Saint Petersburg, Russia

Best places to shop in Saint Petersburg

5 markets, malls and shopping districts in Saint Petersburg — what to buy, when to go, and the tourist traps to avoid at each one.

Last updated 2026-08-09

1. Gostiny Dvor

The 18th-century arcaded trading rows on Nevsky Prospekt — one of the world's oldest shopping arcades, still trading over two floors.

Where: Mall
Map: Open in Maps
Best time: Daily 10:00–22:00
Cost: Mid-range

2. Nevsky Prospekt and Yeliseyev Emporium

The main avenue — bookshops, department stores and the extraordinary Art Nouveau Yeliseyev food hall.

Where: Street Shopping
Map: Open in Maps
Best time: Daily 10:00–21:00
Cost: Mid-range

3. Udelnaya Flea Market

The city's vast weekend flea market at the northern metro station — Soviet ephemera, porcelain, militaria, books, tools and outright junk.

Where: Flea Market
Map: Open in Maps
Best time: Saturday and Sunday from 07:00 to about 16:00
Cost: Budget

Watch outAntiques over 100 years old and religious icons cannot leave Russia without a Ministry of Culture export permit, and customs do check. Most 'antique' icons here are reproductions in any case.

4. Imperial Porcelain Factory

The porcelain works founded in 1744 to supply the imperial court — the cobalt net pattern and other historic designs, sold at the factory shop and in the city.

Where: Luxury
Map: Open in Maps
Best time: Daily 10:00–20:00
Cost: Luxury
Tip: Every piece is marked underneath. The factory outlet on Obukhovskoy Oborony is cheaper than the Nevsky Prospekt shops.

5. Sennaya and Kuznechny markets

The city's traditional food markets — Caucasian produce, honey, caviar, pickles and cheese.

Where: Market
Map: Open in Maps
Best time: Daily 08:00–20:00
Cost: Budget–Mid

Watch outCaviar sold loose at markets is frequently mislabelled and its export is tightly restricted — most countries allow only 125g per person of CITES-documented caviar. Buy tinned, documented product from a licensed shop.