Though Bratislava has many large department stores with the latest fashion lines (the biggest is Polus City Center, Vajnorská Street), the best shopping for Slovakian crafts is in the Old Town, particularly Obchodna Street, where the huge Uluv craft market of the Ministry of Culture is located. There is also a 19th-century market hall at Námestie SNP 25 (Square of the Slovak National Uprising), 0800-2000 weekdays only.

Central Europe has a justified fame for crystal, and shops to try are Katka, Panska 24, and Rona, Laurinska 6. For better bargains and antiques, however, try the zalozna (pawn shops) such as Zalozna Index, Marianska 9, and the underground passage of Hodzovo namestie. For local wines, tokaj and brandies, try Trunk, Hurbanovo namestie 8 (weekdays 0900-1800).

Although traditional Slovak shopping hours involve closing at 1300 on Saturday and reopening Monday, during high season most shops of interest to visitors stay open all weekend, with the exception of pawnshops. Big name international brands are slowly moving into the capital in a sure sign that capitalism has well and truly replaced communism.