Souvvenirs in St. Petersburg

[cruzky]

Do you have any idea where I can find cherubs (cute chubby baby angels) and nativity scenes?

 

Thanks, Roseanna

[dog]

Guide Diva: quote: "If anyone is interested in specific items I can tell you where to find the best selections."end quote

 

We will be walking along Nevsky Prospect with our R.O. guide. Can you tell me if there is a store that sells good quality "writing instruments"? My husband is a collector and would be interested in good quality pens & pencils made in Russia or elsewhere in Europe.

 

Thanks,

 

dog

[olga77]

To GiudeDiva,

What is PIC? Don't recognize it.

Thanks.

[GuideDiva]

To GiudeDiva,

What is PIC? Don't recognize it.

Thanks.

 

It is a new modern glass and marble(all the new shopping centers are of similar materials) that is 6 floors high with many shops, cafes, a disc, 8 movie theaters, sporting goods, 20 or more shoe stores,cosmetic shops, a day spa, jewelry stores, a bowling alley and more. next door to Sennaya metro station, just a few blocks from Gostiny Dvor.

The old Warsaw train station has been converted to a modern deluxe shopping center but retains the original exterior design. Both of these are not far from my apartment in the city center.

 

Most of the new shopping centers are like this but the further out out of the center, the larger they become. Same with grocery and home improvement stores. The Okeh grocery stores have 60 checkout lanes, all in use during open hours. The prices in the mega stores are so low that they are taking the customers from the traditional shops for home items, food and low cost clothing. I recently bought a microwave over that has a grilling feature for 2000 Rubles($80) recently when the same model was 4200 Rubles in a small appliance store near the city center. My DVD/MP3/MP4 player was 590 Rubles ($24)and it works great from a large electronics store next to Ikea...and they delivered it into the city center.

I still shop in the open markets for fruits and vegetables however since I live only 1 block from Kuznechny market and use the neighborhood shops because they are all within a short walk, but end up paying a lot more than if I went to the suburbs.

[GuideDiva]

Guide Diva: quote: "If anyone is interested in specific items I can tell you where to find the best selections."end quote

 

We will be walking along Nevsky Prospect with our R.O. guide. Can you tell me if there is a store that sells good quality "writing instruments"? My husband is a collector and would be interested in good quality pens & pencils made in Russia or elsewhere in Europe.

 

Thanks,

 

dog

 

Yes, on the bottom floor, on the Nevsky prospekt side of Gostiny Dvor has such a shop. Across the street are two other places to try, Grand Palace shopping center for European brands and Passazh on the same block has a shop on the bottom floor. There are others but they might be rather expensive with top European designs. Also, if you have time, visit a real flea market for authentic Soviet era fountain pens that would be real collector items. There was one I visited 2 years ago near Udelnaya metro that had lots of old personal items like Russian made wrist and pocket watches, pens and hard to find Soviet era household items. I remember it because I bought a non-working but lovely old Russian made watch for $1 that I put into a frame for my "art" room in my apartment and an antique lynx boa that looks great and fashionable for $7.

[GuideDiva]

Do you have any idea where I can find cherubs (cute chubby baby angels) and nativity scenes?

 

Thanks, Roseanna

I am not certain, are you wanting figurines, paintings or art objects? If for porcelain figurines try the many china and porcelain shops, one I walk past every day is on Vladimirsky pr. just 1/2 block past the SAS Radisson Hotel at the corner of Nevsky pr. St Petersburg has the famous Lomonosov factory which features an extension museum of the Hermitage that houses the bulk of the large porcelain collection.

There is a crafts shop, more or a arts and craft co-op, on the corner of Nevsky pr and Lityny pr that often has wooden, paper, metal or clay items for all seasons and holidays, and all made by local artists and reasonable in price. I will walk by there to see what they have later this afternoon and report back.

[olga77]

It is a new modern glass and marble(all the new shopping centers are of similar materials) that is 6 floors high with many shops, cafes, a disc, 8 movie theaters, sporting goods, 20 or more shoe stores,cosmetic shops, a day spa, jewelry stores, a bowling alley and more. next door to Sennaya metro station, just a few blocks from Gostiny Dvor.

The old Warsaw train station has been converted to a modern deluxe shopping center but retains the original exterior design. Both of these are not far from my apartment in the city center.

 

Most of the new shopping centers are like this but the further out out of the center, the larger they become. Same with grocery and home improvement stores. The Okeh grocery stores have 60 checkout lanes, all in use during open hours. The prices in the mega stores are so low that they are taking the customers from the traditional shops for home items, food and low cost clothing. I recently bought a microwave over that has a grilling feature for 2000 Rubles($80) recently when the same model was 4200 Rubles in a small appliance store near the city center. My DVD/MP3/MP4 player was 590 Rubles ($24)and it works great from a large electronics store next to Ikea...and they delivered it into the city center.

I still shop in the open markets for fruits and vegetables however since I live only 1 block from Kuznechny market and use the neighborhood shops because they are all within a short walk, but end up paying a lot more than if I went to the suburbs.

 

What is Okeh in Russian? The last time we've been to SPB was in 2005 but it seems like 10 years ago. :) Where do you suggest to shop for a shearling? Not a fur coat but a shearling. My budget is around $1000 or under. I was thinking about "Snow Queen" - Snezhanaya Koroleva but maybe you can suggest any other places. I need a good quality one. We'll need to buy a microwave when we'll come over in January, 07. Where did you buy yours? Would you suggest to go to Maxidom?

 

Thank you very much!

[sailors2]

Where would it be possible to purchase nice inexpensive Russian red wine and sparkling wine. What will I be able to purchase in the markets?

Thank you for all your suggestions.

[cruza]

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.

 

GuideDiva,

Could you please give the names and addresses of 'very nice modern shopping centers outside the city center'. I'm Russian and we are not interested in usual tourist souvenirs. We are looking for Europian clothes on affordable price. Any tips will be appreciated. We will not bound by the group and first day we will be around the city alone with the car. Could you please reply via e-mail, my e-mail: tanya_yaros@yahoo.com.

Bol'shoe spasibo,

 

Tanya

[amanda blake]

wow this has become quite a thread....love it...okeh...do you mean okay? is DA...meaning yes....

[olga77]

wow this has become quite a thread....love it...okeh...do you mean okay? is DA...meaning yes....

 

 

Wow, Amanda!

Thanks for a tip! You're a real Russian :)) Be honest with you I didn't even connect Oceh with a Supermarket Okey :D and Da means yes.

[amanda blake]

yes my russian is still good enough to get by....so I may not seem like a tourist..as long as my husband and friends shut up...lol....

[olga77]

yes my russian is still good enough to get by....so I may not seem like a tourist..as long as my husband and friends shut up...lol....

 

 

:D Have a good one and I'll talk to you when you get back!

HAVE A GREAT TIME!!!! Make sure you'll stop for a dessert at the little nice cafe or at the "Metropol" where you can get a variety of yammy baking goods.

[GuideDiva]

What is Okeh in Russian? The last time we've been to SPB was in 2005 but it seems like 10 years ago. :) Where do you suggest to shop for a shearling? Not a fur coat but a shearling. My budget is around $1000 or under. I was thinking about "Snow Queen" - Snezhanaya Koroleva but maybe you can suggest any other places. I need a good quality one. We'll need to buy a microwave when we'll come over in January, 07. Where did you buy yours? Would you suggest to go to Maxidom?

 

Thank you very much!

 

Hi Olga77

Shearlings are best purchased in Belarus, the best designers and lowest prices. There are many furriers in St Petersburg which create their own but the best prices, in relationship with Europe prices, are in fully let out furs. I've seen good prices for shearling coats, jackets and vests at Mekhlandia which is a chain of discount fur stores with 3 stores in St Petersburg. They are located on Nevsky pr. at 108 on lower Nevsky and in the center at 54 Nevsky.

 

Okey is Turkish and is pronounced the same as "OK" in English with the same meaning as in English. It is a modern Turkish owned supermarket chain with 25 large stores in Moscow and St Petersburg with announcements of adding 100 more in other cities in the next 2 years. The choices of brands and number of products is amazing. The fruit prices are a lot lower than the open air markets. They also have discount household items and some clothes.

 

I got my new microwave at Media Center, a home electronics and appliance store located just outside the city limits next door to Ikea. The shopping center they are a part of is massive, mostly big discount stores. These stroes located south east of the city to avoid city permits and taxes where there was nothing a couple years ago . Because the number of shoppers who go other there restaurant, filling stations, and services have moved there to make a discount "city". It is easy to get to, they have a free bus service from Lomonosov Metro station for those without cars. Travel from the metro to the shopping center is about 10 minutes by the free bus. MaxiDom is good also but not as inexpensive as MediaCenter.

 

Since 2005, only 2 years ago, everything has changed, the suburbs are desirable places to live suddenly, with lots of new modern high rise apartment houses, theaters, shopping centers, easy parking, and not much traffic. Every region of the city has these type of development. In the city center, the restoration is moving along at a fast pace, just like before the 2003 anniversary celebrations but the number of cars in the center make traffic jams a daily experience. The stores along Nevsky pr have changed a lot, mostly cosmetic chain stores, coffee shops and high end clothing. The rent is so high in the center that many of the old restaurants and shops have been replaced with higher end shops. The whole society has become noticeably faster paced than just 2 years ago. You will also notice people dress a lot more casually than before. Prices for everything, and salaries, have gone up a lot. Young people with decent jobs have enough to spend their time in coffee shops, clubs and recreation which is more expensive than Europe.

[GuideDiva]

Where would it be possible to purchase nice inexpensive Russian red wine and sparkling wine. What will I be able to purchase in the markets?

Thank you for all your suggestions.

I am not sure there is such a thing as "nice" Russian wine. Most of what we had here was Georgian or from Moldova but the Georgian wine is not imported anymore(but the Georgian restaurants still smuggle it in). All grocery stores have wine and beer, and almost all of the wine is imported. There are specialty wine stores that just have better quality wine but these are usually high priced. Wine has become very popular here and most available now is imported from France, Moldova, Italy, Spain, Chile, Australia and South Africa, and the specialty stores have some California wine. Wine from Moldova is low priced.

Sparkling wine is still cheap and a staple for celebrations which is available for 50-100 Rubles, $2-$4. It is called "Soviet Champagne". Some visitors say it is too sweet but we are all used to is just as it is. It does taste different from French Champagne, good but different.

The best prices are at Metro, a chain of gigantic discount stores outside the city center. A wide selection at reasonable but not cheap prices can be found in the city center at Land Supermarket in the basement of a nice modern city center shopping center for clothes; Vladimirskaya Passage 2 blocks north west from Nevsky pr on Vladimirsky pr.

[GuideDiva]

wow this has become quite a thread....love it...okeh...do you mean okay? is DA...meaning yes....

Yes, that is what it means but it is written how it is by the Turkish merchants here spell it "OK'eh" not transliterated, the signs are in Latin alphabet. Other large supermarket chains include Lenta and Cash/Carry. I do not go to these big supermarkets often because I waste my day wandering around looking at everything. There is just too much to look at. The prices are better so if there is a party or celebration and I need to feed more people, I make a special trip to shop in them.

Most of the cafeteria type cafes are all Turkish owned now.

[GuideDiva]

GuideDiva,

Could you please give the names and addresses of 'very nice modern shopping centers outside the city center'. I'm Russian and we are not interested in usual tourist souvenirs. We are looking for Europian clothes on affordable price. Any tips will be appreciated. We will not bound by the group and first day we will be around the city alone with the car. Could you please reply via e-mail, my e-mail: tanya_yaros@yahoo.com.

Bol'shoe spasibo,

 

Tanya

For European clothing you do not have to go outside the center for the next 2 months because all the shops are having big sales. That is a new change here, sales are everywhere before season changes, 50-70% off for many items. I was in Gostiny Dvor yesterday and found lots of good prices. The modern shopping centers are located next to almost every metro starting at 2-3 stops out. Try those at Staraya Derevnya, Ozerki, Ladozhsky, and Warsaw Station, PIC at Sennaya and others.

[olga77]

Hi Olga77

Shearlings are best purchased in Belarus, the best designers and lowest prices. There are many furriers in St Petersburg which create their own but the best prices, in relationship with Europe prices, are in fully let out furs. I've seen good prices for shearling coats, jackets and vests at Mekhlandia which is a chain of discount fur stores with 3 stores in St Petersburg. They are located on Nevsky pr. at 108 on lower Nevsky and in the center at 54 Nevsky.

 

Okey is Turkish and is pronounced the same as "OK" in English with the same meaning as in English. It is a modern Turkish owned supermarket chain with 25 large stores in Moscow and St Petersburg with announcements of adding 100 more in other cities in the next 2 years. The choices of brands and number of products is amazing. The fruit prices are a lot lower than the open air markets. They also have discount household items and some clothes.

 

I got my new microwave at Media Center, a home electronics and appliance store located just outside the city limits next door to Ikea. The shopping center they are a part of is massive, mostly big discount stores. These stroes located south east of the city to avoid city permits and taxes where there was nothing a couple years ago . Because the number of shoppers who go other there restaurant, filling stations, and services have moved there to make a discount "city". It is easy to get to, they have a free bus service from Lomonosov Metro station for those without cars. Travel from the metro to the shopping center is about 10 minutes by the free bus. MaxiDom is good also but not as inexpensive as MediaCenter.

 

Since 2005, only 2 years ago, everything has changed, the suburbs are desirable places to live suddenly, with lots of new modern high rise apartment houses, theaters, shopping centers, easy parking, and not much traffic. Every region of the city has these type of development. In the city center, the restoration is moving along at a fast pace, just like before the 2003 anniversary celebrations but the number of cars in the center make traffic jams a daily experience. The stores along Nevsky pr have changed a lot, mostly cosmetic chain stores, coffee shops and high end clothing. The rent is so high in the center that many of the old restaurants and shops have been replaced with higher end shops. The whole society has become noticeably faster paced than just 2 years ago. You will also notice people dress a lot more casually than before. Prices for everything, and salaries, have gone up a lot. Young people with decent jobs have enough to spend their time in coffee shops, clubs and recreation which is more expensive than Europe.

 

Spasibo! :)

[cruzky]

Thanks for the info.

 

Roseanna

[olga77]

:cool:

Hi Olga77

Shearlings are best purchased in Belarus, the best designers and lowest prices. There are many furriers in St Petersburg which create their own but the best prices, in relationship with Europe prices, are in fully let out furs. I've seen good prices for shearling coats, jackets and vests at Mekhlandia which is a chain of discount fur stores with 3 stores in St Petersburg. They are located on Nevsky pr. at 108 on lower Nevsky and in the center at 54 Nevsky.

 

Okey is Turkish and is pronounced the same as "OK" in English with the same meaning as in English. It is a modern Turkish owned supermarket chain with 25 large stores in Moscow and St Petersburg with announcements of adding 100 more in other cities in the next 2 years. The choices of brands and number of products is amazing. The fruit prices are a lot lower than the open air markets. They also have discount household items and some clothes.

 

I got my new microwave at Media Center, a home electronics and appliance store located just outside the city limits next door to Ikea. The shopping center they are a part of is massive, mostly big discount stores. These stroes located south east of the city to avoid city permits and taxes where there was nothing a couple years ago . Because the number of shoppers who go other there restaurant, filling stations, and services have moved there to make a discount "city". It is easy to get to, they have a free bus service from Lomonosov Metro station for those without cars. Travel from the metro to the shopping center is about 10 minutes by the free bus. MaxiDom is good also but not as inexpensive as MediaCenter.

 

Since 2005, only 2 years ago, everything has changed, the suburbs are desirable places to live suddenly, with lots of new modern high rise apartment houses, theaters, shopping centers, easy parking, and not much traffic. Every region of the city has these type of development. In the city center, the restoration is moving along at a fast pace, just like before the 2003 anniversary celebrations but the number of cars in the center make traffic jams a daily experience. The stores along Nevsky pr have changed a lot, mostly cosmetic chain stores, coffee shops and high end clothing. The rent is so high in the center that many of the old restaurants and shops have been replaced with higher end shops. The whole society has become noticeably faster paced than just 2 years ago. You will also notice people dress a lot more casually than before. Prices for everything, and salaries, have gone up a lot. Young people with decent jobs have enough to spend their time in coffee shops, clubs and recreation which is more expensive than Europe.

 

GuideDiva,

One more question. I can't certainly go to Belorussia for a shearling, but as far as 'Snezhanaya korolova" goes. Would you suggest to look for a shearling there? It was my first choice. Can you tell me some other good places. I am sure everything in center like Passage or Gostiniy Dvor isn't affordable even with a budget $1000. :( I don't feel like running around for 2-3 days looking for a coat, so I'd like to be able to go to one place (like a mall) and buy a shearling, a hat, scarf, gloves, etc. Maybe even winter boots (in America it's hard to buy fur winter boots).

Thanks again!

Olga

:p

[Gram Cape Cod]

Are there good buys on furs in Russia? If so what do you suggest?

[olga77]

Are there good buys on furs in Russia? If so what do you suggest?

 

I don't know what your budget is but you can definitely spend a fortune... They are certainly "good buys" if you have $$$ because you'll never find anywhere on the planet such a big variety of gorgeous furs like in Russia. (Prices in Russia vary depending on the city. I've just read today that Moscow is considered to be the most expensive city in the world, followed by Tokio and London. NY is on the 5th place...) :rolleyes:

[cruza]

Olga,

You wrong.. NYC is out of competion (I believe 12th) because of cheap $ ...:)

[olga77]

Olga,

You wrong.. NYC is out of competion (I believe 12th) because of cheap $ ...:)

 

Cruza,

It's on the 5ths according to this http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/6761487.stm

and 10th according to this http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/top-50-cities/2006/06/26/1151174117013.html

 

So we are both wrong...;)

[Budge]

My wife and I will be taking a tour (from a cruise ship) with a St. P. tour company. She is interested in buying a Fabrege egg, spending between $500 to $800 US. Any suggestions? Where is the best place to buy them? How are we assured of decent quality? Can/do we bargain in most places (except, say, department stores)? I am guessing that our tour guide (Alla Tours) will only take us to stores that they have a business relationship with. Any tips to prevent us from getting taken? Thanks. Budge