Aikamatkat Oy

Moscow and St.Petersburg are not more dangerous, than any other big cities in Europe. Despite of this, it´s always good to be on the safe side and use your common sense. Avoid acting provocative. Here are some advises for you to stay on the safe side:

1. Russian life style is full of speed and so is their traffic culture as well! Be extra careful when crossing a street

2. Use only bottled water for drinking - it is inexpensive and sold everywhere. Tap water is not drinkable. You can use it for taking shower and brushing your teath, but not for drinking in any form. Also avoid drinks, that may include tap water or, for example, ice cubes.

3. Buy alcohol only in shops- not in the street or market place. (You don't want it to be home distilled, do you?) Good brands cost about 4 eur/l. Good brands are, for example, "Russkij Standard", "Beloe Zoloto" and "Gzhelka".

4. Don't drink way too much! DRINKING VODKA IN PUBLIC IS FORBIDDEN! You must always be able to find your way back to hotel. Russian policemen are allowed to pick any fairly drunken out off the street. They won't harm anyone, but the nightly adventure to the headquarters might cost all your cash.

5. In most Russian nightclubs you must go through a strict face-control. Sometimes it's better to be sober if you want to be sure about your entrance to the best clubs.

6. Always carry a passport or a copy of it with you. (Needed when changing the currency etc.) If asked by policemen, always tell that you're a foreigner and show the hotel card.

7. Never move alone on the streets in night. Take care of your friends.

8. Take care of your personal property especially in crowded places. Keep your wallet, mobile phone and ID in a safe place, NOT in your hand or back bag for instance. Don´t keep big amount of cash in your wallet, not to mention credit and other cards. In Russia there are lots of professional pick pockets, that tend to hang around grouded places, like metro stations and market places.

9. Don't pay too much - prices tend to rise dramatically for foreigners. 100 roubles is a big money in Russia. Remember to bargain whatever you're buying.

10. Don´t change money on the street - It´s illegal and people, who change money on the street are professional frauds, that make their living by cheting money from foreigners.

11. IN MOSCOW always keep your passport and the migration card with you. Local policemen have the right to check anyone's ID.

12. Do not take pictures in the Finnish-Russian border, military zone and St Petersburg underground. Taking photos is also forbidden in museums without a permit.

Emergencies

In an emergency, sickness or accident, contact immidiately your group leader, guide or the hotel reception. The IngoNord travel insurance covers all the medical expenses and doctors. Doctors come straight to the hotel and give medical assistance in the place or take the patient to the hospital in nessessary. If you use other doctors, than the ones from the clinic addressed by the insurance company, you should keep all the receipts in order to get the refund from the insurance company later on. The travel insurance from IngoNord is valid until two weeks after the trip, if the doctors certificat prooves, that symptoms occured during the trip.

USEFUL INFORMATION

Money Exchange

Official currency in Russia is rouble - exchange rate for 1 euro is around 34-35 roubles. Always change the money in official exchange offices, which locate all over the main street Nevski prospect. Most exchange offices require ID from their customers. You can also pay or withdraw money by major credit cards (Visa, Visa-electron, Maestro, Mastercard etc). Additional program can be paid to your groupleader either in roubles or euros. Both currencies are accepted also in Viipuri market place and Duty free shop at the border.

Eating out

Russian food is delicous and worth tasting. There are hundreds of different restaurants in the city, but try to avoid buying snacks from kiosks or other suspicious places. They might cause some annoying touristic diarrea. Use only bottled water for drinking.

Shopping

Most of the food shops and grocery stores are open 24/7. Other shops close earlier, usually by 22:00. Alcohol is sold around the clock.

Calling

Finnish prepaid-cards don't function in St Petersburg. Using Finnish sim-card for dialing is relatively expensive - both calling and receiving calls is charged. Sending SMS doesn't cost more than 15-20 cents per message.

Getting around

Getting around in the city is quite simple - all major sights are located close to the main street Nevski prospect. A token for metro costs 8 roubles. St Petersburg underground works daily 05:30-00:30.