Where to go?, Moscow

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I found it quite interesting to browse through Russian bookshops. Besides a wide variety of books, they often also have a selection of CDs, DVDs, calendars and small souvenirs.

Directions:
The largest bookshop in Moscow is probably "Dom Knigi" (House of Books). It is located at the street ul. Noviy Arbat 8 (Metro: Arbatskaya).

Another well known and centrally located bookshop is "Moskva Knigi" (Moscow Books) at the street ul. Tverskaya 8 (Metro: Tverskaya).

Dom Knigi - Website: http://www.mdk-arbat.ru/

Moscow Books - Website: http://www.moscowbooks.ru/

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"Eliseevsky" Store was build long time before the revolution 1917 (opened in 1901) and was the best in Moscow even in soviet time. The name " Gastronom #1" was not used, as the moscovites called it "Elissevsky".

Store is considered to be the first one in Moscow till now.

In the museum interiors of the beginning of the last century a splendid chosen assortment of food, various articles of own production are introduced, also a department of Russian souvenirs is opened.

A lot of people attend "Eliseevsky" every day, the other come here as if for some excursion and the administrators and shop-assistants who had special training are ready to answer all your questions.

What to buy: Assortment of bread, pies, cakes, fancy cakes, exclusive hand-made chocolate from the own sweet-shop strike.

"Eliseevsky" Store offers plenty of ready dishes: borsch in Moscow way, salad boyarsky, sturgeon in aspic, faintly-salted salmon, baked carp, chicken-roll with prunes and cheese, mushrooms marinated, freshly-salted cucumbers etc.

What to pay: Depend

Fur is making a comeback across the fashion capitals – no self-respecting fashionista would be caught this season without a fur coat, vest, stole or – at the very least – some fur trim on that fabulous new handbag. As winter arrives in Moscow, so too does the chance for Tverskaya boutiques and market salesmen alike to get their fur coats and accessories back on the rack.

If you’re new to the infamous Russian winter, or if you’ve just never gotten around to buying a fur, the variety of coats, outlets and price ranges can be daunting.

Which type of fur should you buy? Should you venture out to one of the local markets or stick to boutiques? What tender loving care do you need to bestow on your precious new purchase? We set out on a shopping spree to find answers to these questions and more.

What to buy: Make sure that the pelts are well-matched, supple and even in sheen.
Good workmanship is essential. Check that the seams are sewn tightly and evenly and that the hems fall straight.
The easiest way to check a coat’s quality is to feel it. The underfur should be uniformly textured and guard hairs should be soft and lustrous.
Check its weight when you’re trying it on. Particularly at the lower price range, some furs can be very heavy, and you don’t want to be lugging an extra 2 kilograms or more around.

Buy a coat that falls to mid-thigh at the very least – you’ll need it in this weather.

What to pay: depend...

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Ramstore chain is distinguished by a variety of formats - trade centers, hyper- and supermarkets, and convenient stores. According to the trade format, the assortment of a store may include from 10 to 35 thousand articles of goods.

What to pay: depend

open: 8:00 - 24:00

Many people are under the impression that Russia still suffers from Soviet Era shortages, and that they will have to bring their own jeans and chewing gum with them.

I cannot speak for all of Russia, but in Moscow this is definately not the case. In Moscow you can buy whatever you need, almost anytime you want it. All the major stores have at least a presence in the Russian capital.

Large format mega stores like Ramstore, IKEA, Metro and others have set-up shop on the outskirts of Moscow and along major transportation routes, such as on the way to Sheremetyevo II airport along Leningradskiy & Tverskaya Boulevards. Actually, local shoppers can exacerbate already problematic traffic jams in the evenings and on weekends. Hmm, just like anywhere else in the world?

What to buy: In the city center you will still find major stores for all-purpose shopping like the Seven Continents grocery store and Smolensky Passage department stores located at Smolenskaya metro station on Smolensky Boulevard along the Garden Ring Road.

There are also cheaper shopping alternatives from small mom & pop kiosks along all major roads and in most neighborhoods near the metro station to Garbuschka market, which is famed for its electronics, games & music selection.

Garbuschka market is basically a very large bazaar where traders in Soviet times used to sell bootleg copies of music and other semi-banned, semi-tolerated merchandise. Today it has morphed into a huge home entertainment and home appliance market where you will find almost everything for less. However, beware there are many fakes & phonies being sold, too. So, if the price is right fine, but don't expect your warranty card to be worth the paper it's printed on if you have problems later.

What to pay: less for local goods & imitations, and more for most imported and brand name items.

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In 1890-93, the Upper Trading Rows (now GUM) were erected in the so-called "Russian style" on the east side of the Red Square.The very word "rows" goes back into the distant past. It had long been the custom in Russia to have a special row for trading in a certain article. The facades of the long buildings of the Upper Rows are a decorative display of elements of Russian ornament applied to the architecture of the late 19th and early 20th century. The large glass roofs were installed over the trading lines with the help of metal constructions. In 1921, on the initiative of Lenin, the country's largest department store was opened in the building of the Upper Trading Rows. In the 1930s, a number of governmental institutions worked here. In 1953, after major repairs, the State Department Store (or GUM as it is called for short) was reopened. The trading sections are arranged in three long lines. Now this is one of the biggest shopping malls in a central Moscow where a staff of about 8,000 serves the more than 300,000 customers visiting the store daily.

What to buy: daily 10-00am - 10pm

Take your time and enjoy shops selling wares from around the world. You can buy Levis, Estee Lauder and Christian Dior, but why not explore a little and find out what shops like Kristi, Steilmann's and Gallery Bosco di Ciliegi have to offer as well.

Look for Russia's famous confection, Krasny Oktyobr (Red October) Chocolates, at refreshment stands and Russian shops throughout GUM. Be prepared for a taste unlike American, French or English chocolates, as Red October chocolate is usually lighter in weight, darker in color and more bittersweet in taste than Western fare.

What to pay: remember, It will take most of a day to see GUM Department Store, which is actually a huge, multi-story mall encompassing over 150 stores and kiosks.

Arm yourself with a calculator and the latest exchange rates before you go shopping. Stores will quote you prices in rubles, so you should know how much you should be paying to avoid getting swindled.

Ismailovo vernissage –
the best place
to buy souvenirs
in Moscow

If you would like to buy really good souvenirs in Moscow on reasonable price, don’t miss Ismailovo vernissage. It’s on Partisanskaya metro station, or just in one step from the tourist hotel complex Ismailovo.
Here are you can find really wild range of Russian tradition art beginning from Gzel, Hohloma, Fedoskino, Palekh to Uzbek ceramics and Soviet antiques. And don’t forget to ask for discount! It is the place “or near offer”!
Close to the vernisage is Ismailovo Kremlin, which was built in present days in architecture style of Tsar Residence in Ismailovo, quite interesting place to visit. There is Traditional Russian craft center here, even with own forge!
There are some cafés, which suggest snack and traditional Russian food, also on reasonable price.
One advice: it’s better to get up early and be at vernisage in the morning ( opens at 10:00 ) Close to noon and after noon more people and… less discounts :)
From city center to Partizanskaya is around 25 min by metro + 10 min from the station to the vernissage.

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This plaice is small and modest and belong to church.

Street itself is must see in Moscow . It has very interesting history- it's one of the first streets in Moscow, was founded before 11 centery. In 11 centery British embassy located there.

What to buy: Pretty good choise of Russian souvenirs with very reasonable price.

What to pay: from $3