The shopping scene of Budapest has recently received a whole new face. It used to be the boulevards and ring roads lined by shops and boutiques housed in 19th century eclectic buildings that catered for the consumer's every need. Since the introduction of shopping malls in 1996 however, all but a few have now gone out of business unable to compete with these commercial giants. 17 shopping centres have been built in the last decade, spoiling customers for choice.
The Váci Street in first place remains a popular pedestrian promenade lined by clothes shops and cafés, while the grand Andrássy Avenue in second place now gives home to top-of-the-range brands such as Luis Vuitton and Gucci.
Our next eight picks are shopping centres - in no particular order - with more or less the same services to offer, these being shops, food courts, cinema complexes and pharmacies. Some offer extras such as exhibitions (KOKI and Duna Plaza in ninth and fourth place), 24 hour gym (Allee in eighth place), aquarium (Campona in tenth place), ice skating rink (West End in sixth place) and even night clubs (Mammut in fifth place).
Váci Street
The Oxford Street of Budapest...
Andrássy Avenue
Designer brands on elegant avenue...
Kerepesi Road 9
Shopping mall by Keleti Railway Station...
Váci Road 178.
First shopping mall of Budapest...
Lövőház Street 2
Shopping mall along the Great Ring Road...
Váci Road 1-3
Shopping mall by Nyugati Railway Station...
Futó Street
Shopping mall along the Great Ring Road...
Október Huszonharmadika Street 8-10.
Shopping mall at the southern end of the Great Ring Road...
Vak Bottyán Street 75. A-C.
Shopping mall along airport bus line...
Nagytétényi Road 37-43
Huge Shopping Centre Featuring the Tropicarium...