Shopping in Prague

Shops throughout the city are alternately exuberant and solemn, tending toward over-the-top or elegantly minimalist styles. Prague may eschew the middle of the road, but seesawing between these extremes in the city's historic center is great fun.

Endearing traditional crafts are available on every cobblestoned street. Each region of the Czech Republic has its own specialty, and many are represented in Prague. Wooden toys and carvings, ceramic dishes, delicate lace, and embroidered textiles all make perfect "I got it in Prague" gifts. The Czechs are also masterful herbalists, and put plants to good use in fragrant soaps and bath products made on local farms.

That said, every city has its kitsch, and Prague is no different. Marionettes have been a favorite Czech handicraft and storytelling vehicle since the late 18th century, and they are ubiquitous here. The trick is avoiding mass-produced versions at tourist kiosks. Trusty artisan shops sell a mishmash of sinister and cutesy marionettes made by skilled craftsmen. With a little digging, you can even find intricate antique puppets.

And speaking of antiques, art galleries and antiques stores seem to dot every street, and can range from pristine to dusty and cluttered. Either way, the unpredictable jumbles of merchandise offer a fun day of flea market-like spelunking—you may pick through purses from the 1930s in one shop and find cubist office chairs or porcelain figurines in the next. Meanwhile, the city's enchanting antiquarian bookshops fill shelves with Shakespearean sonnets translated into Czech, alongside old maps of Asia and the Middle East.

If you like your souvenirs to sparkle, garnet peddlers abound. But take heed: all that glitters isn't garnet—many are not the real deal. True Czech garnets are intensely dark red. Also known as pyrope or Bohemian garnet, these precious stones have been mined here for centuries. Tight clusters of garnets are found on antique pieces, while modern baubles are often sleeker and set in gold or silver. Stick to our recommended shops for quality gems, and inquire about the setting—if a low-priced bauble seems too good to be true, it could be set in low-quality pot metal.

Fashionistas aren't forgotten either. You may not recognize Czech designers from glossy magazines, but their unknown status only makes them more of a true find. Expect clothes that are youthful, quirky, brightly colored, and patterned to the hilt. If you crave big luxury labels, the aptly named Paris street (aka Parízská ulice) will give you your dose of runway glam. Do not expect any steals, unless you're willing to frequent the city's impressive selection of chain stores. Mango and Zara, for example, are on-trend but also sell affordable classic pieces.

Most of Prague's shops are open from 10 am until 6 or 7 pm, and malls tend to stay open until 9 or 10 pm.

If shopkeepers in Prague seem aloof, don't be dissuaded—try greeting them with "dobry den" when entering a store, and you may be surprised by their warmth.