Location / Language of Russia
Russia's capital, Moscow, is the second largest city in Europe; other major cities include Saint Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg and Nizhny Novgorod. From northwest to southeast, Russia shares land borders with Norway, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, Belarus, Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, China, Mongolia and North Korea. It shares maritime borders with Japan by the Sea of Okhotsk and the U.S. state of Alaska across the Bering Strait.
Russian is the only official language at the national level. There are 35 different languages which are considered official languages in various regions of Russia, along with Russian. There are over 100 minority languages spoken in Russia today.
Visa Requirements / Currency (please note these procedures / exchange rates can changed from time to time…please get an update from the embassy prior to travel)
Eventhough Romania is in Europe, they are not a Schengen country and hence the Schengen visa is not applicable to tourists planning to visit Russia. Indian nationals holding a regular passport, regardless of length of stay in the Russia, require a visa to enter the country. They can apply for a visa online or offline through their travel agent.
Currency : Russian Ruble (RUB)
Conversion: Rs.1 INR = 0.92 RUB
1 RUB = Rs. 1.08 INR
Top 10 Tourist Attractions in Russia
- St. Basil’s Cathedral – Built between 1554 and 1561 and situated in the heart of Moscow, it has been among the top tourist attractions in Russia. It is not only the building’s interior artefacts that attract visitors, but rather the cathedral’s distinctive architecture. Designed to resemble the shape of a bonfire in full flame, the architecture is not only unique to the period in which it was built but to any subsequent period. There is no other structure on earth quite like St. Basil’s Cathedral.
- Hermitage Museum - Founded in 1764 by Catherine the Great, and located at Saint Petersburg, this is a massive museum of art and culture showing the highlights of a collection of over 3 million items spanning the globe. The collections occupy a large complex of six historic buildings including the Winter Palace, a former residence of Russian emperors.
- Moscow Kremlin – The Kremlin is home to the nation’s top governmental offices, the walled enclosure also houses four cathedrals built in the 15th and 16th century as well as several notable museums. The 250-acre grounds include the Armoury, filled with royal treasures of the past, and the Diamond Fund Exhibition, a collection of jewellery that includes a 190-carat diamond given to Catherine the Great.
- Suzdal – Once the capital of several Russian principalities, Suzdal is the jewel of Russia’s “Golden Ring,” ancient cities that the country has preserved as living museums of Russia’s cultural past. The best of Russia’s historic architecture, full of onion-dome topped kremlins, cathedrals and monasteries, dating back to 1024, the entire city is like a large open-air museum that transports visitors back in time.
- Lake Baikal - Many travelers on the Trans-Siberian railway make plans to stop at Lake Baikal, the deepest and oldest lake on Earth. Lake Baikal holds around 20 percent of the world’s fresh water. Located in Siberia, the 25-million-year-old lake is surrounded by mountain ranges. The lake is considered one of the clearest lakes in the world. Known as the Pearl of Siberia, Lake Baikal is home to several resorts.
- Kizhi Island - Located in Karelia, a region in Northwestern Russia that borders Finland and the White Sea, Kizhi Island is best known for its incredible open-air museum. The museum’s collection features the 120-foot high Church of the Transfiguration of Our Saviour, a structure made famous by its 22 domes. Other tourist attractions includes dozens of wooden houses, windmills, chapels and barns. The peasant culture is represented with craft demonstrations and folk ensembles.
- Valley of Geysers - Situated on the Kamchatka Peninsula in the Russian Far East, the Valley of Geysers is the second largest geyser field in the world. The Valley of Geysers was discovered in 1941 by local scientist Tatyana Ustinova. Since then it became a popular tourist attraction in Kamchatka and attracts a lot of interest from scientists and tourists.
- Mount Elbrus – This peak is located in the Caucasus Mountain Range in Southern Russia. At 5,642 meters (18,510 ft), Elbrus is included as one of the Seven Summits, the highest summits on each of the planet’s seven continents, attracting both experienced and novice mountain climbers. While the mountain was formed from a volcano, it is considered dormant, with no recorded eruptions. A cable car system can take visitors as high as 3,800 meters (12,500 ft), facilitating ascents to the summit.
- Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood - This church in St Petersburg has a similar grandeur and style to St Basil’s Cathedral and is just as impressive. With its canal-side location and 7,000 square metres of vivid mosaics within its walls, it’s among the most impressive of Russia’s tourist attractions. The intriguing name comes from the assassination of Tsar Alexander II, which took place here in 1881. The church was built in order to commemorate his death by his son Alexander III.
- Stalingrad Battlefield - A war of words still rages between those who believe the path to the eventual defeat of the Nazis was laid at Stalingrad and those who think other events represent the turning point. Either way, Stalingrad - a city in Russia’s West which witnessed one of the bloodiest battles of WWII in 1942 - has huge significance both for Russia and for the world. Today there are still remnants of the battle in the form of destroyed buildings and dedicated museums examining the battle. A sobering and though-provoking place to explore.
Things You Must Do in Russia
- Travel on the Trans Siberian Railway - Part of the longest railway system in the world, the classic Trans-Siberian railway runs from Moscow to Vladivostok, a city near Russia’s borders with China and North Korea. Begun in 1891 by Tsar Alexander III and completed by his son, Tsar Nicholas II, in 1916, the line is known as the route of the tsars. Most travelers use the train as overnight accommodation from one destination to the next. The train features first-, second- and third-class sleepers, some with private bathrooms and showers.
- Take the Canal Cruise Tour - One of the best ways to see and enjoy Russia is to go on a canal tour. A memorable thing to do in St. Petersburg is to take these tours owing to the abundance of canals in the city. There are over 800 bridges crossing a total length of 300 kilometers of artificial canals that one will be able to see on their voyage.
- Enjoy an evening at the Samara Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre - Make your evening magical by spending it at this picturesque Opera theatre amid Russia’s enchanting folklore. From the decorations, ballet, symphony orchestra, costumes, music, to the dancing, everything here is absolutely fantastic!.
- Reach for the stars at Star City - Located on the outskirts of Moscow, Star City is a cosmonaut training centre where one can take a leap into the future while diving into the past. This Soviet military facility shrouded in secrecy wasn’t listed on any map but now if one is looking for an unforgettable experience, partake in a simulated rocket launch or a zero-gravity flight.
- Check out Military Disneyland - One of the unique things to do in Russia is to visit the Military Disneyland and dine on army rations, play with grenade launchers, and look closely at a surface-to-air missile. You can end this visit by stocking up on Vladimir Putin accessories.
Food on the Plate
Russian cuisine is diverse, with Northern and Eastern European, Caucasian, Central Asian, Siberian, and East Asian influences. And is a combination of plentiful fish, pork, poultry, caviar, mushrooms, berries, and honey. Crops of rye, wheat, barley and millet provided the ingredients for a plethora of breads, pancakes, pies, cereals, beer and vodka. Soups and stews are centered on seasonal or storable produce, fish and meats.
As a tourist, one of the things one must do is to taste the local food, and Russian food one must try includes:
- Borscht – A Russian speciality, it is full of meat and sautéed vegetables, including cabbage, carrots, onions, and potatoes. It can be served hot or cold, and is best served with a dollop of fresh sour cream on top.
- Pirozhi - These little baked or fried puff pastries are packed full of potatoes, meat, cabbage, or cheese. The stuffed pockets are popular all around Russia, and Ukraine.
- Pelmeni - Pelmeni is the national dish of Russia. They are pastry dumplings are typically filled with minced meat and wrapped in a thin, pasta-like dough. They can be served alone, slathered in butter and topped with sour cream, or in a soup broth.
- Morozhenoe – Russians love ice cream, called morozhenoe. It is common to find it on many restaurant menus with a variety of toppings to choose from—like fruit, nuts, or chocolate.
- Vodka - One of the most famous stereotypes about Russians is that they love their vodka. Expect to find many varieties of Russian vodka, such as Russian Standard Gold, Moskovskaya Osobaya, Kauffman, and Beluga Noble.
Overseas Travel Medical Insurance Russia
Indians travelling to Russia must be aware that their domestic health insurance will not offer medical outside international borders. Buying a good international medical insurance for Indians visiting Russia will cover most of the expenses arising from travel and health risks like sudden sickness, accidental injuries, loss of passport, baggage loss, medical evacuation and repatriation. India travel insurance for Russia is much cheaper when compared to destinations like Americas. Insurance should be purchased for “Excluding Americas” Plan.
Illustration for 15 days overseas travel mediclaim insurance for Indian tourist to Russia.
| Sum Insured($USD or €Euro) / Premium in Rs. INR |
Insured Age 32 |
Insured Age 62 |
| Schengen - €30,000 |
Rs.733 |
Rs.1,561 |
| Schengen - €50,000 |
Rs.830 |
Rs.1,694 |
| Excluding - $50,000 |
Rs.1,028 |
Rs.1,714 |
These premiums are across different plans and different benefits.. please log in to
www.eindiainsurance.com to compare and buy the best India travel medical insurance for travelling to Russia.
Multi-trip Travel Insurance
