Russia Travel Guide: 6 things not to miss on the Red Square in Moscow Get Much More From Your Trip to Moscow Golden Ring of Russia - Travel Guide St. Petersburg, Russia in brief

Moscow recently topped a poll of the world’s most expensive cities. And, like Russia as a whole, it’s undoubtedly seen a massive increase in the wealth of some of its inhabitants. But not all Muscovites are filthy rich and the trick to visiting the city on the cheap is to keep your eyes open for where your average man on the street is going… And follow them!

See – on a budget

From the point of view of the budget traveler, the best thing about Moscow is the remarkable architecture that lines the city’s streets. Not many cities can boast such a collection of imposing structures, and few are the places where the weight of history sits so heavily. The result is a wonderfully evocative travel destination.

Everywhere you turn in this city, rousing sights and iconic images abound: the Red Square, St Basil's Cathedral and the Kremlin come together to contribute to one of the world’s most dramatic skylines. And, of course, the great thing about wandering the streets is that it’s free.

Moscow also has a couple of attractive parks and gardens: Alexandrovsky Garden, Neskuchniy Garden and Gorky Park (made famous by Martin Cruz Smith’s novel). These can be particularly attractive in winter, when, covered in snow, they capture the city’s stark beauty perfectly.

Sleep – on a budget

As for places to stay: Moscow hostels are not necessarily quite as cheap as you might have imagined. They are, however, of reassuringly good quality.

Nova Hostel, a short stroll from the Red Square is one of the better regarded budget accommodation options. Napoleon Hostel and Happy Home Hostel are also attractive options.

Eat – on a budget

Eating cheaply in Moscow is not the easiest thing to do. Of course, the city now has all the chic, international eateries that it was deprived of for so many years. But they don’t come cheap, and for the traveler on a budget, fast-food is probably the best option.

For something quick and wholesome Moscow-style, head for the green Kroshka Kartoshka stalls that are dotted around town. Here you can get a piping hot jacket potato stuffed with pretty much whatever you can think of.

Another quick and cheap option are the Teremok Pancake Stalls which serve up delicious blinchiki, (essentially Russian crepes). For a sit-down meal of sorts, the cheapest place available is probably Kruzhka, a down-to-earth beer and bar food sort of place that has a number of premises across the city.

Moscow also has a couple of other places to look out for, where it’s possible to eat well (for not too much). These include Rostik’s (American-style cuisine), Russkoe Bistro (cheap traditional fare) and the amusingly cow-themed and ever popular self-service place, Moo-Moo, which has a branch on Stary Arbat.

Party – on a budget

In keeping with a city that seems in a constant state of reinvention, Moscow’s nightlife is incredibly unpredictable. When setting out for a night out, it’s hard to tell exactly what’s going to happen. And that’s half the fun of it!

But along with eating out, drinking is the one thing that’s going to really knock your budget out of sink. Clubs in the city tend to be pretty expensive, and Moscow’s cocktail bars seem to be competing with those of Paris or London for the prize for ‘Most Ludicrously Priced Drink’.

If avoiding the hangouts of the super-rich in Moscow is half the battle, the other half is not getting ripped off in a lap-dancing bar which are both popular, and difficult to distinguish from the outside.

Should you manage to do this, however, Moscow’s reputation as one of the world’s harder-drinking, harder-living cities can unfold before your eyes in gloriously hazy Technicolor. The Arbat is the city’s time-honored artsy, bohemian quarter. In recent years, however, its narrow streets and charming old bars and cafés and become more heavily touristed.

Much of the city’s nightlife is to the north of the city center in the district of Pushkinskaya. Other bars, (and even the odd club) that won't break the bank can be found in the Khamovniki quarter, an area which, particularly on weekends, is rammed with young revelers.

For an even cheaper alternative, Moscow is a city that doesn’t mind standing out and drinking under the stars… whatever the weather! Even in the dead of winter you can see crowds of people, ordering strong drinks (to fight off the cold!) from shabby looking kiosks, chatting and generally having a great time.

About the Author:
Ben Cooper is a copywriter for HostelBookers.com. On his extensive travels, he’s traveled Russia on a tight budget a couple of times, and stayed in a few Moscow hostels.

St. Petersburg – the symbol of European Russia, by right thought to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Unlike the other Russian cities, with their common monosyllabic names, the name “Sankt Piterburh” (how it sounds in Russian) consists of two words, each with its own meaning. Sankt is the Latin for “Saint”, “Peter” is the name of the apostle Saint Peter (which is, by the way, translated from Greek as “the stone”), and “burgh” is the Dutch for “city”. This way, the name of the former Russian capital unites the name of its tsar, its saint patron and cultures of ancient Greece and Rome, Germany and Holland.

The city stands on the Neva River, at the spot where it flows into the Gulf of Finland. The climate is therefore damp – the winter is mild and the summer is rather cool. The city’s northern location is also the reason for such a unique phenomenon as “the white nights”, which can be observed May 25th – July 17th.

St. Petersburg is one of the largest cities in the world, with a population of more than 5000 inhabitants. It is also a large industrial, cultural and scientific centre, an important traffic centre, sea- and airport. It is no wonder that one will find lots of universities, theatres, museums, offices and factories here.

The former capital of Russia (it played this part in 1712-28 and 1732-1918), it faced many important political happenings like the February Revolution and the October Revolution. During the Great Patriotic War the city faced a 900-day siege and, thanks to its heroic resistance to the enemy, was officially awarded with the title of the Hero City.

The city boasts of a great amount of architectural ensembles and is therefore a true magnet for tourists. The Peter and Paul Fortress, Alexander Nevsky Monastery, Smolny Cathedral, Palace Square and the Winter Palace, the Alexander Column, The Bronze Horseman, St Isaac's Cathedral, Kazan Cathedral, The Mariinsky Palace, The Church of Savior on Spilled Blood, the Field of Mars, The Summer Garden and Summer Palace of Peter the Great… the list of St. Petersburg attractions could be continued. In 1960 there was a Piskariovskoye Memorial Cemetery sobering monument built in the city. The suburban attractions are the fountains of Peterhof, parks and palaces of Pushkin, Pavlovsk, Gatchina ect.

Whenever you come to St. Petersburg, you will definitely enjoy it! The city will enchant you with its northern beauty and traditional hospitality. Summer Petersburg is renowned for its white nights, when the sun goes down for just a couple of hours and the rest of night is as bright as a daytime. What a great chance to extend your walks around the city streets! It is in summer that guests like to watch bridges draw.

St. Petersburg is a fabulous view in autumn! Yellow, red and dark-green leaves make this city not only a photography model, but also a magnet for romantic personalities. Autumn is the best time to visit the city suburbs. Their parks and palaces look exceptionally elegant and beautiful during the period.

Winter is good for a calm visit to the city palaces, museums and theatres. The weather is chilly and often slushy, but the number of tourists is smaller, so you are more likely to find a proper hotel room. By the way, the choice of hotels is extensive. Calm halls of local museums will tell you the story of the city, its shows will impress you with a diversity of Russian traditions, Russian character and soul. Hiding from winter in cosy cafes and restaurants is a real pleasure.

Having arrived to St. Petersburg in spring, you will feel all the pleasures of nature awakening, everything breathes with freshness while the ice on the Neva river melts.

Go to St. Petersburg and enjoy its beauty!

About the Author:
Hotels in St.-Petersburg - Reservation of St.-Petersburg hotels. 

WHAT IS IT: The so called "Golden Ring of Russia" is a symbolical ring connecting historical towns and cities to the North-West of Moscow. They represent 1,000 years of rich Russian history written in stone and wood, from a 850-year old church in Rostov to a 19th-century log house in the Suzdal's open air museum. Each of the "golden" towns once played an important role in the history of Russia and was conected in one way or another with famous historical figures such as Alexander Nevsky, Ivan the Terrible, Peter the Great and many others. If you would like to see true, patriarchal Russia, to experience the grandeur of nature and the magnificence of ancient towns then a Golden Ring tour is well worth taking. It is one of the most popular routes among Russian and foreign lovers of old Russian history and architecture.

WHAT TO SEE: The cities and towns of the Golden Ring are listed here in alphabetical order:

Aleksandrov (founded in 1530, population 68,000) - The town is situated 100 km from Moscow on the crossway of ancient roads from the largest historic centers of Russia - Vladimir and Suzdal, Rostov and Yaroslavl, Sergiev Posad and Pereyaslavl-Zalessky. In 1564- 1581 the town was the residence of Ivan the Terrible. In Aleksandrov the tsar proclaimed the establishment of his select, terror-inspiring corps, the Oprichniki and signed the harsh conditions of the truce with Poland and Sweden after losing the long war with Livonia. From Aleksandrov Ivan the Terrible led his army of Oprichniki to strike at the big trade centres of Novgorod, Pskov, Klin and Tver. Here the cruel tsar killed his son in a rage and soon after that left Aleksandrov forever coming back to Moscow. The very first in Russia publishing house was established in Aleksandrov in 1576. One of the leading textile manufacturing centres in Russia in the 19th century.

Bogolubovo (founded in 990, population 4,000) - a tiny quiet town near the city of Vladimir. The town was named after the Russian prince Andrey Bogolubsky (God-loving) who built the first fortified settlement here in 1165. It was a strategically important point overlooking the Kliazma River. Tourists can see remains of the Andery Bogolubsky's residence including some residential chambers of the 12th century and the beautiful Church of the Intercession of the Virgin on the Nerl (1165) which is considered to be one of the finest specimens of old Russian architecture.

Gorohovets (founded in 1239, population 30,000) - The town was founded under Vladimir prince Andrey Bogolubsky. The town is picturesquely settled on the high bank of the Klyazma River. Played role as a fortified forepost until 1600-s. Reached its developmental pick in the 17-th century as a local centre for blacksmithing, textile-making and making of leather and also as an agricultural trade centre for grains and flax.

Gus-Khrustalny (founded in 1756, population 80,000) - Over 200 years ago a merchant built here the first workshop of glass casting. Today the town is one of the district centers of Vladimir region, well-known in Russia and abroad as the national center of glassmaking. The name Gus-Krustalny can be literally translated as Chrystalline Goose. The old part of the town is a workmen's settlement of 1900-s. with its own Church of St. Joachim of 1816.

Kholuy (founded 1650, population 1,000) - The village of Kholui did not begin producing lacquered miniatures until the 1930s, and though iconography had been an important trade in the region in previous centuries, Kholui was never bound to any particular artistic tradition. Rather, Kholui miniatures share some traits with both Palekh and Mstera art, yet maintain a distinctive lyrical quality of their own. As in Palekh and Mstera, Kholui artists use egg tempera paints. Kholui paintings tend to be brighter than Mstera's, though like Mstera, the pigments used are opaque and the background is usually fully painted. Sometimes, as with Palekh miniatures, Kholui miniatures will include some fine gold and/or silver ornamentation within the painting, and Kholui artists can create fantastic border ornaments on par with those of Palekh. Since 1960-s products of Kholuy's 200 artists have been widely represented and promoted internationally.

Kostroma (founded in 1213, population 300,000) - In the past Kostroma was known as "the flax capital of the north"; it supplied Europe with the world's finest sail-cloth. The city has been also called as the "cradle of the Romanov dynasty". Mikhail Romanov, the first of the Romanov dynasty, left the Ipatievsky Monastery for Moscow in 1613 to become tsar of Russia. During the Polish intervention in the turbulent years of the early seventeenth century Kostroma was a significant stronghold for the resistance movement. The city is spreaded on the left bank of the Volga river. Nowadays Kostroma is an important industrial center (textile, metal works), a capital city of the Kostroma province.

Mstera (founded in 1628, population 6,000) - the town takes its name from the little Msterka River, which flows through it merging with the Kliyazma. It is in Vladimir Region, but not far from the border with Ivanovo Region, south of Palekh and Kholui, in breathtakingly beautiful countryside - the one that forms the backdrop to its paintings. Mstera was a respected center of icon production until the trade was banned after the Revolution of 1917. Since then its artists has been creating world-famous masterpieces in the form of lacquered miniatures. Mstera paintings are frequently larger than those from the other schools but some fine miniatures are also produced and because of their rarity are highly prized. Typical themes include exquisite floral designs with lacy gold ornamentation, the traditional fairy tales, traditional activities and events such as a winter festival, and sometimes portraiture.

Murom (founded 862, population 145,000) - one of the oldest Russian cites stretched along the left bank of the Oka river. The town's name originates from "muroma", one of the Finno-Ugric tribes lived here 15 centuries ago. Every Russian knows the name Ilya Muromets. He was a mythical epic hero defending people of Russia and later became a synonym of superior physical and spiritual power and integrity, dedicated to the protection of the Homeland. There is a monument to Ilya Muromets built on a river bank of the Oka river in Murom. The town survived three Mongol invasions. In the 17th century Murom became an important centre of various crafts - building, painting, sawing. There are three working monasteries in Murom. 

TRAVEL TIPS: A passport and a Russian visa are required to travel in or transit through Russia. To learn more about how to obtain Russian visa please visit Russian Embassy website. Without a visa, travelers cannot register at hotels and may be required to leave the country immediately via the route by which they entered, at the cost of the traveler. Russian customs officers strictly follow document regulations so travelers are advised to have all papers in order. It is also recommended that additional copies of passport and visa be kept in a safe place in case of loss or theft. Elderly travelers and those with existing health problems may be at risk due to inadequate medical facilities. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash/dollar payment for health services at Western rates so supplemental medical insurance with specific overseas coverage is very useful. Travelers should be certain that all immunizations are up-to-date, especially for diphtheria and typhoid. Quality of tap water varies from city to city but normally is quite poor. Only boiled or bottled water should be drunk throughout Russia. Crime against foreigners in Russia continues to be a problem, especially in major cities. Pick pocketing, assaults, and robberies occur. Foreigners who have been drinking alcohol are especially vulnerable to assault and robbery in or around night clubs or bars, or on their way home. Robberies may occur in taxis shared with strangers. Be aware that public washrooms are difficult to find, and usually you have to pay there. To use a public phone you will need a token or local card. International calls can not be made from street phones. 

Your mobile phone will work in Moscow and Saint Petersburg but seldom in regional cities. Taxi fee must be discussed with a driver before a journey. In the major cities you can rent a car if you do not mind fairly rugged road conditions, a few hassles finding petrol, getting lost now and then and paying high rent price. Public transport in Russia is quite good, cheap and easy to use though sometimes overcrowded. Restaurants seldom have a menu in English. Tipping is expected but not mandatory. Signs in English are common on the streets of Moscow and other big cities. In large cities it is not hard to find a passerby who can answer your questions in Engish. Electricity throughout Russia is 220 volt/50 hz. The plug is the two-pin thin European standard.

We wish you a safe and nice trip!

About the Author:
For more information, descriptions of main points of interest in every town of the Golden Ring, some photographs and useful links about Russian history please visit us: TravelMake.com