The story begins with an introduction describing the Nevsky Prospekt and its population at different times of the day. The plot then splits to follow in turn two acquaintances, each of whom follows a beautiful woman whom he has seen on the street.

The first story told is of a young painter, Piskaryov, who follows a dark-haired woman to what turns out to be a brothel. Shocked at the woman's true nature, he flees. Back in his room he dreams of her as a woman of wealth and virtue. Living only for his dreams, he develops insomnia and turns to opium to restore his ability to sleep and to dream. After dreaming of the woman as his wife, he decides to marry her, but when he returns to the brothel to propose the woman mocks him. He returns to his lodging and cuts his throat.

The second story is of an officer, Lieutenant Pirogov, who follows a blonde woman to her home. She turns out to be the wife of a German tinsmith. Returning when the husband is out, Pirogov attempts to seduce the woman, but he is caught with the woman in his arms and is beaten. Pirogov is at first furious and determined to seek revenge, but he is mollified by eating puff pastries, reading a reactionary newspaper and spending an evening dancing. The story concludes with the narrator's warning that "Nevsky Prospect deceives at all hours of the day, but the worst time of all is at night... when the devil himself is abroad, kindling the street-lamps with one purpose only: to show everything in a false light."

Petersburg's novels.

The novels are combined using the place where they happen - St. Petersburg. Here lives poor, shy and unfortunate Bashmachkin ("Overcoat"); here the nose starts his own independent life, emphasizing his owner's worthlessness; here the artist sells his talent ("Portrait"), here on Nevsky prospect last hopes are dying...