10 Shocks of Visiting Russia
Russia Shock #1: The People
The first thing to shock new visitors to Russia are the people. Specifically, service (or lack thereof) in Russia can be shockingly bad. Don’t expect good service when you come to Russia. It’s time consuming and frustrating. Sometimes it seems like they don’t care and they don’t smile back, and that sometimes shocks new visitors to Russia. But they’re not mean, they’re just reserved. When you get to know Russians and they open up to you, they can be some of the most fun people ever. I’ve had so many great parties, and great dinners, and great times with my Russian friends that I’ve made around the world. Have you ever had a party, then you go to sleep and someone tries to sew you into your bed? Yeah, that’s the fun stuff that Russians do!
Tip: Try to learn a little of the language. Knowing a few words of Russian can turn a stone face into a friendly ally!
The people of Russia are super hospitable if you take the time to get to know them. If you’re going on the Trans-Siberian Railway, bring a deck of cards and something to drink so you can get to know the people on the train with you.
Russia Shock #2: The Language and the Alphabet
The second thing that shocks first-time visitors to Russia is deciphering the language. Russia uses the Cyrillic alphabet. You won’t understand anything and many people assume Russians will know some English. Russia is one of the largest countries in the world in terms of population and size, so they aren’t forced to learn other languages. Just like in America where everything’s in English, everything in Russia is in Russian. Finding people who speak English can be difficult, especially outside of the major cities. Even in places like St. Petersburg and Moscow, you won’t always find English, even in the tourism industry. It’s helpful to know a little bit and as mentioned before, try to learn a little bit of Russian before your trip.
Tip: Try to get an idea of what the Cyrillic letters sound like, and make sure you have the Google Translate app on your phone, with the offline version downloaded.
Russia Shock #3: The Russian Orthodox Churches
The third thing in Russia that will shock you are the Russian Orthodox churches. While the exteriors, with their onion domes, are impressive, the insides will really blow you away! With gold and silver detail, icons everywhere, stepping into a Russian Orthodox Church will shock you. In a good way!
Russia Shock #4: Russia is more than St. Petersburg and Moscow
People flock to Moscow to see the Kremlin, but most cities in Russia have a Kremlin. Kremlin just means citadel, and they can be seen all over Russia. Getting out and exploring Russia is really fantastic. There is much more to offer than what you can see in the two biggest cities.
Tip: Spend some time in summer home destinations. This is a great way to see another side of Russia, and to meet locals.
Russia Shock #5: The Size of Russia
Russia is as wide as all of Asia and then extends into Europe. The country is huge! The Trans-Siberian Railway can take you days, weeks, or months, depending on how many times you jump on and off along the way. Even the cities such as Moscow or St Petersburg cover huge distances.
Tip: Don’t underestimate travel time and distances. Take advantage of public transport in large cities to cut down on walking time.
Russia Shock #6: The Weather in Russia
The weather in Russia is no joke! In St Petersburg, the White Nights are lovely, with daylight extending late into the evening, which is fantastic. The flip side is that winter can be dangerously cold and you need to be prepared.
Tip: Bring lots of warm clothes that you can layer together. Even in summer, you’ll want a warm layer after the sun starts to set.
Russia Shock #7: Safety Issues for Travelers
Safety concerns are another shock for first-time travelers to Russia. St Petersburg and Moscow are known to have pick-pockets and taxi driver scams. The frequency of these occurrences can be shocking. It’s not just in the tourism industry, it can happen with the police as well. I don’t recommend taking photos of police or military buildings. Traffic can also pose a real safety concern, so always be alert when crossing streets, even in the crosswalk.
Tip: Ask your hotel where it’s safe to go, especially after dark. Be aware of your surroundings.
Russia Shock #8: Sticker Shock
Russia is expensive. From the visa application, hotels and dining out, Russia can be shockingly expensive, especially for tourists. Sometimes there are even two prices; one for locals, and one for travelers.
Tip: It’s possible to find deals for food and accommodation if you look. Public transportation is inexpensive and a great way to avoid taxi scams.
Russia Shock #9: The Visa Process
Getting a visa to Russia isn’t something you can do last-minute. You have to start the process months in advance, if you do it yourself. With an agency, it can be a bit faster, but it’s a very frustrating process to gather the invitations, hotel info and everything you need for your Russian Visa application.
Russia Shock #10: You Really Can See Lenin’s Body
While you can’t take pictures when you’re there, you can actually see his body.
The biggest shock of all when you visit Russia may be the great time you have, contrary to what everyone might tell you!
filmed in St. Petersburg, Russia – Copyright Mark Wolters 2018