Social ConventionsIt is customary to shake hands when greeting someone. Company or business gifts are well received. Each region has its own characteristic mode of dress. Conservative wear is suitable for most places and the seasonal weather should always be borne in mind. Smoking is acceptable unless stated otherwise. Avoid ostentatious displays of wealth; it is advisable to keep expensive jewelry, watches and cameras out of sight and take precautions against pickpocketing.
Photography: It is prohibited to take photographs of any military installation and/or establishments
or sites of strategic importance. Failure to abide by this could result in police arrest.
International Travel:Getting There by AirThe national airline is
Aeroflot (SU) (website:
www.aeroflot.com).
Departure TaxNone.
Main AirportsMoscow (SVO) (Sheremetyevo) (website:
www.sheremetyevo-airport.ru) is 35km (22 miles) northwest of the city.
To/from the airport: Taxis are available at the airport to the city center (journey time – 30 to 40 minutes). ‘Autoline’ 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, 37 Leningradsky Prospekt (journey time – 50 minutes for international flights). Express trains leave regularly also.
Facilities: Outgoing duty-free shops, banks/bureaux de change, post office, car hire, restaurants and first aid. Moscow also has three primarily domestic airports: see
Getting Around.
St Petersburg (LED) (Pulkovo) website:
http://eng.pulkovo.ru) is 17km (10.5 miles) south of the city.
To/from the airport: Buses are available to the city center frequently throughout the day (journey time – 10 minutes). Taxis are also available (journey time – 15 minutes).
Facilities: Banks/bureaux de change, flight information, duty-free shops, restaurant, bar, snack bar, left luggage and first aid.
Getting There by RailThere are various connections from London. The main route is: London–Brussels–Cologne/Berlin–Moscow/St Petersburg. The journey from London to Brussels can be made by a variety of train and ferry services (including via
Eurostar), or via the
Channel Tunnel. There is a sleeper service from Cologne to Moscow.
The
Moskva Express runs from Berlin to Moscow (website:
http://bahn.hafos.de). There are through trains or coaches from other Western and Eastern European cities, from CIS countries, and from China (PR), Iran, Mongolia and Turkey. See also
Trans-Siberian Express in
Getting Around.
Getting There by RoadForeign tourists may drive their own cars or may hire cars (see
Getting Around). 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. Travelers driving their own vehicle will get a temporary permit from customs to be able to use their car legally in Russia. Travelers 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.
The speed limit is 60kmph on minor roads, 90kmph on major roads and variable on highways. A road tax is payable upon entry to the country.
The following crossing points between Finland and the Russian Federation are available: Vaalima–Torfianovska; Nuijamaa–Brusnichnoye and Rajajooseppi–Lotta. There are also crossing points between the Russian Federation and all neighboring countries although, at present, there are restrictions on cross-border travel to Azerbaijan and Georgia. Plans to simplify this process are currently underway.
There are numerous and excellent road links with neighboring countries:
Eurolines (tel: 0870 514 3219; website:
www.eurolines.com) and
National Express (tel: 0870 580 8080; website:
www.nationalexpress.com) run regular coach services from the UK to the Russian Federation. Travelers can either choose Mini-Pass breaks or book a 15-, 30- or 60-day pass. The six Mini-Passes gave travelers the freedom to visit three cities, with prices starting from £55. Travelers can stay as long as they like in each city.
OverviewDuty free regulations are liable to change at short notice. The following should be used as a guide only, and travelers are advised to contact the Embassy or Consulate for up-to-date information.
The following goods may be imported into the Russian Federation by persons aged 16 years and older without incurring customs duty:
200 cigarettes,
100 cigarillos,
50 cigars or 250g of tobacco products (over 18 years);
2l of alcoholic beverage (over 21 years);
a reasonable quantity of perfume for personal use;
gifts up to the value of US$10,000.
On entering the country, tourists must complete a customs declaration form which must be retained until departure. This allows the import of articles intended for personal use, including currency and valuables which must be registered on the declaration form. Cameras, jewelry, computers and musical instruments should all be declared. Customs inspection can be long and detailed. It is advisable when shopping to ask for a certificate from the shop which states that goods have been paid for in hard currency. Presentation of such certificates should speed up customs formalities.
Photographs and printed matter directed against the Russian Federation, weapons and ammunition, radio electrical equipment, narcotics, fruit, vegetables, sturgeon of any species or sturgeon products, and live animals unless with a special permit.
Arms, works of art and antiques (unless permission has been granted by the Ministry of Culture), precious metals and furs.
Up to 250g of caviar per person may be exported, provided a receipt is shown proving that it was bought at a store licensed to sell it to foreigners and a license from the Ministry of Economical Development is presented.
Internal Travel:Getting Around By AirThe internal network radiates from Moscow’s four airports.
Aeroflot runs services from Moscow to most major cities. All-inclusive tours are available from specialist tour operators.
Note: In the 1990s, Aeroflot was broken up into many small airlines which led to a catalog of air disasters earning it a reputation for poor safety. Thankfully, its safety record has improved in recent years.
Vnukovo Airport (VKO) (website:
www.vnukovo.ru) is 29.5km (18 miles) southwest of Moscow.
To/from the airport: Coaches go to the airport from the Central Air Terminal (travel time – one hour 15 minutes). Taxis are available to the city.
Facilities: Outgoing duty free.
Domodedovo (DME) (website:
www.domodedovo.ru) is 48km (25 miles) southeast of Moscow.
To/from the airport: An
Aeroexpress traingoes from Moscow to the airport (travel time - 40 to 50 minutes).Express buses and a 24 hour shuttle service are also available. Twoofficial taxi firms operate at the airport.
Facilities: Duty free, shops and restaurants.
Bykovo Airport (BKA) is the smallest of Moscow’s airports, 35km from the city.
To/from the airport: Coaches go to the airport from the Central Air Terminal.
Getting Around by WaterOwing to its geographical position, the Russian Federation has ports on its Pacific and Baltic shores and in the south on the Black Sea.
Main ports: Kaliningrad,
Murmansk,
Sochi (website:
www.moport-sochi.ru),
St Petersburg and
Vladivostok (website:
www.vladcomport.ru).
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. Many companies offer cruises onboard comfortable, modern boats. The Volga towns, the Golden Ring and Moscow–St Petersburg are popular routes.
Getting Around by RailThe 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. Rail travelers are advised to store valuables in the compartment under the bed or seat and not to leave the compartment unattended.
The
Trans-Siberian Express, probably the most famous train in the world, is one of the best ways of seeing the interior of the country. It runs from St Petersburg to the Pacific coast of Siberia and on to Japan. There is a daily service, but the steamer from Nakhodka to Yokohama only sails approximately once a week. The through journey from Moscow to Yokohama takes 10 days. It is the world’s longest continuous train journey, crossing seven time zones and 9745km (5778 miles) from Europe to the Pacific, with 91 stops from Vladivostok to Moscow. Bed linen and towels are provided in the ‘Soft Class’ (first-class) berths, and there is a toilet and washbasin at the end of each carriage. Second-class cabins have four berths. Attendants serve tea from samovars for a small charge and there is a restaurant car on every train where meals can be purchased (however, no alcohol is available on the train, so passengers are advised to bring their own if desired).
The
Trans-Manchurian Express follows the same route, before heading southeast into China and down to Beijing. Another, slightly shorter but no less epic journey can be made on the
Trans-Mongolian Railway to Beijing. It runs from Moscow to Irkutsk (Siberia), skirting Lake Baikal and then entering Mongolia. The journey to the Mongolian capital, Ulaan Baatar, is remarkable for its dramatic scenery. The journey concludes in Beijing.
Rail PassesThe
EuroDomino pass enables holders anything from three to eightdays’ extensive travel within a one-month period on the entire railnetwork of their chosen country. It is valid in 26 European countries.To purchase a
EuroDomino pass you must have been resident inEurope for at least six months and a passport number is required attime of booking. It is not permitted to purchase a pass for travelwithin your own country of residence. To qualify for the youth rates,you must be under 26 years on the first date of validity of the pass.Children aged four to 11 years inclusive pay half the adult faresrounded up to the nearest pound. Children under four years travel free.Seat reservations, couchette and sleeper charges are not included inthe cost of the pass and are payable at the normal rate. Passholderfares are payable on some services. Available from
Rail Europe (website:
www.raileurope.co.uk/railpasses/eurodomino.htm).
Getting Around by RoadThe 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. It is a good idea to arrange motoring holidays through a reputable agency. It is also advisable to pre-plan the itinerary and accommodation requirements. On the majority of tourist routes, signposts are also written in the Latin alphabet. Travelers can take their own car (see
Travel – International) or hire a vehicle; tariffs include the cost of insurance. Chauffeured cars are available in major cities. Sample distances: Moscow to St Petersburg: 692km (432 miles); Moscow to Minsk: 690km (429 miles); Moscow to Rostov-on-Don: 1198km (744 miles); Moscow to Odessa: 1347km (837 miles).
Bus: Long-distance coach services have only recently become open to foreigners. They are a great way of seeing the country but patience is a necessity and getting lost is commonplace.
Traffic regulations: Traffic drives on the right. Speeds are limited to 60kph (37mph) in built-up areas, 90kph (55mph) in non-built-up areas and 100kph (62mph) on highways (visiting motorists who have been driving for less than two years must not exceed 70kph (43mph)). Hooting the horn is forbidden except when to do so might prevent an accident. Motorists should avoid driving at night if possible. It is forbidden to carry unauthorized passengers or pick up hitch-hikers. Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is forbidden. Every car must display registration plates and stickers denoting the country of registration and be fitted with seat belts, a first-aid kit, a fire extinguisher and an emergency sign (triangle) or red light. In case of an accident, contact the nearest traffic inspection officer and make sure all participants fill in written statements, to be witnessed by a militia inspector. All repairs will be at the foreign motorist’s expense.
Documentation: An International Driving Permit and a national license with authorized translations are necessary. Visitors traveling in their own cars must also possess the following documents at all times: passport and visa; itinerary card bearing visitor’s name and citizenship, car registration number and full details of itinerary presented upon entry to the Russian Federation relating to the route to be taken and the date and place of stopovers; form provided by Customs on arrival guaranteeing that the car will be taken out of the Russian Federation on departure; petrol vouchers purchased at the border; and insurance cover documents. A road tax is payable upon entry to the country (see end of
Travel – International). Motor insurance for travel within the Russian Federation should be arranged prior to departure, or upon entry to the Russian Federation at the offices of
Ingosstrakh, the Russian Federation foreign insurance agency. Contact the Embassy or a specialist tour operator for further details.
Getting Around Towns and CitiesPublic 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. Entry to the underground is by tokens, which are inserted into the ticket barrier. Fares are standard for the various forms of transport; weekly and monthly passes are available. Buses operate 0500-0000. Tickets are available in strips or booklets from people outside the metro station or from the drivers directly. Tickets must be punched in the machine provided on the bus. Taxis are also available; they can be hailed in the street, hired at a rank or booked by telephone. It is safer to use officially marked taxis; they are yellow with chequered signs on the doors. Taxis should not be shared with strangers.
Journey TimesFrom Moscow to
Bratsk is six hours 45 minutes, to
Donetsk is one hour 30 minutes, to
Irkutsk is seven hours, to
Khabarovsk is seven hours 30 minutes, to
Kharkov is one hour 15 minutes, to
St Petersburg is one hour 30 minutes, to
Volgograd is one hour 50 minutes and to
Yalta is two hours 15 minutes.
The following chart gives approximate travel times (in hours and minutes) from
Moscow to other major cities/towns in the Russian Federation:
| | Air | Rail | Sea |
| Khabarovsk | 7.30 | - | - |
| St Petersburg | 1.30 | 9.00 | - |
| Irkutsk | 7.00 | 88.00 | - |
| Volgograd | 1.30 | - | - |
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