What gifts and souvenirs can you bring from Poland? What to bring from Poland What can be brought from Poland

Thanks to the rapid development of the infrastructure of Polish cities, residents of Europe, especially its eastern part, no longer need to shell out huge sums of money in order to visit a modern metropolis at least once. One example of such attractive cities is the capital of Poland, Warsaw, which has long been considered among European travelers as one of the most modern tourist centers, as well as an ideal place for a good holiday. In this ancient city you can stroll through the streets and find a huge number of interesting places and attractions, since the city is known for its unique architecture, as well as rich history and culture. Thanks to all of the above, Warsaw is in no way inferior to many European megacities, and in some aspects the Polish capital is even better than them. But the main factor that attracts a large number of tourists from all over Europe here is the fact that here you can do very profitable and high-quality shopping. In shops and shopping malls in Warsaw you can find absolutely everything, from clothes and shoes to household appliances. At the same time, it is simply impossible to visit this beautiful, friendly country and not bring back at least a few interesting souvenirs to your friends and relatives. In general, there are a lot of entertainment and recreational opportunities in Warsaw, but specifically today we will talk about bargains and souvenirs.

It’s worth visiting Warsaw not only for walking around the city and admiring the many sights, but also for exciting and profitable shopping, because you may not have such an excellent opportunity to do a favorite activity for tourists in another European city. Moreover, in Warsaw you can make many interesting and very useful acquisitions. So, in the capital of Poland you can buy several items of clothing, shoes, and, of course, look for a couple of traditional souvenirs for friends and family. But, no matter how many necessary purchases you have planned for yourself, before traveling we recommend making at least a small list of desired purchases, because when you arrive in Warsaw and see the local assortment, you will most likely completely forget about most of the things you intended to buy . And the list will help you save both precious time and nerves.

Purchasing clothes in Warsaw

Returning from a trip to Poland without new clothes, at least something as small as a T-shirt or tunic, is simply impossible for any fashion lover. Well, if we take into account the fact that Warsaw offers tourists a lot of different shops and shopping malls that provide the opportunity to shop at competitive prices, then with such attractive shopping conditions any traveler will give in. For this reason, you will never see a tourist walking around Warsaw empty-handed. At the same time, we recommend adhering to a few simple shopping rules, the main one of which is to buy clothes, shoes and other necessary goods in stores or shopping malls. The only exceptions are minor and inexpensive purchases, which, in addition to boutiques, can also be purchased at local markets.

In all other situations, you can easily combine useful and exciting shopping with walks along the city streets and exploring local attractions. This is possible due to the fact that interesting shops can be found not only in the center of Warsaw, but also in any district, since a variety of retail outlets are scattered throughout the city. However, in no case should you think that such a “mini-trip” can become too tiring, because any experienced shopaholic knows that time and distance traveled fade into the background when doing what you love.

Speaking about the most profitable and popular retail outlets that sell clothes, it will be quite difficult to announce a complete list of such places, since there are a huge number of them in Warsaw. At the same time, each person has his own tastes and preferences, and the solvency of all tourists is different. Therefore, some shoppers will be able to shop carefree in branded boutiques in the city center, while others will have to travel to more remote areas and look for cheaper items. But, in any case, whatever you want to buy, be sure to visit at least some of the many shopping complexes in Warsaw. The most popular such places are considered “ Blue City», « Real», « Klif», « Sadyba Best Mall" and others. The main advantage of such places is the presence of a large number of boutiques and shops with different pricing policies, which allows any traveler to have a great shopping experience.

The average cost of clothing in stores and shopping malls in Warsaw is:

— a stylish women’s jacket can be found for 75 zlotys (18 euros);

— a cute casual dress costs approximately 57 zlotys (13.57 euros);

— for hosiery you will have to pay from 1 zloty (0.24 euros) per unit;

— an office dress of excellent quality costs approximately 120 zlotys (29 euros);

— a men’s shirt will cost 80–120 zlotys (19–29 euros);

- for a women's suit you will have to pay 240 zlotys (58 euros);

— classic trousers cost 150 zlotys (36 euros).

Purchasing shoes and accessories in Warsaw

But the exciting shopping experience in Warsaw is just beginning with clothes, as here you will find many more useful goods. An example is the traditional shoe shopping for every traveler. Absolutely the same rules apply to such shopping as in the case of purchasing clothes, so we recommend looking for shoes in local stores and shopping malls. Thanks to this, you will be one hundred percent confident in the quality of the purchased goods. Analyzing the pricing policy for shoes, it is worth saying that the cost of such products in Poland is quite acceptable, although wealthier tourists often want to purchase branded options, the cost of which is much higher.
For travelers with average incomes, we will inform you about the following prices for shoes in stores and shopping centers in Warsaw:

— men's shoes cost on average about 150 zlotys (36 euros);

— women's sandals and shoes will cost you starting from 100 zlotys (24 euros) and above.
The price here directly depends on the quality of the product and the manufacturer;

- ordinary summer flip-flops can be purchased for 20 - 30 zlotys (about 5 - 7 euros);

— a cute handbag will cost you 41 zloty (10 euros).

Souvenirs in Warsaw

Having purchased a lot of clothes and shoes and fully enjoyed shopping, do not rush to leave, because from any trip you need to bring at least a few interesting gifts for your relatives and close friends, because they will definitely be waiting for you with sparkling eyes. What to do in this case and where to go? If you can’t figure out what gifts to bring from Warsaw, then we recommend choosing gifts that have long become traditional - these are souvenirs. Similar goods brought from the capital of Poland will serve as an excellent gift. In addition, they are able to fully convey the spirit and flavor of this country. After all, absolutely all local goods, whether traditional crafts or ordinary food products, embody the original tastes and traditions of this state.

You definitely won’t have any problems purchasing souvenirs in Warsaw. You can find a variety of shops and stalls with similar products in any corner of the city, but the widest range is presented on the Market Square. Local merchants offer tourists to buy many interesting goods, including decorative Easter eggs, folk costumes and other original things. Well, if you want to buy several mugs with handmade patterns or wooden dolls, then you can find them in almost any souvenir shop.

The most original and traditional gifts that can be found in Warsaw are:

— Sirenka figurines. Be sure to buy at least a few such souvenirs for your friends, because they will surely be delighted with a small copy of the city’s defender, who has long become the most recognizable symbol of Warsaw. Considering all of the above, you will not be surprised that such a gift is considered the most popular among travelers. You can buy it here for 12 zlotys (3 euros);

— Music collections. In Warsaw you can find collections of works by Chopin, Mauger, Makowicz and Dudziak, so if one of your family or friends is an ardent fan of classical music, be sure to purchase at least a few units of such products. The cost of one collection is about 62 zlotys (15 euros) and more;

— Cheeses and cold cuts. Having visited Warsaw, you can’t help but enjoy real Krakow sausage. At the same time, don’t forget about your friends and loved ones, so buy a few sausage rings and take them home. In addition to sausage, we recommend that you definitely buy pork cabanas, raw smoked frankfuterki, and also treat yourself to delicious sheep cheese called “oscypek”. The cost of each listed product starts from 12 zlotys (3 euros);

— Alcohol. Alcohol in Warsaw is considered one of the most popular goods among tourists, since even completely non-drinking travelers want to buy it here. Therefore, bringing a bottle or two of some alcoholic drink from Poland has long become a tradition. Speaking about specific intoxicating drinks, we recommend bringing from Warsaw pineapple vodka with pieces of real gold called “Goldwasser”, or “Nalewka” (vodka from the extract of bison), plum brandy, wine “Gzanies” (it is drunk exclusively hot) , drink “Drinking Honey” and much more. And, of course, you can’t help but buy a few bottles of your favorite beer, of which there are more than 800 varieties. The cost of one container of alcohol is at least 41 zlotys (10 euros);

— Honey. Just don’t think that this is ordinary honey that you can buy in your hometown, because Polish honey of the “ółtorak”, “dwójniak” and “trójniak” varieties has an indescribable aroma and taste. One jar of such a product will cost about 20 zlotys (5 euros);

— Bijouterie. If you do not have enough money for expensive products, then cheaper, but very popular jewelry with amber and coral will come to your rescue. The cost of one unit is 20 zlotys (5 euros);

— Salt lamps. This is a very original gift, which is mined in the local salt mine in Wieliczka. It costs very little - 20 zlotys (5 euros), but thanks to such a souvenir you will surely surprise your friends;

— Gural slippers. Such wonderful shoes as warm house slippers will be an excellent means of heating during the cold winter season. You don’t have to worry about the quality of such products, since they are made exclusively from sheep’s wool, additionally decorated with embroidery or colored threads. The cost of one pair of such shoes is approximately 41 zloty (10 euros);

— Hutsul carpets. These carpets are the real pride of all Poles. This thing can fit perfectly into the interior of any home. Such products are of very high quality, because they are made from sheep wool. It is very pleasing that the size, color and pattern of Hutsul carpets can be chosen according to your own desire, since they are very different here. Please note that such a souvenir costs quite a lot (500 zlotys (120 euros), so we recommend buying it only from Hutsul craftsmen, so as not to accidentally become a victim of scammers and not buy a fake.

While vacationing in Poland, and specifically in the city of Warsaw, be sure to find some space in your suitcase and purchase at least a couple of the above items. But since the list of goods that we have presented to you is far from complete, you can find many more interesting and useful things in the shops and shopping malls of Warsaw. At the same time, you won’t have to limit yourself too much, since prices in local boutiques are quite affordable and affordable for every tourist. The streets of Warsaw are simply overflowing with some extraordinary and original things, so the temptation to buy something other than what was planned will certainly appear. At the same time, your exciting shopping will take place in a stunning and comfortable atmosphere. You won't find a better place to relax than the city of Warsaw!

The cost of food in Poland is of interest to both tourists and those who come from Belarus, Ukraine and Kaliningrad. And of course, if you are going to move to Poland, it would be good to find out about food prices in advance in order to estimate your family budget. On average, a family of four spends about 2,000 zlotys per month on groceries, although everyone’s tastes are different, but you can focus on the cost of living for one adult - 541.91 zlotys.

You can convert zlotys to rubles or hryvnias using the calculator in the right column of the site.

Grocery stores in Poland

The most popular grocery stores are the Polish economy-class supermarket chains Biedronka and Zhabka, the more expensive Piotr and Pavel, and the international chains Auchan, Kaufland, Karefour, Lidl and others. You can also find small private shops with signs like “Delicatessen”, “Bakery” and others. Large chains, as a rule, have their own newspapers where promotions and sales of the week are announced. With promotions you can buy groceries and other goods at a profit.

Polish supermarkets

• "Biedronka" ("ladybug" logo) - very common stores, as a rule, there are in almost all areas within walking distance. They are often compared to the Russian “Pyaterochka” or “Dixie”. Food and household chemicals, the range is not very wide, but there is everything you need. Prices are low, and there are promotions with discounts every week. The quality of the products is good. Often stores have their own bakeries. Lots of private label products.

prices in Biedronka for Ferrero

• “Zabka” (frog logo) are small self-service shops with higher prices for products. Zhabka minimarkets are open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., including on weekends and holidays (see), when most other stores are closed.

• “Piotr i Paweł” are expensive hypermarkets of the “ABC of Taste” level, located mainly in large shopping centers.

International supermarkets

• Auchan is a French chain that needs no introduction. Popular hypermarkets with a wide selection of economy class goods. In addition to groceries and household chemicals, you can buy inexpensive clothing, shoes, toys, stationery, household goods, sports equipment and household appliances at Auchan. A lot of products and other private label products at low prices (due to the lack of advertising).

• Carrefour are French supermarkets, prices are slightly higher than in Auchan, but they also have products of their own brand.
• Kaufland is a chain of German hypermarkets with budget prices. Food, household chemicals, household goods. Large selection of vegetables and fruits. They have their own bakeries, and you can immediately cut a purchased loaf of bread into slices yourself using an electric bread slicer. Ready-to-eat salads and roasted meats are also available.
• Lidl are German supermarkets. The assortment and availability of the bakery depends on the size of the store.
• Tesco is a chain of English supermarkets that, in addition to groceries and household chemicals, also sells clothing, toys, stationery, and household items.
• Spar is a Dutch chain of supermarkets of varying sizes, from hypermarkets to small Express stores.

What weekends in 2019 are Polish shops closed?

On March 1, 2018, a law banning trading on Sundays came into force in Poland. The ban will not apply to gas stations, train stations, airports, pharmacies, flower and souvenir shops, online stores, as well as small private stores where the owner himself sells (in particular, these usually include Zhabka grocery minimarkets).

New rules are being introduced gradually. Stores will be closed on all Sundays from 2020; in 2019, 1 Sunday per month will remain open.

In 2019, stores are open on the last Sunday of the month, unless these days fall on public holidays.

Before major holidays - Easter, Christmas and New Year, shops are open until 13 or 14 hours. Before Easter April 20 (Sat),before Christmas December 24 (Tue) and before New Year's Eve December 31 (Tue).

Grocery prices in Poland in 2019

What are the prices for products in Poland today, you can see in this table (indicated in zlotys). Price comparison in the most popular budget supermarkets. Of course, prices may vary depending on the types of products, brands, and season. But for a general understanding, you can focus on the following:

Alcohol prices at Auchan:

Cigarettes in Poland cost an average of 12 - 15 zlotys per pack. As a rule, they are sold near the cash register, in special cabinets that are protected from children's eyes.

How much food costs in Poland can be seen in the photo. Here, for example, are promotions on products at Biedronka in January:

Biedronki newspaper (click to view)

Lidl newspaper (June 2018)

Polish agricultural products, especially vegetables and fruits, can be bought in markets and also in street stalls. Their prices depend on the season.

Imported fruits and vegetables are sold all year round, for example, in Biedronka you can find watermelons and pineapples in January:

If necessary, products can also be ordered in online stores, for example, Auchan.

In general, we can say that food prices in Poland did not change much at the beginning of 2019 compared to 2018.

What products can you bring from Poland?

Towards the end of the holiday, many begin to be tormented by the question of what to bring from Poland: food, souvenirs, useful things, or something else. If you decide to treat your friends and relatives to something tasty, you can buy traditional Polish products.

For example, tourists often bring smoked oscypek cheese with them,

Krakow sausage or thin smoked Kabanoski sausages (they cost about 8-10 zlotys for a 200g package)

Poland is famous for its apples. Therefore, you can bring both the fruits themselves and products made from them, for example, cider:

Large baked goods in the shape of Christmas trees look quite original - sękacz, a gift for the whole family instead of a cake. You can buy them, for example, at Auchan before Christmas or.

You can also find beautiful hand-painted cookies at fairs:

If you don’t sell ready-made baking kits at home, you can bring them from Poland. You only need to add eggs, oil, and water to the prepared mixtures. Children like these sets and allow them to feel like real confectioners.

Before Christmas and Easter, chocolate figures are very popular for children, respectively Mikolajki and snowmen or eggs and rabbits.

How to buy groceries in Polish supermarkets

Supermarkets are a convenient and international option for stores that are easy for foreigners to navigate without knowing the language. Polish supermarkets are no exception, but to avoid encountering service options that are unfamiliar to you, read on for some helpful tips.

• In all supermarkets you can pay with a plastic bank card. But a little change in your pocket will still be useful: taking a large shopping trolley or using a luggage storage room in many stores can only be done with 1 or 2 zloty coins. You can get your coins back by returning the cart or emptying the storage compartment.
• Even if you don’t know Polish, try to check the name of the product and the inscription on the price tag so as not to get confused. Price tags can be placed both on the same shelf, under the product, and above it (this sometimes confuses buyers). If you can’t find a suitable price tag, then look for a special verification scanner, these are available in many large stores, to find out the real cost of the product by its barcode.
• Place loose goods in separate bags that lie nearby. If there are no scales next to the trays, then the cashier will weigh them (for example, in Biedronka, Tesco). If there are scales (for example, in Auchan, Kaufland), place a bag of groceries on them and select the corresponding button with the name. The machine itself will weigh the goods and print a sticker on the package. Often the price tags above the products indicate the button number, so you can’t go wrong. But just in case, remember that in Polish “owoce” is fruit, and vegetables are “warzywa”.

• If you are buying cheese, sausage or other foods by weight, the seller may ask how much “deca” is a decagram, equal to 10 grams. That is, 100 g is 10 “deca”.
• Before paying for your purchase at the checkout, the cashier may ask if you have a store card (for example, a “Bedronka card”). This has nothing to do with payment, if there is no discount card, just answer in the negative.
• After paying at the checkout, do not leave and immediately check the receipt; if the price is not what you expected, the goods can be returned.
• Some stores have introduced self-service checkouts, where customers weigh and check the goods themselves. There is usually an employee nearby monitoring the process who can help you understand the system and pay for the goods by card or cash. The machine then prints out a receipt. Only after scanning it at the turnstile will you be able to leave the store.

Russian-Polish phrasebook “in the store”

A few necessary phrases that may be useful in stores. In Polish, the stress of all words falls on the penultimate syllable.

In recent years, many European countries are considered not only as a country interesting for work, permanent residence and study, but also as a state in which brilliant shopping can be organized.

And the local industry allows them to do this profitably and comfortably, using shopping tours to Poland, weekend trips, as well as sightseeing trips with a lot of free time that can be devoted to shopping.

How you can use such shopping tours for yourself, what you should definitely bring from this country, and what you need to pay attention to first when going here for sales, we will analyze in this material.

It is advisable to organize shopping tours to Poland for certain groups of goods. It is best to do this with an eye to the following product categories:

• Household appliances, as well as repair kits and spare parts. They are significantly cheaper here than in many CIS countries.
• Clothes and children's items. In this case, experienced buyers advise choosing locally produced items, since they are cheaper in price, but their quality meets all European Union standards.
• Household chemicals, cosmetics, there are entire shopping tours for this area. Local brands are also popular here. But often people come here to buy original French, German and even American cosmetics at reasonable prices. Such shopping is almost always successful, especially if a person is shopping in Poland for one or two people.
• Food and alcohol. Experienced tourists recommend bringing tea, coffee, and cookies from here. Such goods do not deteriorate, they have a presentable appearance, and if you wish, you can even sell them profitably after importing them into your own country.

Also, medicines are often brought from this particular country as the most necessary purchases. However, in most cases, it is with such products that buyers have the most problems. After all, many medicines simply cannot be sold here without a prescription issued by a local doctor. Therefore, you shouldn’t count on such shopping, it may turn out to be unsuccessful.

Of course, it is not enough to plan shopping in this country for a certain time; you need to prepare for it in advance. You have to find out where the best discounts and sales are currently. You can do this as follows:

• By visiting websites that supervise shopping tours to this country for purchases. Here they can provide complete information about what actions are currently taking place or expected in the country. The advantage of such resources is that they are adapted to various regional languages, which is why working with them is usually the most convenient.
• By visiting the portals of the major brands themselves, if these are of interest to you. They usually hold all sales at the same time, which makes it easy to adjust shopping tours to their operating hours. You just need to find out when and what discounts this or that chain provides, and arrange a shopping tour for them.
• For those who know Polish or English well, you can visit the websites of the shopping centers in this country. It is better to focus on large cities, such as Warsaw. It also contains all the necessary information so that you can bring home wonderful purchases from Poland.
• If you are interested in more local brands, you need to adjust to the general seasonal sales. As a rule, they are held during the same periods as for major brands. Take this pattern into account, and it will be much easier for you to plan your trip.

Please note: the smartest time to go shopping here is during the period of widespread discounts. These happen here twice a year - in the summer from the end of June, and also from November to the end of December.

The last period is the most attractive for tourists who go shopping, as it refers to the traditional Western Christmas sales, when the discounts are the highest, and successful purchases can be made with virtually any choice of goods.

In order for shopping tours to be the most profitable for you, it is worth not only clarifying the issue of discounts in advance, but also clarifying what prices are currently in effect for certain items. To do this, you can, of course, use the resources already listed, which are entirely devoted to the topic of “shopping”. However, it is worth adding the following:

• Special forums dedicated to shopping in this country, adapted for almost any type of phenomenon such as a shopping tour. It is best to choose those that are aimed at those who have chosen shopping here as a form of recreation. Here you will not only learn what things you need to bring from this country, but you will also be able to clarify for yourself the question of what the real pricing policy is in various cities of the country. Also, with the help of such resources, you can easily contact experienced buyers and be able to clarify any nuances with them.
• Review articles and blogs dedicated to the phenomenon of shopping in this country. On these, as a rule, they tell in great detail what exactly they went to such a state for, what they managed to bring and, of course, at what cost, often even in such materials they provide photos of tags or receipts. For yourself, you can choose information in any format, both in the form of a printed blog and in the form of video materials. The latter will probably be the most convenient for work.

The presented resources, which give you a chance to find out prices even before leaving for Poland, will allow you to make shopping tours as profitable as possible, as well as soberly assess whether it is worth going to this country for shopping at all.

And since they almost always allow you to make a choice in favor of Poland, you just have to figure out where to change money when going on shopping tours, as well as exactly how many things and which ones you can bring from here. Let's look at this in as much detail as possible.

It is profitable to exchange cash in dollars or euros in Poland at special exchange offices. They are located in all major cities, most of them are open until 14.00-16.00 and accept almost all popular currencies for payment, without requiring a passport or other identification document.

Rubles or hryvnias, for example, can also be exchanged for them, but at a low rate, therefore it is not recommended to enter the country with such currency. There is no commission at such points, therefore for those who are determined to organize shopping in Poland, such points are the most convenient.

You can also change funds for making purchases at a bank branch. However, not all of them have an exchange office (this feature should be clarified in advance), and the exchange rate here is usually worse than at a street exchange office. That is why travelers rarely turn to such organizations. For those who have chosen shopping tours, they are simply inconvenient.

Also in Poland you may be offered to change money directly at the station in person. However, you should not agree to such an offer. Firstly, it is illegal, and if you are scammed, you will not be able to turn to the local police for help. Secondly, quite often scammers act this way and can exchange currency at a bad rate or give you counterfeit money.

Of course, shopping tours to Poland, which many people are already eager to attend, would be much more popular if this country had not established restrictions on the export of its own products.

So, potential buyers coming here to buy various things should remember the following rules:

• You will not be able to bring more than 3 large purchases during one visit. Restrictions apply to almost all household appliances presented here, as well as other groups of expensive goods.
• For large equipment, there is a separate regulation that allows you to bring 1 unit per visit.
• Those wishing to bring large goods from such a trip should remember that their weight should be no more than 35 kilograms. You will have to pay extra for any additional weight.
• The total weight of goods that you will be allowed to transport from Poland without paying duty will be only 50 kg. For everything else you will have to pay extra.

In addition, when importing specific goods such as medicines, as well as certain types of alcohol and products, you need to find out whether they are generally permissible for import into your country. After all, it is possible that the selected goods may be confiscated from you at customs.

That is why it is very important, before choosing shopping tours, to clarify what exactly should not be brought from Poland, and with the delivery of which goods people usually have the biggest problems. Also, ask experienced buyers how to transport a problematic product; they will probably give an interesting solution, recalling their own shopping tours.

Please note that these requirements apply to absolutely all shopping tours to Poland; no traveler should expect unlimited shopping here.

It is much wiser to avoid any conflicts at customs and plan several visits here. Moreover, in this country you can not only buy a lot of interesting things, but also have a place to relax, improve your health, and even undergo vocational training.

One of the most important points of the tourist program is buying souvenirs for family and friends. The search for memorable trinkets can turn into real torture and many hours of wandering between counters, so it is best to find out in advance what a particular country is famous for, so that when you travel, you will know what to look for. For those who travel to Poland on their own and cannot find out everything from a guide, we have compiled a small cheat sheet about the main souvenirs of this country.

Alcohol. Needless to say, the first thing our compatriots bring back from their travels is alcoholic beverages. In the case of Poland, there is a lot to choose from. The two most famous strong drinks are Zubrovka vodka and Goldwasser liqueur. Zubrovka is so called because of the grass on whose stems it is infused. Thanks to its recipe, the drink has a tart taste and aroma and is believed to help digest food better. A bottle of zubrovka is inexpensive and will be an excellent gift for any man. By the way, Poles drink it by mixing it with apple juice. Goldwasser is considered an elite drink, and there are pieces of real gold floating in the bottle (don’t worry, scientists have proven that gold is not a toxic metal and does not cause harm to the body, so you can safely try this drink and take it to your family and friends). Goldwasser is infused with anise, so it has a characteristic taste and aroma. Also from Poland you can bring gzhanes (dessert wine, it is customary to drink it with the addition of spices) and drinking honey, somewhat reminiscent of mead.

Products. We've all heard of Krakow sausage, and it's a must-have souvenir from Poland. The so-called “boars” are very tasty - meat products similar to hunting sausages. It is also worth bringing home Polish cheese made from goat's and sheep's milk - oscypek. This cheese tastes good and has a long shelf life, so it is not afraid of transportation. Honey cookies, which can be found in all grocery stores or at the market, will be a wonderful gift for children and adults.

Boleslav ceramics. These ceramic products have been produced in the southwest of the country since the 15th century. Thanks to its painting, Boleslav ceramics are somewhat reminiscent of Gzhel. During the production process, all products are fired in a hot oven, which makes them durable and functional. Among the ceramic products you can find not only pleasant trinkets, but also functional gifts for the kitchen and home.

Amber. Poland is famous for its amber mining, and the city of Gdansk is considered the world's amber capital, so jewelry made from this stone, such as a ring, pendant or earrings, will be an excellent gift for any woman. Kitchen products and decorative souvenir figurines are also sold here. Do not forget that prices for amber are not the lowest, and many retail outlets, wanting to attract tourists with low prices, offer fakes.

Salt products. The Wieliczka Salt Mine fills Polish shelves with all sorts of salt products. Salt therapy, as you know, is a very useful procedure and can significantly improve your health. Therefore, it makes sense to bring salt lamps from Poland (when heated, they act as an air ionizer, purifying it and having a positive effect on human health), bath salts and any other salt products.

Wool and fur. In Poland, the livestock industry, namely sheep breeding, is particularly developed, and therefore here you will find a wide variety of all kinds of wool, fur and leather products, very warm and durable. At local bazaars and fairs the cost of such products is not too high. Leather and fur items can be found here, including children's sizes. Pay attention to the Hutsul fur. Unusually hard carpets, soft house shoes and sheep's wool vests are very popular.

Wooden Toys. A wooden toy would be an excellent gift for any child (and adult). The windows of souvenir shops and market stalls with hanging toys look very attractive. These souvenirs are made by hand and are of high quality.

Gnome. Local residents believe in the legend that gnomes live on all the streets of Poland, and to meet them you just need to be a little more attentive. Therefore, the souvenir shops of this country are full of figurines of gnomes in various types, poses and moods. A great inexpensive and distinctive gift!

Anyone who has ever been lucky enough to visit a real craft fair in the mountains of Europe will find shopping in Zakopane nothing new. The rest of us will forever remember this spectacle for its color, because this is no longer a place of trade - it is a folk workshop and a concert venue rolled into one. The market is located along the main central street of the city – Krupovka. Confectionery shops, ordinary shops, “offices” (as currency exchange is called here), bars and restaurants are concentrated on it. It is also the main place for evening festivities.

Polish highlanders are called Gurals, but their crafts are traditional. Those that the life of a mountain shepherd and mother nature gives: wooden crafts, goat cheese, sheep blankets and leather shoes. There are also a dozen types of crafts that are purely decorative, but of such beauty that no one asks what to bring from Zakopane as souvenirs to friends and family. And he doesn’t leave the shopping mall empty-handed.

Let's start with clothes

The Gural costume looks very colorful: a hat with a feather made of a thick material resembling felt, it is called “Kerpets”, a white shirt, a padded jacket - a sleeveless vest made of sheep fur, dark trousers with colored embroidery and pointed leather boots. Also in the ranks they are briskly selling women's summer sandals stylized as them, made of the same thick leather in a natural shade. This ensemble is complemented by a “chupaga” - a long staff with a small hatchet at the end - this is exactly what is convenient for walking along mountain paths. The prices for these products are relatively symbolic; moreover, they fluctuate depending on the season. The same sandals in winter cost from? 8, and in the summer it’s half the price. However, this is the specificity of souvenir pricing around the world.

Gural slippers are no less in demand; they will cost? 10. They are embroidered with colored threads, and the inside is lined with sheep's wool. In winter, especially if the floor in the house is cold, there is nothing better than them. The Gural people stand apart from the Polish nation, carefully preserving their own culture, but the seller gives everyone who buys a costume folk beads. This promotion is older than the entire marketing history of mankind - these are the bright moments that shopping in Zakopane gives. What if they buy a hand-woven carpet that costs money? 120, then they won’t spare a mountain hat for him in addition.

Cheese joys

The most traditional souvenir purchased at the fair will be the “oscypek”. This is a salty sheep's cheese in the form of anything, it is famous throughout the world. It best reflects the shepherding traditions that have been preserved in Zakopane for fifteen centuries. Its cost, due to its size, directly depends on the size of the wallet, and starts with free and ends with? 3. Because almost all shops in Zakopane offer this kind of cheese for free. And at the market you have to gorge yourself on it - if you don’t try at least a small piece from every merchant, you will offend to the very heart. And it’s hard to refuse, because it’s a craft fair, so they smoke it right at the counters.

This cheese is made from sheep's and cow's milk, and the proportion must be observed: 60 to 40 percent. There are ossypki made from goat's milk, but extremely rarely - there is very little of the original product. The smoked product is stored for three months, so you simply cannot find a better souvenir for relatives. You just have to wrap it in seven layers before putting it in your travel bag. The smell, however.

Wooden Toys

Of course, this craft could not help but develop in the mountains, which are densely covered with forests, and the winters in these parts are long and very snowy - you cannot leave the house for months. The Gurals came up with a lot of things to carve: whistles, angels, colored pencils, those same hatchets.

All kinds of kitchen utensils deserve special attention: spoons, bowls, but special attention is given to hot mats. The tree continues to emit an amazing smell for several years when it comes into contact with a hot frying pan somewhere in a small kitchen located in a high-rise building in a modern metropolis.

The cost of such souvenirs that you might want to bring from Zakopane is within? 13.

About the usual and vital

There are no ultra-modern shopping centers with fashionable boutiques and wonderful sales at the resort. But there are a lot of them in Krakow, which is only two hours away by regular bus. But there are shops in Zakopane that successfully sell a wide variety of ski equipment and sportswear. Amazing stories are possible here: often discounts at the end of the season reach 50%, and a wonderful ski suit that came out of size can be purchased for? 60 – for example. You can also buy swimwear there for quite reasonable amounts. Many tourists learn about the presence of a water park and thermal springs when they arrive in Zakopane.

So, to summarize, although high in the mountains, although dominated by an ever-functioning craft fair, Zakopane has long been touched by the tenacious hand of civilization. You can, for example, if you don’t prepare for the cold in advance, buy the same Turkish sheepskin coats that you couldn’t do without here, and the prices are the same as everywhere else.

When visiting the market, it is always worth remembering a very revealing local legend. They love to bargain here. One day, famous Arab traders wandered into the mountains, in a large caravan, of course. At first they sold their goods for nothing - what can you take from the poor mountaineers. When they got ready to go home, local residents sold them some sunlight for the journey - exactly the amount that traders from a distant and hot country earned.

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