A visual travel guide with practical tips about Russia. Complete version coming soon!

1. DEMO
VERSION
RUSSIA

2. THIS GUIDE IS A
DEMO VERSION!
A N D R E F. A N J O S@G M A I L . C O M
TO GET ACCESS TO THE FULL VERSION OF THE
GUIDE WITH TIPS, PHOTOS, LOGISTICS AND
EXCLUSIVE INFORMATION FROM THE CITIES OF
MOSCOW, KAZAN, ST PETERSBURG, NIZHNY
NOVGOROD, VELIKY NOVGOROD AND PETERHOF.
CONTACT:

3. ILMILIONE
Milione is my idea of an easy and quick travel guide
informing about the places I’ve been unitil now.
This name is inspired on the Marco Polo’s book “Il
Milione”, about his adventures towards Asia.
For this quick guide, I share basic information
about the cities of Moscow, Saint Petersburg,
Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod, Veliky Novgorod and
Peterhof.
WHY
THIS GUIDE?
I’m André, originally from Brazil, born to be a global
citizen. Have lived in 6 countries (India, Egypt, Serbia,
Ukraine, Switzerland and South Africa) and explored
other 20.
Until now, visited Russia twice and got impressed with
the rich culture, history and the people I met there.
And as I understand better the Russian language, the
more access I have to a new world still unknown for
non-Russian speakers.
My purpose is to help others discover different
cultures, places and perspectives. Through this quick
guide, I hope to help you discover a little of Russia.
ABOUT
THE AUTHOR

4. Russia is a mix of Europe and Asia. Its roots come
from where is nowadays Kiev, the capital of
Ukraine. By that time, named Kiev-Rus, expanded
towards Moscow through migrations and wars.
Under the Mongolian domination for over two
centuries followed by more than 300 years of czarism
and 69 years of Soviet regime, the Russian territory
became a nation while isolated from the rest of the
world; combining its Slavic roots with Central Asian
ethnic groups conquered by the Mongolians.
Even nowadays, Russian territory hosts more than
50 ethnic groups like Tartars, Kazakhs, Uzbeks,
Ossetians, Mongolians, Chinese, etc.
Such isolation contributed for the birth of a
particular culture still unknown for non-Russian
speakers. There is a whole world operating in
Russian language and it’s such a waste to ignore it:
literature, cinema, music, internet, ballet, opera,
etc. That is what makes Russia an interesting
destination!
RUSSIA(РОССИЯ)
If you need a visa for Russia, the first thing you need to
obtain is an invitation letter in Russian language from a
licensed organization. Check with the Russian
Consulate or Embassy what kinds of visa are available
for your purpose of travel. Rules are not consistent!
Hotels and tour operators can provide you an
invitation letter, but normally they require to book with
them during your stay. Pay attention to the
agreements you do regarding to the invitation letter!
Your visa will be valid as long as specified in the
invitation letter.
For invitation letter: check the company Way to Russia.
and detailed information about Russian visa on
caravanistan.com/visa/russia.
RUSSIAN VISA
Population: 144,3 million (World Bank)
Currency: Russian Ruble
Country code: +7
Religion: Orthodox Christianism is the major religion
Islamism and Judaism are also present
Weather: During summers is warm (from +25ºC to
+30ºC), on winters tends to -20ºC, -30ºC, even -40ºC

5. GASTRONOMY

6. Russians drink more tea than vodka, trust me!
Statistics point to 90%-94% of Russian population
consuming tea.
Indispensable part of daily life: at lunch, on dinners,
for a break, day and night. In addition to local
production, Russia imports huge amounts of tea
from India, Sri Lanka, Kenya, China and Vietnam.
DRINK TEA
Russians love pancakes! Cheese, caviar, honey,
sour cream, jam, mince are some of the pancakes
eaten in Russia.
PANCAKES
Okroshska (cold soup raw vegetables and kvas),
solyanka (cucumbers and beef or fish), shi (cabbage
soup), borsch (from Ukraine and popular in Poland,
too) are the soups you have to try in Russia.
SOUPS
Dumplings filled with meat, similar to the varenyky
in Ukraine.
PELMENI

7. Originally from France and popular in Russia. Salad
made of potato, beets, carrot, oil, lemon juice or
vinegar.
VINAGRETE
Also known as Kazylyk or Konina (Конина), a dish to
try in Kazan.
HORSE MEAT
A soup traditionally served with the etchpetchmac.
Made of meat, bones, cereal grains and vegetables
cooked below the water boiling point.
BROTH
Originally from Georgia, shashlik is a popular
barbecue in Russia and in other former Soviet
countries. Basically, it’s small portions of grilled
meat.
SHASHLIK
It’s pronounced as “eti-peh-ti-mak”, typical from
Tartar gastronomy. It’s a snack baked with potatoes,
beef and sweet onions on a triangular format.
Traditionally served with tea and Broth.
ETCHPETCHMAK

8. A place to try the Tartar cuisine the Bilyar Restaurant
(Биляр). At the branch of Butlerova Street, 31
(Бутлерова, 31), prices are better. It’s next to
Baumana Street, the busiest one in Kazan.
A popular sweet in Tatarstan, made of fried balls
molded and drenched with honey.
TCHAK-TCHAK(ЧАК-ЧАК)
Stolovaya (Столовая, pronounced as
“sta-lo-va-ya”) is a canteen-style restaurant
from the Soviet times, where food is served on
standardized way.
Most of the stolovayas are frequented by locals.
In the main Russian cities, there are many
stolovayas with various prices and qualities.
EAT AT A STOLOVAYA

9. IF YOU GO TO A RUSSIAN HOUSE,
CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING ETIQUETTE TIPS:
Very present in every stereotype about Russia! Vodka
has an interesting history. Its initial purpose was
merely scientific, when the Russian scientist Dimitri
Mendeleev did his thesis about the combination of
water and alcohol on 40%. It was on January, 31st,
1865, the same date celebrated as Day of Vodka.
Vodka is usually served on meals called zakusky, with
salty, fatty and dried food to handle the alcohol.
When you buy vodka, be aware that many bottles
don’t have replaceable cap. Once you open, you have
to finish!
VODKA
It’s a non-alcoholic drink made of fermented bread.
Homemade versions may have small amount of
alcohol, normally found in countryside.
KVAS
A juice made of fruits, fresh or dried. There are
millions of ways to make it.
KOMPOT
Baltika, Stary Melnik, Bochkareff, Zolotaya Bochka
are the main brands of local beers.
BEERS
It’s illegal to sell alcohol in the streets in Russia! At night, alcohol is
legally sold only at bars and clubs.
DRINKS
• Take off the shoes before get in the house;
• Take a gift to your hosts when invited;
• Offer help to your hosts;
• Avoid to talk about topics around II World War,
money, religion, family and private life with
someone you don’t know well;
• Avoid the yellow color, for many Russians it’s
associated to cheating;
• Dress up is a sign of respect;
• Don’t put your feet neither on the sofa nor on the
chair when sitting. And don’t sit on the floor!;
• When visiting churches, take off hat/cap, avoid shorts.
For women, cover the head with a scarf;
• It’s expected for men to be gentlemen with
women: open the door, carry her things, etc.;
• If hosts offer vodka, to refuse is offensive. At least
one dose!
ETIQUETTE
IN RUSSIA

10. LOGISTICS

11. Railways have been important part of logistics in
Russia since the czar Alexander III ordered to build
the Trans-Siberian and more railways were built
along the Soviet regime.
One of the marks of those past times is the large
railway system connecting all the capitals and the
main cities of the former Soviet Union. If there is no
direct train to a particular destination, you can take
a train from one the capitals around the
Russian-speaking zone. Train is the most practical
transport to travel in Russia!
From Moscow, it’s possible to go by train to all the
capitals of neighboring countries: Kiev (Ukraine),
Minsk (Belarus), Astana (Kazakhstan), even to
Mongolia and China.
Railway stations in Russia are also centralized in
Moscow, from where you can go to all the other
parts of the country.
You can buy train tickets directly at Russian
Railways, clicking on the link Passenger.
TRAINS
IN RUSSIA
ALWAYS HAVE THE PRINTED TICKETS! SHOW ON YOUR PHONE IS NOT ENOUGH! AND CARRY YOUR PASSPORT,
TOO. THE TRAIN INSPECTORS AND BORDER CONTROL ALWAYS CHECK IT.
IM POR TANT!

12. In Russian, Транссибирской Магистраль, the
longest railway journey in the world. Built between
1891 and 1916, under the Czar Alexander III.
It is still the most important logistical corridor inside
Russia, transporting passengers and commodities
around the country, as well as the imports and
exports. And it’s a vital link to the Eastern Russia.
9.234 km
Distance:
7 days
Duration:
TRANS-SIBERIAN JOURNEY

13. When buying tickets in Russia, have your passport
since the cashier needs to register your name in
order to issue your train tickets.
Through Russian Railways, clicking on Passenger, it
is possible to check the train schedules and
availability 45 days before departure and 30 days
usually for international trains.
For long journeys, all tickets are for sleeping places.
The train times in Russian territory are always in
Moscow time. There are 10 time zones in Russia!
The train tickets in Russia are for fixed dates and
defined stops, according to what is specified in the
ticket. For example, if you buy a ticket from Moscow to
Vladivostok, it’s valid only for the direct itinerary
between the two cities. If you drop off the train in
Ekaterinburg, your ticket is not valid anymore, you
would need to buy another ticket to Vladivostok.
If you plan to stop along the Trans-Siberian route, you
need to consider buying separated tickets when
planning your journey.
Be aware that, from July to September, it is the peak of
occupancy rates in the trains due to summer
vacations and holidays. Tickets may be sold out weeks
in advance during this period.
Main route: Moscow-Vladivostok
To Mongolia: Moscow – Ulan-Baatar
To China: Moscow – Beijing, via Kharbin and
Ulan-Baatar
1st class: each cabin has two sofas that
convert into bed for sleeping.
2nd class (kupe/ Купе): each compartment
has 4 beds and there is a shared bathroom for
each carriage, locked during stops at stations.
3rd class (platzkart/ Платскарт): each
compartment has 4 beds plus beds along the
corridor. The difference of platzkart is the
carriages are open. You have least privacy and
more contact with locals, who use it for being
affordable and convenient.
ROUTES BUYING
TRAIN TICKETS

14. RUSSIAN TIME ZONES
For buses in Russia (as well as in other Eastern
European countries), you can buy tickets with Bus
For, that has lines among the main Russian cities.
Their website in English: busfor.com.
BUSES
IN RUSSIA
For low-cost flights in Russia, you can check the
company Pobeda, that offers flights to the main
cities in Russia, as well as to Tbilisi (Georgia), Baku
(Azerbaijan) and Almaty (Kazakhstan).
Their website in English: www.pobeda.aero/en.
LOW-COST
FLIGHTS

15. CONTACT:
ANDREF.ANJOS@GMAIL.COM
HAVE A NICE TRIP!