{"id":9564,"date":"2018-12-10T21:31:23","date_gmt":"2018-12-10T20:31:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/euroviajar.com\/?p=9564"},"modified":"2023-03-30T16:32:08","modified_gmt":"2023-03-30T14:32:08","slug":"shopping-in-prague","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/euroviajar.com\/en\/shopping-in-prague\/","title":{"rendered":"Shopping in Prague, Souvenirs, Typical and Cheap Gifts"},"content":{"rendered":"

The capital of Czech Republic offers some interesting and unusual products at attractive prices. We present you recommendations for great typical products for gifts and some useful addresses for\u00a0shopping in Prague<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Prague<\/strong><\/a> is a city renowned for centuries for handicrafts – see below. It is also one of the largest gemstone markets in Europe, offering quite unique style of jewellery.<\/p>\n

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Main Shopping Areas in Prague<\/strong><\/h2>\n

There are multiple shopping centres in Prague, most of the best shops are located in the city centre in three avenues: P\u0159\u00edkopy<\/strong>, Pa\u0159\u00ed\u017esk\u00e1<\/strong> and N\u00e1rodn\u00ed Tr\u00edda<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The part of the city with the greatest concentration of souvenir shops is along Karlova <\/strong>street – between Old Town Square <\/strong>(Starom\u011bstsk\u00e9 n\u00e1m\u011bst\u00ed) and<\/strong> Charles Bridge <\/strong>(Karl\u016fv most), a place where surely every tourist passes by. However, be aware that these are often kitsch and unauthentic souvenirs.<\/p>\n

Small souvenir shops, where you can buy all kinds of handicrafts, are distributed throughout the city centre in other areas, too.<\/p>\n

In the quarter around Kafka Museum<\/strong> you can visit jewellers and antique stores, as well as traditional bookstores for lovers of Czech literature.<\/p>\n

Guide to Specialized Shops with Typical Czech Products<\/strong><\/h2>\n

In Jan Paukert<\/strong> gourmet store and bistro (Address: Rohansk\u00e9 n\u00e1b\u0159. 671\/15, 186 00 Praha 8-Karl\u00edn)<\/em> you can continue with gourmet purchases. This delicatessen is one of the most popular in Prague and has almost a century of history, as it was founded in 1919 and is one of the oldest in the Czech Republic. In this store you can buy all the local culinary specialties in perfect condition for packing for travel, such as cheeses, delicious Prague ham, Moravian wines, wafers from Karlovy Vary and many other products that will delight a real foodie.<\/p>\n

Art Deco\u00a0Gallery<\/strong> (Address: Michalsk\u00e1 21; 110 00 Praha 1- Star\u00e9 M\u011bsto) <\/em>is a craft shop located in the heart of the city where you can buy all kinds of decorative objects made and painted by hand, beautiful art pieces and design product.<\/p>\n

Moser<\/strong> (Address: Na P\u0159\u00edkop\u011b 12, 11000 Praha)<\/em> is a traditional elegant shop that offers some of the finest items of Bohemia crystal.<\/p>\n

Manufaktura<\/strong> is a Czech brand of cosmetics and some traditional handicrafts with a network of shops scattered around Prague.<\/p>\n

Parazit Fashion Store<\/strong> (Address: Karlova 25, Praha 1) <\/em>is the oldest fashion and design shop in Prague, with a cool and alternative vibe.<\/p>\n

Harddecore\u00a0 <\/strong>(Address: Senov\u00e1\u017en\u00e9 n\u00e1m\u011bst\u00ed, Praha 1)<\/em> is a modern and innovative design shop with original home accessories, porcelain, glass, jewellery and clothes.<\/p>\n

NanoAntik <\/strong>(Address:<\/em> Kubelikova 25, Praha 3 – \u017di\u017ekov) <\/em>is a great \u201cantikvari\u00e1t\u201d – antique shop, packed with vintage objects like clocks, toys, furniture, sketches, porcelain, lamps; some elegant and refined, other with definitely Communist feel, but all unique and \u201cwith soul\u201d.<\/p>\n

Both shopping centres and small shops are usually open between 8 am until 9 pm from Monday to Saturday, although some shops only open on Saturday morning.<\/p>\n

Guide to the Best Gifts & Souvenirs from Prague<\/strong><\/h2>\n

1. Bohemia Crystal<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Bohemia crystal glasses<\/p><\/div>\n

Czech glassmaking craft has been the great pride of the country since the 13th<\/sup> century. The famous Bohemia crystal is considered the finest type of glass in the world. There are many varieties: cut crystal, blown glass, engraved glass and painted glass, often with golden brim. There are numerous specialized and souvenir shops selling it throughout Prague. Some of the best include the famous manufacturer Moser (Address: Na P\u0159\u00edkop\u011b 12, 11000 Praha).<\/p>\n

2. Absinthe<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Traditional set for drinking absinthe<\/p><\/div>\n

Absinthe\u00a0is the ideal gift for lovers of sophisticated liquors. It is a high-grade (45\u201374%) spirit made of herbs: wormwood, anise and fennel. The drink, also known as Green Fairy, has gained great fame throughout Europe in the 19th<\/sup> and 20th<\/sup> century, becoming en vogue<\/em> among writers and artists, especially during the Belle \u00c9poque. Its association with artists and decadence \u00a0has always surrounded this liquor with air of mystery and sin \u2013 it was regarded a hallucinogen and psychoactive drug. However, it\u2019s just a legend \u2013 the truth is it\u2019s perfectly safe to drink, so don\u2019t hesitate to try this poison-looking spirit.<\/p>\n

Along with a bottle of absinthe itself come the accessory \u2013 a special magically-looking slotted spoon for burning sugar.<\/p>\n

3. Puppets<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Marionettes<\/p><\/div>\n

Prague has a long and well-established tradition of puppet shows that goes back to the 18th<\/sup> century and continues to this day, with numerous theatres in which traditional spectacles \u2013 very attractive to tourists – are held. Thus, it boasts real art of manufacturing hand-made marionettes. These creative and highly original puppets are one of the typical gifts that tourists acquire when travelling to Prague. They are sold in handicraft and puppet shops that are quite numerous in the city.<\/p>\n

4. Wooden Toys<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Wooden railway<\/p><\/div>\n

Apart from marionettes, Czech carpenters have achieved throughout history an impressive level in producing wooden toys of all kinds and in all shapes. These exquisitely traditional and old-fashioned toys have a great appeal in today\u2019s world of soulless plastic made-in-China objects. Wooden vehicles and trains with moving parts, or castles and houses to construct from pieces, will be a great gift stimulating imagination of little engineers. You\u2019ll find also wooden dinosaurs, various animals and miniatures of everyday objects.<\/p>\n

5. Red Garnet Stone<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Garnet – semi-precious stone<\/p><\/div>\n

Red garnet is a semiprecious stone which used to be one of the main elements of Czech jewellery throughout centuries, since the country had rich deposits of this treasure. Nowadays it\u2019s much more difficult to obtain, but you will still find quite a lot of jewellery pieces and accessories with garnet, or more often with beryl. Look for it at jewellers in the city centre.<\/p>\n

6. Ceramic Beer Mug<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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“Stein” beer mug<\/p><\/div>\n

Beer lovers may buy in Prague a classic, old-fashioned ceramic beer mug, called stein, with a metal lid attached to it. It\u2019s not easy to find it in a shop, but you may buy it in some pubs – we have a specific address for you: try in Pub \u201cU Medvidku\u201d\u00a0(Address: Na Perstyne 345\/7, 110 00 Praha<\/em>), it has a selection of very pleasant ceramic beer steins with a metal lid. Otherwise, look for cool vintage mugs in antique shops.<\/p>\n

7. Czech Spirits<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Becherovka liquor<\/p><\/div>\n

The most famous Czech spirit is Becherovka<\/strong>. It\u2019s a strong, 38% digestive herbal bitters with an intense and vaguely cinnamon taste. The typical way of serving it is in a cocktail called Beton (Becherovka + Tonic), which means \u201cconcrete\u201d in Czech and other Slavic languages.<\/p>\n

One of the national spirits most highly regarded by Czechs is Slivovice<\/strong> \u2013 in other words a moonshine or plum brandy with up to 50% alcohol. It has a pleasant, somewhat perfumed aroma, and a very strong, pungent taste.<\/p>\n

However, the national spirit is definitely beer. Beer is such a strong part of the Czech culture and cuisine, that often it\u2019s cheaper in restaurants and bars than mineral water! It\u2019s just an obvious default drink to any meal except breakfast.<\/p>\n

Some advice on the most popular and tasty Czech beers:<\/p>\n

Staropramen<\/strong> \u2013 a beer from Prague, different types are available, the most popular are pale lagers, but there are also dark lagers from the brand. The classic one is Staropramen Le\u017e\u00e1k (Premium).<\/p>\n

Gambrinus<\/strong> offers a selection of pale lagers, very popular in Czech Republic, especially Gambrinus Original 10.<\/p>\n

Kozel<\/strong> is a an award-winning and the best-selling Czech beer brand in the Word, producing pale and semi-dark lagers and dark dunkel. The classic is Kozel Premium.<\/p>\n

Pilsner Urquell<\/strong>\u00a0is the biggest Czech brewery and the producer of the first pilsner in the world. This type of beer has become so popular, that actually two-thirds of the world\u2019s beers today are pilsners \u2013 or in other words \u2013 pale lagers of the similar kind.<\/p>\n

8. Krtek (Mole)<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Krtek – mole from popular Czech cartoon<\/p><\/div>\n

The cute smiling mole \u2013 in Czech Krtek \u2013 is a character of the favourite cartoon of Czech kids. It was \u201cborn\u201d in the Soviet times in then-Czechoslovakia. The Communist party wanted an animal which doesn\u2019t make any reference to Disney\u2019s or any other Western characters, and so the mole was created and the cartoon series soon became very popular in the Communist countries. You will find Krtek in many forms and objects: as a puppet, on mugs, as a wooden toy, on a hat. It\u2019s available in most souvenir shops.<\/p>\n

9. Oplatky Spa wafers & Popular Czech Snacks<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Czech wafers<\/p><\/div>\n

A real Czech speciality: crispy, big, round, delicate wafers in different flavours. They are called \u201cspa\u201d wafers, as they became popular in the spa town of Karlovy Vary. One of the best brands is Kolonada. Czech sweets are very tasty, especially various types of wafers and chocolate bars. You can buy them easily in any supermarket.<\/p>\n

Read more about typical Czech food & sweets:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Typical Czech Food – 25 Traditional Dishes & Desserts<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n