Hungary - Eastern Europe - page 330

www.touristpost.hu). Though the service is costly (for example, 30,000 Ft/$135/£77
for 60 lb.), you will still likely be paying less for fine porcelain and crystal purchased in
Hungary than you would at home.
Hungarian Customs regulations do not limit the export of noncommercial quanti-
ties of most goods. However, the export of some food staples, like coffee (1 kilogram)
is strictly regulated (but rarely enforced). The limit on wine and spirits is 1 liter each,
and 500 cigarettes may be exported. For more on Customs, see p. 25.
SHOPPING A TO Z
Antiques
With a rich selection of specialized shops carrying antique artifacts from keys to precious
furniture, Budapest will please all bric-a-brac-adoring travelers. Nevertheless, when
shopping for antiques, you should know that Hungary forbids the export of items that
are designated “cultural treasures.” Some purchases come with a certificate allowing
export; with other purchases, the buyer has the responsibility of going to the correct
office (in the Museum of Applied Arts) and applying for the certificate. Our advice is to
buy only from those shops that supply the certificate for you; a journey through Hun-
garian bureaucracy—like any other bureaucracy—can be a withering experience.
Although it no longer has a monopoly on the sale of antiques, the state-owned trad-
ing house contingent BÁV (Bizományi Keresked ó ház és Záloghitel Rt.; www.bav.hu)
continues to control the lion's share of the antiques market in Hungary. Here's a par-
tial list of addresses, contact information, and products for BÁV shops:
• The shop at II. Franken Leo u. 13 ( & 1/315-0417) specializes in vintage
paintings, jewelry, and furniture.
• The shop at V. Bécsi u. 1 ( & 1/266-2087; fax [phone]), near Deák tér, is
the largest of the shops, specializing in antique furniture, chandeliers, carpets,
and paintings.
• The shop at V. Ferenciek tere 10 ( & 1/318-3733 ) specializes in carpets and jewelry.
• The shop at V. Szent István körút 3 ( & 1/473-0666 ), on Pest's shopping Outer
Ring, showcases antique furniture, carpets, and jewelry.
• The shop at VI. Andrássy út 43 ( & 1/342-9143 ), near the Opera House, spe-
cializes in antique art, furniture, carpets, porcelain, and silver.
• The shop at V. Párizsi u. 2 ( & 1/318-6217 ) stocks rare jewelry gems.
• The shop at IX. T ú zoltó u. 14 ( & 1/215-6657 ) specializes in furniture.
Anna Antiques Carefully packed from wall to wall, this beautiful shop presents a
nice selection of furniture and pottery while also excelling in hand-embroidered tex-
tiles. Take your time and find out more about the objects on display from the charm-
ing shop owner. Open Monday through Friday 10am to 6pm, Saturday 10am to 3pm.
V. Falk Miksa u. 18-20. & 1/302-5461. Tram: 4 or 6.
Bardoni Eurostyle Antiques With its stay-awhile atmosphere, the store is decorated
as a chic but congested living room. Bardoni carries characteristic Art Nouveau, Bauhaus,
and Art Deco furniture and decorations. Open Monday through Friday 10am to 6pm,
and Saturday 10am to 2pm. V. Falk Miksa u. 12. & 1/269-0090. www.bardoni.hu. Tram: 4 or 6.
Mihálka Gallery In this centrally located cramped gallery you'll find a wide array
of 18th- and 19th-century vintage furniture, paintings, objets d'art, and interior deco-
rations. Open Monday through Friday 10am to 6pm, Saturday 10am to 2pm. V. Bajcsy
Zsilinszky út 20. & 1/302-8650. www.mihalka.hu. Metro: Arany János u. (Blue line).