The best fashion and gift stores Slovakia

Timetable

Shops are generally open Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm, and sometimes on Saturday mornings.

The big shopping centers break local habits and are open 7 days a week, from 8am to 10pm and sometimes even midnight.

Be sure to follow the public holiday calendar, as these are respected and all stores are closed. It's almost impossible to find a restaurant that's open. By law, a boss cannot force an employee to work on a public holiday. This means you have to get organized for shopping, especially at Christmas time: December 24, 25 and 26 are public holidays.

Budget & Tips

Life in Slovakia is generally less expensive than in France, but don't expect to find any bargains when it comes to shopping. Foreign and consumer goods are priced much the same as in France, and sometimes even more expensive. Stores are concentrated mainly in large shopping malls, where you'll find the same classic brand names that you'll find everywhere. Payment by debit or credit card is generally accepted, even in small stores.

Sales

There are no regulations on sales in Slovakia, so you can find them everywhere and in all seasons. As a visitor, you will therefore find it difficult to anticipate a pay period and to know whether it is really interesting or not.

What's very local

It's very local to buy and put on your bag a fluorescent reflective bracelet to be seen at night by cars in unlit areas. If you're looking for local, you can head to Bratislava's Botas shoe store. This vintage Czechoslovakian brand has come back into fashion with its colorful sports shoes. In Bratislava's historic center, you'll find plenty of stores for tourists: ceramics, antiques, wooden toys..