Moscow What to Buy? And Other Shopping

Shopping in Moscow

Moscow is one of the urban centers of Russia, and serves as the gateway to the rest of the vast nation. It’s an ideal place to shop.

What to Buy

Shoppers browsing in Moscow will find local crafts, Russian delicacies, and items to bring back home to remind them of their trip. Any shopper can pick from several department stores as well as street vendors offering unique goods that are often made by hand.

A Taste of Moscow

For a taste of Moscow, you can start with the sweet. The Myad Market is a huge shop selling honey products of all kinds, including candies and simply jars of honey. Moscow natives also love their chocolate, especially of a company called French Kiss. They make chocolates in various shapes ranging from angels to cats.

Massandra Wines is locally adored wine shop that offers particularly good dry sherry. Bring a bottle with you if you’ve been invited to a party. If you like classic Russian Beluga caviar, this is also the place to find it. Many supermarkets offer it in small tins for a fraction of the price you would pay elsewhere.

Russian Nesting Dolls and Other Painted Items

Most people can’t leave Moscow without buying one of the symbols of this city: Russian nesting dolls. You’ll find them everywhere at varying prices and quality. The dolls come in a series that range from tiny to large and fit inside each other. The hand painted ones on wood will cost the most.

There are also other kinds of Russian crafts that are equally elaborate, including lacquered items like painted boxes small enough to fit into a purse. Hand-painted eggs are also another sometimes high end item that are a popular symbol of the city, especially at Easter. The smaller ones can go for a few dollars but the larger items can made from precious crystal and retail for a lot more.

Where to Shop

Street markets all over Moscow provide great shopping opportunities. You can buy items like treasured Soviet memorabilia or smaller items like tea cozies. The largest department store is Moscow is G.U.M. Located in the heart of Moscow, it was popular during the Soviet era. It’s still in existence now, offering many floors of goods.

Editor’s Note: The information contained on this page was compiled using real traveler reviews about what to by in Moscow.