General Information:

Passport and Visas

1. Foreigners should be in possession of a valid national internal or foreign passport for entry and exit from Russia or for transit through Russia.
2. Foreigners can enter and leave Russia or travel by transit with or without a visa.
   Russian entry and exit visas are issued by Russian Consulates and Consular Depar-tments of Russian Embassies abroad.
   
   

   To obtain a visa, the following documents should be presented to the Consular Office: a valid passport, duly completed visa application, three recent passport photos (3x4 cm); a letter from the travel agency and a copy of Intourist notice confirming the booking of tourist services – to secure a tourist visa. a ticket (or a voucher for a ticket) with confirmed dates and itinerary of transit travel through Russia, as well as a letter from the travel agency with Intourist’s confirmation of services provided on arrival and departure, transfer and excursions in the points reserved by the client – to secure a transit visa. a written invitation from an organization or relatives (friends), located or residing in Russia – to get an ordinary (guest) visa.

   
   The above mentioned documents should be presented in advance to the Russian Consulate in your country, in accordance with the rules established by them.
3. For transit through Russia en route to and from Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakh-stan, Kyrgyzstan, Tadzhikistan and Uzbe-kistan, foreigners should be in possession of a valid visa for travel to one of the above mentioned states.
4. For transit through Russia en route to and from Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Ukraine, Moldova, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and other foreign states, foreigners should be in possession of a transit visa for both parts of the journey.
   Such transit visas are issued by the Russian Consulates to travellers possessing a valid visa to the above mentioned countries, unless no other formalities are observed by interstate agreements.
5. No visa is required for foreign tourists travelling as cruise passengers on board foreign ships or ships registered in Russian ports and going ashore in Russian ports if they are in possession of a valid national internal or foreign passport, and on condition that:
   
   

   the stop in the port of call does not exceed 48 hours; travellers stay overnight on board the cruise ship and leave the port on board the same ship.

6. Visas for entry to the states of the former USSR can be obtained in Consular Offices of the newly independent states abroad or through the embassies of these states in Moscow.
   More detailed information on visa requirements can be obtained in Consular Offices of Russia abroad.

Time

Climate

Tourists should be advised of the following average temperatures (Centigrade) in places of their itineraries:

National Holidays and Festivals in Russia

Working Hours

Tipping

Tipping is not required in Russia and no one should feel obliged to do so. However, many visitors use tipping as a way to show appreciation for a job well done and this is certainly acceptable.
Such gestures are voluntary and at the sole discretion of the visitor.

Currency Regulations

The Russian monetary unit is the rouble. There is no limit to the amount of foreign currency allowed to be brought into Russia. However, all money brought into the country (including traveller’s checks) must be declared upon entering the country. In Russia, tourists can exchange any amount of hard currency for roubles at any of the following locations: authorized Russian banks, Intourist exchange offices or foreign currency offices located in major hotels, international airports and sea ports.
Exchange rates between the rouble and hard currencies are set by authorized Russian banks within Russia and by authorized banks within each of the independent republics. It is prohibited to take roubles out of Russia.
All major credit cards are accepted in Russia including American Express, Diners Club, Eurocard/Mastercard, Visa International and others.

Shopping

The best stores for shopping in Moscow are the GUM State Department Store on Red Square, Detsky Mir (Children’s World), Passazh Shopping Center on Petrovka Street and recently opened Manezh Shopping Center on The Manezh square. Such traditional Russian souvenirs as matryoshka dolls, Palekh boxes and shawls can be bought in numerous shops on Arbat street and Izmailovo Park. All payments are made in roubles.
Working hours for food stores are from 8-9 a.m. to 8-9 pm, for department stores – from 10-11 a.m. to 7-8 p.m.
Most department stores are closed on Sundays.

Russian Cuisine

Russian food is famous for its meat dishes, ukha (fish soup), shchi (cabbage soup), pokhlyobka (thick broth), okroshka (cold vegetable soup), bliny (pancakes) with sour cream or caviar, cabbage pie, and beef a la Stroganoff. Siberia is known for its pelmeni (dumplings). Tea with lemon is the traditional Russian beverage.

Entertainment

Theater, concerts, folklore performances, circus can be visited by tourists in big cities. Also numerous restaurants, bars, casinos and night clubs are also available. All information of evening entertainments in Moscow can be obtained at Intourist Travel Service Bureau or Intourist desks at the hotels.

Mail and Telephone Services

The tariff for postal services and international and local telephone service on the territory of Russia is in roubles. Major hotels have post office facilities. Automatic dial telephone service is available in most areas of Russia. Tourists can dial directly from their room phone or from special pay phones in the lobby.

Insurance

It is recommended to purchase travel insurance before departing for Russia and the CIS or to buy insurance from a CIS insurance company.

Health care and Medical Services

Currently, there are no medical restrictions for entry into Russia. More detailed information is available in local health offices.
First aid is provided free of charge if the tourist does not require a doctor or hospitalization.
In an emergency, the unused part of the cost of the tour will be used to pay any hospital bills. If the cost of the stay in hospital exceeds the unused part of the tour, then the tourist is responsible for the remainder of the bill.

Handicapped

Mentally or physically handicapped persons are welcome to travel in Russia if accompanied by a person to cater for them.

Electric Current

The electric current in Russia is 220V. European type plugs are required.

Transport

The Metro is the most comfortable and fastest public transportation within a city. The fare for metro journey irrespective of distance in any city is flat. In Moscow passengers buy special travel cards for one, two or more trips in the vestibule of the metro station, put in a turnsstile and pass through when the light turns green.
Tickets are required for bus, trolleybus and train journeys.
One ticket must be validated for each journey. It is best to purchase tickets prior to boarding, but they can also be purchased directly from the driver once you are on board.
If you need to get a taxi you can either order it at your hotel or hail in the street. Taxis are normally yellow with chekers.
Green light indicates availability of the taxi.