Moscow Russia Travel

Posted on November 21, 2011 by Admin
Moscow Russia Travel

Moscow Russia Travel

Russia is a fascinating country stretching over two continents whose total territory covers nine time zones extended from the largely metropolitan European part to the dense Tundra forests crisscrossed by railway travel routes to China and Mongolia. A country of contrasts and great diversity, Russia boasts unique cuisine, rich culture, a history documented in hundreds of museums, lively city life juxtaposed with the rustic charm of its peripheral regions, beautiful landscapes and a wealth of natural resources. No wonder the number of curious travelers willing to explore all parts of Russia increases with every year. However, many of them have been asking the same question for the last 20 years - is Russia safe enough to visit without taking special precautions?

Criminal Rates in Russia

One of the common misconceptions about Russia in the West is that it's a very dangerous and unfriendly place for foreign visitors. In actual fact, crimes committed annually on the territory of the Russian Federation don’t exceed European or American norms – neither in quantity nor severity. Moreover, criminal rates in Moscow tend to be a tad lower than in the capitals of many other European countries. According to European Sociological Review cases of interpersonal violence in Russia had been on the rise since mid-80s - followed by Russia's deep economic crisis and social chaos during and shortly after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Understandably, these rates have substantially dropped off in recent years - largely due to improved economic situation as well as increased public engagement of militia and the Federal Security Service.

Safety Tips for Foreign Tourists in Russia

Money: paying in US dollars is rarely possible except for certain hotels and other tourist-only places. Never exchange money on the street, and don't use currency exchange services from unauthorized individuals. Instead, you can buy Russian rubles in your own country before the departure, or use banking services in Russia which operate in every city and shouldn't be too difficult to locate. You can also use credit cards in hotels, big shopping centers, and many restaurants. To verify current international exchange rates in currency-to-currency conversions or graphs, you can use services like markets.ft.com or xe.com.