Krakow Shopping – Shops, Stores, Best Buys & Inside Tips

Krakow Shopping

Known as one of the oldest and largest cities in Poland, Krakow’s history dates back to the 7^th century. Today, it is known as a European Capital of Culture and attracts tourists looking to take a piece of the country home with them.

The Cloth Hall

The Cloth Hall contains a prestigious past, and is said to have been the first shopping mall in the world. Though the original Cloth Hall was built in the 14^th century, it was destroyed by a first in the 16^th century and later rebuilt. Today, it functions as a market for Tourists. There are all kinds of Polish crafts and souvenirs available. There is amber jewelry available, with cheaper prices found further in than at the first stalls. A good buy includes $20 for a beautiful pair of amber earrings. The ladies shops are also fantastic and offer great designs at fantastic prices.

Galeria Krakowska

The Galeria Krakowska is a shopping mall located adjacent to the main Krakow railway station. It contains several large banks and ATMs if you need cash. There is also a large Carrefour supermarket inside where you can buy bread, fruits, and snacks. You can find a range of upmarket shops, eateries, and a Carrefore store. In contrast to the Cloth Hall, the Galeria Krakowska is a modern shopping mall stocked with known European brands.

Empik Megastore

The Empik Megastore is located in Krakow’s main square and contains a huge selection of books, CDs, and video games. Located upstairs is a library where you can sit and read books before deciding on whether to buy them or not. The Empik Megastore is an excellent place to buy paperback foreign literature, both classics and recent bestsellers, in English, German, and French. It also contains an unbelievable collection of thousands of travel books in many languages. Its music department is also quite large, and the store contains over 26,000 CD titles.

Editor’s note: The information contained on this page was compiled using real traveler reviews about Krakow shopping.