Useful information

Useful information about Moscow

Emergency phone numbers:

01 - EMERCOM

02 – the Police

03 - Ambulance

04 - Gas leakage (MOSGAZ - Moscow gas servicing) 

Emergency service – 7 495 937-99-11

Other useful phone numbers:

In the case of loss of documents – 7 495 200-9957

In the case of loss of things in the subway – 7 495 222-20-85

and in other types of public transportation – 7 495 298-3241

In the case of loss of credit cards: America Express – 7 495 755-9001, Visa, MasterCard, etc. – 7 495 956-3556

Information on domestic and international flights – 7 495 941-9999.

Phone calls in Moscow:

To make a call to Russia you have to dial the international code – 8, code of Russia – 7, then code of Moscow Rigion - 495, and then the phone number of the hotel.  To call abroad - 8, then 10, than the corresponding code of the country and the phone number. 

Currency exchange offices in Moscow:

There are many currency exchange offices in Moscow working late at night, and some of them work 24 hours.  If it is possible, bills should be new and in good state as torn or old bills may not be accepted for exchange.  In most currency exchange offices you will require a passport (or copy of the passport) to perform any exchange operations.  Please note that the only currency accepted in Russia is Roubles. 

Working hours:

Grocery stores normally work from 8:00 until 20:00, except for Sundays – from 8:00 until 18:00, but many of them work 24 hours round. 

Big malls, clothes stores, and supermarkets are open all week from 9:00-10:00 until 21:00-22:00.

Public organizations, offices, and companies are normally working from 9:00 or 10:00 until 19:00 and are closed on Saturdays, Sundays and other non-business days. 

Most banks work from 9:00 until 17:00 Monday through Friday, some are open on Saturday.  Major banks such as Sberbank work Monday through Friday from 9:00 until 20:00 and on Saturday from 10:00 until 18:00.  Self-service automatic slot machines normally work 24 hours a day.  On Sundays all banks, offices, museums and some stores are closed.  But major malls and supermarkets are still working. 

Holidays (non-business days) in Russia:

January 1 and 2 (the New Year)

January 7 (Christmas)

February 23 (Defender of the Motherland Day)

March 8 (International Women's Day)

May 1 and 2 (International Workers’ Day)

May 9 (Victory Day)

June 12 (Independence Day)

November 7 (Day of Accord and Reconciliation) 

December 12 (Constitution Day)

Electricity:

The voltage in the electric chains in Russian is 220W with frequency of 50Hz. Most sockets are the standard European size with twin plugs such as in France or Germany.  Devices from the USA, Canada, and Great Britain will require an adaptor (better to purchase in your own country as these are difficult to find in Russia).

Transportation in Moscow

There are several types of public transportation in Moscow: the subway, bus, trolleybus, and tramway.  The most popular type of public transportation in Moscow is the subway.  There are 11 subway lines and almost 160 stations.  The subway is open from 5:30a.m. till 1a.m.

There are five passenger airports in the suburbs of Moscow: Sherevetevo-2, Sheremetevo-1, Domodedovo, Vnukovo, and Bikovo.  Domodedovo is the largest airport.  International flights come to Sheremetevo-2 and Domodedovo.  Most domestic flights come to Sherevetevo-1, Domodedovo, and Vnukovo.  A flight from Moscow to St. Petersburg takes less than an hour.  There are ten railway stations in Moscow: Belarussky, Kazanky, Kievsky, Kursky, Leningradsky, Paveletsky, Rizhsky, Savelovsky, and Yaroslavsky, Most trains going to Europe depart from Kievsky and Bellorussky railway stations.