Need to Know

Currency

Russian rouble (R)

Language

Russian

Visas

Required by all; apply at least a month in advance of your trip.

Money

Credit and debit cards accepted. ATMs plentiful. Euros or US dollars best currencies for exchange.

Mobile Phones

Prepaid SIM cards are readily available. International roaming possible.

Time

Moscow/St Petersburg (GMT/USC plus four hours)

When to Go

High Season (Jun–Sep)

AHot weather across most of the country.

APeak season for Russians to go on holiday; all forms of transport should be booked in advance.

APrices can rise in St Petersburg, particularly during White Nights in June and July.

Shoulder (May & Oct)

ALate spring and early autumn see the country bathed in the fresh greenery or russet shades of the seasons.

AGood time for cultural events in cities and major parades on Victory Day (9 May).

Low Season (Nov–Apr)

ASnow falls and temperatures plummet, creating the wintery Russia of the imagination.

ABest time for skiing (although resorts charge higher prices) and visiting museums and galleries.

Useful Websites

Lonely Planet (www.lonelyplanet.com/russia) Destination information, hotel bookings, traveller forum and more.

Way to Russia (www.waytorussia.net) Comprehensive online travel guide.

Afisha (www.afisha.ru) Extensive restaurant, bar, museum and event listings for all major cities; in Russian only.

Moscow Expat Site (www.expat.ru) Mine expat knowledge of Russia.

English Russia (http://englishrussia.com) Russia-focused blog with quirky images and stories.

Important Numbers

Exchange Rates

For current exchange rates see www.xe.com.

Daily Costs

Budget: Less than R1500

ADorm bed: R700–R800

ACafé or street-stall meal: R200–R500

ATravel on buses and metro: R15–R50

Midrange: R1500–R4000

ADouble room in a midrange hotel: R2000–R3000

ATwo-course meal: R500–R1000

AMuseum entry fee: R100–R400

ACity-centre taxi ride: R200–R300

Top End: More than R4000

ADouble room in a top-end hotel: R5000-plus

ATwo-course meal with wine: R2000-plus

ABallet tickets: R3500

AFirst-class train ticket (eg Moscow–St Petersburg): R7300

Opening Hours

Banks 9am–6pm Monday to Friday, some open 9am–5pm Saturday

Bars and Clubs noon–midnight Sunday to Thursday, to 6am Friday and Saturday

Cafes 9am–10pm

Post offices 8am–8pm or 9pm Monday to Friday, shorter hours Saturday and Sunday

Restaurants noon–midnight

Shops 10am–8pm

Supermarkets and Food stores 24 hours

Arriving in Russia

Sheremetyevo Airport (Moscow) Aeroexpress trains (R500; 30 minutes) run to the city every half-hour from 5am to 12.30am. Taxis cost R2000 to R2500 and take at least an hour.

Domodedovo Airport (Moscow) Aeroexpress trains (R500; 45 minutes) run to the city every half-hour between 6am and 11.30pm. Taxis cost R2000 to R2500 and take at least an hour.

Pulkovo Airport (St Petersburg) Frequent buses (R36) run to Moskovskaya metro station (R45) for a total journey time to the city centre of around 30 minutes. Taxis charge around R1000 to the centre and can take up to an hour depending on traffic.

Getting Around

To check train times and make bookings, go to the trip-planning section of the RZD (Russian Railways; http://pass.rzd.ru) website.

Train The extensive network is the best way of getting around, with many comfortable overnight services between far-flung cities.

Air Worth considering if you need to speed up your travels (with online tickets sometimes cheaper than those for trains). Only book airlines with solid safety records.

Bus Useful for getting to places not covered by the train. Sometimes faster than local elektrichka (suburban) train services.

Car or taxi Sometimes the only way to get to really remote destinations.