Russian Shopping Information

Visitors to Russia will find plenty of ways to spend their money, particularly in Moscow and St. Petersburg where shops catering for tourists are everywhere. Here you'll find art and antique stores, souvenir shops, department stores and outdoor flea markets.

Russia's shops, stalls and department stores sell many items to travelers, including crystal bowls, leather bags, and woolen sweaters, as well as fine amber jewelry, paintings and sculptures.

It is necessary to allow extra time for souvenir hunting: shopping can be a time-consuming activity, owing to the relatively chaotic state of the retail trade in the Russian Federation. It is also advisable to shop around, as prices vary significantly.

Kholui and Palekh lacquered boxes make attractive souvenirs. Traditional and amusing Matryoshka dolls (wooden dolls within dolls) are widely available. Khokhloma wooden cups, saucers and spoons are painted gold, red and black. Dymkovskaya Igrushka are pottery figurines based on popular folklore characters. Engraved amber, Gzhel porcelain, Vologda lace and FabergîVggs (Easter eggs) and jewelry are highly sought after. A Samovar (a metal urn with a spigot at the base, used in Russia to boil water for tea) also makes a good souvenir.

Interestingly enough at each station of the Trans-Siberian Railway you will find old ladies who will sell homemade food. They will offer you warm food like pelmeni (a sort of little boiled pasties), bread, sausages, pickles, and smoked fish. However, each station has something different. Do not hesitate to buy something from them, their goods are delicious.

Shops accept payments in roubles and, occasionally, by credit card.

Russian's general shopping hours are Mondays ? Saturdays 09:00am to 19:00pm and most food stores are open on Sundays. 24 hour stores are only now becoming somewhat more common. Local banking hours are from Mondays to Fridays 09:30am to 17:30pm.

A wide range of goods such as watches, cameras, wines and spirits, furs, ceramics and glass, jewelry and toys may be bought in Moscow and St Petersburg. Shops take payment in roubles and, occasionally, by credit card. It is necessary to allow extra time for souvenir hunting: shopping can be a time-consuming activity, owing to the relatively chaotic state of the retail trade in the Russian Federation. It is also advisable to shop around, as prices vary significantly. A good strategy is to choose your souvenirs in a department store such as GUM (on Red Square), and then buy them in a smaller,less centrally located shop. Kholui and Palekh lacquered boxes make attractive souvenirs. Traditional and satirical Matryoshka dolls (wooden dolls within dolls) are widely available. Khokhloma wooden cups, saucers and spoons are painted gold, red and black. Dymkovskaya Igrushka are pottery figurines based on popular folklore characters. Engraved amber, Gzhel porcelain, Vologda lace and Faberg¨¦ eggs and jewelry are highly sought after. A samovar makes a good souvenir. Antiquities, valuables, works of art and manuscripts other than those offered for sale in souvenir shops may not be taken out of the Russian Federation without an export license.

Shopping hours
Mon-Sat 0900-1900. Most food shops are also open on Sunday. Department stores and supermarkets are open throughout lunchtime. Stores which are open 24 hours a day are becoming more common.

Currency Information:

Currency
Rouble (RUB) = 100 kopeks. Notes are in denominations of RUB1000, 500, 100, 50 and 10. Coins are in denominations of RUB10, 5, 2 and 1, and 50, 10, 5 and 1 kopeks.

Currency exchange
Foreign currency should only be exchanged at official bureaux and authorized banks, and all transactions must be recorded on the currency declaration form which is issued on arrival. It is wise to retain all exchange receipts. Bureaux de change are numerous and easy to locate. Large shops and hotels offer their own exchange facilities. US Dollars in pristine condition are the easiest currency to exchange. It is illegal to settle accounts in hard currency and to change money unofficially.

Credit & debit cards
Major European and international credit and debit cards, including Visa and Mastercard, are accepted in the larger hotels and at foreign currency shops and restaurants, but cash (in Roubles) is preferred. American Express cards may be turned down, but cash (in Roubles) is preferred. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services that might be available. ATM machines are widely available.

Traveller's cheques
Cash is preferred. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travelers are advised to take traveller's cheques in US Dollars.

Currency restrictions
The import and export of local currency is prohibited. The import of foreign currency is US$10,000 but sums greater than $3000 (or equivalent) must be declared. The export of foreign currency is limited to the amount declared on arrival.

Banking hours
Mon-Fri 0930-1730.