Krakow
Kraków's Old Town is a friendly ground for shoppers—and any time you need to take a break from retail therapy, you can easily find a place to refuel with a cup of coffee, a snack, or a beer. You will find a mix of crafts and specialty shops next to department stores and brand-name fashion and leisure-wear stores. Popular souvenirs to take home include folk crafts such as wooden toys or chess boxes, pottery, and glass, Easter eggs and Christmas ornaments, designer amber jewelry, and Polish-made vodkas and liqueurs. Most shops are open weekdays from 10 to 6, Saturday from 9 to 2.
For regionally produced goods, head to the middle of the Rynek Główny, the main Market Square. At the booths in the Sukiennice (Cloth Hall), you'll find tooled leather goods, wood carvings, regional costumes, amber jewelry, and the embroidered felt slippers made in the Podhale region. Unexpectedly for such a central location, the prices at Cloth Hall are moderate.
Kraków abounds with galleries, where you can buy—or simply look at—contemporary Polish art. When walking around the Old Town or Kazimierz, you will stumble upon an art gallery every 100 meters or so.
In the streets leading out of the Market Square—notably Floriańska, Szewska, and Grodzka—you will find bookshops, small clothing boutiques, more jewelry and souvenir shops, and some delicatessens. Local brands are often disguised behind English-sounding names, such as a popular fashion chain called Reserved (both women's and men's clothing), the more upmarket Simple and Solar (ladies' attire only), and 5-10-15 for kids. For a more concentrated shopping experience, head for one of Kraków's shopping malls.
