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Russian traditional Food

WHAT IS SPECIAL ABOUT RUSSIAN FOOD

Russian cuisine is commonly misunderstood. Locals in Russia eat far more than potatoes and vodka! The food here is complex and inspiring.

The flavors in typical Russian foods play on every part of your taste buds and the style here is rooted firmly in fine dining techniques. Local cooks have mastered seasonings to create a truly unique style of cooking that has inspired so many other European nations.

Given the size of Russia, there are local variations to many of the traditional Russian dishes based on what is agriculturally available. Only about 14 percent of Russia is suitable for agriculture, but foraging is popular throughout the country.

That said, some things remain the same across Russia, like their love of sour flavors and root vegetables. Mushrooms, sour cream, beef, and buckwheat are Russian food staples.

MOST FAMOUS RUSSIAN FOOD

Pelmeni (Russian Dumplings)

This traditional Russian cuisine dates all the way back to the indigenous Siberian people. Pelmeni are Russian dumplings and they are one of the most beloved foods in the country. In fact, many consider this the national food of Russia.

Russians eat Pelmeni all the time as they are super versatile! You will be able to find this typical Russian food in restaurants and street vendors throughout Russia.

These delicious dumplings come with a wide range of fillings, but they always start the same. Pelmeni begins with flour dough, rolled into thin rounds, and then stuffed with luscious fillings.

Common fillings include mincemeat, mushrooms, or a blend of the two. Russian dumplings are included in other dishes like soups and stews, but they are also enjoyed in sauce or on their own.

TRADITIONAL RUSSIAN FOOD

Ikra (Caviar)

Russia is home to the Caspian Sea, which is renowned for the sturgeons that live there and the caviar that they produce. Caviar is an essential part of Russian cuisine.

Red caviar is enjoyed by locals in Russia all the time, but black caviar is reserved for special occasions. This famous Russian food is often enjoyed with crepes or small toasts for a rich and decadent snack.

Smetana (Sour Cream)

Most Russians cannot picture mealtime without this rich dairy product. Smetana is a popular dairy product similar to sour cream only with much higher fat content.

This creamy Russian food can have as high a fat content as 42 percent! All that milkfat makes this sour cream extra thick and luscious. Smetana is eaten by Russians with breakfast, lunch, and dinner!

Stroganina (Russian Raw Fish Delicacy)

This delicious food in Russia celebrates the wonderful Siberian fish available to locals. It is the product of ice fishing during the early fall.

Chefs expertly cut raw frozen fish off the bone in tasty ribbons. This traditional Russian dish is a true delicacy that may be rare to find. If you get a chance to try it, Stroganina is simply delicious!

Gribnoy Zhul’yen (Mushroom Julienne)

Mushrooms are an amazing food that can thrive virtually everywhere, even in the cold climate of Russia, this makes them a common ingredient in Russian cooking.

One of local Russians’ favorite ways to eat mushrooms is in Mushroom Julienne; a luscious dish made from mushrooms baked in smetana and finished with a thick topping of cheese. The cheesy topping gets wonderfully thick and crisp when baked and the smetana and mushroom mixture is lush and creamy.

You can easily find this typical Russian food in restaurants and homes throughout Russia.

Borodinskiy Khleb (Russian Rye)

This wonderful Russian bread is found in households and restaurants nationwide. It takes some serious baking know-how to make rich Russian rye bread, but well worth the effort.

This delicious bread uses rye flour and a touch of beet sweetness, but the real trick is the starter. This dough for this classic Russian food staple is made using a starter dough that adds loads of depth and a slight sour note to the rye. Russians eat this bread at all times of the day. It is used for cold-cut sandwiches, toasts, and more!

Holodets (Meat Jelly)

Russia is home to a huge population of Orthodox Christians and this means that Christmas and Easter time are extra special. Many special dishes are made around these holidays, including Holodets or cold meat jelly.

This traditional Russian cuisine has been served on special occasions in the country for centuries. It is typically made with pig’s feet that are cooked down in liquid and then set in a special mold. The natural gelatin in the animal’s feet helps this mold set into a meaty jelly that can be enjoyed on rye bread or crackers.

RUSSIAN FOOD: SALADS

Salat Olivye (Olivier Salad)

This awesomely flavorful potato salad has been exported all around the world and is beloved for its delicious vegetable flavor!

Olivier salad is typically made with boiled potatoes, peas, pickles, carrots, onions, eggs, apples, and sometimes meat. It is dressed with mustard, seasonings, and mayo to make one of the most flavorful mash-ups in history.

It is a must-have dish when celebrating New Year’s Eve, or Novy God, but no matter the day this classic food in Russia is a sensation!

Seld Pod Shuboi (Herring Salad)

Russian cold salads are world-renowned and for great reason, they’re amazing! One deliciously layered salad locals love to eat is Seld Pod Shuboi. Its literal translation is “Herring under a Fur Coat,” and that funny name helps capture the spirit of this crowd-pleasing Russian cuisine.

This local favorite is made by layering pickled herring and cold vegetables, typically carrots, onions, and beets. The whole salad is dressed with mayonnaise and seasoned with spices and herbs like dill. This popular dish in Russia is a fixture at most local gatherings and special events.

Vinegret (Beet Salad)

Russians know that the key to a good party is food and that is why the tradition of zakuska or a celebratory buffet is so popular. Many traditional Russian foods are designed to be part of a zakuska like Vinegret, or cooked beet salad.

This colorful cold salad is a delicious and naturally vegan appetizer that locals cannot get enough of. The salad features beets, cooked potatoes, carrots, onions, and either sauerkraut or pickles. It has all the pickled flavors and crunchy textures you could dream of in a salad!

Salat Mimoza (Mimosa Salad)

One famous Russian food that always completes the party is Mimosa salad. This delectable cold salad is a mainstay at Russian celebrations and get-togethers. This party-ready dish is made up of layers of canned fish, hard-boiled eggs, cheese, and onions, and it’s all dressed in mayonnaise.

This classic Russian dish is a must-have for any Easter celebration. Its fun flavor and bright color will make you bloom with springtime joy!

RUSSIAN FOOD: PIES

Kulebyaka (Fish And Egg Pie)

This beautiful dish is a classic piece of Russian cuisine. Kulebyaka is a traditional Russian pirog or pie made with a wonderful savory filling. This traditional Russian food will fill you for hours with its rich, protein-packed filling.

The basis of this pie in Russian is always sturgeon, often sourced from the Caspian Sea, mixed with buckwheat, eggs, mushrooms, onions, and dill. Kulebyaka is considered a high-end dish and elevated versions of this pie can be found in restaurants throughout Russia.

This dish is so well-loved that famous French chef Auguste Escoffier had one bite before deciding that this Russian delicacy become one of his specials!

Kurnik (Chicken Dome Pie)

Pies are staple foods in Russia, but they may not look like what you’re expecting. Russian pies tend to be domed or even occasionally free-form, like their sensationally comforting Kurnik or chicken pie. This delicious dish is what Russians eat when they want comforting and casual flavors, like chicken, eggs, onions, buckwheat, or rice.

Locals have a love affair with this pie that runs so deep that they typically make it for weddings. Two pies are gifted to the couple, one for each spouse. The kurnik are decorated and served to the new couple as a show of their love and bright future.

Luckily, you don’t have to get married to try this delicious pie. It is served at restaurants and homes across Russia so everyone can enjoy this tasty goodness.

Karelskiy Pirozhok (Karelian Pie)

The region of Karelia is on the Finnish edge of Russia and this region is known for some of its unique food traditions. One of the most famous dishes to come out of this area is the Karelskiy Pirozhok or Karelian Pastry. This flavorful hand-held pie is enjoyed throughout Russia, Finland, and beyond.

This wonderful savory pie is made with a rye crust and filled with rice, potatoes, and butter. It is enjoyed as a snack or breakfast in Russia. They are a wonderful testament to all the great regional dishes of Russia.

Rasstegai (Savory Hand Pie)

This popular Russian food dates back to the times of Russian Tsars. The name translates to “unfastened” which is the perfect name for these open-filling pies. They are shaped into knot-like forms that burst with luscious fillings made from fish, meat, liver, rice, or mushrooms. One bite of this perfect hand-sized pie and you will feel like a Tsar!

RUSSIAN FOOD: DINNER

Befstroganov (Beef Stroganoff)

People around the world are familiar with this famous Russian cuisine. It’s a humble dish traditionally made from seared beef, mustard, and smetana, but many variations exist. The most common addition to this Russian dish is mushrooms

This is a local classic that is enjoyed in households and restaurants throughout Russia. Its simplicity makes it endlessly accessible and wonderfully delicious to all Russians.

Kotleta Po-Kiyevski (Chicken Kiev)

During the 1800s Russian nobility took to the French style of cooking, and started to popularize dishes with a more French influence. One of the most famous of these French-inspired Russian dishes is Kotleta Po-Kiyevski or Chicken Kiev.

Chicken Kiev is made up of a pounded chicken cutlet that is breaded and then stuffed with garlic, butter, and herbs. It’s a flavorful dish that is sure to get your mouth watering! This luscious Russian food can be found at high-end restaurants throughout Russia.

One of the fun facts about Russia is that Chicken Kiev actually originated in France, but was made by a chef who was from Kiev.

Golubtsy (Stuffed Cabbage)

What Russians eat when they want a bite of nostalgia is Golubtsy or stuffed cabbage. It is a friendly dish that fills you with comforting flavors and textures.

This easy yet full-flavored dish is traditionally made by steaming cabbage to soften the leaves, then filling them with a delicious filling. The leaves are rolled shut and baked in a rich sauce, often including smetana.

The fillings are usually rice or buckwheat based with pork, vegetables, and herbs, so your taste buds and appetite are satisfied for hours!

Makarony Po-Flotski (Navy-Style Pasta)

As the name implies, this popular Russian food began at sea. Navy-style pasta was originally

Religion in Russia

Russian Orthodoxy

Once you become more acquainted with Russian culture you will realize the large role that religion plays in Russian society. Since the 11th century, Slavic people were pagan, but after Duke Vladimir Krasno Solnyshko (Red Sun) decided to become Christian, he immediately baptized the entire population, sometimes even using force. Afterwards, somehow Russian people fell in love with Orthodox Christianity and its respective rituals have become an inspiration to them. Since the authorities of the Tsar had always been very religious and thus strongly supported Orthodoxy, the Church prospered throughout the country. There was a huge movement to build churches and temples all over Russia; the beauty of these buildings impressed Orthodox Christians and other religions alike. The grandest temples are concentrated in the heart of Russian Christianity in the central region and capital of the country - Moscow.

It is well known that Orthodox Christianity is a strict religion with lots of rules, fasts and restrictions in comparison with the Baptist or even Catholic faith. Nevertheless, in Russia people accepted Orthodoxy and nowadays many people are still very devout.

A Brief History of the Russian Orthodox Temple

A church or a temple is a spiritual building made for the passing of devotions, built and consecrated in a special manner. In Christianity a temple is a house of God, a place for prayers.

Traditions of building temples were developed during a time span of hundreds of years. Most often Christian temples look like a cross, which in its Eastern form has crosses of equal lengths, from above. The most famous Christian temple was Saint Sophia's Cathedral in Constantinople, the capital of Byzantine. Its round domes became an example for future architecture endeavors of Orthodox temples. Round domes and arches symbolized eternity and perfection, and were designed to make their observers more ‘spiritually aware.’ Icons with the image of the Mother of God were usually hung in apses near the altar, and images of the Lord's Supper were placed on the altar. The Christian temple usually has three distinct parts: the vestibule, a middle part and the altar. Most temples of Old Russia were built with five ‘onion’ domes.

It is necessary to get the blessing of a church hierarch to build a new temple. Once it was constructed, a new church or temple was consecrated in honor of Jesus Christ, of the Mother of God or of one or a few saints. A single-domed church or cathedral symbolized God; two domes were symbols of the divine and human nature of Jesus Christ, three domes – the Trinity, five domes – Jesus Christ and the four Evangelists. A temple with seven domes symbolized the seven church sacraments, nine domes - the nine angelic titles, and with thirteen domes – Jesus Christ and his twelve apostles.

The form and color of a dome are also very important in religious symbolism. Domes in the shape of a helmet symbolized the fight of Christianity against forces of evil; the shape of an onion is also the symbol of the flame of a candle that, in turn, symbolizes the immortal soul. Golden domes signify divine glory, and crown most of the main cathedrals located in big cities. Temples consecrated in honor of the Mother of God have blue domes with gold stars, which symbolize the Star of Bethlehem. Domes built in honor of the Trinity have green domes, and temples consecrated in honor of saints have green or silver domes.

Walls of Christian temples are always painted with images of biblical themes: the creation of the world, the life of Adam and Eve, the Lord's Supper and the Last Judgment. Usually above their arcs are images of the four Evangelists, and in the arcs are images of apostles, saints and prophets. Images of martyrs are usually painted on the columns.

The structure of Christian temples is designed with the following rules in mind: the altar is always placed an the eastern end and the level of its floor is a little higher than the others halls of the temple. It is also the main part of the temple, meaning that only men have permission to enter inside. The middle of the altar is the place from which devotions are told. Important sacred objects (a cross, the Bible, a tabernacle, a pyx and a corporal – a piece of silk with the image of Jesus Christ being placed into the coffin) are kept here. The back wall of the altar is occupied by the iconostasis: a partition with rows of icons. Choirs are located along the walls of churches and cathedrals. The western part of the temple is intended for people yet to be baptized but who are going to adopt the Christian faith and for people who are confessing their sins.

Russian Orthodox Services

Divine services held in church are an expression of the people's beliefs and of their love for God. During these services priests wear special clothes that can be different colors (yellow, white, blue, red, green, violet or black with silver) depending on the kind of service. The main divine service is the liturgy that is prefaced by seven actions throughout the day: the evensong, the midnight service, the Matins and four more services. This round of services signifies the gratitude people have towards God for rescuing them from their sins and the sin of mankind in general. The Orthodox Church also has occasional religious rituals. These are services connected with religious sacraments (christening, wedding and burial services, among others).

The ritual of Orthodox services was created centuries ago, in the first Orthodox capital Constantinople. The Orthodox Church has three daily divine services throughout the day. Also it is divided into different sacraments: receiving communion, the christening, the extreme unction, the anointing, the wedding and the ordaining. Besides these sacraments, there are also special divine services devoted to different religious holidays. The daily divine services last throughout the entire day. The evening services consist of the devotion of the ninth hour, the evensong and the complin. These devotions signal the thanks people grant God for that day and their request to save sleeping people during the night. The morning divine services begin at the midnight service, which is devoted to the second advent of Jesus Christ. The next service is the Matins that symbolizes the thanks people grant God for the previous night and the consecration of the new day. The third part of the morning service is the service of the first hour. This divine service, like services of the third, sixth and ninth hours that follow it, are short and consist of a few psalms and devotions.

Vespers are passed in temples at night before Sundays and religious holidays. The most solemn Vespers take place before Christmas and Easter and most of its devotions are dedicated to these holidays. The tradition of divine evening services is very ancient: it appeared because legends claim that Jesus Christ and his apostles often prayed only at night time. Furthermore, Christian people, who lived in the first years A.D., had to pray and pass divine services secretly and at night because of their fear of persecution by the Romans.

During the first part of the Vespers, priests remind people of Old Testament stories and the choir sings psalms about the creation of the world and offers up prayers about forgiveness. The second part of this divine service is the Great Suffrage, which is devoted to asking God for help. It is a general service in which all people take part, and it always begins because of the massive appeals coming from churchgoers to pray all together. During the Great Suffrage a priest reads seven secret devotions at the altar and a choir sings psalms about righteous men from the Old Testament and about Jesus Christ. Next, a choir sings a hymn glorifying God and priests go around the ceremony participants with a thurible (a vessel in which incense is burned) and candles.

The next action of the vespers is a group of general devotions to the Mother of God and all saints (John the Baptist, Saint Nicolas the miracle-worker, Saint Cyril and Methody to name a few) for the needs of all humanity. Afterwards, the morning part of the vespers begins: a priest speaks about the events of the New Testament and the theme of devotions changes from the penance to spiritual joy. The choir sings about the birth of Jesus Christ and reads six psalms about divine mercy. Finally, the most solemn part of the vespers begins. Priests light all the candles and all go inside the temple, symbolizing the apostles, who came to the grave of Jesus Christ and knew about his resurrection.

Every Orthodox Church has a bell tower. Many people think bells are traditional Orthodox musical instruments and organs are traditional Catholic instruments, but in fact bells entered Old Russia from Catholic Europe and organs appeared in Orthodox Byzantium.

Now Orthodox temples usually have a lot of bells of different sizes. Big bells are used rarely, only during especially solemn or tragic events. Others are rung during divine services and religious holidays. First, the bells were tetrahedral, but from the 10th century on they became round. The church's specific regulations determine the order and the melody of the ringing of bells, for example the slow ringing of one bell is called the church-going bell: it is an invitation into the temple and a sign that a divine service is about to take place. During the Great Lent, the ringing of bells is reduced to a minimum. Earlier, bells were used only to call believers for devotions. But now the bells are rung several times a day – atmosphere is, after all, very important.

How to Behave in an Orthodox Church

All visitors to Orthodox churches, including those who do not adhere to the Orthodox faith, must be respectful. At the entrance of the temple, men must take their head-dresses off (this includes hats, bandanas, scarves, etc.) and women, on the contrary, must cover their heads with shawls. At the threshold of the temple people should stop for a moment, cross themselves, using their right hand and bow. These actions are external manifestations of the beliefs of Orthodox people. Of course, if you are not Christian you don't have to cross yourself, but it would be good idea to enter the temple slowly and quietly. Stop for a moment before entering, concentrate on the idea that you are going inside a spiritual place, then go ahead. When you enter keep silent, don't speak with each other unless it is absolutely necessary. Do not discuss what you see around with people inside. If you speak, do it quietly, ask questions only to the ladies, who are working inside the church. You usually will find them at the end of the hall, where candles and some other church items (such as icons, small crosses and silver chains) are sold. If you are entering a monastery, the rules could be even stricter. Women shouldn't wear a short skirt or pants, although some places will provide a long skirt to wear over normal clothing. The church rules regarding head covering also apply here.

When people accept blessings from a priest, they should cross their hands on their chests, putting the right hand on top of their left. When they kiss icons, they shouldn't kiss images of Jesus Christ, the Mother of God or saints to their faces. Each icon can be kissed only once, even if it has images of more than one person. Of course this information only applies to religious adherents, who believe and attend the service with certain expectations. If you entered the church because of cultural interests, you do not have to participate in these rituals.

In addition, Orthodox visitors can place candles in the churches. This practice is actually open to everyone, but if you do not believe in such things than this practice is of no use. However if you feel like doing this – go ahead. You usually can buy candles inside the temples and should light them from other candles that have been already lit. Candles lighted for the health of somebody can be put in front of any icon; candles lighted for dead people must be put only in front of a crucifix. Also keep in mind that all divine services in Orthodox temples in Russia are held in the Old Slavonic language; this does not sound not like normal speech, but more like a song. One would think that the speech would be full of spirit, but the Orthodox Church is solemn and doesn't allow much joy. People behave like they are suffering or just very calm; visiting the church for them is more like an obligation. For believers, this is not a place to meet your friends or praise the Lord and have joy. In summary, all people should behave simply, naturally and respectfully toward other visitors, when visiting an Orthodox Church.

Judaism

Historically, Russia has always had a fairly large Jewish community, despite government sanctioned persecution of Jewish believers before and during Soviet times. This religion has held a sad place in Russian history because Jews were often pressed by the Russian Orthodox Church. The Russian Orthodox Church was always the main religious branch and had an enormous amount of power, and consequently Judaism suffered the most. Many Russian Jews had to immigrate to other countries. Thus nowadays Jews won't express their beliefs too widely or publicly, even though government-sanctioned persecution has ceased. Nonetheless, in Saint Petersburg there is a relatively large Jewish community and they have a big choral synagogue, which is located on Lermontovsky, 2. A visit to this religious building is probably the best way to find out about Judaism and its practices in Russia today.

Buddhism

Over two and a half thousand years old, Buddhism is one of the three oldest religions. The head of all Buddhists is the Dalai Lama, which literally translates to "the Ocean of Wisdom". In Russia, Buddhism was first adopted by Buryats, one of the many types of Mongolian people who settled on Russian lands. The year 1741 is considered the official arrival of the religion in Russia. After this date, Buddhism spread to many different Russian groups, including the Kalmyks and Tuvinians. This religion also suffered during Soviet times: many temples were completely destroyed and Buddhist monks were executed. Fortunately in the 1990s, Buddhism received official recognition and began to flourish. 

Islam

 

If you keep up with current events, you will know that Islam has been made out to be a dangerous religion; in its purest form, however, the religion itself is very fair, balanced, and peaceful. In Russia, Islam is prevalent, especially in the country's southern regions. The religion also has lots of followers in the other parts of Russia, including St. Petersburg. You can find information about the Russian-Islam community in St. Petersburg at the Cathedral Mosque, which is located on Kronversky prospect, 7. Besides being an educational experience, visitors find this Mosque to be visually beautiful. It is one of the biggest mosques in Europe and can accommodate up to five thousand people. The first floor has a vast hall reserved for male worship only; the second floor is for women, and the third is where Sunday school classes are held. Here it is possible to study the Arabic and Tatar languages, as well with the basic pillars of Islam itself.

Shamanism is actually not very wide spread nowadays. The religion has spread through Central Asia and many people have adopted Shamanistic practices. The religion developed the most in the Tuva Republic, which is located near Altai and borders with Mongolia. For the past ten years Shamanism, along with Buddhism, had a rebirth in the Tuva Republic. At the moment there are about 170 Shamans residing here. In Tuva many people tend to believe in the Shamans and ask their help and advice about everyday matters. But the Tuva population is not the only group of people following Shamanism, people from all over the country travel large distances to the Tuva Republic in order to ask wise Shamans for help. Tuva is definitely a unique and impressive region, where you can hear the Shamans’ magical tambourine, see their enchanting dances and experience the ritual of rejuvenation called "The Wheel of Time". This practice includes meditation and ritual bonfires as well as seances of clairvoyance and discussions with the dead. There are a few centers in the Tuva Republic where you can get closer to the basis of this religion. Here Shamanism is based on close contact with nature and on the connection between human nature and wisdom. But if you encounter "Shamans" anywhere else in Russia or in the world for that matter, be careful, because they are not always authentic and tend to be more like cults, which unfortunately gives the religion a bad name.

Travelling by Air

Travelling by Air Inside Russian Federation

Travelling inside Russia By AIr is the Most Easy and Fastest Method,  The Fares are relatively cheap and affordable, Many Airlines Exist on this Market and They offer competitive Tarifs.

The Air Routes allow you to Travel to Big and Middle City's all over the Russian Federation. 

All the Operating Company's have their Own Website and you can Check the Fares on their Website, we will do a list of them in this Article.

You can Buy Tickets for Less than $50 For Many Directions, Airlines tarifs of Internal Flights inside Russia are affordable.

The Main Russian Airlines Company's are :

- Aeroflot

- S7 Airlines

- Utair

- Rossiya

- Ural Airlines

Network of Russian Airlines Routes

Traveling by Train Inside Russia

        Booking tips :

• Booking opens 90 days ahead for most trains.  From April 2019, a handful of trains including the Moscow-St Petersburg Red Arrow and (for summer) all Sapsan trainswill open up to 120 days ahead.

• Train fares in Russia are not particularly expensive, although there have been significant price rises over the last few years.  Moscow-St Petersburg on a top-quality firmeny sleeper train such as train 1/2 Krasnaya Strela costs around 3,200 roubles.  On a lower quality Moscow-St Petersburg overnight train such as train 56, you can find kupé tickets for as little as 2,260 rubles, platskartny berths for 1,400 rubles, though I'd still recommend taking the better trains.

• Look for trains described as firm, short for firmeny which is the top quality category of long-distance fast train with the most modern coaches and a high standard of on board service.

• Russian fares vary by season.  Higher fares are charged at Easter, New Year, July & August, lower fares in January & February.  Higher fares are charged for the fast high-quality firmeny trains, lower fares for slower unnamed low-quality trains.

• On the best trains you can buy tickets either 'without services' (no meals) or 'with services' (meals included, either served in the restaurant or in your compartment).  A number against a knife & fork logo on the Real Russia booking system or a 'У' with a number in the 'category' column on rzd.ru indicates the total number of meals you get with a 'with services' ticket, it might be just one or two even on a journey lasting several days.  An example of the sort of meal served can be seen in these photos from the Moscow-Irkutsk-Vladivostok Rossiya.

• Trains used to run to Moscow time in Russia, even where local time was 7 hours ahead of Moscow, and Russian rail timetables used to show Moscow time for all stops.  However, after over a century RZD Russian Railways ended this practice in August 2018, and you should now find online booking systems and station timetables showing local time at each stop.  It makes things a lot easier to understand!

• Children:  In Russia, one child aged 0 to 4 travels free, children aged 5 to 9 travel at half fare, children aged 10 and over must pay full fare.  Important:  Note that unlike trains in most of Europe, on Russian trains even infants and babies travelling for free must have a (free of charge) ticket with their name on it.

Buy tickets online at rzd.ru...

You can also now buy Russian train tickets direct from Russian Railways at www.rzd.ru which now has an English version.  It's a bit fiddly and not as user-friendly as Real Russia, but there are no fees and it does work if you persevere.  It accepts some overseas credit cards, though not all.  It may currently reject US-issued cards, though perhaps not all.

How to buy tickets at the station

The cheapest place to buy Russian train tickets is at the station reservation office.  Here are some tips:

• Remember to take your passport, even if you only want a Russian domestic train ticket.

• Russian train reservations open 60 days before departure, you can't buy tickets before reservations open.

• Russian Railways have an efficient computerised reservation system, and you can book any journey within or out of Russia at the reservation office at any Russian railway station.

• To avoid language problems if you don't speak Russian, it's a good idea to learn the Russian alphabet so you can write down the journey and date you want to show to the ticket office staff.  When writing dates, use roman numerals for the month, or example for '3 June 2008' write '3 VI 2008'.

• People often ask me, "If I go to the ticket office the day before I want to travel, will I find tickets available?".  Well, if you know the Russian alphabet, you can check how many berths in each class are still available on any train on any date within the next 60 days using the Russian Railways website, www.rzd.ru.  So you could see how many berths are left today on trains from (say) Moscow to St Petersburg tomorrow or the day after.  This will give you a pretty good idea of how many places are likely to be available if you ask at the station a day or two before departure.

• Many main stations have a 'servis tsentr' (service centre) where you pay a small fee (about 100 rubles) to book your ticket in a relaxed air-conditioned environment.  The extra 100 rubles can be well worth it!

Security.  Are Russian trains safe for families or single women?

Yes!  There is no need to worry unduly about security on Russian trains, even for families or women travelling alone. How do you think Russian families or solo women travel?  By train, of course, like everyone else!   Just use common sense as you would in a hotel, locking your door at night and not leaving valuables unattended in your compartment.  In addition to the normal lock on the compartment door, 'Spalny Wagon' and 'kupé' compartments have a security latch which stops the door opening more than an inch or two, and which cannot be released from outside.  There's also a safe place for your bags at night - if you have a bottom bunk, there is a metal box underneath the bunk which you can only get to by lifting up the bunk - in other words, for anyone to get to your bags, they will have to shift you off your bunk first..!  Your provodniks will probably also lock the access doors at each end of the corridor at night to prevent unwanted guests.  Men and women share the same compartments in Russia, but it's generally quite safe for women travelling alone.  If you're a woman and find yourself in sharing with three men that make you uncomfortable, just ask the provodniks (carriage attendants) if they can move you.

Travelling inside Russia by Bus or Car

Travel By Bus inside Russian Federation

In this Article we will talk about the possibility's to Travel by Bus inside the Russian Federation and the cost that it's involve, also we will list the Main Bus company's to Travel inside Russia and also to Arrive From Abroad to Russia.

The cost to Travel by Bus is significantly Lower than the cost to Travel by Car if you are alone as the expense for Fuel are divided, this is logic.

City Transport

In Russian cities and towns you can get around by metro, bus, tram, trolleybus, and private fixed-route taxi. There are underground systems in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Nizhny Novgorod, Samara, Kazan, Yekaterinburg, and Volgograd. The larger the city, the higher the fare. In Moscow one journey will cost you 57 roubles*, in St. Petersburg 55 roubles*, in Yekaterinburg just 32 roubles.* A journey by public road transport (bus, trolleybus, tram) will cost you 57 roubles* in Moscow, 50 roubles* in St. Petersburg, 30 roubles* in Kazan, and 22 roubles* in Tomsk. 

Students on full-time courses at Russian universities can purchase tickets on public transport at discounted prices. Passengers pay cash in fixed-route taxis and no discounts are offered. Discounts for students: monthly travel with a student social card costs 5 times less than a regular ticket. As soon as you get a student card, arrange a student travel or social card (depending on the city). Learn more in the "Benefits for Students in Russia" section. Before you receive your travel card, you can still save on regular travel cards using various tariffs. It is not worth buying tickets for 1 or 2 journeys. A travel card for several journeys (5 or more) will work out cheaper: the more journeys you purchase, the cheaper they become. In Moscow, you can also buy a travel card at the "90-minute" rate, which allows you to make as many journeys as you like within an hour and a half, using both the underground and/or public road transport.

Similar tariffs apply in other Russian cities as well. Tickets on public road transport can be bought from the driver, but they will be much more expensive than from ticket offices or special kiosks.

Public bus transportation companies in Russia tend to be government-owned, either locally or regionally. Some of the bus companies in Russia’s larger cities include the following:

• Chelyabinsk (Челябинск): Obshchestvennyy Gorodskoy Transport (Общественный городской транспорт) (in Russian)

• Kazan (Казань): Transportnyy Goroda Kazani (Транспортный города Казани) (in Russian)

• Moscow: Mosgortrans (Мосгортранс) (in Russian)

• Nizhny Novgorod: Nizhegorodpassazhiravtotrans (Нижегородпассажиравтотранс) (in Russian)

• Novosibirsk (Новосибирск): GorElektroTransport (ГорЭлектроТранспорт) and Novosibirsk Avtobus (Новосибирский автобус) (both websites in Russian)

• Omsk (Омск): Omskiy Avtobus (Омский автобус)

• Rostov-on-Don (Ростов-на-Дону): various companies with no central authority or service provider. Rostov Transport has route and fare information in English.

• Saint Petersburg: Gorelektrotrans (Горэлектротранс) and Passazhiravtotrans (Пассажиравтотранс) (both websites in Russian)

• Samara: SamaraAvtoGAZ (СамараАвтоГАЗ) (in Russian)

• Yekaterinburg (Екатеринбург): Gortrans (Гортранс)

There is no set system of fares for bus transportation in Russia. Some cities have a uniform fare, regardless of mode; others have bus-specific pricing or even route-specific pricing.

Payment methods also vary. Moscow, for instance, encourages contactless fare collection through a bank card or smartphone, while other cities are strictly cash-only domains.

Driving your Own Car Inside Russia

Who can drive in Russia?

If you’re staying in Russia for less than six months, you can use your foreign license; a Russian translation is necessary, though. Whenever you drive in Russia, you must show anInternational Driving Permit( IDP) along with your foreign license, or another type of authenticated Russian translation. You can apply for an IDP your home country, which provides a translation of your license into nine languages.

If you’re moving to Russia as an official resident, you’ll need to exchange your foreign license for aRussian driving licencewithin 60 days after receiving Russian residency.

You also need to meet the minimum legal driving ages as set out by Russian road law: 18 for cars and 16 for motorcycles. You won’t be able to start driving in Russia below this age, even if you have a foreign license already.

Who needs a Russian driving license ?

To apply for a Russian driving license, your local State Road Traffic Safety Inspectorate (GIBDD) can provide information. In Moscow, for example, you’ll need to provide the Moscow Road Policeyour passport and Russian visa, a medical certificate obtained from your doctor, your foreign driving license, and a photocopy of the license signed by a notary.

If your foreign license is valid, you’ll only need to take a Russian theory test. If it has expired, you’ll have to pass the practical driving exam, too. The process is cheaper than in many European countries. However, it can be tricky; you can only take the theoretical and practical tests in Russian. Read Expatica’s guide for more information on getting a Russian driving licence.

Requirements for driving in Russia

The State Inspection for the Safety of Road Traffic (GIBDD) is Russia’s traffic police division, although many people still call it by its old name – the GAI. When driving in Russia, random vehicle stops are common for checking that you’re carrying the appropriate documents and that they’re up to date.

Russia operates a zero-tolerance for drinking laws in Russia. Alcohol checks are most common on weekends and Monday mornings; if you fail a test, you’ll need to give a blood sample. There are also some areas in Moscow where saliva tests to trace narcotics are being trialed.

Russian road rules require you to carry the following when driving in Russia:

• A warning triangle

• Headlight beam deflectors

• First-aid kit

• Fire extinguisher

• Spare light bulbs.

You should also carry your Russian driving licence or international driving permit, proof of auto insurance in Russia, passport and proof of vehicle ownership. If you fail to carry these items you could face a fine.

Road and car taxes in Russia

An annual vehicle tax is payable in Russia, but how much you’ll pay varies from region to region. All taxes are payable to the Federal Tax Service of Russia. In Moscow, for example, the price depends on the engine power of your car rather than its emissions. The fees are as follows:

• 100 horsepower automobile: RUB 700

• 120 horsepower automobile: RUB 2,400

• 200 horsepower automobile: RUB 12,000

• 300 horsepower automobile: RUB 45,000

Toll roads in Russia

Toll roads are relatively new in Russia and relatively rare. The Lipetsk Highway (M-4) from Moscowto Novorossiysk charges R10, and you’ll need to pay this fee in cash. Some toll roads outside of the capital allow you to pay using a card. However, you should carry some cash when driving in Russia.

Car insurance in Russia

Since 2003, every car owner in Russia must have an insurance policycovering third-party liability at the very minimum. However, the coverage from the mandatory, basic auto insurance in Russia is not very comprehensive. Drivers can consider adding voluntary car insurance to top up their coverage to include the driver as well.

Vehicle inspections in Russia

Cars in Russia periodically have to undergo a technical inspection. One of the major requirements for driving in Russia is that vehicles between three and seven years old need be inspected every two years, while older cars must have a yearly inspection.

As this inspection is conducted in Russian, you may need a translator to understand the results. Once the car has successfully passed the tests, you’ll be given an inspection card. You’ll need to carry this in the car at all times. If you don’t have the inspection done on time, you could receive a large fine or have your car confiscated.

Traffic rules in Russia

Some of the key traffic rules in Russia include the following:

• You must drive on the right-hand side of the road.

• The driver and all passengers must wear seatbelts.

• Using your mobile when driving is illegal (without a hands-free kit).

• Picking up hitchhikers is illegal.

• Turning right at a red light is only possible if there is a filter system.

• It is prohibited to turn left in large towns other than at crossings with lights.

• Crossing a solid double white line is illegal.

• It’s illegal to drive a dirty car.

• Traffic coming from the right has priority at roundabouts.

• Only use the horn in towns if there is immediate danger.

• Children under the age of 12 can’t travel in the front seat of a car without a child seat.

General speed limits in Russia

Speed limits vary depending on the vehicle you’re driving in Russia and the area you’re driving in.

For motorcycles and cars under 3.5 tonnes, the limits are generally 60km/h in built-up areas and 110km/h on expressways and other roads. Larger vehicles and those with trailers, however, can only drive at up to 90km/h on expressways and 70km/h on other roads.

In some residential areas, there is a 20 km/h speed limit for all vehicles. This should be clearly signposted.

If you’re charged with a minor violation, you’ll be issued with a fine that you’ll need to pay through a bank, as the Russian police are no longer allowed to ask for cash. For more serious violations, vehicles can be temporarily confiscated, but can only be permanently taken away for you following a court decision. You can find a list (in Russian) of the various driving and parking fines . If you pay your fine early, you can be granted a discount on your fine.

Russian drivers

There is a relatively high rate of car accidents in Russia, which some put down to the poor driving conditions, narrow roads (more so out of the main cities), and fast Russian drivers. In some circles, Russian drivers have earned a reputation for bad driving, involving weaving in and out of traffic, fast speeds, and disrespect for road rules, such as wearing seat belts. In the past, bribes were sometimes accepted for passing the Russian driving test. As a result, some Russian drivers are unaware of the correct road rules. However, driving conditions have become stricter in recent years to improve road safety, as well as the skills of both foreign and local Russian drivers on the road.

Parking your car in Russia

While Moscow has major car parks, much of the on-street parking in Moscow is paid for using meters. When parking in Moscow, you’ll usually need to park on the right-hand side of the road, in the direction of the flow of traffic. In some urban areas and on one-way streets, you can also park on the left-hand side. The letter P and a wheelchair symbol are usually used to signify a disabled parking space. Around Russia, varying parking systems are available, depending on the size of the city or town.

You cannot park within 5m of an intersection or pedestrian crossing, on bends, or within 50m of a level crossing. If you’re caught parking in Russia illegally, you’ll either be given an on-the-spot fine or you could have your wheels clamped.

Importing a car to Russia

Unless you’re a foreign diplomat, it can be expensive and troublesome to import a car to Russia. In many cases, it’s difficult for your removals company to assist with the customs clearance, and you might need to pay steep import duties. Check listing for relocation that can help with importing your car from abroad.

Car rental in Russia

Car rental from a local agency is sometimes cheaper, although it’s less likely that someone will speak English. For more language options or services you’re familiar with, you can consider renting a car through a European or international company.

To hire a car in Russia, you’ll usually need to be at least 21 years of age and have held your Russian driving licence or foreign driving licence for at least a year. People aged below 25 might also need to pay a young driver surcharge.

Buying a car in Russia

It’s possible to buy a car in Russia, although the process is less straightforward process for foreigners. One of the requirements is that your car is registered to your visa. Each time you renew your Russian visayou’ll need to deregister and reregister your car ownership. Alternatively, you can register the car in the name of a Russian friend and have that person provide you with power of attorney to drive it.

When considering which car to buy, always use reputable car dealerships and remember that it might be difficult to export the car back to your home country should you leave Russia.

Registering your car in Russia needs to be done through the GIBDD, although it can also be a complicated process. It’s possible to enlist the help of a third-party company to aid you, although you will have to pay a fee for this service. Once you’ve handed in your completed application (and shown proof of ownership, insurance and the car’s inspection record card if applicable), you’ll need to pay a fee of RUB 2,000 to officially register the car in Russia.

Tips for driving in Russia

For foreigners planning to drive in Moscow, it’s important to know that the city has three main ring roads – the MKAD, Garden Ring and Third Ring – with a fourth ring in the planning stages. The city has problems with traffic jams, especially on the main roads in and out of the city. During rush hour things can be particularly bad, and the Garden Ring (Sadovoe Kol’tso) can suffer from traffic jams all day long.

Some road surfaces in Moscow are also sub-standard, so you’ll need to take extra care, although Moscow’s main roads tend to be better than elsewhere in Russia.

Road signs and names are in Russian, so may be confusing to foreign drivers. You can find examples of road signs in Russia here.

Find more tips in Expatica’s guide on expat life in Russia