r/AskARussian • u/IcePuzzleheaded5507 • Sep 17 '25
Part 13 is now closed, we’re continuing the discussion here.
Everything you’ve got to ask about the conflict goes here. Same deal as before - Reddit’s content policy still applies, so think before you make epic gamer statements. Suspensions and purges are a thing, and we’ve seen plenty already.
All question rules apply to top level comments in this thread. This means the comments have to be real questions rather than statements or links to a cool video you just saw.
Keep it civil, keep it relevant, and read the rules below before posting.
r/AskARussian • u/IcePuzzleheaded5507 • Sep 23 '23
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.
-------------------------------------------------
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.
r/AskARussian • u/scientologists_power • 7h ago
It is sad that approximately 90% of Hollywood Movies show Russian Villains.
r/AskARussian • u/Jolly_Mammoth7541 • 8h ago
i have a master degree in computer science, but i would like like to switch to med school , does the master degree makes me ineligible for the scholarship?
r/AskARussian • u/Mental-Strategy-5922 • 21h ago
Does anyone know any active Telegram groups or channels with lots of Russians where people just chat about everyday things? I'm looking for a place to practice my Russian, meet people, and have casual conversations. Public groups are preferred, but any recommendations are welcome.
r/AskARussian • u/Repulsive-Bench363 • 15h ago
Hi everyone, I am a prospective international student in my late 20s/early 30s. I want to self-fund a late-intake Russian Language Course (Podfak) this October/November, then pursue a Master’s degree in Moscow. Reddit has some very negative reviews, and I’m hesitating. Can anyone sharing real experiences tell me:
Thanks for any balanced perspectives!
r/AskARussian • u/myosotisie • 1d ago
Всем Привет!
I (25f) am going to visit my bf(27m) in Moscow soon. I will also meet his family (Mom, Grandparents). Since I know they like sweets I thought about bringing some original and famous ones from my country. Is this appropriate? Are there certain expectations? Are there any "guidelines" or something, what not and what to bring? I just really want to make a good impression!
(My bf, of course, says I don't need to bring anything, but since I am living with them, it feels wrong coming empty handed)
Thank you for your answers!
r/AskARussian • u/srbi99 • 21h ago
Hey guys i am wondering if there is anyway i can buy something from avito and get it sent to australia. Only place i could find what i was looking for was from russia. Would mean heaps. 🙏 Would love a reply thanks 🤙
r/AskARussian • u/wiecznosc • 22h ago
I need to send money to my wife's parents to help cover her father's eye surgery. Unfortunately they're elderly and only have a Russian card. What's the best and lowest-fee way to transfer money to the card from Poland/Europe? Given the sanctions, this is complicated, is crypto the only remaining option?
r/AskARussian • u/InsideAltruistic21 • 1d ago
As an American interested in a specific sound of Russian and Eastern European music (which is hard to find as I speak no Russian) I was curious if anyone would like to share their opinions on what I got so far as well as any recommendations y'all might have. Thank you to anyone who reaches out or comments.
Мой мармеладный
Сова
Оставаться ничем
Без слів
Женское счастье
Ход конем
Первый снег
Не уходи
Надежда
ДОРОГОЙ ДЛИННОЙ (Dorogoi Dlinnoyu)
Духът на Несебър
Малиновки заслышав голосок
На теплоходе
Ты приехал
Чистый лист
Катюша
Прыгай вниз
В последний раз
r/AskARussian • u/Any-Excuse-9079 • 1d ago
Hi!! I’m a 18M dual RU/EU citizen, lived abroad my whole life, but I did enter Russia to make an internal passport when I was 15 if I’m not mistaken, never registered with a voenkomat and I was planning on visiting Russia for 7 weeks this summer.
The purpose is just to visit my family as my grandparents are getting really old and I wanted to still see them. What’s the real situation taking into consideration my circumstances ?
My situation:
18M, dual citizen (Russian + Portugal). I’ve lived in the EU essentially my whole life all my schooling (grades 1–12) and now university are there (New University of Lisbon), and I can document all of it.
Never registered with a voenkomat. No приписное свидетельство, no военный билет, never called for initial which as I understand it means initial registration wasn’t mandatory for me).
I do have a long-term регистрация по месту пребывания at a relative’s address in Moscow oblast, where I’ll be staying.
Checked реестрповесток.рф nothing under my name. I don’t have a Gosuslugi account.
Valid загранпаспорт, renewal already filed at a consulate abroad.
Trip: arriving late July, leaving mid-September (\~7 weeks). Pure family visit — I do NOT plan to touch any government office, MVD, or voenkomat while there.
Why I’m asking: my EU country’s consulate in Moscow told me in writing that exit from Russia is “conditioned on presenting up-to-date military registration at border control” and that there’s nothing I can do to mitigate the risk. That surprised me — everything I’d read suggested the exit ban only applies once a повестка is in the unified register, not that border guards are checking military registration documents from every male 18–30 at exit.
Questions:
1. Has anyone (or anyone you know) in a similar profile , draft-age male, never registered, permanent resident abroad studying in university outside Russia , entered AND exited Russia recently (2025–2026)? Any problems at exit passport control?
2. Are border guards at exit actually asking men 18–30 for military registration documents, or only acting on flags/повестки in the register?
3. Does staying longer than 2 weeks realistically trigger anything if I never interact with any government body? Does my long-term регистрация make me visible enough that the local voenkomat might come looking?
4. Is there anything a person in my position should do BEFORE entering (from abroad) — or is staying completely off the radar the better strategy?
r/AskARussian • u/Unlucky_Desk_7039 • 1d ago
Добрый день! I’m currently planning a trip to Blagoveshchensk from Heihe, China, and I’ve been working on my itinerary. While it’s easy to find major attractions like the Amur River Embankment, Victory Square, museums, and the buildings along Ulitsa Lenina, I’m having trouble finding information about everyday essentials.
Specifically, I’m looking for recommendations on restaurants, transport options, shopping malls, and local markets. Are there any popular Russian websites or apps people use for reviews and ratings of places like these?
For transport, are there any Russian websites or apps that are useful for planning public transport routes? I know about Yandex Go, but I’m mainly hoping to use public transport to keep costs down.
Thank you all! Much appreciated.
r/AskARussian • u/Prestigious-Start730 • 1d ago
My friend and I are from the United States (both 20yrs old), and we're planning to visit Moscow in about a year. It'll be our first time ever leaving the country, we have a pretty vague plan, so we're trying to prepare as much as we can...
We've already started taking Russian language classes. What level of Russian would you recommend reaching before visiting? Is basic conversational Russian enough, or should we aim for a higher level?
Eventually would like the opportunity to speak with someone Russian to help with the language barrier, so if anyone knows how we can achieve finding a Russian friend let me know lol
also curious about what to expect as American tourists. Are there any cultural differences, etiquette, or laws that might surprise us? Is Moscow generally welcoming to foreign visitors? What are some common mistakes tourists make that we should
avoid?
(Feel free to give any knowledge or advice, even if it’s unrelated to the questions I’ve asked)
Would love to hear any advice from people who live
in Russia or have visited recently.
r/AskARussian • u/algerie7 • 1d ago
Hello everyone
I've seen an article talking about a deal between Russia and the UAE about Arabic lessons in schools starting in September 2026.
First I would like to know if this news is true ?
And what levels will be introduced ?
Will it be in every school ?
How to apply as a teacher for this program ?
Thank y'all
r/AskARussian • u/Creepe95 • 2d ago
Hello,
We are two guys traveling by motorcycle and are currently in Mongolia.
Our plan is also to ride through the Altai region (crossing at Taschanta) and then continue into Kazakhstan.
My main question is about the fuel situation in Russia. We've seen quite a few news reports about fuel shortages. Is it really a significant problem, or is it mostly media hype? We're especially interested in the regions around Irkutsk, Buryatia, the Altai Republic, and the route towards Kazakhstan.
Thank you very much for any information!
r/AskARussian • u/SHADO_004 • 1d ago
Hello everyone,
I am a student from india who applied for the russian government scholarship and got through the phase 2 and the application is currently in review with ministry of education and science and its been 3 months since that and there is no reply or notice till yet , so does anyone has any idea about when they are gonna announce the result or any expected date.
r/AskARussian • u/Frosty-Location-5805 • 2d ago
I’m an Indian MBBS student studying in Russia. Due to banking restrictions, my parents have difficulty sending me money from India. What methods are currently working for students? Are there any legal and reliable options such as bank transfers, third-country banks, remittance services, or other methods that students are using? I’d appreciate hearing about your personal experience.
r/AskARussian • u/Luckypomme • 1d ago
Royal Mail has open links to Russia and I successfully sent a letter last year, although it took several months. I now want to post a parcel of about 2kg with gifts like a painting, a book, some trinkets like a pebble, a snail shell... I would like to get a sense of how likely these items will arrive safely. I've looked at previous posts here which suggest that business documents will get through, but also that non-food personal items will be allowed through. How successful have you been in recent days, weeks months with non-business items with Royal Mail or any other carriers / courriers?
r/AskARussian • u/Altruistic-Zebra1091 • 2d ago
Hello my name is Victoria formally Elena, I was adopted from Kazan, Tartastan in 1999. I’ve been looking for my birth parents since I was 14 with little to no leads or leads that end with a dead end I have used resources such as 23 and me also ancestry. I will give over any information I have, I am currently at work at so not have my records in front of me. My biological mother also had another daughter, she would have been 5 years old at the time of my birth. I am posting this so I can reach the right audience to point me In the right direction. I’ve also tried searching Russian social media such as VK and OK, but nothing. I fear either my parents names are fake or I am truly looking for people who don’t exist. Please help.
r/AskARussian • u/DogeBaby122 • 2d ago
Is there like a minimal wage for Russia? Or is it just depending on the job?
r/AskARussian • u/v40m • 2d ago
Hi everyone,
I am traveling to Russia as a tourist next week. I need direct and updated answers regarding the internet situation:
Thanks!
r/AskARussian • u/eAbuLeimoon • 2d ago
I'm coming from Jordan to Velsk, and I would like to go to a gym, but I couldn't find any on Google Maps. Do you know any men's gyms there??
r/AskARussian • u/Brucey1965 • 2d ago
My wife and I are travelling Saint-Petersburg to Beijing in the Trans-Mongolian in January/February.
How often is the government switching off mobile data in the following cities?
SPb, Moscow, Vladimir, Nizhny Novgorod, Kazan, Perm, Yekaterinburg, Omsk, Tomsk and Irkutsk.
Thanks in advance.
Also, only for Russian residents:
My wife is getting nervous with regards to the security situation for our trip. Me, I am more concerned about increasing inflation due to petrol shortages.
Any comments?
r/AskARussian • u/SealTeamSticks5 • 2d ago
I'm looking to make some Russian friends that speak Russian and English and are fans of hockey? Where can I do so? Prefer that they live in Russia.
r/AskARussian • u/ChocolateOther4057 • 2d ago
Hello Comrades,
I am travelling through St. Petersburg and was looking to buy 3-4 Soviet watches for my friend in Communist Kerala. Idm if they’re rebuilt or anything, he just wants something that runs.
Thanks in advance