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| Entry Regulations / General Information |
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Entry for German Nationals |
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Travellers are required to hold a visa. On application, a national passport valid for at least six months beyond the period of stay must be submitted, as well as a detailed confirmation from a travel agency and proof of international travel health insurance (a list of the recognized insurance companies can be obtained from the embassy). The processing of the application takes approximately three weeks; for further information, please contact the responsible consulate or embassy.
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Geographical Location |
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The Russian Federation is the actual core-state of the CIS. It is located in the eastern part of Europe and in the western and northern part of Asia. To the north and north-east the Russian Federation is bordered by the Barents Sea and the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Bering Straits and the Sea of Okhotsk. To the south-east and south the Russian Federation is bordered by the People's Republic of China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea), Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Georgia, the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea; to the west the Russian Federation is bordered by the Ukraine, Belarus (White Russia), Latvia, Estonia, Finland and Norway.
The Russian exclave Kaliningrad is surrounded by Lithuania in the north and east, in the south by Poland and in the west by the Baltic Sea.
Autonomous republics of the Russian Federation are: Adygeja, Bashkir Republic, Buryat Republic, Chakassia, Dagestan, Inguschia, Kabardino-Balkar Republic, Kalmyk Republic, Karachajevo-Cherkessia, Karelian Republic, Komi, Mari, Mordovian Republic, Northern Ossetia, Yakut Republic, Tatar Republic, Chechenia, Chuvash Republic, Tuva, Udmurt Republic.
Total area: 17,075,400 km² (including Kaliningrad).
Administrative divisions: 49 oblasts, 21 republics, 10 autonomous okrugs, 6 krays and 2 federal cities (Moscow, St. Petersburg).
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Population |
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Population: approximately 145.5 million.
Cities (approximate numbers): Moscow (capital) 10.5 million; St. Petersburg 5 million; Nizhny Novgorod 1.44 million; Novosibirsk 1.44 million; Yekaterinburg 1.37 million; Samara 1.26 million; Chelyabinsk 1.24 million; Omsk 1.15 million; Kazan 1.1 million; Ufa 1.1 million; Perm 1.09 million; Rostov/Don 1.09 million; Zarizyn 999,000; Krasnoyarsk 912,000; Saratov 905,000; Vladivostok 648,000.
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Language |
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The official language of the Russian Federation is Russian. In addition there are the languages of the several Russian republics and more than 80 minority languages.
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Time Difference |
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The Russian Federation extends over several time zones, ranging from Central European Time (CET) +2 hours in the west (Moscow, St. Petersburg) to CET +11 hours in the east.
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Electricity |
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In Moscow usually 220 V. Travellers are recommended to carry an adapter (European round pin plugs).
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Postal Service |
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Airmail sent from Moscow or St. Petersburg to Central Europe takes two to three weeks to arrive; in the case of mail sent from other Russian cities postal delivery will take even longer. Travellers who want to make sure that their mail will be delivered without fail should send it by registered post.
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Telephone |
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The international dialling code for long-distance calls from Western Europe to the Russian Federation is 007; in the case of calls from the Russian Federation to Western Europe the prefix "8-10" (after dialling 8 please wait for a dial tone) must be dialled prior to the relevant country code (in the case of calls to Germany, for instance, 8-10-49, to Austria 8-10-43 and to Switzerland 8-10-41). Apart from the private telephone providers, which also offer telephone cards, there are also state-run telephone offices (usually located near post offices), as well as satellite telephone offices (offering more reliable connections, but charging considerably higher prices). Calling from hotels is usually complicated and very expensive.
EMERGENCY NUMBERS: police 02, ambulance 03, fire brigade 01.
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Mobile Phones |
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Mobile network technologies: GSM 900/1800.
Information for users of mobile phones registered with German network providers: Mobile phones connected to the E-Plus, O2, T-Mobile or Vodafone networks can be used due to international roaming agreements. Travellers intending to use other networks are advised to contact their network provider for detailed information.
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Internet |
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Country code suffix: .ru
Internet providers: Beeonline (www.beeonline.ru), Russiaonline (www.online.ru). Internet access is offered by hotels and internet cafés in the cities.
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Public Holidays |
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1st and 2nd January (New Year), 6th and 7th January (Orthodox Christmas), 23th February (Defence of the Motherland), 8th March (International Woman´s Day), Orthodox Easter, 1st and 2nd May (May Day, Spring and Labour Day), 9th May (Victory Day), 12th June (National Day), 4th November (Day of Unity of nation), 12th December (Constitution Day), 31th December (New Year´s Eve).
Moreover there are regional public holidays. If a public holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, it will be brought to the following Monday.
The main holiday season ranges from early June to end-August.
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Opening Hours |
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Banks: Mon to Thurs around 9:30a.m.-5p.m., Fri around 9:30a.m.-4p.m. (many banks do not close for lunch breaks)
Post offices: Mon to Fri 8a.m.-8/9p.m., shorter opening hours on Saturday and Sunday as well as on public holidays, in the major cities some post offices are open 24 hours a day
Shops: Grocery shops usually seven days a week 9a.m.-10/11p.m., usually without lunch break. In the cities there are supermarkets or smaller shops (kiosks) which are open 24 hours a day. Shopping malls are usually open Mon to Sun 10/11a.m.-8/9/10p.m.
Offices: Mon to Fri 9/10a.m.-5/6p.m. (usually with a one-hour lunch break from 1p.m.)
Authorities: Mon to Fri 8/9a.m.-5p.m. (usually with a one-hour lunch break, often from 1p.m.).
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Clothes |
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In summer (June to August) normal summer clothes are sufficient; in spring and autumn between-seasons clothes are needed. Moreover, travellers are recommended to take a raincoat or other rainwear. In winter, warm woollen garments, warm winter coats and fur-lined, water-repellent shoes are needed. Warm headgear should be carried as well, except for travels in the subtropical regions on the Black Sea.
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© 2001 All rights reserved TIP Gesellschaft für Touristik-Informations-Programme mbH, München Last updated: 14.03.2007 - Proposals, hints and contact - Copyright
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