nyugati tér 1-2, 2nd Floor, Tel: 374 0294 or 332 2511, Website: www.skala.hu, Metro: M3 Nyugati pu., Opening hours to follow
Before the changes of 1989, which saw democracy sweep through
Eastern-Europe, Skála stores were considered (under the old system) to be the
pinnacle of the fine shopping in Hungary. However, an antiquated payment system (which
invariably meant queuing twice), surly staff and poor quality goods meant that it was
anything but.
Having gone through lean times since then, Skála has
re-invented itself of late, with this flagship store opposite Nyugati station being a
thoroughly pleasant place in which to browse for bargains. And bargains there are aplenty,
thanks to Skála having to compete with the nearby West End Center.
So, despite the store seemingly being on the expensive side, it's
well-worth taking a closer look before heading off around the corner.
Budapest Markets
Budapest has some excellent
markets (piac), many of which are housed in grand market halls. Not only are they great places in which to
see locals going about their daily business, but also offer high quality produce at cheap prices.
In fact, for vegetarians looking to escape the usual restaurant diet of fried mushroom and cheese
dishes, we recommend shopping at a market to find the freshest fruit, vegetables and bread. And, if
you're after food on the go, try an in-house fast food stall. Not only do they offer a tasty
alternative to McDonald's or Pizza Hut in the form of langos - a fried dough snack - but a wide
array of hot Hungarian sausages too! Of course, as with any market, always be wary of pickpockets
and keep your valuables safely tucked away. For a complete run down of markets in Budapest
visit: www.csapi.hu,
while a list of our favourites is given below:
Nagykörösi út Flea Market (Használtcikk
piac)
XIX. Nagykörösi út 156, Tel: 348 3200, Website:
www.csapi.hu, Open: Mon-Fri 8am-4pm, Sat 6am-3pm, Sun 8am-1pm,
Bus 154 from Metro: M3 Határ út or 54 bus from
HÉV stop Boráros tér (in both cases get off at Fiume út stop)
Bric-a-brac, Communist memorabilia and textile stalls line the outer part of the market, while the
more upmarket pitches sell anything from fine porcelain and antiques to machine supplies. You'll
need to haggle for your country to get the best deals though.
Central Market Hall (Nagy Vásárcsarnok)
See our sights page for further
information. Alternatively, check out the market's own website at: www.csapi.hu.
Józsefvárosi V (Chinese Market)
VII. Kőbányai út 21-23, Open: 7am-6pm daily, Tram 28,
37
A bustling place with mainly Chinese stall-holders selling cut price designer fashions, shoes,
silks and housewares. Cheap "Stolichnaya" vodka if you dare, although chances are it's dodgy
moonshine.
VI. Lehel tér, Open: Mon-Sat 6am-2pm, Metro: M3 Lehel tér
A traditional, more laid back market selling mainly meat and fresh produce. Conveniently located
close to the city centre.
Back to Top
|
