Russian souvenirs and Russian gifts are sold throughout the city - from market stalls to large department stores, hotels also stock their share of goods but at ridiculously inflated prices. 

Besides every popular tourist attraction in St. Petersburg has its own community of market stalls selling a range of souvenirs and gifts often open for negotiation and willingly accepting Euros and US dollars.

Nesting dolls

The most common souvenirs from Russia, Russian nesting dolls (Russian dolls are called Matryoshka in Russia), are widely available in a host of designs and numbers, some nest up to 19 wooden dolls. The quality varies dramatically from top class professional hand-painted dolls to those that have obviously been crafted by a monkey!

Prices: 500-4000 rubles

Fur hat

If Russian wooden nesting dolls don't interest you then there are plenty of other Russian gift and souvenir options to choose from, such as the classic Russian fur hat (Russian fur hats are called ushanka in Russia) to Soviet-era bits and pieces.

Prices: from 1000 rubles.

Shawls

The most famous Russian traditional shawls are Orenburg shawls, made of thinnest cashmere and Pavlovo - Posad wool and silk shawls decorated with the rich national ornaments. They are made of natural materials by skillful Russian craftsmen according to the old traditions. The authentic Russian shawls are cozy and elegant at the same time; all of them are unique and will remind you about Russia.

Prices: from 1000 rubles.

Boxes with Lacquer Miniature Painting

These boxes can be used as collectable items or as trinket boxes, some of them might be called as real pieces of art. There are four Russian lacquer miniature centers such as Palekh, Kholui, Fedoskino and Mstiora. 

Fedoskino is the first Russian lacquer miniature center. This miniature school enjoyed the strong influence of Russian realistic art. Thus the main styles of Fedoskino miniatures are landscapes, portraits and reproductions of famous paintings. Fedoskino lacquer boxes can be recognized by the use of mother of pearl, gold leaf, thin layers and oil paints. 

Palekh lacquer miniature art appeared even in 1923. Palekh art derived from the icon painting traditions. From the 17th century Palekh was known as the great center of icon painting.  

Kholui boxes are totally equal to Palekh miniatures by their quality and icon-painting style.  

Now Palekh and Kholui lacquer miniatures are very popular among Russian and foreign collectioners. These paintings are done with egg-tempera paints on varnished paper-mache boxes.

Prices: from 2000-14000 rubles.