Krakow’s shops, markets, department stores and boutiques literally teem with attractive souvenirs. Whether you’re looking for good vodka to guzzle in your hotel room or elegant lace tablecloths to present grandmamma back home, this is the city you’ll get them. All of Poland’s best handicrafts- embroidery, leatherwork, dolls and amber jewellery, glassware, hand-knitted sweaters and pretty painted music boxes- are available in Krakow; the best hunting grounds are the shops around Rynek Glowny, Ulica Bracka, Ulica Florianska and Ulica Szewska.

If you’re the type who loves browsing through local markets, pay a visit to the vegetable markets at Ulica Dluga and Rynek Kleparski. The latter, known as Stary Kleparz, is reputed to be Poland’s oldest market; it dates back to the 1300s. Krakow’s largest flea market is held every Sunday between 7 am and 1 pm at Plac Nowy Kazimierz.

Most shops in Krakow open from 10 am to 6 pm, Monday to Friday, and 10 am to 1 pm (in some cases 4 pm) on Saturday. Some large shops, supermarkets and shopping malls open seven days a week.