Russia, the world’s largest nation, borders European and Asian countries as well as the Pacific and Arctic oceans. It is a country of contrasts, from great subtropical beaches to bitterly cold winter regions in the north. The east may have fewer people, but its lovely cities are among the most popular places to visit in Russia and can hold their own against the west. Russia is steeped in history everywhere a traveler goes, from vicious battles to great classical music and literature. And almost everywhere visitors can see examples of magnificent art, not only in museums but also in its churches. It’s famous for Moscow's Bolshoi and St. Petersburg's Mariinsky ballet companies. St. Petersburg, founded by Russian leader Peter the Great, has the baroque Winter Palace, now housing part of the State Hermitage Museum’s art collection.
Russians consider themselves a well-educated nation. They read a lot, and will be very surprised if you tell them you have not read Pushkin or Tolstoy! Books in Russia are cheap, and most people can afford to buy 5-10 books a month without serious damage to the family budget. Russians are also very fond of live performances at the theatre, and since tickets are affordable (the prices in cinemas and theatres are comparable), a stunning range of options is available to everyone, including opera, symphony concerts, musicals, ballet, drama, etc.
Every city has at least one theatre. The theatre culture was developed during Soviet times when tickets were sold through schools and businesses: cities were divided into neighbourhoods and there was a theatre agent responsible for each particular neighbourhood. Nowadays, there is a growing variety in the types of theatre performances available, extending from Russian plays and Shakespeare, to gypsies and contemporary interpretations, and everything imaginable in between. Cinemas are becoming more and more popular in Russia and today they are equipped with the latest sound systems.
Every city has at least one theatre. The theatre culture was developed during Soviet times when tickets were sold through schools and businesses: cities were divided into neighbourhoods and there was a theatre agent responsible for each particular neighbourhood. Nowadays, there is a growing variety in the types of theatre performances available, extending from Russian plays and Shakespeare, to gypsies and contemporary interpretations, and everything imaginable in between. Cinemas are becoming more and more popular in Russia and today they are equipped with the latest sound systems.
This information has been compiled for your reference in good faith but please use this only as a general guide.
We advise you to check with relevant authorities with regard to the latest requirement for passport, visa, travel advisory, entry restrictions, health requirements, local currency etc as these are subjected to change with without prior notice and our information given below may not be as updated.
Best time to go: The peak season for travelling to Russia is May through October. This is best time to visit the country and admire its beauty. However, during this period the main tourist routes and attractions are rather crowded and sometimes even difficult to access. So the best time to visit Russia is in the inter-seasons like late spring (mid August) and early fall (mid September to mid October).
The village of Suzdal is only 15 square kilometers but has an incredible 53 churches.
Visa: To enter the Russian Federation, foreigners must have valid visas. These can be obtained by submitting completed visa application form to Embassy of the Russian Federation in New Zealand. Visa can be applied for Single-entry valid for one visit to Russia with the specified dates of arrival and departure and Double-entry visa is issued for two entries. (Please contact Embassy of the Russian Federation in New Zealand for more details)
Currency: Currency of Russia is Ruble and bank notes come in denominations of 10, 50, 100, 1000, 5000 RUB. There are also rouble coins of 1, 2, 10, 50 kopecks. In Russia cash is used more often than cards. Credit cards are only used in some major cities. Therefore, it is advisable to carry cash only once you enter smaller towns. Traveller cheques are also used in Russia. USD and Euros can be easily exchanged at Hotels or banks. You may have difficulty in changing NZ Dollar; hence it is advisable to carry US Dollars or Euros from home.
Russia has the world’s largest area of forests.
Health: There is no need for precautionary vaccination for Russia but it is recommended to check the latest conditions with your doctor while planning your trip as you may experience a major change in climate, food and environment. You can carry your own medications with their prescriptions translated into Russian. Make sure that you have adequate health insurance, as medical care can be very expensive in Russia.
Air quality in Moscow varies and can worsen in certain weather conditions.
Subbotnik is the day when residents of Russian cities volunteer to sweep up and tidy the streets. It started after the revolution but still happens today.
Food and drinks: Contemporary Russian cuisine is truly delicious. It is also healthy because it mostly relies on naturally grown ingredients. Staple Russian food features lots of fish, mushrooms and berries. Popular Russian foods include blini- also known as pancakes, pelmeni are seasoned meat dumplings, borsch is a very famous Russsian soup and salads. Sweet or salted, pirozhki are probably the most popular Russian street food. These baked dough buns are usually stuffed with meat, rice, mushrooms, vegetables.
Beer was not considered an alcoholic beverage in Russia until 2013.
Safety & security: Like in any other part of the world, a few precautions need to be taken to avoid any problems. Please do not leave your bags unattended at any times. Please use safe deposit in your hotel room or Reception to keep your money or valuables including passport. When you leave the room, it is recommended that you lock your suitcase. It is also recommended to carry a copy of your passport including the visa page.
Russia has a very high literacy rate – with 99.7%
Clothing: In Russia carrying clothes will depend upon what time of the year you are visiting the country. It is convenient to carry some warm light clothes for summers. Since summers often have many rainy days, it is advisable to carry an umbrella or a raincoat.
For winters, you need to carry a good hat, a good coat, a scarf, gloves and boots for the snow. Home interiors are very well conditioned for the cold.
For women, it is important to always carry a scarf since it is possible that to enter some churches it is necessary to cover their shoulders or head. In some churches men are not allowed to enter in shorts.
Russia shares a border with 14 countries
Language: Russian is the official language of Russia. In major cities people have some knowledge of English, even if they don’t speak fluently. The younger generations are more likely to speak English than the older generation. A very small percentage of the people also speak German and French.
Moscow has more billionaires per capita than anywhere else in the world.
Gratuities: In Russia it is common to tip around 15% of the total bill amount. Restaurant waiters, Hotel Bell Boys, guides and taxi drivers expect some gratuities. There is no need to tip restaurants with no waiters.
Russian’s will never shake hands over a doorway. It is believed to be a bad omen and most Russians are convinced the action will lead to an argument
Airport tax: Generally your international air ticket should include airport tax on international departure.
Moscow has the 3rd busiest metro in the world.
Internet: Internet is common in hotel rooms and a lot of hotels also have internet facilities at their Reception or Business Centre for use by guests at a small fee. Cyber cafes are available in the city in main shopping streets at very reasonable costs
The Russian State Library in Moscow is the largest library in Europe and the 2nd largest library in the world, after the Library of Congress.
Telephone: Russia has a dialling code of 007 from New Zealand. Telephone numbers of Hotels arranged by us will be supplied to you in your itinerary. While calling New Zealand from Russia, you will need to dial +64.
The Trans-Siberian Railway crosses 8 time zones, goes through 87 cities and towns, and crosses 16 rivers including the Volga.
Time Difference: New Zealand is 9 hours ahead of Russia from April to September and 10 hours ahead from October to March.
St. Petersburg has three times as many bridges as Venice.
Photography: Taking photos of airports, government buildings and military establishments are prohibited. Please avoid taking photos of local people without their permission.
If you spent 2 minutes looking at each exhibit in the Hermitage, it would take you 6 years to see everything.
Electricity: The standard electric current in Russia is 220V (50Hz) alternating current; round two pin plugs are standard. Hotels may have adapters available which you could borrow during your stay but it might be a good idea to carry one from home. Please visit this website for more information on plugs : http://kropla.com/electric2.htm
The village of Suzdal is only 15 square kilometers but has an incredible 53 churches.
Cities of interest:
Moscow
Moscow is the political, historical, architectural and business centre of Russia. It displays the country’s contrasts at their most extreme. It represents Russia of yesterday and Russia of today. Moscow is known as the world’s most expensive city. It is home to the culturally significant Tretyakov Gallery. It is the world’s most important museum of Russian art. Some of Moscow’s major tourist attractions include The Kremiln, which is a must-see for visitors. At Kremlin you can visit the Cathedral Square, that was once worshiped, also on display are the Tsar Cannon and Tsar Bell, two masterpiece of Russian past. Right outside the Kremlin is the famous Red Square. Some other places to visit are the Old Albert Street, Victoria Prak, State Tretyakov Gallery which is home to the best collection of Russian art, the Izmaylovo Market where you will find all Russian crafts, jewellery and antiques.
Saint Petersburg
Second largest city in Russia after Moscow and one of the world's most beautiful cities, St. Petersburg has all the ingredients for an unforgettable travel experience: high art, lavish architecture, wild nightlife, an extraordinary history and rich cultural traditions that have inspired and nurtured some of the modern world's greatest literature, music, and visual art. From the mysterious twilight of the White Nights to world-beating opera and ballet productions on magical winter evenings, St. Petersburg charms and entices in every season.
