What products can you buy in Narva? Shops in Narva. Home appliance stores

Narva is one of the best cities in Estonia for shopping. Its stores are especially of interest among Russians who live in border areas. Here you have the opportunity to purchase inexpensive branded items of good quality, and get back 20% of their value using a completely legal method.

Why is it so good to shop in Narva that many of its guests go here for shopping, and not to the same neighboring Finland? The main and most pleasant discount for Russians - residents of a state outside the European Union is a VAT refund, which will be 20% of the purchase price minus the administrative fee. To get it, you need:

In the shop. Before paying for purchases totaling at least 38.01 euros from one store or boutique made during one day, ask the seller for a tax free form.

At customs. All purchases must be unused and well packaged. Show the customs officer your passport and purchases with receipts, and ask him to stamp the Refund Check; VAT refund office. Present your passport, credit card and Refund Check to the nearest Refund office and request an immediate VAT refund to the credit card (Immediate Refund). Otherwise, the tax free amount will most likely be returned in cash. But keep in mind that the tax free form must be stamped at customs no later than three months, based on the month of your purchase.

What about sales, the biggest sales happen twice a year - (January and July), especially good discounts (up to 80%) happen in January.

First of all, visiting shopaholics buy elite alcohol, local high-quality knitwear, branded clothing and children's clothing, especially winter clothing, in Estonia. Lenne children's clothing stores are highly praised. The leaders in sweet products are marzepan and Kalev candies, meat and sausage products - Rakvere. They also bring equipment from Narva, although it costs the same as in Russia. By the way, a little bargaining is appropriate in Narva markets, but this should not be done in shopping centers - so VAT refunds and discounts are provided.

In Estonia, it is quite profitable to buy high-quality and inexpensive clothes, but one of the peculiarities of shopping should be noted that stores, mostly grocery stores, close very early. Only large shopping centers are open for a long time (until 22:00-23:00). There is a restriction on the sale of alcohol - strict hours - 10:00-21:00.

The largest shopping centers in Narva are Astri and Fama Termpo stores, and they are all conveniently located next to each other on the Tallinn highway.

Now we’ll tell you about the main stores in the city, their locations, and working hours. One of the largest shopping centers in Narva is Fama Keskus Fama Keskus, where about nine thousand people visit each day. The Fama store is conveniently located in the central part of the city. It has everything: not only all kinds of shops and boutiques, but also bank offices, a sports club, a children's room, and parking lots. Those with a sweet tooth should definitely check out Astri Buffet; women should check out the Italian stores of stockings and tights, swimsuits and lingerie “ROSME” and “V.O.V.A.” women's clothing boutique "MIULENA", exclusive boutique outlet "BRAND HOUSE", etc. Everything is located on Tallinn Highway 19.

The Fama Astri shopping center is considered one of the oldest hypermarkets in Narva. It was opened in 1998, and since then it has been reconstructed twice. Now it is the largest shopping and entertainment center in the city with an area of 19,300 sq.m., with 50 stores, a state-of-the-art cinema “Forum Cinemas Astri” with three halls for 409 people, a games room, a beauty salon, bowling alley and parking for 150 cars.

If you get hungry while doing some exciting shopping, you can grab a bite to eat in two bars or a fast food restaurant. The hypermarket is located on Tallinn Highway 41.

The Narva Centrum shopping center is another large shopping center, modern, quite convenient, where all kinds of products, goods and services are presented. It is located close to the entrance to Narva, on Tallinn Highway 47, and it is very convenient. There is a bowling alley and a cinema open every day throughout the second half of the day.

Another popular favorite, which is known even outside Estonia, is the large supermarket “Prisma”. It is one of the few shopping centers in Narva that is open until eleven at night. It has not only a huge number of shops, but also a pharmacy, a photo center, an Internet cafe, etc. The location is Candelaste Avenue, 29.

Another place where you need to go while shopping is the Tempo shopping center on Tallinn Highway 47. It offers a huge range of household goods, shoes, clothing, equipment and children's items.

The Maxima X chain of stores is very popular in Narva.

A variety of vegetables and fruits, and all kinds of fresh seafood can be bought in the spacious Rimi store. It is located on Tallinna mnt 19c.

If you are going to Narva specifically for clothes, then all of the above centers will suit you. Separately, we can highlight an interesting Krenholm textile store located on Tallinn Highway 52, which also occupies part of the Tempo shopping center.

It is also good to buy products for children in the above-mentioned centers. In the same Maxima shopping center there is a Limpopo store. Not far from it is the Sipsik store, which represents products from the Lenne company, which Russian mothers are very fond of. On the second floor of Fame there are also many stores selling children's supplies, clothing, and toys, including Ricco and Chicco. Astri will also be pleased with its Trend and Taco outlets. In addition, Lenne products are available in two more locations. These are the Kauplus Trend store on Pushkina 4 and the Sipsik store on Tallinna mnt 31.

A pleasant addition to Estonian shopping will be the Estonian Souvenirs souvenir shops. Particularly in demand are handicrafts, antiques, sweets, dishes, porcelain mugs, local liqueurs, balms, etc. Let's talk about several souvenir shops conveniently located in the central part of the city. Kokos is a huge store that sells Estonian sweets and more. There you will also find chocolate from other Baltic countries. From Petrovskaya Square to the store on Pushkin Street, a 5-minute walk.

“Aleksandr Salon” is not only a souvenir shop, but also an entire antique store. Where you can admire and buy works of art, ancient coins, items made by Estonian craftsmen and many other interesting items. It is located on Pushkin Street, 13.

Unistis is Kalev's signature sweet shop, selling famous Estonian marzipan, as well as spirits and souvenir mugs. It is located not far from the Astri shopping center, on Tallinn Highway 27.

The best household appliance stores in Narva are not located separately, but also in large shopping centers - Fama Astri Tempo Prisma. Although you can’t say that the prices for household appliances and electronics are very different from Russian ones, unless, of course, you find yourself at the January sales.

Here are several addresses of large electronics and household appliances stores: RD Electronic AS - Linda Street, 2, Argo Electronocs AS - Malmi Street, 8 ASC Computer OU - Daumani, 5-63.

There are also many second-hand stores in Narva selling clothes and shoes from the 80s and 90s. The same “Aleksandr” presents clothing and personal items from the era of the USSR and the Second World War.

Now, after reading this information, go shopping in Narva with confidence.

Narva is one of the most popular Estonian cities among tourists, as it is simply a great place to shop for a variety of things. In this city there are a lot of shops of various sizes: here you can find as tiny

kiosks and colossal hypermarkets. Moreover, every tourist can easily both purchase good goods and get back a fifth of their price in a completely legal way. Local retail outlets are most popular among Russians, and more specifically among those who live near the Russian-Estonian border.

This city is a place where you can buy good clothing items at an affordable price. Well, Narva differs from other cities in something important: shops, including those where you can buy food, are here quite early

close at night. At 10 and 11 pm only the largest hypermarkets remain open here. Alcohol is sold here for a fairly limited time - only 10:00-21:00.

Those who come to Narva to purchase goods here make purchases mainly of these types:

expensive alcoholic and low-alcohol products
High quality local knitwear, mostly produced by Marat
branded ultra-fashionable clothing and footwear. Including for children. Mainly for the winter, and mainly those produced by Lenne
sweet. Moreover, the most popular sweets among guests of Narva are local marzipans and the well-known Kalev candies.
a variety of household appliances. Although everything the same can be bought at almost the same price in Russia
sausage and meat, including processed meat, from Rakvere. At local markets you can try to reduce the price by bargaining. But you should not bargain in large stores - they already give discounts and VAT refunds

Discounts and sales

The most important discount that residents of Russia can enjoy here as citizens of a country that is not part of the European Union is the return of VAT. If anyone doesn’t know, VAT means “20% of the purchase price minus the administrative fee.” Buyers wishing to take advantage of this very discount should:

at a point of sale: before paying for goods at one point of sale during the current day in the amount of 38.01 EUR or more, ask for a Tax Free Form from the seller;
at customs: before this, none of the goods can even be removed from the packaging, let alone used. The buyer must show the customs officer his passport, purchased goods, and receipts. Then you need to ask for a Refund Check to be stamped.
at the VAT refund office: in this building, those who wish to receive this discount are required to show their passport, Refund Check, bank/credit card, while at the same time requesting an immediate VAT refund for it. If there is no card or request, Tax Free will be returned in cash.

Moreover, buyers should know one more important thing: they need to contact customs for stamping the Tax Free Form so that its employees do this no later than three months after purchasing the goods.

The largest sales, where you can get a 75-80% discount on any purchase from its regular price, are held in this city a couple of times a year: in mid-summer and mid-winter.

Shopping centers in Narva

There are many different types of retail outlets in this city. The most popular among tourists who come here for shopping are the following:

Astri Shopping Center

The Astri store is one of the oldest hypermarkets in Narva. It has been operating since 1998. This is the largest of all Narva shopping and entertainment centers - it occupies more than 19 thousand square meters. Here you can find:

more than fifty different stores
games room
beauty saloon
ultra-modern cinema hall “Forum Cinemas Astri”, where more than four hundred people can watch films at the same time
bowling
car parking for more than five thousand cars, having two tiers
a couple of bars
one restaurant serving fast food

Those with a sweet tooth will definitely be delighted by the large selection of sweet food at Astri Buffet.

You can buy goods at Astri every day from 10 am to 9 pm. Its cinema and bowling alley are open daily from noon to midnight.

Approaching from the direction of Narva Petrovskaya Square, you can see this shopping complex to the right of the Tallinn Highway.

Contacts:

Tallinna maantee 41, Narva

Working hours:

Astri Keskus: 10:00–21:00
Apollo Kino: 12:00-24:0
Bowling: 12:00-24:00
Children's room: 10:00–21:00

Website:

en.astri.ee

Shopping center Fama Keskus

About 9 thousand people buy goods here every day. This is due to the well-chosen location in the city center and the many different retail outlets and shops. The Fama Keskus shopping area houses a games area, a sports club, bank premises, and a huge parking lot.

Women here can enjoy stockings and tights made in Italy, swimsuits and women's underwear from ROSME and V.O.V.A, a boutique where you can buy products from BRAND HOUSE, a women's boutique MILENA - and this is only a small part of what may interest them there .

At Fama Keskus you can purchase goods Mon-Sat from 10 am to 9 pm, and on Sundays until 7 pm. It is located at the entrance to this city from the direction to St. Petersburg.

Contacts:

Fama tanav 10, Narva

Working hours:

Fama Keskus: 10:00–21:00;
Rimi: 8:00-22:00

Website:

en.astri.ee/fama/

This store is located in a fairly convenient location - near the entrance to Narva. Here you can buy different types of purchases - food, clothing and shoes for both sexes of all ages. Narva Centrum also provides various services.

Here you can shop according to the following schedule: Mon-Sat 10:00-21:00, on Sundays it closes two hours earlier. You can play bowling or watch films shown in the cinema every day from noon to midnight.

It’s easy to walk from the fortress and the border to the store in literally ten minutes or drive in a couple of minutes from the direction of the Tallinn Highway.

Contacts:

Tallinna mnt. 47 Narva

Working hours:

Mon-Sat: 10:00–21:00;
Sun: 10:00- 19:00

Website:

www.narvacentrum.ee

Shopping center Prisma

This colossal hypermarket is widely known not only in Estonia. And there are reasons for this: it includes not only a lot of stores selling shoes, clothing and food, but also its own pharmacy, Internet cafe, photography center, and point of sale of pet supplies.

You can purchase goods at Prisma every day from 8 am to 11 pm. It is easy to get to Prisma from the city center by private transport in 7 minutes.

Contacts:

Kangelaste prospekt 29, Narva

Working hours:

Mon-Sun: 8:00–23:00

Website:

www.prismamarket.ee

Tempo Shopping Center

Tempo is another colossal shopping center. It is located on the Tallinn highway. Here you can make purchases by choosing from a very large list of products:

home items
clothes and shoes
things for children
various household appliances

You can shop at Tempo Monday to Friday from 10am to 9pm, Saturday from 10am to 6pm, and Sunday from 10am to 4pm.

Contacts:

Tallinna maantee 52, 21005 Narva

Working hours:

Mon-Fri: 10:00–21:00;
Sat: 10:00- 18:00
Sun: 10:00-16:00

Website:

en.astri.ee/tempo/

Supermarket Maxima

Maxima is a highly visited retail chain specializing in food, branded clothing and shoes.

Some stores of this chain open at 7, others at 8 in the morning. It’s the same with closing: some open until 10 pm, others close an hour later. The stores of the Maxima retail chain in Narva differ in size: Maxima X (small shops in residential areas), Maxima XX (larger stores, supermarkets), Maxima XXX (hypermarkets). Unfortunately, there are no Maxim XXX hypermarkets in Narva.

But Maxima X and Maxima XX in Narva can be found at the following addresses:

Pähklimäe 6a, Narva

Mon-Sun: 8:00-22:00

Moisa 8, Narva

Mon-Sun: 8:00-22:00

Tallinna maantee 19, Narva

Mon-Sun: 8:00-22:00

Kreenholmi 39h, Narva

In Astri, items for children are sold at Taco and N-Trend outlets. By the way, at N-Trend you can buy children's products made by Lenne. You can also find the children's brand Lenne in the Kauplus Sipsik store, Tallinna mnt. 31.

Home appliance stores

You can buy household appliances in Narva in stores located in large shopping centers of the city: Astri, Fama, Prisma, Tempo.

Additionally, you can visit specialized sales points at the following addresses:

RD Electronic AS: st. Linda 2, Narva.
ASC Computer OU: Daumani 5-63, Narva.
Argo Electronocs AS: st. Malmi 8, Narva.

Clothing stores

Good clothes, and at the same time shoes, are sold in the already mentioned Narva shopping centers: Astri, Fama, Prisma.

But the Tempo shopping center, which specializes in the famous Krenholm textiles in Estonia, deserves special attention. By the way, the products of the Krenholm manufactory can be brought as a souvenir from Narva and Estonia.

Guests of Narva are most willing to buy items made by folk craftsmen, local sweet products, dishes, mugs made from porcelain, antique goods, Narva liqueurs, and balms. And in the city center there are these souvenir shops:

Kokos: Here they sell Estonian sweet delicacies. Branded chocolate products made in other Baltic countries are also sold here. They also sell local varieties of expensive alcoholic drinks. It is not difficult to reach Cocos on foot from Petrovskaya Square, spending literally two minutes on the road, no more. It is located here: Pushkin Street, 5, Narva.
Unistus: This outlet sells marzipan, which the country is famous for. They also sell alcoholic drinks and souvenir mugs here. This store is located near Astri, and more specifically here: Tallinn highway, 27, Narva.
Alexander Salon: at this point of sale of antiques they sell numismatics, goods from the hands of folk craftsmen, objects of art, and quite a lot of other things that may be of interest to souvenir lovers. Aleksandr Salon is located on the street. Pushkina, 13, Narva.
Summer Fair: Special authentic items can be found at the annual summer fair in Narva. During the event, participants from Latvia, Lithuania and Russia come here. In addition to handmade souvenirs, all guests of the Narva Summer Fair will enjoy a lot of entertainment and a concert program. The exhibition in 2017 falls on August 12. The event will last from 11:00 to 16:00 at Raja 5.

The coordinates of all these stores are well known to those who live near the Russian-Estonian border. We hope that, thanks to this information, other Russian tourists living much further from Estonia will also get an idea about them, and now it will be easier for them to find the stores they need in Narva.

Olga Stepanova

Reading time: 16 minutes

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Traveling to Estonia for our compatriots is always an opportunity not only to see the sights, but also to go shopping. Estonia, of course, is far from France or even Germany, but for those who like to wander around the shops, there is everything here - from fashion boutiques and famous shopping centers to tiny shops and regular sales.

So, what to bring home from Estonia, and where is the best place to shop?

Where is the best place to shop in Estonia – and in Tallinn in particular?

Most of the Estonian stores are concentrated in Tartu, Narva and Tallinn.

In Narva You can look into the Rimi and Prisma supermarkets, the Fama and Astrikeskus shopping centers.
In Tartu: Shopping center Tartukaubamaja, Sisustuse, Lounakeskus, Kaubahall, Eeden.
INJõhvi: Shopping center Johvikas, Johvitsentraal.
In Rakvere: Vaala and Tsentrum shopping centers.
To Parnu: Shopping center Kaubamajakas, Portartur, Parnukeskus.
In Tallinn:

Viru street, replete with a variety of shops. Souvenirs (in a wide range - handmade and factory-made) should be looked for in the part of the street that is closer to the Old Town.
Port shops . You can purchase foreign-made goods there (from the Baltic Sea countries).
Krambuda shop. Here you can buy souvenirs created according to unique designs of medieval craftsmen - from glass and leather, porcelain, wood or metal.
Designer store “hand made” Nu nordik.
Shop with products from the forge (forged metal objects for interior) - Saaremaa Sepad.
Mida kinkida(funny slippers made of dried wool, various glass souvenirs and pointed hats).
Krunnipea Butiik(textiles with Estonian patterns).

Shopping center in Estonia:

You can buy anything you want in shopping centers and department stores. The advantage of the shopping center is that it is open until late and on Sundays.

Foorum.
Melon, Estonia pst 1.
Järve Keskus, Parnu mnt 238.
Rocca al Mare keskus, Paldiski mnt 102.
Kristiine keskus, Endla 45.
Mustika keskus, A.H.Tammsaare tee 11.
Norde Centrum, Lootsi 7.
SadaMarket, Kai 5.
Sikupilli Keskus, Tartu mnt 87.
Solaris, Estonia pst 9.
Stockmann, Liivalaia 53.
Tallinna Kaubamaja, Gonsiori 2.
Telliskivi poetänav, Telliskivi 60A.
Viru Keskus, Viru Väljak 4.
WW Passaaž, Aia 3/ Vana-Viru 10.
Ülemiste Keskus, Suur-Sõjamäe 4.

Markets:

And:

Duty free shops with the Tax Free Shopping service (look for the corresponding logo).
Fashion brand clothing stores Baltman, Ivo Nikkolo and Bastion.
Müürivahe street , where you can buy knitted items and check out the Estonian artisans' market.
Katarina käik street. Here, in medieval workshops, souvenirs are created right in your presence.
Particularly famous is the glassblower's house (there is also an exhibition of works with the possibility of purchase) and a doll house.
Antique shops in the Old Town. It will be of interest to antique lovers and collectors.
FAMu- inexpensive and high-quality clothing.

Sales:

1st: from Christmas until the end of January.
2nd: from mid-June to the end of July.
Many stores offer discounts 4 times a year before the end of the season.
Discounts range from 15 to 75 percent.

Grocery stores (retail chains):

Maxima. Opening hours until 10 pm.
Konsum. Opening hours until 9 pm.
Prisma.
Saastumarket(until 9 pm). The cheapest.

Regular store opening hours - from 10 am to 6 pm. On Sundays, mainly shops for tourists are open. And shopping centers, department stores and supermarkets are open seven days a week - from 9 am to 9-10 pm.

As for private shops , they are usually closed on Sundays, and close very early on Saturdays (on weekdays - from 10-11 am to 6 pm).

12 types of goods most often purchased in Estonia

In the distant Soviet times, all of Estonia was a real shopping center, where people from other republics came to buy various scarce goods.

Today Estonia, unlike many EU countries, offers authentic souvenirs (not imported and not Chinese).

As a rule, people go to Tallinn, the resort town of Pärnu and other Estonian cities for the following purchases:

Juniper products. For example, spatulas and hot mats, made of wood and having a sweetish specific aroma.
Knitten things- like . These include brightly patterned thick socks and mittens, beautiful coats, ponchos and sweaters with deer. And also creative things, like a hat in the shape of a cartoon character or a scarf decorated with soft toys. The price of a cap is from 20 euros, a cardigan is from 50 euros.
Marzipan(from 2 euros per figurine). It is cheaper to take marzipan in briquettes, by weight. The figures will be significantly more expensive.
Chocolate Kalev. The incomparable taste of a delicacy that can be found in all towns of the country (from 1 euro per bar). The company store is located in the Rotermann quarter, at Roseni 7.
Vana Tallinn liqueur . One of the most popular souvenirs. The cost of a bottle is from 9 euros. Sold in any wine store in the country. And Pirita liqueur (from 40 types of herbs).
Amber. Everything is made from this stone here: from simple jewelry in silver to copies of royal regalia and sets. The cost of a modest piece of jewelry is from 30 euros, earrings - from 200 euros. You can buy amber in souvenir shops and special shops. For example, in Toompea and around Town Hall Square, as well as in Amber House.
Knitwear. Exclusive wardrobe items with special patterns.
Dairy products. The most popular cheeses from the island of Saaremaa, milk, kama (creamy dessert).
Textiles from the Krenholm factory. Very cozy and soft towels and terry robes for men/women.
Handmade ceramics. It is made at Atla Manor (50 km from Tallinn). You can buy ceramic souvenirs on the 1st floor of the Garden Market (for example, beer mugs and designer plates, figurines, etc.).
Antiques. Estonia is a paradise for antique lovers. Here you can sometimes find things that you won’t find in other former Soviet republics during the day. For example, artifacts from the Soviet past - from books and military uniforms to crystal and gramophone records.
Piparkooka Pepper Cookies.

Shopping rules in Estonia: how to make purchases and transport them to Russia?

As for prices in Estonia, here they are, of course, lower than in other EU countries, so it is definitely profitable to go here for shopping (as even Finns know about).

How to pay? Almost throughout the country, credit/debit cards are in use, which can be used to pay even in the smallest store. It is recommended to take cards from banks that are not subject to sanctions.
Services. In most shopping centers you will be offered free parking and Internet access, currency exchange and ATMs, places for a “snack” and even the services of a teacher (to leave the baby and wander around the shops).
Currency. The euro is valid in Estonia. It is not recommended to bring rubles (the exchange rate is significantly lower than in Russia).

Tax free

Once you see the corresponding logo on the window, you can be sure that you can refund VAT on purchases.

To receive a tax refund on goods that you bought in Estonia, you should ask for the appropriate documents (special checks - Refund Check) from the seller when making the purchase. They will have to be certified (by presenting the UNUSED item itself with tags and Refund Check) when passing the border from a customs officer (you must have a special stamp placed on the check issued by the seller).

Are you traveling by plane? Look for the counter for receiving a refund (on a card or in cash) next to the Tax free counter.
Or are you traveling by train? If you have documents certified by border guards, you can return the money in Russia.

How to return tax?

The already stamped Refund Check should be presented along with your passport and credit card at the nearest Refund Office, and then request an Immediate Refund to your card. Or in cash.

Tax refund points:

Road: in Luhama, Narva and Koidula - in “exchange offices”.
In St. Petersburg: on Chapygina 6 (off. 345) and on Glinka 2 (VTB 24).
In the capital: in VTB 24 on Leninsky Prospekt, Avtozavodskaya St., on Marksistskaya St. and on Pokrovka.

On a note:

VAT in Estonia is 20 percent. That is, the amount of compensation is equal to VAT minus the administrative fee.
Time limit for confirmation of Refund Check by a customs officer — 3 months from the date of purchase. That is, from the moment you bought the item, you have 3 months to get a stamp on the check at customs.
Purchase amount in Tax Free should be above 38.35 euros.

What is prohibited from being exported from Estonia to Russia?

Currency worth over 10,000 euros - only with declaration. You need to study before your trip.
Items that are of cultural, historical or artistic value . Especially those produced before 1945, or those that are more than 100 years old.
Any precious metals and gems/stones.
Animals without vaccination documents and medical certificates , issued 10 days before departure from the country.
Restrictions on the export of alcohol - no more than 2 liters once a month.
Maximum amount for duty-free export of goods - 5000 CZK.
All plants, animals and products of plant/origin must presented to quarantine service workers.

If you have a trip to Estonia planned, why not combine it with shopping. The opinion that shopping is only possible in Italy, England or the UAE is completely wrong. Estonia, like many other European countries, can offer both global brands that have been successfully operating on the Estonian market for more than 10 years, as well as national brands.

Sale seasons

Like throughout Europe, Estonia has two seasons of discounts and sales, when the main decoration of storefronts is yellow and red signs that attract shopaholics.

The winter sales season begins on Christmas Eve and lasts until the last days of January. Summer sales occur in July-August. And if in normal times tourists, according to statistics, spend about 300-400 €, then during sales this amount doubles.

Another nuance that will be useful for tourists. In addition to these two periods, you can count on discounts at the end of each season. This is a common practice of large shopping centers, which allows them to sell off goods that will be irrelevant next year.

Shops and markets

When it comes to products, liqueurs will come first. This could be the already named “Old Tallinn” or the more exotic “Kännu Kukk”. Secondly, sweets: you can choose Kalev chocolate or marzipan. In addition, sprats and cheese are brought from Estonia.

More practical people will like local textiles. They will have a choice of knitted wool items or linen items. Cute hats with ears and pom-poms, scarves, socks or elegant ponchos - everything that women love so much is here. Fans of the local brand Ivo Nikkolo should visit the brand stores in Tallinn or Pärnu.

Ceramics or glass - souvenirs made from these materials are very fragile, but invariably in demand. Plates and cups with national patterns, figurines of animals and people, vases, glasses and other items can become a beautiful decorative element or a reminder of friendly Estonia in your home.

And, of course, amber. The times when there was a lot of it here and prices were low have already passed, but it is quite possible to pick up an interesting souvenir or piece of jewelry at a reasonable price.

VAT refund (Tax Free)

Not all tourists know that part of the money spent can be returned. What is needed for this and how to do it? Firstly, this is only possible if the purchase was made in places marked Global Blue Tax Free Shopping, and you took a VAT refund form (the so-called Tax Free Form).

The form must be filled out in block letters and be sure to mark the store first, then customs. At the airport or VAT refund offices (Refund Office), in addition to the form, you will need to present unpacked goods and receipts.

The amount of goods must exceed 38 €; 20% of it will be returned - this is the VAT rate in Estonia - minus the administrative fee. However, you need to know that some goods are not subject to this rule, such as books, medicines and medical devices.

How much money should you take with you?

The amount required will depend on what you plan to buy. If we are talking only about small souvenirs for family members and friends, then you can easily get by with 200 €.

Below is an indicative list of prices for the most popular souvenirs:

liqueur - from 12 € / 0.5 l;
chocolate or marzipan – from 2 €;
cheese – from 6 €;
wool hat – from 20 €;
socks – from 12 €;
sweater – from 40-50 €;
cardigan – from 50 €;
magnets – from 6 €;
souvenir plates – from 10-15 €;
small amber brooch – from 30 €;
earrings – from 200 €.

Those who, in addition to souvenirs, also want to update their wardrobe will need a much larger sum, at least several thousand rubles. But those who want to buy jewelry should expect an even larger amount.

But again, it all depends on the appetite, which, as you know, comes with eating, so if you are a real shopaholic, don’t take it, it won’t be enough anyway.

I discovered Narva several years ago as an alternative to traveling to Finland. First there were trips to Tallinn, and then I looked closely at offers of one-day tours to Narva. They promised shopping, sightseeing and almost a second Lappeenranta, only closer, faster and cheaper. Closer - yes, cheaper - yes, but the economics of the tour are completely different. People go to Lappeenranta to get their visas processed, visit wholesale markets and buy fairy caviar fish. When I actively visited Narva (2014-2015), there were no wholesale markets or fish with caviar. Perhaps over time they will follow the Finnish scenario. I’ll warn you right away: Narva is more interesting from the point of view of shopping, rather than attractions.

What is the best way to get to Narva from St. Petersburg: minibus, bus, private car

There are too many companies offering one-day tours to Narva. Search the Internet, study the offers and choose. Everyone has different travel days and passenger collection points. As a rule, minibuses go to Narva. More precisely, they are not actually going to Narva itself, but to Ivangorod (a city on the border with Estonia, on the other side of the river from Narva). You can also get to Ivangorod by regular bus from the Bus Station on the Obvodny Canal. There is one caveat: this is the price of the trip. Minibuses take you there and back, the price for the tour is variable. Some companies offer last-minute prices if there is less than a day before the trip and there are several unsold tickets left. The price is reduced and you can ride there and back for 450-500 rubles. Travel time for minibuses is less: 2-2.5 hours. Regular buses have a fixed price of 380 rubles one way and travel time is almost 3.5 hours. In addition, minibuses drive up to the very checkpoint across the border with Estonia, and from a regular bus you will have to walk even further. Minibuses to Narva are faster and cheaper. You can also get to Narva / Ivangorod by private car. I didn't go there by car. If you have a green card, go through customs in your car. If you don’t have a green card, you leave the car in Ivangorod and walk across the bridge to Narva. The quality of the road surface in the Leningrad region towards the border is so-so. An example of a minibus to Narva (I don’t remember the carrier company):

My option: take a backpack/tote bag, maybe even grandma’s shopping cart. Everyone does this and then puts everything on the back platform of the minibus. And yes, minibuses run 99-100% full. Some have Wi-fi internet (up to a certain point). Usually they give you 6 hours for shopping in Narva: they arrive at the border at 10 am, and return at 16-17 pm. This time is enough for either hard non-stop shopping, or a softer version of shopping with a visit to one or two attractions. Oh, here's another thing: on tours they usually advertise that you can visit the Narva and Ivangorod fortresses. Forget about Ivangorodskaya (from the Russian side) - there simply won’t be time for it. I'm serious.

Customs in Narva on the border with Estonia - how long to go through, features of passage

To travel to Narva you must have a valid passport with a valid Schengen visa. Documents are checked first on the territory of Russia, then on the territory of Estonia. Checkpoints are located on opposite sides of the Narva River. The checkpoint is a pedestrian type, that is, they drop you off near the Russian customs, show you where the minibus will stand, tell you the deadline when you need to appear at the Estonian customs and the departure time of the minibus to St. Petersburg. The main thing is not to forget about the time difference, if there is one. Now in the summer of 2017 there is no time difference.

There are toilets at each checkpoint. Estonian customs officers speak Russian. In general, Narva is the most Russian Estonian city and there are no problems with the language at all. Everyone speaks Russian, and all the names are in Estonian. As a rule, no questions are asked. They put a stamp and see you in a few hours.

Some people cross the border on foot or by car across the bridge - a neutral zone. It is very windy and cold there in winter, spring and autumn. The brain freezes specifically.

It’s good for animals - they don’t need any documents or visas. They go back and forth. In the photo above, I recorded the moment when local mongrels fled from Estonia to Russia. Nobody stopped them.

How to get around in Narva

After crossing the border, the first question is: what should you use to get around Narva? During the minibus instruction, it is recommended to use a local taxi to travel between shopping centers. Yes, shopping centers are relatively far from each other, but I always moved on foot and managed to do everything. I didn't see any public transport. Narva, although the third largest city in Estonia, is still very small and everything is nearby when compared with St. Petersburg.

Attractions in Narva

The first place worth visiting in Narva immediately after crossing the border is the tourist information center (Narva Guest Service Center), which is located in the square immediately after exiting the Estonian customs on the left side. There you can take free maps of the city of Narva, get free advice from the center’s specialists - where to see, where to go + there you can also find many booklets with information about other tourist places in Estonia, spa resorts, etc. And here you can also buy souvenirs. The consultants speak Russian, the booklets are also in Russian. In general, I recommend it! Very nice service.

The main attraction of Narva is the Narva Fortress / Narva Castle. It’s nice to just take a walk here on a fine day (but it’s very windy), you can visit the castle itself, but I didn’t remember anything about the castle itself, to be honest.

There is also a monument to the villain who destroyed Russia.

And his hut.

Near the castle in the surrounding area there is a fountain and an iron tree for newlyweds.

The second main attraction is the Lutheran Alexander Church.

Nothing interesting inside. This is a working cathedral.

You can go up to the observation deck via a spiral staircase or by elevator. Entrance to the church is free, you only need to pay for going upstairs.

From the narrow windows of the tower there is a view of Narva and Ivangorod.

I also visited the Art Gallery - it is located on the other side of the Narva Castle and the Alexander Church, you will have to walk there. On weekdays there are few people in the above places - I like it. In order not to spend a lot of money on entry, you can buy a comprehensive ticket for everything at once (except for the church). A comprehensive ticket costs 7 euros for adults, 3.5 euros for students.

The architecture of Narva will not amaze you with its diversity. During the war and during the Soviet years, many historical buildings were irretrievably lost. What's left is all that's left, everything else is gray, scary panels. I photographed something more beautiful

Shopping centers in Narva and what to buy. Casino

The main thing worth going to Narva for is shopping! Before the jump in the euro exchange rate it was very profitable, but now it’s not so profitable. Only if you want quality goods. The biggest inconvenience for Russian tourists in Narva shops is that price tags are only in Estonian. Well, that is, you will see that this is cheese, and this is sausage. But there are 50 types of cheese there, and if you don’t speak Estonian, it will be almost impossible to understand what the difference is between them - you need to ask sales consultants.

The largest shopping center in Narva is Astri. It opened recently. This is the most diverse shopping center in terms of assortment + it has a cinema. I advise you to pay attention to the Ideaal cosmetics store. There are big discounts on perfumes and you can grab originals at an attractive price.

Fama shopping center. There is a Rimi grocery supermarket, a pharmacy, clothing stores, etc. In Rimi you can buy cheeses and sausages - real ones, not our surrogates.

Tempo Shopping Center. There is nothing special about it, a small shopping center of local importance. Don't waste your time.

Grocery supermarket Maxima XX is a competitor to Rimi. You can visit in search of great deals and discounts.

Shopping center Narva Centrum. Located next to Astri. No problem, you don’t have to go there. Very similar to our kiosk shopping centers.

Hypermarket Prisma. But definitely come here! Huge selection of goods, low prices, large area, few buyers. It is located far from other shopping centers, so it is better to start grocery shopping from here, but this is my personal opinion.

Narva is more suitable for purchasing quality food products. There is a small range of brands for clothing. Perhaps, if you catch discounts, you can overstock with junk. 5-6 hours is enough to visit several supermarkets and relax, walking a little around the grounds of Narva Castle or along the river promenade. There won't be a single free minute! When purchasing groceries, you must keep in mind the list of products and goods prohibited from being transported across the border. As a rule, these are cigarettes and alcohol in large quantities, raw meat and fish. Every year something changes, look for a list of prohibitions and restrictions on the Internet. In addition, the minibus driver will definitely tell you about the restrictions on the way from St. Petersburg to Narva.

3. inexpensive round trip travel if you look hard enough;

4. everyone speaks Russian, it turns out Russian abroad;

5. the city is constantly and actively improving within the framework of special EU programs;

6. everything is close, within walking distance;

7. fast and trouble-free border crossing.

I didn’t have any negative moments in Narva, although they say that the Russian population of Narva likes to drink and behaves aggressively. I recommend it and give it five stars! Also read my great review about Istanbul

Sincerely, Andy Goldred

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