Travel hacks to help you get the most out of your trip to Russia

Russia has long been an enchanting tourist destination. Simply thinking about it brings about images of ballerinas and alluring architecture — displays of blues, greens, and gold within elegance. Indeed, Russia should be on anyone’s travel bucket list.

If you’re planning to visit Russia anytime soon, here is a list of simple travel tricks and Russian travel hacks to make sure you own your trip:

Brush up on Russian 101

English literacy in Russia is good, but there are still places where Russian is the only spoken language. Public signs in restaurants, hotels, museums, etc. have English translations, but this is where your freedom from the language barrier ends.

It is a good idea to brush up on the basics of the Russian language. Simple phrases and a bit of familiarization with the Cyrillic alphabet will really help make your tour easier.

Get a Tourist Pass

A tourist pass, commonly known as City Pass, offers free admissions to museums and even gives you discounts on public transport. You will be able to enter tourist spots without lining up in a queue, you get unlimited calls within Russia using local sim cards, and many other benefits. It costs around 3500 Rubles ($56.50), but you get to save more in the long run.

Getting Around

Russia is a very large country, so navigating it might be a bit daunting at first. Take note of these travel tips and tricks to getting around, including some secret info not many people know about:

• Utilize Public Transport

Your best option for getting around is via public transport. Russia has a well developed public transport system with many options of getting you from point A to point B.

• Forget bus schedules

The bus is a popular commuting option locals use to get to and from work or school. It’s an affordable option and is pretty much comfortable, unless you get stuck in traffic.

Most cities around the world have schedules for when buses are expected to arrive and when they’ll depart. In Russia however, you can forget the bus schedules. The bus will come when the bus comes.

• Taxi Cabs

Taxis are a very convenient option to consider for travelling short distances, but convenience comes with a price. The local government regulates metered taxis to make sure they comply with the standard rates, but cab drivers are known to try and haggle for a fixed price instead of following the meter.

• Ride the Rails

If walking is more your style (which is encouraged as this will help you see more of the city), you can choose to ride the rail system. The rails allow you to bypass the traffic on the road especially during rush hours. Trains leave every 2–3 minutes and the station is open until 12:30am.

A good hack when riding trains, especially when you’re trying to cover long distances while travelling across Russia, is to get a night ride. No, it’s not cheaper than earlier trips, and it also pretty much takes the same time to travel. But what this allows you to do is cover long distances while you bunk in an affordable sleeper compartment. This allows you to save significantly on hotel costs while you snooze along.

• Fill up on gas

Renting a car so you can drive yourself around town is also an option you can take. It’s significantly more expensive as costs don’t just cover the rental, but other things such as insurance and more.

If you do decide to rent a car, it’s always best to fill up your gas tank while you’re in the metropolis. While you’re at it, fill up a metal gas can and take it with you too.

This is because the further you are from the big cities, the more expensive petrol gets. When travelling long distances, you may be passing long stretches of road with no nearby gas stations.

Dine where locals dine

While there’s nothing wrong with dining in lavish restaurants throughout your trip, your wallet might beg to differ.

If you want authentic Russian food and the experience of Russian food culture whilst saving on costs, consider dining where locals dine. This way you are assured that the place is trusted to serve delicious, clean, and affordable food.

By dining where the locals dine, you also get a good whiff of the Russian Culture — something you just can’t always get sitting around in a fancy restaurant.

Don’t hesitate to ask for help.

The Russian community is very cordial, so whenever you are in need of help, don’t hesitate to ask. If you’re unsure who you can trust for your questions, the staff at your hotel, security guards, local police men, etc. should be willing to help you.

It is common for museums to charge more for foreign nationals, which is why it is smart to ask a local to buy it for you. You’d be surprised to know that a lot of locals are willing to help you out.

Research on Common Russian Etiquette

Although Russian society is quite modern, there are many customs and traditions that still remain. One of these is basic Russian etiquette.

In the west, when someone asks how you’re doing, you can always tell them whether you’re doing good or not. In Russia, they expect you to tell them every significant thing that has happened since you last met them.

Also remember to be cautious when taking photos of government buildings and military structures as you can be fined heavily for this.

Remember to dress up. Russians, especially the women, make the effort to dress well. If you want to blend in, be sure to dress up and groom yourself. Don’t forget that the cold in Russia will be nothing like you’ve experienced before so don’t forget to layer up when the weather tells you to.

At the end of the day, your experience will depend on preparation, a can-do attitude, and a trusty travel partner. Have all three, and there’s no limit to how great your vacation can be.