Moscow travel guide.
Your independent trip starts here.

STEP 01

Start with your passport and purpose.

Before choosing dates, check whether you can enter Russia for the purpose and length of stay you have in mind. Tourism, business and a longer stay are different planning questions. Use the official Russian MFA information for your citizenship; a travel booking is not evidence that you meet entry requirements.

The unified e-visa is available to eligible nationalities for specified purposes and entry points. It is single entry, valid for 120 days from issue and allows a stay of up to 30 days. Check the application window, passport requirements and permitted border crossings directly on the official e-visa portal before applying. Count arrival and departure days when planning your stay.

STEP 02

Find a route you can actually use.

Compare the whole journey, including connections, transit eligibility, luggage and arrival airport. Check whether each segment is on one ticket or involves a self-transfer. A short connection that requires collecting bags, changing airports or entering a transit country may be unsuitable.

Aviasales compares flight offers; the booking itself is completed with the airline or agency you choose. Before paying, check the seller, accepted payment methods, fare rules and support arrangements. Save the airline booking reference and verify your flights with the operating carrier.

STEP 03

Choose your neighbourhood. Confirm the payment.

For a first visit, look for a hotel near a convenient metro station and check the walking route to its entrance. Staying close to the centre can simplify sightseeing; a business trip may work better near your exhibition or meeting venue. Compare journey times rather than a map’s straight-line distance.

Ostrovok has Moscow accommodation listings. Read the conditions for the exact room and rate: prepayment, a deposit, a cancellation deadline and a card guarantee can differ within the same hotel. “Pay at property” does not necessarily mean that no card is required to guarantee the booking.

If you need a booking without a card guarantee, look for a rate explicitly marked “No card required for booking”. Availability depends on your dates and the property. Ask the hotel in writing which payment method it can accept from you, how late arrival works and how it handles foreign guest registration. Keep that reply offline.

Read the hotel payment guide & copy our message to the hotel →

STEP 04

Check cover for this specific trip.

Choose medical insurance that explicitly covers Russia, your dates and planned activities. Check exclusions, emergency assistance, payment arrangements and whether current travel advice affects the policy. Ask the insurer if anything is unclear; the name of a destination in a search result is not confirmation of cover.

The MFA e-visa conditions include valid medical insurance for the stay, subject to the stated reciprocity exceptions. Verify the requirements for your entry route and keep the policy and emergency contact details accessible offline.

STEP 05

Plan the first hour in Moscow.

Check your airport code on the ticket and the exact address of your accommodation. Save the address in Russian, your booking reference and a contact number. Allow time for border procedures and luggage; do not organise a tightly timed appointment immediately after landing.

For a pre-booked transfer, confirm the airport, terminal, passenger count, bags, child seats if needed and the driver meeting procedure. Read the flight-delay waiting policy and cancellation terms. Verify that your flight number and contact details are correct.

Prefer public transport? Check your airport’s official transport page and Moscow Transport for current routes and ticket information. Save your onward route before travelling.

STEP 06

Prepare a payment plan and a backup.

Foreign-issued Visa and Mastercard cards do not work at Russian merchants or ATMs. Do not build your daily budget around a card simply because it works in your home country. An international online booking service’s payment options are a separate question from what works in Moscow.

List what you must pay before departure and what remains payable locally: accommodation, transport, food and activities. Confirm usable methods with each provider. If carrying cash, check the official customs and currency rules of your departure, transit and destination countries; there is no single universal allowance for every route.

Keep a practical reserve for disruptions. For a longer stay, you can ask Igor about preparing for a bank visit in Moscow. Eligibility, documents and approval are determined by the bank.

STEP 07

Keep your arrival details available offline.

Download maps, the hotel address, tickets and emergency contacts before departure. Check roaming prices with your home operator and whether your phone supports eSIM. A travel data plan and a local Russian phone number serve different needs.

Yesim offers a Russia data eSIM for compatible devices. Its Russia page warns that a network connection may take up to 24 hours and describes an SMS verification step. Read the current activation instructions before buying; do not rely on immediate internet access at the airport. Check coverage, validity and the start of the data period.

Need a local number for a longer stay? See Russian SIM appointment assistance and clarify the current process individually.

STEP 08

Leave room to enjoy the city.

Build your first day around a manageable area rather than a list of distant landmarks. Red Square, Zaryadye and a riverside walk can be a useful starting point, subject to access and current opening arrangements. Leave indoor options for poor weather and check tickets for museums in advance.

Use our Moscow itineraries to explore one-, three-, five- or seven-day ideas. Adjust the pace to your arrival time and interests. Group nearby stops, allow time for meals and keep an unscheduled afternoon for the city you discover along the way.

Use the interactive city map to save places in this browser. Personal accompaniment for practical tasks is available through our local assistance service; scope and price are agreed separately.

Questions before you book