The 22 Best Souvenirs from Budapest (Traditional Hungarian Gifts)

Traditional Hungarian Souvenirs

Hungary is well known for its 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.

Best Places 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 like Tesco or CBA (local grocery shop).

Items at the souvenir shops and at the Central Market Hall are overpriced, so I don’t recommend shopping there. For food and drinks (salami, wine, pálinka), supermarkets are a much better choice and you can shop at the regular price.

For postcards, fridge magnets or mugs, it’s fine to get them at the souvenir shops. There are lots of souvenirs shops around touristy areas, Deák Ferenc Square and the Fisherman’s Bastion.

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.

They come both in a roll or sliced, and I recommend buying it at a general supermarket. You can also get them at the Central Market Hall, but it tends to be more expensive there.

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.

Kolbász is also used in many traditional Hungarian dishes, such as stews and soups. You can eat kolbász in a sandwhich or as part of a charcuterie board.

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

• Best Brands: Szeged and Kalocsa
• 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 that many spices like in India, so the food is not too spicy.

The two best producers of paprika are “Szeged” and “Kalocsa”, so look for these on the packaging when looking to buy paprika.

I like to buy paprika powder in small local Hungarian markets, but you can also get them in supermarkets like Tesco or CBA in Budapest. If you only want to buy paprika for yourself (and don’t need gift packaging), the I recommend just getting it at the supermarket.

They also sell paprika powder at the Central Market Hall. The price here is a bit more expensive as the Central Market Hall is very touristy, but you can get the paprika in nice packaging which is great for gifts.

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, cherry, and even blueberry.

It is a very popular drink in Hungary, and it is traditional to drink shots of pálinka on holidays or on other special occasions.

Pálinka has around 40-50% alcohol percentage but home-made pálinka is even stronger. (Ps. Home-made is the best!) If you make some friends with locals who make home-made pálinka, then it’s the best one to try.

My favourite is the one with apricot and honey, it’s a bit sweet but not too sweet to make it taste like a sugary drink. I recently got bottles of pálinka with the flavours of apricot and honey, and blueberry and honey for my Nepali friends and they loved it.

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.

I always found its taste a bit bitter, so it’s not my favourite drink, but if you are visiting Hungary, it’s worth trying it! They now also come in a few different flavours, like plum.

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 the biggest wine regions are in Tokaj, Eger, and around the north side of Lake Balaton.

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).

We used to have a small cottage and winery at Lake Balaton, and I have memories of my grandpa making wine in a run-down wine cellar. We don’t have the winery anymore but whenever we visit Lake Balaton, we enjoy getting some local 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. They sell high quality chocolates, pralines, pastries, cakes and candies.

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.

8. ERŐS PISTA

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

Erős Pista is a hot paste made from pepper and salt. It is used to make food more spicy in Hungary, and we add about one teaspoon of Erős Pista in dishes such as the goulash soup, fish soup or meat stews.

We add the paste when the dish is already cooked, and it is already served on your plate, just before we are about to eat it. This way, everyone can add as much of the paste as they prefer (some adding more, some adding less). You could add it to any dish to make it more spicy.

It comes in different versions as well, ‘Haragos Pista’ is even spicier than ‘Erős Pista’, and there is ‘Édes Anna’ which is the less spicy version.

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.

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.

I love the Szamos Marzipan, and it is one of my go-to gifts when I want to get a small Hungarian gift for someone.

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. They started distributing globally in 1980, and it became a worldwide success.

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. I have once tried to learn the technique to solve the cube, but honestly, I still didn’t get there.

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.

For the best prices, it is best to get it in a general toy shop in Budapest. This way you can buy it as the regular price. You can also get it at souvenir shops and the Central Market Hall but it’s more expensive in these places as they cater to tourists.

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.

We used to play a lot of card games when we were kids, but we don’t play that much anymore and I have mostly forgotten the rules for each game. For rules for Hungarian card games, it is best to check online.

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 it is a great souvenir or gift to take home. Hungarian embroidery uses patterns of flowers, like 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 and tend to be a bit pricey.

I recently got two vests with Hungarian embroidery for my nieces. I found the vests were the cutest for kids, but there are other clothes too. I ended up buying them at one of the folk art shops near the Fisherman’s Bastion, it was pricey, but I found it was really good quality and it was the only place where they had two pieces of the specific vest I was looking for.

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: Souvenir shops and Central Market Hall (throughout the year), Easter market at Vörösmarty Square (in April).
• 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 their homes with it.

The hand-painted eggs are also available throughout the year, you can find them in souvenir shops and at the Central Market Hall. During Easter, there is an Easter Market at the Vörösmarty Square and it’s a good place to buy hand-painted eggs.

The hand-painted eggs in shops are very beautiful compared to the ones locals make at home. You can find beautifully designed eggs that evoke Hungarian folk art patterns and colours.

Cheap Souvenirs in Budapest

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

They are sold in souvenir shops in the city centre of Budapest, around Deák Ferenc Square. I usually don’t recommend buying lots of stuff at the souvenir shops as they are overpriced but it’s fine for cheaper souvenirs.

20. POSTCARDS

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

Postcards are easy to get on any trip. 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 traveling.

In the souvenir shops in Budapest, you can find nicely designed postcards with the main attractions of Budapest. Last winter, I was visiting the Christmas Market at the Vörösmarty Square in Budapest, and found some unique postcards that are more artistic.

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.

Tips for Shopping in Hungary

• Hungarian currency is the Hungarian Forint (HUF): USD 1 = HUF 340.

Currency Exchange and ATMs in Budapest

There are many ATMs and currency exchange shops in Budapest. If you want to use currency exchange shops, they have the best rates in the city center of Budapest.

The exchange rate at the Budapest Airport is not so good, so it is best to exchange your money at shops in the city center.

Cash vs Card Payments in Budapest

Most of the shops in Budapest accept card payments. You will only need cash if you shop at a small, local market.

I recommend getting a Wise card for your trip to Budapest. It works like a debit card but you can have multiple currencies on it (including Hungarian Forint), and you get one of the best exchange rates when paying by card.

Can I Bargain/Haggle in Budapest?

No, bargaining is not common in Budapest. All the shops have fixed prices and it is not tradition to bargain.

In some flea markets, there is still a culture to bargain but these are very local markets (e.g Ecseri Flea Market) where mainly Hungarians shop.