Guide to Russia

The history of Russia is closely connected with the history of the Eastern Slavs and has been documented since 862. The small Moscow principality has become a huge empire thanks to the expansive conquests of the Russian tsars in the last millennium. Due to the fact that it includes a large and only very sparsely populated Siberia, the population density is very low. The majority of Russia’s population is located in the European part.

The vastness of Russia, the rich its offer of natural attractions and attractive places. In addition, there are many monuments that are related to the Russian tsars and their lives, as well as with many important world-renowned artists - architects, composers, writers, painters, etc.

Earlier, under the former regime, it was said: you were not in Russia and you are not 60, so you can not advise. And the fact that someone was in Russia already means that he saw and perhaps understood what was not and is not obvious to many. It has been and still is the result of the enormous contrasts that exist in this country. It is a nuclear power wwhat has the first astronaut, and yet many people are struggling in bad circumstances and asking for the president’s help, just as poor people once asked the tsar for help.

Basic information

Why go to Russia

A guide to Russia has as difficult a role as a guide to the United States or China. Simply put - everything is too much. The visitor should think about what he wants to see - he just wants to get an overview, or go through the selected places in more detail? Anyone who has never been to Russia should start with the first option above - visit the most important cities, the most important and famous monuments and then decide what else he would like to see. There are a lot of them.

The capital of Russia

The capital and most important city of Russia is Moscow. Moscow is located on the Volga River in the European part of Russia and is the seat of the Russian president, government and many world cultural institutions. There are many universities, the headquarters of all major Russian companies and representations of almost all world business companies. The visitor will find a lot of interesting cultural monuments, museums, galleries, but also a lot of opportunities to have fun, eat and drink as well.

States of Russia

Russia is a federal republic, the individual entities are republics, regional regions, federal cities and autonomous regions.

List of republics:

• Adygea
• High
• Bashkortostan
• Burjatsko
• Dagestan
• Ingushetia
• Kabardsko-Balkarsko
• Kalmycko
• Karachayevsk-Cherkessk
• Karélie
• Komi
• Marijsko
• Mordvinsko
• Sacha
• North Ossetia-Alania
• Tatarstan
• Tuva
• Udmurtsko
• Chakasie
• Chechnya
• Chuvash

Republics in their current form were established as territorial units that more or less covered the living space of a national minority. Their origin is enshrined in the Russian constitution, which guarantees them the right to their own official language, parliament and constitution. Other entities of the Russian Federation are determined rather administratively, regardless of ethnic composition.

Flag of Russia

The current form of the flag is from 1993. It has 3 stripes of the flag -from the top white - blue - red, which represent stability, peace and energy ..

Population of Russia

Russia has a population of over 146 million. Russians make up 80% of the population. Other minority populations are: Tatars, Ukrainians, Bashkirs, Chuvash, Chechens, Armenians, Avars, Mordvinians, Kazakhs and Germans.

Holidays in Russia

• January 1 to 5 - New Year’s holidays are
• January 7 - Orthodox Christmas
• February 23 is the holiday of the Day of Defense of the Fatherland,
• March 8, International Women’s Day,
• May 1 Labor Day,
• May 9 Victory Day over fascism
• June 12 National Day
• November 4 Unity Day

Russian sign

The red field shows a golden double-headed eagle with three crowns, an apple and a scepter, which has a white rider on a white shield who kills the dragon.

Time shift

There are 10 time zones in Russia, because the country is quite large and the longitude range is 171 °, which corresponds to a time difference between the easternmost and westernmost tip of the territory of 11.4 hours. However, the time of the zones is not precisely determined by the time zone, due to its respective longitude, and is generally ahead of it, sometimes by up to two hours. Compared to England, it is, for example, 3 hours more than in Moscow.

Currency of Russia

The national currency in Russia is the ruble, which has 100 kopecks. Current coins have values of 1, 5, 10, 50 kopecks and 1, 2, 5 and 10 rubles.

Banknotes are printed in denominations of 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000 and 5000 rubles. 5 and 10 ruble banknotes are being phased out and replaced with coins of the same denomination.

Prices in Russia

Prices vary in different parts of Russia, usually slightly cheaper or like ours. Moscow is very expensive. Fish and vegetables are cheap at the market. However, prices are very volatile due to the unstable exchange rate. In Russia, we find cheaper food than in our country, but clothes or drugstores cost the same.

Visa to Russia

To enter and stay in the territory of a foreign state, citizens of the United Kingdom must meet the conditions stipulated by its laws. The embassy of the given state is competent to communicate the current conditions of entry and residence in the territory of a foreign state. The following information is for basic reference. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United Kingdom therefore recommends that United Kingdom citizens check with the embassy of the visited state before the trip whether the conditions for entry and residence have not changed. More information on the ministry’s website

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/russia/entry-requirements

You’ll need to get a visa from the Russian Embassy before you travel. Processing times are up to 20 business days for standard service or up to 3 business days for urgent service depending upon the visa category applied for and the application itself.As part of the visa application process, all applicants based in the UK aged 12 or over will need to visit a visa application centre to submit biometric data (scanned fingerprints). These are located in London, Manchester and Edinburgh. The Russian government requires biometric fingerprinting from all foreign nationals, including British nationals, when entering Russia. Of course, tourist and travel visas can also be arranged online, for example via website https://travelrussia.su/en/ https://visatoruss.com/, where you will also find other information that you can obtain Visas need to be documented.

Interesting facts about Russia

• Russia is 1.5 million km2 larger than Pluto
• 9 million more women than men live here
• At the narrowest point, Russia is only 4 km away from the USA
• Russia washes a total of 13 different seas
• 77% of Russia’s area is Siberia

Security

In Russia, there is much more crime than us. In real life, however, you don’t feel that much. You don’t have to worry much. If you don’t like a place, don’t go there. In every foreign country, you need to be a little more cautious. Locals do not react negatively to tourists. They will rather not notice you or try to help you. It is generally known that Russia drinks a lot of alcohol. So if you come across a drunk Russian, avoid him and do not enter into a debate with them.

Towards the countryside, crime and the risk of robbery are falling sharply.

Important contacts

Where to call in case of emergency in Russia?

• Fire brigade: 01
• Police: 02
• Rescue service: 03
• Gas leak report: 04
• In Russia, there is a universal first aid number 112, which you can also agree on English. However, if you call a specific service, help will be faster.

Russia’s telephone code is +7

Contacts at the British Embassy in Moscow:

Address:

Ambassador: Deborah Bronnert CMG,  Smolenskaya Naberezhnaya, 10, Moscow, Rusko, 121099

Phone: +7 495 956-72-00

Further contacts can be found at https://www.gov.uk/world/organisations/british-embassy-moscow.ru