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Shopping |
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Pest’s chic Váci
utca and its surrounding avenues tempt the tourists with
familiar high-street and designer names but bargain buys are to
be found at Nagy Vásárcsarnok (the
Great Market Hall), IX Fovám tér (website: www.piaconline.hu),
an imposing three-storey structure that first opened in 1897 and
now draws 30,000 shoppers daily. The Great Market Hall
is open Monday-Friday 0700-1700 hrs and Saturday 0600-1400 hrs (closed
on Sundays).
Perhaps the best place for shoppers to haggle for folk costumes
and communist relics is Ecseri Piac market, X Nagykorösi
út 156, open Monday to Saturday 0700-1400 hrs.
Budapest’s antiques consist of Hapsburg-style furniture but
are cheaper than in Vienna. The traditional antiques quarter lies
around Falk Miksa utca. Antique shops can also be found in the Castle
District and on the Váci utca.
Hungarian music is another good buy. Classical record label Hungaroton
offer CDs of the great Hungarian musicians for at least half the
price.
Standard shop opening hours are Monday to
Friday 1000-1800 hrs and Saturday 1000-1300
hrs. Department stores usually open from 1000 hrs,
while grocers, bakeries and supermarkets are open 0700-2000 hrs.
Many shops open until 2000 or 2100 hrs on Thursdays. Shops are closed
on Sundays, except in shopping malls. Each district has at least
one 24-hour store.
Many small shops close for summer in late July and August and almost
everything shuts on public holidays. Sales tax (ÁFA) of 25
per cent (12 per cent for food, some medical supplies, books and
newspapers and hotel rooms) is included in the price and can be
reclaimed by visitors purchasing goods worth Ft50,000 or more. A
receipt and VAT-refund application form must be presented to customs
on leaving the country. |
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