Prague Guide

Shopping for clothes is heavily discussed among female tourists to Prague and for a good reason: although several overseas retail outlets (Next, Mango, Mexx, Zara, H&M, Top Shop and Benetton) have appeared in Prague's ever-present shopping arcades, much of the items sold in mall shops are still expensive, badly made, and lagging behind the rest of the globe in fashion. To worsen things for shoppers in Prague, a recently conducted sting at a mall based in the centre exposed that an alarming quantity of stores were stocking fake designer clothes and bags. Connoisseurs of fashion and people who just want a great deal, usually take their money over the border with shopping trips to Dresden in Vienna where prices are substantially less.

Beginning late in August, make the most of the sales of the summer. From January to mid-February is a great period for buying pants, jackets and sweaters and other hot-weather clothing for a bargain price. Fall fashion starts following the sales in the summer; the joyous colours and cheerful spring florals surface in February and the summer products are in shops once Easter is over.

When purchasing clothing, try wearing them before you commit to buy them because the size isn't always standard and can be exasperatingly small. Also, returning a purchase for a refund can be a chore. Using your receipt, you can return clothing up to thirty days after purchase for a complete reimbursement, exchange or shop credit. This often doesn't apply to sale items though. With no receipt, you can sometimes exchange the product, although the policy on this will differ in each store.

TIP: Try on any clothes you are considering buying. Do this not just because the sizes are not always reliable (and can often be too small), but also because taking back a purchase can be problematic. With your receipt you are allowed to return clothing for 30 days following your purchase for a total store credit, exchange or refund. This is inclusive of sale products. If you haven't got a receipt, you may be allowed to still exchange the product, although policies will differ in each store.