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Russia - How to Plan a Visit

I am writing this blog post Russia, the best time to plan a visit,with the purpose to assist those buddies who wish to plan a visit to Russia. Russia or the Russian Federation is the largest country in the world. This country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia by covering over 17 million square kilometers, almost one-eighth of the whole world. Russia has 11 time zones and if you travel to Russia then you always have an up-to-date time awareness to catch the best things to visit at the right times. Russia contains Europe’s longest river, the Volga, the Largest lake Ladoga, and the Deepest lake Baikal.

This fabulous country recorded the world’s lowest temperature outside the North/South poles in its Siberian regions. Moscow its capital is the largest city in Russia. Saints Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Kazan, and Irkutsk are the other big cities of Russia. This huge country shares its land borders with 14 countries.

Iconic Photo of Peterhof Palace, St Petersburg, Russia
Iconic Photo of Peterhof Palace, St Petersburg
One of the best place to visit, Saint Basil and Red Squre Area in Moscow, Russia
Saint Basil and Red Squre Area in Moscow

Russia Fast Facts

  • Official Name: Russian Federation (Rossiyskaya Federatsiya)
  • Capital: Moscow
  • Population: 146M in 2021
  • Currency: Ruble, 1 US$= 74 RUB
  • Official Language: Russian
  • Visa Requirements: Most National required visas and invitations. Visa Requirements
  • Best Time to Visit: The best time to visit Russia is summer (June to August), with long daylight evenings and moderate temperatures of 21°C to 25°C. However, Trans Siberian Adventure attracts a huge number of tourists in the winter season too.

Russia Top Experiences

  • Catch the white nights of Saint Petersburg
  • Dip your feet into Lake Baikal
  • Explore Irkutsk old wood buildings
  • Experience a train ride on the Trans Siberian route
  • Take a long walk on Krasnyy Prospekt to understand the city of Novosibirsk
  • Lost into the streets of Kazan kremlin
  • Take a stroll around Saint Basil in Moscow
Kazan Kremlin, an all time best place to visit in Russia
A way to Kazan kremlin in Kazan

Russia Safety Issues

No country is safe for travelers if we ignore some basic rules of senses. So, if we are well aware of our surroundings then we can enjoy our trip without any fear of bad incidents. So, we should follow the same personal security procedures here as we would do anywhere else. However, Russia is quite safe for travelers and tourists.

Don’t agree to look after the possessions of people you don’t know, and never agree to go to a bar or a club with someone you have just met. Taxi apps are a useful way to call a registered taxi. You can also ask your hotel to get a taxi for you or to give you the number of a reputable company.

You can freely visit the most of Russian territories. However, Russian authorities have some concerns over visiting Chechnya, Dagestan and Crimea areas. Due to some political unrest, it is advised to avoid these areas or visit these areas with proper information from some local persons. In that case, plz keep your travel documents up to date and easily accessible.

Russia Budgeting Plan

Transportation in Russia

Russian Railway is an efficient rail network and you can use it for your in-country travels.

The best way to get around in big cities of Russia like Moscow/St Petersburg is the metro. It is fast and more efficient than the trolleybuses and trams. The Moscow metro is cheap, efficient, interesting to look at, and easy to use. On the other hand, it is crowded during peak periods. So, in big cities of Russia day hours are the best time to visit the metroes. You can use free Wifi in metros.

With the introduction of many new convenient routes, buses and trolleybuses are once again relevant and provide a rather comfortable alternative to the metro. Bus stops are identified with the big letter “A” (for avtobus).

Taxi. you can book a taxi using a mobile phone app or an official agency. Like Yandex Taxi

Bikes are available from the bike-share program VeloBike and at various rental stations around town. Go online to purchase a membership (R150 for a day, R600 for a month, plus deposit). Now you are ready to roll! Use your credit card to unlock a bike at any station, go for a ride, and return your bike to any station. The first 30 minutes incur no additional charge, but after that, you’ll pay for the use.

Transportation Cards

Indeed, you can choose many types of convenient cards like Edni and Trika for your transportation usage in Moscow. However, if your destination needs a couple of transport modes like a combination of Metro and buses then you may consider buying a 90 Minutes card (single trip R65), which includes one metro ride and an unlimited number of bus/tram/trolleybus rides.

Accommodations in Russia

A hostel dormitory bed starts around $10~20.

Likewise, budget hotels start at around $20 per night for a single room with basic amenities.

Whereas, I like to stay in hostels, so during my visit, So, I stayed in Art Hotel Respublica St Petersburg, Rolling Stone Hostel in Irkutsk (an excellent one), and Avord Hostel in Moscow. I have booked these properties by Booking.com and Hostel World.

In addition to this, the other sites to plan and choose your accommodations will be Air BnB and Agoda. Although Couch Surfing is very popular in Russia and can be a good option. However, when you’re looking for a hostel, do your research. Read reviews to get a feel for the place and then book somewhere that suits you.

Food and Local Dishes

Most of the time I went for vegetable options and almost in every city I found a couple of Uzbek or Indian restaurants to satisfy my taste buds. However, in sweats and snacks, I tried a few typical Russian food items.

  • Blini (Russian pancakes).
  • Syriniky. it is Another type of pancake that makes from quark (cottage cheese), eggs, and flour. Crispy and golden on the outside and warm and creamy on the inside
  • Vatrushka is a rounded bun with an open-top, which is filled with sweetened cottage cheese and raisins.
  • Kasha, A Russian Porridge rich in fiber, potassium, and protein. Can be made with hot water or milk.
  • Chak-Chak is a unique and delicious fried honey and almond cake. A dessert in Kazan Side
  • Napolean Cake, a traditional dessert and one of the best Russian layered cakes.
  • Kvass, A refreshing soft drink in Russia.

Tajikistan.

Suggested daily budget –  For Backpacking a suggested budget is around 40$. As, it includes a bed in a dorm (10~15$), a portion of basic food(10~15$), and public transport within the city with a couple of site seeing(10$).

TIPS, DOs, DON'Ts

  • Use a transport card like Edni, Troika cards in Moscow, and a day pass in St Petersburg for conveniently roaming.
  • Take a free St Petersburg Tour or Free Moscow Tour. Just Be sure to Tip
  • Metro of most cities Offer Free Wifi
  • If you have a plan for the Trans Siberian journey then be prepared as you can’t get internet while traveling.
  • Without a doubt, Yandex Taxi is a convenient way if you like to go somewhere within cities
  • Particularly, most of the state museums in Moscow offer free entry every third week of the month.
  • Likewise, some famous museums in St Petersburg offer free entry on the third Tuesday of every month.
Lenin Square Novosbirsk, Russia
Lenin Square Novosbirsk, Russia

POST FROM Russia

Hey, This is Rashid and I am here to share my Wide Angle Dreams with you, with the aim to provide you a Wide Angle to catch your bucket list dreams of travelling and trekking. If you love to travel but feel that you are bound in tough daily routines and find very little time to catch your travelling dreams, then you are at a right place.

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