Shopping en Praga
The quantity and quality of products available in the Czech Republic has improved dramatically over the past decade, with the most prominent changes noticeable in Prague, where a number of new hypermarkets and Western-style shopping malls appeared in the last several years. The increased competition and consumer demand have resulted in better selection, prices, and service, making shopping a more enjoyable activity.
Opening Hours
Stores outside of Prague tend to open at 8 or 9 a.m. (large grocery stores at 7 a.m.) and close at 6 or 7 p.m. Some stores are closed during lunch hours. The hours are shorter on Saturdays and most stores except large supermarkets are closed on Sundays.
Stores in the center of Prague and in shopping malls have longer hours. Large supermarkets stay open until 8 or 10 p.m. and there are some that are open 24 hours. Most stores in the Prague city center and tourist locations are open on weekends.
Most stores are closed on Christmas Eve (December 24) and Easter Monday.
• Department stores
Debenhams
Address: Václavské nám 21, Prague 1
Getting there: Metro A/B to Mustek
Hours: Mon. - Fri. 10 a.m. - 8 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Website: www.debenhams.com, www.debenhams.cz
Kotva
Address: Námestí Republiky 8, Prague 1
Getting there: Metro B to Námestí Republiky
Hours: Mon. - Fri. 9 a.m. - 8 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m. - 7 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Website: www.od-kotva.cz
Tesco
Address: Národní trída 26, Prague 1
Getting there: Metro B to Národní trída
Hours: Mon. - Fri. 8 a.m. - 9 p.m. (groceries 7 a.m. - 10 p.m.), Sat. 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. (groceries 8 a.m. - 9 p.m.), Sun. 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. (groceries 9 a.m. - 8 p.m.)
Website: www.itesco.cz, Home delivery service: www.tesco-shop.cz
• Shopping centers and malls
Cerná ruže (Black Rose)
Address: Na prikope 12, Prague 1
Getting there: Metro A/B to Mustek
Hours: Mon-Fri 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. , Sat. 9 a.m. - 7 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Website: www.cernaruze.cz
Myslbek
Named after the sculptor who created the St. Wenceslas statue on Wenceslas Square.
Address: Na prikope 19/21, Prague 1
Getting there: Metro A/B to Mustek
Hours: Mon. - Fri. 9 a.m. - 8 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m. - 7 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Website: www.myslbek.com
Slovanský dum (Slavic House)
Stores include: Nautica, Mexx, Miss Sixty, Tommy Hilfiger, Cerruti Jeans, Geox. Restaurants: Ambiente Brasileiro, Café Pavlína, Kogo Café & Ristorante, Millhouse Kaitan sushi bar. Outdoor garden, Palace Cinemas multiplex theatre.
Address: Na prikope 22, Prague 1
Getting there: Metro A/B to Mustek
Website: www.slovanskydum.cz
Vinohradský Pavilon (Vinohrady Market Hall)
Prague's first mini-mall, located in the historic Vinohrady Market Hall from 1902. The mall was opened in 1994 and is now somewhat abandoned for its larger new competitors. Limited selection of stores, grocery store in the basement.
Address: Vinohradská 50, Prague 2
Getting there: Tram 11 to Vinohradská tržnice
Hours: Mon. - Sat. 9:30 a.m. - 9 p.m., Sun. 12 noon - 8 p.m.
Website: www.pavilon.cz
Palác Flóra
A four-story mall with a Cinema City multiplex theatre and Oskar IMAX. Varied stores in a bright, airy environment with an open central lobby. Walk into the mall right from the Flóra metro station. Albert grocery store on the ground floor.
Address: Vinohradská 144, Prague 3
Getting there: Metro A to Flóra
Hours: Mon-Fri 9 a.m. - 9 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m. - 7 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Website: www.palac-flora.cz
Nový Smíchov
A stylish, modern shopping mall on three floors, the largest in the city center. Hypermarket Carrefour and a large electronics store Datart on the ground floor. Located near the Andel metro station.
Address: Plzenská 8, Prague 5
Getting there: Metro B to Andel
Metropole Zlicín
A large fashion and entertainment complex with a Cinema City multiplex theatre and Prague's largest electronics store Electro World. Although not in the city center, the mall is conveniently located right at the Zlicín metro station.
Address: Revnická 1, Prague 5
Getting there: Metro B to Zlicín
Hours: 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. daily, Electro World 9 a.m. - 9 p.m., entertainment 10 a.m. - midnight; limited hours on Christmas
Website: www.metropole.cz
Letnany Shopping Centre
A shopping mall on the outskirts of Prague, with a 24-hour Tesco and an ethnic food court.
Address: Veselská 663, Prague 9
Getting there: Free shuttle bus from Nádraží Holešovice
Hours: 10 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Czech Souvenirs
Below are some suggestions for typical Czech products to buy:
Czech crystal, glass, porcelain, and ceramics
Stores selling beautiful Czech crystal and glass products are plentiful, as are those offering Czech porcelain and handmade ceramic products. A unique gift is a handmade replica of historical glassware, such as drinking glasses from the times of Charles IV, Rudolf II, and other centuries.
Jewelry and glass beads
The Czech Republic is famous for its jewelry produced by JABLONEX in Jablonec nad Nisou. Bead jewelry, imitation pearls, strass jewelry, and custom-made jewelry are some items to look for. If you are looking to buy loose glass beads, you will see vendors selling tiny overpriced packages to tourists. The best deal is to buy beads by the pound, although we have yet to find a store where this is possible.
Wooden toys and decorative items
There are many shops selling Czech wooden toys, handmade soap, beeswax candles, dried flower arrangements, etc. Botanicus has stores in multiple locations throughout the country but there are plenty of other little shops you will certainly run into.
Hand-painted Easter eggs (kraslice)
A nice little Czech souvenir that will come in especially handy at Easter is a box of beautiful hand-painted Easter eggs. Many of them are true works of art! You can find them at markets and souvenir shops all year round.
Carlsbad spa wafers (lázenské oplatky)
If you have a sweet tooth, you will probably love the spa wafers, a tradition from Karlovy Vary. They come in several flavors, such as vanilla/nut and chocolate (our favorite!). Either buy them fresh on the street, or look for them in a grocery store - in that case, make sure they are made by Opavia.
Becherovka
Another staple from Karlovy Vary is the herbal liquor Becherovka that is said to have medicinal properties (good for digestion). It can be an acquired taste, so try a bit first.