Despite the fact that Russia is geographically divided into 2 parts - European and Asian, the way of life of Russian people is very similar to European. Russia is not a third world country, and the dashing 90s have long passed. Russia is a civilized country, and every foreign tourist can feel safe here.
We would like to give you some useful tips before traveling to Russia so that your stay in our country is as comfortable as possible.
The official currency in Russia is the Russian ruble. All prices in stores and any public places are indicated in rubles. The exchange rate of the Russian ruble against foreign currencies varies slightly, but averages 65 Russian rubles per 1 US dollar and 72 Russian rubles per 1 euro.
We recommend taking plastic cards and some cash with you on your trip. Debit cards are the most popular in Russia, so bring this type of cards and 1 credit card just in case.
You can exchange cash at a currency exchange office, which is available in almost all public places. Take your time and do not change all cash at the airport, as there is the least favorable exchange rate.
Plastic cards are accepted in almost all stores, cafes and restaurants, museums and exhibitions, with the exception of small shops, souvenir shops, where you can pay only in cash.
Many people think that Russia is constantly cold. This is actually not true. Although the warm summer weather does not last so long (usually from mid-May to the end of August), the summers are quite warm.
If you intend to visit Russia in summer, you should take along ordinary summer clothes, a light jacket and a sweater in case it is cool in the evening.
It is standard for locals to carry a passport with them everywhere. But we recommend to make 2 copies of passport and visa for foreign guests. If you are not going to take a long-distance train (for example, Sapsan, using which you can go from St. Petersburg to Moscow and return back during the same day), you will only need a copy of your passport and visa with you. Leave your passport and a second copy in the safe at the hotel.
Remember! When boarding a train or a plane, the passport presentation is required.
It should be noted that roaming in Russia is quite expensive. Therefore, we recommend connecting a Russian SIM card with a packet of Internet traffic and calls. In any case, check your operator’s tariffs before traveling to Russia. And when connecting a Russian SIM card, check with your service provider how much calls to your country will cost.
