Useful information

Useful information about Moscow

Emergency Phone Numbers in Moscow
Fire - 01
Police - 02
Ambulance - 03
Gas leak (MOSGAZ- Moscow gas service) - 04
Emergency Service - 7 495 937-9911

Other useful numbers:
Lost documents - 7 495 200-9957
Lost things on the subway - 7 495 222-2085
and on other public transport - 7 495 298-3241
Lost credit cards:
American Express - 7 495 755-9001
Visa, Master Card, etc. - 7 495 956-3556
Domestic and international flights information - 7 495 941-9999

To make a phone call in Moscow
To make a phone call to Russia you have to dial the international code - 8, Russia's country code - 7, then Moscow's area code - 495 or St. Petersburg's area code - 812, and then the hotel number.
To make a call abroad dial 8, then 10 then the appropriate country code and the phone number.

Exchange Offices in Moscow
There are many currency exchange offices working until late at night and sometimes 24 hours a day.
Banknotes should be as new as possible and in good condition, as notes that are worn, torn, have been written on or are otherwise marked are not accepted.
To change any money the passport (or the passport copy) in most currency exchange offices is required.
Please note that the only accepted form of payment in Russia is the Rouble.

Open Hours
Food shops are usually open from 8.00 to 20.00 except Sundays - from 8.00 to 18.00, however many are opened 24 hours a day.
Big department stores, clothing stores, supermarkets are open all week from 9.00-10.00 to 21.00-22.00.
State institutions, offices, companies are usually open from 9.00 or 10.00 to 18.00 or 19.00 and do not work on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.
Most banks are open from 9.00 to 17.00 Monday to Friday, some are open on Saturday as well. Major banks, such as Sberbank, are open Monday to Friday from 9.00 to 20.00, and on Saturdays from 10.00 to 18.00. Self-service ATMs usually operate 24 hours a day.
On public holidays all banks, offices, museums and some shops are closed. However big department stores, and supermarkets remain open.

Holidays in Russia
January 1 and 2  (New Year)
January 7   (Orthodox Christmas)
February 23   (Day of the Defenders of the Motherland)
March 8   (International Women’s Day)
May 1 and 2   (International Labour Day)
May 9    (Victory Day – End of Second World War)
June 12  (Independence Day)
November 7   (Day of Reconciliation and Accord)
December 12   (Constitution Day)

Electricity
Everywhere in Russia 220 Volt and 50 Hz AC current supplies are used. Most of the sockets are standard European-size for double round-pin plugs, the same as in France or Germany. Appliances from the US, Canada, Britain will need adaptors (it's better to buy them in your own country, as it's very hard to find them in Russia).

Transport in Moscow
In Moscow several types of public transport are available - subway (metro), bus, trolley-bus and tram.
The most popular public transport in Moscow is subway. It consists of 11 lines and almost 160 stations. It is open from 5.30 in the morning to 1 in the morning.
There are five passenger airports in the suburbs of Moscow - Sheremetievo-2, Sheremetievo-1, Domodedovo, Vnukovo and Bykovo, Domodedovo being the largest. International flights are served by Sheremetievo-2 and Domodedovo airports.
The majority of domestic flights is served by Sheremetievo-1, Domodedovo and Vnukovo. A flight from Moscow to St. Petersburg lasts less than an hour. There are shuttle buses and mini-vans that run between the Moscow airports and the city. There is a fare for their use.
There are nine train stations in Moscow - Belorusskiy, Kazanskiy, Kievskiy, Kurskiy, Leningradskiy, Paveletskiy, Rizhskiy, Savelovskiy and Yaroslavskiy. Most of the trains going to Europe leave from Kievskiy and Belorusskiy train stations.

Customs
You can import goods that are not intended for sale without paying customs duty. You have to declare expensive jewelry and other valuables and use the "red corridor" when going through the customs. In other cases tourists can go through the "green corridor". There is no limit on how much cash you can bring in. When leaving the country you must declare cash if the amount exceeds $10,000. A special bank authorization will be required in this case. If you bought an original piece of art that is not of any significant cultural value you have to present the customs officer a signed and stamped receipt from an antique shop certified by the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation. Icons cannot be brought outside of the country. It is also not allowed to carry out of the country more than one pack of one brand of medicine, more than 5 kilos of fish and crawfish, more than 280 grams of black caviar per person and more than five gold and platinum items weighing altogether not more than 130 grams (120 grams for silver), etc. When crossing the border by car you can only have 20 liters of gas in a can. Souvenir coins with precious metal content can only be brought out of the country with a special permission of the Central Bank of Russia and you can only take away a limited amount of regular coins.