The Czech Republic is known for several items that make for great gifts or personal purchases. Particularly well-known and reasonably priced are Czech crystal and glassware. Jewellery made from crystal, garnets or amber are also good buys, as are ceramic crafts and paintings. You may also find antiques, prints, books, maps and CDs among reasonably priced items.
Besides shops and supermarkets with everyday goods, it is recommended to visit specialised stores where beautiful Czech traditional products such as cut glass, porcelain, Czech garnets, lace, costume jewellery, ceramics and other traditional handicrafts are for sale.
This Czech Shopping Guide gives some detail about shopping in the Czech Republic. Make sure you also experience a traditional Czech meal - our Czech Restaurant Guide will help you find something to your tastes.
Czech Republic Shopping Guide
Payment:
Selected shops also accept international credit cards like Access, American Express, Carte Blanche, Diners Club, Eurocard/MasterCard, Bank Americard/Visa and Japan Credit Bureau.
Opening Hours:
Opening hours vary for Czech shops or stores. Shops are usually open between 9am to 6pm on weekdays and from 9am to 1pm on Saturdays. Many of the shops in city centres are open all weekend and their number is increasing.
Taxes:
The VAT is about 22 percent for most goods and services purchased in the Czech Republic. Visitors from other countries visiting the Czech Republic can get a refund for items purchased no more than 30 days before leaving the country, if the amount exceeds a certain minimum. Get your receipt stamped at the Customs office in the airport or border, and then get your refund minus a fee from border crossing offices or at the airport. Thomas Cook offices, duty free shops, and exchange offices can provide refunds. You can also claim your refund after you return home from a service such as Global Refund or VAT Max you have three months after the date of purchase to claim your refund.
