World Travel Guide

City Guide  - Warsaw  - Shopping
Shopping

The political transformations of 1989 were quickly reflected in the thousands of shops that sprang up all over Warsaw. The main shopping streets are the restored ulica Chmielna, elegant Nowy Swiat, Marszalkowska street and Jerozolimskie Avenue. The area around the Palace of Culture and Science has a wide range of shops and shopping centres. Probably the best spot in Warsaw for souvenir hunting is in the Old Town, among the colourful façades and artists' stalls. The Cepelia stores are also worth a visit for Polish handicrafts such as lace, dolls, amber and silver jewellery and leather goods.

Europe's largest flea market, in the Praga district next to the Poniatowskiego Bridge, runs the entire circumference of Dziesieciolecia Stadium, the former national stadium. The variety of goods on offer is enormous, ranging from air guns and fur coats to (illegal) CDs, leather goods and trinkets from the former Soviet Union. It is worth visiting for the experience as much as for the goods on sale, and there are delicious refreshments on sale in little covered booths. The market can get very crowded, so valuables should be kept close at hand. It opens about 0600 daily (for the best bargains, arrive early) and begins to wind down at noon.

Store opening hours vary considerably, and many shops tend to open and close later than in Western European countries. Shops are generally open Monday to Friday 1000/1100-1800/2000 and Saturday 1000-1300/1600. In the past five years, 30 shopping centres and hypermarkets of all the major European chains have opened in Warsaw. Often open seven days a week, these are the best places to stock up on Polish staples, such as pickled herring, preserved meats; and, last but not least, vodka. VAT is fixed at 22% at present, there is no VAT refund scheme.



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