Russia / Российская Федерация – Let’s explore here
Russia is a transcontinental country – it is located both in Europe and in Asia. Because of this, the information is located both in our European and in our Asian travel destination sections. Don’t worry though, all the information for this amazing country is captured on this page.
Russia is the largest country in the world, with a very long and turbulent history. It’s so large that it has eleven time zones, and cover one eighth of inhabited land on earth! Russia has the most land borders of any country, including Azerbaijan, Belarus, China, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Mongolia, North Korea, Norway, Poland and Ukraine.
Lake Baikal in the east of Russia, is the world’s oldest and deepest fresh water lake in the world; and with over 100,000 rivers, Russia holds one quarter of the world’s fresh water. About half of Russia’s territory is forested, and there are many mountain ranges, mainly along the southern border and in north east Siberia. The highest point is Mount Elbrus in the Caucasus Mountains, close to Georgia, at 18,510 ft (5,642m) above sea level.
Our best places in Russia
Moscow, Russia
So I was fortunate enough to visit Russia when it was still the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. This was during the Cold War, before the Berlin Wall fell, and whilst the Iron Curtain was still in force. I can honestly say that the vast majority of the Russians that I met there were some of the most friendly, welcoming and helpful people that I’ve ever met!
Back when I visited, ration cards were still the norm. if you wanted to buy provisions, you’d queue up to look what there was, the you’d queue up to pay for it, then you queue up again to collect it – super efficient. That said, there were no beggars or unemployed, everyone had access to food and shelter 🤔
I recall being taken to some really great cafés with some lovely ice cream sodas and amazing tea ceremonies. We weren’t chaperoned anywhere – so we explored where we wanted, within the city. We were also taken on a ferris wheel in the centre of Moscow – it was lovely weather when we got on, but freezing at the top! In retrospect I look at the rust on the wheel (see below) with bemusement!
At the time if you wanted to travel outside of the city you’d need to obtain a permit. We were told that this was the case no matter whether you were a citizen or otherwise. We got very lost late one night – it was quite scary at that age. However a group of random Russians saw our plight, chipped in together to give us some of their rationed travel tickets, whilst one of the women put us on a bus and travelled with us to take us back to where we were staying! It was over an hours journey she went out of way to make – we were so grateful 🙏
Moscow State University
We visited Moscow University and the students there were super friendly and immensely curious. I guess that this is no surprise really, as there was an information blackout between their country and the western world.
What currency do they use in Russia?
In Russia they use the Rouble. The use of credit / debit cards issued outside of Russia is now prohibited. Traveller’s cheques are not currently accepted. There are lots of ATMs, although they won’t accept cards issued outside of Russia. It is currently difficult to obtain Roubles from within the UK, you should take US dollars or euros to exchange.
You should make yourself aware of the amount that your bank charges you for using credit and debit cards abroad. Often credit cards are cheaper for purchasing items directly, and for withdrawing cash from ATMs.
What language do they speak in Russia?
They speak Russian in Russia, however due to the size of the country, there are other 35 languages which are used as official languages in different regions of Russia. The country is also home to about 100 other minority languages! English and German are spoken but mostly in major cities and in international business areas.
What time zone is Russia in?
Remember, when you’re planning your next trip to take a look at what time zone it’s in.
Do I need a visa to visit Russia?
We’ve created a dedicated, more comprehensive page on visas, which you should find helpful. Check it out!
What’s it like to drive in Russia?
So back when I visited Russia, most of Eastern Europe was part of the USSR, so driving conditions varied so widely we’d need an entire website just dedicated to it! Also, back then, in order to obtain a car, you had to put your name on a list and wait. If you were deemed as someone it was necessary should have one, you’d get one quickly. Otherwise the wait could sometime become years! Most cars in Moscow at the time were USSR made, so Ladas mostly.
Russia is, of course, massive! In my experience, you can drive for very lengthy periods of time through forests of silver birches without seeing anyone else. There are only around 150 million people in the whole country, making it one of the least densely populated on earth. It’s also very (or extremely) cold in large parts, for much of the year. So lots of snow, cold slushy mud, and some difficult terrain to traverse. It is essential to check out conditions and properly plan should you wish to travel there.
We’ve also created a dedicated page to driving abroad, which you might find helpful 🙂
Is wild camping legal in Russia?
Yes, wild camping is fine in Russia, although you should avoid national parks and natural reserves.
Is it safe to drink water in Russia?
No, it is not safe to drink tap water in Russia. Bottled water is readily available across the country.
If you’ve got some awesome pictures, or some useful info that you’d like to share, let us know!
And don’t forget to check out all the other pictures!