Looking for information for trip to Moscow?

Question

I'll be traveling to Moscow later this year and have never been to Russia before, so I have a few questions:

1. Any recommendations for good books on Cyrillic (so I can read the signs) and traveler's Russian? I am going as part of a work group so we'll have Muscovites with us but I'd like to know at least a little bit of the language (I am a native English speaker with no Russian, I have started trying to learn some Cyrillic/Russian but I don't have time for a full course). Especially interested in good beginner's podcasts - I liked Spoonful of Russian but she has stopped producing new versions for now.

2. Good places to go or things to see during a 3-4 day trip? Of course Red Square and the Kremlin and St. Basil's, and old Arbat Street was recommended to me, plus a boat ride.

3. Tips for staying out of trouble? I don't want to hide in the hotel but I've heard some pretty tough stories from others of one-way cab rides and shakedowns by the militsiya.

Any help appreciated. Thanks.

Answer 1

Places to go... You are traveling later this year, and it's almost October, so you're most likely to be there in late fall or winter, right? So your boat ride idea goes out the window... Consider some indoor alternatives. Museums can be interesting, if you are into that sort of thing.

Tips...

Watch your step, especially if you are not used to living in a cold climate; black ice does happen on Moscow's sidewalks.

Ask a local acquaintance to show you how to use the subway, as well as the way from the place you will be staying to the nearest station; be sure you understand the subway map (once you do, you can find your way home from anywhere; all you need to do is to drop into any subway station). Moscow subway has no schedules or express trains (trains show up every few minutes and stop at every station), so it should be pretty easy to figure out.

Avoid traveling during rush hours; those are not pleasant anywhere in the world.

Don't drink with strangers; you never know which one of them turns into a violent prick or an embarrassing idiot when he gets drunk (again, something that happens all over the world).

Carry with you a piece of paper with your local address written on it in Russian (preferably with a map of it; can be handy to give to a cab driver), unless you are staying in a major hotel which everyone knows.

Answer 2

I would recommend hiring a tour guide and a translator if you do not speak Russian.
That way you will have someone to show you the sights and help you with the signs and to make sure you do not have to worry about being in the wrong part of town.
Also, the taxis are very expensive but Russia has a good public transportation system and the buses are not expensive. That is another reason I recommend getting someone to help you. The money you save on taxis will pay for translator.
I have been there twice (both times I had my fiancee there to help me) I enjoyed both of my trips and found the people very hospitable.
As far as crime goes the crime rate is actually lower in Russia than it is in the US.

Answer 3

You will have to take no less than 2 weeks to benefit from the consult with. Don't attempt to retailer an excessive amount of cash! Get a consultant or become a member of a excursion to aid with the language and tradition barrier. You can get a individual excursion of the Kremlin, take it. Visit the Tretyakov, Manezh, Gum, Bolshoi, Gorkiy Park and MGU (Moscow State University). They are massive vacationer websites however to not be ignored. How might you? Learn a few fundamental Russian and use it. They particularly do admire it, despite the fact that you're painfully international. Russians are amazingly pleasant despite the fact that the store ladies and waiters certainly not SMILE! Most have an overly sly experience of humour.

Answer 4

1. You can buy any phrase-book in English. You will be able to read words as they will be written all with Latin signs. Just visit your nearby bookshop, i'm sure you will be able to find something of your interest and language level. Usually common phrase-book works greatly if you don't know even a bit of language.

2. Actually, you was recemmendent to see the main places in the capital. You may try to orginize with your gropu and go little bit further from Moscow city, to see the suburbs. We have many nice places of Golden Ring. Sergiev-Posad, Zagorsk, Pereslavl-Zallesky (here you will be able to see the huge Plescheevo lake). These places are famouse for theirs churches and temples, really beautiful trip to ancient Russia.

3. Main tip is to be watchful and don't go out alone very late in the evening. Try to orginize with other people your trips out of the hotel. Instead of taxi you can use Moscow metro, it is huge and link all the places together, besides it is also one more historical place for you to see, many stations are the pieces of art!

Have a very nice trip to Russia and you are most welcome :)
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Answer 5

Google it.