Shopping

Czech currency – CZK

The Czech Republic’s currency is the “Koruna česká” or Czech crown (Kč / CZK). Despite being a member of the European Union, the Czech Republic has not adopted the euro yet. Coins come in 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 CZK. Notes come in denominations of 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000 CZK.
Credit cards are widely accepted in shops, restaurants, and hotels. Only small businesses such as newsstands, street vendors and neighborhood shops require cash payments.

Where to change money in Prague?

When you change currencies, be aware of scams! Do not change money in the street with suspicious people and check the rates, it should not difer more than +- 1 CZK of the official rate. When there is written 0% commission, it is not always true. Check this Map of Honest Exchange places in Prague created by Honest Guide. 🙂

TIP: Map of public toilets in Prague (many of them are free)

Supermarkets

Shopping in the Czech Republic is easy and you can get here almost everything you want. The bigger shops (supermarkets) are open daily (even at weekends) mostly from 7 am — 10 pm. Small shops are usually open on working days from 7 am till 5 pm (however the opening hours are longer in Prague in comparison to smaller cities and villages), on Saturday from 7 am till 12 pm and closed on Sunday.

Farmers’ markets

You can buy fresh and seasonal vegetables, fruit, cheese, meat, bakery products, and other goods there. Some of them take place only in summer (approximately from May to October). The most famous in Prague are:

• Náplavka (Rašínovo nábřeží, Vltavská náplavka, Prague 2) – Saturday (8-14)
• Kulaťák (Vítězné náměstí, Prague 6) –  Saturday (8-14)
• Anděl (near Nádražní 23, Prague 5) – every Friday (8-20) from April to November
• Holešovické trhy in hall n. 22 (Bubenské nábřeží 13, Prague 7) – Mon-Fri (8-17), Sat (8-14)
• Tylák (Tylovo náměstí, Prague 2) – Mon-Fri (8-18)
• Jiřák (Náměstí Jiřího z Poděbrad, Prague 3) – Wed-Fri (8-18), Sat (8-14)
• Heřmaňák (Řezáčovo náměstí, Prague 7) – Sat (8-14)

Shopping centers

Palladium – 180 shops, 20 restaurants and cafés (opening hours: Su – We 9-21, Th – Sa 9-22)

• food: Albert Supermarket (opening hours: Mo – Fr 7-22, Sa – Su 8-22)
• how to get there: metro B, tram 5, 8, 14, 26; station Náměstí Republiky

Quadrio – about 60 shops, food court (opening hours of the shops difer, mostly Mo – Su 8-20)

• food: Billa supermarket (opening hours: Mo – Sa 7-22, Su 8-22 )
• how to get there: metro B, tram 6, 9, 18, 22, station Národní třída

Nový Smíchov – 150 shops, cinema (multiplex Palace Cinemas) (opening hours: Mo – Su 9-21)

• food: Tesco Hypermarket (opening hours: Mo – Su 7-24)
• how to get there: metro B, tram 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12, 14, 16, 20; station Anděl

Flóra – 130 shops, restaurants, cinema (opening hours Mo – Sa 9-21, Su 10-21)

• food: Albert Supermarket (opening hours Mo – Sa 9-21, Su 10-21)
• how to get there: metro A, tram 5, 10, 11, 16; station Flora)

Pankrác – many shops, restaurants (opening hours Mo – Su 9-21)

• food: Interspar Supermarket (opening hours Mo – Su 7-21)
• how to get there: metro C; station Pankrác

Big shopping centers outside the city center:

Chodov – many shops, restaurants (opening hours: Mo – Su 9-21)

• food: Albert Hypermarket (opening hours: Mo – Su 7-22)
• how to get there: metro C; station Chodov

Letňany – 150 shops, restaurants, cinema, sports facilities (opening hours: Mo – Su 10-21)

• food: Tesco Hypermarket (opening hours: NONSTOP)
• how to get there: metro C; station Letňany + free bus OCL)

Zličín – many shops, restaurants, cinema (opening hours: Mo – Su 10-21)

• food: Interspar Supermarket (opening hours Mo – Su 9-22)
• how to get there: metro B; station Zličín

Hostivař – 50 shops, restaurants (opening hours: Mo – Fr 9-21, Sa – Su 10-21)

• food: Interspar Supermarket (opening hours: Mo – Su 7-22)
• how to get there: tram 22, 26; station Na Groši

Fénix – 80 shops, restaurants (opening hours: Mo – Su 9-21)

• food: Billa Supermarket (opening hours: Mo – Su 7-22)
• how to get there: metro B, tram 15; station Vysočanská

Avion – shops, restaurants (opening hours: Mo – Su 10-21)

• food: Tesco Hypermarket (opening hours: NONSTOP)
• IKEA (opening hours: Mo – Su 10-22) — cheap houseware and furniture
• how to get there: metro B; station Zličín + bus from the platform 4)

Most of the Erasmus students stay in Hostivař dormitory. There are two shops (supermarkets) close to the dormitory:

• Albert – Plukovníka Mráze, bus 154, 271 – station Gercenova, opening hours: Mo – Su 7-20
• Lidl – Vladycká, bus 154, tram 22, 26 – between the stations Hostivařská and Na Groši, opening hours: Mo – Sa 7-21, Su 9-21

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