Prague Shopping Tips by LoriPori

LOCAL BOHEMIAN GLASS SHOPS: BOHEMIAN GLASS AND CRYSTAL

Popular buys include BOHEMIAN GLASS AND CRYSTAL, ceramics, lace, jewellery and a wide variety of hand-made craft and art objects such as hand-made toys, wooden puppets, pottery and hand-embroidered clothing. Value Added Tax ( VAT ) in the amount of 5% (products ) and 22% ( services ) is usually included in the price. There are currently no VAT refunds available to non-residents.
SHOPPING HOURS
Most shops open at 900 and close at 1800 on weekdays. Some shops, especially those in the country close during the lunch break 1200 - 1300. Only large department stores and shops catering to tourists are open throughout the weekend.

Address: In and Around the City of Prague

Theme: Gifts

PRAGUE SOUVENIR SHOPS: CZECH IT OUT

Scattered throughout Prague are your typical SOUVENIR SHOPS. I have to say many carried very tacky souvenirs like plastic replicas of Prague buildings. One shop carried a nice assortment of T-shirts. My favourite was the one that read "CZECH IT OUT".

What to buy: Since I like to buy souvenirs that are practical and useful, I found a lovely Prague "2006" Calendar for 99CZK or $5.00 CDN. It had all the favourite sites in Prague on sturdy cardboard pages which can be used later as a post-card and it had coil bindings to easily turn to the new month. Anyway --- I liked it!!

Address: All Through Prague Centrum

Theme: Gifts

ACADEMIA: A PROLIFERATION OF BOOK STORES

I have never in my whole life, and that's a looooong time, seen so many book stores as there was in Prague. Every street, every neighbourhood, contained a Book Store. Everywhere I went --- people sitting on a park bench reading --- people waiting for the tram reading --- People riding on the tram reading --- People relaxing on a Terrace reading. What's up with that!!!! So I figured --- mmm --- not much to watch on TV -- not everyone can afford a computer. Hey, I think it's great.

What to buy: Since a good friend of ours requested a Franz Kafka book, written in the original Czech language, we checked out a number of book stores. We found a Kafka book at ACADEMIA which carried new and used books.

Address: Legerova 61 Praha 2

Directions: PRAHA 2

Phone: 224 240 547

Theme: Books

Website: http://www.academia.cz

ALONG CHARLES BRIDGE: PAINTINGS -- ORIGINALS AND PRINTS

You will see a number of artists display and sell their PAINTINGS as you walk along Charles Bridge. Most were absolutely beautiful and well done, especially the watercolours depicting favourite scenes that can be found in Prague. My favourites were the ones of the Astronomical Clock, all done in great detail. No prices were displayed but I'm sure they wanted a good sum for them.

Address: All Along Charles Bridge

Theme: Art