Practical Matters

Time

Time in Moscow is GMT+4

Weather

For many visitors travelling to Moscow, the weather could be one of the most important considerations. However Moscow is not in Siberia and winters are rather bearable. Occasionally temperatures might drop down to around -20C, but most of the winter it is much warmer with the temperature hovering around -5C to -8C. The winter is considered to be between mid November to mid March. It is important to have a hat, gloves, scarf, warm jacket and boots, thick socks and layers. But all indoor areas in Moscow have central heating and are therefore warm. Sometimes warmer than you would expect, so unless you are planning to spend a whole day outside, make sure that you can easily take off and put back on some of your clothes and thermal underwear would not be the best choice.

In summer the weather in Moscow is totally different with temperatures starting to rise in the beginning of June and soaring to +30C and even mid-thirties. With so much development and stone buildings that absorb most of the heat, it can get pretty unbearable. In fact, most Muscovites try to spend as less time in the city as possible, trying to escape to the countryside and parks. Also the cultural life of the city is much less busy then in the winter months with many theatres going on tour or closing altogether.

Electricity

The Russian electricity system operates on 220 volts. Visitors from the UK and from Malta would need adaptors for European sockets.

Internet and Telephones

Most of the Telephone booths have been removed with the advent and popularity of mobile phones. However, prepaid card Telephones can still be found inside the metro stations. Mobile phones are very popular among Muscovites. According to statistics, approximately one person in Russia has two SIM cards registered on their name...that amounts to 300 million mobile users in Russia. The main three mobile providers in Russia and Moscow are MTS, Beeline and Megafon. Local SIM cards can be purchased for unlocked tri-band phones. Make sure you have a passport with you.

Internet is widely used in Moscow. Luxury Hotels are all equipped with WI-FI Internet but usually charge very high rates. If you are unwilling to pay these prices, the solution can be Internet cafes which are very popular in Moscow and found around the city. Usually the prices are around is 2 euro per hour. Most of the Internet Cafes in the city centre are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Also Wi-Fi spots can be found throughout the City centre, in cafes, restaurants and shopping malls. There is a free Wi-Fi in MacDonald's on Tverskaya street but not very easy to access as the place tends to get crowded.

Health

There is a huge amount of clinics and hospitals with all kind of medical specialists in Moscow. But most of them do not have English speaking personnel. As an alternative there are English speaking clinics like American Medical Center and European Medical Centres and others that operate in Moscow. Many of these clinics operate 24/7 with emergency facilities and a pharmacy. They are all equipped with modern medical equipment and have qualified personnel, but most of them are probably twice more expensive than any other of Moscow's good clinics just for the luxury of having English speaking staff. So before travelling it would be a good idea to have a good insurance in place that covers health care in Moscow.

Pharmacies

There a large amount of Pharmacies in Moscow, with many open 24/7. They are called Apteka in Russian with a green cross on their facade. For some drugs, a doctor's prescription might be needed.

Vaccinations

Russia has no vaccination requirements

Tipping

10% percent of the bill is considered to be a reasonable tip in Moscow. Although it is customary not to take a tip for granted and it is good to take into account the service received. This can vary in Moscow from one of the worse experiences ever to simply the most superb. Hopefully, discriminating in tips given will help push the standard of service given across the city and not only within high-end establishments. It is not easy to add tips to the Credit Card bill, so it is advisable to try and pay tips in cash.

Business Hours

Most of Moscow's offices are open much later than in Europe, at around 10 a.m. You might find offices that open at 8am and 9am, but the majority open later. Most of the shops are open at 10am or even 11am but remain open until 9pm-10pm without a lunch break. Most of Moscow never sleeps anyway with a lot of the supermarkets and restaurants open 24hrs. There are even 24hr bookstores, beauty salons and electronic stores.

Safety

These tips might be useful to any other big city in the world. If someone would be telling you that Moscow is full of crime and corruption, ask them when the last time they have been to Moscow was. They would have probably not visited for many years. The troubles of the 90s are well over, crime rates have been reduced significantly but, as in any other cosmopolitan city, it is good to take some precautionary measures as bad elements will always exist and it is impossible to completely eradicate crime. Anyway, following these tips could help you avoid any unpleasant surprises.

• Watch out for pick pocketing in crowded places
• Cross the streets with extra caution. Even on the zebra crossing, some drivers might not stop for you.
• Carry the passport with you, as the police might ask you for documents.
• Keep your money in different places.
• When changing money try not to show large amounts of money on you, or change them in a bank or exchange office that has a separate cabin that locks.