Page 213 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Prague

SHOPPING IN PR A GUE  211

Sales and Bargains and its four storeys offer a DIRECTORY
Following the examples of the wide range of Western goods,
Western stores, sales are becom­ partic ularly fashion and elec­ Department Stores
ing more popular. As a result, it tronics, with the bonus of an Bílá Labut’
is now quite normal for clothes under ground car park. But Na Poříčí 23.
to be sold off cheaper at the compared to Western depart­ Map 4 E3.
end of each season. There is ment stores, Kotva has a smaller Tel 22 23 20 227.
also an increasing number selection of goods than you
of post­Christmas sales in the may be accustomed to, and Debenhams
shops found around Old Town is now struggling to compete Václavské náměstí. 21.
Map 4 D5.
Square, Wenceslas Square, Na with the newer and more glam­ Tel 22 10 15 047.
Příkopě and 28. října. orous Palladium shopping mall
If you want vegetables, fruit, across the square. Prices for Kotva
meat or other perishable some of the more luxurious Revoluční 1.
produce, buy them at the items on sale, such as perfumes, Map 4 D3.
beginning of the day, when can often be equivalent to the Tel 22 48 01 111.
the best quality goods are still Western ones. Palladium
on sale. There is no point in Another popular store is Náměstí Republiky 1.
waiting till the end of the day Tesco. This has a good Map 4 D3.
in the hope of getting bargains, selection of Czech and Tel 22 57 70 250.
as is the case in Western shops Western products in a bland ∑ palladiumpraha.cz
that reduce prices to get rid of 1970s building on Národní Tesco
perishable items. třída. The city’s oldest depart­ Národní třída 63/26.
ment store is Bílá Labut’ (The Map 3 B5.
White Swan) in Na Poříčí. It Tel 22 28 15 111.
Where to Shop
was opened shortly before the
Most of Prague’s best shops are occupation of Czechoslovakia
conveniently located in the city in 1939 and was the first in Nový Smíchov, in OC Letňany
centre, especially in and around building in Prague to have and at Zličín, next to the equally
Wenceslas Square, though the an escalator. It has since enormous IKEA.
souvenir shops lining Nerudova fallen on hard times but
on the way up to the castle are is still worth a browse for Markets and Malls
also well worth your time. Many the building alone.
of these shopping areas have Debenhams, another famous Prague city centre is not blessed
been pedestrianized, making name from Western Europe, with a great market for most of
for leisurely window­shopping, has opened an enormous store the year, though the Christmas
although they can get rather on Wenceslas Square, and its Gift Market in Old Town Square
crowded. There are a number home furnishings department is worth visiting. The city’s major
of department stores which on the third floor is very central market, Havelská tržnice
sell an eclectic range of Czech popular with locals. (see p215), sells mainly fresh
and Western items, with more The outskirts of Prague produce and cheap souvenirs.
opening all the time. The well­ are now home to massive Another large market is Pražská
known department store Kotva shopping parks, with large tržnice in Holešovice (take the
(The Anchor), lies in the centre hypermarkets. Tesco has metro to Vltavská). The best of
of the city. It was built in 1975 several branches, including Prague’s flea markets is Buštěhrad
Collector’s Market (see p215), a
glorified car­boot sale close to
Lidice. Various markets – farmer’s,
Christmas and Easter – are organ­
ized in front of Arkády Pankrác
building (see p215).
Western­style shopping malls
are common in Prague. Na
Příkopě – between Nám ěsti
Republiky and Václavské námestí
– is home to five: Palladium,
Slovanský dům, Myslbek, Černá
růže and Koruna Palace (see p215).
Further out, but close to metro
stations, are Arkády Pankrác,
Nový Smíchov and Atrium
Flora (see p215). There are also
other malls on the outskirts of
A second-hand bookshop in Prague Prague, all with huge car parks.

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