If you travel to Czech Republic and think of several nice presents to bring home for kids and parents, here are some ideas. Like any popular tourist country, it offers common souvenirs like T-shirts, fridge magnets, tea-cups and pencils with Czech national flag and emblem, or Prague sights. But you can easily find other wonderful things which are real pieces of local arts.
- Original Czech alcohol. Those who travel without luggage limit, can buy several bottles of famous Czech beer. There’re dozens of manufacturers, and several Prague restaurants manufacture their own beer in small quantity. If you leave Europe by airplane, it’s possible to buy the beer in a duty-free shop in the airport. Only huge breweries export its products, and not small local manufacturers.Two other “alcohol’ souvenirs are a legendary digestive “Becherovka” and a plum brandy “Slovovice”. Both are available in any department store. You can try and buy “Becherovka” in the outlet store in Karlovy Vary.
- Bohemian crystal Czech decorative glassware is famous all over the world. The Czechs have been produced it for more than 800 years. Marvelous hand-engraved decorations and intricate crystal cut have always made it a precious present. Look for Moser – a perfect sample and an ancient glass manufacturer. Try to avoid crowded tourist shops, and look attentively for the fabricant logo on the bottom.
- Marionettes and wooden toys. Marionettes fabrication dates back to Roman ages, and in 1800-s Prague became the center of puppet fabrication. Marionette shows are popular in the city, as before. Puppets are available in small local shops, art galleries and museums.
- If you travel from Prague airport outside the European Union, you could buy some gifts and souvenirs in duty-free shops after luggage drop and passport control, so this purchase is not counted as part of your luggage weight.
- Garnet is a small dark red precious stone and a national gem, sold in many shops all over Prague. This memento wouldn’t take much place in your luggage. If you leave EU, don’t forget about Tax refund in the airport or on the railway station.
- Antiques. As in any ancient city, the city center of Prague is full of secondhand bookshops. Don’t miss a strange collection of gifts, such as ancient local maps, ancient furniture and obscure sailing equipment.
- Ice hockey jersey. Most Czechs lose their head when playing and watching the ice hockey. So if you are looking for a sports memento to bring home, think of a national ice hockey jersey.
- If you would like to take something that will remind you of your Czech tour every day, think of original enamel house numbers. You can find them in hardware stores all over the country, or in art shops. You can compose you proper house number from the enamel characters available.