Shopping

Palladium - This very large shopping mall just opened recently in 2007. There are four floors, with more than 200 shops and over 30 restaurants and cafes. There is also some historical value behind the Palladium, as the foundations are associated with 12th century.

You'll find a lot of Bohemian glass, china and crystal shops spread all around the city centre. The most popular place to start looking is around Wenceslas Square, Na Prikope and Celetna and close to the Charles Bridge. The two top producers are Moser and Egermann, for more contemporary styles, Arzenal.

Pařížská Street, the ultimate bourgeois avenue, thanks to its location, has always belonged to the streets with a high concentration of luxurious shops, swanky cafés, restaurants and bars. This street runs off the Old Town Square to the Vltava River, it bisects the Jewish quarter and is an easy walk from some of the best five star hotels in Prague.

If you have visited Prague before you will agree, there are plenty of good looking women here. They are stylish, indulging themselves with good looking clothing. Many super models have come from Czech Republic, like Eva Herzigova, Hana Soukupova, Karolina Kurkova, Daniela Pestova and many more.

Shops: Some are closed on Sunday but in the centre you will find many shops and malls open later and on Sundays as well. Monday to Friday 9:00-18:00, Saturday 9-12/13:00.

The 1st puppets originated on the subcontinent of India and quickly found a way to Southeast Asia and Europe. Czech people have loved the art of the puppeteer for hundreds of years; during times of intense Prussian influence throughout the eighteenth century, travelling puppeteer troupes kept the Czech humor and language alive in rural areas. Whilst the "legitimate” theatre’s language was always German, Czech was allowed if it was spoken by a puppet.

The blood-red garnet is the official Czech national gem, rated among the world's finest. The Czech garnet is a popular urban accessory, and is even considered as the best tourist purchase if you are jewellery-shopping in Prague. Garnets aren't necessarily deep red.

Absinthe has made a comeback in Prague as the spirit of choice of alternative trendsetters. It is very well known as the 'green fairy' liquor, due to its normal green colour. Absinthe is a powerful concoction (with 70% of alcohol), flavoured with wormwood, and once in the late 19th and early 20th centuries it was consumed in huge quantities across Europe.

Prague Christmas markets start on 29 November and run daily throughout December until 1 January. Markets are usually open from 09.00 until 19.00. Major markets are located around Wenceslas Square and Old Town Square while smaller ones can be found around Havelska Trziste, Namesti Miru and Namesti Republiky.

The official currency used in the Czech Republic is the Czech crown which has the international abbreviation CZK. The Czech Republic has been a member of the EU since May 1 2004, but didn’t enter the Euro Zone yet. You can pay for goods and services in the Czech Republic with cash and cards. There are also a lot of places in Prague where payment can be made in euros – in most retail chains, electronics shops, at petrol stations and in restaurants.

When bringing goods into the Czech Republic there are limits set on certain commodities. If a certain amount is exceeded, duty must be paid, and the importer is required to inform customs of the amount of the commodity he or she is bringing in to the country.