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Understanding Russia Through Film: Essential Movies to Watch Before You TravelAdmit it: almost everything you think you know about Russia, a film told you. And if that film came out of Hollywood, chances are the Russian was the villain: the boxer who feels nothing, the spy with the metallic accent, the gangster with the gold chain. Before you’ve even set foot in the country, you’re […]
How to Get a UK Visa from RussiaGetting a UK visa with a Russian passport is very much possible in 2026 – in fact, Russians have one of the highest approval rates of any nationality. The catch is that the United Kingdom left the EU in 2020, so a Schengen visa won’t get you in. You need a national UK visa: you […]
Taking medicines to Russia: what you can bring, when you need a prescription and how to declare themHere it is in one sentence: the vast majority of medicines you can take to Russia with no paperwork at all. Painkillers, cold and flu remedies, anti-inflammatories, vitamins, antibiotics, blood-pressure or stomach pills… you put them in your suitcase —ideally in their original box— and that’s it. There’s nothing to declare. The problem lies with […]
Russian Banya: What It Is and the Best in Moscow and St. PetersburgThe banya is Russia’s traditional steam bath and probably the most authentic experience you can have in the country. It’s far more than a sauna: it’s a ritual of health and relaxation, but above all a place to socialize with friends and family. If you only visit one, make it Sanduny , in Moscow: the […]
Izmaylovo Kremlin, Souvenir Market and Stalin’s Bunker in MoscowThe Izmaylovo Kremlin, in northeastern Moscow, isn’t the Kremlin you see on postcards: it’s a spectacular replica built between 1998 and 2017 that has become the most photogenic cultural and market complex in the city. Around it you’ll find the biggest souvenir market in Moscow and, just a short walk away, two hidden gems that […]
Moscow Metro: How to Use It, Ticket Prices, and the Most Stunning StationsThe Moscow metro is the fastest, cheapest and most comfortable way to get around the city, and it’s also a tourist attraction in its own right. Even if you don’t speak a word of Russian, you’ll learn how to use it in less than an hour: buy a Troika card at the ticket office, load […]
Moscow Public Transport: Troika Card, Tickets and How to Get AroundThe easiest and cheapest way to get around Moscow is still public transport: metro, bus, electrobus, tram, MCD suburban trains, electric river boats on the Moskva and a couple more urban giants on top. Everything runs on the same card, the Troika , which you can buy at any metro ticket window in under a […]
New Holland Island in St. Petersburg: What to See, How to Get There and Opening HoursNew Holland Island (Новая Голландия) is the only man-made island in St. Petersburg and, arguably, the most original corner of the city centre: a former secret shipyard from the time of Peter the Great turned into an open-air cultural park. It sits right next to the Mariinsky and the Yusupov Palace, entrance is free, and […]
Yusupov Palace: visit, Rasputin’s murder and ticketsYusupov Palace is one of the must-see museums in St. Petersburg and, above all, the actual scene of Rasputin’s murder in December 1916. Its modest yellow façade on the banks of the Moika River hides more than 35 rooms and cabinets behind doors of an opulence that, at its peak, surpassed even the tsar’s. In […]
Zaryadye Park in Moscow: A Practical Guide for Your First VisitZaryadye Park is the most modern attraction in Moscow and has already made it onto Time magazine’s list of the world’s best places. It sits right next to Red Square and the Kremlin, recreates Russia’s main natural landscapes and ends in a spectacular floating bridge over the Moskva River that offers the best panoramic view […]
Essential tourist maps of St. Petersburg (PDF and JPG)In this article I’m sharing the three official maps of St. Petersburg that are worth downloading before your trip: the historic centre, the surroundings and the metro. All three are free, designed specifically for tourists, easy to print at home and just as easy to check from your phone offline. The maps of the centre […]
What to Pack for Russia: A Practical Packing List for MoscowPacking for Russia comes down to six blocks you can’t skip: documents, electronics, cash, medication, season-appropriate clothing and a couple of local essentials . If you’re heading to Moscow —which is the most common case— almost anything you forget can be bought there without trouble, but there are a few things you absolutely have to […]
Russian Circus in Moscow: The 3 Must-See Shows and How to Buy TicketsThe circus in Russia is not minor entertainment: it is a major art form, on the same level as ballet or opera. And Moscow is home to the three most important circuses in the country. If you travel with kids it is a must, but I promise you that as an adult you will also […]
Official Tourist Maps of Moscow in PDF – Free DownloadIf you want to bring a printed tourist map of Moscow, there are two official PDF downloads that are genuinely worth printing: the official tourist map published by the Moscow City Tourism Committee (available in four languages, regularly updated) and the Moscow Metro map in English. In this article I share the direct link to […]
Moscow Tourist Information Offices: the 6 official iMoscow tourist centres and their servicesThe first thing worth doing when you arrive in Moscow is stopping by a tourist information office to pick up a free paper map, ask about public transport and find out about current events. The official offices are now called “iMoscow tourist centres”, they fall under the Tourism Committee of the Moscow City Government, and […]
Tourist Information Offices in St. Petersburg: Where to Find Them and What Services They OfferOne of the first things you can do as soon as you arrive in St. Petersburg is drop by a tourist information office. They give you a free paper map, answer questions about transport, museums and current events, and there’s usually English-speaking staff on hand. In this article I’ll show you where the 10 official […]
Opera and ballet in St. Petersburg: how to buy tickets as a foreignerIf you’re planning to catch a ballet or opera during your trip to St. Petersburg, the first thing you need to know is that buying tickets from abroad has become significantly more complicated since 2022 . The official websites of the Mariinsky and Mikhailovsky still work, but their payment systems no longer accept Visa or […]
Russian Folklore Shows in Moscow and St. PetersburgIf you’re planning a trip to Russia and want to see a Russian folklore show (folk dancing, singing, traditional costumes, Cossacks, balalaikas), as of today (August 2026) there is only one with confirmed performances : the Kostroma Russian National Dance Show in Moscow, and only during the summer season. The Cossack dance show “Bagatitsa” in […]
Bolshoi Theatre Moscow: How to Buy Tickets as a ForeignerIf you’ve been dreaming of watching a ballet or an opera at the Bolshoi Theatre during your trip to Moscow, the first thing you need to know is that buying tickets from abroad has become a lot harder since 2022 . The official website is difficult to access outside Russia (you’ll need a VPN), and […]
What to Eat in Kazan: 10 Tatar Dishes You Must TryKazan has something no other Russian city can offer: the food here isn’t Russian. What you eat in Kazan is Tatar — a thousand-year-old tradition with nomadic Volga roots, heavy Turkish influence and practically no pork. You’ll find stuffed dough in every shape imaginable (triangles, rounds, folded, layered), beef and lamb everywhere, horse sausage and […]