❄️ Russia

Official government travel advice

Advice changes quickly. Check it before you travel and again before you leave.

Costs

Prices here are about 35% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.

Practical information

READ FIRST - safety and practical warning

At present, many governments caution against any travel to Russia, or at least non-essential travel, most of all in the regions bordering Ukraine. Air service is limited, and airports can close with little warning. Insurers often leave Russia out of travel insurance policies, so ask yours. Cards issued abroad by Visa and Mastercard generally do not work there, so bring cash and find out which cards are accepted. Just before booking, check your own government's advice and keep contact details for your own embassy in Moscow or, if your country has none, for whichever country represents yours.

Entry

Requirements differ by passport, so use the official site below. Applications for the official electronic visa (e-Visa) are made online on the consular portal of the Russian foreign ministry; use that portal only, apply well ahead, and read the current rules on length of stay, entry points and passport validity. Registration is compulsory for foreigners, and hotels take care of it; hold on to the slip, and carry your passport.

Culture and laws - take note

At first Russians may appear reserved, yet they are warm toward guests. Bring a small gift, remove your shoes when inside a home, and make sure any flowers come in an ODD number, since even numbers are for funerals. Military, airport and government sites must not be photographed. Political discussion and public protest should be avoided because laws are strict. Permission is required for drones. Extremely cold winters call for layers of clothing. Getting around big cities is easiest by metro, whose stations are works of art. Tipping is about 10%. In big cities and Muslim regions such as Tatarstan, halal food exists.

Emergency

112 for all emergencies. Police 102. Ambulance 103. Fire 101.

Good to know

Cards, cash and exchange

Canadian advice says the currency is the rouble and that cards issued outside Russia do not work at banks, businesses or cash machines. Paying in foreign currency is illegal. It recommends carrying enough cash, exchanging money only at major banks because street exchanges have led to scams, and declaring large sums at the border, keeping the declaration form.

Local laws and customs

Passports, photos and prosecutions

UK advice says police make random passport checks, copies are not accepted, and failing to show a passport can mean a fine or detention of up to 48 hours. Photography at military, secure or official sites, including airports, is illegal. Possessing any drug, cannabis included, can be prosecuted. UK advice also says foreigners can be prosecuted for activities judged against Russian interests, and that homosexuality is not illegal but there are significant legal restrictions targeting the LGBT+ community.

Taxis and scams

Unregistered taxis in Russia

UK and Canadian advice both advise against all travel to Russia. Both also say travellers in unregistered taxis have been robbed or assaulted, and that even a taxi that looks official may be unlicensed. Safer options are a taxi called through your hotel, a registered taxi app or officially marked taxis; agree the fare or check the meter works before getting in, and never hail a car in the street or share with strangers. UK advice says Mastercard and Visa cards issued outside Russia will not work there.

Fake police checks

Criminals pretending to be police have harassed and robbed tourists, according to both UK and Canadian advice. When stopped, insist on seeing identification. Canada says genuine officers wear a visible personal identification number, and it recommends proposing a trip to the closest police station instead of handing over money or documents. Canada also discourages changing money on the street and points to major banks instead.

Who can help

ngo

Russian Red Cross Society

Helps with: Russia's national Red Cross society. Its programmes include first aid training, restoring family links and tracing, disaster relief, and a migration desk. Reception is open Monday to Friday, 10:00 to 19:00.

Who qualifies: People in Russia who need its first aid, family tracing, disaster relief or migrant support services.

Phone: +7 (499) 126-75-71

Email: mail@redcross.ru

Address: Cheremushkinsky Proezd 5, Moscow

Official website

Source · checked 2026-11-04

un agency

International Organization for Migration (IOM) Russia

Helps with: The UN migration agency. Its Moscow office has worked in Russia since 1992 on migration management, crisis response and cooperation with partners. Contact is through its office and online form.

Who qualifies: Migrants and migration partners in Russia. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.

Phone: +7 495 660 77 82

Address: 4 Stasovoy Street, 119071 Moscow

Official website

Source · checked 2026-11-04

local government

Ministry of Civil Defence, Emergencies and Disaster Relief (EMERCOM)

Helps with: Russia's national ministry for emergencies and disaster response. Its site lists the fire and rescue number 101 and an information helpline, and offers psychological aid and registration of tourist groups.

Who qualifies: Anyone in Russia needing fire, rescue or disaster help; tourist groups can use its registration service.

Phone: 101

Address: 1 Vatutina Street, Fili-Davydkovo, Moscow 121357

Official website

Source · checked 2026-11-04

local government

Single emergency number 112 (Moscow city portal)

Helps with: Russia's single emergency number, listed on the Moscow city portal. The page also lists separate numbers for fire 101, police 102, ambulance 103 and gas 104. Calls to 911 are forwarded to 112.

Who qualifies: Anyone in Russia, including from mobile phones; the page says it works without an inserted SIM card.

Phone: 112

Official website

Source · checked 2026-11-04

embassy

Finding your embassy or consulate in Russia (Moscow city portal)

Helps with: For emergencies, lost passports or detention, contact your own country's embassy or consulate. This Moscow city portal page explains what they do and says the Foreign Ministry website lists the missions in Moscow.

Who qualifies: Citizens of each country, through their own embassy or consulate.

Official website

Source · checked 2026-11-04

local government

Moscow Tourist Information Support Center

Helps with: Moscow city's tourist information hotline, described on the city portal as round-the-clock. Calls are billed at your operator's rate. Use it for visitor questions in Moscow.

Who qualifies: Visitors to Moscow who need help or information.

Phone: 8 (495) 122-01-11

Official website

Source · checked 2026-11-04

local government

Tourist Police (listed by Discover Moscow)

Helps with: Police line for tourists in Moscow, listed on the Moscow tourism portal run by the city's tourism development office. The portal marks it as 24/7. Emergency number 112 is also listed there.

Who qualifies: Visitors to Moscow who need help or information.

Phone: +7 499 157-29-31

Official website

Source · checked 2026-11-04

local government

St. Petersburg Tourist Information Bureau

Helps with: The city's tourist information bureau. It runs information centres around Saint Petersburg and takes questions by phone, email and an online form. No separate tourist hotline is listed on its site.

Who qualifies: Anyone visiting Saint Petersburg or planning a trip there.

Phone: +7 (812) 242-39-06

Email: office@ispb.info

Address: 14/52 Sadovaya Street, Saint Petersburg

Official website

Source · checked 2026-11-04

local government

Tourist information centre, Pulkovo Airport (arrivals hall)

Helps with: One of the bureau's information centres, in the arrivals hall at Pulkovo Airport between Exit 1 and Exit 2. The site lists daily opening hours of 10:00 to 19:00.

Who qualifies: Anyone arriving in Saint Petersburg through Pulkovo Airport.

Address: 41 Pulkovo Highway, Arrivals Hall, Saint Petersburg

Official website

Source · checked 2026-11-04

Cities and places

Moscow MoscowRed Square, the Kremlin and St Basil's Cathedral stand in this capital, which also has major theatres and museums, plus ornate metro stations.Photo: U.S. Department of State, Public domain Saint Petersburg Saint PetersburgPeterhof's fountains lie close to this city of canals, which has imperial palaces, summer white nights and the Hermitage Museum.Photo: Florstein (Telegram:WikiPhoto.Space), CC BY-SA 4.0 Kazan KazanTatarstan's capital, where Russian culture and Tatar Muslim culture meet around the Kul Sharif Mosque and the city's own Kremlin.Photo: Vitaly Ilyin, CC BY-SA 4.0 Sochi SochiSummer brings subtropical beaches to this Black Sea resort, and Krasnaya Polyana nearby offers mountain skiing.Photo: Trace, CC BY-SA 4.0 Golden Ring (Suzdal, Sergiev Posad) Golden Ring (Suzdal, Sergiev Posad)A loop of old towns close to Moscow, featuring churches with onion domes, monasteries and wooden village architecture.Photo: Perituss, CC0 Lake Baikal (Irkutsk) Lake Baikal (Irkutsk)From Irkutsk, visitors reach a vast, deep Siberian lake with clear water, hiking in summer and ice in winter.Photo: Sergey Gabdurakhmanov from Mountain View, USA, CC BY 2.0

City selection based on: Wikipedia Tourism in Russia, booking-platform rankings of foreign visitors (Trip.com, Kayak), Tatarstan tourism committee

Festivals and events

culture

New Year holidays (1-8 January)

1-8 Jan 2027 · Moscow

In Russia, the new-year holiday is a long one, and it is both busy and festive.

festival

White Nights and Scarlet Sails

around Jun 2027 · Saint Petersburg

Darkness is nearly absent, and the Scarlet Sails show takes place over the Neva river.

culture

New Year holidays (1-8 January)

1-8 Jan 2028 · Moscow

In Russia, the new-year holiday is a long one, and it is both busy and festive.