What to purchase in Prague?
 

What would be the one thing you would purchase from this city? I like to bring home one or two items from the countries I visit that are unique to the region.
Thanks!

The garnet jewelry is beautiful, and very reasonably priced-- I brought back a ring that I love.

If, and only if, you like it: Czech glass.

I bought a pendant with garnets and moldavite (vltavin) a green stone unique in the Czech Republic. I'm told it comes from a meteor that hit the earth there. Crystal jewelry is also prevalent and fairly inexpensive.

There are several threads on this subject which you can probably bring up with a search.

The cut stemware. We brought back a half dozen wine and champagne glasses.

I thought there are three items specific to Czech Republic when it came to Souvenirs:

Garnet Jewelry (You might want to check the prices in couple of stores). You want to make sure that you get the Czech Garnet and not an Italian stone which looks very similar.

Porcelain - Make sure it is from Czech

Chrystal - Moser is the most famous one but expensive. The Czech Crystal are imported to many countries so you want to make sure you don't haul back a piece that you can buy at home.

Hi. Just got back from Prague a few days ago. What an absolutely wonderful place! Garnet jewlerly is the number one thing to buy. There is a garnet jewlerly store every six feet. Prices range all over the place but start quite low, you could easily get a pair of earings or small ring for under $50. Then there is crsytal. Almost as much of that as there is garnets. The other two main things are wooden nesting dolls and wooden puppets. The route from the old town square to the Charles Bridge is linned (literally) with stores selling those four items. Have a wonderful time. It is a magical place.

Bohemian Crystal; wonderful pieces at very reasonable prices. If limited by space, there are plenty of outlets that ship to the US.

Garnet is the birthstone for January Also 2nd wedding anniversary.
Does it matter if I get some Garnet Jewellery for a 20th anniversary present when I take my wife to Prague?
What do you think ladies, is this acceptable?

Muck

Becherovka. A case of fresh Budvar or Staropramen. Garnets. Becherovka. A bit of artwork (view of Hradcany and St. Vitus', perhaps) purchased on the Charles Bridge. Absinthe. Crystal. More Becherovka...

Muck, an excellent idea. Will you please mention it to MY husband??

Hi AHaugeto,
Yes put your hubby on !!
You can't do enough for a good wife.....Its just finding one thats the problem..lol
There does seem to be a common theme of alchol in your suggestions...lol Or am I reading too deeply into this ;-)

Muck

HI
Here's info on Prague shopping that I gathered prior to my trip this past March

info from various sources, not my comments unless so noted. Another good list can be found at timeout.com

Art Deco: Michalska 21 Stare Mesto (Old Town). Antiques, prices are reasonable, one of the most popular and highly-rated antique dealers. Closed weekends. Metro Staromestska, Tram 6,9,18,22.

Art Decoratif: Melantrichova 5, Old Town. Art deco jewelry, originals and copies. Metro Namesti Republiky.

Artel: Vinohradska 164. New Town. Closed weekends. www.artelglass.com
Elaine?s note: selection of blown and etched glassware.

Arzenal, Valentinska 11, Old Town. www.arzenal.cz Large, modern glass pieces. For more info see
http://www.think.cz/shops%20a%20joints/arzenalUK.html

Blue, several locations, one is Male Namesti 14, Old Town. Elaine?s note: large, modern design pieces in bowls and other items, also knick knacks even tee shirts and souvenirs.

Cristallino Celetna 12 Old Town near Tyn church. Elaine?s note: Largest collection of crystal, porcelain, jewelry. Traditional and modern designs. www.cristallino.cz

Fodor?s forum Dec 01: ?The first crystal shop, Crystalex, which had the best pricing; one location is directly across the street from the Rott, near the Astrological Clock and Old Town Square." Elaine?s note: Prices did seem to be the best I saw (March 2004) , and they took care of the VAT refund paperwork.
www,crystalcz.com
"The second shop is called Regena at Karlova, 44 which had excellent prices for garnet jewelry." (Elaine?s note: Old Town, just off the Charles Bridge) "The third is a small shop specializing only in stemware?it is directly across from the Rudolfinium next to a jewelry store.?

Erpet: Staromìstské námìstí 27 Old Town, www.erpet.cz Open 7 days, and open late. Elaine?s comment: I didn?t think much of the selection.

Galerie A Na Perstyne 10. Old Town. Stocks glass: Art Nouveau , Art Deco, Biedermeier.

Galerie Mozart, Uhelny trh 11. Well north of Castle area. Colorful vases, bowls, sculptures.

Galerie Z Male Namesi 11, pasaz Michalska. one of the locations is in corridor along the Michalska passage (Old Town); the other is in Letenska 1.Mala Strana (Lesser Quarter). Glasses, tumblers, containers. Said to be worthy of comparison with the finest in modern styles of Italian glass, also carry some old pieces.

Granat Turnov, Dlouha 30/28, Stare Mesto (Old Town). The place to visit if you are serious about shopping for garnets. This is a factory showroom. Closed Sun. Metro Namesti Republiky. Elaine?s Note: this is a quality shop, with jewelry set into either gold or silver. Quite a range in price, much better prices and quality than in the USA, something for everyone, but not for souvenir shoppers imo.

Halada Na Prikkope 16, Old Town. Czechs are said swear by Halada for quality, price, and selection on garnet jewelry.

Moser: Na Prikkope 12, Old Town. ?What Baccarat is to Paris.? Elaine?s note: Antique Moser items are highly prized. Mostly traditional designs. Open 7 days. Also Male Namesti 11. . www.moser-glass.com

Fodors.com recommends Papillio, Ungelt 1,as one of the best antique shops in Prague, offering furniture, paintings and museum-quality glass. www.papilio.cz

U dvou luceren, location is U Luzickeho seminare 10, Lesser Quarter. Silver plated vases and plates, ceramics, jewelry.

Vernissage U Clementina, Karlova 22, Old Town. Open daily to 10pm. Elaine?s comment: this is in the heart of tourist land. I can?t say that their prices are the lowest, but they carried several designs in glass that I didn?t see anywhere else. They offered a discount for cash payments, lots of places do. They don?t do VAT refunds.

Perhaps, Muck, perhaps... but the big B is such a refreshing liquer, and was so good for our stomachs (Riffic, back me up here), that we had to bring back a number of bottles to give out (and enjoy ourselves), and now, alas, we have all run out. In addition, anyone who neglects to mention the Moravian wines (see marktynernyc's threads), local bubbly (Bohemia sekt), hallucinatory-yet-fierce Absinthe, and, of course, the exemplary and cheap (!) beer is not telling the whole story about the glories awaiting Hannah's koruna in Prague. If she is considering bringing a treasue or two home for a member of the male species, perhaps as a Christmas gift or somesuch, I doubt very much that a garnet pinkie ring or crystal ashtray would make a man's heart go pitty-pat...or maybe they would, who knows? Other than that she's had excellent responses, and even a credit-swooning itinerary courtesy of the ever-resourceful elaine.

I would only caution on one thing - we indulged at two different stores (one garnet bodega and one Tom Bohemia for porcelain) and mailed back our tax-free information and have heard nothing. No $$. Nada. And this was in March. Just don't get your hopes up about the tax-free thing.

Posting from my summer cottage on Nantucket, if anyone is interested. Jackie O is right beside me, as she wants to go for a walk. :)

Garnets are big in Prague, as is amber jewelry.

Moser glass on Na Prikope, as mentioned by Elaine. There is also a shop in Old Town Square across from "THE CLOCK."

Botanicus on Tynska for soap, bath products, and cologne. They also have jam and curries. Their pomeranc cologne is fantastic!

There are plenty of shops in Vaclav Namenski that sell Czech wine, Czech champagne, and Absinthe.

The luxury shopping street is Pariska Street. Here you will find Hermes, LV, Dunhill, etc. This street is right off of Old Town Square.

You don't see too many people wearing gold in Prague, but there are some jewelry stores in Vaclav Namenski that specialize in gold jewelry. You will also find stores in Na Prikope that sell very expensive watches, like Ebel and Blancpain.

The gift shop at the Mucha Museum also has some beautiful things. I bought some gorgeous notecards that were the envy of my friends.

Cheers,
John G.

The amber jewelry in Prague is just beautiful!

I forgot about the great shop at the Mucha Museum. I bought lots of things there. Enjoyed the museum very much as well. Where else could you get a postcard of Gauguin playing the piano for Mucha, wearing a suit coat and no pants?

I also forgot to mention the beautiful decorated eggs. I bought mine at a shop near the castle. Use it as a Christmas tree ornament and put it in my curio cabinet the rest of the year.

Hannah, thanks for starting this thread; I'll save the list for my October trip.

AHaugeto, your trip report (as well as Elaine's) inspired us to move Prague up on our list so I'd be glad to bring you back some Becherovka (it is medicinal after all).

Maureen

Maureen

Maureen - how wonderful that you're going! I'm sure the fall is a lovely time to go. Are you serious about the Becherovka? If so, you are too kind! If you can't pack an extra bottle in your suitcase on the way back because of all the crystal and amber and garnets, I understand. I CAN live without it, I just happened to like it. Perhaps we can arrange something - please email me at [email protected]. And have a wonderful time.

AHaugeto, I'm delighted to help. I'll email you later as I have to go run errands. Maureen