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Buying a Russian Souvenir

What is a Good Russian Souvenir?

There are several traditional crafts that are made only in Russia, and they always make great souvenirs.

Gzhel is a type of decoration on pottery and porcelain that uses only blue paint.

Palekh are crafts made of wood with designs of gold, red and black paint on them. They are lacquered and look very sophisticated. All silverware can be made in Palekh. Look for Palekh spoons and bowls- the traditional Palekh crafts.

Babushka Platok - is a traditional Russian kerchief or shawl with large flowers. Platoks come in three traditional colors- black, white, and red.

Easter Eggs for some reason, are a very popular Russian craft. They can be wooden, glass, crystal, ceramic, or cloth. There are Faberge eggs, and just simple eggs with painted landscapes or designs. Its up to you what to do with them, and how to decorate your home with Russian eggs, but one thing is for sure - they will look spectacular in any interior.

Linen and Lace is also a popular Russian souvenir, although none of the above listed products are made in Russian. Linen and lace shops offer beautiful table cloths, napkins and other household necessities.

Caviar and Vodka is what most people imagine when they think of a Russian souvenir. Vodka in Russia is very cheap, but you must know where to buy it and which kind to get. If you get the wrong kind, you may end up drinking something that will ruin your attitude towards vodka forever. A good place to get vodka and caviar is an official supermarket chain such as Perekrestok, Seventh Continent, Kalinka Stockman, or Azbuka Vkusa.

Matrioshka Dolls - these are the ulimate Russian souvenir. Probably everyone from Africa to China knows what a matrioshka doll is. If you don't, travel to Russia immediately! Matrioshkas are wooden figures that are pear-shaped and hollow inside. There is one large matrioshka doll that fits up to 20 other smaller matrioshaks inside one another. Matrioshkas are painted both traditionally, as dolls, and originally- as presidents, celebrities, sports starts etc…

Ushanka Hat – another stereotypical Russian souvenir. The thing is, nowadays the only people wearing these Russian fur hats are elderly men and foreigners. It may be an original gift, but leave your hat to wear at home to avoid looking completely silly walking around Russia.

Soviet Relics are a great gift for history buffs. Who would have ever though that the ordinary things that were found in every Soviet school, home, and office would skyrocket in price after the “empire's” disappearance! The reason for this is that it's like grabbing a hold of history that will never be the same again. While the Soviet flags, banners, posters, KGB badges, desk phones, pins, flasks, watches, and anything else you can think of are in stock it's a good idea to get a hold of them!

Where to Buy a Russian Souvenir

The place where you are sure to find a Russian souvenir is Arbat, a pedestrian street not far from the Kremlin. Arbat was always a sort of center of small commerce. It was lined with small shops during the rule of the tsars, it was the place to find the most unique souvenirs during Soviet times, and today it is still the place people go, if they want to buy something original and fun.

The pedestrian-only Arbat is lined with Moscow souvenir shops and infinite cafes and bars. All the shops sell pretty much the same thing. There are also vendors outside at all times of the year. The things you may find at a vendor's kiosk are Soviet flags and banners, tea glass holders famous in Russia, jewelry boxes, Gzhel ornamented crafs, matrioshka dolls ranging from traditional ones to those with famous basketball players depicted on them. Among other things, there are also army uniforms of all sorts, Russian fur army hats, airforce flightsuits and helmets, and gas-masks- all relics of the Russian army.

Other places to buy a Moscow souvenir would be in GUM, or Moscow attractions such as museums, amusement parks, and historical places.

Russian Souvenir Prices

At Arbat the prices for even a simple Russian souvenir are not exactly a bargain. Outside, you have to bargain with the vendors if you think the price is too high. If they see that you are a foreigner, they will automatically name a higher price, than if they thought you were a local. If you have a chance to go shopping for a Moscow souvenir with someone who speaks Russian well, take advantage of the opportunity and save yourself some money and nerves. If you do happen to go shopping on your own, don't hesitate to bargain a bit with the street vendors. If one is adamant about a number, go to another vendor - he will surely have the same exact merchandise.

Bargaining in the shops is useless, but, on the other hand, the prices tend to be pretty reasonable there. The only difference is that you wont find such original items as army gas-masks, but the traditional Russian stuff is the same, and probably of better quality.