The 22 Best Souvenirs from Budapest (Traditional Hungarian Gifts)

What Are the Traditional Hungarian Souvenirs?

Hungary is well known for many delicacies (food, drinks, chocolate), porcelain, ceramics and handicrafts.

Some of the most popular, traditional souvenirs from Budapest are salami, kolbász and paprika for food; pálinka, Unicum and wine for drinks; and Hungarian playing cards and Rubik’s Cube for gifts for kids.

Where to Buy Souvenirs in Budapest?

If you are looking to buy traditional Hungarian food or drink items, you can get most of them in any regular supermarket or shop. This way, you can buy them at the regular price.

Food and drink items you can buy in supermarkets in Budapest are salami, kolbász, paprika powder, pálinka, wine, and chocolate like Túró Rudi or Boci chocolate.

If you want to buy souvenirs such as postcards, fridge magnets or mugs, then you can buy them at tourist places. Tourist places and souvenir shops in the city centre of Budapest have many souvenirs, e.g. around Deák Ferenc Square.

If you have already left Budapest, you can also get some Hungarian souvenirs online. These include souvenirs such as mugs, fridge magnets, T-shirts, jumpers, decorations, and phone cases.

The Best Souvenirs from Budapest

1. SALAMI (‘SZALÁMI’)

• What is szalámi? Smoked pork meat
• Best Brand: Pick Salami
• Where to buy salami in Budapest: Any supermarket (e.g. Tesco, CBA) or marketplace (e.g. Central Market Hall)

Salami (‘szalámi’ in Hungarian) is one of the most traditional Hungarian food products. It is made from smoked pork meat and it is very popular among the Hungarian population.

Salami is great in a sandwich or for charcuterie boards. If you make a charcuterie board with Hungarian salami, you can also add some fermented cucumber (Hungarian pickle) which you can get in most supermarkets or markets.

If you are visiting Budapest, trying Hungarian salami is a must and is one of the best Hungarian delicacies to take home for friends and family.

Salami is easy to pack in a suitcase and travel with. It will not go off if it is not in a cold place for a few days, but once you get home it is best to store it in the fridge or in the pantry.

2. KOLBÁSZ

• What is kolbász? Smoked pork meat (thinner than szalámi)
• Best: Gyulai kolbász
• Where to buy kolbász in Budapest: Any supermarket (e.g. Tesco, CBA) or market place (Central Market Hall)

Kolbász is called as the “Hungarian sausage” but actually it is different than the sausages in Europe. In Hungary, kolbász is more like “salami” but it is narrower in shape and is slightly softer.

It is made from smoked pork meat and is kept in the pantry of most Hungarian homes.

You can eat kolbász in a sandwhich or as part of a charcuterie board.

Kolbász is also used in many traditional Hungarian dishes, such as stews and soups.

Kolbász comes as spicy or non-spicy, but even the spicy ones are not too spicy. If you are used to Indian food, spicy kolbász is nowhere near the level of “Indian spicy”.

Kolbász is easy to pack in a suitcase and travel with. It will not go off if it is not in a cold place for a few days, but once you get home it is best to store it in the fridge or in the pantry.

3. PAPRIKA SPICE POWDER

• Where to buy paprika powder in Budapest: Any supermarket (e.g. Tesco, CBA) or marketplace (e.g. Central Market Hall)

In Hungarian cuisine, the three most important spices are paprika, pepper and salt. In Hungarian food, they don’t use as many spices, like for example in India, so the food is not too spicy.

It is very traditional in Hungary to use paprika in recipes and you can get it in most of the supermarkets or marketplaces.

4. PÁLINKA

• What is pálinka? Hungarian alcohol (spirit)
• Best: Bolyhos Pálinka
• Where to buy pálinka in Budapest: Any supermarket (e.g. Tesco, CBA) or marketplace (e.g. Central Market Hall)
• Get Hungarian shot glasses for pálinka here

Pálinka is a Hungarian alcoholic drink (spirit) and it is made from fruits. It comes in different flavours, such as plum, apricot, or cherry.

Pálinka has around 40-50% alcohol percentage but if you get home-made pálinka, it can be even stronger.

It is a very popular drink in Hungary and it is traditional to drink shots of pálinka on holidays or on other special occasions. You can also buys some shot glasses to go with the pálinka

5. UNICUM

• Brand: Unicum Zwack
• Where to buy Unicum in Budapest: Any supermarket (e.g. Tesco, CBA) or market place (Central Market Hall)

Unicum is a Hungarian liqueur made from more than 40 herbs and spices. It has dark colour and tastes a little bit bitter. The original recipe how to make the drink is actually kept as a secret.

It is one of the national alcoholic drinks in Hungary and is usually served before meals as an aperitif.

6. HUNGARIAN WINE

• Best Brands: Tokaji Aszú (white wine), Egri Bikavér (red wine), Kékfrankos (red wine)
• Where to buy wine in Budapest: Any supermarket (e.g. Tesco, CBA) or marketplace (Central Market Hall)

Hungary is well-known for its wine and some of the best wineries are around Lake Balaton. Lake Balaton is west of Budapest and is a popular destination in the summer.

The most famous Hungarian wine is the ‘Tokaji Aszú‘ white wine, but there are many other wine brands that are also tasty, such as ‘Egri Bikavér‘ (red wine), ‘Kékfrankos‘ (red wine), and ‘Irsai Olivér‘ (white wine).

If you want to visit some of the wineries around Lake Balaton, the best ones are located on the northern side of the lake in the towns of Badacsony and Badacsonytomaj.

7. STÜHMER CHOCOLATE

• Where to buy Stühmer chocolate: Stühmer shops, supermarkets

Stühmer chocolate is one of the highest quality chocolate brands in Hungary.

The origins of the brand goes back to 1868 in Hungary, when Frigyes Stühmer (originally from Germany) was invited to Hungary. He then set up a chocolate factory and became one of the most prominent chocolate brands in Hungary and around the world.

Today they sell high quality chocolates, pralines, pastries, cakes and candies.

8. ERŐS PISTA

• What is it? hot sauce made from paprika
• Brand: Univer
• Where to buy Erős Pista in Budapest: Any supermarket (e.g. Tesco, CBA) or market place (Central Market Hall)

Erős Pista is like a spicy chilly sauce, made from hot paprika and salt. It is used to make food more spicy and you can put 1 teaspoon of Erős Pista into dishes such as the goulash soup, fish soup, or meat stews.

After opening the jar, it can be stored in fridge for up to one year. It comes in a small container so if you like spicy food, it is easy to pack and take home.

There is an even more spicy sauce in Hungary similar to Erős Pista. It is called ‘Haragos Pista‘ and it is made from hot, red chilli peppers. If you want an extra spicy sauce, go for ‘Haragos Pista’.

9. SZAMOS MARZIPAN

• What is Marzipan? Sweet dessert made from almonds
• Brand: Szamos Marzipan
• Where to buy marzipan in Budapest: Any supermarket (e.g. Tesco, CBA)

Although there is some dispute over where marzipan originates from, there is a Hungarian marzipan brand that make really delicious marzipan.

Szamos Marzipan is the most famous marzipan brand in Hungary. It got its name from the Szamos family, who started to produce marzipan in Hungary in 1930s.

Today, Szamos is the best marzipan brand in Hungary and you can find their shops all across Budapest. They also sell it at ice-cream shops and shopping malls.

10. RUBIK’S CUBE

• Where to buy Rubik’s Cube in Budapest: Toy shop or souvenir shop
• Get your Rubik’s Cube online here

The Rubik’s Cube was invented by Ernő Rubik, a Hungarian sculptor, in 1974. Then it become a worldwide success when it started to be distributed globally in 1980.

The Rubik’s Cube has 6 sides, each with a different colour. The aim is to get each colour on one side, without any of the cubes mixed with other colours.

It is pretty difficult to make it but there are some trick that you can learn to succeeding. There are also championships worldwide where participants compete in who can complete the Rubik’s Cube the fastest.

The Rubik’s Cube is a great gift for all ages. When trying to sort the colours on one side, just remain patient and don’t give up, even if it takes ages to complete it.

11. HUNGARIAN PLAYING CARDS

• Where to buy Hungarian Playing Cards: Toy shop or souvenir shop
• Get Hungarian Playing Cards online here

If you like card games, the perfect souvenir from Budapest is getting a set of Hungarian playing cards.

The Hungarian playing card contains 32 cards and have different symbols than the globally used French cards. Its symbols are hearts, leaves, acorns, and bells.

For rules for Hungarian card games, it is best to check online and then you’re ready to play the game.

12. HUNGARIAN EMBROIDERY

• Best: Kalocsai embroidery, Matyó embroidery
• Where to buy Hungarian embroidery products: souvenir shops, folk art shops in Budapest
• Get Hungarian Embroidery items online here

Traditional Hungarian embroidery is well known in Hungary and is a great souvenir or gift to take home.

Hungarian embroidery uses mainly patterns of various flowers, such as tulip, rose, daisy or even the famous paprika.

There are many items you can find with Hungarian embroidery, such as clothes, bags, table clothes, or pillowcases. They are sold mostly at tourist attractions in Budapest.

13. TÚRÓ RUDI

• What is Túró Rudi? Sweet dessert made from curd and chocolate
• Where to buy Túró Rudi: Any supermarket (e.g. Tesco, CBA)

Túró Rudi is a Hungarian dessert snack made from curd and chocolate. It is shaped like a stick bar and the curd is on the inside, while it is covered in chocolate.

The original snack was made from curd, but in recent years, they have made it with different flavours such as strawberry and apricot.

Túró Rudi has been produced in Hungary since 1968 and it is a popular dessert snack among Hungarians.

14. BOCI CHOCOLATE

• Where to buy Boci chocolate: Any supermarket (e.g. Tesco, CBA)

Boci chocolate is another beloved Hungarian chocolate brand. The origins of Boci chocolate goes back to 1927, when it was produced under the name of ‘Szerencsi’ chocolate.

‘Boci’ is a nickname for ‘cow’ in Hungarian and it got its name as in the 1950s, they put a cow as a design on the cover of the chocolate. Thus, people started to call the ‘Szerencsi’ chocolate as “boci”. Then, in the 1980s, its name was officially change to Boci.

Today, the Boci chocolate comes in many flavours, like apricot, strawberry, pistachio, mint, orange, pineapple and more! You can get it in most supermarkets and food shops.

15. BALATON SZELET

• What is Balaton Szelet? Hungarian biscuit made of wafer and chocolate
• Where to buy Balaton Szelet: Any supermarket (e.g. Tesco, CBA)

The Balaton Szelet is another iconic Hungarian biscuit. It is made of chocolate and wafer and has been popular in Hungary since the 1950s.

It used to be more popular 20-30 years ago, and as many chocolate and biscuits are imported to Hungary from abroad, Balaton Szelet has become less popular.

Still, it is a very iconic biscuit and is a great souvenir to take take home. It is also small is size, so it is easy to pack and carry.

16. HUNGARIAN COOKBOOK

• Where to buy a Hungarian Cookbook in Budapest : Bookstores (e.g. Libri Bookshop in Budapest)
• Get a Hungarian Cookbook online here

Want to learn how to make the famous goulash soup, stuffed cabbage or Hungarian meat stews?

If you visit Budapest, you must try traditional Hungarian food. Getting a cookbook with all your favourite Hungarian dishes is a great way to learn to cook them once you are back home.

Bookstores like Libri in Hungary have an English language section where you can get Hungarian cookbooks in English.

17. AJKA CRYSTAL

• Where to buy Ajka Crystal: Ajka Crystal store in Budapest or online

Ajka Crystal is a Hungarian brand for manufacturing luxury crystal items. It was founded in 1878 in Ajka, Hungary.

It is mainly famous for its crystal glasses, but they also produce vases, bowls, jugs and home decoration items.

Ajka Crystal items are expensive as they use the highest quality standards when making the crystal items.

18. HERENDI PORCELAIN

• Where to buy it: Budapest, Online store or shops across Europe

Herendi Porcelain is the most famous Hungarian brand for producing luxury, hand-painted porcelain.

Herend is located in western Hungary and the porcelain manufactory was established in 1826. As the factory is located in Herend, the porcelain brand got its name from the town of Herend.

They produce many items for tableware, like cups, mugs, plates and bowls, as well as jewels and home decoration items.

They have a couple of shops in Budapest and even have shops across Europe. Check the Herendi Porcelain’s store locations here to find your nearest shop.

19. HAND PAINTED EGGS

• Where to buy hand painted eggs in Budapest: Easter market at Vörösmarty Square (in April), souvenir shops
• Get Hungarian hand painted eggs online here

The Hungarian hand-painted eggs are traditional during the Easter Holidays. It is mostly women and children who hand paint the eggs before Easter and then decorate the homes with it.

Usually there is an Easter Market at the Vörösmarty Square where you can buy beautifully painted eggs during Easter.

Cheap Souvenirs in Budapest

You can also get some typical, cheap souvenirs from Budapest, like postcards, fridge magnets, t-shirts, or mugs.

They are sold in souvenir shops in the city centre of Budapest, around Deák Ferenc Square.

20. POSTCARDS

• Where to get postcards: Souvenir shops in touristy places in Budapest (e.g. around Deák Ferenc Square)

Postcards are an easy gift or souvenir wherever you are. You can usually get a bundle of postcards for a set of price.

It is a great gift if you still like to write postcards home while you are travelling.

21. FRIDGE MAGNETS

• Where to get fridge magnets: Souvenir shops in touristy places in Budapest (e.g. around Deák Ferenc Square)
• Get Budapest fridge magnets online here

If you like collecting fridge magnets from all your trips, you must get some fridge magnets while in Budapest.

Collecting fridge magnets from every place you visit is like a guilty pleasure, that once you start, you won’t be able to stop.

22. MUGS

• Where to get mugs: Souvenir shops in touristy places in Budapest (e.g. around Deák Ferenc Square)
• Get Budapest themed mugs online here

Mugs are also more like general gift ideas that are sold in every souvenir shop. Having a mug with photos of Budapest can be a nice memento once you get back home.

If you like coffee in the mornings and want to remember your trip to Budapest, a mug is a great choice!

Buying Hungarian Souvenirs Online

If you are looking to buy Hungarian souvenirs online you have a couple of options. The best option depends on whether you are still in Budapest or not.

Buying Hungarian Souvenirs if You are Still in Budapest

If you are still Budapest, you can order everything pretty easily, even food items. You can order food and drink souvenirs (salami, kolbasz, pálinka) through the online store of Tesco. It has affordable prices and delivery can be within 1 day.

For other items, you can check the online store of each brand or order some Hungarian souvenirs on amazon.

Buying Hungarian Souvenirs Abroad

If you are not in Hungary, then the best option is to get souvenirs online.

It is best not order food items, as they would go off. The best Hungarian souvenirs to buy online are items such as mugs, fridge magnets, Hungarian embroidery, T-Shirts, the Rubik’s Cube or shot glasses.

Things to Do in Budapest

There are so many great things to do in Budapest but here are my top recommendations for activities:

• Sightseeing: Parliament, Fisherman’s Bastion, Buda Castle, Heroes’ Square, St. Stephen’s Basilica
• Relaxing: Spa and Thermal Baths
• Evening: River Danube Cruise