St Petersburg Travel Information

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The Basics

Time: Russia is divided into 11 time zones ranging from GMT +2 in the east to GMT +12 in the west. In summer the time is +1 from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in September. The local time in Moscow and St Petersburg is GMT +3 (GMT +4 in summer).

Electricity: Electrical current is 220 volts, 50Hz. Round two-pin plugs are standard.

Money: The official currency is the Rouble (RUB), which is divided into 100 kopeks. Most major credit cards, like Visa and Mastercard are accepted in the larger hotels and at places that deal with foreign tourists. Currency can be changed at banks, currency exchange booths and hotels. Travellers cheques are difficult and expensive to cash, but if necessary it is advised to take them in US Dollars or Euro. ATMs are widely available in major cities. It is hard to get rubles outside Russia and travellers are advised to take good condition US dollars or Euro notes to change once there. It is illegal to pay for goods or services in hard currency, though it is often accepted.

Currency Exchange Rates

RUB 1.00 =

A$ 0.04

C$ 0.04

€ 0.02

NZ$ 0.05

£ 0.02

US$ 0.03

R 0.26

Note: These currency exchange rates are not updated daily and should be used as a guideline only.

Language: Russian is the official language. Some people speak English, French or German.

Entry requirements:

Entry requirements for Americans: United States citizens must have a valid passport. A visa is required.

Entry requirements for UK nationals: British citizens must have a valid passport. A visa is required.

Entry requirements for Canadians: Canadian citizens must have a valid passport. A visa is required.

Entry requirements for Australians: Australian citizens must have a valid passport and a visa.

Entry requirements for South Africans: South Africans must have a valid passport and a visa.

Entry requirements for New Zealand nationals: New Zealand nationals require a valid passport and a visa.

Passport/Visa Note: Visitors must carry ID at all times whilst in Russia; a photocopy of your passport and visa will suffice. An Immigrant Card will be issued on board the aircraft or on arrival. All visitors staying for longer than three days must register with the local police upon arrival; if staying in a hotel, the hotel will arrange this. Anyone travelling on a tourist visa must hold vouchers from the hotel or travel agency. Exit permits are required on departure. These are usually issued with the visa, or can be obtained at hotels not less than two days before departure. Passports must be valid for period of intended stay.

Travel Health: Travellers to Russia are advised to have up-to-date vaccinations for hepatitis A, tuberculosis and typhoid fever (long-term travellers), as well as medications for travellers' diarrhoea. There is also a risk of tick-borne encephalitis in rural and wooded areas, particularly in the Ural and Siberian regions. HIV/AIDS is on the increase. Measles outbreaks occur. Drinking water should be treated; bottled water is readily available. There is a reciprocal health care agreement with the UK entitling citizens to free health treatment in hospital. Local state medical facilities are of a low standard, however, and visitors are strongly advised to have full insurance for medical treatment and accidents should they require private care. Blood transfusions should not be performed in Russia, due to uncertainties concerning the blood supply. Essential medications and supplies may be limited. There have been outbreaks of bird flu in a number of regions of Russia, including around Moscow, but there have been no reports of human infection. Travellers are advised to avoid contact with domestic, caged and wild birds and ensure that all poultry and egg dishes are well cooked.

Tipping: Hotel bills in the large Russian cities include a 10 to 15% service charge; otherwise 10% is usual. If a service charge hasn't been added at a restaurant, a 10% tip is expected. City Guides and their drivers also expect a small tip and tipping in bars and nightclubs is common.

Safety Information: Travellers are advised against all travel to Chechnya, Ingushetia and Dagestan because of the security situation in the North Caucasus, including the regions of Budyonnovsky, Levokumsky, Neftekumsky, Stepnovsky and Kurskoy. Travellers are advised against all but essential travel to North Ossetia, Karachai-Cherkessia and Kabardino-Balkaria (including the Elbrus area) as terrorism and kidnapping in these regions persist. Between April and August 2008, there was a series of explosions in and around Sochi. There is a high risk of domestic terrorism throughout Russia, particularly in Moscow and North Caucasus, with suicide bombings and explosions in public areas and on public transport, and hostage-taking is a serious threat. Visitors are advised to be vigilant and to watch out for pickpockets and street crime. There has been an increase in crime, specifically targeting tourists, in St Petersburg and visitors are advised to be cautious on the metro and buses, and should insist on seeing official ID from police officers. Political protests often end in violence and detention; visitors are advised to avoid all demonstrations.

Local Customs: Photography of anything to do with the military, strategic sites, or the airport, is prohibited. It is impolite to refuse alcohol, food and gifts. In Russian Orthodox churches, women are advised to wear skirts and cover their heads with a scarf. It is a legal requirement for visitors to carry passports for identification; copies are not sufficient.

Business: Russian business is conducted in a fashion similar to Western countries with subtle differences. Russians are business-minded so it is not necessary to form personal relations but developing a good network of resident associates is a good idea. Dress is formal and conservative and on greeting a good firm handshake and direct eye contact indicates strength. Business cards are exchanged and it's advisable to get a Russian translation of your details on the alternate side. Business hours are generally from 9am to 6pm from Monday to Friday.

Communications: The international access code for Russia is +7. When calling Russia from abroad, the initial zero on the area code must not be omitted. The outgoing code is 8 followed by 10 (a second tone should sound after 8), followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 81044 for the United Kingdom). City/area codes are in use, e.g. 495 for Moscow and 812 for St. Petersburg. Public phones are good for local and international calls; they take phonecards, which can be bought at newspaper kiosks and post offices. Phone booths in airports and major hotels usually take Amex or Visa cards but are generally much more expensive than street phones. Mobile phones work in most large towns and cities. There are numerous local operators using GSM 900/1800 networks, each covering relatively small areas. Internet access is available at Internet cafes throughout the major towns and cities.

Duty free: The following may be imported into Russia without customs duty: 200 cigarettes, 100 cigarillos, 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco products (over 18 years), 2 litres of alcohol (over 21 years), perfume for personal use, gifts up to the value of US$10,000. Tourists must complete a customs declaration form, to be retained until departure, allowing for the import of articles intended for personal use (including currency and valuables) which must be registered on the declaration form. Customs inspections occur. 250g of caviar per person may be exported, with a receipt proving it was purchased at a store licensed to sell it to foreigners and a licence from the Ministry of Economical Development.

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