Before You Go: Russia Travel Basics From Kerry Kubilius, Your Guide to Eastern Europe for Visitors.
Russia is known for its unavigable bureaucracy, but thankfully, travel to Russia has become easier since Soviet times. You'll still have to register, and you still need a visa, but Russia travel is as easy as it is enjoyable - if you bear in mind the following tips.
Visas for Travel to Russia
First of all, plan to apply for your visa well in advance of your trip through an embassy located in your country of residence. You will need an invitation (issued by the hotel at which you plan to stay or through a travel agent), and you can use this invitation to apply for your visa. Sound complicated? This system has become much more relaxed in the past few years, so grin and bear it.
Registering Upon Arrival to Russia
Travelers to Russia must register within three days of their arrival. The immigration form received at passport control must go wherever your passport goes - you will get a stamp at your hotel that will complete the registration process. Be sure to register at every new hotel you stay at when moving from city to city. Registration stamps may be checked upon departure or by law enforcement officials who can prey on naive or careless tourists.
Russia Currency and Money Exchange in Russia
The Russian unit of currency is the ruble. It used to be that it was possible to purchase items in Russia with US dollar bills. This is the not the case any more. Euros and USD can be exchanged almost anywhere in Russia. However, bills must be of new or current issue, without rips, tears, markings or folds. (Be sure to ask your home bank if they can give you cash that fits this description - you will run into some unforgiving bank tellers while you travel in Russia.)
Using Bank and Credit Cards While Traveling in Russia
Cash is always your best bet while you travel Russia. Not every place will accept credit cards. Bank machines will accept debit transactions, however, so don't leave home without the plastic. These cannot be found everywhere, so make sure you always have money to last a few days.
Other Money Tips for Russia Travel
• You may take traveler's checks if you are going to Moscow or St. Petersburg, but it is advisable not to rely on them. They can be difficult to cash, and, in smaller cities, completely useless.
• Exchange offices will almost always require your passport for currency exchange.
• Never exchange money on the street. People who offer to do this are shady characters at best, and cannot give you a fair exchange rate.
Vaccinations for Russia Travel Do Get/Update These Shots:
• Tetanus
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Tickborne Encephalitis (if you plan on hiking or camping, and if your country of residence offers it)
Russia Travel Water Safety Water in Russia is not held to the same standards of sanitation as is water in the US, Western European countries, and other developed countries. Foreigners are advised to purchase inexpensive bottled water to avoid travel illness and water-borne germs. Ingesting small amounts of the water in Russia is generally not harmful, but some cities, like St. Petersburg, are worse than others. You may even want to brush your teeth with bottled water.
Transportation Within Russia
Public transportation in Russia is inexpensive, reliable, and used by everyone. Buses may be crowded, but they are usually the chosen mode of transport for those cities without metro systems. The metros in cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg are easily navigated, though they can be hectic at peak times and you may have to stand while you ride. For using the train, see Train Travel in Russia.作者: verares 时间: 2007-7-27 16:56 标题: Top 10 Moscow Must-See Sights
Tourists, foreigners, and Russians themselves flock to Moscow to see what makes this city pulse. Moscow is busy and fast-paced with its efficient subway system and 11 million people, but it is also steady and reliable with its cultural and historic relics that are still an integral part of the Russian consciousness. Moscow for the visitor can seem tantalizingly overwhelming. So . . . in order to get a taste of what Moscow means to Russia, what should you see if you don’t know where to start?
1) The Kremlin
The Moscow Kremlin is a must-see for visitors to Moscow. Once inside, you can visit Cathedral Square, whose historic cathedrals were worshipped in by the Tsars and their families. Also on display are the Tsar Bell and Tsar Cannon, two immobile monuments to the grandeur of Russia past. Don’t forget the Amory Museum, either, which holds precious relics of Imperial stature, such as gold-gilt carriages and silver-threaded royal garments.
Towers and the Grand Kremlin Palace
A kremlin is simply a fortress or a fortification. The Moscow Kremlin just happens to be the most important Kremlin of many kremlins scattered across Russia. The seat of Tsars, and now the official seat of the Russian President, the Moscow Kremlin is one of the main attractions in Moscow that you won't want to miss.
From afar, you can see the towers and walls of the Moscow Kremlin. In this picture, the Grand Kremlin Palace is also visible above the trees. The tower on the right is the Water-Supply Tower. The tower on the left is called the Borovitskaya Tower. The Kremlin has 19 towers in all (plus a 20th tower that is an outlying tower on the bridge). The wall running between them surrounds the Kremlin's buildings.
The Grand Kremlin Palace was once the Moscow palace of the Tsars. The whole complex includes the Terem Palace, several churches, and reception halls. Now it is used for governmental meetings and ceremonies.
Spasskaya Tower of the Moscow Kremlin
The Spasskaya Tower of the Kremlin has several interesting details. Built in 1491 by an Italian architect, it's gate serves as the Kremlin's "main entrance" from Red Square - this was once used for ceremonial processions.
Sources differ on when the Kremlin clock first appeared on the Spasskaya Tower, and it has been replaced many times over the course of the centuries. The clock you see today on the tower was installed in the middle of the 19th century.
The star on top of the Spasskaya Tower is its newest addition - the Soviets added it during the 20th century.
Cathedral of the Dormition, Moscow Kremlin
The Cathedral of the Dormition, sometimes translated to "Cathedral of the Assumption," is one of the most majestic pieces of architecture in the Kremlin's Cathedral Square. Construction began in the latter 15th century, and since that time, the Cathedral of the Dormition has stood as the most important church in Russia.
The Dormition Cathedral has seen the coronation of Tsars and has been the seat of the Moscow Metropolitan. Today, visitors can enter to view icons, frescoes, and chandeliers.
Annunciation Cathedral, Moscow Kremlin
The Annunciation Cathedral hosted the Russian royal families' private Orthodox church services. It was connected to the personal chambers of the tsar.
Ivan the Terrible had the church rebuilt to replace a previous church that stood on the same location. After he married his fourth wife and was prevented from attending services due to the rules of Russian Orthodoxy, he stood on the porch that was subsequently rebuilt along with the construction of the new church. You can see it in the left of this picture, with stairs leading up to the covered porch.
Cathedral of the Archangel, Moscow Kremlin
The Cathedral of the Archangel at the Kremlin is packed with the tombs of dead Russian princes. Visitors will notice a special area dedicated to Ivan the Terrible's son, also named Ivan. Ivan famously killed his son during an argument.
Ivan the Great Bell Tower, Moscow Kremlin
For 600 years, a bell tower has always stood at the site of the Ivan the Great Bell Tower. Boris Gudonov ordered it to be heightened so that it would be the tallest building in Moscow. Until the 19th century, no buildings in Moscow were permitted to be taller than the the Ivan the Great Bell Tower.
Tsar Bell, Moscow Kremlin
The Tsar Bell is an admirable engineering attempt gone wrong. Cast in a pit in the ground, the metal of the Tsar Bell was doused with water when workers extinguished a nearby fire. This caused the bell to crack, rendering it useless. However, the Tsar Bell is still on display just outside the Ivan the Great Bell Tower. Peek into the gap (not visible in this photo) to view the huge clappers intended for the Tsar Bell, and throw in a coin for good luck.
The Upper Savior's Cathedral and Terem Palace Churches
The Terem Palace Churches and the Upper Savior's Cathedral are now a part of the Russian President's residence. Previously, they were used by family members of the tsar - the tsarina (queen) and tsarevna (daughter of the tsar or princess).
On your tour through the Moscow Kremlin, the cupolas of these churches stand out with their tightly-clusterd, golden domes and the colorful towers on which they sit elevated.
The Senate Building, Moscow Kremlin
While the Senate Building used to house the government during the last century, it is now the Russian President's residence. The interior has been updated accordingly, but the exterior still retains its original facade.
Tsar Cannon, Moscow Kremlin
The Tsar Cannon, built at the end of the 16th century, is really just a fancy piece of decoration that seeks to impress. The contemporary cannon balls are actually too big to fit into the gun of the cannon. The last couple of decades have seen several photos of American and Russian presidents shaking hands in front of the Tsar Cannon.
Tickets for the Kremlin and its museums
Dear visitors!
Please take note of new tickets' prices, which are valid from January, 15, 2007.
The State Historical and Cultural Museum-Preserve “The Moscow Kremlin” includes the architectural ensemble of Cathedral Square: the Assumption, the Archangel’s, the Annunciation’s Cathedrals, the Church of Laying Our Lady’s Holy Robe, the Patriarch’s Palace and the Twelve Apostles’ Church and the Armoury Chamber.
THE ARMOURY CHAMBER
Visiting of the Armoury Chamber by seances: 10:00, 12:00, 14:30, 16:30. Tickets for the Armoury Chamber can be purchased in the museum’s ticket offices one hour before the beginning of a seance.
Full ticket price for visiting the Armoury Chamber (no discounts) - 350 rub.
Discount ticket price for schoolchildren and students (for the holders of proper papers) - 70 rub.
THE ARCHITECTURAL ENSEMBLE OF THE CATHEDRAL SQUARE
Full ticket price for visiting the architectural complex (no discounts) - 300 rub.
Discount ticket price for schoolchildren and students (for the holders of proper papers) - 50 rub.
The complete ticket price for visiting the architectural complex of the Cathedral Squre allows to visit all the five museums-cathedrals, the Patriarch's Palace, exhibitions in the Assumption Belfry or One-Pillar Chamber of the Patriarch's Palace.
EXHIBITION IN THE ONE-PILLAR CHAMBER OF THE PATRIARCH'S PALACE
Full ticket price for the exhibition (no discounts) - 150 rub.
Discount ticket price for the exhibition for schoolchildren and students (for the holders of proper papers) - 50 rub.
THE DEMONSTRATION OF THE CEREMONIAL OF THE EQUESTRIAN AND PEDESTRIAN PROCESSION OF THE PRESIDENT REGIMENT
On Saturdays, at 12.00 from May to October in the Moscow Kremlin territory runs the demonstration of the ceremonial of the equestrian and pedestrian procession of the President regiment with visiting of the architectural ensemble of the Cathedral Square.
Ticket price: full ticket (for all foreign citizens' categories) - 960 rub.
On the last Saturday of a month, at 14.00 the demonstration of the ceremonial of the equestrian and pedestrian procession of the President regiment in the Moscow Kremlin territory runs for free.
Amateur photography and videotaping in the museums-cathedrals and the Armoury Chamber are not permitted.
Additional services:
- you can purchase a player excursion - 70 rub. (tel. 933-73-37)
- use an audio guide - 220 rub.
- order a guided tour
The ticket offices are open daily from 9-30 to 16-30 at the Kutafiya Tower and the Alexandrovsky gardens.
Thursday is the day off.
For more detailed information please, phone the Excursion Office by phone (495) 203-03-49
24-hour inquiry phone (495) 202-37-76.
2) Red Square
Just outside the Kremlin is the famous Red Square. There you can watch the changing of the guard at the Eternal Flame or visit Lenin’s Tomb (be prepared to stand in line for more than an hour for an “attraction” that is less impressive than it sounds). If St. Basil’s Cathedral is open, explore it—it is as beautiful on the inside as it is the outside. A final suggestion for Red Square: visit it in the quietude of the evening and experience it without the tourists. It’s magical!
3) State Tretyakov Gallery
The State Tretrakov Gallery has the best collection of Russian art. The likenesses of Catherine the Great and Pushkin will confront you in its galleries. Larger-than-life social commentaries from the 19th century will make your skin prickle with their messages. Repin, Vrubel, Kandinsky, Chagall, and many more Russian artists are represented here—open any book on Russian art and most of the significant pieces will be hanging in the Tretyakov. However, a book can’t do these paintings justice! 4) Izmaylovo Market
This is the main souvenir market of Moscow, and here is where you can find all things Russian at all prices. Folk crafts, jewelry, antiques, chess sets, and anything else “Russian” will tempt you in any variety and color. Getting there is easy, too—just look on any metro map and find the Izmaylovsky stop. Once you exit the subway, any passer-by can point you in the direction of the souvenir market. What is Izmaylovo (Izmailovo) Market?: Izmaylovo Market is your one-stop souvenir venue in Moscow. Hundreds of vendors selling everything from novel souvenirs to expensive jewelry will tempt.. Your first trip to Izmaylovo Market will leave you a little dazzled, so either plan a full day of shopping there or come back at a later date to make your purchases. What Can I Buy at Izmaylovo (Izmailovo) Market?: Izmaylovo Market is where you can find all those Russian souvenirs you'd like to take home. From matryoshka dolls to fur hats to lacquer boxes, Izmaylovo Market has it all. Bring an extra bag to carry your spoils, but don't bring more money than you're willing to spend! What Else Can I Buy There?: Izmaylovo Market has a ground level and two upper levels. The ground level is where the folk art and other typical Russian souvenirs are sold. The next level up will have you sorting through old spoons, obsolete camera equipment, and other odds-n-ends. The third tier of the market contains some hardcore antiques dealers as well as original artwork. The latter is great for browsing but not so good for your wallet. Where is Izmaylovo (Izmailovo) Market Located?: Conveniently, Izmaylovo Market is located near Izmaylovsky Park. You can take the metro (Arbatsko-Pokrovskaya Line, which is dark blue or purple on the metro map) to the station of the same name, get off there, and ask any local to point you in the direction of the market. It's easy to spot with its wooden-fortress-like encasement and crowds of sated shopper milling back to the metro. What Are the Market Hours, and How Much Does It Cost?: You can go to Izmaylovo Market any day of the week, but some vendors only show up on weekends, so you may find you have the best selection then. The best times to go are on Saturday, from 10am to 6pm or Sunday from 10am to around 3. Different guides may suggest other hours of operation, but you'll be guaranteed to find what you want on these days and times. You'll have to pay a few dollars for the entry fee (probably around 3 USD). A Word of Caution: Some vendors will exaggerate the quality of their wares. A "wolf fur" hat might be merely rabbit, or a piece of Soviet military history might be a low-grade reproduction. Examine what you want to purchase closely, and only buy after you have familiarized yourself with other vendors' wares. The Charm of Izmaylovo (Izmailovo) Market: While some of sales people are just out to make a quick ruble, some of the other vendors are truly a delight to talk to. Often, these people make their products themselves or contribute to a family business. It is a joy to chat with these people who lovingly wrap their little treasurs so that you can take them home safely. Not only will they sell you their painted folk art or embroidered aprons, but they will give you story to accompany each, making the souvenirs all the more special.
5) Old Arbat Street
Old Arbat Street is Moscow's most famous thoroughfare. Old Arbat Street is tourist-oriented, and you'll be able to find some not-so-unusual souvenirs here. You'll have more than one artist, musician, or juggler vying for your attention, depending upon the season and the time of day. Old Arbat Street is completely pedestrian, which means it's great for people watching. 6) Victory Park
Moscow's Victory Park memorializes the Great Patriotic War, otherwise known as World War II. This war took a huge toll on Russia, and elderly Russians are revered for having survived this difficult time. You'll find WWII memorials all over Russia, but Victory Park is Moscow's home for these monuments, sculptures, fountains, and obelisks. 7) Sparrow Hills
Get a panoramic view of Moscow from Sparrow Hills. This vantage point allows you to get a good look at the expanse of the city. Perfect for photographs, a romantic moment, or jotting down thoughts in your travel journal. 8) GUM (State Department Store)
GUM, just off of Red Square, is Moscow's most famous shopping center. As the facade that faces into Red Square has maintained its 19th century appearance, it's easy to pass it by if you don't know it's there. The variety of shops contained within are a testament to how far Russia has come since Soviet days. You'll find all manner of boutique represented in GUM. If you just want to window shop, buy an ice cream from one of the vendors and browse and your leisure. 9) Pushkin Fine Arts Museum While the Tretyakov Gallery houses Russia's greatest art works, the Pushkin Fine Arts Museum holds a vast collection of foreign born artists' masterpieces. If you like Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, and Renaissance art, you'll enjoy the Pushkin Fine Arts Museum. 10) Boat Tour of Moscow
Say goodbye to Moscow with a boat tour through the city. In summer, boat tours are pleasant and relaxing, and this alternative view of the city is charming. The towers of the Kremlin, as well as other significant architectural monuments, will peak over the treetops. Stand on the open-air deck and use your last roll of film to snap pictures of the buildings on the river’s banks.作者: verares 时间: 2007-7-27 16:59 标题: Train Travel in Russia
Train travel between cities is definitely one of the best experiences you can have while visiting Russia. I don’t mean that the accommodations are the most comfortable, or the trains are fast and efficient, but using ground transportation to cover the vast distances between cities makes obvious the reality of being somewhere so different from home. Romantic and un-Western, train travel will give you glimpses of rural countryside as you sip tea made from the samovar. You can watch untouched terrain slip by and not see any signs of humanity for hours. The rhythm from the tracks is comforting as you play cards with your traveling companions or read a book. Train travel is great because you are immersed in Russian culture . . . without having to extend any extra effort.
Documents
As in every case, make sure you have your passport, money, and tickets with you before boarding the train.
There is a lot of checking and re-checking to make sure your identification matches your tickets before getting on the train. Put your tickets somewhere you can reach them easily after you board—do not misplace them; someone will come around to check your tickets once again to make sure you are a paying passenger and in the correct seat and car.
The Provodnitsa This is who you will go to if you have questions or problems. She is who you address when you need to get sheets for your bunk and who you will pay when you rent the sheets. She will probably be stern and business-like. She is not a flight-attendant; she is someone who does what she has to do and will otherwise leave you alone. That is, unless you break the rules—and then she will be the first to scold you for your mistake!
Alcohol Travelers are not permitted to bring alcohol on the train. The restaurant car usually sells a low quality product, but the prices are inflated. Despite this, it is not uncommon to see other (native) travelers with bottles of alcohol. However, as a foreigner, you should not tempt the provodnitsa. You do not want her to find any reason to leave you at a small station in the middle of nowhere.
Food
During long train trips, it is advisable to bring snacks for yourself and to share. Fruit, crackers, tea, juices, as well as bread and cheese are easy to transport and good for sharing. Any food left by the train staff on the table in the compartments is there to tempt you—it works like a hotel mini bar, so you pay inflated prices for whatever you eat.
There is usually a samovar in each car that will provide hot water for drinks and soups. Tea and foods on trains is a long-standing Russian tradition. Be careful, though—the water in the samovar is hot! If you aren’t used to the movement of the train it is easy to slosh hot water everywhere and burn yourself.
Toilets There may or may not be toilet paper in the lavatories on the train. Be prepared and bring your own. If the train ride is a long one, you will also want to have necessary toiletries stored in an easy-to-get-to bag so that you won’t have to fumble for them when the toilet is not in use.
Toilets are locked before the train stops as well as when it is unmoving. This is because the toilets empty out onto the tracks.
New Friends
It’s true that one of the greatest things about traveling through Eastern Europe is the opportunities to make new friends. You can get to know quite a bit about someone on a 14-hour train ride from St. Petersburg to Moscow. It’s quite possible that you’ll find yourself in the middle of a card game or laughing at some bawdy Russian jokes. However, it is best to watch your back as well as your belongings. The regular native traveler might be simply interested in where you come from and where you are going. Just remember, as in all situations in which locals have the upper hand, to be cautious.
Safety There are two locks on your compartment door. One will lock the door, and the other one will allow the door to be opened only a little for ventilation. The only one who will be able to open your door is the provodnitsa.
When getting up to use the toilet or visit the restaurant car, don’t leave belongings in plain site. You may want to have one person in your group stay behind with all the belongings as a precaution. Also be wary of inviting strangers into your compartment.
Music One of the quirky things about the train is the sound system. You may, or may not, be able to turn the radio off in your compartment, depending upon the train. There will be a volume dial in your compartment that you can adjust.
Overall, you should fine the train experience fun, interesting, and relaxing. Use the time to catch up on your personal travel journal or to reflect upon the people you have encountered and the things you have seen. You will be well-rested and ready to resume your adventures once you reach the next city.作者: verares 时间: 2007-7-27 17:33 标题: Moscow
information resource: Lonely Planet
Moscow Overview If you're coming in from an overseas flight, you'll likely fly into either Domodedovo or Sheremetevo-2; there are also additional airports to handle travel to domestic destinations and the ex-Soviet states. There's a network of comfy-enough buses that run to places within about a 700km (435mi) radius of Moscow. The city also has 9 main rail stations, and you can jump on trains to most parts of Russia and Europe as well as China and Mongolia.
Moscow's metro is the most common, efficient and wondrous way to traverse the city: many stations are fine works of art in themselves. Buses, trams and trolleybuses fill in the gaps. Catching a taxi is simplicity itself - just stick out an arm - but bear in mind that many private cars cruise as taxis and that even official taxis are often not metered: negotiate the fare beforehand.
Moscow is the barometer and nucleus of the changes sweeping through Russia. Nowhere are Russia's contrasts more apparent than here - ancient monasteries and ultra-modern monoliths stand side by side, and 'New Russian' millionaires and poverty-stricken pensioners walk the same streets.
The populace now prefer international name brands to monolithic department stores, and the beautiful churches vandalized or abandoned during the Soviet era of hardline atheism are being lovingly restored. But the real flavour of this city is in its nooks and crannies, each of them unique.
When To Go Moscow's climate really consists of two seasons: winter and summer. Russian winter, if you're prepared, can be adventurous: furs and vodka keep people warm, and snow-covered landscapes are picturesque. A solid snow pack covers the ground from November to March. The lowest recorded temperature is -42°C (-43°F), although it's normally more like -10°C (14°F) for weeks on end. Occasional southerly winds can raise the temperature briefly to a balmy 0°C (32°F). Days are very short.
During the spring thaw - in late March and early April - everything turns to mud and slush. Summer comes fast in May and temperatures are comfortable until well into September. The highest recorded temperature is 39°C (102°F), although on a humid August day you'll swear it's hotter than that. July and August are the warmest months and the main holiday season. Train tickets and accommodation can be difficult to come by during these months, and attractions around Moscow tend to be overrun with visitors. They are also the dampest months in Moscow, with as many as one rainy day in three. Rain showers are brief but thunderstorms can be violent. For these reasons, early summer, with its long days, and early autumn, with its colourful foliage, are many people's favourite seasons.
Full Name: Moscow
Area: 1,035 sq km 400 sq miles
Population : 8,300,000
Time Zone : GMT/UTC +3 ()
Daylight Saving Start: last Sunday in March
Daylight Saving End: last Sunday in October
Electricity: 220V 50HzHz
Places to See Moscow's history lies in wait for you in its grand locales. You'll want to see beautiful St Basil's for instance, and the Kremlin where both Ivan the Terrible and Stalin orchestrated their terrors.
Lenin's Tomb Awesoleum
cemetery ; freaky
Red Square
Tel: 495 923 5527 (info)
Whether for the creepiness value or an interest in mummification, the granite tomb of Lenin is a must-see, especially since (if some people get their way) the former leader may eventually end up beside his mum in St Petersburg. For now, the embalmed leader remains as he has been since 1924 (apart from a retreat to Siberia during WWII).
Vladimir Ilich (Lenin) died of a massive stroke on 22 January 1924 when he was 53 years old, was embalmed six months later, and has now become the world's most famous mummy.
From 1953 to 1961, Lenin shared his tomb with Stalin. In 1961 at the 22nd Party Congress, the esteemed and by then ancient Bolshevik, Madame Spiridonova, announced that Vladimir Ilich had appeared to her in a dream, insisting that he did not like spending eternity with his successor (so much for the atheistic, no after-life thing, Vlad). With that, Stalin was removed, and given a place of honour immediately behind the mausoleum.
Before joining the queue at the northwestern corner of Red Square, drop your camera at the left-luggage office inside the State History Museum, as you will not be allowed to take it with you. Then, after trouping past the oddly waxy figure, emerge from the mausoleum and inspect where Stalin, Brezhnev and other Communist heavy-hitters are buried along the Kremlin wall.
Hours: Tue-Thu, Sat-Sun 10:00am-1:00pm
The Kremlin
Power Palace
religious/spiritual ; government
Red Square
Tel: 495 203 0349 (info)
Tel: 495 202 3776 (info)
The stronghold of Russian political power, the Kremlin occupies a roughly triangular plot of land covering little Borovitsky Hill on the north bank of the Moscow River, probably first settled in the 11th century. Today it's enclosed by high walls. Red Square lies outside the east wall.
The Kutafya Tower, which forms the main visitors' entrance, stands away from the Kremlin's west wall. Most visitors are surprised to see so many churches in what was, for decades, a den of militant atheism, but the Kremlin was once the centre of Russia's Church as well as its State. Start with Archangel Cathedral (the royal burial church), Assumption Cathedral (the burial church of religious leaders) and Annunciation Cathedral (icons, icons everywhere).
Ivan the Great Bell Tower is a famous Moscow landmark, visible from 30km (20mi) away, with the cracked Tsar Bell at its foot. The towers lining the Kremlin include the Tower of Secrets (the oldest) and the Gothic and Renaissance Saviour's Tower.
Hours: Fri-Wed 9:30am-4:00pm
St Basil's Cathedral
Onion-Domed Symbol
religious/spiritual ; architectural highlight
Red Square (Krasnaya Ploschad)
Tel: 495 298 3304 (info)
No picture can prepare you for the crazy confusion of colours and shapes that is St Basil's Cathedral. This ultimate symbol of Russia was created between 1555 and 1561, replacing an existing church on the site. Its design is the culmination of a wholly Russian style that had been developed building wooden churches.
It was built to celebrate Ivan the Terrible's capture of the Tatar stronghold, Kazan. Legend has it that Ivan had its architect blinded so that he could never build anything comparable. The cathedral owes its name to the barefoot holy fool Vasily (Basil) the Blessed, who predicted Ivan's damnation and added (correctly), as the army left for Kazan, that Ivan would murder a son. Vasily died while Kazan was under siege and was buried beside the church which St Basil's soon replaced. He was later canonised.
St Basil's apparent anarchy of shapes in fact hides a comprehensible plan of nine main chapels: the tall, tent-roofed one in the centre; four big, octagonal-towered ones, topped with the four biggest domes; and four smaller ones in between. An extra northeastern chapel over Vasily the Blessed's grave and a tent-roofed southeastern bell tower were added later.
Only in the 1670s were the domes patterned, giving St Basil's its multicoloured appearance. From 1772-84 the cathedral received a metal roof and a whitewashing and its domes were gold-leafed, in keeping with the fashion of the time. Although Napoleon ordered it destroyed in 1812, his troops didn't have enough time to complete the task. In 1817 the cathedral returned to its present colourful appearance.
Hours: Wed-Mon 11:00am-5:00pm
Night Time Venues A ballet at the Bolshoi, a concert in the Kremlin or a night at the Moscow circus is a unique experience. There's a lively club scene, too, though tastes are fickle: the DJ decamps, or the owner is rubbed out by a rival mob or closes shop and flees to Monaco, just one step ahead of the tax auditors.
Bolshoi Theatre Centre Stage
theatre ; dance
Teatralnaya pl 1
Tel: 495 250 7317 (info)
Tel: 495 292 9270 (booking)
Tel: 495 692 0050
An evening at the Bolshoi is still one of Moscow's most romantic options, with an electric atmosphere in the glittering six-tier auditorium. Both the ballet and opera companies perform a range of Russian and foreign works.
Since the Soviet collapse (and even before) the Bolshoi has been marred by politics and scandal. Yet the show must go on - and it will. At the time of research, however, the Bolshoi had closed its main stage for long-needed renovations (expected to reopen in 2008). In the meantime, the smaller New Stage (Novaya Stena) will be open. In spring 2005, the New Stage showed the controversial Children of Rosenthal, the first world premier performed at the Bolshoi in years. In theory, tickets can be reserved by phone or internet, or they can be bought from the box office. It is usually necessary to buy them well in advance, especially during peak tourist periods. Otherwise, the easiest way to get tickets is to go there on the day of the performance and buy them from a tout. Expect to pay plenty. Exercise caution so that you don't buy tickets for a show that was, say, last year.
Web: http://www.bolshoi.ru
Email: sales@bolshoi.ru
Places to Shop
Retail-wise, Moscow has come a long way since the days of sad selections at the State Department Store or the notorious black market. Decent, affordable souvenirs are now readily available. Local prizes include caviar, vodka, linen, traditional crafts, old books and Soviet paraphernalia. GUM (Gosudarstvenny Univermag)
Shop Collective
department store ; architectural highlight
Krasnaya pl 3 109012
Tel: 495 788 4343 (info)
On the eastern side of Red Square, the GUM (Gosudarstvenny Univermag) has made the transition to a market economy in fine form: the 19th-century building is a sight in itself. It's often called a 'department store', but that's a misnomer as it's really a huge collection of individual, upscale shops spread over several floors.
Hours: 10:00am-10:00pm
Web: http://www.gum.ru
Moskovsky Glavpochtamt (Post Office)
Moscow's main post office is on the corner of Chistoprudny bulvar. Although service has improved dramatically in recent years, the usual warnings about delays and disappearances of incoming and outgoing mail apply to Moscow. Should you decide to send mail to Moscow or try to receive it, note that addresses should be written in reverse order: Russia (Hjccbz), postal code, city, street address, name.
Hours: Mon-Fri 8:00am-8:00pm, Sat & Sun 9:00am-7:00pm作者: verares 时间: 2007-7-27 17:35 标题: St. Petersberg
St Petersburg has been dubbed the Venice of the North for its palace-lined waterways. It managed to escape the architectural incursions of Stalinism and its grandiose relics of tsarist days are largely intact. Sculpted by islands and the sinuous Neva River, the city is a vista of geometric elegance.
Within this geometry is a dust-devil of influences and styles and a bewitching vortex of life's extremes. It's breathtakingly gorgeous, it's ruefully falling apart; it's viscerally sensual, it's crude and vulgar; its very essence gets under your skin, but remains forever outside your grasp.
When To Go
St Petersburg is a year-round destination. The city's northern latitude means long days in summer and long nights in winter - but in winter, hotels and tourist attractions are less crowded and there's a twinkling magic to the night sky. While the White Nights in mid-summer are undeniably beautiful, some people find them disconcerting.
Climate-wise, St Petersburg is much milder than its extreme northern latitude would suggest. January temperatures average -8°C (17°F); a really cold day will get down to -15°C (5°F). It's a windy city though and in some areas the wind chill is quite fierce, so bring a good warm hat and scarf. Summer is cool and takes a while to get going: snow in late April is not uncommon and the warm weather doesn't really start until the period between June and August, when temperatures reach 20°C (68°F). During these months the city is packed with foreign and Russian tourists.
Full Name: St Petersburg
Area: 600 sq km 232 sq miles
Population : 5,000,000
Time Zone : GMT/UTC +3 ()
Daylight Saving Start: last Sunday in March
Daylight Saving End: last Sunday in October
Electricity: 220V 50HzHz
Places to See
St Petersburg is a wondrous city, part fable, part nightmare, floating in diaphanous light. Its heavy imperial luxuries, literary heritage and artistic bounty are enhanced by its rickety charm, a crumbling shabbiness that palliates its white-and-gold tsarist excesses.
Hermitage
Dvortsovaya nab 34
Tel: 812 311 3465 (info)
There are art galleries, there are museums, there are the great museums of the world and then there is the Hermitage. An unrivalled collection of art treasures housed in the magnificent palace from which the Romanov tsars ruled the Russian Empire, the State Hermitage will inevitably be the focus of any first visit to St Petersburg, and rightly so. Fully living up to its reputation and taking several repeat visits to get any way through its staggeringly varied and fascinating collection, the Hermitage demands a great deal of your time and however much you give you'll inevitably come out wishing for more.
Web: http://www.hermitagemuseum.org
Kazan Cathedral
religious/spiritual
Kazanskaya pl 2
Tel: 812 318 4528 (info)
Built between 1801 and 1811, this cathedral (designed by Andrei Voronikhin, a former serf) was influenced by St Peter's in Rome. Voronikhin's original plan was to build a second, mirror version of the cathedral opposite it. This is a working cathedral - so please show respect for the local customs.
Hours: 10:00am-7:00pm
Web: http://www.kazansky.ru
Peter & Paul Fortress
Petropavlovskaya krepost
Tel: 812 238 4550 (info)
Tiny Zayachy Island contains the oldest building in town - the Peter & Paul Fortress. It was built in 1703 while Peter the Great was still roughing it in a log cabin overlooking his golden embryonic city (the cabin is preserved as a shrine-like museum), and designed according to plans by the man himself.
Its original purpose was to defend the land newly acquired from the Swedes. However, its main use up to 1917 was as a political prison and the first inmate was Peter's own son Alexey (Peter supervised his son's torture), who was followed by other notables such as Dostoevsky, Gorky, Trotsky and Lenin's older brother, Alexander. The cathedral, though plain on the outside, has a magnificent baroque interior. Most of Russia's Romanov rulers are buried here. Between the cathedral and the Senior Officer's Barracks is a strangely proportioned statue of Peter the Great - rubbing his right forefinger apparently brings good luck.
Hours: Thu-Mon 11:00am-6:00pm, Tue 11:00am-6:00pm
St Isaac's Cathedral
Isaakievsky pl
Tel: 812 315 9732 (info)
The vast golden dome dominating the St Petersburg skyline is the neo-classical St Isaac's Cathedral. French designer Ricard de Montferrand kick-started proceedings in 1818, but construction took so long (the cathedral wasn't finished until 1858) that Nicholas I was able to extend the original designs to include even more extravagance.
The granite was ordered from Finland (and delivered in specially built ships and railways), 100kg (220lbs) of gold leaf were used for the dome and the end result - a lavish interior of marble and mosaic - is a must-see. You can climb up the 43m-high (141ft) colonnade for breathtaking views of the city.
Hours: 10:00am-8:00pm Thu-Mon, closed last Mon of the month
Web: http://eng.cathedral.ru
Russian Museum
Inzheneraya ul 4
Tel: 812 595 4248 (info)
Often overlooked by visitors in favour of the Hermitage, the extensive Russian Museum is a must for anyone interested in Russian art and culture. The building is most impressively viewed from the back, during a late-night stroll through the pleasant Mikhailovsky Gardens. The illuminated palace by night is a perfect backdrop for romantic assignations.
It's housed in the former Mikhailovsky palace, which was built in 1819-25 for Grand Duke Mikhail (brother of Tsars Alexander I and Nicholas I) as compensation for not getting a go on the throne. The museum was founded in 1895 under Nicholas II, and opened three years later.
Hours: Mon 10:00am-5:00pm, Wed-Sun 10:00am-6:00pm
Web: http://www.rusmuseum.ru
Summer Garden
Tel: 812 314 0374 (info)
This is perhaps St Petersburg's loveliest and oldest park. Laid out for Peter the Great with fountains, pavilions and a geometrical plan to resemble the park at Versailles, it became a stomping ground for 19th-century ladies (and gentlemen) of leisure. Though changed now, its formal elegance remains.
The modest, two-storey Summer Palace, in the northeastern corner of the park, was St Petersburg's first palace, built for Peter in 1704-14, and now open to the public. Little reliefs around the walls depict Russian naval victories, and many rooms contain early-18th-century furnishings.
Hours: May-Oct: 9:00am-10:00pm; Nov-mid-Apr: 10:00am-6:00pm
Night Time Venues The long winters mean that the city's cultural life is particularly lively from October to April, with many big film and theatre festivals, premieres and sporting events. Come the summer months and the emphasis suddenly shifts very noticeably to more hedonistic pastimes.
Mariinsky Theatre Ballet & Opera
Teatralnaya pl 1
Tel: 812 326 4141 (info)
The 1780-seat Mariinsky Theatre is home to the world-famous Kirov Ballet and Opera company and a visit here is a must, if only to wallow in the sparkling glory of the interior. Despite tour commitments in the summer months and spasmodically throughout the year, there are usually five ballets and five operas per month.
Web: http://www.mariinsky.ru/en
Hermitage Theatre Classic Venue
classical music ; architectural highlight
Dvortsovaya nab 34
Tel: 812 710 9079 (info)
Tel: 812 710 9030 (info)
The Hermitage Theatre was built in the 1780s but the classicist Giacomo Quarenghi, who thought it one of his finest works. Here you can see classical music performances of Swan Lake and The Nutcracker. Check the website to see what's happening at this beautiful venue.
Web: http://www.hermitagemuseum.org
Places to Shop
While Moscow has become a shopping destination attracting the cream of world fashion labels, St Petersburg is still rather lagging behind the capital in this sense. The retail scene is a little generic, but where the city does excel is in its books and (incredibly cheap) music.
Main Post Office
Pochtamtskaya ul 9
Tel: 812 312 7460 (info)
The elegant Main Post Office has a beautiful interior and is where you should come to send parcels back home. Smaller post offices may refuse to send parcels internationally and, more importantly, the parcels will have a better chance of reaching home from the Main Post Office.
Bring whatever you want to send here unwrapped (it will be wrapped and sealed with wax for you). You'll be asked to supply the address of where you are staying in St Petersburg, so either put your hotel name and address down or make one up if you are not staying in one.作者: verares 时间: 2007-7-27 17:39 标题: 另一些参考信息
The information below is provided by Lonely Planet readers and is not verified by Lonely Planet. For the official lowdown, contact your nearest embassy. Visas, Embassies & Border Crossings
The dreaded customs form. On arrival in Moscow the customs officials refused to stamp my form even though I practically begged them. Admittedly, I wasn't bringing in much cash but I thought I needed to get it stamped in order to avoid confiscation of all my cash on departure. On the train, all the English speaking tourists from around the world were under the same impression as me and none of us had managed to get our customs forms stamped. At the border with China we all thought we were going to have all our cash confiscated. However, no one that I spoke to was asked to produce a customs form and no one was searched. It was actually quite painless even though the actual border crossing took 11 hours.Steven Mathew, UK (Feb 06)
I would ask that you emphasise strongly the need to get one's VISA registered. There seems to be a general rule that if you are in Russia for less than three days (not including Saturday and Sunday) you need to have your VISA registered. I arrived on a Friday night, around 8pm and left on Wednesday. Thus I counted Friday as day zero as I arrived after normal business hours. So when I was leaving on Wednesday, which according to my count was day 3, VISA unregistered, your statement that sometimes Russia can be harder to get out of than into was proved true. Thankfully my bus driver spoke enough English and after filling out some form in a very small room with a very large Border Policeman I was allowed out, but I feel only because I cooperated and admitted my mistake. John Eder, Australia (Dec 05)
We had only 3 days in St. Petersburg (from 3rd until 6th August) and we did not have to register our visa. When you are no longer than 3 working days in Russia you don't have to.
Sandra Tavenier, The Netherlands (Aug 05)
In Vilnius, I paid US$100 to apply for a Russian visa via a travel agency. However, after 4 days they told me the visa application was rejected by the Russian embassy and the money was gone. I found out that in fact I was NOT the first one for this, and many travellers had the same experience before. The Russian Embassy have the habit of stealing your money in this way - reject your application, NO reason, NO receipt and your money was gone. The travel agencies just keep silent when you submit your application - they got their share of your money anyway - no matter if you got a visa or not. Warning is simple - never apply for a Russian visa in Lithuania - even the travel agencies claim it is easy. Hope it can help other travellers to avoid money stolen in that way in the future. Ray R (Jul 05)
Everywhere you need to show your passport/visa, but it seems that aside from the immigration and police, its just the visa they want to see. I found train and hotel staff a lot happier when I handed them passport turned to the visa page (they didn't generally even bother looking at the picture page) - this is probably especially good to do if you have a bunch of other stuff in your passport. Ben Clifford, UK (Jun 05)
Travel Tips
I took US dollars because I'd read in various places that this was advisable. My personal experience was that this was unnecessary. I was never asked by anyone throughout my trip for US dollars . It would have been much better for me to bring in enough roubles for the entire trip rather than exchanging dollars for roubles once in the country, seeing as I come from the UK and had already had to pay commission to buy US$. Therefore I ended up paying FX commission twice.
Steven Mathew, UK (Feb 06)
Money: Two or three times when handing over large currency notes, I got back change but far too little - not sure if this was a scam, a mistake or just them saying "we have no change" and me not understanding, but it happened enough for me to start being a lot more careful. Exchanging money/ATMs: a bunch of ATMs give out Euros now. Dual pricing system: I scammed my way in at least one place (Kuskovo park) at native price by letting a Russian girlie buy the ticket and me keep quiet when the ticket was checked. Ben Clifford, UK (Jun 05)
When I went to the American Express office they wouldn't cash my AmEx traveller's checks. They said they don't do that anymore and sent me to a nearby bank.
Ginny Muller, USA (Jun 05)
Moving AboutSt Petersburg: Arriving at the airport can be quite intimidating with the numerous approaches for over-priced taxis, but it is quite straightforward finding the bus and the connection to the underground also as everyone just gets off the bus. Alan Graham, UK (Aug 05) There is a wide web of minibuses (for about 9 persons) in St. Petersburg. You only have to pay a little money (13-15 roubles) and you can get around in St. Petersburg in a safe way. These minibuses are line-buses and they are from private persons, but always drive and stop at the same route and places. If you ask to stop at another place it's normally no problem.Sandra Tavenier, The Netherlands (Aug 05) Trains, still very good and the country's backbone, have had a lot of investment in the last two years. Many stations have been totally renovated and in Moscow they've built new modern stations in the suburbs as well. The booking hall at Yaroslavl station in Moscow has been having a facelift for sometime now (although the Hammer and sickle is still prominent on top) and to access the ticket hall you need to enter a side door on the far right of the station; that's the side with the square with Lenin's statue in the centre. Its handy as the platforms for the Eastern trains to Siberia etc are on this side too. Inside you still have to queue and some Russian is required. Make a note of the closing times on each booth as often the shortest queue is for the booth closing in ten minutes. In Yaroslavl there are two stations. "Glavny" (main) and "Moskovski" (Moscow). Both have been revamped. Fewer trains go to "Moskovski" than to "Glavhy". The newer "Soviet Realist" (concrete) booking hall at "Glavny" in 2003 did all train tickets but just does "Elektreeka" (local trains) now. The old station originally did bus tickets and only a small part was used. Now the new Bus station on "Moskovsky Prospekt" just up from "Moskovski" station deals with the majority of bus travel but there is a little office to the right of "Glavny" that does bus tickets for a few regional destinations. Taxis have undergone a small revolution since the beginning of this year. I have seen new branded taxis, some yellow and another firm in silver. Hopefully this will make it easier for travellers as you couldn't tell if taxis were official or just private individuals. If you order a taxi by phone they will call back when it arrives outside and give you the registration number so that you get into the right taxi. Generally you shouldn't pay more than 50rbls £1.00 in the centre but they always try it on with me. Nigel Harper, UK (Jul 05)
Train: Most people seem to prefer the low bunk and generally the ticket people seemed to give me a low bunk if one was available and if I didn't ask for an upper bunk. However, I ended up with good reason preferring the upper bunk - its high up away from the action (whether that action is people drinking all night or people puking all over the floor) and you can always have a lie down up there no matter the time of day, which you can't really do so easily with lower bunks.
I found most of the trains I took had a range of power points in the corridor, sometimes 50v, sometimes 110, sometimes 220v which people were using for charging phones etc. Sometimes it was necessary to negotiate with the provodnitsa to get them turned on, though. How to read your ticket: the only time I went in platskartny class, the bed number field on ticket said something like 'mecta ykazubaet nrobodhnk' which I think means 'seat will be assigned by the provodnitsa' but actually turned out to mean 'everybody scramble in and grab a bed'. The travel dress code that all Russians apart from soldiers in uniform engage in: Just after they get on train, everyone changes into something comfortable like a tracksuit and slippers and chills in that for the whole journey, changing back about half hour before arrival... I wish I'd thought of that.Ben Clifford, UK (Jun 05)
Scams & WarningsIn a year spent here, I have twice been stopped by the police for document checks, once I was detained for a few minutes but let go when they were certain all my papers were in order, the other time I was carrying only a photocopy of my passport and residency documents, and I was told to pay 1000 roubles or come along with them to the police station. I paid, as 1000 roubles isn't worth getting mixed up with the Russian police for. Now I always carry my real passport with me, and feel that if a foreigner's documents are above board, it is unlikely that an officer will ask for a bribe (During the day, at least - I know of other foreigners who have been taken for bribes in the city centre after midnight). Both times I was stopped I was walking in the vicinity of Arbatskaya metro station, at the bottom of Novy Arbat street. Avoiding police encounters is easy if you keep a low profile, and most importantly don't speak in English loud enough that they will hear as you pass them. This is a good rule to follow everywhere in the city to avoid pickpockets and all other undesirables; the only times I have problems are when I'm walking with other loud foreigners who don't keep their voices down when out in the street.
I have never been robbed here, but know countless foreigners who have; a common ploy they use is to stand behind someone wearing a backpack on the metro, and cut into the bag using a box-cutter knife to get at the contents inside. I always carry my backpack while on the metro by its top strap, keeping it at my knees in front of me where it is harder for someone to get at. Okhotny Ryad shopping mall is another favourite place for pickpockets, I know two people personally who have been robbed while shopping there. Geoff Brown, Canada (Mar 06) My fiancee and I were in Lake Baikal in Sibera last summer. There is a "zoo" there that I want to warn other travelers against. It is not a zoo, but an animal torture chamber. They had three large brown bears in a cage the size of a small bathroom. They had raccoons and deer chained up with barely enough chain to move. They fed these animals scraps of food and crackers. I have traveled to over 80 countries, many of which are not big on animal rights, but this was ridiculous.
Eric Jones, USA (Aug 05) Yesterday three people tried to rip me off in Red square but luckily did not manage. A businessman lost a big bundle of dollar notes right before my feet and my eyes. I took them up and gave it back to him, there had been another man right beside me who behaved as he witnessed the scene and surely to make sure that I would not take the money myself. When the bundle was returned the businesman pretended that he had two bundles and wanted to see from both of us our money bourse, the other person quickly showed everything, in the same time a person arrived showing up a big red star police badge. The other "witness" immediately handed over his bourse and passport, provocating me to do the same. Luckily I didn't and at this moment my Russian girl friend arrived. As soon as she began to speak fluent Russian the three people ran away and we were out of this situation. I think as soon as I had handed over my bourse to the obviously fake policeman it would have been gone. I think when getting in the same situation not reacting to this would be the best solution.Lars Hauck, Germany (Jul 05)
In St. Petersburg the afternoon of the White Nights festival concert, I was accosted on Nevsky Prospect by a group of costumed children who skipped the begging part and just started grabbing at my pockets. A few choice Russian phrases from my daughter (who speaks Russian well) and a few flying elbows on my part surprised them and they took off without any loss or damage. Amazingly, not one person on the crowded street even seemed to notice. Then today in Moscow at the Vernisazh market the local authorities were checking passports and taking "donations". The crowds were so large, they were easy to avoid if you knew what was coming. Conversely, later today in Red Square, we saw the local gendarmes joking with the tourists and helpfully providing directions. Such is the enigma of Russia which gives it much of its charm.
Robert & Mauri Thornton, USA (Jun 05)作者: verares 时间: 2007-7-27 17:46 标题: 结束
Gems, Highlights & AttractionsAfter surviving the queue for the Ai-Petri cable-car it is great to have lunch or dinner at the top. Two lines of Tatar-sheds form a cosy street with BBQ restaurants. Every place has its own BBQ on the street with fresh (good) shasliks, and boiling sauces and cous cous in the front. During the meal it's free to taste the home made wines served from plastic coke bottles. This is also a starting point for guided horse riding tours. Esther & Marcel Bartels (Sep 02) If you're a fan ofDosteovsky's "Crime and Punishment" visit the area of downtown St Petersburg southeast of the eastern end of Nevsky Prospekt. Besides the obvious Dosteovsky museum, the neighborhood around another of Dosteovsky's former flats was used as the setting for "Crime and Punishment": you can walk on Haymarket Square (now Sadovaya-Sennaya Ploschad), to Raskolnikov's house (adorned with a bas-relief of the character on the corner of the house), to the prostitute Sonia's yellow corner home and even to the old loan shark's flat, located in a dumpy yellow courtyard. The ratty staircase leading up to her apartment is covered with quotes from the novel in half a dozen different languages, and there's even an old lady living in the fourth floor apartment, just like in the book. This area shows no signs of tourism, it's all as authentic as it was in Dosteovsky's time. John Bisges, USA (Jul 02)
Yarns, Fables & AnecdotesTo follow up from Tom Masters' comments in your (St Petersburg) guide about the Russian propensity to sunbathe whilst standing, we were most startled to see that this also happens in sub-zero temperatures. Whilst approaching the Peter and Paul Fort for the first time we came upon a line of 30-40 sunbathers, men and women, stripped to their underwear and standing against the walls of the fort and in its alcatraves, catching the sun shining off the frozen Neva. Some had even bought sheets of white card to lean against, and all had turnt a rather unnatural shade of mahogany! Rounding the corner, we were even more stunned to see another group had made a hole in the ice to go for a refreshing dip in the river. Just wish my camera batteries hadn't run out ...
Thea Edwards, UK (Mar 06) 作者: verares 时间: 2007-7-27 17:48 标题: 累死...
很怀疑有没人会看完
俺自己都懒得看哪作者: Olivia 时间: 2007-7-27 18:01
看了sub title 还是蛮详细的
就是少了quotation作者: Olivia 时间: 2007-7-27 18:02
姐姐好生残忍啊~~~~~