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Shops and souvenir boutiques in Petersburg
Shopping and Souvenirs
A wide range of goods such as watches, cameras, wines and spirits, furs, ceramics and glass, jewelers and toys may be bought in St Petersburg. It is necessary to allow extra time for souvenir hunting: shopping can be a time-consuming activity.
One of the most popular Russian souvenirs is the matryoshka, the painted set of nested dolls. The best places to buy this are in the shops of the Russian Museum and the Museum of Ethnography. Khokhloma woodenwares, painted gold, red and black, comes in the form of trays, cups, spoons, bowls and vases. Other buys are handicrafts, wood carvings, chess sets, unique and highly-detailed lacquer miniatures and caskets, wicker-work from Birchbark, filling pictures on the stone (the various stones minerals are used: malachite, rhodonite, jasper, bloodstone, lapis lazuli, smoke-colored and pink quartz and many others).
Fur hats, exquisite embroidered shawls and linens, lace, Lomonosov and Gzhel porcelain, balalaikas, painted eggs, caviar, tea and tea sets, vodka are Russian specialties, as well as the Soviet memorabilia.
Check out the filigree jewelers stalls, beautiful Baltic amber earrings and bracelets. The Russian Samovar is unlike anything else. Having one in your home is sure to attract interest and admiration from guests and family members.
If you buy an original piece of art, icon, or similar object, make sure that you get a receipt and if possible a signed and stamped certificate (export license) to say that it is not an antique for customs purposes.
The most of the shops work Monday-Saturday 10.00 to 19.00 or 20.00. Some little food stores, cafes, video and audio stores can be open 24h. The shops along Nevskiy prospect work generally all week, including weekends.
Shops take payment in rubles and, occasionally, by credit card.
Sometimes the procedure for purchasing an item in a local store involves several steps. First, locate the desired item and find out its price. Second, go to the "kassa" (cashier's booth) and pay. Third, bring the receipt back to the salesgirl, who will wrap and hand over your purchase. Prices are usually posted, especially in food stores. If you have to stand in a long line to the counter; take the opportunity to practice your Russian. If you have any questions, do not be afraid to ask, many people even know a few words of English and would be glad to help.
MALLS AND BIG STORES
Gostinyi Dvor, the 18th century columned arcades building is one of the biggest shopping malls in St.Petersburg. The complex is situated downtown on Nevskiy prospect (Metro: Gostiny Dvor) and filled with stores of excellent clothing, perfume and jewelry. It also houses a network of restaurants and fast foods.
Directly opposite there is the 150-year-old Passazh, a luxury department store featuring various boutiques. Even if you can't afford to shop here, it's worth a stop to admire the translucent arched ceiling.
DLT is a more Western-style department store. It is an interesting piece of Style-Modern architecture with a huge variety of goods from food and drink to children's toys and household items spread over three floors.
Just down the street, there is Yeliseev's delicatessen (56, Nevsky Prospekt) which was one of the most prestigious stores in Tsarist times and is now regaining that reputation. The walls covered with golden leaves, crystal chandeliers and ornately painted ceilings are creating a luxurious interior. Confections, spirits and all foodstuffs, caviar, a luxury item closely associated with Russia, can be found here. But since 1990 it is allowed to take only limited amount of caviar, among other things out of the country.
The House of Books ("Dom Knigi"), located at the corner of Nevsky Prospekt and Kanal Griboyedova, opposite the Kazan Cathedral, is the most outstanding bookstore in St.Petersburg. This Beaux Arts building, which housed the Singer Sewing Machine Company for many years and well known for the tremendous glass globe that sits atop it, sells an impressive array of Russian and foreign books. For books in foreign languages and dictionaries you need Department 8 on the lower level. For art books, postcards, posters and maps go up the stairs and turn right.
MARKETS
There are many popular open-air souvenir and flea markets in St.Petersburg, the latest being on Konyushennaya square behind the Church of the Saviour on the Spilled Blood and a small ones located near museums, hotels or where tourists are likely to visit. These areas are filled with everything from matryoshka dolls to icons and jewels. Oil paintings and prints by local artists are also on sale. Your portrait or droll caricature drawn by one of the numerous artists swarming in front of St Catherine Roman-Catholic at Nevsky prospect 32 or on Ostrovskogo square before the monument to Catherine II Church will become a memorable souvenir from this beautiful city. Nevsky Prospect is lined with art shops, where local artists sell their wares. Before making a major purchase at these stores, be sure to ask if the clerk will take care of the paperwork necessary to allow you to take the item out of the country and about the fee for this service.
Plenty of Farmer's markets ("rynok") prosper throughout the city, including Kuznechnyi near Vladimirskaya metro station (3, Kuznechnyi Pereulok) and Kondratievskiy at 45, Polyustrovskiy pr. You can find there fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, herbs and greens, homemade cheese and jams, honey, nuts, pickled everything, smoked meats, flowers, dairy products and many other things available all the year round. On weekends at Kondratievskiy rynok there is a large pet market with kittens, puppies, rabbits and turtles. The markets are usually open from 8.00 to 19.00 Monday to Saturday and close at 16.00 on Sundays.
