Eastern and Central Europe (Eyewitness Travel Guides)

156 NORTH EASTERN EUROPE

Practical & Travel Information

Moscow is not as difficult for visitors to find their way
around as it may seem at first. Although tourist facilities
are fairly basic, there is an excellent metro system, and
passers-by and people working in hotels, restaurants
and shops will usually be helpful. In St Petersburg,
conven tional tourist offices do not exist and information
points are often concentrated in hotels and other areas
fre quented by foreigners. In recent times the city has
started putting up English signs pointing out major
sights and shops. However, it is a good idea for visi tors
to familiarize themselves with the Cyrillic alphabet in
order to decipher signs.

THE CLIMATE OF

MOSCOW AND

ST PETERSBURG

Moscow experiences warm

summers with tem peratures

reaching 23° C (73° F).

Winters are long and cold

with temper atures drop ping

as low as −16° C (3° F). In

St Petersburg, summers are

mild at 20° C (68° F), while

winters are less bitter than in

Moscow, with temperatures

down to –13° C (9° F).

VISITOR INFORMATION

There are no conventional

tourist information offices

in Moscow or St Petersburg,

so hotels are the main

source of guidance for visitors.

Upmarket hotels in Moscow

are the most helpful. Smaller

hotels have a service bureau

offering similar services, but

advice can be indifferent.

Cosmos, Neva Travel

Company and the MIR Travel

Company in St Petersburg

pro vide tourist assistance

including infor mation on

booking accom mo dation

and entertainment options.

WHEN TO VISIT

The best time to visit Moscow
and St Petersburg is during
the peak tourist season that
lasts from May to late August.
Winters in Moscow are bit-
terly cold and best avoided.
January is a good time to
visit St Petersburg, when
the days are sunny.

HEALTH AND SECURITY

Most hotels have their own

doctor, and this should be the

first port of call for anyone

who falls ill. There are several

com panies, notably the

European Medical Centre and

the American Medical Centre

in Moscow, and MEDEM and

Euromed in St Petersburg,

which deal with medical emer-

gencies. Medical insurance,

however, is essential.

Despite media reports

world wide about the activities

of the mafia, Moscow and

St Petersburg are relatively

safe cities. Petty crime should

be the only concern for

visi tors, and even this can

be avoided with the usual

precau tions. It is advisable to

make copies of your passport

and visa, and to make a note

of traveller’s cheque and

credit card num bers.

DOCUMENTATION

Visitors from almost all
countries, including the Baltic
States, will need a visa to visit
Moscow and St Petersburg.
Only citizens of the other CIS
member-states are exempt.
Independent tour ist visa appli-
cations must be sup ported
with appropriate documen-
tation as well as proof of
pre-booked hotel accommo-
dation or an invita tion (visa
support) from a tour com-
pany, business or pri vate
individual in Russia. Anyone
intend ing to reside in Russia
for longer than three months
is advised to register with their
own embassy or consulate

in Moscow. Officially, all

foreigners are supposed

to register with OVIR, the

Visa and Registration

Department, within three

days of their arri val; hotels

do this for their guests.

All visitors have to fill out a

customs declaration form on

arrival. Valuables such as jew el-

lery and computers should be

declared on entry, other wise

duty may be payable.

BANKING AND CURRENCY

The official currency of

Moscow and St Petersburg is

the rouble. Roubles cannot be

obtained outside Russia, but

there are numerous exchange

bureaus all over Moscow,

includ ing at the airports.

Banks are open from 9am to

6pm and accept a variety of

cur ren cies and credit cards as

well as traveller’s cheques.

COMMUNICATIONS

Russia’s phone system has

rapidly been brought up to

date, with direct dialling world-

wide. Blue Comstar satellite

phone boxes are installed at

airports, in business centres,

MOSCOW

23 /73

° C/F

10 /50 9 /48

monthApr Jul OctJan

-16/3

5

hrs

9

hrs

3

hrs

1

hrs

37

mm

88

mm

45

mm

39

mm

1 /34

13 /55

3 /37

-9/16

ST PETERSBURG

21 /70

8 /46^9 /48

monthAprJul Oct Jan

-7/19

5

hrs

9

hrs

2

hrs

1

hrs

36

mm

72

mm

76

mm

35

mm

0 /32

13 /55

4 /39

-13/9

0°C

32°F

° C/F

0°C

32°F