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10 Best Souvenirs to Bring Back from Prague

Bring a super-sized suitcase with you – all of your friends have been asking for specialty Czech souvenirs.

You finally did it – you bought your plane ticket. Finally, you’re headed to the Czech Republic, a country you have heard so many wonderful things about but haven’t had the chance to visit. You’re more than ready to take some time off from work, hop on that plane, and head to a new destination.

All of your friends are super jealous of your upcoming adventure, and have all asked for a little souvenir to bring back some Czech culture to your home – if it’s not too much trouble, of course. Plus, you want to keep some remembrances of your epic time spent in Prague, the country’s capital.

We have rounded up the best souvenirs to bring back from your time in Prague, whether it be a trinket from a boutique store or something free you collect along the way. Regardless of the size or the price, you can rest assured these items will forever remind you of your Czech excursion.

1) Marionettes

First on our list, we have what would appear to be a child’s toy – a marionette. However, when taking a closer look at this carefully handcrafted item, you’ll learn that marionettes date back to the 18th-century in Czech culture. These figurines are made for adults who don’t mind spending a little extra money on an authentic and unique wooden souvenir.

Check out some shops in the Old Town near Charles Bridge for some high-quality options, browsing through the various sizes and categories. Look for specific characters from kid’s books, such as witches, demons, literary protagonists, and animals.

The Prague locals like to say that the right one will jump out at you, and ‘pick’ you instead of vise versa – so it should be easy to decide which one to take home, right? Head to Obchod loutkami in Lesser Town to explore ‘The Puppet Shop,’ with paintings of puppet faces on the entrance doors and an incredible selection inside.

You can also remain around the Charles Bridge area and check out Galerie Marionette for a wide variety of high-quality puppets constructed by professional Czech artists. Regardless of which shop you choose to explore, this exquisite piece of art would be a great souvenir to bring home if you don’t mind spending a little extra on a handcrafted and thoughtful piece of work.

2) Bohemian Glass

Hopefully you have some cozy sweaters and poofy jackets to pad your suitcase – because bringing home a beautiful piece of Bohemian glassware is a real treat. This traditional type of glass is hand-made and detailed in various factories scattered all throughout the country.

Traditionally made in the regions of Bohemia and Silesia, this glassware has a history of being recognized around the world for its craftsmanship, innovation, and high-quality design and materials. Each piece is engraved, hand-cut, and blown to create a certain product. You’ll be able to find ornaments, figurines, and champagne flutes that can squeeze into your padded carry-on bag.

Glass-making sites date back to ancient times, with the first in the region dating back to around 1250 in the Lusatian Mountains. Many of the towns where other historical sites have been found contain glass museums displaying some of the ancient items dating back to 1600.

One thing to keep in mind is the difference in the phrasing in the Czech Republic versus the rest of the world. ‘Crystal’ in the Western world means the glass contains only 1% lead. In the Czech Republic, ‘crystal’ is used for any high-quality glass. Glass can contain up to 40% lead, while crystal can contain less than 24% lead.

This doesn’t matter that much when purchasing Bohemian glass from a shop in the Czech Republic, but it is always good to be able to explain the phrasing discrepancies when bringing back an expensive and high-quality gift for a friend.

We recommend trying to find some ‘druk’ beads, small and round glass beads with threading holes that the Czech nation is well known for. Not to mention, they’re pretty easy to fit into your bag and won’t add any extra weight – we know that $40 Ryanair overweight fee.

3) Spa wafers

Everyone loves getting a sweet treat from vacation. In Scotland, it’s shortbread cookies. In the Czech Republic, it’s spa wafers. A giant wafer cookie, these thin and pretty big treats contain a layer of cocoa, hazelnut, or vanilla to satisfy your sweet tooth. Boxes of these wafers can be purchased at virtually any supermarket or shop in Prague, and are easy to bring home.

The most famous variation is made in Karlovy Vary, a town known for relaxation, spas, and thermal fountains for healing. The first creation of these cookies was in a little before 1800, when cooks would prepare these treats with sprinkled sugar for the spa guests. Later on, the wafers were layered on top of one another and various spices were added to the mixture.

The Karlovy cookies are flavored with spring water and salt, giving the wafers here a distinctive flavor from the region. The first bakery to solely produce and specialize in these wafers opened in the mid-19th-century, and have remained hugely popular for the decades to come. You can eat these wafers either hot or cold, and these treats have become a staple in the Czech diet for the past few hundred years.

4)聽 Garnet

For someone truly special, or to bring a gift back for your girlfriend to apologize for leaving her at home during vacation, we recommend bringing back garnet. This semi-precious stone has long been considered a royal gem in the Czech nation, and today is used to make jewelry, art, and paperweights – so you might find something in your price range after all.

Be sure to gain the certificate of authenticity when buying, as there is fake garnet being sold everywhere to unknowing tourists. If you’d rather not take your chances and are feeling a bit lazy on the window-shopping front, you can always order garnet online at Granat Turnov. This jewelry is traditionally characterized by numerous smaller pieces combined to form one, bigger piece, like a statement necklace.

In modern society, you will be able to find simpler options, like a singular stone on a chain. The history of this semi-precious stone dates back to the early 17th-century when Emperor Rudolf II ordered the creation of an Imperial Mill in the country’s capital to obtain raw garnets. After this, the practice of mining the stone led to the influx of various prospects from across the globe.

Although the right to cut and drill the garnets were exclusive to Bohemia, this rule only lasted until the 19th-century. Today, the prices of the stone will vary according to the size, metal in which the stones are set, and quality. Pick out a piece of your liking and bring some back for your special someone.

5) Czech Teas

Although you might think the queen of tea when it comes to countries is England, but the Czech Republic gives those Brits a run for their money. We love this option because many tourists visiting Prague miss out on the tea experience, bypassing them for more crowded and popular options.

Fortunately for you, talk to any Czech local and you’ll see that the Prague locals love their tea houses. The places where you can sit down and enjoy a nice cuppa also sell some packaged and loose-leaf teas, along with some tea paraphernalia like special tea strainers and kettles. Look for ‘膷补箩辞惫苍测’听听when wandering around the old streets of the city to warm yourself up with a strong herbal tea.

Teahouses in Prague are a bit newer than in other European countries, with the tradition popping up in the mid 19th-century. After the first one grew in popularity, the craze took hold of the country and over 150 tea houses opened in Prague during the First World War. Unfortunately, many of these didn’t survive the Communist rule – but people in the modern world still want to bring back the tradition of times passed.

The tea houses in the city today are a product of late 20th-century creations, with the rebirth of the businesses being spurred by the opening of a house right on Wenclesas Square. Grabbing some loose-leaf teas to bring home for your friends is an easy and inexpensive souvenir that will come in handy during some cold winter nights.

6) Becherovka Liqueur

For your friends who enjoy a strong drink (or two), pick up some of this popular herbal drink – Becherovka. Despite being native to Karlovy Vary (this town produces some of the best stuff, am I right?), you can easily pick up some of this liqueur in many bars and pubs around the country. The cool thing about this specialty drink is the recipe is secret. Just like the Krabby Patty.

The bitter drink has some hints of ginger, various spices, and a few herbs. Even though it is flavored with these ingredients, don’t mistake this for a healthy tea drink – a shot of this has a super high alcohol content at 38%. We don’t recommend drinking this for a night out on the town, but you should do it as locals do, and just knock back one shot during the day. You’ll be able to find tiny bottles of Becherovka at most corner stores, supermarkets, and alcohol establishments in Prague. Your friends back home will thank you.

7) Natural Cosmetics

The Czechs are known for producing high-quality natural cosmetics. No testing products on animals and no ingredients you can’t pronounce. These makeup and skincare products are packed with vitamins, minerals, and skin-brightening nutrients that will make you glow even after a night out in Prague.

You can also find various plant-based cosmetics for the vegan friends out there, choosing between body products, soaps, and face masks. A very portable and reasonably priced option, these cosmetics would be perfect for the beautician friend waiting at home for a Prague souvenir. We recommend Botanicus and Boemi’s plant-based product line.

8) Bohemian Lavender

Professor Sprout would love this. Bohemian lavender combines strains that have been specially-selected and created to live a long life in their local conditions, and produce an ample amount of aromatic oil that can be sold. You will be able to find oils, lotions, gels, and creams for just about anything.

Look for Botanicus – a company that uses traditional practices to create modern products. Founded in the early ’90s, this company maintains organic gardens to grow various fruits and vegetables they incorporate into their all-natural products. Head to the shop in the Ungelt courtyard in Old Town and purchase as many lavender products as your carry-on (and nose) can handle – the shop is open every day from 10 am – 6:30 pm.

9) Art Nouveau

Every friend group has an artsy-friend. Here we have a little gift for them. Head to Obecni dum, the Municipal House, to find some beautifully-decorated pins, necklaces, and rings. The House is arguably one of the most beautiful buildings in the entire country, boasting a 2,000-seat concert hall, restaurants, decorative artwork, and jewelry from the country’s best artists. Hed to the gift shop to pick up a few souvenirs, open every day from 10 am – 8 pm.

10) Silk Scarves

Here we have a gift that is ideal for your partner’s mom – because what mom doesn’t like scarves? How about you purchase a scarf from a collection of one of the country’s most famous illustrators in the Czech Republic? Alfons Mucha was born in the mid-19th-century and became a world-renowned illustrator of detailed posters, paintings, and various art nouveau pieces.

He frequently captured the architecture and city of Prague in his work. If you head to the Mucha Museum, you’ll be able to see a collection of his work, and a gift shop selling paraphernalia that represents the work he was so famous for. Pick up one of the soft, silk scarves, decorated with emblems and motifs from his paintings – your boyfriend’s mom will thank you (and your boyfriend).

You got a little something for everyone and somehow managed to fit it all into your carry-on bag. Maybe because you’re wearing seven layers on the plane ride home.

There we have it, ten best souvenirs to bring back from the Czech capital. It’s important to try to shop for everyone when you’re on vacation – since they’re stuck at home, going to school, working, or just lamenting the fact they’re not with you. With a wide price range of objects, various sizes, and different categories depending on who you’re shopping for, Prague has something for everyone.