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Questions and answers:

Bran asks: What would it cost to travel on the Trans-Siberian railway for a tourist, and are there any tourist traps to watch out for? How risky is it to travel alone in Russia?
Expert's answer:
You should start by checking the following Trans-Siberain Railway tours, contact them directly to get more info: first, second, third. If you are not an experienced traveler, can't speak Russian, I am not sure going alone is a good idea. It's not that it's very dangerous, it's just that there will probably be a lot of small issues that an organized tour will help you avoid, although it will be more expensive.
Robin asks: Are United State Citizens allowed by my government and or your government to travel to Kemerovo?
Expert's answer:
For US citizens, there are no restrictions on visiting Russia and Kemerovo in particular. The official recommendation from the US government is Do Not Travel. Check the site of the embassy of Russia to the US to get the latest info about obtaining a Russian visa. As of January 2023, there are no direct flights from the US to Russia, so you will have to flight via Istanbul, Turkey to Moscow and from there to Kemerovo.
Viktor asks: I'm not sure if you guys can help, but, as a Brazilian citizen, can I go from Kiev to Moscow to transit SVO Airport in order to board another flight?
Expert's answer:
It is possible. If you don't plan to leave the airport transit area, you don't need a Russian visa. For registration and boarding a flight foreign citizens traveling in transit through the airports of Russia must provide a medical document (certificate) in Russian or English with a negative test result for COVID-19 made by PCR method no earlier than three calendar days before arriving in the territory Russia. You can also contact Sheremetyevo International Airport directly to get more info.
Desmond asks: I speak English and Mandarin only, zero Russian. How difficult would it be to travel alone in Russia? Metropolitans like Moscow and St Petersburg are doing I guess? How about smaller places?
Expert's answer:
If you are an experienced traveler, then you should not have serious problems with traveling in Russia, especially in large cities that are often visited by tourists (Moscow, St. Petersburg), where signs and other information are often duplicated in English. You can also find comprehensive information about almost all places of interest in these cities in English online. Also, modern technologies can greatly simplify your travel, because you can translate almost anything on the fly using your smartphone, as well as communicate using an automatic translator.
LINA asks: We want to visit Moscow and St Petersburgh in December 2021. We are a family of 4 (2 kids under 15). What amount of money are we looking at? (Including accommodation, transport, food, spending?) Is end of November and beginning of December still a good time (weatherwise) to visit?
Expert's answer:
Here are some examples of average prices in Moscow per day (2021): hotel accommodation not very far from the center (2 adults, 2 children) - about 3,000-5,000 rubles per day, restaurant bill - 1,500-2,500 rubles per person, cafe - 600-800 rubles, one metro ticket - 60 rubles, excursions/museums - 500-1,000 rubles per person. The current exchange rate is about 75 Rubles per 1 USD. In late November - early December, the temperature in Moscow fluctuates around zero degrees Celsius, i.e. quite cool, but not cold, most likely there will be no snow yet. Similar weather will be in St. Petersburg. The prices in this city are slightly lower than in Moscow, but about the same for tourists.
Frank asks: Hi I'm trying to take a trip to Moscow. What should I do and what will be the best places to visit? Also is $1,500 enough for one week of vacation for hotel?
Expert's answer:
1,500 USD (about 100,000 Rubles or 14,000 Rubles per night) will be more than enough for accommodation in Moscow hotels for 1 week, check the following list. You can find great information about local attractions, restaurants, here.
Mark asks: I am interested in visiting the city of Novorossiysk. How would be the best way to get there coming from the USA.
Expert's answer:
First you should fly from the US to Moscow. There are no direct flights from Moscow to Novorossiysk, but there are regular daily trains, the trip takes about 24 hours. Or you can fly from Moscow to Anapa (about 2,5 hours) and from Anapa there are regular buses going to Novorossiysk (about 1 hour).
Julia asks: Good morning! I am a American citizen, can I travel Moscow in August? There is any restrictions? By the way, I live in New York.
Expert's answer:
You should regularly check the following official page on the site of the embassy of the US to Russia.
BMS asks: I am interested in visiting the area where my great-grandparents (and older) used to live, beside Lake Koroppi, in Karelia. From what I can tell, there is nothing of their village there anymore, and it appears a remote, rural, and inaccessible area. Any recommendations on a private tour operator who could help arrange such a visit to such a location?
Expert's answer:
You should try to contact travel guides offering their services in Karelia. I have found several lists (first, second, third, fourth). You can use Google Translate to automatically translate sites.
Peter asks: Is there a travel agency named NiztagTur in Sadovaya Talil?? And if so have you got any contact details for me to ring them?? Thanks.
Expert's answer:
I haven't found any info about this travel agency. There are two travel agencies located on Sadovaya Street, you can contact them (first, second). And of course, don't send any help to anyone in Russia before you are absolutely sure that this is a real person (several direct talks using Skype or WhatsApp with a cam turned on should be enough).
Janice asks: What's the nearest international airport to Syzran?
Expert's answer:
The nearest international airport is located in Samara (Kurumoch Airport). From Samara, you can go to Syzran by train, the trip takes about 2-3 hours.
Ernie asks: What is the best way to get to city of Kaluga from USA?
Expert's answer:
At first, you should fly to Moscow. There is a number of trains running from Moscow to Kaluga. This trip takes about 2.5 hours.
Bazza asks: Is Tuva a nice place for a vacation? I have been to Moscow and Novgorod and would like to see more of Russia. In the photos I see, Tuva looks like Norway and Switzerland. I like mountain landscapes and fresh air. I have a health issue and may need careful choices of foods and possibly access to Doctors that speak English.
Expert's answer:
There is a number of fishing/water tours in the Tuva Republic, check the following official site with some tours. If you prefer mountain landscapes, I think visiting the Altai Mountains or Kamchatka (extinct volcanoes in your case) is better. Kamchatka and Altai are also more popular with foreign tourists, so the level of service should be somewhat higher than in Tuva.
NICK asks: Good Evening. I will plan to take a trip to Moscow and St. Petersburg for a period of 8 days with a tourist visa. Can I use a Credit Card or a Debit card for my daily food expenses?
Expert's answer:
In most of the cafes and restaurants in Moscow and St. Petersburg, you can use your debit card (Visa/Mastercard) to pay for the order. However, sometimes there are situations when you can be told that the card payment terminal is broken and you should pay in cash. So we recommend that you also have a certain amount of cash just in case.
Rys asks: Hello, asking about Paratunka, Kamchatka. What app should I use to find prices in all small hotels and motels in there? And is there any ATMs in there? or better take out money in PK? Thank you
Expert's answer:
Check the following lists of hotels available in Paratunka, Kamchatka (first, second, third). You should better take cash (Russian rubles) as the number of ATMs is minimal (found only 1).
Ksenija asks: I need the telephone number of the Tourist Information Center in Krasnodar. Most grateful for any help. Best, Ksenija
Expert's answer:
The contact phone of the Tourist Information Center of Krasnodar is +7 861 218 97 77, the email is tic@krd.ru
Marianella asks: I want to take a city-sightseeing tour, but I can't find this in Saransk, can you give me some other alternatives. I will travel to Russia because the World Cup, my question is if it is better change Euro or dollar? Thanks
Expert's answer:
You can use the following list of sights in Saransk. It doesn't matter if you bring USD or Euro because you still have to exchange them for rubles. It is not recommended to bring cash, it is better to use Visa/Mastercard debit cards, there are a lot of ATMs available. If you choose cash then you should avoid bringing old banknotes, for example 100 USD banknotes of the 2006 series and older, as there may be problem with exchange.
Alexander asks: Hi I am leaving for Moscow soon. I will be taking 2000 USD, will it be enough? Staying for 10 days.
Expert's answer:
If the accommodation is not included in this sum, then this is more than enough to live in Moscow for 10 days, the average salary in the city is about 1,200-1,500 USD per month. Otherwise, it all depends on how much you spend on accommodation.
Walter asks: Hello again. How long it takes to travel from Moscow to Saransk by car? Is the road ok? can we trust google info?
Expert's answer:
It takes about 11 hours to go from Moscow to Saransk by car, the distance is about 689 km. We don't recommend long distance traveling around Russia by car. This is not safe, the quality of roads leaves much to be desired, plus drivers in Russia are not very disciplined. The safest and cheapest way is to go by train. Free trains will be available during the World Cup.
David asks: How to travel from Gdansk to Kaliningrad for World Cup matches?
Expert's answer:
There are regular buses running from Gdansk to Kaliningrad.
Yeung asks: How can we book a car to pick up from airport to hotel? And how much?
Expert's answer:
The following taxi companies in Irkutsk offer their services in the local airport: first, second. You can use this service to translate sites automatically. The cost is about 5-10 USD. The airport is located within the city limits, relatively close to the center. You can also make a request to your hotel, maybe they can provide shuttle service.
Haneeta asks: Hi! We are planning to self drive around the Golden Ring from Moscow. Will Google maps/ GPS work well? Are the road signs in English?
Expert's answer:
Yes, Google Maps and GPS will work fine, the road signs are usually in both Russian and English (for example, the highway from Moscow to Vladimir). The following guides about traveling the Golden Ring by car will probably be useful too (first, second, third). You can use this service to translate the sites from Russian.
Yana asks: I am going to Moscow and Saint Petersburg for a week. Will anywhere about 20,000 rub be enough? Mind that, accomodation, train tickets and museum entrances are already paid. Thanks!
Expert's answer:
It turns out that you will spend money for the most part on food and transport. The average check in a cafe in Moscow is about 1,000-1,500 Rubles, in St. Petersburg - about 800-1,000 Rubles. The cost of 1 subway ticket in Moscow - 55 rubles. So I think that you will need more, something about 30,000+ Rubles. Of course, if you save on everything, buy groceries and cook yourself, 20,000 Rubles will be enough.
Didem asks: We'll be going to Samara this weekend for 5 days to take photographs and write about the city. We'll need a guide and car for about three days. Is there a tourism office? Who can inform us?
Expert's answer:
The following list of Samara guides will probably be useful. Plenty of info about Samara sights. Car rental in Samara. Samara tourist information center. You can use this service to translate sites from Russian.
George asks: The train from Skytyvkar to St. Petersburgh or Moscow, is it non stop? Flight from Moscow to Syktyvkar how long does it take?
Expert's answer:
Here is the timetable of the train running from Syktyvkar to Moscow. The trip takes about 25 hours. The flight from Moscow to Syktyvkar takes about 2 hours.
Romana asks: What about the end of August - is it also a good time to visit Yakutsk? Are there a lot of mosquitos in that period? Thanks :)
Expert's answer:
Yes, it is a good time to visit Yakutsk, although it is already a little bit chilly, the average temperature in August is about plus 15 degrees Celsius. The largest number of mosquitoes is observed in June and July, so in that sense it is also a good time.
Jake king asks: I'm going to Russia soon (Novorossiysk). How do I exchange money there? Do I have to have cash or can I also do it from my debit card?
Expert's answer:
You can use your debit Visa/Mastercard and it is a safer way than carrying cash. In case you choose cash, you should have new 100 USD bills to avoid possible problems with currency exchange in local banks.
Sasha Ali asks: When I'm going to Russia, my cousin told me that I can only exchange the new 100 dollar bill to Russian rubles. Is that true? He told me if you have an old 100 dollar bill and the brand new one with the blue strip they won't exchange to rubles. Also can I exchange like 5, 10, 20, 50 dollar bills too?
Expert's answer:
Officially, there are no restrictions on the exchange of old banknotes, but in practice you may encounter problems. Employees of banks can say that they can not check the authenticity of old notes or simply refuse to do it despite the fact that these actions are unlawful. Thus, you'd better follow your cousin's advice and take new notes or your Visa/Mastercard.
Leticia asks: Hi, what's the best season to go to Altai?
Expert's answer:
Winter is the best time to visit ski resorts, summer - for such outdoor activities as horseback riding, safaris, hunting, fishing, swimming, hiking, rafting, bike tours, hiking, historical and archaeological tours, etc.
Leticia asks: Hi, what's the best season to go to Altai?
Expert's answer:
Winter is the best time to visit ski resorts, summer - for such outdoor activities as horseback riding, safaris, hunting, fishing, swimming, hiking, rafting, bike tours, hiking, historical and archaeological tours, etc.
Nick asks: When is the best time of the year and the best way for a foreigner to visit Karelia?
Expert's answer:
Karelia is beautiful at any time of the year. However, most of the tourists visit Karelia in summer because at this time of the year you can get to the main attractions (Kizhi, Valaam, Solovki) by water. Navigation is open from mid-May to mid-September.
Don asks: What is the process to travel from New York to Zlatoust?
Expert's answer:
The fastest way is to have a flight to Moscow and from there fly to Chelyabinsk (2.5 hours). It takes about 3 hours to go from Chelyabinsk to Zlatoust by train. Another option is to go from Moscow to Zlatoust by train (30+ hours).
rishonmalyankar asks: I want to send a microwave from Eilat Israel to Kirov to my girlfriend home, can it be sent safely and will be received surely there?. Sir, I intend to visit Kirov in May, 2016, how would be the climate at that time? How much is the airfare from Moscow to Kirov and back? Thanks.
Expert's answer:

Post of Russia is not very reliable so sending a parcel with a rather large electronic device is risky and I can't recommend doing it. It is much easier to buy everything in Kirov.

In May, the average temperature in Kirov is about plus 11.2 degrees Celsius, quite warm but still a little bit chilly especially in the beginning of the month. The cost of the direct Moscow-Kirov-Moscow flight is about 4,000-5,000 Rubles. The timetable of Moscow-Kirov flights.

Pekka asks: Where in Saint Petersburg is situated the monument of the lady (shown in 50 ruble banknote)?
Expert's answer:
It is the statue of Neva placed at the foot of the Rostral Column standing on the Spit of Vasilyevsky Island - the eastern end of Vasilevsky Island.
Andrew asks: What is the best way to travel from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky to Anadyr?
Expert's answer:
Unfortunately, there are no regular direct flights from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky to Anadyr. You should have a flight via Khabarovsk or Moscow.
CARL asks: Whats the fastest way to reach Tambov coming from Qatar?
Expert's answer:
You should fly to Moscow, and from Moscow there are direct flights to Tambov available (from Vnukovo airport, takes about 1.5 hours).
M E asks: I'm traveling to Astrakhan tomorrow. So, please propose me a good and non-expensive hotel which is in good area in Astrakhan. Also Please introduce touring and beautiful places in Astrakhan. I'm eager to have a map of Astrakhan city. I'm waiting to hearing from you soon.
Expert's answer:
The following list of Astrakhan hotels will probably be useful. Some info about Astrakhan sights. You can find a pretty decent map of Astrakhan on Google Maps.
Juan Manuel asks: I wonder if it is dangerous to visit Yoshkar-Ola at this moment due the Russian -American confrontation?
Expert's answer:
It is quite safe to visit Yoshkar-Ola. All this confrontation takes place mainly on TV screens and people in general don't behave aggressively against foreigners.
David Ocema asks: How long is the journey from Kirov to Moscow by bus?
Expert's answer:
I haven't found any buses running from Kirov to Moscow, but there are numerous trains. It takes about 13 hours to go from Kirov to Moscow by train and about 2.5 hours by plane.
Jenny asks: Is it safe to travel to Tambov alone from Moscow as an American that can't speak the language?
Expert's answer:
It takes about 8-10 hours to go from Moscow to Tambov by train (the schedule of the trains. It is safe enough to go by train, but be prepared that almost nobody knows English so it would be difficult to communicate with people around. If you have a friend in Tambov, it would be better if he/she comes to Moscow and meets you.
Andrew asks: Is it possible to drive from Murmansk to Archangelsk?
Expert's answer:
Yes, it is possible to drive from Murmansk to Arkhangelsk (details of the trip).
Ann asks: My (adopted) daughter was born in Krasnodar in 1989. We adopted her from the orphanage in Tikoretskt in 1994. She (and I) would like to visit both Krasnodar and Tikoretskt. Can you pls advise an organization which can help us arrange such a visit? Thanks
Expert's answer:
You can contact local travel agencies, for example, try the following one that has an English friendly site.
Elina asks: How to get a rental car in Arkhangelsk? Is there car rental service in the airport? Online cannot find anything.
Expert's answer:
I have found the site of one of the companies offering car rental services in Arkhangelsk, try to contact them.
Andrew asks: Is it possible to drive from Anadyr to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky?
Expert's answer:
At the moment, there is no road between Anadyr and Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. There are plans to build it but the terms are not clear as it is a very expensive project.
Mary Rose asks: Hello, we will stay in Yoshkar Ola in September 2013. We have found an interesting offer to fly from Germany to Moscow and then to Y.O. Is that ok? Or would you prefer to go there by train? Thanks, Mary
Expert's answer:
Yes, it is definitely the fastest way to go to Yoshkar-Ola. But if you want to understand Russia a little better I think going by train from Moscow will be an interesting experience, if you haven't had such trips before of course. There is a daily train leaving Kazansky railway station in Moscow at 16:20 local time and arriving in Yoshkar-Ola at 06:52 in the morning.
Becky asks: Is english widely spoken in St. Petersburg Russia?
Expert's answer:
I can't say that English is widely spoken in St. Petersburg, but the general situation is definitely better comparing to Russian provincial cities and towns. Also it should be mentioned the chance to meet a person who knows English is higher if you talk with young people (for example, students).
Peter asks: I'm going to visit Russia. What city is better to visit - Moscow or Saint Petersburg?
Expert's answer:
I would recommend visiting St. Petersburg at first. The main reasons are that original architecture of the city is preserved much better, the city itself is less overcrowded, there are a lot of museums and other sights.
George asks: What other cities in Russia besides Saint Petersburg and Moscow are popular tourist destinations?
Expert's answer:
In addition to visiting Moscow and St. Petersburg, the main tourist routes in Russia also include resorts of the Krasnodar and Stavropol regions, the Kaliningrad region, ski resorts of the Caucasus and Siberia, a tour of the "Golden Ring of Russia", cruises on the Volga River, cruises on an icebreaker in the national park "Russian Arctic", long trips on the Trans-Siberian Railway with a visit to the Altai Mountains and Lake Baikal, trips to volcanoes of Kamchatka and Primorye.
Sandra asks: Is it feasible to do a day trip to Vladimir and Suzdal from Moscow?
Expert's answer:
I have found several 2, 3 and more days tours of the Golden Ring of Russia including visits to Vladimir and Suzdal. You can use this service to translate the site from Russian.
Randel asks: How far to Yoshkar-Ola from Izhevsk and which mode of transportation is best between the two - car or train? Thank you
Expert's answer:
The distance between Izhevsk and Yoshkar-Ola by roads is about 454 km. The trip takes about 8 hours if you go by car. There are no direct trains running between these cities.
Doug asks: What tour companies offer battle of Boridino / Borodinskoe srazhenie reenactment guided tours as every site lists the 200th anniversary event on differant dates (some say 1st Sunday in Sep some say 7th (a friday??)
Expert's answer:
You should contact the officials of Borodino museum.
H.W. asks: Does Tambov have good places for shooting duck and teterev ?
Expert's answer:
I have found the sites/contacts of several hunting grounds located in Tambov oblast. Try to contact them, check their sites for all the details: Ohota-Tambov-Perm.ru, Hunting ground "The Hill". The following service to automatically translate the sites from Russian.
Fernando Pereira asks: How much for a trip and cultural tour to Kazan city. Thanks.
Expert's answer:
You can try to contact Kazan travel agencies and ask if they can help you in organizing the trip or just answering some questions about costs etc. I have found this list of local travel agencies. This service to translate from Russian.
Andrew asks: Is there a way to drive from Irkutsk to Bratsk?
Expert's answer:
Yes, there is a road between Irkutsk and Bratsk. Here is the discussion about it on one of the local forums and detailed article about the road and main stops. This service to translate from Russian.
Andrew asks: What is best way to travel from Magadan to Anadyr?
Expert's answer:
Not a lot of ways to go from Magadan to Anadyr are available. I have found this flight. And the service to translate from Russian if necessary.
Andrew asks: Is it possible to drive from Komsomolsk-on-Amur to Magadan without having to go the long way around by way of Yakutsk?
Expert's answer:
I have found that the only way available is through Yakutsk. This article may be useful (to translate from Russian).
Robin asks: What is the Golden Ring and why does it have that name?
Expert's answer:
The Golden Ring of Russia includes various tourist routes passing through ancient Russian towns with a number of unique historical, cultural and religious monuments. There are eight major centers - Sergiev Posad, Pereslavl-Zalessky, Rostov, Yaroslavl, Kostroma, Ivanovo, Vladimir, and Suzdal. The author of the term and the very idea of the ring route was the journalist and writer Yuri Bychkov, who, in November-December 1967, published in the newspaper "Soviet Culture" a series of essays on Old Russian towns under the general title "The Golden Ring". The word "golden" is for the golden domes of numerous churches.
RAO A S asks: Hi Greetings! How many Indians live in Yuzhno? Can we get indian TV channels telecast in Yuzhno Sakhalinsk. Internet connectivity in Yuzhno Sakhalinsk
Expert's answer:
Information about internet providers in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. The following TV channel about India is available there (in Russian). Local TV program. I haven't found any info about the Indian community.
Andrew asks: Is it possible to drive from Yakutsk to Magadan?
Expert's answer:
Yes, it is possible. Yakutsk and Magadan are connected by the federal highway M56 "Kolyma". The distance is about 1,995 km. Some info and photos.
Sid asks: Please could you tell me the best route from London, England to Ivanovo, Russia?
Expert's answer:
There are flights from London to Moscow (to Domodedovo and Sheremetyevo airports). Here is the schedule of the trains running from Moscow to Ivanovo.
Maddi asks: How much is it to get into the St. Basils cathedral? If it is even allowable to go in? Also how much is a trip from o'hare airport in Chicago to Domodedovo in Moscow?
Expert's answer:
You can visit St. Basil Cathedral (working hours and prices). The cost of a round trip flight from Chicago to Moscow starts from about 30,000 Rubles.
david asks: What is the best way to travel to Ufa from England?
Expert's answer:
At first, you will have a flight from London to Moscow (Sheremetyevo airport). And from Sherementyevo there are direct flights available to Ufa.
David Poarch asks: Where is Vologda in reference to Moscow? Also, what is the best way to get to Vologda from Atlanta, Georgia U.S.A.?
Expert's answer:
Vologda is located about 460 km north of Moscow. At first, you will have a flight to Moscow. And from Moscow you can go to Vologda by train, the timetable of the trains.
Kera asks: Are there boat rides to to take on the Yenisei? Please put answer on web page
Expert's answer:
Yes, there are numerous cruises available, here is the schedule of cruises.
Dave Antonelli asks: Are there any flights from the United States to Kirov? I am from the Northeastern United States and I am interested in visiting a friend there. What steps do I need to take to make flight arrangements?? Thank-You!!
Expert's answer:
There are no direct flights from the US to Kirov. At first you should have a flight to Moscow (to Sheremetyevo or Domodedovo airports). From Moscow you can go by train - the timetable of Moscow-Kirov trains.
Elizabeth asks: Is English widely spoken in Russia? I am planning a trip to visit Moscow and St Petersburg next year. Would it be too cold to visit in mid May ? Your assistance would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks, Elizabeth.
Expert's answer:

Today, English is the main foreign language in Russia. Most children study it at school, but the final average level is quite low. As a result, after school and even university, few can speak fluent English or at least understand spoken English, the situation with written English is somewhat better. Also more people can speak English in large cities (Moscow, St. Petersburg).

As for the weather in mid-May, the average temperature in Moscow is about +13 degrees Celsius and +11 degrees Celsius in St. Petersburg.

Kale Shantanu asks: How much time does it take to reach St. Petersburg from Ufa? Please suggest me a shortest safest and cheapest way!
Expert's answer:
There are direct flights from Ufa to St. Petersburg available, the price starts from about 5,000 Rubles, time in flight - about 3 hours. Also there is a regular train running between the cities, departure from Ufa: 11:25 local time, arriving to St. Petersburg: 12:40, time in travel - 2 days and 3 hours. I think the best way is to have a flight.
Ralph Christensen asks: Does the city of Yakutia have train service to the rest of Russia? What rout would I take to fly to Yakutia from California, USA?
Expert's answer:
There is no railway connection between Yakutsk and other large cities of Russia, so the best way to go there is by air. At first you can have a flight from Los-Angeles to Tokyo (Japan) and from Tokyo to Khabarovsk (Russia). And from Khabarovsk there are regular flights to Yakutsk.
David asks: What is the best time to travel to Taganrog?
Expert's answer:
I recommend you to visit Taganrog at the end of May - June. The sea is already warm and the number of people is not high comparing to July and August.
Nick asks: Hi, I am planning a 7 week trip to Russia in 2011 visiting Kamchatka and Altai. I would like to join Russian based group for a Kamchatka tour, about 2 weeks walking, in order to practice my Russian. I can understand Russian fairly well, while speaking and reading/writing needs some improvement. Can you recommend some reputable trekking tour operators for these regions who are willing to take a foreigner into a Russian group? Thank you and Kind Regards Nick, Australia
Expert's answer:
I have found several travel agencies offering various Kamchatka tours: first, second, third.
Erina asks:

I'm planning a trip to Ural mountains next spring. We'll come with a Land Rover defender (4x4) and would like to spend some days following tracks in the forest and visiting small villages.

Could you please tell me if there are clubs of off-road drivers (not necessarily Land Rover club, any 4x4 is ok) in that area (Perm or Ekaterinburg), which could give suggestions or even join us?

Sorry we don't understand Russian and should correspond in English. Thanks. Erina

Expert's answer:
Here is the site of the off-road club of Perm city, contacts. The site of the off-road club of Ekaterinburg. You can use the following service to translate the sites.
ehab asks: I would like to ask what is the distance between Izhevsk and Perm by car? Is it safe?
Expert's answer:
The distance between Izhevsk and Perm by road is about 287 km.
siavash asks: How do I fly to Makahchkala from Dubai?
Expert's answer:
You can have a flight from Dubai to Istanbul, there are regular flights from Istanbul to Makhachkala available.
chris asks: How difficult is it to visit your beautiful city Ekaterinburg?
Expert's answer:
It is not difficult at all. The international airport of Ekaterinburg "Koltsovo" offers flights to several large European cities (Barcelona, Prague).
BALVINDER asks: Tell me which is the shortest way to reach Tolyatti,which airlines from New Delhi, economical route, visa for tourist, economical staying arrangement, weather and all other points to be aware for going to Tolyatti.
Expert's answer:

At first you should have a flight from New Delphi to Moscow. From Moscow you can go by train to Tolyatti (departure: 16:10 local time, Kazansky railway station; arrival: 10:56). As for the visa, you will need an invitation from Russia to get it, so you better consult about it with the travel agency arranging the trip.

While staying in the city you should avoid walking alone in the evening and night time, especially not in the center of the city.

Mike asks: I am planning to visit friends in Yoshkar-Ola, and need to know would it be best to fly to Moscow and catch the train from Kazansky Rail Station or fly to Kazan and catch a train from there? Also could you give me some idea on cost, I am travelling on my own from London.
Expert's answer:
The most comfortable way is to go by train from Kazansky railway station of Moscow because the train leaves the city in the evening, you have a night in the train and in the morning you are in Yoshkar-Ola. The ticket prices are about 2,500-3,000 Rubles.
GIANNIS asks: How can I travel to Ivanovo?
Expert's answer:
At first you should fly to one of Moscow international airports. There are several regular trains running from Moscow (Yaroslavsky railway station) to Ivanovo, for example, the daily train #662 leaving Moscow at 22:05 local time, arriving to Ivanovo at 05:02. The ticket price varies from 1,000 to 3,000 Rubles.
Zainal Abidin Ahmad asks: Good Afternoon I'm interested to visit your country. How could I managed to reach your place (Kazan city). Is it safe place for the muslim to visit your place. Hopefully, I could visit your country one day. Thank you
Expert's answer:
If you are going to visit Kazan, there are several international flights available connecting Kazan (Kazan international airport) with Istanbul (Turkey), Frankfurt (Germany). It is safe enough because a lot of people in Kazan and Tatarstan are Muslims. Of course the risks are much lower if you don't walk alone in the evening/night time, especially not in the center of the city.
linda clark asks: How do I get to the nearest airport. I want to visit Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. I need to know how to get there.
Expert's answer:
Yelizovo airport located near Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky offers regular flights to Moscow, Vladivostok, Khabarovsk, Novosibirsk, Magadan.
maximilian asks: I want to go to Bucharest in Izhevsk car in summer, how many are there of miles between those two cities, is it possible to travel safely? thank you
Expert's answer:
The distance between the cities you have mentioned is about 4,000 km, so I think you should be a skilled traveler to have such a trip.
philip asks: Is Izhevsk a safe city to visit as a tourist?
Expert's answer:
According to Russian Newsweek, based on statistics of crimes in 2002-2006, the city of Izhevsk is on the 27th place of Top 50 most criminal Russian cities. So it is not a very safe place, but if you stay in a group, avoid walking alone late at night at the suburbs and other risky activities, you will be safe enough.
manny asks: Closest major airport to Orenburg if I fly from Canada?
Expert's answer:
The airport of Orenburg has regular flights to/from Moscow. So you should fly to Moscow at first.
sever asks: Hello, I need to know, how much costs the traveling in Saratov city and I need the ticket before I go there.
Expert's answer:
The cost of a train ticket from Moscow (Paveletsky railway station) to Saratov is about 2,500-4,000 Rubles. It is better to buy your tickets in advance. You can go by the special daily Saratov train (#009G, time in travel - about 14.5 hours).
Cameron asks: I was thinking of travelling to Salavat to visit a penpal. Is this possible? I live in the UK. What travel documents would I require. Can I freely travel around Russia?
Expert's answer:
You will need to get a visa to go to Russia. Official info about obtaining it can be found on the site of the embassy of Russia in the UK. No additional documents are required to travel around Russia. Also we have a special article about Russian travel peculiarities that may be useful to you.
Asadullah Mukadam asks: Dear Sir, I would like to travel to historic city. I am interested in visiting Samara city. Pls provide me details for mentioned below:
  • How can I get visa for Samara city
  • Pls guide me about hotel accomodation
  • How can I travel to reach Samara city and prefer which air lines
Expert's answer:

There are no special visas for any subject of the Russian Federation, you only need to have a Russian visa. Check the site of the embassy of Russia in your country to get the latest info about obtaining it.

About hotels, here is a nice site with info about hotels in Samara.

And here is the site of Samara international airport where you can find info what the flights available.

shani asks: Do Saransk is good for tourism?
Expert's answer:
If you want to know about the attractions and places of interest, Saransk is among the typical cities of medium population located in Russian province with several churches, cathedral. There are several local museums, monuments to famous people born in Saransk. If you want to know the level of various services for tourists, there is nothing special, usual for Russia low-medium level.
Robert asks: I am going to be traveling to your lovely country what types of clothes i should or should not bring and would it be ok to learn to speak some of your tongue so I might be able to speak to someone.
Expert's answer:

You can bring all usual types of clothes, maybe avoiding very extravagant ones if you are going to visit provincial cities and towns.

And about the language, I think you can learn some typical phrases like Spasibo meaning Thank you, Privet (less formal) or Zdravstvuytye (more formal) for Hello, Do svidaniya for Bye. I am not sure if it is possible to learn the language fast enough to have a conversation on various topics.

Good luck on your trip.

booh asks: Privyet. I would like to know about timetables for the trains from Moscow to Syktyvkar as well as from St Petersburg to Syktyvkar. Thank you in advance.
Expert's answer:

There is a regular train running a couple of times per week from Moscow to Syktyvkar. The distance is about 1,412 km, departure - at 13:05 local time from Yaroslavsky railway station, travel time - about 25 hours.

The train from St. Petersburg to Syktyvkar departs at 10:20 from Ladozhsky railway station several times a week, travel time - about 30 hours. So the train from Moscow would be better in terms of speed, but St. Petersburg itself is a much more interesting city to visit comparing to Moscow.

kay asks: I like to know if any tours from Novgorod to Valday, or if i can take a bus. Thank you
Expert's answer:
I have found a travel agency located in Velikiy Novgorod offering various tours including a tour to Valday. The contact email is servtour@novgorod.net and the contact phones are +7 8162 63 48 01, +7 8162 63 04 58.
keith ejsmont asks: Dear sir I am hoping to visit Karelia the town of Muyezerskiy as I have a uncle there I hope to fly to St Petersburg and go by train to Muyezerskiy is this possible and is it the best way to go?
Expert's answer:
I have found one train going through the town you will visit. The train number is #350A going from St. Petersburg to Kostomuksha, passing on its way the railway station of Muyezka of Muyezerskiy settlement. The train runs almost every odd day of the month (2010). Departure from Ladozhsky railway station of St. Petersburg - 18:25 local time, the train stops at Muyezka railway station at 08:58 for only 4 minutes. Good luck!
Sha'Burntcha Lanelieolis asks: What are the goods and services like in Volga Russia?
Expert's answer:
I am not sure what do you mean by "Volga Russia". Is it about the Volga River cruises, or you mean the exact region/city of Russia. Please provide more details.
henry asks: I love Russia because it is a big Orthodox country... How can I visit Russia? What cities are the most beautiful?
Expert's answer:
First of all you should contact the embassy of Russia in your country to get the latest official info about the documents you need to obtain a Russian visa. If you have never visited Russia, I would recommend to go to St. Petersburg. Of course there are more interesting places to visit like Kazan, Velikiy Novgorod, Yaroslavl, Suzdal, and others.
Gary asks: I need transportation from St Petersburg airport (Pulkovo) to Veliky Novgorod on May 5, 2010 and return transportation on May 11, 2010. Who can I contact and how much does it cost for three adults and luggage?
Expert's answer:

There are several ways of going from the airport of St. Petersburg to Veliky Novgorod.

The fastest one and of course the most expensive is to go by taxi from the airport straight to the destination city. The price is about 4,500-5,000 Rubles (about 70-80 USD).

Another way is to go by train. From the airport you should go to Vitebsky railway station, departure: 7:53, arrival: 13:06 local time. Also you can go to Moskovsky railway station. There are two trains: the first one departs at 8:12 and the second one - at 17:18). Not sure about the price of the tickets but much cheaper than going by taxi.

The third variant is to go by bus. You should go to the bus station at Obvodnoy Canal Embankment. The first bus departs at 7:30; the latest - at 21:30.

Kathleen asks: From the rail/train station in Khabarovsk to the port city of Sovetskaia Gavan - how long is the train ride? Thanks
Expert's answer:
The distance by rail between Khabarovsk and Sovetskaya Gavan is 895 km, time in travel - about 24 hours, the average ticket price is 1,500-3,000 Rubles.
David Martin asks: What are the chances of taking my stallion to Altay to ride and breed ?
Expert's answer:
I think you should better contact specialists, for example, from the following Russian travel agency "Siberia-Altay" offering horses rides (email info@sibaltay.ru). And here is another contact email info@ukok-tour.ru of another Altay travel agency offering horses rides.
Helmut asks: How much a Russian must pay for a passport?
Expert's answer:
If you mean the cost of an international passport, the official fee is 2,000 or 3,500 rubles (about 30-60 USD), depending on the type of passport (for 5 or 10 years).
Oscar asks: Hi, I'm going to the Komi Republic for a summer internship this summer. The internship will be in Syktyvkar and I don't think I'll have time off except for the week-ends. Do you think that I'll have time to see the beautiful nature spots of the republic during the week-ends or are they too far away?
Expert's answer:
The Republic of Komi is rich in various beautiful nature sights, so you will be able to visit several of them located not far away from Syktyvkar. You should better ask locals about all the details.
Reiner asks: Is it possible to travel with my car from Saint-Petersburg to Izhevsk. Is the way safe to drive, how many kilometers is from Saint-Petersburg to Izhevsk. Thanks
Expert's answer:
Yes, it is possible. The distance by roads from St. Petersburg to Izhevsk is about 1,800 km (time in travel - about 29 hours). I think if you don't have experience of such trips and don't know Russian language it will be risky to travel this way.
David Wilson asks: I am visiting Murmansk June 13 to June 17th 2010. I would like to see ships/submarines in the harbor- are there any submarines as part of a museum? What city activities are going on during this period. Thanks
Expert's answer:

I am not sure what ships/submarines will be in the harbor of Murmansk at this time. As for the museums there is one (submarine K-21 of 1941) located in Severomorsk (closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays).

If you go to Severomorsk there is also the museum of Severomorsk city history and fleet (address: Safonova Str., 15, closed on Mondays and Fridays). There is the museum of Russian Northern Fleet in Murmansk (Tortseva Str., 15). I haven't found any special events or activities scheduled for the middle of June.

Farooq Ijaz asks: What is the average cost per month to live in Russia middle class living? Is Russia a friendly country towards American tourists?
Expert's answer:
Cost of living for the middle class is about 1,500-2,000 USD depending on the city/region. In general, Russian people, especially in province, are friendly towards American tourists, can't say the same about Russian officials in some cases.

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