Moscow Travel Forum

We'll visit Moscow in August or September and we also want to visit Lushiniki to see a match of Spartak. I realize, that it isn't sold out every week, so I suppose that getting tickets won't be difficult. Should we just buy them in front of the stadium? I'd also appreciate all tipps and hints regarding visiting a match of Spartak.

Additionally I am seeking a schedule of the Russian league including the kick-off time (at the moment I orientate myself using http://www.rsssf.com/tablesr/rus09.html, but there are no kickoff-times.

I'm contemplating a return visit to Moscow, 41 years after the last one.

Ideally, it would be during the ice hockey season, but I may be overruled on that.

I suspect July and August may be too hot, and June or September may be better.

Any thoughts?

Oh, and does the ice hockey season start in September?

Hey -

Has anyone ever gotten a Thai non-immigrant visa from the Thai embassy in Moscow? Is it easy to do? Are the staff helpful?

I know some countries are easier than others, so I was just wondering if anyone has tried. We'll be applying with Canadian passports.

Thanks!

can anyone give directions on how to get to these sculptures
i know theyre on a bridge somewhere near tverskaya

right?
we will be staying in the arbat region and would like to visit this romantic spot where newlyweds place locks on the tree/trees and throw the key into the river

anyone have photos?

thanks!

we will be staying round the old arbat area in moscow and nevsky prospect in st petes ( i realise these are pretty big areas)

are there grocery stores centrally located?
i believe that the dostoevsky hotel in st petes for eg is housed on top of a shopping centre and i believe there is food sold there

we just want the usual- bread cheese milk fruit - if it is ok quality

anyone else actually shop in supermarkets

is it still the old system of lining up, ordering the items then going to pay the cashier before coming back to collect your purchases? or is that just in little towns>?

Hello,

In May we are going to Moscow for a couple of days. When I was looking for a place to stay I found the Red Square Hostel. From the reviews it seems a great place.

Has anyone stayed here recently and what is your opinion ?

Thanks.

we will be staying in an apartment in both cities- we booked through our local agent who dealt with a wholesaler who again probably dealt with the russian agency

i noted that on the voucher that we submitted to the consulate here to get our visa it states that we are staying in two hotels - not apartments

i know that some hotels do offer registration for a fee so, theoretically, anyone can lob in and pay the money and get stamped that theyre staying there...

but what happens if the police do stop you and actually question you about where youre staying?
is this an acceptable practice over there?

what do i say?
that im staying at an apartment ?

why cant the agency that organises the accommodation just register anyway and state the real address at which youre staying?

hi all
i am aware that you should boil water in russia and drink bottled

but how rampant is giardia or cryptosporidium

when we had a water scare here at home we were told to boil the water for 10 mins before drinking to kill giardia parasites

you reckon it is ok to drink the coffee then in dafes?
anyone ever get sick with parasites or e coli?

i have bought some diarrhoea pills that kinda line your system with protection against the basic germs that cause vomiting and diarrhoea but i guess id have to get a specific test for parasitic infestation

it is just that we will be travelling for a while after our russian leg so i really dont want to ruin the rest of the trip with stomach ailments

thanks
looking forward to your reassurance!

is there a special technique i need to learn to cross busy roads?
are there plenty of pedestrian crossings?
or are there underground crossings?

my mum was once berated by a policeman who saw her jaywalking in moscow

just dont want her errant ways passed down to me!

this is a pretty specific question to canny shoppers
..............
where can i get nice quality matryoshka dolls in moscow
we are staying in the arbat area

what can i expect to pay
i saw some nice ones on the net for 145 aud - 15 pieces
which is too many but something like 5-8 pieces would be ideal

my daughter would like something with lots of intricate detail rather than the slightly cross-eyed off centre massproduced ones you can get

there are so many pretty varieties in gorgeous colours like pink and black . ..olive gold and black and gorgeous pale blue with white

i believe that different regions have a different look about them

anyone strike it lucky with their purchases?
i dont want to go hunting day after day so if anyone has a an approximate address for a good well-priced outlet id be so grateful

same goes for st petersburg and its surrounds

i can speak and read russian quite well- ill brush up and im guessing i will improve more when i start to speak to locals

but
how do the rest of you guys manage???

i have trouble with technical language - i can manage at the conversational level but listening to the news for instance is really guessing one word in 20 at times!

how do you guys glean so much information about the sights- are you just reading guide books? do you hire english speaking guides and make notes?
im assuming there are no audio guides for around the museums etc that come in different languages

is there, for instance, a hop on and off bus in moscow and st petes? like the ones in london and other european cities?
otherwise is there a ready supply of brochures explaining sights to tourists? things you can pick up at the tourist bureau or airport or a hotel?

how tourist orientated is russia in the main?
i have heard that there are guides hanging round the major sights at times

are these legit people or can anyone be a guide ( and make up their own russian history?)

im trying to read all of your posts but of course there are so many stories and versions to digest before our trip

i dont want to take my guide books this time- so heavy and i will be packing a lot more of the warmer clothes for this trip ( immaking notes on paper, stapling and will discard as i leave each city - will make copies to leave at home of course)

I am an American citizen flying Aeroflot from Kiev to Beijing connecting through Moscow. I have a 5-6 hour layover at Domodedovo Airport each way. Do I need a Russian transit visa for the few hours I am in the airport?

Hello,

In May 2009 we are going to Moscow. I am going to use a visa service in the Netherlands to get me a visa. The hotel however I want to book myself.

Does anyone have tips on booking a cheap hotel or other accomodation, a bit in the centre of Moscow, which provide you with an invitation letter ?

Thanks for your answers.

Next summer I want to visit both cities during one trip to Russia. So I wonder, what is the best way to get from Moscow to St. Petersburg... Would you recommend to go by plane? Or is the high-speed-rail more recommendable? Is there anything to consider?

It is important to save time, so the length of the travel is important, so I am afraid that going by ship is not really an alternative (despite it would take only the same time).

Hi everyone,

I apologise if this has been asked before and if this post is in the wrong place. New here.

Basically I'm a British national currently studying in Moscow until June and am wanting to do the Trans-Siberian straight after I finish. I'm just concerned about visas. Can I obtain visas for China and Mongolia whilst not actually being in my national country? Is it possible to do this in Russia without sending my passport off by courier? My main worry is being stopped by the militsia (even though I've been here 5 months and have had no trouble yet) and being checked for documents and my photocopies not being enough.

Thanks for advance for any help or information.

Min

Privet,

I'm an urban landscape photographer from New York that is starting to plan a trip to Moscow for later this spring. I was wondering if anyone knows of a good travel guide that focuses on Moscow by different neighborhoods? I'm interested in finding areas to photograph:

- Large concentration of residential gentrification, vertical condo sprawl
- Gritty urban areas
- Abandoned buildings
- Business center areas that are very busy during rush hour
- Suburbs with Soviet style architecture

And what's the best way to get around Moscow from neighborhood to neighborhood, subway, or should I rent a car? Also, any specific areas to stay away from with expensive photography equipment? Thanks for any suggestions.

Best,

Douglas

Hi

Thinking of going to Moscow.....just trying to figure out how much roughly I would be paying for:

Pint of Beer
Glass of house wine
Vodka and Mixer
reasonable 2 course meal
Taxi from airport to centre

Blah blah....and any other helpful info you have....

Thanks for you help!!

Hello,

I am visiting Moscow with a friend from the 30th of December until the 2nd of January.

We would like to have some tips on what to do on New Year's Eve. We're not looking for a bar with an absurd entrance fee.

Tanx in advance.

Maarten

I mean not the simplest excursions like driving by car at the center of Moscow, visiting museums etc.
May be russian hunting, visiting ethnic village?
Have you ever heard about something like this tours?
Thank you!

there is a "new" and an "old" circus in Moscow . Which is the better circus for a family visit in the month of May ? What are the ticket charges and is there a need for advance booking ? thanks

or do I have to pay them in cash while I am in Moscow?

or do I have to pay them in cash?

I would like to travel to Russia, St. Petersbourg and Moscow, but as my Russian is very poor, I'm worried how to manage. I have heard that it's difficult to get by in English or French. Is this true?

Thank you in advance for your replies:-)

Hello,

This will be our first visit to Moscow. We are arriving at Yaroslavl Railway station on March 2nd 2009 off the Trans Mongolian Train. We will have 2 bikes with us in bike bags and two other small items of luggage.
Our questions are:

Recommendations for good value hotel(s) reasonably close to station and with easy transport access to city centre for our one day of sight seeing. Ideally a hotel that could provide a transfer from the station or if not will we have the taxi problems that seem to be the case with the airports. Any other transport option available? We don't speak a word of Russian.

Are there any recommended one day sight seeing tours available?

We fly out from Domodedovo on March 4th in the afternoon.

We will have no russian roubles when we arrive;only US dollars.Will we get by with these initially?

Many thanks

I need an address and phone # for the local post office in Tverskaya, 125009 Moscow or post office close to this street.

Thanks!

Going on business and extended for 3 days. Didn't look into hotel costs. Everything seems to be round Euro 100,-/ night
Need tips for for good budget place. B&B, room in someone's house. Not dorm!
Any tips? Going Monday.

Could you please suggest me to a website listing Indian Restaurants in Moscow?

Google search is revealing a few but I needed to compile a complete list with their addresses.

Hi,

An acquaintance asks if it is safe for a woman in Moscow, as she travels alone.
Incidentally, I travel to the office every day, and I do it alone, too – if we disregard about a million or so metro commuters who are doing the same.

Anyway, I am a bit at a loss about what to tell her.
Any sensible suggestion?

Thanks!

Hi!

I'm visiting Moscow in the middle of November and would like to check with the Moscow forum "crew" if there is anything special going on in the city. Do you have some festivals, shows, happenings or other special events going on?

Also, I've read many of the tips on where to stay, which clubs to visit and which markets to go shopping in. But which restaurants do you recommend for typical russian food (not the fancy kind - more traditional) and what are the best sushi restaurants in Moscow?

Which places should I go to find arts, coins, antiqueties? I heard there are some on Arbat Street - can you please verify or suggest other places to go?

And finally - is there anything typical other than vodka :) that I should try in Russia?


Regards
Chris

hi guys, I am completing a visa application, and it asks for the date and place where my last visa to russia was issued. I don't recall of course and it isn't listed on the visa in my passport... any advice?