Travel Information Russia

1. General information
2. Climate
3. Flora and fauna
4. National parks and nature conservation
5. Medical advice
6. Population
7. Politics and economy
8. Transport network
9. Cities and regions
10. Culture, sights
11. Holidays
12. Travel advice
13. Foreign representations
14. Sources and Links

1. General Information

Continent:  Europe, Asia
Geographical location:  Russia borders directly on 14 countries and 5 seas and stretches across Europe and Asia 
Highest elevation:  Elbrus (5,642 m)
Form of government:  Federal Republic
System of government:  Semi-presidential system
Languages:  Russian
Neighboring countries:  Norway, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Belarus, Ukraine, China, Mongolia, North Korea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan
Capital:  Moscow
Area:  17,075,400 km²  
Population:  146.0 million  
Population density:  8.5 inhabitants per km²
Religions:  41% Orthodox, 11% Atheists, 6% Muslims
Currency:  Ruble (RUB)
Climate:  very diverse climate, Arctic, Temperate and Subtropical climate zones
Time zone:   UTC +3 to UTC +12
Country code:  +7
Country code:  RUS 
Electricity:  220 V. Power sockets, mains frequency 50Hz
Opening hours:  Supermarkets are usually open from 8 am to 10 pm

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2. Climate

Russia is one of the few countries with an incredibly diverse climate. The country extends over three climate zones: the Arctic, Temperate, and Subtropical climate zones. Between May and the end of September, it is summer in Russia, with temperatures that can exceed 30°C. In contrast, in winter, temperatures can reach as low as -30°C. Only very few countries can show such extreme temperature differences.

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3. Flora and Fauna

Due to the incredible size of the country and the resulting climatic differences, there are various vegetation zones. In the north, there are arctic island groups, while in other areas meadows and various steppes can be found. You can also encounter semi-deserts and deserts while traveling through the country.

Of course, the different zones are also home to a wide variety of animals. For example, on the northern coast of the Arctic Ocean you can find beluga whales, polar bears, walruses, seals, as well as various seabirds, while reindeer live in the tundra region. There, you will also encounter arctic foxes, beavers, lemmings, and snowy owls. The vast forests are home not only to small furry animals such as squirrels, sables, martens, foxes, and wolverines, but also to moose, bears, wolves, deer, and minks. In the steppe regions, you find hamsters, sousliks, and marmots. In yet another region, there is a rare and endangered species of mole, the desman. Naturally, falcons, eagles, and cranes can be found throughout the whole country. In the waters, there are various species of fish.

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4. National Parks and Nature Conservation

Russia has an incredible number of national parks. Forty national parks cover a total area of almost 90,000 km². Here, only a small number of the areas are listed.

Sikhote-Alin Nature Reserve
This nature reserve is in the far east and consists of the oldest mixed forests in the world, where several mountains about 200 meters high shape the landscape. Many endangered animal species live here, such as Himalayan bears, Siberian tigers (Amur tigers), brown bears, black bears, wolves, or lynxes. Hardly anywhere else in the world can you find so many endangered and rare animal and plant species in just one place. 

Altai - Nature Reserve
The Altai Nature Reserve covers a total area of 8812 km² and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage. The different habitats of the reserve provide a home for various large mammals. About 300 bird species also feel at home here, of which as many as 180 species breed in the area. A large part of these animals live around Lake Teletskoye, the pearl of Western Siberia. Further south of the lake, the Chulyshman and Karakem rivers form the western border of the park in some places. 

Volga Delta near Astrakhan
The Volga Delta is one of the largest river deltas in the world and offers a unique wealth of flora and fauna. The area is best explored by boat, allowing you to observe different sea eagles, ospreys, rare falcon and swan species, cranes, pelicans or various types of herons up close. During the flowering period, many types of water lilies and lotuses can be admired, which float on the water in all sorts of colors. 

The White Nights of St Petersburg
The white nights of St. Petersburg are especially popular with tourists. The city lies directly on the tropic of the sun. Thus, it is light in the city for about 22 hours a day during midsummer. During the two hours when the sun goes down, it never gets really dark.

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5. Medical Information

For entry into Russia, it is mandatory to show proof of travel health insurance.

However, no additional vaccinations are strictly necessary before entry. Nevertheless, the status of vaccinations against tetanus, diphtheria, polio, and hepatitis A should be checked and updated if necessary. If you plan to spend a lot of time in nature, vaccination against rabies and meningoencephalitis would be advisable. Medical care, especially outside large cities, cannot be compared to the medical care in Central Europe. In most cases, knowledge of the local language is required at medical facilities. In Moscow, St. Petersburg and several other major cities, there are some mostly private hospitals that also meet higher standards with regard to accommodation, technical, and professional equipment.

Further information: www.auswaertiges-amt.de

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6. Population

The population of Russia is distributed very unevenly. Thus, with 85%, the majority of the population lives in the European part of the country, which accounts for only 23% of Russian territory. In the much larger area, the Asian part of Russia, only 15% of the total population lives. Thus, the number of inhabitants is distributed very differently and varies from 362 inhabitants per km² in the capital and its surroundings to less than one inhabitant per km² in the northeast and the Russian Far East.

The national and official language is Russian, with more than one hundred different languages spoken in the country.

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7. Politics and Economy

Russia is a democratic, federal constitutional state with a republican government system. This system is a mixture of presidential and parliamentary systems. The president is the head of state and is elected by the people for six years. He determines the guidelines of politics and is the supreme commander of the armed forces. He also represents the country both domestically and abroad. His job also includes appointing and dismissing the government.

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8. Transport Network

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9. Cities and Regions

Moscow
Moscow, the cosmopolitan capital of Russia, is located in the west of the country and is traversed by the Moskva River. In the historic city center lies the Kremlin, the official residence of the president, whose armory houses treasures from the Tsarist era. In front of the Kremlin walls lies Red Square, the symbolic center of Russia with the Lenin Mausoleum, the extensive collection of the Historical Museum, and St. Basil’s Cathedral with its colorful onion domes.

Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a Russian port city on the Baltic Sea. It served as the capital of the Tsarist Empire for over two centuries and was founded in 1703 by Peter the Great, who was immortalized in the city’s landmark, the Bronze Horseman statue. The city continues to be the cultural center of Russia, including the ultra-modern Mariinsky Theatre with opera and ballet performances and the Russian Museum, which exhibits Russian art from Orthodox icons to works by Kandinsky.

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10. Culture, Sights

St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow
In Moscow stands one of the oldest buildings in Russia and it is a must-see. St. Basil’s Cathedral is known as a symbol of Russia and is located on Red Square in the capital. It consists of nine chapels and stands out due to its beautiful colors and shapes. Especially the golden dome that crowns the cathedral appears particularly imposing.

Lake Baikal
The so-called Fountain of the Earth or also called the Pearl of Siberia, is a lake over 600 km long. Its width, on the other hand, is only between 27 km and 80 km. But far more remarkable is its depth of 1,637 meters, which makes it the deepest lake in the world. In addition, it offers a unique animal and plant world and thus a great habitat for many rare animal species. Some of the breathtakingly beautiful islands can be reached by ferry in summer and over the ice in winter.

Catherine Palace in Pushkin
Just a short distance from the metropolis of St. Petersburg is the Catherine Palace in Pushkin. It was almost completely destroyed during World War II and then rebuilt. With its various buildings, it is considered one of the most beautiful Baroque buildings in Europe. The luxury inside the building is overwhelming and amazes visitors. In the artificially created park grounds surrounding the palace, numerous ponds and green areas invite visitors to linger. 

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11. Public Holidays

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12. Travel Information

Most residents of Russia drink the Russian tap water without concern. However, as a traveler, you should, for safety reasons, only consume boiled or bottled water.

For your own safety, you should equip yourself with a small travel pharmacy. Nevertheless, most medications can be purchased in numerous pharmacies even without a prescription.

There are repeated attacks in various regions of the country. Therefore, it is generally recommended to pay special attention and be cautious when visiting areas that are not particularly police-protected.

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13. Foreign Representations

Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany

Head: Rüdiger Freiherr von Fritsch, extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador

Location: Moscow

Phone: +7 495 937 95 00

Street address: Mosfilmowskaja 56, 119285 Moscow

Website: http://www.moskau.diplo.de

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14. Sources and Links

www.wetterkontor.de

www.auswaertiges-amt.de

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