  Saint Petersburg
Click to get the inside scoop from
real travelers here at VirtualTourist. See the Saint Petersburg Travel GuideInside advice from real people on:Overview, Hotels, Things to Do, Restaurants, Nightlife, Shopping, General Tips, Transportation, Off the Beaten Path, Tourist Traps, Warnings or Dangers, Local Customs, Packing Lists or Sports Travel.
 3749 Saint Petersburg Tips.5824 Saint Petersburg Photos.5 Saint Petersburg Videos. Saint Petersburg Pages by starship
Tips 1 - 3 of 3 Saint Petersburg Shopping
|
|
 |
Souvenirs: Good Deals from Enterprising Street Vendors
|
Tip Rating:  |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Name of Shop: In the Shops & On the Street
We were given almost no time for shopping which was unexpected since most countries welcome tourist dollars and hard currency and often times guides also are compensated for bringing tour groups to certain shops. At several places we stopped for pictures, individuals often approached you and would bargain with you for a few particular souvenirs. We found that we got good deals with these people and most were not overly pushy.
The Hermitage and the Yusupov Palace also has gift shops but the presssure to "get in and get out" and not to be late returning to the bus took alot of the fun out of shopping.
Just across the street from St. Isaac's Cathedral were several souvenir carts and vendors mostly with the same items, but nice souvenirs nonetheless. Because I was busy trying to take pictures of St. Isaac's, I merely got to take a brief look at what was for sale, but you may have more time to shop if you visit here.
What To Buy: I am a postcard sender and collector and was very happy to find that a dozen postcards could be had for about US$2. At the Field of Mars (where we had only about 10 minutes for picture-taking) a man approached me selling packaged postcards, books on St. Petersburg, etc.,. Just before hopping back on the bus, I gave him US$10 for a dozen postcards and a thick, full-color, beautifully done book about St. Petersburg. I probably could have gotten him to take less money, but in actuality I paid much less than I would have payed for a similar book almost anywhere else in Europe and certainly much, much less than in Scandinavia! The book is now one of my favorite souvenirs!
Coming out of the Hermitage, a man was selling Soviet-era replica army hats, with at least a dozen pins on it such as the face of Lenin, the hammer & sickle, etc. We thought our son would like this. The man wanted US$5 and one of my husband's cigarettes!! A can of Russian beer was about US$2, replica army pins were a dollar or so each in gift shops. Laquer bowls, platters, candlesticks, etc., featuring a regional design were mostly under US$20 except for the larger items, and the quality of the laquerware was very good.
My favorite purchase was a very colorful, handpainted music box in the shape of the traditional Russian Cathedrals with onion domes. It played "Russian Nights" and cost about US$45 which I felt was quite worth it. I also purchased 2 less expensive music boxes of the same sort for gifts.
The famous Russian Matroyshka dolls were everywhere as were the beautiful, handpainted lacquer boxes. Small Matroyska-like, painted magnets were US$2 in the museums, but there were much more expensive gifts too.
Major charge cards were accepted at the museums (safe to use here) as was American money everywhere we went! This was awfully convenient as we never stopped anywhere on the excursion where we could exchange money.
What To Pay: For the better quality laquerware, Matroyska dolls and laquer boxes, expect to pay about US$35 to several hundred dollars in shops; less from vendors on the streets if you bargain.
Leave a Comment
Theme: Gifts
Directions: Several vendor carts were directly across the street from St. Isaac's Cathedral. Museum have at least one shop and sometimes they have several. The Hermitage had 3 that I can remember, and the Yusupov Palace had 2 or 3 as well.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name of Shop:
I don't really know what kind of shop this was, and not sure where it was located either but the "window dressing" was so unsual that I thought it was worth a photo! The "man" in the window looked real or at least almost real! In any case, he was certainly decked out for combat!
No telling what you might find in this store!!
UPDATE: Bijo69 (Birgit) tells me that the sign says this is a firearms store!! In that case, this is indeed a very unique window display because it is so futuristic looking. Looks more like a scene from a movie.
Leave a Comment
Theme: Other
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Souvenirs: Russian Boutique Gift & Art Store
|
Tip Rating: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name of Shop: "Babushka"
Even the name of this store evokes pictures of Russia in your head! Although a smallish store, Babushka is spread out over 3 floors, with postcards and books and amber jewelry on the main level; toys, Christmas items, music boxes and lacquerware on the lower or basement level where the ceiling is a vaulted, brick construction; and art on the upper level second floor. All items are attractively displayed within arms' reach, but the shop attendants keep a sharp eye on customers. In their defense, they are more than happy to assist you as well.
Our tour guide told us this was a safe place to use our credit cards and we didn't experience any problems with this. However, I wondered if she said this just to make us feel at ease about spending more!!
What To Buy: Although I love the handpainted, beautiful, miniature lacquer boxes, what impressed me most was the beautifully painted music boxes! They were fashioned after the onion-domed cathedrals of St. Basil and the Church of the Saviour on the Spilled Blood, and beautiful painted. They all played "Russian Nights." I brought home 2 as gifts. These music boxes costs about $25 US and up. My husband purchased a couple replica, Russian military pins at $2 or $3 each.
The distinctively painted red, gold and black Khokhloma lacquerware items came in many shapes and sizes and make great gifts at a reasonable price. However, you can find these on the store's internet sight as well and perhaps for a better price.
This store will package and ship your purchased items home which is a nice service, and they also have stamps for any postcards that you buy!
What To Pay: Depending on the items, a few dollars up to several hundreds.
Leave a Comment
Theme: Gifts
Phone: 7-812-321-1477
Directions: Located in Prince Golitsin's house and near the cruise ship berths, but I did not see any cruise ships near here myself.
Website: www.souvenirboutique.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
More Saint Petersburg Tips
|
Join a Discussion Palaces and Museums
(2 replies, Saturday, Jul 26, 2008, 3:44 PM UTC) Overnight Train
(2 replies, Thursday, Jul 24, 2008, 7:34 PM UTC) Tallinn to St Pertersburg Eurolines
(2 replies, Wednesday, Jul 23, 2008, 1:28 PM UTC) Be the first to reply to these questions down with the depersonalized tourists!
(no replies yet, Wednesday, May 2, 2007, 2:38 PM UTC) down with the depersonalized tourists!
(no replies yet, Wednesday, May 2, 2007, 2:38 PM UTC) down with the depersonalized tourists!!! Individual guided tours
(no replies yet, Wednesday, May 2, 2007, 2:20 PM UTC) » All Saint Petersburg Posts
» Ask about Saint Petersburg |
 Comments for starship about Saint Petersburg | | | | |
TheWanderingCamel Mon Jul 21, 2008 16:41 UTC
Super page. You paint a great picture. We're off to St Petersburg in late Sept - 4 days - first visit. Hope the feet stand up to it! leyle | hunterV Wed Jun 18, 2008 09:04 UTC
Great page, thanx! | VeronicaG Sat Jun 14, 2008 12:41 UTC
I really enjoyed reading over your St. Petersburg page. Your attention to detail added so much. You packed alot of sites into two days of touring...it must have been so interesting! | Stephen-KarenConn Wed May 21, 2008 10:20 UTC
A truly outstanding page with lots of great detail packed into your tips. My one trip to St. Ptersburg was in 1988, when it was still called Leningrad. Would love to return. |
|
|
email me
add as friend
on Sep 24, 2005
