Could there be a more iconic image of eastern Europe than the awe-inspiring architectural ensemble of Moscow’s Red Square? The brash, exciting and oil-rich capital of Russia (Россия) is a must on any trip to the region.
St Petersburg, on the Baltic coast, is another stunner. The former imperial capital is still Russia’s most beautiful and alluring city, with its grand Italianate mansions, wending canals and enormous Neva River. Also make time for Veliky Novgorod, home to an ancient stone fortress and many fresco-decorated churches. Emulating the tourist-friendly nature of its Baltic neighbours is little Kaliningrad, wedged between Poland and Lithuania on the Baltic Sea. It’s a fascinating destination, combining all the best elements of its enormous mother.
Visa red tape deters many travellers from visiting – don’t let it keep you from experiencing the incredible things to see and do in the European part of the world’s largest country.
COUNTRY FACTS
Area 17,098,242 sq km
Capital Moscow
Country Code 7
Currency Rouble (R)
Emergency Ambulance 03, emergency assistance 112, fire 01, police 02
Language Russian
Money Plenty of ATMs, most accepting foreign cards
Population 143.8 million
Visas Required by all – apply at least a month in advance of your trip
ACCOMMODATION
There has been a boom in budget-friendly hostels in both Moscow and St Petersburg, and if you're on a budget you'll want to consider these – even if you typically don't 'do' hostels, most offer a few private rooms.
In hostels you're looking at R600 to R1000 for a dorm bed, and R2500 for a private room with a shared bathroom. Elsewhere hotel rooms with a bathroom start at about R3000. At the other end of the spectrum the sky is the limit, but figure on at least R10,000 for top-end accommodation in Moscow and St Petersburg (quite a bit less elsewhere).
MONEY
The Russian currency is the rouble, written as 'рубль' and abbreviated as 'руб' or 'р'. Roubles are divided into 100 almost worthless kopeki(kopecks). Coins come in amounts of R1, R2, R5 and R10 roubles, with banknotes in values of R10, R50, R100, R500, R1000 and R5000.
ATMs that accept all major credit and debit cards are everywhere, and most restaurants, shops and hotels in major cities gladly accept plastic. You can exchange dollars and euros (and some other currencies) at most banks; when they're closed, try the exchange counters at top-end hotels. You may need your passport. Note that crumpled or old banknotes are often refused. Many banks cash travellers cheques for a small commission.
ESSENTIAL FOOD & DRINK
Russia’s rich black soil provides an abundance of grains and vegetables used in a wonderful range of breads, salads, appetisers and soups. Its waterways yield a unique range of fish and, as with any cold-climate country, there’s a great love of fat-loaded dishes – Russia is no place to go on a diet!
Soups For example, the lemony, meat solyanka or the hearty fish ukha.
Bliny (pancakes) Served with ikra (caviar) or tvorog (cottage cheese).
Salads A wide variety usually slathered in mayonnaise, including the chopped potato Olivier.
Pelmeni (dumplings) Stuffed with meat and eaten with sour cream and vinegar.
Central Asian dishes Try plov (Uzbek pilaf), shashlyk (kebab) or lagman(noodles).
Vodka The quintessential Russian tipple.
Kvas A refreshing, beerlike drink, or the red berry juice mix mors.
SAFE TRAVEL
Travellers have nothing to fear from Russia's 'mafia' – the increasingly respectable gangster classes are not interested in such small fry. However, petty theft and pickpockets are prevalent in both Moscow and St Petersburg, so be vigilant with your belongings.
Some police officers can be bothersome, especially to dark-skinned or foreign-looking people. Other members of the police force target tourists, though reports of tourists being hassled about their documents and registration have declined. Still, you should always carry a photocopy of your passport, visa and registration stamp. If you are stopped for any reason – legitimate or illegitimate – you will surely be hassled if you don't have these.
Sadly, racism is a problem in Russia. Be vigilant on the streets around Hitler's birthday (20 April), when bands of right-wing thugs have been known to roam around spoiling for a fight with anyone who doesn't look Russian.
TELEPHONE
The international code for Russia is 7. The international access code from landline phones in Russia is 8, followed by 10 after the second tone, followed by the country code.
The three main mobile-phone companies, all with prepaid and 4G internet options, are Beeline (www.beeline.ru), Megafon (www.megafon.ru)and MTS (www.mts.ru). Company offices are everywhere. It costs almost nothing to purchase a SIM card, but bring your passport.
Local telecom rules mean mobile calls or texts from your 'home' city or region to another city or region are more expensive – essentially long-distance calls/texts. So active callers should consider purchasing a Moscow SIM while in Moscow, and a St Petersburg SIM while in St Petersburg.
To dial another area code (mobile or land line), dial 8 plus 10 digits. Mobile numbers have 10 digits, always starting with 9 – often 915, 916 or 926. Mobile numbers are written in the following format: 8-9xx-xxx xxxx.
VISAS
Everyone needs a visa to visit Russia. For most travellers a tourist visa (single- or double-entry, valid for a maximum of 30 days) will be sufficient. If you plan to stay longer than a month, you can apply for a business visa or – if you are a US citizen – a three-year multi-entry visa.
Applying for a visa is undeniably a headache, but the process is actually quite straightforward. There are three stages: invitation, application and registration.
Invitation
To obtain a visa, everyone needs an invitation, also known as 'visa support'. Hotels and hostels will usually issue anyone staying with them an invitation voucher free or for a small fee (typically around €20 to €30). If you are not staying in a hotel or hostel, you will need to buy an invitation – this can be done through most travel agents or via specialist visa agencies, also for around €20.
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