Russia and the former Soviet Union has incredible mountains, beaches, deserts, ethnic villages, spectacular volcanoes and glaciers, making it one of the most beautiful countries in the world.
Russia has so much to offer. From the stunning architectural splendor of St. Petersburg to miniature deserts surrounded by green plains and mountains and on to the frozen fantasy landscapes of Siberia — the magical charm of Russia's grandeur and nature enchants even the grumpiest babushka or traveler!
Generally, Russia is a fairly safe country to live in, although it is important to take basic safety precautions and remain aware of your surroundings.
Russia - AVOID ALL TRAVEL
Avoid all travel to Russia due to the impacts of the armed conflict with Ukraine, including partial military mobilization, restrictions on financial transactions and increasingly limited flight options. If you are in Russia, you should leave while commercial means are still available.
Locals in Russia are actually warm, friendly and helpful people. Whether new arrivals enjoy nature or prefer the perks of city living, Russia has a lot to offer. There are lots of social activities and sports facilities in Russia, especially in big cities.
Hugs, backslapping, kisses on the cheeks and other expansive gestures are common among friends or acquaintances and between members of the same sex. Russians stand close when talking. Putting your thumb through your index and middle fingers or making the "OK" sign are considered very rude gestures in Russia.
Expats in Russia will find the cost of living to be reasonable. In Mercer's Cost of Living survey for 2021, Moscow was ranked 62nd out of 209 cities, while St Petersburg was ranked 119th. Although Russia cannot be regarded as a cheap country to live in, as a whole, it is more affordable than many western countries.
A Russian citizen can be subject to temporary restrictions on leaving Russia. These restrictions can be only temporary. “Lifetime restrictions” (which existed under the Soviet Union) are currently not allowed.
Approximately 1.4 thousand crimes per 100 thousand population were recorded in Russia in 2021.
It's the sheer scale of this country that makes it the ideal destination for every type of tourist. Adventurous types head to the mountains and lakes for hiking, skiing and watersports, while those looking for culture and experiences at ground level explore the country's 1,110 cities and towns.
In addition, in terms of safe living conditions, Russia lags behind the US significantly. According to 2022 estimates, there are 580,466 homeless people in the US, compared to 64,000 in the case of Russia.
Both China and Russia (formerly the Soviet Union), for example, may have been part of the Second World in the past, but are now considered part of the Third World.
Russians do not smile at strangers
If you smile at a stranger in Russia, he/she can smile back, but it can already mean an invitation to come and talk. Russians take smiling as a sign that the person cares about them. To smile at a stranger can raise the question:” Do we know each other?”
In Russian communication, a smile is not a signal of politeness. Russians consider a polite smile as “servant's smile.” It is considered a demonstration of unwillingness to show one's true feelings.
In Russia, smiling in public is often considered impolite. It can also make you an alien or a suspicious person. Even worse — you may get stopped by the police on the street and asked to explain the reason behind your smile.
1. Nizhny Novgorod. The number of inhabitants is 1.252 thousand people.
The most common type of crime registered in Russia in the first 10 months of 2022 was theft, occupying nearly 36 percent of the total number of offenses recorded by national law enforcement authorities. Furthermore, almost 17 percent of crimes were classified as fraud.
Travel is allowed
Travelers can enter Australia.
A U.S. citizen who does not comply with Russian visa laws can be subject to arrest, fines, and/or deportation. Russian authorities will not allow a U.S. citizen traveler with an expired visa to depart the country, effectively stranding the person for up to 20 days, until local authorities grant an exit visa.
What you can bring into Russia: Money: Any currency and travelers cheques if the total value does not exceed 10000 USD. Otherwise, you will need to declare the amount, so when you leave the country you can prove that you are not taking money out of Russia. The money on your bank card doesn't have to be declared.