Poland is a country that can rightfully be called a trading paradise. It has everything: cheap goods and high fashion, antiques and products created with the latest technology, imported goods and typically Polish. If you set yourself the goal of finding the product that you need, you will definitely find it. This article contains, for example, useful information where you can make the best shopping in Krakow.
Country currency and exchange
If you are traveling to Poland for the first time, you should have minimal information about the currency, exchange options, and where this exchange can be made. Poland, being a member of the European Union, has not adopted the euro. The country has its own currency. Are you interested in what money is in Poland? This is the Polish zloty, and the change is the Polish grosz. You should not change money in your country, there are enough exchange offices in Poland. They are at the airport, at bus and railway stations, in shopping and tourist centers. Moreover, you can pay for the goods with a bank card atcross exchange rate. The minimum exchange for the country's currency must be made at the entrance, since you will have to pay for travel in transport and any services in zlotys.
Important information about the Tax Free system for tourists who come to Krakow for shopping. For goods purchased in many Polish stores operating under the Tax Free system, you can get a refund of value added tax (VAT). The condition is the value of purchases exceeding PLN 200. The money is returned at the checkout for chargebacks.
To Poland for shopping
The best shopping tour is definitely in the big cities of Poland like Warsaw, Krakow, Gdansk. They have not only shopping centers with seasonal sales, but also large outlets. Moreover, having arrived, for example, in Krakow by bus tour, you can travel around several cities in Poland, shopping in them and visiting interesting places and sights.
For shopping, it is best to visit shopping centers. They are always distinguished by the concentration of brands of clothing, shoes and accessories in them. In Krakow, these are Galeria Krakowska, Galeria Bronowice, Bonarka, Galeria Kazimierz.
Also, outlets are waiting for their customers, which are located a few tens of kilometers from big cities. Fashionable, multi-brand and the largest outlet in Poland is the Fashion House Center, which is located in several cities on the map of the country. It is here that the range of brands is the widest, and promotions reach several dozenpercent.
The prospect of up to 70% off tempts lovers of luxury brands and good design to shop. Here you can find something that could serve as a gift from the trip. Therefore, sales centers are increasingly becoming objects for those who like to carry out shopping tours to Poland.
Center Fashion House Fashion House
In the Fashion House shopping center, the minimum effective discount is 30%, and during the sale period it can be up to 90%! Why is this possible? At the Fashion House outlet stores, shoppers can buy surplus products that were left behind in the production warehouses, leftovers from seasonal clothing lines, collections from previous seasons and models made specifically for the mall that are not available in traditional outlets.
Here you can choose your favorite brand, but pay much less for it. The price category of goods in outlets is several times lower than prices in shopping centers. Therefore, you can easily calculate the savings on the purchase. The following brands are especially economical in outlets: Guess, Furla, Pinko, Mango, Stefanel, Trussardi, Levi's and Kazar.
Outlet Factory Krakow
Shopping center where you can shop and not overpay for purchased goods, but on the contrary, get discounts from 30 to 70% - this is the Outlet Factory. Here you can choose clothes, shoes and accessories of your style. More than 90 stores have goods for men and women, sportswear and children's clothing. There are a lot of household goods in stores,stationery, household chemicals.
The outlet has safe playgrounds where the staff of the center will look after the children while their parents are shopping. After completing successful purchases, you can relax in a cafe with a cup of coffee or dine in one of the restaurants.
Shopping center Galeria Bronowice
Certainly, one of the largest, most modern and most visited shopping malls is also located in Krakow. This is the Bronowitz Gallery. It has more choice and variety of different models of clothes and shoes. This center is located in a convenient location for residents of the city and for tourists, on the street. Stawowa 61 next to Ryn Ofiar Katynia. There are 2400 free parking spaces near the center waiting for customers. A large selection of Krakow stores designed for shopping allows you to conveniently shop in one place.
Galeria Bronowice is a good place not only for shopping, but also for relaxing. The center has a reading room, a recreation area and even a cinema. Creative Planet was created in the mall - a place designed to entertain children while mom is shopping in the mall.
Galeria Kazimierz
Galeria Kazimierz, a large shopping center in Krakow, is located in the Grzegorski district, and its name is associated with Kazimierz. In 2007, construction began on the six-story office part of the gallery, and was completed in 2009. This is a very convenient shopping gallery as it is located in the city center. There are more than just shops here.the Polish clothing market, which with its assortment can please fashion lovers, but boutiques and shops of designer brands known all over the world.
The mall has shops selling cosmetics, perfumes and exclusive gifts. In the center, you can leave the child under the supervision of the shopping center staff, doing shopping.
Other popular malls
When mentioning shopping centers, one should not forget about Galeria Krakowska. Galeria Krakowska is located next to the Main Railway Station, a few steps from the center on Pavia 5th Street. This is a very popular shopping place in Krakow, which owes its very advantageous location in the city center. Galeria Krakowska consists of 250 shops, where visitors can find goods from world and Polish brands. Gallery area 60,000 m2. There are 1,400 parking spaces next to it.
The next important place on the map of shopping centers in Krakow is Bonarka City Center. It was opened in 2009. This huge complex grew up on the site where a cement factory and a chemical plant were once located. The existing shopping area of Bonarka looks like an endless shopping center, where all the brands of Poland are collected. The center is located at st. Kamieńskiego, 11. There are more than 230 shops on the area of 92 thousand m2. 3,200 parking spaces have been allocated for personal vehicles. The Bonarky shopping area is far from the center, but in 45-50 minutes it can be reached by a city bus.
These places, however, areonly a part of what Krakow offers to its residents and those who come on shopping tours to Poland. You also need to add such places that you should not go around in search of the right product. These are the M1, Krokus or Galeria Plaza shopping centers - the first shopping center created in Krakow.
Where to shop in Krakow? The choice is yours. From the review made above, you can decide which shopping centers and outlets in Poland are worth visiting. Numerous stands on the main squares of cities attract the attention of residents and tourists, advertising goods at competitive prices.
Targeted Shopping Tours
Besides individual visits to Poland, there is a standard shopping program in Krakow offered by Moscow travel agencies. The program is designed for three days and includes visits to three large shopping centers. These include Galeria Krakowska, Galeria Kazimierz and Bonarka City Center (described above in the article). It is possible to make changes in the shopping program related to the wishes and possibilities of the client. Tourists come from Moscow to Krakow to combine business with pleasure: to shop and visit the sights of Krakow and its environs. At the request of the tour participants, a trip to the Wieliczka s alt mines can be organized. From this trip, you can bring an original gift for household members, colleagues and friends. These are all kinds of s alt figurines, lamps and bags of s alt.
What to bring from Poland?
According to shoppers, the most interesting and memorable souvenirs from Poland are handmade amber jewelry, as well as those made fromamber crumb pattern. Fine products made of porcelain and ceramics with author's painting will certainly be appreciated by lovers of exclusive things.
If you need magnets, key chains or cups with inscriptions for gifts, they are best purchased at the Cloth Shop (pictured above). There is a large selection of such goods.
If you are interested in shopping for sweets, Wavel will satisfy lovers of chic dark chocolate with up to 90% cocoa content. As a souvenir, you can bring beautiful figured chocolate and sets of sweets.
What else to bring from Poland? Those who have been to this country more than once are advised to buy a local tincture - Goldwasser. This is a liqueur with a balsamic-medicinal aftertaste. It contains anise and cumin. This "Golden Water" is comparable only to the Czech balm "Becherovka". And don't spend every last zloty, bring it with you to show how much money there is in Poland. This can also be a good souvenir.
How to fly to Krakow?
The distance between Moscow and the old Polish capital is approximately 1,400 kilometers. Since Poland is in the Schengen area, a Schengen visa is required to cross the border. Presumably you have it if you are going shopping.
There are no direct flights from Moscow and Russian cities to Krakow. This means that you will arrive at Krakow Airport with a transfer in Warsaw, and then by local airlines. Tickets must be purchased for each segment of the flight separately. This option is cheaper and costs approximately130 euros. In comparison, if you take a direct ticket Moscow - Krakow (with a deliberate landing in Warsaw), the cost of such a ticket will be approximately 270 euros.
In any case, once at Krakow Airport, which is located 11 km from the city, do not rush to use a taxi. You can come to the city by bus number 292, which runs from the airport to the center. There is also a night bus number 902. It carries passengers arriving on night flights. Bus tickets can be purchased from the vending machine at the bus stop for PLN. There is also a railway station here. By train "Balice Express" you can come to Krakow. Tickets are sold by the conductor on the train.
To Krakow by train and car
If you go by train, shopping experts advise you to go to Warsaw, and from there to Krakow by train of the Polish railway. Again, a local flight within the country is cheaper than a direct flight from Moscow to Krakow.
It's quite convenient to go to Krakow with your own car. True, the travel time will be about 18 hours. You should also consider the cost of gasoline and the payment of some autobahns.
And yet the most popular and economical shoppers consider the trip a comfortable, adapted for long trips, bus. The journey will take approximately 30 hours. The ticket price will be 70 euros. You can brighten up the road by watching movies and working with gadgets.
