What to Bring Back from Prague: 11 Gifts and Customs Limits
The classic things to bring back from Prague are Czech crystal, garnet jewellery, Becherovka, spa wafers, Prague chocolate and natural cosmetics. Buy glass and garnets from the maker's own shop, and take alcohol in your checked bag. Going home within the EU there are no customs duties on personal purchases; to the UK, US or Canada, the limits are in the table below. If you live outside the EU, purchases over 2,000 CZK on one receipt can qualify for a VAT refund.
Around Prague checked shop addresses and hours on the brands' own sites, and customs limits on official government pages, on 2 November 2026.
Where to buy each gift in Prague
| Gift | Brand | Where in Prague |
|---|---|---|
| Crystal | Moser | Na Příkopě 12; Staroměstské náměstí 15; both daily 10:00–19:00 |
| Garnet jewellery | Granát Turnov | Dlouhá 28; Havířská 3; Panská 1; Karlova 8 |
| Herbal liqueur | Becherovka | Supermarkets and drinks shops |
| Spa wafers | Kolonáda | Supermarkets such as Billa and Tesco, sold as Opavia Kolonáda |
| Natural cosmetics | Botanicus | Týn 3 (Ungelt), daily 10:00–19:00 |
| Soap, toys, textiles | Manufaktura | Na Příkopě 16; Melantrichova 17; Karlova 26; Celetná 11; Mostecká 7; airport T1 and T2 |
| Organic cosmetics | Havlíkova přírodní apotéka | Jilská; Palladium; Westfield Chodov; Černý Most |
| Marionettes | Marionety Truhlář | Studio at Boleslavská 16, contact first |
| Chocolate | Steiner & Kovařík | Palladium, level −1; Karlova 3; Nerudova 19 |
| Cubist design | Kubista | Ovocný trh 19, daily 10:00–19:00 |
| Onion-pattern porcelain | Český porcelán | Online, or the factory shop in Dubí |
Customs limits: what you can take home
These are the limits for adults travelling with their purchases. Going over usually means declaring and paying.
| Going to | Alcohol | Other goods |
|---|---|---|
| EU country (Germany, Austria and others) | Guide levels for own use: 10 l spirits, 20 l fortified wine, 90 l wine (60 l sparkling), 110 l beer | No customs and no value limit for personal goods |
| Great Britain | 4 l spirits, 18 l wine, 42 l beer | Up to £390 (£270 by private plane or boat) |
| United States | 1 l duty-free, age 21+ | $800 if you were abroad at least 48 hours |
| Canada | One of: 1.5 l wine, 1.14 l spirits or 8.5 l beer | C$800 after 48 hours away; C$200 after 24 hours, no alcohol |
| Ukraine | 1 l spirits, 2 l wine, 5 l beer, age 18+ | €500 and 50 kg by road or rail; €1,000 by air |
Germany sets no guide level for wine, and its customs service says goods brought for other people, even as gifts, fall outside these rules. In Great Britain, going over one allowance means paying on everything in that category.
Hand luggage at Prague Airport
- Terminal 1 (non-Schengen): liquids up to 100 ml in a 1-litre transparent bag.
- Terminal 2 (Schengen): at CT scanners you may also carry one container up to 2 litres. On conventional lanes the usual rules apply.
- After security: liquids bought airside, in a sealed bag from the shop, are outside these limits.
So pack Becherovka in your checked bag or buy it after security.
Antiques
Items of cultural value need a Ministry of Culture certificate for permanent export under Act 71/1994. If you buy a genuine antique, ask the dealer about this before paying.
Tax Free
If your home address is outside the EU, you can reclaim VAT on purchases above 2,000 CZK on one sales document, taken out of the EU by the end of the third month after purchase. At Prague Airport, keep the goods with you and confirm the export at the kiosk in the Terminal 1 departure hall. The steps are in our outlets and Tax Free guide.
Moser — Czech glass and crystal
Moser makes handmade crystal and has used only lead-free crystal since 1893. Its vases, glasses, decanters and whisky sets stand out for the clarity of the glass.
The flagship store is at Na Příkopě 12, with a second on Old Town Square at number 15. This is a premium gift, so compare prices online first. For large or fragile pieces, ask in the shop about shipping.
Granát Turnov — Czech garnets
Deep-red Czech garnet jewellery is an instantly recognisable local classic, and Granát Turnov has more than 70 years of production behind it. The company guarantees the origin and quality of its jewellery.
In Prague its company stores are at Dlouhá 28 (Monday to Friday 10:00–18:00), Havířská 3 (Monday to Friday 10:00–19:00) and Panská 1, with a museum and sales gallery at Karlova 8 (daily 10:00–18:00). Buying here avoids the risk of tinted glass sold as garnet.
Becherovka — herbal liqueur from Karlovy Vary
Becherovka was created in 1807 from a secret mix of herbs and spices and is still produced in Karlovy Vary. You'll find it in supermarkets, so compare prices before buying in tourist shops.
Kolonáda — spa wafers from Mariánské Lázně
Thin, round lázeňské oplatky are a Czech spa speciality. Kolonáda traces wafer-making in Mariánské Lázně back to 1856, and its traditional line comes in hazelnut, vanilla and chocolate.
A 175–200 g box weighs little and travels well. Look for Opavia Kolonáda in supermarkets such as Billa and Tesco.
Botanicus — natural cosmetics from their own gardens
Botanicus grows plants organically at Ostrá, near Lysá nad Labem, and makes its own cosmetics and small-batch foods such as jams and teas.
The Prague shop is at Týn 3 in the Ungelt courtyard, behind the Church of Our Lady before Týn, open daily 10:00–19:00. It's handy for several small gifts at once.
Manufaktura — Czech soap, cosmetics and wooden toys
Manufaktura, a Czech brand since 1991, sells cosmetics, soaps, wooden toys and textiles.
In the centre you'll find it at Na Příkopě 16, Melantrichova 17, Karlova 26, Celetná 11 and Mostecká 7. There are also shops at the airport: in Terminal 1 after passport control and in Terminal 2 after security.
Havlíkova přírodní apotéka — organic cosmetics from old recipes
Havlíkova přírodní apotéka was founded in 2014 and sells certified organic cosmetics. Its Prague stores are on Jilská and in Palladium, Westfield Chodov and Černý Most.
Marionety Truhlář — handmade marionettes
Marionety Truhlář makes wooden marionettes with traditional techniques, from small figures to large ones, and can make a portrait puppet from a photo.
The studio is at Boleslavská 16 in Vinohrady. The old shop closed in September 2020, so write or call before you go (+420 606 924 392). Puppet kits are also available.
Steiner & Kovařík — Czech bean-to-bar chocolate
The family company Steiner & Kovařík (Pražská čokoláda) controls production from cocoa beans to the bar and makes its chocolate in Slatinky, Moravia. Its site names it overall winner at the 2025 International Chocolate Awards.
The shop in Palladium is on level −1 and open daily 9:00–21:00. The company also lists stores at Karlova 3 and Nerudova 19.
Kubista — Czech Cubist design
Kubista sells originals, replicas and new items inspired by Czech Cubism and Art Deco: ceramics, glass, jewellery, furniture and books.
The gallery is on the ground floor of the House at the Black Madonna, Ovocný trh 19, open daily 10:00–19:00. Prague City Tourism calls it the only specialist shop of its kind in the country.
Český porcelán — porcelain with the "onion" pattern
The blue-and-white onion pattern, cibulák (Zwiebelmuster), is a Central European classic. Český porcelán in Dubí has made it since 1885 and offers about 850 shapes.
We found no company shop in Prague: buy from the official e-shop or the factory shop at Tovární 605/17, Dubí (Monday to Friday 10:00–16:00, Saturday 9:00–12:00). Check the mark on the base; the maker explains on its site how to recognise a genuine piece.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
How much alcohol can I take home from Prague?
To another EU country, the guide levels are 10 litres of spirits and 90 litres of wine for your own use. To Great Britain, 4 litres of spirits or 18 litres of wine. To the US, 1 litre is duty-free.
Can I take Becherovka in my hand luggage?
Not a normal bottle through Terminal 1, where the 100 ml rule applies. In Terminal 2 one container up to 2 litres is allowed at CT lanes only. A bottle bought after security in a sealed bag is fine, or pack it in your checked bag.
Can I get VAT back on souvenirs?
Yes, if you live outside the EU and spend over 2,000 CZK on one sales document. Ask for a Tax Free document in the shop and show your passport.
What should I not buy in Prague?
Avoid "garnets" from street stalls, where glass can be passed off as the real thing, and antiques without paperwork if you are leaving the EU.
Sources: Moser stores, Granát stores, Botanicus shops, Manufaktura stores, Palladium: Steiner & Kovařík, Prague City Tourism: Kubista, Český porcelán: shop, Czech customs: EU limits, German customs, GOV.UK allowances, US CBP, CBSA Canada, Ukrainian customs, Prague Airport: liquids, Act 71/1994.
See also: Prague Christmas markets 2026, Prague's markets, Where to exchange money in Prague.
Photo: Titlutin — Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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