Shopping in Prague

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Your holiday will not be complete without a little shopping therapy. While shopping in Prague is not on the same caliber as shopping in Paris, London, or New York, you will find enough interesting stores to keep you happy. The city today has a nice mix of well-known western stores and local brands, flea markets, and souvenir shops.

Department stores

Prague has a number of department stores, from old stores to flashy western newcomers. Bílá labuť (The White Swan), Debenhams, Kotva (The Anchor), Marks & Spencer, and Tesco are some department stores in the city. In general, Prague stores have been experiencing a major problem: decreasing numbers of shoppers. A lot of local shoppers desert department stores and flock to the city’s malls instead.

Shoping malls

The first shopping malls in Prague opened in the middles of 1990s. These were the smaller Vinohradský Pavilon (Vinohrady Market Hall) and the shopping centers built in Na Příkopě Street. Western-style malls only started to appear in the first half of 2000s. The city has since been experiencing a mall boom.

Here are some of the many shopping malls in Prague: Myslbek Shopping Gallery, Černá růže (Black Rose), Slovanský dům (Slavic House), PALLADIUM, Palác Flóra, Nový Smíchov, Arkády Pankrác, and Metropole Zličín.

Markets

Complete your Prague shopping experience by visiting the market. If you who enjoy walking among stalls and buying fruit and vegetables, handcrafts, or fancy goods, you should head to Prague markets. Go to Havelske Square, a daily market where you could buy flowers and fresh fruits and vegetables. Prazska Trznice is a flea market in Holesovice that takes place mainly on the weekends.

Souvenir shops

Prague is a nice city to shop for souvenirs. You will find souvenir shops in the historical center of the city historical centre. They dot the Wenceslas Square, the Castle, and the Old Town Square. You will also find many of those souvenir shops in the striking alleys of the Lesser Quarter.

Souvenir shops in the city offer all kinds of traditional Czech products, ranging from wooden toys to glass items, to jewelry. Many artists also sell their works, mostly photos or drawings of your own portrait, Prague views, etc. You can find them on the Charles Bridge.

Opening hours

Prague stores usually open between 9 am and 7 pm on weekdays. They open from 10 am to 1 pm every Saturday. But many stores are starting to extend their shopping hours. In specialist and department stores, Communist inspired practices still go on. The time honored practice of ordering items, paying for them at separate counters, and then returning to have the purchases wrapped, is still in practice.