Shopping, Prague-Style

Shopping, Prague-Style

Live like the locals while you're here: enjoy your day and don't rush it. Unlike other cities Prague has its leisurely pace. And don't forget to look up occasionally while you're shopping. Admiring the architecture is part of the experience.

Your starting point is the top of Václavské námestí in front of the National Museum. This is the epicenter of Prague shopping.

Head down the left side of the street, facing down the square away from the museum, and check out the windows of Marks & Spencer while making your way toward Stepánská ulice, where you will take a left and then turn right into the Lucerna pasáz. Cellarius sells bottles of Bohemian wine or sparkling wine—a good gift for the person minding your dog while you are away. This is also where you will find the boutiques of Alice Abraham and Ivana Follova, two local designers who will show you a Czech take on fashion. But while shopping, don't forget to pause and take in the lovely old arcade. It was once partly owned by former President Václav Havel, and still remains in the Havel family.

Returning to Václavské námestí, you will find Debenhams across the street. Head over, then pop into H&M and other shops as you walk down the square toward the Koruna pasáz at the very bottom of the square. Here, you will see Accesorize to your right. Continue into the pasáz, and on the left is Anima Tua. At the end of the pasaz, take a right onto Na Príkope. Benetton, Mango, and Moser are on your right. Walk farther up the street and Zara is on your left. Continue to the corner of Havirska, and then you have to make a choice: continue on and explore a few more stores or turn left and forge ahead.

If you want to check out Body Basics, Yanny, H&M (with a focus on day- and work-wear, and children's clothing), Versace, or Taiza continue straight up Na Príkope; they are up the street on the left and beyond. If you want to hit Mexx and Nautica, which are in the Slovanský dum mall, then go up the street and to the right. Either way, if you explore Na Príkope farther, you'll need to backtrack to Havirska, where you can turn right.

Back on Havirska, Max Mara and the toy store Sparkys are on your left; both are worth a stop. Walk to the end of this street, and take your first left, then your first right, and you find yourself on Zelezna. Walk up this street to find the dignified Coccinelle Accessories, Marina Rinaldi, and Estée Lauder on your left. Go farther and you see Benetton for children on your right and Stefanel to your left. Finally, after a few more steps, you're in Old Town Square.

Do you see Týn church to your right, and the Jan Hus monument in the middle of the square? Walk at a diagonal across the square between these landmarks. To the right of the Jan Hus monument is a walkway. Peering down, you can undoubtedly see a few vendor kiosks set up. Walk down this cobblestone path.

Once out of this walkway, notice the street on your left, Týnská, which is where you're going after you walk through the curved archway into the Týn courtyard. Here you can find adorable shops and some of the best coffee in town at Ebel Coffee House —just in case you need to refuel. Check out the beautiful Botanicus store, Anagram Books, and the high-end antiques store Starozitnosti Ungelt.

Retrace your steps out of the courtyard and turn right onto Týnská, where immediately on the left you can find Bric a Brac. Go ahead and rummage through old—well—bric-a-brac. Continue down this street, turn left at the first opportunity, and the second shop to your left is Anne Fontaine. Keep walking down the street, take a left and your first right and walk to the roundabout. Now you are on Dlouhá Street, which is the creative hub for Czech fashion designers.

Across the street and to your left is Klára Nademlýnská. After you check out her Bohemian styles, walk back down the street. Your first left is Dusní, where you can find Tatiana and Bohème. Go back to Dlouhá Street and turn left. Rámová Street has a quirky interior shop called Qubus Design. After this shop, return to Dlouhá and turn right, again backtracking. At the roundabout, look for V kolkovne, which is in front of you if Kozí is on your right. Go down V kolkovne to find Timoure et Group. Take a left on Vezenská and head to Parízská, where you will find Hermès, Guess, and Hugo Boss. Come back down the street on the opposite side and stop by Louis Vuitton and Francesco Biasia. Of course, in true Parisian style, this street is the best place to window shop and there are plenty of cafés and restaurants.

Backtrack one block, and take a left onto Siroká, then take your first left onto Maiselova, and right onto Kaprova, where you will undoubtedly smell Lush. Follow your nose, and you'll see it on the right. Cross the street, and take a left onto Zatecká, then take a right at the end of this street and walk about 30 feet. You're standing in front of the city library, with City Hall to your left on the square. Align yourself with the front doors of the library, and walk into the square, pass the parked cars and onto Husova Street, which is dotted with knickknack shops and galleries. At the end of this street, look up to see local artist David Cerný's hanging man statue. After this, turn left onto Skorepka and stop by Taizer Gallery, which is on your right. Walk to the end of the street, and cross it into a brown open door that leads into a courtyard, which is the Platyz pasáz. Walk through the pasáz, and you will find yourself on Narodní. Turn right and walk to the corner to find Pietro Filipi, a Czech clothing chain. Cross the street and walk toward Tesco, but unless you need something—more water, deodorant, an English-language magazine, new socks—you can consider your Prague shopping blitz at an end.