The best shopping in the Czech Republic is in Prague, which literally overflows with shops, stores and boutiques of all shapes and sizes. Till a little more than a decade ago, the country, thanks to the insular communist government, had drab shops, selling very mundane stuff, and shelves were often empty. Today, it’s a completely capitalist economy, and private enterprise is booming. Major international names have stores in Prague; other shops, including large department stores, house a whole range of designer goods with brands ranging from Christian Dior and Lacoste to Body Basics and Levi’s.

There are, of course, local arts and crafts, including the incomparable Bohemian crystal and glassware (with a little bit of looking around, you should be able to find shops selling pieces at affordable rates). Other items worth a few korunas are wooden toys, ceramics, cloth and local art. Native `specialties’ include Bata shoes and CDs or DVDs featuring Czech composers.