Prague Shopping Guide: What to Buy (and What to Skip)

Moderated by Tomas Kauer Moderated by Tomas Kauer
Sep 2, 2026 - 08:00
Prague Shopping Guide: What to Buy (and What to Skip)
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Prague Shopping Guide: What to Buy (and What to Skip) — detail — photo by Nomadic Julien
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Becherovka + Slivovice

Airport duty free has decent prices on Becherovka; independent shops for craft Slivovice.

Puppets + wooden toys

Manufaktura shops carry authentic Czech puppets and toys.

Where to shop by neighborhood

Old Town + Pařížská

Luxury brands. Pařížská is Prague’s Champs-Élysées — Prada, Louis Vuitton, Hermès. Old Town side streets have jewelry and crystal shops.

Wenceslas Square

Mainstream fashion + department stores. Palladium mall + Nový Smíchov are the two big shopping malls.

Vinohrady

Independent boutiques + Czech design. Vinohradská boulevard and side streets. See our Vinohrady guide.

Karlín

New-wave independent shops. Sokolovská street. See our Karlín guide.

Havelské tržiště

Daily open-air market for fruit, cheap souvenirs, wooden toys.

Náplavka Saturday farmers market

Local produce, cheeses, honey, cured meats. Along the Vltava embankment; best on Saturday morning.

Tourist traps to avoid

  • Any shop on Old Town Square selling “Bohemian crystal” at “50% off” — often not Czech crystal.
  • “Traditional Czech marionettes” that are clearly mass-produced imports.
  • Amber jewelry — amber is Baltic, not Czech.
  • Matryoshka dolls — Russian, not Czech.
  • Absinthe with “Czech traditional” labels — most Prague absinthe is post-Soviet novelty rather than historic.

Tax refund for non-EU shoppers

Non-EU tourists can claim VAT refunds on purchases over 2,000 CZK at participating shops. Ask for a Tax Free form; present at customs when leaving the EU.

Shopping-friendly gear

FAQ

What should I buy in Prague?

Bohemian crystal (from a real shop), Czech garnet jewelry, Naše Maso cured meats, Becherovka, Kafka books.

Is shopping in Prague cheap?

Cheaper than Vienna or Berlin for most items. Luxury goods similar prices to other European capitals.

Where can I get authentic Bohemian crystal?

Moser flagship on Na Příkopě 12; Preciosa; airport duty free for smaller pieces.

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