With a big thank you to Irena, because thanks to all the tips on your blog, my husband and I had a wonderful time in Russia!
We spent a whole month there, starting with about a week and a half in Moscow and then traveling the Golden Ring by train. We flew via Istanbul. As Orthodox Christians, this trip was also a pilgrimage for us. We loved visiting the beautiful churches and monasteries, and we were impressed by how clean, well-organized, and modern everything felt—especially in Moscow. In the West, Russia is often portrayed as poor or outdated, but our experience was the complete opposite. It felt like a blooming and vibrant country.
A few practical tips from our journey:
Traveling by train was a great experience, but the system can sometimes be a bit confusing. Speaking some Russian really helped, especially outside the big cities. Without it, I think it could be tricky at times.
Hotels: We booked ours along the way using two apps: Yandex Travel (Яндекс путешествия), where you can pay with a Russian bank card, and Zenhotels, where payment works with any credit card or PayPal. Both worked very easy.
Visa: The application itself went fine, but Dutch insurances currently don’t issue a “Russia statement.” We had some unpleasant phone calls with our insurance company, but thanks to Irena’s blog we found another insurance that worked. It was more expensive than our regular travel insurance, but at least it solved the problem.
Money exchange: In Moscow we tried different banks. At VTB (ВТБ) they were very strict with the condition of the banknotes, but the rates were good. At Koshelev (Кошелев) they accepted almost all notes, but the paperwork took about half an hour. If you’re short on time, tourist exchange offices are easier: the rate is a bit less favorable, but they accept all notes without paperwork or passport copies.
Bank card: Beforehand we ordered a Russian bank card at Tinkoff (Т-Банк). It was delivered to our hotel on the first day, and after that we could easily top it up at ATMs.
Phone number: The only real inconvenience was not having a Russian phone number. Without it, some apps are limited—for example the RZD railway app, so we had to buy all train tickets at the counters. The same happened when renting scooters in Moscow: after a few rides the app required age verification, which only works with a Russian number.
All in all, it was an unforgettable trip, both spiritually and practically. Hopefully these tips help others who are planning something similar!