Markets are one of life’s cheapest thrills. Whether you want hustle and bustle, a real Russian experience or a record-breaking bargain, you can find it at one of these Top 10 Moscow markets.

1. Izmailovskiy Park
THE place to get souvenirs. Lots of ethnicky stuff such as Vietnamese clothes, Indian rugs, and Morroccan thingamajigs. Russian stuff also abounds, such as matryoshka dolls and those dacha wall ornaments made of macaroni and amber.

2. Dannilovskiy Market
The building looks like a futuristic pinecone that’s been squashed in a vortex. In spite of that, this is a real farmer’s market, fragrant with fresh herbs and vegetables. Inside there’s a big butchery, flower stalls and more. You can also get bed linen and clothes.

3. Sadovod
This is the new name for the famous "Ptichny Pynok" (Bird Market), recently relocated outside of the city center. Come and see a whole menagerie of beasties. Beware: even if you can resist those pleading puppy-dog eyes it will be hard to leave without a furry or feathery friend tagging along.

4. Gorbushska
OK, so there have been some grumbles since the big bad crackdown on pirate gear (see last week’s Best & Worst). Even so, you can still get cheap CDs, MP3s, DVDs and videos. Plus there is a huge selection of home appliances downstairs.

5. Savyolovskaya
Take a day trip with the whole family. There’s a big indoor radio and computer market with some of the best deals in town. You can also find everything you’ll ever need for mothers-to-be, babies and kids in two adjacent buildings.

6. The Book Club
Pay your six rubles at the kassa (cashier’s) and walk into a huge warehouse selling all kinds of cheap books, puzzles, calendars, greeting cards, embroidery patterns, instruction manuals, art sets and school and office supplies.

7.Kievskiy
Say it with flowers… or a kitchen sink, or a budget 20-pack of Lucky Strikes – whatever you need you’ll find it here. There’s a great produce market here, too. Just remember to haggle!

8. Market Dinamo on Stankolit
It’s new, it’s huge and it’s just a stone’s throw away from Savyolovskaya. Not your typical market, more like Atrium without the waterfall. Here you can buy elitny (high-end) perfumes, fur coats, scarves, ball gowns and big labels at reduced prices.

9. Kashinskiy Dvor
Doing some remont (renovation)? Building a nuclear reactor in your backyard? Kashinsky Dvor has all the planks, paint, nuts and bolts for your private home repair. It’s also rumored to be the cheapest place in town.

10. Priobrazhinksiy
This has a reputation for being one of the best, if not the best, market for fresh fruits and vegetables. So, forget about the supermarket down the street and get the real stuff…at dirt-cheap prices!