Maybe shopping is not the purpose of your visit to the city, but on any trip there always comes a time when you need to go for gifts and souvenirs, and also please your loved one with a brand new thing or just a colorful little thing. The city is known for its shopping opportunities. It is located on the border with Finland, so the import of high-quality and environmentally friendly goods is established here. St. Petersburg is famous for its rich history and a large number of enterprises producing unique jewelry, porcelain, clothing and much more.
Where to start
It is worth starting with the fact that the numerous shopping opportunities in St. Petersburg are divided into several categories that can satisfy the needs and requests of every, even the most demanding customer. All trade establishments of the city can be conditionally divided into the following:
- Luxury luxury malls and boutiques. Here are all the famous brands andluxury brands of world couturiers and fashion houses.
- Democratic malls. These are everyone's favorite stores, mostly of youth fashion, notable for not very high prices, fairly good quality and a huge variety of things presented in the windows.
- Super-economical inexpensive shopping centers in St. Petersburg. These are nice little things, household goods and good clothes at very low prices that cannot but please the wallet.
- The most popular souvenir shops. They are worth a look in order to take home memories of the Northern City and give them to relatives and friends.
Luxury Shopping
St. Petersburg is replete with the luxury of the former imperial capital, exquisite architecture and seasoned style of shopping establishments. Among them, elite stores and shopping centers stand out. Shopping reviews in St. Petersburg ensure that the opportunities for luxury holidays and high-end shopping here are quite diverse and are of interest to both domestic travelers and foreigners.
House of Leningrad Trade, or DLT
A true bastion of luxury where you can find everything. It is open not only to lovers of new acquisitions, but especially to those who can spend money. In Soviet times, the shopping center was similar to the Moscow Central Department Store, where you could buy groceries, take a walk, meet friends, eat ice cream or buy fashionable things at that time. This was until 2005, when the building was closed forreconstruction. In 2012, the shopping center was opened under the leadership of Mercury LLC, whose profile is the sale of luxury goods.
At the Red Bridge
A relatively young trading establishment is open to visitors who are interested in rare unique global brands. Luxurious interiors, the rich history of the Esders & Schewals trading house, exceptional service and a variety of goods: all this awaits buyers of the department store. Prices can be compared with DLT.
Bolshoi Prospekt (Petrograd side)
The city has an entire street dedicated to high-end shops and boutiques. You can go here for a walk or for clothes of the latest fashion trends. The street hides not only shopping opportunities for owners of expensive cars and endless capital. Ordinary locals and tourists also drop in here, because in addition to boutiques, the avenue is dotted with beautifully and stylishly decorated cute shops, as well as small profiled shopping centers. Including shops of Belarusian shoes or needlework can be found here. Do not confuse with Bolshoy Prospekt, which is located on Vasilyevsky Island.
Decent and democratic centers
Shopping in St. Petersburg is possible for everyone. The largest stratum of participants in this exciting process are middle-class buyers. The largest shopping centers of the cultural capital of Russia work for them, where you can afford to dress from head to toe andstock up on all the necessary gifts and souvenirs of high quality and at good prices.
Reviews of inexpensive shopping in St. Petersburg point to mid-range shopping centers for the most mass consumer. This includes "Gallery" and "Stockmann", which occupy a leading position in popularity among tourist visits.
Shopping center "Gallery"
The largest shopping center in the city is located near the metro station "Ploshchad Vosstaniya" and is a spacious building, four floors of which are given over to various shopping and entertainment establishments. The first three floors are clothing stores, inexpensive for St. Petersburg. This includes democratic favorite brands Zara, H&M, Uniqlo and others.
The place is quite crowded, however, if you really go for your favorite brands, then here. The building houses a food court, some large restaurants and an Okay Express supermarket. This building is hard to miss. Numerous reviews of shopping in St. Petersburg emphasize the popularity of the shopping center and the need to at least look here and feel the general mood of joyful fuss that prevails among its visitors.
"Stockmann", or "Nevsky Center"
If the palace of democratic popular brands is too boring for you, you should cross the Vosstaniya Square and go to the shopping center "Nevsky Center", for the local population - "Stockmann".
The mall is divided betweenitself "Stockmann" and boutiques with clothes, shoes and everything that a professional shopaholic can imagine. In addition to the brands located in the "Gallery", here you can find many fashionable stores of various kinds: from household utensils and products to exquisite brands that produce outerwear or snail baking molds.
The shopping center is located in the city center, near the Moscow railway station, which makes it doubly attractive for those who want to shop or wait for the train with a cup of coffee in one of the cafes near the departure point.
For budget travelers
If shopping in St. Petersburg interests you with a we alth of choice and cheap goods, you have chosen the right city. There is a great variety of markets and shops with cheap, but solid and high-quality goods. First of all, you should pay attention to the markets where inexpensive clothing and footwear brands, appliances, household goods and much more are collected. Please note that all shopping addresses in St. Petersburg, which are economical, are located in the city center.
Market "Apraksin Dvor"
One of the oldest and most enduring markets in the city, which is not afraid of any crisis or checks from the government of St. Petersburg. It was opened in the 18th century and is located in the heart of the city, not far from Gostiny Dvor, on Sadovaya Street. It never closed and was a place of spontaneoustrade, where you can buy anything you want. Nothing has changed today. You should go to this place not only for shopping goods made in Turkey, China and Vietnam, but also for local flavor. It is worth preparing for a trip here: watch your pockets and do not take especially valuable things with you.
The market is very controversial and you should know its rules before you go here. Here you can buy high-quality clothes, shoes, household utensils and appliances. In addition to quality items, there are broken, poorly functioning or stolen items. It pays to be careful and confident in your quality control skills.
Lomonosov porcelain
Products of the Imperial Porcelain Factory in St. Petersburg are considered among the best and are a solid and practical gift. The company has been operating since the 18th century. It was opened by decree of Elizabeth, daughter of Peter the Great. Since then the quality has not changed. The products of the factory not only reflect the luxury of bygone times, but also maintain the quality mark of one of the world's first enterprises for the production of so-called white gold.
In St. Petersburg, you can buy dinner sets, figurines, tea sets and vases without extra charges and with a quality guarantee. Store addresses in St. Petersburg:
- Nevsky pr., 60, metro station "Gostiny Dvor";
- Vladimirsky pr., 7, metro station "Vladimirskaya"/ "Dostoevskaya";
- Nevsky pr., 160, metro "Ploshchad Vosstaniya"/ "Alexander Nevsky Square";
- Bolshaya Konyushennaya st., 10, metro station "Nevskyetc.";
- Nevsky pr, 35, metro station "Gostiny Dvor" (TC "Gostiny Dvor");
- Nesterova per., 9.
Tips
Every business has its secrets, known only to local residents or avid travelers. Most often, all the best opportunities, discounts and unique things are right in front of your nose or around the corner at the most, but we will not find out from them without preparing for the trip. Here are some tips on how to make your holidays and shopping in St. Petersburg unforgettable. Follow them for an incredible experience.
- Try shopping tours to Finland from St. Petersburg. It is worth going on an unforgettable shopping tour to Finland only because many cities bordering St. Petersburg are full of farm shops with milk and other eco-products. Light industrial products and many other things are of legendary quality, and discounts and special offers are not worth mentioning. Countless bus companies and travel agencies offer a one-day tour to the best shops and shopping centers in Finland, where you can buy everything you need in a whole day, high quality and with stunning discounts.
- Ask a stylist's shopping guide. As a cultural capital, St. Petersburg has a well-developed lifestyle and shopping service. Every woman would like to change something in her wardrobe or way of dressing, and the best way to do this is to update her clothes and shoes. In order not to make new mistakes regarding style and to introducea new look at your appearance and clothes, you should seek the advice of a stylist. Numerous services offer their services to accompany a stylist during shopping, including with an individual opportunity to choose a budget for shopping. Shopping tips in St. Petersburg are what will help make your stay in the northern capital unforgettable.
- For books, postcards and little second hand souvenirs, head to the House of the Book, also known as the "Singer House". It is located right on Nevsky Prospekt and symbolizes a whole layer of the city's history. Previously, the Singer company was located here, later the building was occupied by a bookstore, a coffee shop with a romantic view and the VKontakte office.
- Petersburg for gourmets begins with the shop of the Eliseev brothers. Here they sell the best delicacies, from black caviar to sweets. Ordinary travelers should come here just to enjoy the views, but if your goal is the best delights, you are here for shopping. It is worth noting that the prices here are not at all "childish", however, the quality corresponds to the best traditions of Tsarist Russia.
- For exclusive and expensive, typically stereotyped souvenirs, head to Northway. It is specially designed for foreigners who arrive in the northern capital on cruise ships and stop at the nearby port, right on the Promenade des Anglais. The main assortment of the store: amber jewelry and paintings, furs, black caviar, nesting dolls and jewelry.
- In the heart of the citynot far from the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, there is a market with souvenirs. Its main advantage is that here you can and should bargain. In addition, shopping can be done near the city center, overlooking the famous landmark, and then go to one of the coffee shops in the city center, relax and celebrate successful purchases.
St. Petersburg is perfect not only for history lovers, but also for those who like to take a piece of the city with them from trips. Be careful and plan your shopping in St. Petersburg in advance!
