Russia Travel Guide

Whether it's the snowy peaks of the Caucasus Mountains or the ancient domed majesty of Saint Petersburg, Russia has a lot to offer. And access to the most beautiful and remote locations as well as to the bustling cities is readily available.

Full Name

Russian Federation

Former Name

Russian Empire, Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic

Capital City

Moscow

Government Type

federation

Area Size

17,075,200 sq km

Time Zone

Moscow UTC/GMT +3 hours

Climate

Northern & Central European Russia: The most varied climate; mildest areas are along the Baltic coast. Summer sunshine may be nine hours a day, but winters can be very cold. Siberia: Very cold winters, but summers can be pleasant, although they tend to be short and wet. There is considerable seasonal temperature variation. Southern European Russia: Winter is shorter than in the north. Steppes (in the southeast) have hot, dry summers and very cold winters. The north and northeastern Black Sea has mild winters, but heavy rainfall all the year round.

Geography

The Russian Federation stretches across much of the north of the supercontinent of Eurasia. Because of its size Russia displays both monotony and diversity. As with its topography, its climates, vegetation, and soils span vast distances. From north to south the East European Plain is clad sequentially in tundra, coniferous forest, mixed forest, broadleaf forest, grassland (steppe), and semidesert (fringing the Caspian Sea) as the changes in vegetation reflect the changes in climate. Siberia supports a similar sequence but lacks the mixed forest. Most of Siberia is taiga. Russia has the world's largest forest reserves, which supply lumber, pulp and paper, and raw material for woodworking industries. With access to three of the world's oceans, the Atlantic, Arctic, and Pacific, Russian fishing fleets are a major contributor to the economy. The Caspian is the source of what is considered the finest caviar in the world. Largest country in the world in terms of area but unfavorably located in relation to major sea lanes of the world; despite its size, much of the country lacks proper soils and climates (either too cold or too dry) for agriculture; Mount El'brus is Europe's tallest peak.

Languages

Russian, many minority languages

Culture

Russia has a rich cultural heritage, that comes to life in all the cities, the countryside and the small little towns. Moscow with the Tretyakov Gallery that features some of the most famous Russian icons, Saint Petersburg on the river Neva with it's famous 'white nights' and art collections of the Heritage Museum and the Russian Museum and the countryside with it's many little towns, each with its own old cloisters and castles.

History

Founded in the 12th century, the Principality of Muscovy, was able to emerge from over 200 years of Mongol domination (13th-15th centuries) and to gradually conquer and absorb surrounding principalities. In the early 17th century, a new Romanov Dynasty continued this policy of expansion across Siberia to the Pacific. Under PETER I (ruled 1682-1725), hegemony was extended to the Baltic Sea and the country was renamed the Russian Empire. During the 19th century, more territorial acquisitions were made in Europe and Asia. Repeated devastating defeats of the Russian army in World War I led to widespread rioting in the major cities of the Russian Empire and to the overthrow in 1917 of the imperial household. The Communists under Vladimir LENIN seized power soon after and formed the USSR. The brutal rule of and threatens to destabilize the North Caucasus region. Iosif STALIN (1928-53) strengthened Russian dominance of the Soviet Union at a cost of tens of millions of lives. The Soviet economy and society stagnated in the following decades until General Secretary Mikhail GORBACHEV (1985-91) introduced glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring) in an attempt to modernize Communism, but his initiatives inadvertently released forces that by December 1991 splintered the USSR into 15 independent republics. Since then, Russia has struggled in its efforts to build a democratic political system and market economy to replace the strict social, political, and economic controls of the Communist period. While some progress has been made on the economic front, recent years have seen a recentralization of power under Vladimir PUTIN and an erosion in nascent democratic institutions. A determined guerrilla conflict still plagues Russia in Chechnya and threatens to destabilize the North Caucasus region.

Travel Information

The national airline is Aeroflot (SU). Moscow (SVO) (Sheremetyevo) is 35km northwest of the city. Taxis are available at the airport to the city centre. â€˜Autolineâ€™ fixed-route taxis and buses are also available. Express coaches depart for the city regularly. Coaches depart for the airport from the Central Air Terminal in Moscow. Express trains leave regularly. Facilities: Outgoing duty-free shops, banks/bureaux de change, post office, car hire, restaurants and first aid. St Petersburg (LED) (Pulkovo) is 17km south of the city. Buses are available to the city centre frequently throughout the day. Taxis are also available. Facilities: Banks/bureaux de change, flight information, duty-free shops, restaurant, bar, snack bar, left luggage and first aid. The Moskva Express runs from Berlin to Moscow. There are through trains or coaches from other Western and Eastern European cities, from CIS countries, and from China (PR), Iran, Mongolia and Turkey. Foreign tourists may drive their own cars or may hire cars. Those entering by car should have their visas registered at the hotel, motel or campsite where they will stay for the first night, and must also ensure that the car registration number is recorded in the visa. Travellers driving their own vehicle will get a temporary permit from customs to be able to use their car legally in Russia. Travellers should also insure their vehicle with Ingosstrakh, which has offices at all crossing points and in most major cities, and to purchase service coupons at the border. A road tax is payable upon entry to the country. There are numerous and excellent road links with neighbouring countries: Eurolines runs regular coach services from other European countries to the Russian Federation.

Accommodation

There are over 2,500 hotels in the Russian Federation, of which about 100 specialise in accommodating foreign guests. Some hotels meet international standards, whereas others are very basic. Direct reservations by clients are on the increase. Whatever class of accommodation, it is advisable not to leave valuables in hotel rooms and to lock the door before going to sleep.

Visa Requirements

Visas are required by all nationals of the EU, Australia, Canada and USA except the following, provided arriving from their country of origin: transit passengers who are continuing their journey within 24 hours without leaving the transit area. Nationals of countries not referred to above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements. Those who are travelling in groups and tours should submit all documentation to the tour operator making the travel arrangements. For visits to relatives/friends in the CIS, enquire at the consulate for details of application procedures. All travellers staying in the Russian Federation for longer than three days must register their visas within three working days of arrival, through their hotel or sponsor. Private visitors must register with local police on arrival. All visitors must have confirmed accommodation or transit information for every night of their stay in the Russian Federation. Apply to consulate or consular section at embassy.Valid passport with six months' validity after the visa would expire required by all nationals of countries referred to above.

Getting Around

The internal network radiates from Moscowâ€™s four airports. Aeroflot runs services from Moscow to most major cities. Vnukovo Airport (VKO) is 29.5km southwest of Moscow. Coaches go to the airport from the Central Air Terminal. Taxis are available to the city. Domodedovo (DME) is 48km southeast of Moscow. An Aeroexpress train goes from Moscow to the airport. Express buses and a 24-hour shuttle service are also available. Two official taxi firms operate at the airport. Facilities: Duty-free, shops and restaurants. Bykovo Airport (BKA) is the smallest of Moscowâ€™s airports, 35km from the city. Coaches go to the airport from the Central Air Terminal. Owing to its geographical position, the Russian Federation has ports on its Pacific and Baltic shores and in the south on the Black Sea. Cruises and excursions are available on many of the Russian Federation's rivers. The most popular cruises are on the River Don and the Volga. The railway is a vital part of the infrastructure of Russia because of the poor road system. The largest and busiest rail network in the world is predominantly for freight traffic. Only a few long-distance routes are open for travel by tourists, and reservations must be made on all journeys. Children under five years of age travel free. Children aged five to nine pay half fare. The Trans-Siberian Express is one of the best ways of seeing the interior of the country. The European part of the Russian Federation depends heavily on its road network. Generally, the few roads in Siberia and further east are impassable during the winter. Long-distance coach services are a great way of seeing the country but patience is a necessity and getting lost is commonplace. Car rental is available from local and international firms. Chauffeured cars are available in major cities. Public transport in the cities is comprehensive and cheap. Many services are electric traction (metro, tramway, trolleybus). Stations on the Moscow and St Petersburg metros are always elegant and often palatial. Taxis should not be shared with strangers.

Health & Safety

Travellers to Russia are advised to have up-to-date vaccinations for hepatitis A, tuberculosis and typhoid feve, as well as medications for travellers' diarrhoea. An influenza vaccine is recommended for travel between November and April. There is also a risk of tick-borne encephalitis in rural and wooded areas, particularly in the Ural and Siberian regions. HIV/AIDS is on the increase. Measles outbreaks occur. Drinking water should be treated; bottled water is readily available. There is a reciprocal health care agreement with the UK entitling citizens to free health treatment in hospital. Local state medical facilities are of a low standard, however, and visitors are strongly advised to have full insurance for medical treatment and accidents should they require private care. Blood transfusions should not be performed in Russia, due to uncertainties concerning the blood supply. Essential medications and supplies may be limited. The areas in North Caucasus of Chechnya, Ingushetia, Dagestan, and the eastern and southern parts of Stavropol Krai are highly volatile at present and visitors are strongly advised against travel in those regions. There is a high risk of domestic terrorism throughout Russia, particularly in Moscow and North Caucasus. Visitors are advised to be vigilant, particularly in tourist areas, and also to watch out for pickpockets and street crime, especially in large cities. Political protests often end in violence and detention, and visitors are advised to avoid all demonstrations.