Trakai Shopping

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This store/shop was placed in typical Trakai wooden house and offered various gifts, souvenirs and local craft like: wooden figures/statues, mugs and bells, ceramic plates and pots, Lithuanian witches riding a broom, rag dolls etc. Add quite good choice of amber jewelry from simple bracelets to necklaces to amber fixed with silver and amber stones with insects inside.

What to buy: What you like. I would choose some ceramics and amber + silver jewelry.

What to pay: Generally low or medium prices, although a little bit higher than on street stalls but better quality must cost. If you spend more try to bargain (preferably in... Lithuanian or Russian). Good luck :-). Anyway, prices were lower than in any such touristy destination in Western Europe.

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This T-shirt, on my picture, and many others, were sold from street stalls, put one by one, along southern bank of Galve Lake, just north of the wooden bridge to the island castle.

What to buy: T-shirts. There was written: "Lithuania. Hmm... but where is it" on this one, on my picture. I could see them in many gift stores in Lithuania.

What to pay: Tourist price (high as for Lithuania): 30 Lt per one T-shirt (approx. € 9; US$ 10.9; 42 Polish zloty). Try to bargain (preferably in... Lithuanian or Russian). Good luck :-).

These two ceramic items, on my picture (enlarge), and many others, were sold in a gift store, located at southern bank of Galve Lake, just north of the wooden bridge to the island castle. I was told that they were made by Lithuanian artist. Well, was it really Lithuanian art?

What to buy: Ceramic hand-made art made by Lithuanian craft artists.

What to pay: Generally low and not fixed prices, although higher (like the quality) than on street stalls around. First price was below 20 Lt (€ 6; US$ 7.25; 28 Polish zloty) for each of the ceramic items. Try to bargain (preferably in... Lithuanian or Russian). Good luck :-).

These ceramic items, on my picture (enlarge), were sold in a gift store, located at southern bank of Galve Lake, just north of the wooden bridge to the island castle.

What to buy: Ceramic hand-made art made by Lithuanian craft artists.

What to pay: Generally low and not fixed prices, although higher (like the quality) than on street stalls around. First price was approx. 20-30 Lt (€ 6-9; US$ 7.25-10.9; 28-42 Polish zloty) or over for each small piece of art. Try to bargain (preferably in... Lithuanian or Russian). Good luck :-).

These colorful ceramic pots, on my picture (enlarge), were sold in a gift store, located at southern bank of Galve Lake, just north of the wooden bridge to the island castle. Most of the ceramic stuff offered in Trakai (esp. from street stalls) was a little bit kitschy in my opinion but not in this store. Take a closer look and you will find something interesting for you, I am sure.

What to buy: Ceramic pots, hand-painted by Lithuanian craft artists.

What to pay: Generally low and not fixed prices, although higher (like the quality) than on street stalls around. First price was approx. 20-30 Lt (€ 6-9; US$ 7.25-10.9; 28-42 Polish zloty) for a pot. Try to bargain (preferably in... Lithuanian or Russian). Good luck :-).

They sold there various wooden, ceramic and other gifts, souvenirs and local craft. Add some funny stuff. I liked some of them.
The seller could speak a little bit English.

What to buy: Gifts: wooden, ceramic and others. I liked esp. some ceramics sold there.

What to pay: Generally low and not fixed prices, although a little bit higher than on street stalls around. Try to bargain (preferably in... Lithuanian or Russian). Good luck :-).

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These ceramic plates, on my picture (enlarge), were sold in a gift store, located at southern bank of Galve Lake, just north of the wooden bridge to the island castle. Most of the ceramic stuff offered in Trakai (esp. from street stalls) was a little bit kitschy in my opinion but not in this store. Take a closer look and you will find something interesting for you, I am sure.

What to buy: Ceramic plates, hand-made painted by Lithuanian craft artists.

What to pay: Generally low and not fixed prices, although higher (like the quality) than on street stalls around. First price was approx. 20-30 Lt (€ 6-9; US$ 7.25-10.9; 28-42 Polish zloty) for a plate. Try to bargain (preferably in... Lithuanian or Russian). Good luck :-).

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This samovar, on my picture, and many others, were sold from street stalls, put one by one, along southern bank of Galve Lake, just north of the wooden bridge to the island castle.

What to buy: Old, Russian, cylindric samovars. Their seller assured that they were authentic, from 19th century. Maybe, but I was not sure.

Keep in mind that export of any old item (including authetic = old samovars) is not allowed unless you obtain special permission from the state.

Hmm... if you buy the fake old samovar you can have problems on the border crossing point as well, I suppose. It takes time to determine whether it's old or new, I am sure. Well, I crossed the borders to Poland and Latvia by my car and as the two countries and Lithuania were EU members since 1 may 2004 they checked only my ID or passport but never my luggage as there were no customs between EU countries.

What to pay: Generally low and not fixed prices. Try to bargain (preferably in... Lithuanian or Russian). Good luck :-).