Tip# 023: First off, know how what to expect as a Czech shopper.
There are a couple of things you should know before going grocery shopping in Prague. Most of them, I’ve learned through trial and error. And I’ve had countless awkward grocery store interactions because of this. The first thing to remember: always bring a bag. No matter how big the grocery store, no matter where it is in Prague, you’ll always be happy you brought one. If you didn’t, you’ll still be able to get all your groceries home safely — there are bags for sale near the checkout lines, but it’s ten crowns or so, and you might have to look around a little to find them.
If you’re getting produce, look out for weighing stations. Some grocery stores have these stations near their fruits and vegetables, and you’re supposed to weigh each item. Then, it’ll print out a barcode sticker for you. Stick this on the plastic produce bag and make your way to checkout. The clerk scans this at checkout. If you forget to do it, you’ll lose your place in line to go weigh them.
Last thing: grocery store clerks do not bag your items for you. All they do is scan and take your payment, so pack your things while they scan as quickly as possible so you don’t hold up the line.
Tip# 322: Pharmacies versus drug stores. There’s a difference!
There really isn’t a CVS or Walgreens equivalent in Prague. The closest thing to these American stores is DM or Rossmann which are pretty easy to find, but they don’t carry certain necessities like cold medicine or even certain skincare brands. To find these products, you have to go to a pharmacy (a “lékárna”) and get them from the pharmacist. This can be a bit intimidating, but the pharmacists are very helpful and knowledgeable! Don’t be afraid to ask questions and get comfortable with the Lekarna because if you ever need to get a prescription filled, that’s where you’ll go as well.
Tip# 508: Cheap fresh food is no oxymoron at Green Mart.
If you love fruit as much as me, you should definitely check out the Vietnamese store Green Mart, which is located five minutes away from the Náměstí Republiky tram stop ( the exact address is Na Poříčí 27). It has a very wide selection of any kind of fruit, from simple apples, bananas and oranges to mango, papaya, melon, dragon fruit, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries. What makes this shop appealing is, first of all, good prices. 500 grams of the freshest sliced mango (it is better than the one I tried in Egypt or the Dominican Republic) would cost around 100 Kc, which is $4.
Moreover, they put packs of fresh berries on sale a few times a day, so in the middle of the winter you can buy sweet raspberries for 29 Kc — less than $1.50. They have fresh deliveries a few times a day and products are sold very quickly. In addition, the shop offers other Vietnamese goods, for example, different types of original noodles, mochi, or matcha. Besides fresh fruits and vegetables, there is also a corner with a wide selection of alternative milk, granola, nuts mixes, porridges as well as some common goods — sweets, grains, dairy products, frozen products, cleaning supplies, alcohol and more. So check it out, I promise you will love this shop and definitely come back for another portion of exotic fruits.
Tip#433: Missing home? Go to The Candy Store.
Czech stores do not always have the American goods that we are used to. However, The Candy Store near Máchova on Londýnská has a bunch of American goods like Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ sauce and Takis. It is more expensive than what you would pay in the States because it is being imported, but sometimes it’s worth it. It also has a lot of British goods as well. It’s great if you have a sweet tooth like me.
Tip#236: Get everything you need to study hard at the stationary store.
First of all, you should know that the stationery stores in Czech are “papírnictví.” The most common one here and the one I would definitely recommend is Luxor. It is a store that you can find almost everywhere and it has everything you need for studying. There are also a lot of books (in English of course) and even some accessories and decorations for book lovers, too. Store locations where you probably will be around the most are at Palladium (near Malé Náměstí tram stop) and Václavské náměstí. Warning: don’t get confused, the stationery is on floor -1.
Tip#724: Get thrifty with HipStar.
If you’re looking for New York streetwear style pieces, look no further than HipStar. On the walk to the 6, if you’re going to Osadní from campus, lies the best thrift store near Malé Náměstí. With two storefronts, HipStar has so many items. From bomber jackets to Gucci shoes to sweatshirts, and everything you’d expect at a thrift store, the variety is huge. Though, unlike New York thrifting, the prices are insanely good. Where you might’ve gotten a jacket for $40 in New York, it’ll be $20 here. Same quality, better pricing.
Tip #46: The best bookstore is American — and no, we’re not biased at all…
Finding a good English bookstore in Prague was key for me when I first got here. After a few months of searching, I’ve found some I really love. The first is called The Globe, which is an American bookstore and cafe combined into one. They have a decently large selection of books in a range of subjects (psychology, history, fiction, etc.) as well as newer titles. It’s about 15 minutes away from campus, so if you’re looking for something closer, you can check out Budget Books at the Lazarská tram stop. Here, you’ll also find a variety of English books at a decent price.