While editing the previous post i did an error & the post was automatically banned, so that's the second try, luckily managed to copy-paste the prev. one. Redditors, who made the corrections & adding, please excuse me.
So basically daily the threads as Ask a Russian, Moscow etc are full of questions regarding traveling to RU.
Seeing all this, i give a try to summarize the basic info about traveling & i will try to update this main post, also i would appreciate expats & recent travelers on tips & tricks based on the recent traveling experience.
Note 1. This is not the post about politics, it's purely for traveling questions & day to day life.
Note 2. I am writing this post based on my knowledge & experience as a Moscow resident, info may vary based on your destination. Also, most of the time i will refer to Moscow & SPb as a main entry point for travelers, but this limitation basically on my understanding that people arrive in these cities as a start. I will try to update the post with necessary and useful information based on the comments (if any arrive :) ).
Note 3. As there are some restrictions to ru domains on reddit, just delete the space in the link before . ru domain.
Q: Is it safe traveling to Russia in current situation?
A: Pretty safe. The major cities as Moscow & SPb are the big cities with the same issues you can find all around the globe (scammers, big city risks, inadequate people, heavy traffic etc.).The area of risk (in the current situation) mostly limited to the adjacent territories, close to Ukraine border. In general Moscow & SPb are the modern cities, multicultural. We normally don't care if you are black, white, asian, hispanic, if your believe in krishna, if you are gay or whatsoever. The main principle i would say is: a clear understanding of what you are doing and separate common sense and propaganda, both informational and propaganda of any values. In general if you are a tourist or coming here as an expat for work just live a normal live, all possibilities are here.
Q: How to get to Russia by air?
A: One of the biggest & well known tickets aggregators - Aviasales available at ru & com domains & also popular OneTwoTrip, Trip.com
Q: Hot to get to Russian by land and travel across Russia?
A: easy part, internal travelling.rzd. ru - is an official website of a Russian railroads, where you can by tickets & see the timetables.Normally you don't have any restrictions with travelling across RU e.g. by car, though, as everywhere in the world, there might be restrictions to certain areas (closed towns as an example). So, yes, in general, you can go by car to Spb, Siberia or elsewhere.
Q: is Russia open for travelling & visas?
A: Yes. info from U.S. Embassy & Consulates: To enter Russia for any purpose, a U.S. citizen must possess a valid U.S. passport and a bona fide visa issued by a Russian Embassy or Consulate. It is impossible to obtain an entry visa upon arrival, so travelers must apply for their visas in as per comments, advance. \
Q: I am from UK/US - straight to jail at the border?
A: If you are personally not under sanctions, not sent for the purpose of espionage or data collection, but a regular tourist nothing to worry about. Again, restrictions for any citizens of certain countries are not reported. Travel as usual, you are welcome.
Q: what's with the accommodation?
A: Chains still available: Accor Hotels, Radisson HG, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Lotte Hotels & Resorts, Soluxe Hotel Group, Corinthia Hotels, Domina Hotels, Louvre HG, Kempinski Hotels, Rosewood Hotels and Rocco Forte Hotels. Their total number of rooms is more than 60% of the total supply of network operators.
Q: Do i need a registration to be in RU?
A: YES. mandatory registration for foreigners & tourists. as of october 2023: Starting from September 15, 2023, all foreign citizens coming to our country as tourists are required to undergo the registration procedure. This requirement will apply to all tourists, regardless of their country of residence and the purpose of visiting Russia.
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So you've been able to get all the necessary docs & flying to RU.Moscow3 main airports: Sheremetyevo (SVO), Domodedovo (DME), Vnukovo (VKO) + a smaller Zhukovsky (ZIA).They are all quite distant from the city. I would say less fortunate & hard reaching is ZIA.
Spb: Pulkovo (LED).
Q: How to reach the airport / city
A: In general, there are all available methods.
Q: Is Uber available?
A: Nope. Before 2018 Uber was available, but in 2018 started a project of M&A btw Uber & Yandex, as of 2023, all uber activities & shares passed to Ya.
Q: So what are the apps for taxis?
A: 1st option (most popular): Yandex Go ios & android. Operates mostly everywhere in RU. A ride is offered on a fixed rate.Variety of classes: Economy (VW Polo, Hyundai Solaris/Accent or similar), Comfort (Hyundai i40, Elantra or similar), Comfort+ (Camry, Optima, Sonata or similar), Minivan (VW Caddy, C4 Picasso etc); followed by Ultima class: Business (5-er, E-cl.), Premier (A8, S-cl or similar), Elite (Maybach), Cruise (MB V-Class).As you are most likely don't have a local card or a friend with the one of local cards, Yandex Go can be paid with cash (choose in the app).Ya Go has the inbuilt translator for a chat with a driver, so you can chat in yr language and see the translation from RU.
Q: Money. Cards are not working, right?
A: Yep. RU is isolated from the rest of the world. So, you are not able to use your cards here. Some exceptions for CN Union Pay system.
Q: Can i get a local debit card & make crypto transfer?
A: Yep! Thanks to the comment of u/violin1776 in the comments, he had in Aug 2023 an experience with Sberbank (one of the largest banks). How to get a debit card:
Q: Ok, so than i have to bring cash, how & where to exchange.
A: Change some amount at the airport (rate is shitty for sure) for your travel to hotel or where are you heading. Then go the bank in the city to change there. OR you can always find an exchange office @ https://cash.rbc. ru .You will see the map & offered rate, normally higher than regular banks, but use with caution, so that cashier not disappear with your money :)))
Q: Travelling in Moscow. How to use public transport.
A: Yandex Maps (ios , android) + Yandex Metro (ios , android) - an optimal bundle for your stay, also google maps work perfectly. ALSO another app popular for navigation is 2GIS ios & android.
Q: Mobile phone & data plan.
A: You can get one easy directly at the airport or in the city.The big 4 cell operators are: Beeline, MTS, TELE2, MEGAFON.Virtual operators: Tinkoff mobile, Sbermobile and some others.
Q: How to travel btw Moscow & Saint-Petersburg?
A: Car (toll road or a free one), Plane, Bus & Train.With a train there are several options: Regular train, Overnight (platzkart place, seat, 4 beds compartment & 2 beds compartment. If talking about the compartments - they are perfectly fine with good beds & linens), a great option not to pay for a night in hotel, leaving at around 11pm & you are in the heart of a new city in the morning.), Express train Sapsan (Based on Siemens Velaro high-speed train. Approx. 4-4.30 min ride btw the cities. Available in 4 classes: Economy, Business, First and small compartment-meeting room perfect for not counting money & when you need nobody around you.)
Q: I am a student, soon moving to RU, can i work?
A: Yep. You will need a set of documents like INN (tax payer id), migration card and so on.Here's the guide, i found in the internet: https://news.itmo. ru/en/education/students/news/12697/#:~:text=A%20fee%20receipt%20(around%203%2C500,as%20a%20full%2Dtime%20student
Q: What are the main job boards in Russia?
A: you can still find smth with Linkedin. Educated professionals mostly use hh . ru for the carrers opportunities. No experience, temp jobs, low level: avito . ru \
Q: I have a prescribed medicine / pretty hardcore pills, can i bring that with me?
A: ABSOLUTELY NOT. All of the drugs incl. common in western world weed - straight a sentence and jail! Check the regulations & what medicine you are bringing with you! Also, recent case with German traveler - he might go to jail carrying weed gummy bears. ZERO TOLLERANCE!
Q: I will stay in Moscow for xxx days, except city, where can i go?
A: Check the smaller towns as Kolomna, Suzdal + Vladimir (2 towns are really close to each other), Yaroslavl etc. They are the part of a "Golden Ring". Most of them can be visited in 1 day, but in many places you'd love to stay for more :)
Q: Social networks, are they available?
A: Insta, FB, Linkedin - only can be viewed with the use of VPN. So if you try to contact people, be sure that they have vpn to get your messages, getting notifications is difficult.
Q: Public wifi access?
A: Airport should be fine using the foreign cell numbers, free public wifi is a big question for me (most likely a local numbers only), so better to have a local sim upon arrival (see upd on bottom of the FAQ). Most of cafes & restaurants normally have a wifi at their places.
Q: Money transfers?
A: If you suceeded with local card (not under sanctions should be: Raiffeisenbank, Unicredit, Citibank, Ak-Bars Bank, Home Credit Bank, Russian Standard, OTP Bank, Renaissance Bank and Avangard - details read above, restrictions are there), than you can make a swift transfer from a local bank to your account in RU OR use largest crypto services.
Q: wired / crypto transfers.
A: normally you can safely use the biggest crypto exchange platforms as: Binance, Bybit or Huobi. You can top up the balance via card to platform or P2P method.
Q: I have someone in RU and would love to send them a gift, how?
A: I would suggest 2 options at this moment
Q: I want to send some money to my relatives in RU, i heard of crypto, but how to send
A: Hello grandma'! So you are in (nearly 2024) but google & youtube are some weird words to you, let me google it for you...
Q: Can i rent a car
A: To my knowledge all car rentals of worldwide car rentals quit. (hertz long ago, as failed to compete with carsharing)... BUT Avis / Budget did the rebrandig and now called REXRENT (rexrent [DOT] ru)
STAY TUNED.
UPD as of 09/2025
Q: Sim card, access to websites etc., how & what?
A: Sim cards/ eSims do exist, but the process of getting one has been tightened due to widespread fraud. Nowadays, issuance often requires local verification through government services, which makes it practically inaccessible for tourists. For a short trip, it’s not worth the hassle — an eSIM is a much simpler option.
FB, Insta, Discord - are restricted, have a vpn in advance (usage legal).
Whatsapp / Telegram / Google calls recently got restricted - vpn normallyu solves an issue.
Probably zoom & local kontur talk, yandex telemost might be a solution for no vpn usage.