The political transformations of 1989 were soon followed by hundreds of new shops springing up around the city. The once ubiquitous street vendors returned and many locals now divide their shopping sprees between the big stores and these budding entrepreneurs. The main shopping streets are the restored ulica Chmielna, elegant Nowy Swiat, ulica Marszalkowska and aleja Jerozolimskie. Out-of-town malls have become popular in recent years, with large central stores that are worth visiting, including Galeria Centrum, ulica Marszalkowska 104, and the designer shopping oasis of the Reform Shopping Plaza, aleja Jerozolimskie.

Arkadia is Poland's largest shopping complex boasting the stores of top domestic and foreign brands, stylish restaurants, cafes and a cinema. All of them are under a single roof, surrounded by unusual architecture: glass rooftops, high street-like galleries, fanciful mosaic tiling and natural stone walls. Arkadia shopping centre is the favourite meeting place of stage artists, singers, media people and foreigners. A stylish, elegant, friendly and fashionable place!

Arkadia is conveniently located at the end of the al. Jana Pawla II, at its junction with Slominskiego, Okopowa and Popieluszki streets. It is readily accessible by several bus/tramway lines and the underground and also benefits from 4,500 underground car parking spaces.

Its space (c. 287,000 square metres) houses almost 230 outlet points, including 184 stores, 15 service outlets and 30 restaurants/cafes. Each level of Arkadia has its specific key theme:

• The ground floor is primarily intended for everyday shopping with a hypermarket, sports stores, and home supply stores with household appliances, multimedia and decorations. In addition, five restaurants are located on the ground floor with separate external entrance doors at the front of the building, so that they are accessible even when Arkadia is closed

• The first floor is dedicated to fashion and accessories and houses mainly clothing stores of the Arkadia's unique World of Fashion. Carefully selected stores ensure a wide range of local goods, as well as from top international brands. In addition, a spacious food court is located on the first floor

• The second floor is for leisure, with Cinema City multiplex of 15 screens.

OPENING HOURS: Mon – Sat 10.00 - 22.00, Sun 10.00 – 21.00
For further information visit http://www.arkadia.com.pl/

Probably the best spot in Warsaw for souvenir hunting is in the Old Town, among the colourful façades and artists' stalls. The Cepelia stores are also worth a visit for Polish handicrafts, such as lace, dolls, amber and silver jewellery and leather goods.

Europe's largest flea market - in the Praga district next to the Poniatowskiego Bridge - runs the entire circumference of Dziesieciolecia Stadium (the former national stadium). The variety of goods on offer is enormous, ranging from air guns and fur coats to (mostly illegal) CDs, leather goods and trinkets from the former Soviet Union. It is worth visiting for the experience as much as for the goods on sale. There are also delicious refreshments on sale in little covered booths. The market opens at 6am daily - when the best buys are available - and begins to wind down at noon, after which there are eventually some last-minute bargains to be had.

Shopping hours vary considerably and many shops tend to open and close later than in the UK. Shops are generally open Monday to Friday 1000/1100-1800/2000 and Saturday 1000-1300/1600. In the past few years, dozens of shopping centres and hypermarkets of all the major European chains have opened in Warsaw. Often open seven days a week, these are the best places to stock up on Polish staples - such as pickled herring, preserved meats and, last but not least, vodka. VAT is over 20 per cent, but there are many tax-free shopping outlets, with cash refunds given at departure airports on presentation of the tax free documents, which can be obtained at participating outlets (Web site: www.globalrefund.com).