Westend Mall in Budapest – as good as a shopping center gets
Discover the new wave of shopping in the heart of Budapest.
As we previously discussed in our article about the malls of Budapest, when it comes to shopping, visitors of the city are spoilt for choice. There are several shopping centers scattered all around Budapest both in the inner city and further out in the quieter areas of the capital. In this article, we’ll cover one of, if not the most popular shopping mall of Budapest: Westend.
Westend – not just a shopping mall
At the time it was built in 1999, Westend was the largest shopping mall not only in Budapest or even Hungary, but all of Central Europe. At 200,000 square meters (over 2 million square feet), Westend brings its A game in the mall tournament: the shopping center is home to 400 stores, 50 restaurants, a 14-room movie theater, a rooftop garden that once housed an ice rink and a hot air balloon field, and more. In addition to the usual stuff, Westend also gives home to a huge office complex and, we kid you not, a Hilton hotel.
With a wide range of stores specialized in clothing, accessories, watches, jewelry, gifts, cosmetics, and more, Westend has it all. For the full list of stores, check out their website.
Restaurants and entertainment
Westend is well equipped with restaurants ranging from small local eateries through global fast food giants to higher-end restaurants. Whether you’re hungry for Hungarian, Chinese, Mexican, Italian, or Nordic flavors, or just want to grab a bite at a well-known and trusted fast food restaurant, the food court on the mall’s subway level will give you what you need. Or, if you want to fancy it up a bit, go to TGI Fridays, Okay Italia, or Leroy – although the prices are a bit higher in those restaurants, the classy setting will make you almost forget you’re in one of the most crowded shopping centers in Budapest.
As for entertainment, Westend is home to one of the biggest installments of the largest movie theater chain in Hungary, Cinema City. Complete with screening rooms of all sizes, 3D and 4DX screening capabilities, and all the popcorn, nachos, sodas, and sweets you could possibly need, Cinema City Westend awaits guests on the top level of the mall. Most movies premiere in English, too – check out the screening schedule on their website.
Pro tipp:
Westend has a huge rooftop garden which is accessible from the top level, opposite from the buffet area. If you’ve got a little time to kill before your movie starts, it’s worth taking a walk on top of the building and gazing at the city from there.
Excellent location and accessibility
One of the main reasons Westend probably takes the cake of all shopping malls in Budapest is its great location and public transportation connections. On foot, it’s a mere 20 minutes from Deák Ferenc tér, the busiest transportation hub and cultural center of the city, and about 10 minutes from the middle of Andrássy út, which is one of the most beautiful roads of Budapest, known for being packed with stores of world-famous luxury brands and ending in the magnificent Heroes’s Square.
However, should you want to spare yourself the footwork, Westend has excellent connections to public transportation. It lies right next to Nyugati Railway Station, meaning metro line 3 gives you direct access to the mall. In fact, when you get out of the car in the metro at Nyugati pályaudvar, go to the exit that has only three escalators as opposed to the four on the other side. Those escalators will take you right to the underground entrance of Westend. You’ll see the revolving door with Westend’s logo as soon as you get out of the escalator area in the underpass.
Or, if you prefer to travel on the surface and watch as the city comes alive before your eyes, take tram 4-6 heading to Széll Kálmán tér. You’ll want to get off at Nyugati pályaudvar, then cross the street, pass the railway station, and turn right at the corner. Westend will be right there behind the big parking area adjacent to the station.
Pro tipp:
Tram 6 runs all night, making it the perfect means of transportation if you want to explore the nightlife in Budapest.
Trivia time:
Tram 4-6 is said to be the busiest tram line in the whole world, and truth be told, in peak hours, it does feel like riding a tuna can surrounded by fellow fish. However, if you rise above the inconvenience of crowdedness, tram 4-6 does have a lot of perks, including direct access to Margaret Island and a picture-perfect view of Budapest and the Danube as the tram crosses Margaret Bridge. What’s more, tram 4-6 circles around the whole of the inner-city letting passengers reach the party district and many other important hubs in the capital.
Other shopping malls in Budapest
Besides Westend, the most popular malls of Budapest are Aréna Mall, Mammut, Allé, Árkád, and a couple of others. To learn more about the malls of Budapest, check out our article.
Q&A
- Are there any shopping malls in Budapest?
- Budapest has a number of shopping malls spread all around the city, both in and outside the center.
- What is the best shopping mall in Budapest?
- The best shopping center of Budapest is arguably Westend Mall. Easily accessible both on foot and by public transportation, Westend has stores of world-famous global brands and local business, as well as a large food court and a movie theater.
- How can I get to Westend Mall in Budapest?
- Located right next to Nyugati Railway Station, Westend is easily accessible by public transportation. Just take metro line 3 or tram 4-6 to ‘Nyugati pályaudvar’, and you’re there. Alternatively, it’s also only a 20-minute walk from Deák Ferenc tér, the central transport hub of Budapest.
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