Best Shopping Tips from Souvenirs to Designer Fashion

Prague abounds in shops and compares favourably with Paris, London or Milan when it comes to shopping. Fashion Designer boutiques rub shoulders with junk stores. Almost every other shop in the historic centre stocks besides Prague souvenirs also crystal glassware of exquisite beauty and dazzling dark red garnets.

Shopping for Crystal

Whether you like to shop in multinational chain stores, exclusive boutiques or second-hand shops, Prague has them all. The Old Town is packed with shops and it is quite a challenge where to begin. As most shops stock Bohemian crystal, it is difficult to where to buy that set of wine glasses or that delicate decanter. Have a good look around and compare prices before deciding where to buy. Pop into Moser, not only for their crystal and porcelain but also for the beauty of the building which looks more like a museum than a shop.

Dana Bohemia, Národní 43, Nove Mesto, Prague
Dana Bohemia stocks a large collection of Bohemian glassware, both classic and contemporary design and very reasonably prices

Moser Flagship Store, Cerna Ruze Shopping Centre, Na Prikope 12, Nove Mesto, Prague
All Moser glassware and crystal is handmade. They are the leading producer of lead-free crystal

Shopping in Pariszka Street

Browse the shops in elegant Pariszka Street, Prague’s answer to the Champs-Elysees. Duck into side streets and discover the boutiques of Hana Havelkova and Klara Nademlynska, renowned Czech fashion designers. Then head for Manufaktura for natural products. Their soap, oils, herbs and spices, candles are handmade and 100% Czech products.

Manufaktura, Melantrichova 17, Stare Mesto, Prague
Manufaktura stands for natural products made in the Czech Republic. The perfect shop if you are looking for one-of-a-kind gifts: from hand-knitted sweaters to wooden cooking utensils and beer=based beauty products.

Hana Havelkova, Dusni 10, Josefov, Prague
Fashion inspired by natural colours. Truly unique garments, they may look the same but details differ. Her hallmark is elegance and femininity

Garnets the best souvenir

Blood red garnets are a famous Czech product. They come from mines in Turnov, a town in northern Bohemia. Many shops sell these semi-precious stones. The smaller ones are home produced, the bigger ones come from India. Both are equally brilliant. Browsing all four floors of Book Palace Luxor may take up more time than you have. Head for the Prague Books department and pick up a coffee table book on the capital; the perfect gift either for yourself or friends.

Cesky Granat Turnov, Dlouha 7, Nove Mesto, Prague
Jewelry made with Czech garnets mined in the city of Turnov in Bohemia. It is a trusted shop that does not sell Indian garnets. These are easy to recognize as they are bigger than Czech garnets

Souvenir Shops

If you are looking for a typical Czech souvenir, simply walk along Karlova Street, lined with souvenir shops, from wooden marionettes to Becherovka and Prague T-shirts.

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