Shopping in Poland
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Księgarnia Hetmańska
Impressive selection of English-language books on Polish history and culture.
reviewed
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Thursday Market
Nowy Targ's best-known attraction is the Thursday Market, which has been held here for more than five centuries after the king granted the town the privilege in 1487. But nowadays it's full of mass-produced consumer goods; if you're looking for more traditional items such as hand-knitted sweaters and carved wooden utensils, wait for Zakopane. The market is held on Plac Targowy, a few blocks southeast of the Rynek and facing the Biały Dunajec River.
reviewed
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Market Hall
Just behind St Nicholas' Church is the large Market Hall, constructed in the late 19th century after the Dominicans were expelled by the Prussian authorities and their monastery standing on this site was pulled down. Wander through to check out the various shops and their contents, including food and clothing.
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Giełda Foto
Camera buffs should have this market high on their list of things to do in Warsaw. Housed in the Stodoła student club, it has an incredible array of cameras and accessories, ranging from pre-WWII goods to the newest equipment. Most are in working order, and cheaper than can be found in retail outlets.
reviewed
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Hala Mirowska
Hala Mirowska is worth visiting for its architecture alone. The redbrick pavilion of this 19th-century marketplace is in exceptional condition, and there’s still a semblance of market atmosphere here; a few stalls selling fresh flowers and fruit and vegetables line its south and west sides.
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Hala Targowa
This outdoor flea market is pretty much the opposite of the Galeria Krakowska. You’ll find lots of old books with yellowed pages, postcards depicting the Kraków of yesteryear, paintings and icons, and loads of other trash and treasure. Vendors set up here daily but Sunday before noon is best.
reviewed
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Krakowski Kredens
If you love żurek like we love żurek, you'll want to take some home. Peek inside the 'Kraków cupboard' and you'll find a jar of this traditional sour soup, as well as loads of edible souvenirs, such as marinated mushrooms, herb honey, spicy mustards and gooseberry preserves.
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Plac Nowy
Sometimes called the Jewish Market, this flea market is best on Saturday and Sunday mornings, when it's crammed with stalls selling everything from clothing to comic books. On other days, you'll find scattered tables with fresh produce, antiques, and Judaism- and communism-related souvenirs.
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Salon Antyków Pasja
This well-established antique salon is like a mini museum; its three rooms are stuffed with clocks, maps, paintings, lamps, sculptures and furniture. Come to think of it, it's better than a museum, because if you stumble across something you really like you can take it home.
reviewed
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Starmach Gallery
Starmach is among the city's most prestigious galleries of contemporary painting and sculpture, exhibiting both emerging and established Polish artists. The striking modern gallery is housed in the former Jewish Zucher prayer house, a 19th-century neo-Gothic brick beauty.
reviewed
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Galeria Plakatu
Poland has always excelled in the under-appreciated art of the poster. This little gallery shows off the best of the art form, with many contemporary posters promoting exhibits and events, as well as old communist propaganda posters, both originals and reproductions.
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Massolit Books & Café
You could spend the entire afternoon browsing your way through the city's best English-language bookstore. This multiroom treasure trove sells new and secondhand fiction and nonfiction, with an excellent selection of Polish history and literature in translation.
reviewed
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Cepelia - Plac Konstytucji
An established organisation dedicated to promoting Polish arts and crafts, Cepelia stocks its shops with woodwork, pottery, sculpture, fabrics, embroidery, lace, paintings and traditional costumes from various Polish regions. Check website for other locations.
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Labirynt
Gallery owner Leszek Żebrowski works hard to develop the Krakovian art scene and to promote local artists, often organising exhibits around Poland and Europe. At his crowded, cluttered home base, you can see work by up-and- coming and well-established artists.
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Stary Kleparz
The city's most atmospheric and historic place to shop for fresh fruits, vegetables and flowers is this sprawling covered market, which dates back to the 12th century. You'll also find meats, cheeses, spices and bread, as well as clothes and other necessities.
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My Gallery
This one little room has such an eclectic assortment you could do all your souvenir shopping here. Choose from dramatic, nature-inspired jewellery, handmade scarves and sweaters, and stained-glass sun catchers, as well as the odd pair of soft slippers.
reviewed
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Flea Markets
For everything from rust to diamonds check out the two weekend flea markets in Kazimierz. The one on Saturday morning is held in Plac Nowy and the one on Sunday in the Hala Targowa (Market Hall) on ul Grzegórzecka northeast of the Jewish quarter.
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Jan Fejkiel Gallery
Jan Fejkiel was trained as an art historian, but his gallery specialises in contemporary prints and drawings, with a focus on emerging artists. This place claims the country's largest stock of contemporary graphic art, so he's not messing around.
reviewed
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Galeria Centrum
Men's and women's fashions fill the upper floors of this central department store, while downstairs you'll find a perfumery and cosmetics section. A range of oddments such as scented candles are here too, and women's shoes lurk in the basement.
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Empik
Almost always packed, this multifloor bookstore has an excellent selection of newspapers and magazines on the ground floor, and you'll find foreign-language literature upstairs. It comes complete with a cafe, as any good mega-bookstore should.
reviewed
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Moje Marzenia
You might think you are dreaming too, ladies. Natural materials and subtly sexy styles characterise the designs that are on display at this tiny boutique. Linen dresses, pants and shirts, as well as handmade jewellery and fabulous sunhats.
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Old Town
Kraków's Old Town has a vast array of shops, selling everything from tacky T-shirts to exquisite crystal glassware, and all within a short walk from the Main Market square. Ul Grodzka and ul Floriańska are good places to start looking.
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Targ Pod Gubałówką
This large market at the northern end of ul Krupówki and in front of the funicular’s lower station is the place to come for woollen goods and knits, handicrafts such as carved wood kitchen utensils, cheap clothing and food.
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Galeria Krakowska
In case there was any question about Poland transitioning to capitalism, here’s your answer. The massive mall near the train station contains 270 stores; of interest to world-weary travellers are the food court and American bookstore.
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Grappa.pl
If you're going to play the game, you'll need the kit. This affable and helpful shop stocks everything you'll need to start hiking, trekking or climbing. We can't explain the hours of operation - perhaps a four-minute snooze button.
reviewed