Buying second-hand is cool. And comes with benefits. It's more ethical, more environmentally conscious, and more budget-friendly. Not to mention the thrill of discovery it offers when you get your hands on unique, one-of-a-kind items. And once you find a place that suits your taste, it’s just a matter of finding the right size. While we can’t provide you with the creativity to pick out great pieces, we can definitely tell you where to look in Budapest.

Ludovika VNTG Shop

Vintage, on the one hand, means original items, clothes, and accessories from the 20s and 30s, and a kind of aesthetic on the other. Luckily, Ludovika, located in the 7th district, has a selection of beautiful and romantic pieces, laces, blouses reminiscent of the TV show Road to Avonlea, mid-century or slightly older tapestry bags, and other accessories.

Szputnyik Shop

Szputnyik is fundamentally much more than a second-hand clothing store, it is one of the oldest and largest forums, offering the most ideal for those who experience self-expression through their clothing, and also keeping in mind the ethical fashion and slow fashion perspectives. The bright interior features everything from second-hand and new shoes, jewellery, men's and women's clothing to a variety of accessories. And as they strive to show how to combine new and old pieces, there's a selection of new products from several local and foreign brands, from Martens boots, Fjällräven Kånken backpacks, jewellery, and accessories, all available for purchase online.

LoveBug Vintage

Denim jacket with embroidered house blessings and Barbie/Freddie T-shirt with the emblematic I Want to Break Free motif. That's all we have to say when it comes to the style and uniqueness of LoveBug Vintage. We're constantly in awe of the cosy ground-floor apartment space filled with pre-loved pieces. Online, you can also follow the owners' often adventurous shopping trips abroad and a relaxed and free lifestyle that perhaps best suits the clothes.

LoveChild Vintage Budapest

LoveChild Vintage is the little sister of the above-mentioned LoveBug Vintage. Located right next to the Opera House, it's a bit more sparkly and fluffy, but equally free and entertaining as the other store. Find quirky and unique pieces under the neon lights, including accessories, old Barbies, tigers, flamingos, and clothes by big old brands.

Retrock

Retrock is one of the city's largest vintage clothing shops. Find second-hand clothes, as well as a selection of young local designers' clothing and upcycled pieces, both in the shop and online. After all, second-hand shopping is not only great if you want to throw around the notions of ethical fashion and sustainability, but also if you simply want to buy good quality, unique items made from decent materials at a good price.

Jajcica – Alternative second-hand clothing shop

Jajcica is one of the best choices if you're looking for real Wesco or Martens boots. The shop has a great selection, and the essence of these pieces is that they are in and out of fashion. Anyway, Jajcica is a completely unclassifiable store, catering to the alternative subculture, from goths to punks. Here, anyone can find an exciting item.

Konfekció

In the shop of art historian, curator, and feminist influencer Kata Oltai, you can unleash your imagination and reconsider what you feel good about. In Konfekció's own words: 'vintage, animal print, fat, anorexic, gypsy rose patterns, biker, original, bubugao, clothes with a statement, and aimless items + accessories behind the Rákóczi Market Hall.' We like it.

Typo Showroom

A selection of shoes, bags, accessories, and clothes especially for fans of the sporty, streetwear, and hip-hop styles. As well as second-hand pieces, Typo Showroom also features a range of new and modern accessories. The shop also stands out from the crowd with a roughly 50/50 split between women's and men's clothing.

Gizmo Vintage

If you like weird sets with weird texts, be sure to follow Gizmo Vintage's Facebook and Instagram pages. You can tell they're not the white-collar, bourgeois type, but it's very liberating to walk into the store. We once snagged a super Stella McCartney t-shirt here that has been a spring staple ever since. Anyway, we think it's the kind of place where you can either leave immediately or spend half an hour having fun with the clothes you see. And chances are you won't leave empty-handed.

FRANC

Not only clothes and accessories but also all kinds of other vintage items can be found in one of the most charming places in the revitalised Margit Quarter. At FRANC, you can get your hands on pre-loved pieces coming with good quality even if they've been used before. Mostly clothes are on offer, but the walls are covered with paintings, sunglasses, shawls, and other goodies such as accessories, small pieces of furniture, rugs, jugs, teddy bears, coffee and cutlery, mugs and glasses all come together in this super cosy space.

Margitka Vintage Shop & Gallery

Margitka is a fairly new player in the vintage game, focusing on vintage clothes and local designers' works, as well as contemporary art. But it's much more than that, as it also hosts a variety of lectures and workshops and is a must for those interested in object culture. The emphasis is, of course, on old but high-quality, special clothes and equally fine modern art.

ReClaim Vintage

ReClaim Vintage, the shop of Dorottya Bognár and Nguyen Bao Loi, is nestled in always-bustling Király utca in downtown Budapest. The owners fell in love with the world of second-hand and pre-loved clothing during their international and local thrift store visits. So they opened their own, stocking up on second-hand goods – handpicked from abroad, piece by piece. Expect classic Levi's, Wrangler, and Lee jeans, embroidered and graphic jackets, as well as leather coats.

(Cover photo: Nóra Pákozdi - We Love Budapest)

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