Where can I buy cigarettes in Budapest?

You cannot buy cigarettes in supermarkets or gas stations in Hungary. Tobacco is strictly sold in designated 'Nemzeti Dohánybolt' (National Tobacco Shops), identified by a circular '18' logo and brown signs.

Can you buy alcohol in supermarkets in Budapest?

Yes, alcohol (including hard liquor, wine, and beer) is sold in all regular supermarkets like Spar, Aldi, and Tesco, as well as in smaller 24/7 convenience stores.

Is there a time limit for buying alcohol in Budapest?

While bars serve alcohol late into the night, certain districts in Budapest have regulations that prohibit grocery stores and convenience shops from selling alcohol after 10:00 PM.

Where to Buy Tobacco and Alcohol in Budapest (Rules & Shops)

A man smoking a cigarette and drinking a beer outdoors — Smoking is strictly banned indoors in all pubs and restaurants.

Where to buy cigarettes and booze in Budapest? We have collected the best options for you if you feel like a cigarette or bottle of beer.

Where to buy tobacco in Budapest?

Imagine that you have freshly arrived in Budapest and you have just realized that you are out of cigarettes. Usually, there is a simple solution to this unless you are in Budapest. If you wish to buy tobacco you have to look for a special, so-called „National Tobacco Shop” since all the sales of all tobacco-related products have been banned from regular shops and supermarkets.

Key Takeaways

• In Hungary, tobacco products (cigarettes, vaping liquids) can ONLY be purchased at state-monopoly shops called ‘Nemzeti Dohánybolt’. You must be 18 to enter.
• Alcohol is widely available in supermarkets, small convenience stores (‘abc’ or ‘diszkont’), and specialty wine shops.
• Some districts in Budapest ban the sale of alcohol in supermarkets or convenience stores after 10:00 PM, though pubs and bars remain exempt.

The official brown sign of a National Tobacco Shop in Hungary — Look for the brown signs and the ’18’ logo to buy tobacco.

Where can I find these mysterious tobacco shops?

If you feel like a cigarette, don’t hesitate but enter one of these specialised shops. How can you find them? Look for the sign above. Yes, we know it looks like a strip bar with the „18” symbol, but the number only suggests that people under the age of 18 cannot enter the shop. The shop window is usually covered in brown banners so you cannot look inside the shop, but don’t worry, they are open. Take a big breath and enter.
List of tobacco shops in Budapest. Just click on the district and the shops will be listed:
http://xn--dohnybolt-21a.budapesten.info.hu/Budapest-V.-ker%C3%BClet

The entrance door of a Hungarian tobacco shop showing the 18+ sign — You must be 18 or older to even step foot inside a tobacco shop.

What can you get in a cigarette shop?

Here is the list of items you can buy in a tobacco shop:

Pack of cigarettes (any smoking-related products: lighters, matches, tobacco leaves, wrapping paper etc.)
Alcoholic drinks (mostly beer and wine)
Chewing gum, sweets
Soft drinks (energy drinks)
Budapest transportation tickets
Mobil top-ups
Magazines

Where to buy alcohol in Budapest?

Have you been in Budapest for a few hours and you could kill for a cold hungarian beer?
There are plenty of options, getting your booze is a lot easier than buying a pack.
Almost every food shop has alcoholic drinks too (e.g.: Tesco, Spar, Aldi, Lidl etc.).
The range of booze offered may change though based on the size of the supermarket and the location of the shop. The bigger the shop is, the wider the range of alcoholic drinks is.
A wine shop

The interior of a premium wine and liquor shop with wooden shelves — Specialty shops offer the best selection of quality Hungarian wines and Palinka.

I would like to buy quality wine and alcoholic drinks

If you are a wine specialist, don’t waste your time going to your local Aldi or Tesco Express, because you won’t find what you need there. There are really good wine shops in Budapest, where you can taste Hungarian and National types of wine too.

Bortársaság has several shops scattered around Budapest where you can buy a really nice bottle in person. For the location of the shops check out their website: https://www.bortarsasag.hu/en/
If you prefer something stronger, like the famous Hungarian liquor, called Pálinka, you can visit one of the best shops for tasting.

Magyar Pálinka Háza has got all sorts of Pálinka and even more. Check out their address on their website and plan a visit: https://www.magyarpalinkahaza.hu/kapcsolat/
If you don’t feel like visiting any shops and you are a convenient shopper, check out this website for online shopping. They offer everything that you might need and your basket will be delivered to your front door.

You can combine buying alcohol with getting to know Hungarian cuisine by visiting the Central Market Hall, where you can also buy Hungarian paprika.

Italszaküzlet.hu: https://italszakuzlet.hu/

Bottles of Hungarian red wine and scattered corks — Hungary produces excellent quality, affordable wines.

I would like to buy quality beer

Hungary is a beer-drinking nation, but we have got our own debatably good-quality beers. Men around the age of 50-60 grew up in communism where you obviously drank only Hungarian-produced beers. It has started to be fashionable to drink quality craft beer and the number of small beer producers has gone up. You can buy a nice bottle of beer in bigger supermarkets or if you feel like buying a bottle of special Hungarian craft beer check out this place:
https://www.csakajosor.hu/index.php?route=information/contact

Pro tip: You can taste special beers at Élesztőház, as well as in the Irish pubs in Budapest.

The exterior of a typical small convenience store in Budapest — Small corner stores are the easiest place to buy alcohol.

The packed interior of a small grocery and convenience store — Many small convenience stores stay open 24/7 in the city center.

If you are on a budget trip to Budapest, these are the best options for you:

There are some typical places in Budapest where you can buy liquor for cheap. The so-called, “Chinese shops” offer the cheapest selection of booze. They can be found at every corner of Budapest.
Or if you wish to sit down for your budget beer, look for the tiny and gloomy-looking „bars” (the younger the customers look like, the cheaper the booze is) that sell alcohol at a reasonable price.

Pro tip: Besides Chinese shops, try the Thai restaurants and Chinese restaurants in Budapest as well, which offer an authentic Asian culinary experience to their guests.

SUMMARY

All in all, we all wish to have some fun from time to time. If you feel like a cigarette or a glass of wine make up your mind about the quality you want to consume and pick a shop accordingly. Definitely try some Hungarian wines from the Balaton region and the world-famous Pálinka (very strong liquor). Check out the best places where to do your food shopping!

Pro tip: Besides buying food, it’s worth checking out Budapest’s 7 shopping malls, such as Arena Mall and Westend.

Shelves heavily stocked with alcohol in a Budapest liquor store — Supermarkets and liquor stores sell everything from beer to strong spirits.

More interesting and useful tips

If you want to know where to buy the best food and drinks in Budapest, this grocery store list is just for you!

Hungarian beer is known and loved all over Europe – and for good reason! Try these fine beers with centuries of history yourself when you visit Hungary.

If you’re curious about where Budapest is located or want to read more tourist information about the city, check out our articles on the topic.

By using the Budapest Card, you can access numerous places in the capital and enjoy discounts at certain locations.