Prague isn't a city you leave with an empty suitcase. Czech glass, deep wine-red garnets, herbal liqueurs, crisp spa wafers and handmade marionettes have long been local classics. But there's a world of difference between a genuine gift and a tourist-trap trinket. We've rounded up trusted brands and shops with a solid reputation — where it's actually worth buying, what to look for, and how to make sure you bring home something truly Czech rather than mass-produced imports. Opening hours and prices change, so double-check the official websites before you visit.
Moser, founded in 1857, is the original "royal" lead-free Bohemian crystal once gifted to monarchs and presidents. Its handmade vases, glasses, decanters and whisky sets stand out for the clarity of the glass and the brand's signature rich colours.
The flagship salon sits right in the centre at Na Příkopě 12 (in the Černá Růže passage), with another gallery near Old Town Square. Prices start in the thousands of crowns and climb from there, so this is very much a gift for a lifetime. The shop can arrange shipping abroad, too — handy for anything large or fragile.
Deep-red Czech pyrope has been mined in northern Bohemia since medieval times, and Granát Turnov has been the historic maker of authentic garnet jewellery since 1953. Rings, earrings, brooches and pendants studded with small garnets are instantly recognisable Czech classics.
The flagship boutique-gallery is in Old Town, at Dlouhá 1. The key point: every piece comes with a certificate of authenticity. That guarantee alone is reason enough to buy from the official shop rather than a street stall, where "garnets" are often just tinted glass.
Becherovka is the legendary Czech bitter made from a secret blend of roughly twenty herbs and spices, produced in Karlovy Vary for more than two centuries. It's drunk chilled as a digestif, and mixed with tonic (the "Beton") it's a local staple.
Bottles of every size are easy to find in supermarkets and specialty shops across town, and the airport stocks everything from two-litre bottles to tiny souvenir sets with a shot glass included. Tip: an ordinary supermarket will be noticeably cheaper than the tourist shops near Charles Bridge.
Thin, round lázeňské oplatky with a filling are another gastronomic symbol of Karlovy Vary, made to a 19th-century recipe. The best-known brand is Kolonáda, with chocolate, cinnamon-walnut and vanilla varieties — crisp, light, and perfect with coffee.
This is the cheapest and most practical gift of all: a pack costs little, weighs almost nothing, and everyone likes it. You'll find it everywhere — supermarkets, spa colonnades, the airport. Stock up; it disappears fast once you're home.
Since 1992, Botanicus has made soap, creams, oils and candles from plants grown on its own organic farms in the village of Ostrá near Prague. Fragrant fruit soap sold by weight and herbal syrups make a foolproof gift.
The atmospheric shop, with wooden cabinets styled like an old-fashioned apothecary, hides right behind the Church of Our Lady before Týn, at Týn 3, just steps from Old Town Square. Great for stocking up on lots of small, pleasant gifts at once.
Manufaktura, a Czech brand since 1991, offers spa lines featuring beer, wine and mineral water from Czech spa towns, cream soaps, plus wooden toys, candles and textiles with botanical patterns by local artists.
The chain is conveniently located, with shops on Na Příkopě, Melantrichova, Karlova, Celetná, Mostecká and at the airport. A solid choice if you want a gift with genuine Czech character but no pretension — affordable, neatly packaged, and a clear step up from generic souvenir-shop fare.
Havlíkova přírodní apotéka is a family-run brand of certified organic cosmetics founded in 2014, inspired by old apothecary recipes. Balms, facial oils, ointments and care lines come in a distinctive "pharmacy" design.
Its concept stores are in the centre, at Jilská 1 and in the Palladium mall. A good pick for anyone after a gift a notch above ordinary soap — the formulas are clean, and the packaging looks stylish rather than touristy.
Wooden marionettes are an age-old Czech craft, and Marionety Truhlář is one of the few places where the puppets are genuinely hand-carved and hand-painted. The shop showcases work from dozens of craftsmen — knights, jesters, witches, animals — and you can even commission a puppet made from a photo.
The studio-gallery is in the Vinohrady district, on Boleslavská, and works by appointment, so message ahead to arrange a time. Every marionette differs slightly from the next, since faces are painted one at a time — this is a case where "souvenir" turns into a small work of art. Genuine handmade pieces cost more than factory copies from souvenir shops, but the difference is obvious.
The Czech family manufacture Steiner & Kovařík (Pražská čokoláda) makes chocolate the full bean-to-bar way and has picked up international Great Taste and International Chocolate Awards. Bars with Prague motifs on the wrapper make a gift that's both beautiful and delicious.
You'll find it in the brand's own shops and in the Palladium mall. Beyond the classics, they're fond of unusual flavours and add-ins, so it's easy to put together a tasting set for chocolate-loving friends.
Kubista is Prague's only shop dedicated to Czech Cubism and Art Deco. Ceramics, glass, jewellery, furniture replicas and objects inspired by the singular movement that was born in Bohemia in the early 20th century.
The gallery occupies the ground floor of the House of the Black Madonna (U Černé Matky Boží) on Ovocný trh — one of the world's first Cubist buildings, with a museum upstairs. A perfect address for a design lover's unusual gift.
The blue-and-white "onion" pattern, cibulák (Zwiebelmuster), is an instantly recognisable Central European classic, and Český porcelán from the town of Dubí produces it in hundreds of forms — cups, plates, teapots, vases. It's dishwasher- and microwave-safe.
Look for the original manufacturer's mark, which guarantees you're getting genuine Czech porcelain rather than an unbranded imitation. A good cup or a "cibulák" tea set is a cosy, homely gift that will last for years.
One last tip: the most valuable items — glass, garnets, marionettes, porcelain — are best bought at official shops, where you should ask for a certificate or receipt. Sweets and cosmetics, on the other hand, are best topped up at a supermarket or the airport, where prices beat the tourist shops. Always check current addresses, hours and prices on the brands' official websites.
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