Shop in Moscow for all things high-street and arty souvenirs

Region: Russia
Brand new mega-malls, revamped department stores, chic designer boutiques and oldworld flea markets, the shopping experience in Moscow has undergone a sea change from its days of yore.

While on the hunt for souvenirs, the best bets are shops in the Arbat district or the Izmailovsky flea market in the eastern outskirts. There are also a number of hidden side streets to explore, and the best draw here is the proliferation of souvenir shops; browse regional gems such as icons, amber, and matryoshka dolls.


Browse for regional gems such as icons, amber, and Matryoshka dolls in the Arbat district. (Image: Agencies)

From the latest fashion boutiques to fine-dine restaurants, Moscow is dotted with exclusive areas such as Tverskaya Street, including Kuznetsky Most, Stoleshnikov Lane and Tverskoy Boulevard, Petrovka Street and Kutuzovsky Prospect, where one would find a mixture of international brands and Russian designers.

Most of the city’s shopping centres are attractions in their own right. For instance, GUM (pronounced goom) is Moscow’s main universal store occupying a large part of the Red Square’s eastern side, and tells the story of more than one century of history. About the same size as the GUM, TsUM (pronounced tsoom) at Petrovka Street is known for its trendy European offerings of merchandise such as furs, perfume, and jewellery. Similarly, Petrovsky Passage department store has been on Petrovka Street near Theatre Square for two centuries, which houses some high-class international brands.

From down-to-earth to absolute classy, Moscow offers a mélange of shopping experience.