Russia is the country of vast landscapes, vibrant life, beautiful contrasts, and interesting people. Taking an immense space of 9000 kilometers from west to east and 5000 from north to south, being home to people of so many different nationalities and customs, Russia is often called a "bridge" between Europe and Asia, both geographically and sociologically. From the ancient times up to now, Russia has been changing and re-shaping itself, its boundaries, its culture. In the ancient times, the Slavs, Finn tribes, Tatars, had made their way through Russia, and this mix of many different nations and their traditions has defined the unique Russian character and culture.
Russia now, which makes it a very dynamic country with lots of energy and potential. There has never been time in the Russian history, when it was still or calm, always there would be something like a revolution, an economy crisis, a war, as if to make life less predictable, and, perhaps, more interesting too.
Visiting Russia, especially if you come by a plane, you'll see neverending forests and lakes, scattered among them, gleaming little churches in Moscow and impressive imperors' palaces in St. Petersburg, all the modern attributes of "capitalist" world and old relics of communist times, hip crowds of young people and old babushkas (old women) wearing big fur hats and coats in the snow. To us, it's all about this kind of differences, about constant change in
Everyone needs a visa to visit Russia and it’s likely to be your biggest single headache in organising a trip there – allow yourself at least a month before you travel to secure one. There are several types of visa, but for most travellers, a tourist visa (single or double entry and valid for a maximum of 30 days from the date of entry) will be sufficient and getting this should be relatively straightforward. If you plan on staying longer than a month, it’s advisable to apply for a business visa. Whatever visa you go for, the process has three stages – invitation, application and registration.
Astrakhan, the Caucasus parts of Northern European Russia and Tuva are slightly different; see each of these chapters for specific details. Also, there are a few regions and places in Russia that for security reasons you will not be granted a visa for.
Moscow public transportation is horrible and the city is immersed in the constant traffic jams, so don't even attempt to go overground during the peak hours (8 to 11 am and 5 to 8 pm). The only good thing about the city's transport is the famous Moscow metro, which is very efficient, fast, and is so beautiful it could well be a museum. Although, again, avoid using it in peak hours, otherwise you'll be squeezed in the train carriages like sardines. Another cool thing about Moscow that instead of using the buses you can hail any car on the street and it'll stop and give you a lift for money. Don't ask why it works – it's just a life-long tradition and it feels great. By the way, there's a great service from the local internet portal Yandex where you can see all Moscow traffic jams online (it's in Russian, but it's worth it, because you even got live video feeds at the key locations).
By Taxi
Many Moscow drivers are happy to go a little bit out of their way for a few extra rubles, so taxis are cheap and ubiquitous. Just stick your arm out on any big street and a driver will stop. Name your destination and then agree on a fare -- the better your Russian the lower the price. A five-minute ride is generally $3 to $5 and $12 to $20 should get you across the city. If you don't want to ride in a gypsy cab you can find more expensive registered taxis waiting around train stations, hotels and big intersections.
It's generally best to agree on the fare beforehand, as even the registered cabs rarely use meters (and when they do, it can sometimes be even more expensive). Use common sense when getting into a vehicle - if you don't like the look of someone, or don't want to get in a car with more than one person in it already, just say no and wait for the next one.
By Metro
Moscow's subway system is one of the most efficient and beautiful in the world. Stations in the center have enormous ceilings with opulent mosaics, chandeliers and statues. For most of the day trains run flawlessly every minute and a half or less.
In the center, no place is more than a 10-minute walk from a metro station, and stations are well distributed throughout the suburbs. Even if you plan on getting around by car while you're in Moscow, it's worth taking a ride on the metro just to gawk at the underground palaces.
Some of the most spectacular stations are on the circle line, but Arbatskaya on the dark blue line (there's a not-so-impressive Arbatskaya on the light blue line), Ploshchad Revolyutsii, Novoslobodskaya and Mayakovskaya are also worth a look.
If you're interested in the Moscow Metro, definitely have a look at metro.ru.
Climate
St Petersburg's climate is mild, though unpredictable. Winters are cold, with freezing winds and snowfall, and temperatures average about 9F to 10F (-13C to -12C) in January and February (the coldest months), sometimes dropping lower. June to August is usually the warmest time of year, though temperatures are still relatively low and average in the mid-60s Fahrenheit (about 20C). Summer tends to be the most popular time to travel to St Petersburg.
Moscow has a continental climate, typified by exceedingly cold, long winters and hot summers. In mid-summer, during July and August, temperatures are pleasantly warm, with occasionally hot spells, and humidity tends to be high. Winters differ drastically, with only about six hours of daylight in the middle of the season and temperatures recorded at way below freezing point. Winter snows start in October and the snow blanket persists well into spring. Moscow has little rainfall, most of its precipitation falling as snow.
Sightseeing
The beautiful country of Russia proudly displays numerous sightseeing attractions to its travelers. Sightseeing in Russia is really an interesting task in Russia. Sightseeing in Russia includes visiting places of historical significance, museums, parks and churches.
Sightseeing in Russia includes visiting its capital city, Moscow. This city is the capital city of Russia. There are many sightseeing attractions in Moscow which can be toured easily. Some of the popular sightseeing attractions of Moscow are:
Red Square: Located in the center of Moscow, the Red Square is toured by large number of tourists. This well-known Red Square is surrounded by StateHistoryMuseum, St. Basil’s Cathedral as well as by Lenin's Mausoleum.
Lenin Mausoleum is the other popular sightseeing attractions of the city. The Lenin Mausoleum requires no admission fee to enter the mausoleum.
St Petersburg can also be toured while you re on your Russia tour. The main attraction of Saint Petersburg is the HermitageMuseum. In this museum, you can admire works by such artists like, Rembrandt Reuben, Da Vinci and Michealangelo.
While on Russia you cannot afford to miss out the scope to see the Lake Baikal. This lake is the deepest freshwater lake across the globe. LakeBaikal which is the UNESCO World Heritage Site is toured by the visitors on a regular basis.
Time zone
GMT+4
Language
Russian, other regional languages, some English, French or German
Currency
The basic unit of the Russian currency is the rouble which consists of 100 kopeks. Notes come in 5, 10, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 denominations of rouble and coins are available in 1, 5, 10 and 50 kopeks and in 1, 2 and 5 roubles. Currency can be freely converted at banks, hotels and kiosks.
Below are given some pictures of Russian bank notes.
Essentials
Medical
International SOS Clinic
10th Floor, Polyclinic No. 1, 31 Grokholsky Pereulok, 129010 Moscow, 7-495-937-5760, Emergency Phone: (7-495) 937-6477, Contact: Maxine Ash, 937-5760
www.internationalsos.com
Electricity
Electric sockets are 230v and take 2 round pin plugs
Internet
Public access is available in hotels in larger cities and in Internet cafes
Useful Numbers
Emergency Services (Police): 02