Poland Shopping
 

I will be visiting Gdansk, Warsaw, Zamosc,Wroclaw and Krakow and desire information re: shopping. Is the area known for any special items? What are the best deals? Any names or locations of shops? Antique markets? Etc.<BR>Thanks,<BR>Judy

when we were in Krakow we got some rock salt candle holders which were nice. Polands also good for textile type stuff (tea cloths, that sort of thing) -<BR>but mainly Vodka - soooo many different types, well priced and really good.

Polish craft items are available at Cepalia shops. Look at wool rugs. Sheepskin rugs in local markets. Jewelery shops..amber. Antique shops..really extensive collections of many things. Special markets, maybe only Sunday. Again everything from broken light bulbs to gorgeous mink coats. Old towns, usually have wide selection of well done paintings. Decide what you want to buy and then quiz the hotel folks as to where to buy.<BR>Oh yes, Tarnow, Poland, glassware. Factories are there but they have shop outlets. Czestochowa..Catholic religous icons. Lodz has many antique shops on Piotrkowska(main street) as well as 3 art sale stores. Suggestion..don't load up at first stop. Consider packing and mailing. Polish postal service is reliable. Economy service may take 2-3 months. ATM machines abound.

CERAMICS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lots of them.

ADD: Warszawa, the Russian Market..Buy anything..maybe the largest in Europe. Recommended by London Times..also, watch your wallet!

Remember to buy an amber in Gdansk, and go to the antique market at Kolo quarter in Warsaw. Have a nice trip, Ewa from Warsaw

If you are into jewelry - then defintely look into amber while in Gdansk, though there are some nice stalls in the Market in Krakow. I personally am more into vodka. ENJOY!

Very nice selection of Towns - Just add Torun and Zakopane and you will get a vary nice trip...<BR>I Krakow definitly old square - where many times highlanders from Zakopane come to trade. Which also means you will get better deals in Zakopane it self (in Zakopane market behind Gazda Hotel on the way to Gubalowka Lift is the best for great deals (from skins, hand made wool products, hand made table covers (very very nice!!!) wood art, folk art to regional food like oscypki (goat cheese) are huge bargins... So definitly shop here first before shoping for same in Krakow. Warsaw - huge Russian market at old Stadium (Stadion XX Lecia) is definitly a bargain town - but do hold-on to your wallet and do not flash cash around. Also when shopping at markets do remember that you may have problems taking any real antiques out of Poland - where anything older then 1950s is considered an antique and special customs permission is needed for it to leave the country (many of the higher priced shops/antique stores will provide you with appropriate paper work but not bargain markets). Gdansk - definitly Amber - just walk around many of the old harbor streets to be at least amazed ( you can start around famous Port Crane which is not far from old square.<BR><BR>Any of those cities - antique shops can be found in old sections of those cities...<BR><BR>Enjoy your trip!

If you want to visit a street antique market try &quot;Bazar na Kole on ul Obozowa 99&quot;. Its a short taxi ride from the city centre. It's a market of many traders and individuals selling all manner of secondhand and antique goods. I'm not sure if it's open every day but it certainly is on Sundays from around 7 till about 3 in the afternoon.

Surprised to not see provisos on Russian market - there is an awful lot huge amount of total crap there - huge quantities of cheap counterfeit clothing with names such as &quot;abibas&quot; - so not technically stealing the name. Lots of CDs etc, and yes watch your wallet. Definitely interesting to see it, but do not expect to be buying tons of wonderful value things. Used to have (maybe still does) reputation for selling everything in the way of old USSR armaments as well, so if you fancy a box load of grenades, this may still be the place.