Travel Tips

Foreigners should be in possession of valid passport and Russian visa in case there are no special non-visa agreements between your county and Russian Federation.

Upon entering the country please follow the customs regulations and declare all the necessary items as per the local customs rules.

There are 11 time zones in Russia, the difference  between Moscow \ St. Petersburg and Greenwich time is +3 hours. Air tickets indicate the time of departure in local time.

National Holidays:

31 December – New Year Day

07 January – Orthodox Christianity

23 February – Russian Army Day

March or April \non-fixed\ – Easter Day

08 March – International Women’s’ Day 

01 May – Labour Day

12 June – Independence Day

4th November – National Unanimity  Day 

Working hours Monday-Friday: 

Offices 9.00 AM - 06.00 PM

Service bureaus 09.00 AM - 10.00 PM

Russian monetary unit is Rouble. 

Current rate of exchange 63 Rbls per 1 euro \ 60 Rbls per 1 USD. 

Notes of 10,50,100, 500 and 1 000 are used as well as 1Rbl, 5 Rbls, 10Rbls coins, 50 Kopeika\half of Rbl\ 10 kopeika -  1/10 part of Rbl. 

Exchange rates between the roubles and hard currency is set by authorized Russian Banks. 

Daily exchange rate you can find in all the Exchange Bureaus in the hotels, airports, exchange offices. 

Tipping is not a must and guests should not feel obliged but many visitors use the tipping as a way to show appreciation for a job well done and this is certainly acceptable.

The best stores are centrally located in Moscow / Red Square, GUM Department store, Manege Square, Arbat Street etc/ and St. Petersburg / Nevski Prospect, St. Isaac Square, Gostini Dvor. 

Main stores are open from 10.00am till 9.00pm.Food stores 8.00am-9.00pm

Many food stores are open now 24 hours a day

Electricity – home voltage is 220 V. European type plugs are required.

Insurance – it is recommended to purchase travel insurance before departing for Russia

The tariffs for postal services are in local currency and postal offices are open in the hotels

Automatic telephone service is from the lobby of the hotels and to switch the telephone in your room you need to leave a deposit in the reception of hotel.

Medical treatment – First aid is provided free of charge.

In Moscow and St. Petersburg there are American medical Centers and European Medical Centers. Contacts are available in reception of hotels.

Transport – Metro is the most comfortable and fastest public transportation within a city. The fare of the journey irrespective of the distance is 61 Roubles \ about 90 cents \ per person today.

Stations are open from 06.00 AM and work till 01.00 AM

Tickets are also required for bus, trolleybus and tram. Cost of journey is 50 Rbls.

Taxis can booked with the hotel or you can try to hitch a lift. 

Do not get in a car with a stranger if you use a private car. 

Fix the price before you getting in.

Climate – intercontinental, four seasons:

Winter –December – February. Average temperature -10C or -15C snowy.

Spring – March – May. Average temperature  +5C – +18C,  rains and winds.

Summer – June – August. Average temperature +18C – +24C, hot and dry, may be rains and thunder thunder storms.

Autumn – September – November. Average temperature +15C – +3C. Rains and early snow in November.

Emergency phone numbers:

Fire Department – 01

Police Department – 02

Ambulance – 03

Immediate Assistance SOS – 112

Medical assistance:

St.Petersburg – Medem Clinic – tel +7 812 336 33 33, 6 Marata Street, American Medical Clinic–tel + 7 812 740 20 90  Address: 78, Moika Embankment

Moscow – European Medical Center – tel +7 495 933 66 55, Address: 5/1 Spiridnievski per

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