21 Best Shopping in St. Petersburg, Russia

St. Petersburg's less wealthy citizens come to this seething bazaar to shop for cheap clothes, shoes, DVDs, household items, and whatever else you can think of. The market is a chaotic relic of the Yeltsin years, and hardly befitting Russia's newfound love affair with Slavic glamour. As a result the city's rulers have decreed that Apraksin Dvor must go, although it's very popular with the locals, and the traders are a resourceful bunch who are fighting to remain in place. They are likely to win in the end.

Army surplus—belts, flasks, caps, pins, and marine shirts with Russian and Soviet army symbols—is a much better bargain here, at this state-run store, than in touristy souvenir markets. You'll find a huge variety.

What was once a dusty Soviet relic has emerged as one of the most glamorous department stores in all of St. Petersburg. With a focus on high fashion and rare perfumes, shopping here comes at a premium but it's worth it for the selection and service.

At this glass gallery, the city of St. Petersburg is reflected in carved Easter eggs, stained glass, vases, and candlesticks. Each work is handmade, and many are one-of-a-kind.

This mini-supermarket is open 24 hours a day and sells the basics for a light lunch or breakfast, including a few fresh fruits and vegetables. It also contains a café where resonably priced, if uninspired, cakes and coffees can be had at all hours.

The city's oldest and largest shopping center was built in the mid-18th century. It has a few upscale boutiques and is also a good place to find souvenirs, such as matryoshka (nesting dolls), at some of the best prices in the city (look in the shops along Nevsky to the right of the metro entrance). The second floor houses a string of multibrand boutiques selling women's and men's clothes from famous European designers as well as housewares. Gostinka, as Gostiny Dvor is also known, also has some stores with cheaper prices; it can be a good place to buy winter clothing, such as fur hats. The store, open daily from 10 until 10, is in the center of town, and is easily reached by the metro—the station opening into the shop is named in its honor.

Reigning at the top end of the boutique market and serving shoppers with the deepest pockets, this temple to consumption carries Woolford lingerie, Escada dresses, and Trussardi suits as well as perfume and jewelry at impressively high prices. The café on the first floor offers irresistible desserts and a wide assortment of high-end teas and coffees.

Jewelry, ceramics, and other types of Russian traditional art, all made by members of the Russian Union of Artists, are sold here. They can provide the documents necessary to export artwork.

For a city that prides itself on its cultural legacy the selection of classical music on offer is surprisingly poor. While no one could accuse this CD and DVD store of being overstocked, it does hold the occasional hidden classical gem, particularly when it comes to Russian composers and artists and recordings on the old Melodiya label. Hunt around.

Across the street from Gostiny Dvor, this mid-19th-century shopping arcade caters primarily to locals. The souvenir sections, however, are worth visiting, as prices, in rubles, are a bit lower here than in the souvenir shops around hotels and in other areas frequented by tourists. You can also pick up fine table linens at bargain prices. The antiques section in the center of the arcade is worth a look, too, and there's a reasonably sized supermarket in the basement.

This shop stocks icons, Carl Fabergé jewelry, furniture, and vintage lamps. There is also Soviet propaganda porcelain, such as ashtrays in the shape of an Uzbek man reading a newspaper, or tea sets featuring the heroes of the Russian Revolution. Some are collectors' items that once belonged to some of Russia's finest museums. Keep in mind that it's against the law to export any item that's more than 100 years old. In theory, taking out even a rusted nail would be a breach of the law. With any antique purchase you make, you need an export certificate, which can be obtained only at the state-run Board for the Preservation of Cultural Valuables and only after an expert assessment that can take up to three days.

This shop sells an eclectic selection of music and DVDs that tends toward the esoteric but still manages to cover most genres. Prices are good and there's also a choice of new and vintage vinyl. Friendly staff speak English and are always ready to offer suggestions or let you listen before buying.

This is a good bet for jewelry, particularly amber pieces.

This is a good source for linen goods created in the traditional Russian style of the 19th century. There are several branches throughout the city. There's another branch nearby at 3 ulitsa Pushkinskaya.

This may be the biggest food market in the city; the entrance is just a short walk from ploshchad Sennaya. While this is one of the cheapest places in the city to buy fresh produce, the goods are mainly sold extremely close to their expiration date and anything bought here should be used within a day or two.

Run by one of the biggest music publishers in Russia, this all-around music shop sells CDs, sheet music, and even musical instruments. The selection includes hard-to-find scores by contemporary Russian composers as well as traditional Russian musical instruments, all at very reasonable prices.

One of the newest and largest department stores on Nevsky prospekt, this Finnish retailer specializes in quality clothes, lingerie, toys, kitchen gadgets, linens, and bathroom goods, much of it by Finnish and Scandinavian producers. A vast supermarket located on the lower level offers as wide range of hard-to-find delicacies (at least in Russia) from around the world and an extensive wine selection.

St. Petersburg's most famous clothing designer offers her jewel-toned designs in flowing silk and velvet, as well as a line of housewares that includes linens, tableware, furniture, and even original paintings.

All things printed are the specialty of this snug shop, with original Soviet posters, prerevolutionary postcards bearing portraits of Romanov family members, and prints, maps, and books on offer. There is also some silverware and bric-a-brac. The store is popular with both serious collectors and museum researchers, who sometimes manage to fish out rare manuscripts.

At this open-air market outside the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, more than 100 vendors sell nesting dolls, paintings, Soviet icons, and miscellaneous trinkets. It is probably the easiest and quickest market to locate if your time in St. Petersburg is limited; there are sure to be items here that make good gifts and keepsakes. Most vendors speak several languages but the prices can be rather inflated. Don't accept the first price quoted, and try to pay a third or so less than that.

This shop is devoted to St. Petersburg's hugely popular local soccer team, which has produced international stars that include Andrei Arshavin, who went on to play for London's Arsenal. Merchandise includes printed scarves, sweaters, balls, mugs, bed linens, and wallpaper. There are even jumpsuits and outfits for babies and toddlers emblazoned with the Zenit's light-blue colors.