Russia

Russia Flag

 

Why visit Russia?

For the international traveler seeking to experience architecture, art, boating, cathedrals, fishing, health spas, hiking, historical sites, horseback riding, ice skating, performing arts, monasteries, museums, river cruises, rock climbing, scenery, skiing, snowboarding, trekking, and world class ballet.

Red Square, Moscow, Russia. Photo Credit: Joney Brain/Pixabay 

At a Glance

• Souvenirs to Buy: Amber, caviar, fur hats, hand embroidered tablecloths, hand painted lacquerware, matryoshka dolls, metal sculpture, music instruments, painted enamel jewelry, samovars, vodka, and wood sculpture.
• Local Cuisine to Try: Blini (pancake). Borsch (beet soup). Okroshka (cold soup). Olivier (salad). Pirozhki (stuffed buns). Shchi (cabbage soup). Solyanka (sour soup). Syrniki (pancakes). Ukha (seafood soup).
• Local Drink to Try: Bvass (beer). Vodka (national).

Photo Credits: Peggy und Marco Lachmann-Anke/Pixabay 

Fun Facts

• The national symbol of the double-headed eagle, dates back to the Tsardom period (1547 - 1721).
  
• Moscow State University (1755) and Saint Petersburg State University (1724) are the oldest universities.
  
• Laika, Soviet Dog, became the first animal to orbit the Earth (1957).
  
• Hosted (1980) the Summer Olympic Games (Moscow).
  
• Hosted (2014) the Winter Olympics (Sochi).
• Largest country in the world.
  
• Rich in natural resources such as gas and oil.
  
• Has over 100,000 rivers.
• Extends across 11 time zones.
• Home to the largest freshwater lake in the world (Baikal).
  
• Mount Elbrus (18,510 ft) is the highest peak. 
  
• Has access to three oceans: Arctic, Atlantic and Pacific.
• Lakes Ladoga and Onega (northwestern area) are amongst the largest European countries.
  
• Home to the finest caviar, beluga in the world.
  
• Klyuchevskaya Sopka (15,584 ft) is the highest active volcano (Eurasia).

Moscow, Russia. Photo Credit: Evgeny GoTown.ru/Pixabay 

Special Holidays/Occasions

• Annual Events: (January) International Festival of Snow, Magic Ice of Siberia, (February) Maslenitsa Festival, (March) Moscow Golden Mask Festival, Reindeer Herder’s Festival, (April) Moscow International Film Festival (MIFF), (June) Chekhov International Theater Festival, International Moscow Film Festival, Open Look, Scarlet Sails, St Petersburg White Nights Festival, St Petersburg Beer Festival, Taste of Moscow, Wild Mint Folk Festival, (July) Nashestvie, (August) Afisha Picnic, (September) Circle of Light, Vladivostok Biennale of Visual Arts, (December) Russian Winter Festival, and Winter Festivals. 
• Holidays: New Year Day, Christmas Day, Defender of the Fatherland Day, International Women's Day, Spring & Labor Day, Victory Day, Day of Russia, and National Unity Day.

St Petersburg, Russia. Photo Credit: Peter H/Pixabay 

Good to Know

• You cannot enter prior to the date on your VISA, and must exit before your VISA expiration.
  
• The Black Sea and Green Grove are popular amongst the wealthy.
• Cruise Ships and Ferry passengers (St Petersburg & Vladivostok) are permitted to stay up to 72 hours without a VISA accompanied by a licensed Tour Operator.
  
• Most visited cities are: Kazan, Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, Novosibirsk, Saint Petersburg, and Yekaterinburg.
• Students and Teachers avoid coaching or teaching English.
  
• Avoid Chechnya and the North Caucasus region.
• Missionary activity is restricted. 
  
• Solovetsky Islands (north) is known for great canoeing and kayaking.
  
• Ice fishing for whitefish, Baikal Omul is popular on Lake Baikal (Siberia).
  
• Kamchatka area offers some of the best Steelhead fishing in the world. 
  
• Altai Mountain area is popular for scenic horseback riding.
  
• Most visited museums are: State Hermitage (Saint Petersburg), State Russian (Saint Petersburg), and Tretyakov Gallery (Moscow).
• Tourist areas are prone to pickpocketing and robbery.
• Use of satellite phones requires advance approval from the local government.
• Avoid public demonstrations.
• Third-party liability insurance is required for drivers.
• Carry your passport with you at all times.
• The "Golden Ring of Russia" connects the old cities of five Oblasts.
• Most popular landmarks: Kazan Kremlin (Kazan), Lake Baikal (Siberia), Peterhof Palace (Saint Petersburg), Red Square (Moscow), and Trinity Lavra of St Sergius (Sergiyev Posad).
  
• Keep all your receipt purchases.
• Considered illegal to pay for goods and services in U.S. dollars.

Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. Photo Credit: Сергей Петров/Pixabay 

This international destination requires:

• A valid passport with six months of validity and two blank pages for stamping.
• Tourist VISA required.
• Currency Restrictions for Entry $10,000 and $3,000 Exiting.

Photo Credit: Larisa Koshkina/Pixabay 

• Best Time to Visit: May - September
• Cold Months: November - March 
• Hottest Months: May - September
• Peak Season: June - August

Photo Credit: Avetikov/Pixabay 

Your Must-See & Do

• UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Ancient City and Fortress Buildings of Derbent, Architectural Ensemble of the Trinity Sergius Lavra in Sergiev Posad, Assumption Cathedral and Monastery of the town-island of Sviyazhsk, Bolgar Historical and Archaeological Complex, Central Sikhote-Alin, Church of the Ascension, Churches of the Pskov School of Architecture. Kolomenskoye, Cultural and Historic Ensemble of the Solovetsky Islands, Curonian Spit, Ensemble of the Ferapontov Monastery, Ensemble of the Novodevichy Convent, Golden Mountains of Altai, Historic and Architectural Complex of the Kazan Kremlin, Historic Centre of Saint Petersburg and Related Groups of Monuments, Historic Monuments of Novgorod and Surroundings, Historical Centre of the City of Yaroslavl, Kizhi Pogost, Kremlin and Red Square, Lake Baikal, Landscapes of Dauria, Lena Pillars Nature Park, Natural System of Wrangel Island Reserve, Petroglyphs of Lake Onega and the White Sea, Putorana Plateau, Struve Geodetic Arc, Uvs Nuur Basin, Virgin Komi Forests, Volcanoes of Kamchatka, Western Caucasus, White Monuments of Vladimir and Suzdal.

State Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg, Russia. Photo Credit: Jeremy Zhu/Pixabay 

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                                        All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Subject to change without notice.