Apraksin Dvor, St. Petersburg

Apraksin Dvor is not a place tourists would normally visit. As contrary to the nearby Western-like Gostinyi Dvor, this shopping centre is not very fashionable or luxurious, yet rather picturesque and frequented by economical housewives. If the prices in Gostinyi Dvor seem a little bit too high or you just cannot find what you need, you may find the same goods here, on the other side of Sadovaya Ulitsa, in less than a 5 minutes' walk from Nevskii Prospekt. Here you can buy almost anything: from Household Goods to Footwear and Clothes to Audio and Video Equipment to Stationery and Photographic Goods, Musical Instruments, Tourist and Sport Equipment to Souvenirs and Toys. Besides, you can have a snack here in a cafe or at a Falafel Stand. The quality of goods varies, so you will have to be careful, although bad quality goods are seldom met. It is a good idea to bring along a Russian friend or guide, as not every salesperson there will be able to speak or understand English. Perhaps, it will take you quite a time to come across something really special, but your find will most likely be a pleasantest surprise, even if you knew exactly what you looked for.