Váci utca is the backbone of Budapest's shopping district. If you like it quieter you could shop in markets instead of the high streets. Two flea markets you could go to are Ecseri piac on Nagykörösi út and Joszefvárosi piac on Köbányai út. Strolling around you may just chance upon some antiques among the piles of bric-a-brac. Great buys include the red coral necklaces, Tokaj wines, Palinka Brandy and Bitters, Kalocsa and Matyo hand-embroidered tablecloths, beaded necklaces, Zsolnay and Herendi porcelain, traditional folk costumes, antiques and the terrific Hungarian music available in CDs.

Bargaining is not the done thing in Hungary, but you can try gentle haggling in the flea market or places where they sell folk art.