Passport Valid for at least 6 months beyond your planned departure date. A blank page for entry stamps is required.

Visa Most nationals need a visa. Russia offers e-visas for citizens of certain countries (check official site). Tourist visa: invitation (voucher) from a hotel or tour operator is required. Check visa requirements.

• Registration: If staying more than 7 business days, you must register your visa at the local migration office (hotels usually do this for you).
• Additional: International Driving Permit (IDP) recommended; proof of health insurance required for visa.
• Digital copies: Keep scans of passport, visa, and insurance in your email/cloud.

Official sources: Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs · Consular Department.

Mandatory No mandatory vaccinations for entry, but yellow fever certificate required if arriving from an endemic area.

Recommended Routine vaccines: MMR, DTaP, varicella, polio. Also consider hepatitis A & B, tick-borne encephalitis (especially in forested regions in summer).

• Travel health insurance is mandatory for visa and highly recommended. Ensure it covers medical evacuation.
• Medical care in Moscow and St. Petersburg is good; in rural areas, facilities are basic. Private clinics (e.g., MEDSI, European Medical Center) are western-standard.

Links: WHO · CDC Russia.

Current situation Check U.S. State Department or UK FCDO for latest updates. Since 2022, many governments advise against travel to Russia due to the war in Ukraine and arbitrary enforcement of laws.

• Crime: Be vigilant in tourist areas, train stations, and on public transport. Avoid carrying large sums of cash.
• Regional risks: Border areas with Ukraine, Chechnya, and North Caucasus should be avoided.
• Emergency plan: Save embassy numbers, local police (102), and your accommodation address in Russian.

Official travel advisories: Ireland · Australia.

• Police: 102
• Ambulance: 103
• Fire brigade: 101
• Emergency (general): 112 (works in most regions)
• Mountain rescue: 101 / 112
• Poison control: +7 (495) 628-16-87 (Moscow)
• Breakdown assistance: Russian Service or contact your rental company.

Ministry of Interior: mvd.ru (in Russian).

US Embassy in Moscow: Bolshoy Devyatinsky Lane, 8 · ru.usembassy.gov · +7 (495) 728-5000

UK Embassy Moscow: Smolenskaya Naberezhnaya, 10 · gov.uk/.../british-embassy-moscow · +7 (499) 703-1100

German Embassy Moscow: Mosfilmovskaya Str. 56 · russland.diplo.de · +7 (495) 937-9500

French Embassy Moscow: Bolshaya Yakimanka, 45 · ru.ambafrance.org · +7 (495) 937-1500

🔍 Full list of embassies and consulates in Russia

Russia is the world's largest country, spanning 11 time zones and two continents. Its history is a tapestry of Tsarist empires, Soviet rule, and a modern federation. Today, Russia is a federal semi-presidential republic with a mixed economy driven by oil, gas, and minerals.

• Political system: Federal semi-presidential republic.
• Main income: Oil, gas, minerals, machinery, arms.
• Nature: Lake Baikal (world's deepest), Kamchatka volcanoes, Siberian taiga, and the steppes.

Russian society is known for its rich literary and artistic heritage, with deep appreciation for classical music, ballet, and literature. Official Tourism Website · Kremlin.

Climate Mostly continental: cold winters, warm summers. Arctic north, subarctic, and subtropical in the Black Sea coast.

• Winter (Dec–Feb): -10°C to -30°C in Moscow/Siberia; pack down jacket, thermals, hat, gloves.
• Summer (Jun–Aug): 15°C to 30°C; light clothes, but a raincoat is useful.
• Rainy season: Summer months see heavier rainfall in many regions.
• Clothing: Layering is key. In churches and monasteries, cover shoulders and knees.

Weather forecast Moscow.

Official Russian. English is spoken in tourist areas, but not widely in rural regions.

• Useful phrases: Zdravstvuyte (hello), Spasibo (thanks), Pozhaluysta (please), Izvinite (excuse me), Vy govorite po-angliyski? (do you speak English?)
• Mentality: Direct but polite; Russians value sincerity and may seem reserved initially.
• Religion: Russian Orthodox Christianity (majority), also Islam, Buddhism, Judaism.
• Internet/Wi-Fi: Free Wi-Fi in many cafes, hotels. Local SIM: MTS, Megafon, Beeline — bring your passport for registration.

Voltage 220 V · Frequency 50 Hz

Plug types C (Europlug) and F (Schuko). German/Swiss/Austrian plugs fit without adapter.

• Adapter needed? No, for most European devices (Type C/F).
• Converter? Not needed for 220 V devices. For US 110 V devices, a step-down converter is required.

Currency Russian Ruble (RUB, ₽). Current exchange rate.

• Cash: Widely used, especially outside major cities. ATMs available (Sberbank, VTB, etc.) — many accept Visa/Mastercard (though some have restrictions).
• Cards: Visa, Mastercard, and MIR (Russian system). Since 2022, some foreign cards may not work; have cash as backup.
• Price level: Medium to low compared to Western Europe (restaurants, transport are affordable).
• Tipping: 10–15% in restaurants; some places include service charge.

Airports Moscow: Sheremetyevo (SVO), Domodedovo (DME), Vnukovo (VKO); St. Petersburg: Pulkovo (LED).

• Rail: RZD (Russian Railways) — rzd.ru — for the famous Trans-Siberian Railway.
• Public transport: Metro in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod — efficient and beautiful.
• Taxis: Use Yandex.Taxi or Uber Russia. Official taxi apps are safest.
• Fares: Metro ~₽60; taxi within Moscow ~₽400–800.

Aeroflot · Russian Railways.

Hotel types From luxury (Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons) to mid-range (Marriott, Hilton) and budget (Ibis, hostels).

• Hostels: Available in major cities (e.g., St. Petersburg, Moscow).
• Apartments: Booking.com, Airbnb (limited), and local sites like Sutochno.
• Safety: Most hotels are safe; keep valuables in in-room safes.
• Opening hours: Shops 10:00–22:00; supermarkets often until 23:00 or 24/7.

Must-try dishes Borscht (beet soup), Pelmeni (dumplings), Blini (pancakes), Shashlik (kebabs), Olivier salad (Russian potato salad), Pirozhki (stuffed pastries).

• Drinks: Vodka, Kvas (fermented bread drink), Russian tea (with jam), and mors (berry juice).
• Street food: Chebureki, baked potatoes, and blini with various fillings.
• Tap water: Not recommended — buy bottled water.
• Hygiene: Street food is generally safe, but check for freshness.

Time zone UTC+3 (Moscow) to UTC+12 (Kamchatka). Moscow is 1–2 hours ahead of most of Europe (CET+2).

• Public holidays 2026: 1–2 Jan (New Year), 7 Jan (Orthodox Christmas), 23 Feb (Defender of Fatherland Day), 8 Mar (Women's Day), 1 May (Spring and Labour Day), 9 May (Victory Day), 12 Jun (Russia Day), 4 Nov (Unity Day).
• Closing days: Many shops close on New Year's, Victory Day, and Russia Day.

Russian holiday calendar.

Cities & places Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan, Sochi, Vladivostok, Lake Baikal, Golden Ring towns.

• Cultural: Kremlin & Red Square, Hermitage Museum, Peterhof Palace, Tretyakov Gallery, St. Basil's Cathedral.
• History: Kolomenskoye, Kazan Kremlin, Kizhi Island (wooden churches).
• Nature: Lake Baikal, Altai Mountains, Kamchatka volcanoes, Sochi National Park.
• Excursions: Trans-Siberian railway journey, boat trips on Neva River, walking tours in Moscow.

Official tourism · Hermitage Museum.

Nightlife Moscow and St. Petersburg have vibrant nightlife: clubs, bars, live music, and rooftop lounges.

• Clubs: Propaganda, Gazgolder, Gipsy (Moscow); Mishka, The Hat (St. Petersburg).
• Festivals: White Nights (St. Petersburg, June), Moscow International Film Festival, Spasskaya Tower Military Music Festival, Maslenitsa (Pancake Week).
• Classical: Bolshoi Theatre, Mariinsky Theatre.

Event calendar.

• Official Tourism Website Russia
• Kremlin Official Site
• Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• RT (Russia Today) · TASS news agency
• Google Maps — Russia
• YouTube — Russia travel & documentaries
• Google News — Russia