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When mentioning Russia, the first impression is always accompanied by words such as the Soviet Union, Putin, fighting nation, vodka, and militarized management.
Our parents and grandparents have always had lingering memories of the Soviet Union. But for us, Russia is more of a textbook knowledge - the world's largest country, a fighting nation that can walk through ice and snow and drink a bottle of vodka.
Later, as Li Jian's song "On the Banks of Lake Baikal" became popular across China, people began to learn about Lake Baikal. And with Russia hosting the World Cup and its favorable visa-free policy, more and more people began traveling to Russia.
Next, I will introduce to you the travel guide to Moscow and St. Petersburg, the two cities worth visiting in Russia.
Moscowcheck the details
Moscow is the capital of the Russian Federation and the capital of Moscow Oblast. Moscow is Russia's political, economic, cultural, financial, and transportation center, as well as its largest comprehensive city, and a cosmopolitan metropolis. Located in the central part of European Russia and the central part of the East European Plain, Moscow straddles the Moscow River and its tributary, the Yauza River. Connected to the upper reaches of the Volga River and its estuary, Moscow is a vital transportation hub in Russia and even in Eurasia, and a major center for industrial manufacturing, science, technology, and education.
Recommended months: May and September
5673 recommendations, 5450 visits
Russian tourist visas are divided into two categories, simply put, group tourist visas and individual tourist visas.
If a qualified travel agency (officially recognized by both China and Russia) handles group visas, you can enjoy visa-free treatment. Just pick up your passport and go.
For individual visas, the price ranges from 700-1200, and the processing time is approximately 15 working days. The application materials are relatively simple, requiring only the original passport, two color photos with a white background, and a completed form.
Go to Bank of China or Industrial and Commercial Bank of China to exchange rubles in advance (make an appointment by phone first), ICBC's price is better.
Then bring a dual-currency card of UnionPay and VISA or MASTER. There are not many places where UnionPay can be used.
The English proficiency rate among Russians is not high. I did a lot of homework before going there and found the Russian names of all the places. But after arriving, I found that it was not so bad. There are powerful translation software and body language that is universally used in the world.
I recommend Google Translate: When communication is impossible and body language doesn’t work, just translate it on your phone and show it to him directly. It’s completely OK.
Prepare a Russian input method on your phone, which will come in handy when making a travel guide. Once you arrive in Russia, it will be more convenient to find places by entering Russian names.
Russia's three major mobile phone operators are Megafon, MTS (MTS), and Beeline. Megafon is recommended. Taobao also sells unlimited data SIM cards at reasonable prices. You can also apply for Belt and Road Initiative packages offered by these operators, which are suitable for users with a single SIM card and phone.
Google Maps: A great tool for traveling abroad. With it, you never have to worry about getting lost. No matter which country you travel to, Google Maps app is a must-have.
YANDEX Map: More maps used by locals, you can also use it.
The power sockets in Russia use the European standard and require a conversion plug, which is characterized by two circles.
The voltage is 220V, the same as ours, so there is no need to worry about voltage issues.
1. Google Maps: Essential for route checking
2. Yandex: The most accurate and clear maps in Russia
3. Yandex Taxi: Highly recommended, the Russian equivalent of Didi Taxi
4. Moscow: The Moscow Metro app, convenient for route checking
Many people are worried about various problems that may arise when entering the country because of language barriers. In fact, there is no need to worry so much. Our visas are formal, so what is there to worry about?
The Russians are indeed a bit slow in handling affairs, so we just have to wait. We are not in a hurry, so we only need to show our passports when entering the country. We don't need air tickets, itinerary or invitation letters at all.
There is no need to fill out the entry form. The customs officer will print it out directly from the system and tear off a white sheet. This is the exit form, which is the same size as your passport and will be given to you by clipping it inside your passport. Don't lose it, as the customs will take it back when you leave the country.
Compared with Beijing time, Russia is 5 hours ahead, which means that 10 am in China is only 5 am in Russia.
There is a White Day Festival in St. Petersburg, Russia, also called the "Summer Solstice". Every year on June 21st, there are 23 hours of daylight a day, which is very magical.
Chinese tourists are exempt from visas for group tours, but require a visa and invitation letter for independent travel.
The visa validity period and maximum stay period are both 1 month, and the issuance date generally starts from the date of entry.
You can apply for a Russian visa through various websites, or through Taobao. The price is around 6XX yuan, and the visa will be issued in 9 working days (note that these are working days). Expedited processing requires an additional 300 yuan, and the visa will be issued in 3-4 working days. If you apply for it yourself, you will need an invitation letter.
Materials needed:
Original passport
Two recent color photos with a white background (35mm*45mm) taken in the last six months
Copy of ID card
Personal Information Form
There is also the issue of invitation letters. You need an invitation letter if you go to the embassy to apply for it yourself. You can ask for the invitation letter from the hotel you have booked.
Moscow and back, 10 days in total (2 days on the road)
City stops: Moscow 3 days + Suzdal 2 days + St. Petersburg 3 days
Suzdal was chosen as the Golden Ring town outside Moscow because it is a town with a long history and the most beautiful ancient city among the "Six Towns of Moscow's Golden Ring".
DAY1: [Hangzhou - Beijing - Moscow]
DAY2: [Moscow] Red Square and surrounding areas
(Kremlin, Red Square, St. Basil's Cathedral, GUM State Department Store, State Historical Museum)
DAY 3: [Moscow] Moscow State University, Cathedral of Christ the Savior, Arbat Street
DAY4: [Moscow - Suzdal] Visit the town of Suzdal
DAY5: [Suzdal - Vladimir - Moscow - St. Petersburg]
DAY 6: [St. Petersburg] Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, Kazan Cathedral, St. Isaac's Cathedral, Statue of Peter the Great, Summer Garden, State Russian Museum
DAY7: [St. Petersburg] Winter Palace (worth a full day or half a day)
DAY8: [St. Petersburg] Summer Palace, Lower Gardens, Catherine Palace
DAY9&10: [Saint Petersburg - Moscow - Beijing - Hangzhou]
If you want to buy cheap air tickets, just check the major apps and airlines every day. Pay more attention and you will get results.
You can buy tickets based on your location, either for entry and exit from Moscow or for entry and exit from St. Petersburg. It is relatively cost-effective to adjust your itinerary based on the airfare.
It is recommended to take the high-speed rail from Moscow to St. Petersburg, because the high-speed rail station is in the city, transportation is convenient, the price is similar, and you can also experience Russia's high-speed rail.
first step:
To buy high-speed rail tickets, go to the official website of Russia's high-speed rail: http://www.rzd.ru/, click the British flag in the upper right corner to switch to English.
Step 3: Before buying a ticket, you need to register with your email address, then enter your departure and arrival destinations, and select the time.
Step 4: Choose your appropriate train or high-speed rail service, and then select a seat at the corresponding price
Step 5: Enter the next step to fill in the passenger's information
Step 6: Payment.
Please note that you must use visa or master card to pay. When paying, the card holder must use all capital letters in English, and there must be a space between the last name and the first name, such as: LI MEIMEI, otherwise the payment will not be successful.
After the payment is successful, you can check your order in your order and print it directly on the website.
Tips:
Information filling notes:
If you enter your name, an error message will be displayed. Don't worry, this is how the Fighting Nation website works. Just follow my instructions. (Except for numbers, all English characters in the following text must be capitalized.)
Last name: Last name
【First name】：name
【middle name】： Middle name, if you don’t have one, write a -. You must write this little dash.
【sex】：gender
【DOB】：date of birth
[citizenship]: For nationality, choose China. It is in the middle position and is difficult to find, so you need to look carefully.
【Document type】: Select ID document, this is your passport,
【document number】; Passport number. Once you fill this in, the error message below your name will disappear.
[Tariff]: If you're alone, choose "full." If you're traveling with two people, it will automatically choose the Russian option, so you don't have to worry about it.
In fact, there is no difference from those in China, but the seats inside are relatively more spacious, and there are cabinets specifically for hanging coats, so remember to hang them up!
There are airport express trains at all major and minor airports in Moscow. If you are at Sheremetyevo International Airport, you can buy your tickets on this website in advance.
Ticket purchase website [https://aeroexpress.ru/en/aero/route/sheremetyevo.html#]
It is recommended to buy the round-trip ticket online, which costs 850 rubles per person. If you buy it on site, it will cost 1,000 rubles round trip.
Save the ticket on your phone or print it out, and scan the code at the airport gate to board the bus.
Tips:
The seats on the Airport Express are free to sit and there are no seat numbers.
The subway stations in Moscow, Russia have long been famous. This most magnificent free underground museum in the world is a place where almost every traveler to Moscow must take photos. It records the history of Russia and carries the artistic glory of the fighting nation.
From reliefs to mosaics to colorful glass, each station has its own characteristics and themes, just like a giant underground history museum with easy access.
Here are some things to keep in mind when riding the Moscow Metro:
1. Unlimited Card: Moscow Metro tickets are divided into four types of unlimited tickets: 1 day, 3 days, 7 days, and 30 days. If you are traveling independently and want to visit many places, you can consider choosing this type.
2. Single-trip card: The single-trip subway fare is 55 rubles regardless of distance. You can change lines at will as long as you do not leave the station.
3. Multiple-entry card: As travelers, most people buy multiple-entry cards. The fees can be found at https://www.mosmetro.ru/tariffs/unity/.
A multiple-use card can be used by multiple people on one card, similar to a recharge amount that can be used repeatedly by a team. However, due to the large flow of people in the Moscow Metro, doing so can easily cause "traffic jams" later on.
4. The subway multiple-ride card can also be used to take the bus. After swiping the card, the screen of the gate will show the remaining number of times.
5. For the Loop Line 5, you always get on Platform 1 if traveling clockwise, and Platform 2 if traveling counterclockwise. For other linear subway lines, you get on Platform 2 if traveling downtown, and Platform 1 if traveling outside the city.
6. The Moscow Metro has ticket checks at the entrance, but no ticket checks are required at the exit gates, which is different from the situation in China.
7. How to quickly find the route or platform you want to go to:
Method 1: Look up at the light box
Method 2: Look down at the ground
Once you arrive at the platform, find out which direction you want to take the train.
Open the subway map on your phone and look at the name of the station or the line you can transfer to at the next station.
If the name of the next stop is too long or does not match the given name, and there is no transfer route, you can look for the next stop or get off at the next stop.
8. "BbIXOA" means "export" in Russian, entrance (вход).
(Line 5, completed in 1952, НОВОСЛОБОДСКАЯ)
(Line 5, opened in 1952, БЕЛОРУССКАЯ)
Picture from tourists@嘎嘎嘎灵
(Line 5, opened in 1954, КРАСНОПРЕСНЕНСКАЯ)
Picture from tourists@嘎嘎嘎灵
(Line 5, built in 1954, KИЕВСКАЯ)
Picture from tourists@嘎嘎嘎灵
(Line 3 and Line 5, officially completed in January 1950, KURPSCKAY)
(Line 5, built in 1952, КОМСОМОЛЬСКАЯ)
Picture from tourists@嘎嘎嘎灵
(Line 5, opened in 1952, ПРОСПЕКТ МИРА)
Picture from tourists@嘎嘎嘎灵
(Line 3, completed in 1938, ПЛОЩАДЬ РЕВОЛЮЦИИ)
Picture from tourists@嘎嘎嘎灵
(Line 3, completed in April 1953, АРБАТСКАЯ)
Picture from tourists@嘎嘎嘎灵
(Line 2, completed and opened to traffic in September 1938, МАЯКОВСКАЯ)
Picture from tourists@嘎嘎嘎灵
You can see that Line 5, the loop line, and Line 3 occupy the vast majority of the area. Almost every subway station is like a palace.
If you are short on time, it is recommended to take the 5th Circle Line, where you can visit the main characteristic subway stations.
Red Square (Kра́сная пло́щадь) is bordered by the Kremlin to the west, the State Historical Museum to the north (with a bronze statue of Zhukov at the entrance), the GUM Department Store to the east, and St. Basil's Cathedral to the south, overlooking the Moscow River.
Red Square is the center of Moscow and a must-visit place when visiting Moscow. It can be said that everything in Red Square has witnessed the long history of Russia, just like our Tiananmen Square, great and sacred.
It is not only a place that tourists from all over the world yearn for, but also a spiritual home that the Russian people are proud of. A military parade is held here every year on Victory Day, and it is also a check-in place for tourists from all over the world to visit Russia.
Transportation: Take the Red Line 1 of the subway to Revolution Square Station.
GUM is located on the east side of Red Square, facing the Kremlin. It is one of the world's top ten department stores. The beige building in the classical European style and the colorful church next to it harmoniously form a beautiful landscape on Red Square.
I spent a few days in Moscow and went to GUM several times, basically to escape the heat, go to the toilet, and eat. It can only be regarded as a beautiful tourist attraction. Among them, the internet-famous ice cream in GUM Department Store is now 100 rubles per cone and can be checked in. It tastes pretty good.
Note: Public toilets in GUM are charged 50 rubles per person.
Alexander Garden is a rectangular park outside the red walls of the Kremlin. Inside the garden is the famous Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The park is the entrance to the Kremlin. Before entering the Kremlin, remember to exchange your ticket at the visitor center and then queue up to enter through the main gate.
【Tickets】
The Cathedral Square complex is 500 rubles, free for children under 16; the Ivan the Great Bell Tower is 250 rubles, children under 14 are not allowed to enter; the Armory Museum is 700 rubles, free for children under 16.
Note: The ticket offices for the Bell Tower, Arsenal and Diamond Hall are all in the Visitor Center in Alexander Garden, opposite the Kremlin gate. Tickets for the Arsenal should be purchased 45 minutes in advance for each show.
Tickets are sold from 9:30-16:30 in winter and from 9:00-17:00 in summer (May 15th-September 30th).
【Opening Hours】
10:00-18:00 (ticket sales from 9:00-17:00), closed on Thursdays;
Ivan the Great Bell Tower: 6 shows per day except Thursdays: 10:15, 11:15, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, and 16:00 (from May 15th to September 30th, an additional show will be held at 17:00. Children under 14 are not allowed to enter).
The Arsenal Museum is open four times a day except Thursdays, at 10:00, 12:00, 14:30 and 16:30.
In addition, every Saturday at 12 noon, there is a performance by Putin's guards on Cathedral Square in the Kremlin.
Ticket-related Q&A
1. Can I only buy tickets for the Armory at the Glass House? Can I buy them at the Armory after entering the Kremlin?
A: Yes, you can only buy tickets at the designated window of the visitor center at the entrance. It is not the same window where you buy and exchange tickets online. Tickets are no longer sold at the entrance of the Armory.
2. Can I visit the Armory and Diamond Hall without buying a Kremlin ticket?
A: Yes, but you can only visit the Arms Hall and the Diamond Hall. You cannot enter the Kremlin complex. There will be ticket inspection.
3. Can I go out for dinner before entering the Kremlin on the day of my Kremlin ticket?
A: It can only be used once. You can visit the Kremlin complex in the morning, then go out for dinner, and then visit the Armory in the afternoon.
The ticket for the Arms Museum is 700, the ticket for the Kremlin complex is 500 (only tickets for the complex can be bought online in advance, and you have to queue up at windows 6, 7, and 8 to exchange tickets), the bell tower is 250, and the Diamond Museum also has a dedicated ticket window, so if you have a lot of people, you can queue up in several lines at the same time, which can save a lot of time.
Regarding the entrance to the Kremlin: There are two entrances. One is the main entrance, which is where groups queue up to enter the complex. Individual tourists can also enter from here. Remember not to follow the group and queue up behind them. Individual tourists have their own queue, but it is impossible to queue up under the pressure of various groups. So you can use the exchanged tickets to squeeze to the front and enter directly;
Another entrance is the small door of the Armory (on the other side of Alexander Garden), which also leads to the building complex. It is recommended to enter from this door as there are very few people.
The most beautiful building in Moscow is probably Saint Basil's Cathedral. The church on the south side of Red Square that is dazzling in the sun and has golden "onion domes" on top is Saint Basil's Cathedral.
The church was named after Vasily, a monk whom Ivan the Great trusted very much at the time.
Ticket price: 350 rubles
【Opening hours】：10:00-18:00 (Closed on Wednesdays)
St. Basil's Cathedral is an Eastern Orthodox church. The rooms inside the church are very small, and almost all the empty walls in the aisles and chapel windows are painted with murals from the 16th and 17th centuries.
Sparrow Hills, located in southwest Moscow, is the highest point in the city. At 220 meters above sea level, it's not particularly high, but it offers stunning views of the city from a height. The Moscow River flows through the foot of the hill, and behind the observation deck is Moscow State University. From the observation deck, you can see buildings such as Stalin's Seven Sisters. During the World Cup, the Luzhniki Stadium at the foot of the hill is also a place for fans to celebrate.
Image from tourists@Tension Vision
Transportation: Take the subway to Sparrow Hills Station. After exiting the station, walk up the mountain along the Moscow River. It takes about half an hour to walk up the mountain. The cable car will not open until 3 pm. If you don’t want to climb the mountain, you can take the subway to University Station, then visit Moscow University first, and then go to Sparrow Hills Observation Deck. This way of walking will save more time and energy.
The full name of Moscow State University is "Lomonosov Moscow State University". The founder of the school, Mr. Lomonosov, was a dual academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. He was a physicist, chemist, biologist, philosopher, and painter (two of his portraits are collected by the Hermitage Museum).
Moscow State University, originally located in the heart of Moscow, is currently the tallest university in the world and, until 1990, the tallest building in Europe. Moscow State University is the largest of the "Seven Sisters" Stalinist buildings, and its main building is truly magnificent, considered Russia's answer to Tsinghua University and Peking University. While you can visit the university grounds, you are not allowed to enter the individual buildings; you can only tour the campus.
Transportation: You can take the subway directly to University Station, and then go to the Sparrow Hills Observation Deck to enjoy the view of Moscow CBD from a distance.
Notice:
The Moscow State University campus is open, but each building requires a student ID or pass to enter.
To enter the main building, you need a student of the school with a main building pass to guarantee the registration of visitor information and deposit the passport before you can enter.
There are people on the observation deck dressed in cartoon character costumes who will hug you and invite you to take photos. This is not free!
There are such people in almost every tourist attraction, and the charging standards vary. If you don’t want to pay, remember to stay away from them.
