Souvvenirs in St. Petersburg

[funcruiser1]

We are interested in hearing about shopping in St. Pete. We would like to bring home some gifts(nesting dolls, boxes) for friends and relatives. What are the prices like..credit cards accepted by vendors...let us know your experiences..thanks.

[jstducky]

We are interested in hearing about shopping in St. Pete. We would like to bring home some gifts(nesting dolls, boxes) for friends and relatives. What are the prices like..credit cards accepted by vendors...let us know your experiences..thanks.

 

funcruiser - there are vendors with stalls that sell souvenirs at all the major locations in St. Pete. however, if you are on a private tour, there is little time for shopping unless you specifically tell your guide that you want to shop.

 

i know that a lot of visitors, including myself, ended up shopping at Northway. It's 3 stories of all sorts of St. Pete souvenirs, including lacquer boxes, nesting dolls, hats, amber, etc. They accept Euros, Dollars, Rubles and credit cards.

 

Also, I noticed that across the street from the Church of the Spilled Blood there is also a small marketplace selling souvenirs.

 

If there is something specific you are looking for, tell your tour guide about it. I am sure they can take you to the best place for whatever it is you are looking for that is within the price range you are willing to spend.

[onlyparrotlets]

We are interested in hearing about shopping in St. Pete. We would like to bring home some gifts(nesting dolls, boxes) for friends and relatives. What are the prices like..credit cards accepted by vendors...let us know your experiences..thanks.

 

Some of the street vendors...I might say MANY would barter and would accept USD. Altho, most of the vendors in the booths would not barter with me, the ones just walking around usually would.

 

As Ducky mentions, the souvenier shop that your tourguide takes you to will accept credit cards as well as almost any other currency you bring in:)

 

Tell you guide to make sure that you have some shopping time worked in. We went at the end of the first day and then again on the 2nd day to a more expensive shop. Our guide had even told us the day before to try to get what we wanted there because the 2nd shop would be more expensive. However, the 2nd shop had chocolate to try and also samples of Russian vodka and a CLEAN restroom (free!)

 

Our guide and driver advised us NOT to buy vodka at this shop and right before returning to the ship, drove to a liquor store that they knew to have good prices and here we bought our vodkas...and they took the credit card too.

 

We have mentioned before many of the items that we purchased including amber, nesting dolls, balsam wood boxes, ornaments, fabrege eggs, etc, etc....The cost? Well, it generally depends on the quality.

 

The biggest and best piece of amber that I purchased is a huge heart shaped pendant and I got it in Tallinn. I was sorry that I had not bought more amber in Tallinn because to me, the prices were better. This heart is about 2"x2" and cost $60USD. In St Petersburg, I found a cute pair of heart drop earrings to go with for 8 euros. It just depends on what you want and how much you want to spend.

 

The nesting dolls and the pushkin fairly tale laquer boxes vary greatly in price depending on the quality. I got a bag of 5 nesting dolls in a bag from a man on the street for $10. They are souvenier quality, so it was fine. There are many beautiful very ornate ones that go for hundreds of dollars. Also some of the laquer boxes are done by students and are wood instead of paper mache-these are usually less expensive.

 

Have fun...I always love the shopping part as much as the touring part. I made sure to mention this to a Alla as we were planning our tour.

 

margie

[olga77]

To funcruiser 1 and others,

Please, please don't buy souvenirs and other stuff near the major attractions an by the vendors in center city. I know you don't have much time and I know if you're on the tour they won't let you go to the specific stores you want. But what I can tell you, as a person who came from Russia (I was born in Saint-Petersburg, Russia), that the vendors will rip you off. Those prices are outrages! There are so many different sections in the department stores that you can shop for souvenirs and the prices are 2,3,4 times cheaper than in the city center by the major landmarks and attractions. I've been to the place where they sell souvenirs near the Church of the Spilled Blood and they charge enormous amount of money for matreshkas, lacquer boxes, dolls, etc. because it's for the foreigners. Russians don't shop there; if they need a good souvenirs they'll go to a different place.

Sorry, I had to say that. I'm sure you guys know about it.

:)

[Miss Jolly]

To funcruiser 1 and others,

Please, please don't buy souvenirs and other stuff near the major attractions an by the vendors in center city. I know you don't have much time and I know if you're on the tour they won't let you go to the specific stores you want. But what I can tell you, as a person who came from Russia (I was born in Saint-Petersburg, Russia), that the vendors will rip you off. Those prices are outrages! There are so many different sections in the department stores that you can shop for souvenirs and the prices are 2,3,4 times cheaper than in the city center by the major landmarks and attractions. I've been to the place where they sell souvenirs near the Church of the Spilled Blood and they charge enormous amount of money for matreshkas, lacquer boxes, dolls, etc. because it's for the foreigners. Russians don't shop there; if they need a good souvenirs they'll go to a different place.

Sorry, I had to say that. I'm sure you guys know about it.

:)

Should we ask our guide to take us to a specific department store?

Jennie

[olga77]

I'd suggest you to do so. I don't know if they will though; they might have a contract with the vendors to take tourists to the certain places. Again I don't know much time you'll have in the city. I can ask my family what's the good stores to purchase souvenirs from if anyone is interested, but it might take some time. Let me know.

[dog]

I wouldn't discourage tourists from buying from the street vendors. It is the street vendors means of livelihood.

 

Just be aware of the quality of what you are getting, and if you think it is a fair price for what you are getting, then go for it.

The time for shopping is limited in St. Petersburg and you probably won't have a chance to go back to a store you saw earlier.

 

Several people have warned us about pick-pockets/backpacks in many of these venues.

[Phishface]

souvenir shopping that is ideally likely enough to be close to major attractions that the tour guide will be willing to take us there. Thanks!

[amanda blake]

olga thank you....if you could just name a store or two that would be very useful...

 

we will be walking Nevsky prospect and will be going into the big stores..but were also told that Rynok Souvenirov is a good place to shop..it is a market behind spilled blood church...maybe a tourist trap...let me know..that way I will spend more time in the stores and not bother with the market...hate to be ripped off...

 

I also speak russian, so hope that will help me get some better deals...but dont want to spend a lot of time haggling in any language...

[olga77]

Phishface and Amanda,

OK, I'll send e-mails to some people to St. Pete. and ask around, just give me some time. When are u going?

[amanda blake]

olga we are leaving on aug 16th...

 

we have a tour with red oct...but it is not palaces, churches and museums, so we have time to go to any stores and markets...

 

we were in st p two years ago and saw the museums..this time wanted to just have time to see how people live and wanted to shop....

 

I was born in russia and just crave to have a few things in my home that are a part of the land where my life began...

[olga77]

Amanda,

Cool! I e-mailed couple of people, so I just need to wait. If I won't get any responses I'll call them. Meanwhile, you can check out this website: http://www.yell.ru/spbeng/index.php?rubric&rn=souvenir . It has a lot of info on souvenirs. Just make sure you click on Souvenir, art & craft product retailers. I can't really point you where to go, as when we go to R, we don't spend much time in the stores. But again, I'll check with some people who live there and hopefully they'll get back to me soon. Stay in touch!

[amanda blake]

oh yes will stay in touch...

 

my email... aqtwitch@hotmail.com

 

would love to ask you about your background....and when you came to the states...

[olga77]

Amanda,

Just sent you an e-mail!

Regarding the SPB, how long are you going stay in the city? If you don't mind me suggesting something to you, I'd say to go to 2 places where you can eat very, very cheap and the food is so good. It's actually like a pancake's place, so if you're a pancake lover go for it. Anyway, it's called "Chainaya lozhka" - tea's spoon (food place) and "Ideal'naya chashka" -ideal cup - tea and coffee place. Sorry for spelling. In "Chainaya lozhka" you can find pancakes, salads, and soft drinks and in "Ideal'naya chashka" you can find coffee, teas, and desserts. It's used to be a very good and cheap place to hang out and eat something good and really fast. The last time I was there it was in 2005, so hopefully it's still there. :) They are all over the city. Umm! Any questions I can answer...

Olga

[amanda blake]

thanks olga for all the advice...we will be there for two days...the first day with red oct for a days tour , mostly walking and shopping...canal boat, and hydrofoil....

 

the second day only half a day , a walking tour through the ship..no time on our own...

 

so the first day we are bringing a lunch for ourselves and our driver and guide...there is really no time to sit and relax at a russian restaurant...that is too bad...but because of visa restrictions they make it very difficult to do a trip like this on your own..we are also discouraged to be on our own because of crime....

 

I will look for Chaynaya Loshka....yes it means tea spoon....and will try and just take something out , just to taste....

 

my only other question would be ....is it cheaper to shop with rubles or it is ok to use us dollars?

[olga77]

Amanda,

Do you mean to shop with dollars for a souvenir? Then, maybe it is. If you going to shop at any stores (depratment, etc) I'd use rubles becasue,

quite frankly, I don't think they accept $$ or other currency. All the major stores in the center city should accept credit cards now. Just so you know everything is very expensive in the center city; I am sure you know that. I bought a mascara at Sephora once in Petersburg and it was at least $10 more for the same one I usually get here in the States (and you never know where it is from - Poland or actually France :)

It's smart to be able to do a private tour! :p Crime is always there, like in many countries and if you're not a local it's easy to be ripped off and taken advantages.

[murphysmum]

Hello...

 

RE: Street market near Church on Spilt Blood. You can actually get quality items for very good prices at this market. However, you have to know how to bargain in order to do it.

 

If you have looked at retail prices/quality of items in a couple of stores, offer 1/2 the retail price....which is often 1/4 the price they're asking in the street market. You will be met with a scornful look, sounds of disapproval and then, usually, you will have what you want for the price you want to pay.

 

We always ended transactions with good will. They know they were trying to overcharge you so will not be angry when you offer less.

 

My two cents...

 

murphysmum;)

[Gr8 2 cruise]

Our private tour guide took us to Bazar, a souvenir place that recently opened in St. Petersburg area. I believe it is near the original home of Peter the Great. Prices range from low to high, depending on the quality of the goods. The store is well stocked. We used our credit card but they would have offered an additional 3% discount if we had cash. Dollars did not seem to be an issue with them.

[cruza]

For centrally located department stores, check Passage, DLT (the House of Leningrad Trade ) and Gostiny Dvor. They are not far away from each other. See link with listing of some art, porcelane and big department stores: http://yourguide.narod.ru/shopping.htm

I agree with Olga that it doesn't worth to buy anything there but souvenirs. Everything is very expensive in St Pete particular in central location.

[olga77]

Still haven't heard from my family. But I remember we went to DK (Dom Kyltyri) by Krypskoi (sorry it's hard to say it in English, I know). There are different book-stores sections there and many souvenirs' shops. If am not mistaken if you take a subway it's a "Elizarovskaya" station but if you ask your guide, hopefully, he/she will be able to take you there by car/bus. DLT, Passage, and Gostiniy Dvor are the good choices too but still expensive!

[olga77]

I have one reply so far. It's so ironic, Russians who live in Russia don't shop for the souvenirs, so they have no idea where to go. Ok, I was told that there is a souvenir store on Nevskiy Prospect between hotels Radisson SAS and Nevskiy Palace. Might not be cheap either. Don't know more info. :eek:

[olga77]

I have one reply so far. It's so ironic, Russians who live in Russia don't shop for the souvenirs, so they have no idea where to go. Ok, I was told that there is a souvenir store on Nevskiy Prospect between hotels Radisson SAS and Nevskiy Palace. Might not be cheap either. Don't know more info.

[olga77]

OK, here it is if anyone is still interested. A friend of mine who is actually a waterboat's tour guide in St. P. told me that there a store on 57-61 Nevsky prospect (near Vladimirskiy prospect). The prices are reasonable. Enjoy!

[amanda blake]

thanks olga, I will definitely look in....

[GuideDiva]

Prices are assumed to be cheap by my visitors, that is, until they see the prices of everything here is much different than their beliefs before arriving.

The Souvenir Fair behind Church on Spilled Blood is quite popular and in the mid level in prices. Unless your intent is to shop instead of visit museums or palaces, just go the nearest shop instead of wasting a lot of time getting to a specific one. A tour itinerary can be ruined by heading off the schedule to save 100 Rubles.

There are department stores, and very nice modern shopping centers outside the city center but they usually do not have tourist souvenirs. One poster mentioned DLT. It has been closed for 2 years and will be closed for at least anther year because of renovations. The most famous shopping center is Gostiny Dvor on Nevsky prospekt with hundreds of shops inside this gigantic shop built first in 1758. It has gradually changed to be high quality goods and higher prices over the years. Behind it is a real flea-market no tourists go to called Apraxsin Dvor. It is seedy, and has a bad reputation from the 18 and 19th century but it is really safe and much cheaper than the stores oriented towards tourists. .

In the city center, the shopping tends to be high quality and high prices in very nice shops such as the Grand Palace, Vanity and the Bosco Family stores.

For the poster who said they were using Red October, you do not have to worry about a specific store, you will be required to shop at their own store.

The lowest prices are not in Russian style stores, they are in the new mega stores in the suburbs. You would waste a lot of time going to those very modern shopping centers and the products would be the same as found in Europe and the USA but these are the products we Russians buy. You can see a typical suburban shopping center in the center of the city just one metro stop from Nevsky pr, call PIC next to Sennaya Metro Station. It is very modern. As most of them, these have entertainment centers, trendy stores, discount stores, casinos, bowling, cafes, and specialty shops.

 

Specialty tourist stores are more expensive because they have only 4 months to earn 12 months of store expenses. But if it was not for these specialty stores there would be no souvenirs in the city, locals do not buy them.

For books and maps look in the beautiful House of Books, on Nevsky pr across the street from Kazan Cathedral. It is in one of most unusual and spectacular buildings in the city as the original European headquarters of the Singer Sewing Machine Company.

If anyone is interested in specific items I can tell you where to find the best selections.