Shopping is indispensable part of each trip.  We shop for souvenirs and gifts for ourselves and for our beloved ones.  But shopping abroad is a kind of pass-time or entertainment where we discover  local fashion trends and compare them with those back at home.  However in country like Poland where each city is different in terms of its culture, style, history shopping may be a unique and distinctive experience in each of them.

Warsaw

Warsaw is the place for those who love shopping malls and hunt for branded and local goods including clothing, shoes, jewelry, accessories and anything that such places can offer.  There are a couple of shopping streets such as Marszalkowska Street with Galeria Centrum, Chmielna Street with small boutiques, Nowy Swiat Street with top brands.  Also there are some shopping malls within easy reach by public transport while on short or longer visit in Warsaw: Zlote Tarasy – the newest one, Arkadia – one of the biggest, City Centre, Galeria Mokotow, Klif, Blue City, Wolapark.

Krakow

Krakow – the best know of the Polish cities has everything to offer to tourist either they shop for souvenirs and gifts or are shopping victims and wish to search through shopping malls.  The focus point of Krakow – the Main Market Square with the Cloth Hall has always been the trading place and has kept its function for ages.  Today most of the wood craft, stained-glass items, woolen sweaters, chess-cases, amber jewelry and many more are purchased over there.  That area is transformed into Christmas Market every winter, and during summer numerous local fairs take place there.  There are also two shopping centers located very centrally: Galeria Krakowska and Galeria Kazimierz, those would be the places for the shopping lovers.

Poznan

Poznan has one of the best of multifunctional centers in Poland. Stary Browar (Old Brewery) is an art, exhibition, conference, meeting, entertainment and shopping centre – simply the place where everybody can find something interesting and appealing for oneself.  It has already been awarded The Best Shopping Centre in Central and Eastern Europe in 2006.  Other awards that Stary Browar gathered within very short period of time include The International Council of Shopping Centre Award in 2005 and nominated as architectural landmark constructed after 1989.

Gdansk

Gdansk – the capital of amber – the Baltic’s gold, has always been the trading city also due to its port function.  And the best example of old style trading with modern goods and souvenirs can be experienced during St. Dominic’s Fair.  The tradition of St. Dominic’s Fair reaches back to the 13th century. On the last Saturday of July, Gdańsk attracted German, French, English and even Spanish and Portuguese merchants. 400 ships with French and Spanish wine, silk, preserves, Portuguese spices, tin and cloth called at the port. Circus performers, acrobats, jugglers and troupes of actors arrived from far and near. Today the fair continues to attract tourists and residents, combining a trade fair and a rich agenda of cultural and sports events. The events calendar encompasses a wide range of festivities, concerts and contests. The scale of the Gdańsk fair is comparable to such European events as Oktoberfest in Munich.

Lodz

Lodz – yesterday just an industrial city, today it is the center of culture and entertainment.  The city has changes its image within a couple of years and one of the key points was restoration of the postindustrial areas, which next were converted into art, exhibition, entertainment and shopping center.  Manufaktura is the best examples how the history and heritage can be preserved and adopted to expectations of today clients.  Lodz is often call city of 4 cultures because it is where Polish, Jewish, Russian and German nationalities live together creating very unique atmosphere.  The city is also famous for its film school where world-recognized directors studied.