CleoB

I'll be in Moscow and St. Petersburg this July and wondered if anyone had recommendations for where to buy local art and handicrafts? I'm not interested in mass-produced souvenirs. I do like to stroll through markets also, so if there is a particular market you'd suggest, I'd appreciate that as well. Thanks!

kja

Since no one else has responded.... When I visited them in 1994, I shopped at the Russian Museum in St. Petersburg. From what I could tell at the time, I had a better chance of finding authentic crafts and affordable prices there than elsewhere in St. Petersburg (which I visited after Moscow, and I prefer to wait until the end of my trip to buy anything I'll have to carry around afterwards). And I did find affordable and beautiful things there, even though my budget was quite limited. The items I purchased were decidedly NOT mass-produced souvenirs. That said, I'm talking about 20 years ago!

If nothing else, maybe this response will get others to add more timely comments.

Rich

In Moscow, Izmailovsky (or Izmolova ), Market is a large market area with a lot of traditional Russian souvenirs . . Novi Arbat is closer to the center of things, but not as much variety

You will generally see hawkers and souvenirs at most of the significant sights around the town

michele_d

In St Petersburg DO NOT go to the market held behind the Church on the Spilled Blood...all mass produced. Every third booth has the same stuff.

CleoB

Thanks - I'll make note of all this!