Budapest - Dynamic business centre

Nowadays Budapest is once again becoming known to visitors as much for being a mecca for shoppers -- a reputation which last held true a century ago -- as for being a country that for half of that century had been held in the ruthless grip of Communism. Whilst from the 1950's onwards there was never any shortage of basic foods, generations of locals and visitors alike were denied the finer things in life. Nowadays there are two trends discernable amongst retailers in Budapest: "big is beautiful" and "small is beautiful." Which is to say that there are now a host of huge shopping malls which have revolutionized people's approach to shopping. But perhaps surprisingly, the number of smaller outlets offering "luxury" goods and services has also mushroomed. There are now, for example, places where one can buy antique style building materials, where one can have pictures framed, or buy fine cheeses, pipes and tobacco, books from the time of Newton, bakelite records, Wagner manuscripts and antique clocks. Two elements of the Budapest shopping experience that really should not be missed out on are a visit to one of the market halls and a trip out to the Ecseri Flea Market. But then there is also much to be discovered by taking a walk down Falk Miksa utca. This Pest street, like certain areas in Paris and Rome, has become a centre for antique shops.

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Travel & Events

Tags:

• Budapest
• capital
• Hungary
• citybreak
• city
• business
• shopping
• sightseeing
• shops
• mall
• market