Visitors to Budapest often fall in love with Hungary’s hearty meals and intoxicating potables, and many travelers stuff nostalgia-inducing edibles into their carry-on luggage before flying out of the Magyar metropolis – either to feast on them later or as souvenirs to share. With record-breaking numbers of travelers year after year, outlets at Budapest Airport such as Heinemann Duty Free or Szamos offer an ever-growing selection of mouthwatering merchandise for passengers to pick up before takeoff, including succulent winter salami, spicy paprika powder, sweet-scented wine and colorful marzipan.
With an ever-increasing number of flights connecting the Magyar metropolis with destinations around the world, Budapest’s Ferenc Liszt International Airport is catering to an expanding customer base with outlets across its SkyCourt in the departure lounge. These include the wide-ranging Heinemann Duty Free shop, the Hungaricum wine and fine food store, and a central stand run by the local Szamos confectionery, all offering a superb selection of goods, including locally produced foods and drinks that are typical of the country.
However, not all destinations allow certain foodstuffs to cross their border, so before you buy these products, it’s always good to check with the shop attendants about the range of permitted goods for the country where you'll be landing.
Crimson paprika
Hungarian souvenirs are often associated with the nation’s sweet and spicy paprika treats that come in various shapes and forms, including dried, powdered, ground, and even liquidized versions. At Budapest Airport, Kalocsa’s famous powdered paprika is proffered in colorful textile bags packed alongside a hand-painted wooden spoon and a recipe for Hungarian goulash soup presented in multiple languages. Those who like eating spicy can buy small jars of roughly ground red peppers that add a piquant punch to savory meals, while a dash of paprika-seed oil is an aromatic touch to grilled vegetables or meat.
Where to buy these products: Heinemann Duty Free shop, Hungaricum wine and fine food store
Savory meat products
Filled with juicy minced meat and assorted spices, Magyar-made bangers are popular specialties at Budapest Airport. From fiery red links seasoned with powdered paprika to téliszalámi (“winter salami”) encrusted in white mold, Hungary has a wide assortment of filling sausage and salami specialties that are equally suitable for snacks and meals. A duo of the best-known local producers include Pick and Herz, with their mold-covered links being a popular mixture of lean pork, fatty pork belly, and some secret recipes. Foie gras also belongs to the airport’s fastest-selling Hungaricum (Hungarian specialty) products thanks to its velvety texture and tasteful packaging in elegant black containers.
Where to buy these products: Heinemann Duty Free shop, Hungaricum wine and fine food store
Scrumptious sweets
Hungarian chocolatiers produce divine concoctions that are a feast for the eyes and the taste buds. ChocoMe designs oversized chocolate bars sprinkled with vibrant pieces of fruit, crunchy nuts and dried flower petals, while attractive bonbon boxes contain some of the best treats in the Gerbeaud confectionery range. Multiple shops across the airport sell the bright marzipan treats created by the venerable Szamos, while sweets by the Hungarian Cinq Filles brand is an eye candy in itself.
Where to buy these products: Szamos confectionery, Heinemann Duty Free shop, Hungaricum wine and fine food store
Aromatic wines
Fruity whites, pink-hued rosés, and tannin-rich reds – jetsetters can find all these and more among the broad wine selection at Budapest Airport. From Royal Tokaji winery’s sweet-scented Furmint to Gróf Buttler’s crimson Kadarka and the full bodied Vylyan Duennium, the carefully selected collection at the airport is a heaven for oenophiles who have time to shop around before that final call. And then there is the golden Tokaji Aszú, Hungary’s honey-sweet nectar with each sip evoking intoxicating times in Budapest.
Where to buy these products: Heinemann Duty Free shop, Hungaricum wine and fine food store
Strong spirits
Shared at joyous festivities to funerals and everything in between, pálinka is woven into the fabric of so many Hungarian traditions and customs, serving to enhance or soothe every mood and state of mind. Made from locally grown fruit, plum, apple, apricot or grapes, this multipurpose fruit brandy is available in different flavors across Budapest Airport’s retail hub, slender bottles of varied sizes soaring skywards on the shelves. Amid many other distilleries, brands include the local Zwack and Márton és Lányai, offering potent potables in diverse varieties. Another product selling fast at the airport is Unicum, Hungary’s iconic liqueur created with a secret formula.
Where to buy these products: Heinemann Duty Free shop, Hungaricum wine and fine food store
