Czech Republic Travel Guide

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Shopping

Souvenirs include Bohemian glass and crystal, pottery, porcelain, wooden folk carvings, hand-embroidered clothing, and food items. There are a number of excellent shops specializing in glass and crystal, while various associations of regional artists and craftspeople run their own retail outlets (pay in local currency).

Other special purchases include pottery (particularly from Kolovec and Strážnice); china ornaments and geyserstone carvings from Karlovy Vary; delicate lace and needle embroidery from many Moravian towns; and blood-red garnets and semi-precious stones from Bohemia.

Shopping hours: Mon-Sat 0900-1800. Some stores, especially in smaller towns and rural areas, close at 1200 on Saturdays, while others in larger towns and cities also open 1000-1600 on Sundays. Supermarkets and food shops in large towns and cities are open from 0700 and often stay open until late.

Currency

Koruna (CZK; symbol Kč) or Crown = 100 haler. Notes are in denominations of 5,000, 2,000, 1,000, 500, 200, 100 and 50Kč. Coins are in denominations of 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1Kč, and 50 haler.

Currency Exchange

Foreign currency (including traveler's checks) can be exchanged at all bank branches and at authorized exchange offices, main hotels and road border crossings.

Credit Cards, Debit Cards, and ATMs

Major cards such as American Express, Diners Club, Discover, Visa, MasterCard and others may be used to exchange currency and are also accepted in some hotels, restaurants and shops, and in ATMs.

Travelers Checks

These are accepted in banks, but only rarely in hotels and almost never in restaurants. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travelers are advised to take traveler's checks in US Dollars, Euros or Pounds Sterling.

Currency Restrictions

There are no restrictions on the import or export of local or foreign currency. However, amounts exceeding €10,000 or equivalent must be declared if traveling from or to a country outside the European Union.

Banking Hours

Generally Mon-Fri 0800-1630. Some banks close early on Fridays.

Exchange Rate