FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Buying a ticket or packing, you usually ask ordinary questions. The themes of customs and common household don’t leave alone. Dolores Travel Russia company has prepared a list of frequently asked questions with answers for the maximum comfort of dear guests. 

For registration of invitation for a tourist visa, you will need a tourist voucher (issued by travel operator in Russia, included in the unified register of tour. operators), as well as a completed application form on the website visa.kdmid.ru, travel insurance & 2 photos.
For foreigners, insurance is a compulsory condition to be allowed entry into the territory of Russia. Your insurance should cover all the days of the trip. Arrange supplementary health insurance on the first day of staying in the country.
The national currency – is the ruble (RUB, ₽). Any foreign currency may be exchanged at the national banks or special exchange offices. Simultaneous export of cash by individuals from the customs territory of the Customs Union currently being implemented without restrictions. Individuals have the right to bring into the territory of the Russian Federation funds, the amount of which does not exceed 10,000 $. Otherwise, a customs declaration is required.
In Russian cities, VISA and Mastercard are accepted both in major shops, cafes, restaurants & hotels and in retail establishments. Just in case, better have plenty of cash.
Give the renters an international driving license and passport. Renting a car, remember that the minimum driving experience should be 1-2 years. Car rental is permitted to persons over 21 years and illegal for people over 75. As a rule, the rent already included gasoline, OSAGO, and KASKO.
Russia is vast, and it means this country combines different climatic zones. Of course, the most favorable time of year to visit is summer. In Russia it is not so hot: the temperature varies from + 22 to + 28 in the South. Also, remain preferred the late spring and early fall.
Christianity – the main religion that is practiced by the locals. Muslims live in the Caucasus and in Tatarstan & Bashkortostan. In Kalmykia, Buryatia, and the Tyva Republic have been preserved echoes of Buddhism, and shamanism in Altai.
Russia is a multinational country, which means multilingual. Despite this, more than 200 Nations (97%) speak Russian. More than half of the residents speak English – 62%.
It all depends on the time of year: winter in Russia is harsh and abounds in rainfall in the form of rain or snow, and that is to stock up on warm outerwear and waterproof footwear. In the warm season (late spring or summer) just use comfortable sports shoes and clothing.
The variety of dishes in Russia is striking: from the Tatar Chak-Chak to Yakut braised venison. But if you want to try traditional Russian cuisine, go to any restaurant or cafe: soup and borsch, dumplings, pies, pickles, porridge, and salads – all will make a splash of their personality.
There is a perception that vodka in Russia is the most beloved and revered drink. But it is not: besides alcoholic beverage, herbal teas, compotes & jellies (drink made from fruit juice and corn or potato starch), kvass and milk products are very popular in Russia.
Russian chocolate from the Soviet era is famous for around the world. People often bring them as souvenirs, knowing about the high quality and excellent taste of the product. The second is Tula gingerbread, and the third drying and bagels.
The value of imported goods at the intersection of rail, road, water boundaries should not exceed 1,500 euros and the total weight should not exceed 50 kg. At the intersection of the air borders, the value of the goods should not exceed 10 000$. The maximum item weight – 50 kg.
There is a ban on the import of alcohol in volumes more than 5 l, and tobacco not exceeding 200 cigarettes or 0.25 kg of tobacco per person.
Foodstuff gets in the prohibited list firstly. It's milk and products produced on its basis; meat and some delicacies from it; fish & seafood; some categories of fruits and vegetables; planting material, seeds, plants, potatoes. Subject to the mandatory declaration: Cultural values Plants and animals on the brink of extinction Vehicle State awards Precious metals and stones Weapons and its elements Drugs containing poisonous substances, and also psychotropic medications & narcotic components.
Goods whose value does not exceed 10 000 $
- Ozone-depleting substances - Medicines for personal use containing limited quantities of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. - Service and civilian weapons, its main parts and ammunition - Imported radio-electronic means and (or) high-frequency devices civilian use, including built-in or included with other goods restricted for import. - Exported collections of Mineralogy and paleontology pieces, limited to moving through customs border at export - Wild animals and plants threatened with extinction Documents of national archive funds, originals of archival documents limited to moving through customs border at export - Technical means with encryption functionality - Cultural values
Extradition of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances is carried out according to the recipe, issued in Russia after medical examination and confirmation of the diagnosis that caused the need for such drugs. Acquisition of funds is issued directly by patients, beyond their means in the respective pharmacies.
For the import and export of wild animals and plants (including Annexes of the Convention on international trade in species of wild fauna and flora), a special permit issued by the Committee of Russian ecology and environmental protection is required
If you are planning to import into the Russian Federation your own dogs or cats in the amount of not more than two heads, then you don't need to do quarantine for animals. You are not required to obtain any permission to import these animals in Russia, provided that they are accompanied by the international passport in which a stamp of the competent authority (official veterinary surgeon) for clinical examination within five days before shipment. And that not later than 20 days before departure animals were vaccinated if they have not been vaccinated within the last 12 months: – dogs against rabies, distemper, hepatitis, viral enteritis, parvovirus and adenovirus infections, leptospirosis; – cats – against rabies and panleukopenia.
To purchase a local SIM card of the foreign citizen a man should present a document proving his identity. A simple SIM card with Internet package by local tour operator costs about 500 rubles (about 7$)
Cultural values, transported by individuals across the customs border of the Russian Federation are subject to a mandatory declaration with the use of the passenger customs Declaration TD-6. Illegal export & import of cultural property are qualified as smuggling and shall be punished in accordance with criminal legislation of the Russian Federation and the legislation of the Russian Federation about administrative offenses.
Painted trays from Zhostovo, Imperial porcelain of St. Petersburg, a bakery from Saratov, Kaliningrad amber, Ural malachite, lace products from Vologda. And of course, wooden dolls, chocolate, and Tula gingerbread.
While in Moscow visit the VDNH exhibition complex, full of different entertainment from cafes and restaurants to folk shows. Suggest buying tickets for the show from ensemble "Kostroma", "Russia fairy tales", "Golden ring". In St. Petersburg go to the Nikolaevsky Palace for a show "feel Russian". In Kazan – the national complex "Tuganaylar" with a folk show called Kazan.
Russia is rich in attractions: it's not only the Moscow Kremlin, Hermitage Museum, Catherine Palace, Kazan Kremlin, but many other priceless cultural values that you can explore, visiting the country with Dolores Travel Russia.
Check out the prices for the tours: in case of additional questions please contact the managers of our company, who calculate the tour according to your request. Remember that tour prices do not include airfare.

Dolores Travel Russia

Custom-made tours to Russia multi-day tours & activities