Visiting Russia for the First Time

Russia has definitely become a very popular travel destination in recent years. It attracts tourists from all over the globe for its versatile architecture, cuisine, authentic mentality, rich history and culture, and many other things. That is why we decided to provide you with some tips that will be helpful if you travel to Russia one day or go there as a student to study Russian language.

 

Overcome Language Barrier

Educa School students in St. PetersburgOne of the first things you should consider when you make a decision to visit Russia is that you will have to communicate with people there, which is great.

However, not everyone in Russia can speak English fluently, therefore it makes sense for you to learn at least a few basic words and phrases. Also, the Cyrillic alphabet can be very tricky to read, especially if you’re not familiar with it.

So, you may want to start learning Russian to be able to understand the signs in the streets.

 

 

Become Familiar with Russian Customs and Culture

Maslenitsa - Pancake WeekOne of the biggest misconceptions about traveling to Russia is the people. The reputation is that Russians are mean, cold, unfriendly people. But this is not true. If you get to know the Russian people, they are very welcoming.

Russian culture is conservative and even somber, so you don’t generally see any public displays of affection. Also, bear in mind some social etiquette rules. For instance, offer your seat in public transport to elderly people and hold the door for a woman (if you want to be considered a gentle man).

 

Prepare a Plan of Places to Visit

If you decide to visit Moscow and Saint Petersburg, you should consider that these cities are very big and have many attractions.

For example, Saint Petersburg is famous for its museums including the Hermitage State Museum and the Russian Museum with its numerous buildings and exhibitions.

Therefore, making a list of places you want to visit is a great solution if you are limited in terms of time.

 

 

Try Russian Cuisine

Yet in big cities, you can find restaurants with all types of food, you should definitely try traditional Russian cuisine.

When travelling to Saint Petersburg, try such local dishes as soup rassolnik, pyshki (doughnuts), fried smelt, pastries, etc. There are lots of restaurants with mainly Russian food, and many of them offer very affordable menu.

 

 

Forget About All Prejudices

victory day 9 mayAfter all, Russia can be just a new travel destination for you. So, put aside all the prejudices you had before going on your trip and try to absorb all the new experiences it offers you. We can promise that you will fall in love with Russia and Russian language and will want to come back over and over again. Many students of EDUCA School agree that they didn’t even expect that this country would open to them from the most beautiful angles and they would want to stay here longer.

Inessa Rakita
19.10.2019
More from the site
Tips for travellers
Navigating in St. Petersburg
Tips for travellers
More curious facts about Russia
Tips for travellers
10 Important Facts about Russia

Have a question?

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.