SHOPPING IN KRAKOW

Krakow's Old Town which is a mainly historic district also houses a pedestrian precinct with shops of all sorts. The most commercial strips are on: Florianska, Szewska, Grodzka and Slawkowska Street - various retailers are crammed into every available space: front and the backyards, as well as ground floors and upstairs or even in cellars and attics of some buildings.

There are a variety of designers, jewelry (very often amber for very reasonable prices), also antiques and bookstores but you can also find some sportswear shops, CD shops and everyday necessities.
Recently in Krakow they have been opening brand-new shopping malls such as the huge Galeria Krakowska and sizeable shopping centers accompanying the giant hypermarkets foreign retailing giants such as Carrefour, Tesco or Real.

In every part of Krakow you can find traditional marketplaces with bargain hunters and shoppers looking for fresh products from the farm or a garden.

Also you can find yourself some really interesting polish souvenirs on the Sunday Flea market located about 5 minute-walk from the Old Town.
 
Note:

Shops in Poland are closed on major national holidays: New Year, Easter, May 1, May 3, Corpus Christi, August 15, November 1, November 11, and Christmas. Nevertheless Pharmacies and gas stations stay open on those days.
 
Sales, bargains and discounts:

Clearance/sales seasons in Krakow shops take place mostly twice a year. Every shop has its own timetable and it usually it changes every year, although winter sales start in the city around mid-January until February. July to mid-August is a time for massive summer discount sales. Price reductions range from 30 up to 50% but sometimes at the very end of clearance is 70% off.
The most exciting thing is that shops post up spectacular discounts on the windows so it is really easy to find these shops. Also, there are very many factory outlet stores and discount shops in the city.
 
Paying for purchased things:

Poland's currency, Polish zloty (abbr. PLN). Since Poland is the member state of the European Union, some shops accept EURO as well. You may pay either with cash or credit/debit cards, which are widely accepted in Krakow.