Gift ideas Russia

The biggest flea market in the city is a real paradise for the hunter. Here you will find absolutely everything, including vintage clothing from the early days of the USSR to the present day. Negotiate with the shopkeepers but not with the older women next to the subway. These are only in rare cases professional saleswomen, most of the time they are retired women trying to make ends meet. Credit cards are not accepted.

The Historical Museum shop is one of the city's good places to find souvenirs on the theme of the USSR. Re-issued posters, objects, books... the prices are affordable (since they are not as inflated as in the shops you can find on the Arbat), but you can't negotiate them like in its direct competitor: the big market of Izmaïlovo. This remains a practical option, as it comes quite naturally after visiting the museum.

Located in the mythical Centralniy Dteskiy Magazin, this department store specializes in Russian souvenirs and handicrafts. Contrary to the tradition of cheap souvenir shops, these are expensive but of impeccable quality, for beautiful objects that last a long time. We recommend this place if you want to see all that the souvenir industry has to offer, as it also has some unusual items that are not easy to find elsewhere, such as Gzhel porcelain and handmade matryoshkas.

The Pavlovo Possad shawl factory is famous all over the world and exports its know-how across the continents, which makes Russians proud. The workshop has developed more than 800 models, for all tastes and from all materials, whether wool, cotton or silk (it also produces beautiful table linen). Each piece is unique, so you get an original, typical and quality gift for a very reasonable price. A must in case of a gift emergency.

In this shop you will find a beautiful collection of handmade majolica from several regions of the country (Yaroslavl, Smolensk). Inspired by techniques used during the Italian Renaissance, this variety of fired clay-based ceramics is distinguished by its painted glaze finish. A rather expensive pleasure, from 10 € for a small statuette, because of the fineness of the work done by hand. A beautiful and original gift idea.

A small store of brocany and antique dealers installed in the Kuznechniy market halle is exactly what you need if you don't have time or feel like going to the Udel 'naya flea market. There are small, cheap items (Soviet postcards, jewelry) as well as superior decor and furniture. Prices are certainly higher than on Udelka, but this shop is at a very central location.