Moscow is not really known as a shopaholic’s heaven, though if you are a traveler who can’t resist shopping on your travels, its useful to know where to shop in this city which in recent years has come to be known for its designer store laden opulent shopping malls which are a far cry away from the stores which during the Soviet years were plagued by food and product shortages.
However before you embark on any shopping trips in Moscow, you have to plan your journey to this the capital city of the largest country in the world, Russia. If you are planning to travel to Moscow from a US city, then you have to be prepared for a long haul flight for which business class travel is definitely recommended. Folks often believe that business class travel to Moscow like that to other European destinations is frightfully expensive but this is need not be the case for cheap business class tickets to Moscow are available if you know how to look for them. Often airlines that provide air links between US cities and the Russian capital offer special fares which take the form of business class discounts to Moscow and promote them via dedicated newsletters and social media tools. At other times, last minute bookings with airlines can also sometimes afford you deep business class discounts. However if all this seems too difficult for you because you want a certain amount of flexibility in order to plan your journey, you may want to consider using the services of a reputed travel agent, a professional who continues to thrive in spite of the popularity on online travel booking sites.
Travel agents (especially those run established businesses and have high sales volumes) often have a ready stock of business class deals which often represent discounts of up to 70% when compared to regular business class airfares. These travel agents have access to cheap business class tickets by way of the personal connections and relations that they have with various airlines. These connections are usually mutually beneficial relationships which have been nurtured over years.
It must be mentioned that these cheap business class airfares are by no means inferior to regular business class fares for they afford you all the amenities that are usually associated with full price business class airfares like priority check-in, fast track immigration, enhanced luggage allowance (extremely useful if you plan to hit the shops on your holiday), fully flat beds and limitless good food and wine along with great personalized service. These discount business flights sometimes have certain terms and conditions associated with them like advance purchase period and stay restrictions at the destination but these are minor inconveniences compared to the tremendous savings that they afford. Moreover these cheap business class flights often have added bonuses like mileage accrual and pre-flight seat selection which can certainly prove handy.
Once you have reached Moscow by way of your cheap business class seat and have toured its many sights, you may want to do a bit of shopping. Depending on the kind of shopping you need to indulge in, you should then chalk out your Moscow shopping expeditions.
Souvenirs
Souvenirs from Moscow often take the form of tinned Beluga caviar, decorated wooden lacquer boxes, colorful dishes, Soviet regime memorabilia and 'matrioshkas’ or the famous Russian painted dolls. If you are looking for cheap souvenirs from your Moscow trip then markets like the Vernisazh Market in Izmailovo, the Stary Arbat( though prices here are definitely higher than elsewhere) and the Vorobyovy Gory weekend market are your best bets. The Historical Museum Shop which is located off Red Square also offers a wide array of better quality Russian souvenirs and if it’s the expensive and exquisite Faberge eggs or 19th century icons that you are after then the Grand Collection Gallery located off Red Square is the place to head to.
Electronics
Many tourists enjoy shopping and browsing in Moscow’s electronic markets like the Gorbushka complex and the Savelovsky market. Stalls located at both these markets sell a variety of electronic appliances, computers and other gizmos at prices which are not necessarily cheaper than elsewhere.
Books
English language books cost more than Russian language books in the Moscow’s many famous bookstores. However Moscow has several excellent bookstores like Dom Knigi, Angliya British Bookshop, Biblio Globus, the House of Foreign Books, Respublika and Bookberry which all worth a browse if you are looking for something to read during your visit to Moscow.
Foodstuff
If you are keen to sample and even take back some Russian eats for friends and family then the Sedmoy Kontinent and Ramstore supermarkets offers specialty meats, seafood, sweets and cheese selections along with an extensive range of alcohol.
Department Stores
The GUM mall which extends along Red Square is perhaps Moscow’s most famous shopping destination. This three level, glass topped building which is adorned with wrought iron trimmings and sparkling fountains was once a dowdy Government Department Store which now has been transformed into a prime shopping destination that houses 200 diverse stores that retail just about anything. The stores at GUM range from up market, luxury boutiques to popular chain stores and fast food outlets and upscale restaurants. However aside from GUM Moscow has other several other malls that are definitely worth visiting like TSUM, Okhotny Ryad Shopping Center, Petrovsky Passazh and Tretyakovsky Proezd which is a faux medieval lane that lies between Theater Square and Lubyanka which is lined with several up market boutiques which represent the biggest names in global luxury retail.
However before you embark on any shopping trips in Moscow, you have to plan your journey to this the capital city of the largest country in the world, Russia. If you are planning to travel to Moscow from a US city, then you have to be prepared for a long haul flight for which business class travel is definitely recommended. Folks often believe that business class travel to Moscow like that to other European destinations is frightfully expensive but this is need not be the case for cheap business class tickets to Moscow are available if you know how to look for them. Often airlines that provide air links between US cities and the Russian capital offer special fares which take the form of business class discounts to Moscow and promote them via dedicated newsletters and social media tools. At other times, last minute bookings with airlines can also sometimes afford you deep business class discounts. However if all this seems too difficult for you because you want a certain amount of flexibility in order to plan your journey, you may want to consider using the services of a reputed travel agent, a professional who continues to thrive in spite of the popularity on online travel booking sites.
Travel agents (especially those run established businesses and have high sales volumes) often have a ready stock of business class deals which often represent discounts of up to 70% when compared to regular business class airfares. These travel agents have access to cheap business class tickets by way of the personal connections and relations that they have with various airlines. These connections are usually mutually beneficial relationships which have been nurtured over years.
It must be mentioned that these cheap business class airfares are by no means inferior to regular business class fares for they afford you all the amenities that are usually associated with full price business class airfares like priority check-in, fast track immigration, enhanced luggage allowance (extremely useful if you plan to hit the shops on your holiday), fully flat beds and limitless good food and wine along with great personalized service. These discount business flights sometimes have certain terms and conditions associated with them like advance purchase period and stay restrictions at the destination but these are minor inconveniences compared to the tremendous savings that they afford. Moreover these cheap business class flights often have added bonuses like mileage accrual and pre-flight seat selection which can certainly prove handy.
Once you have reached Moscow by way of your cheap business class seat and have toured its many sights, you may want to do a bit of shopping. Depending on the kind of shopping you need to indulge in, you should then chalk out your Moscow shopping expeditions.
Souvenirs
Souvenirs from Moscow often take the form of tinned Beluga caviar, decorated wooden lacquer boxes, colorful dishes, Soviet regime memorabilia and 'matrioshkas’ or the famous Russian painted dolls. If you are looking for cheap souvenirs from your Moscow trip then markets like the Vernisazh Market in Izmailovo, the Stary Arbat( though prices here are definitely higher than elsewhere) and the Vorobyovy Gory weekend market are your best bets. The Historical Museum Shop which is located off Red Square also offers a wide array of better quality Russian souvenirs and if it’s the expensive and exquisite Faberge eggs or 19th century icons that you are after then the Grand Collection Gallery located off Red Square is the place to head to.
Electronics
Many tourists enjoy shopping and browsing in Moscow’s electronic markets like the Gorbushka complex and the Savelovsky market. Stalls located at both these markets sell a variety of electronic appliances, computers and other gizmos at prices which are not necessarily cheaper than elsewhere.
Books
English language books cost more than Russian language books in the Moscow’s many famous bookstores. However Moscow has several excellent bookstores like Dom Knigi, Angliya British Bookshop, Biblio Globus, the House of Foreign Books, Respublika and Bookberry which all worth a browse if you are looking for something to read during your visit to Moscow.
Foodstuff
If you are keen to sample and even take back some Russian eats for friends and family then the Sedmoy Kontinent and Ramstore supermarkets offers specialty meats, seafood, sweets and cheese selections along with an extensive range of alcohol.
Department Stores
The GUM mall which extends along Red Square is perhaps Moscow’s most famous shopping destination. This three level, glass topped building which is adorned with wrought iron trimmings and sparkling fountains was once a dowdy Government Department Store which now has been transformed into a prime shopping destination that houses 200 diverse stores that retail just about anything. The stores at GUM range from up market, luxury boutiques to popular chain stores and fast food outlets and upscale restaurants. However aside from GUM Moscow has other several other malls that are definitely worth visiting like TSUM, Okhotny Ryad Shopping Center, Petrovsky Passazh and Tretyakovsky Proezd which is a faux medieval lane that lies between Theater Square and Lubyanka which is lined with several up market boutiques which represent the biggest names in global luxury retail.
