Hungary - Eastern Europe - page 329

Hungarian wines from historical local viticulture regions can also be found in the inti-
mate labyrinthine cellar of the House of Hungarian Wines.
While Hungarians might window-shop in these two neighborhoods, they tend to do
their serious shopping elsewhere. One of their favorite streets is Pest's Outer Ring
(Nagykörút), which extends into West End Center, central Europe's largest multifunc-
tion shopping mall, located just behind the Nyugati Railway Station. Another bustling
shopping street is Pest's Kossuth Lajos utca, off the Erzsébet Bridge, and its continua-
tion, Rákóczi út, which extends all the way out to Keleti Railway Station. Andrássy út,
from Deák tér to Oktogon, is also a popular, though much more upscale, shopping
street. Together with the adjacent Liszt Ferenc tér and Nagymez ó utca, Andrássy út is
also the most popular hub for nightlife, with numerous coffee shops, bars, and restau-
rants. In Buda, Hungarian crowds visit the shops of Margit körút and the neighbor-
hood around the transportation hub Móricz Zsigmond körtér, where the Buda Skála
department store is located. Hidden among the herd of cafes and restaurants of the lively
Ráday utca, small interior design boutiques and shops present unique presents and doo-
dads. You can often pay by credit card in the most popular shopping areas.
HOURS Most stores are open Monday through Friday from 10am to 6pm and Sat-
urday from 9am or 10am to about 1pm. Some stores stay open an hour or two later
on Thursday or Friday, and some close for an hour at lunchtime. Most shops are
closed on Sunday, except for those in downtown Pest. Shopping malls are open on
weekends, sometimes as late as 9pm or 10pm.
TAXES & REFUNDS Refunds on the 10%-to-25% value-added tax (VAT),
which is built into all prices, are available for most consumer goods purchases of more
than 50,000 Ft ($250/£128), VAT included (look for stores with the “Tax-Free” logo
in the window). The refund process, however, is elaborate and confusing. In most
shops, the salesperson can provide you with the necessary documents: the store
receipt, a separate receipt indicating the VAT amount on your purchase, the VAT
reclaim form, and the mailing envelope. The salesperson should also be able to help
you fill out the paperwork. Use a separate claim form for each applicable purchase. If
you are departing Hungary by plane, you can collect your refund at the IBUSZ
Agency at Ferihegy Airport. You have to do this right after checking in but before you
pass security control. Otherwise, hold on to the full packet until you leave Hungary
and get your forms certified by Customs when you land. Then, mail in your envelope
and wait for your refund. Two wrinkles: You must get your forms certified by Cus-
toms within 90 days of the purchase, and you must mail in your forms within 183
days of the date of export certification on the refund claim form. For further informa-
tion, contact Global Refund (Innova-Invest Pénzügyi Rt.), IV. Ferenciek tere 10,
1053 Budapest ( & 1/411-0157; fax [phone]; www.globalrefund.com).
SHIPPING & CUSTOMS You can ship a box to yourself from any post office, but
the rules on packing boxes are as strict as they are arcane. The Hungarian postal
authorities prefer that you use one of their official shipping boxes, for sale at all post
offices. They're quite flimsy, however, and have been known to break open in transit.
Very few shops will organize shipping for you. Exceptions to this rule include most
Herend and Zsolnay porcelain shops, Ajka crystal shops, and certain art galleries, which
employ the services of a packing-and-shipping company, Touristpost. Touristpost offers
three kinds of delivery: express, airmail, and surface. At the moment, it seems that the
service is not available directly to the public but functions only through these particu-
lar shops. You may inquire further at Touristpost, III. Meggyfa u. 31 ( & 1/388-7465;