Russia Essential Travel Information

ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS

U.S. citizens need a valid passport and visa to travel to Russia. To enter Russia, you need a visa and six months of validity beyond the conclusion of your trip remaining on your passport. Please verify the expiration date of your Russian visa, and leave Russia before your visa expires. Travelers should be careful not to stay beyond the date permitted on their visas to avoid difficulties when departing the country. Make sure that you have enough empty pages for entry and exit stamps in your passport to ensure your entry and exit.

 

Entry Visa

If you arrive in Russia without an entry visa, you will not be permitted to enter the country and could face immediate return to the point of embarkation at your own expense. A Russian visa is only valid for the dates listed on the visa and cannot be extended after the traveler has arrived in the country, except in the case of a medical emergency. To apply for a Russian visa online, log on to: http://visa.kdmid.ru.

 

For more updates and other information, please visit:

http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/country/russia.html.

 

Please note:  Each traveler is fully responsible for bringing and acquiring travel documents (e-tickets, hotel and travel vouchers, etc.) necessary for their itinerary. Suppose you are not a citizen of the United States. In that case, your entry requirements may vary. Please get in touch with the nearest diplomatic or consular office of the country or countries to be visited and obtain the specific requirements for entry.

ARRIVAL INFORMATION

Please refer to the instructions given in your itinerary confirmation.

Country Information

Capital: Moscow

Population: 142,021,981 (2022 est.)

Location: North Asia

Largest Cities: Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg

Religion: Russian Orthodox 15-20%, Muslim 10-15%, other Christian 2%

System of Government: Semi-Presidential Federation

Map of Russia

Time Zone

Russia operates under nine different time zones:

Further-eastern European Time Zone: Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), plus 3 hours.

Moscow Time Zone: Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), plus 4 hours.

Yekaterinburg Time Zone: Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), plus 6 hours.

Omsk Time Zone: Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), plus 7 hours.

Krasnoyarsk Time Zone: Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), plus 8 hours.

Irkutsk Time Zone: Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), plus 9 hours.

Yakutsk Time Zone: Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), plus 10 hours.

Vladivostok Standard Time: Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), plus 11 hours.

Magadan Time Zone: Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), plus 12 hours.

At 9:00 am in Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russia, it is:

  • Midnight the same day in New York- Eastern Standard Time (EST).
  • 11:00 pm the previous day in Chicago- Central Standard Time (CST).
  • 9:00 pm the previous day in San Francisco- Pacific Standard Time (PST).
  • 7:00 pm the previous day in Hawaii- Hawaii Aleutian Standard Time (HAST).

*Note: Add one hour to local time during Daylight Savings Time.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website is a good source of health information for travelers.

You should be up to date on routine vaccinations while traveling to any destination. Sightseeing may require, at minimum, the ability to walk at a moderate pace for a mile or two and the balance and agility necessary to climb stairs, enter and exit buses and boats, and navigate uneven or cobble-stoned streets. Some sightseeing stops do not have elevators or wheelchair access. Bring medications in their original, clearly labeled containers. A signed and dated letter from your physician describing your med­ical conditions and medications, including generic names, is also a good idea. If carrying syringes or needles, have a physician’s letter documenting their medical necessity. When on vacation, it is always wise to watch what you eat and drink and avoid drinking tap water while traveling. Most hotels will provide complimentary bottled water. You can purchase additional bottled water throughout your trip.

The currency in Russia is the Russian Ruble, which is made up of 100 kopeks. It is available in the following denominations: Banknotes: 10, 50, 100, 500, 1,000, 5,000 Rubles; Coins: 1, 5, 10, 50 kopeks and 1, 2, 5, 10 Rubles. You can use all major credit and debit cards (including Cirrus and Maestro) in ATMs and good restaurants and hotels. Traveler’s checks are possible to exchange, although at a price. Euros or US dollars in cash is the best to bring, and in general, should be in pristine condition – crumpled or old notes are often refused. You can exchange foreign currency at authorized agencies such as banks, exchange offices, and hotels. The exchange rate constantly fluctuates. The current exchange rate is approximately 1 USD = 62 RUB. For the most updated exchange rate, please check www.xe.com.

The standard electrical voltage in Russia is 220 volts and 50 hertz. Bringing an adaptor is a good idea if you plan to use electronics (i.e., cell phones, laptops, cameras, etc.) during your trip.

Russian cuisine is diverse, as Russia is the largest country in the world. It derives its rich and varied character from Russia’s vast and multicultural expanse. Its foundations were laid by the peasant food of the rural population in an often harsh climate, with a combination of plentiful fish, poultry, game, mushrooms, berries, and honey. Crops of rye, wheat, buckwheat, barley, and millet provided the ingredients for many pieces of bread, pancakes, cereals, kvass, beer, and vodka.

 

Never drink tap water in St Petersburg, as it contains Giardia lamblia, a parasite that can cause horrific stomach cramps and nausea. Bottled water is available to purchase everywhere. Saint Petersburg and Moscow offer sophisticated, world-class dining and a wide variety of cuisines, including Japanese, Tibetan, and Italian. They are also excellent cities to sample some of the best cuisines of the former Soviet Union (e.g., Georgian and Uzbek). It is also possible to eat well and inexpensively without resorting to the many western fast food chains that have opened up. Russians have their versions of fast food restaurants which range from cafeteria-style serving comfort foods to street-side kiosks cooking up blinis or stuffed potatoes.

Russian is the official language in Russia. The language is a member of the Slavic language family, with the minor exception being that it is further sub-classified into the East Slavic family, thus being closely related to Ukrainian and Belarusian. English is becoming a requirement in the business world, and many younger Russians in the cities (particularly Moscow or St. Petersburg and elsewhere) know enough English to communicate.

WEATHER

Given Russia’s extraordinary size and diverse landscape, you can bet that the country’s climate will vary dramatically. From the extreme Arctic chill of the far north to the blazing desert heat of various inland areas further south, Russia’s climate differs significantly from one region to another. In general terms, though, there are only two distinct seasons throughout much of the country—warm to hot, dry summers and freezing cold winters. Spring and autumn only occur for brief moments during the change between summer and winter. July and August are the warmest and the primary holiday season for foreigners and Russians. Winter brings Russia of popular imagination to life. If you’re prepared for it, travel in this season is recommended: the snow makes everything picturesque, and the insides of buildings are kept warm. Avoid the first snows (usually in late October) and the spring thaw (March and April), which turn everything to slush and mud.

Average Temperatures

All temperatures in Fahrenheit (°F)

Month/CityJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Irkutsk-8 - 9-4 - 1810 - 3427 - 5138 - 6450 - 7555 - 7952 - 7340 - 6127 - 4711 - 28-2 - 14
Moscow14 - 2315 - 2624 - 3635 - 5345 - 6753 - 7258 - 7654 - 7245 - 6036 - 4727 - 3419 - 27
Sochi38 - 4938 - 5041 - 5448 - 6255 - 6962 - 7667 - 8167 - 8261 - 7653 - 6846 - 6141 - 53
St. Petersburg54 - 7056 - 7259 - 7665 - 8271 - 8675 - 9077 - 9177 - 9076 - 8970 - 8462 - 7757 - 72
Vladivostok-5 - 192 - 2618 - 3933 - 5444 - 6555 - 7063 - 7763 - 8050 - 7234 - 5618 - 380 - 21

OTHER INFORMATION

This will be contingent on your preference and the time of year you travel. Generally, we suggest that travelers pack lightly, bring comfortable, casual clothes in natural, “breathable” fabrics, and choose versatile styles that can be layered during the summer. A lightweight (preferably non-plastic) raincoat or poncho is a good idea, as well as a sweater or lightweight jacket for early morning/evenings and air-conditioned buildings. If you are traveling during the winter, it can get extremely cold in Russia, so pack thick, heavy coats and warm clothes such as long sleeves, thermals, sweaters, earmuffs, scarves, gloves, hats, etc. A sturdy, comfortable pair of walking shoes or snow boots are a must, as sandals may not be comfortable for some sightseeing activities. Some hotels have pools, so you may want to pack your swimming suit. Do not forget to bring sunblock, sunglasses, insect repellent, pocket packs of tissues, a sunhat, an umbrella (for both the sun and rain), and any medications you may need. Most hotels offer reliable laundry and dry cleaning services.

Always wear what you are most comfortable traveling in, but a reasonable amount of modesty ought to be exercised. In most areas, comfortable, casual clothes such as short-sleeved shirts, polo shorts, cargo pants, etc., are great for sightseeing. Locals in Russia are often style-conscious and like to dress to impress. In major cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg, men and women dress well and will almost always look put together. Women can be seen wearing makeup and wearing heels or fashion boots.

 

When visiting Orthodox churches or cathedrals, remember that they are places of worship, so one should dress politely in modest and conservative clothing as they would at any other religious place. Often, those that are not appropriately dressed will be turned away. It is customary for women to keep their heads covered, so do not forget to bring a lightweight scarf.

Hotels may impose a hefty charge on international calls. Check your hotel’s policy before placing any calls. You can use a calling card from your local, long-distance carrier to avoid hotel markups. Several United States cell phones manufactured today can operate overseas on the GSM (Global System for Mobile) standard. We recommend contacting your cell phone service provider to determine if your phone runs on the GSM and what activation may be required. In Indonesia, reception on any cell phone can be unreliable and unpredictable. In some locations, transmission is not possible at all. If access to e-mail is critical during your trip, please check availability in advance. Most hotels have business centers or in-room WI-FI service, and surcharges may apply.

The nationwide emergency phone numbers are:

Ambulance: 112

Fire: 112

Police: 112

  • Fodor’s Moscow & St. Petersburg (Travel Guide) by Fodor’s
  • Lonely Planet St. Petersburg (City Guide) by Tom Masters and Simon Richmond
  • Travels in Siberia by Ian Frazier
  • Mud and Stars: Travels in Russia with Pushkin, Tolstoy, and Other Geniuses of the Golden Age by Sara Wheeler
  • St. Petersburg: Architecture of the Tsars by Dmitri O. Shvidkovsky