Before you visit St. Petersburg read these
essentials that can help you prepare your trip. Traveling
to Russia can be a little bit different from traveling to
another European country. It’s always good to know about
visa requirements, when to go, and other things ahead of time.
Banking Hours
Banks in Russia are generally open from 9 a.m. to 17 p.m.,
Monday to Friday. All the banks have a standard hour for lunch,
which is usually from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. or from 2 p.m. to 3
p.m. Most banks are closed on Saturday and Sunday, as these
days are common days-off in Russia. In most banks in larger
cities, like St. Petersburg and Moscow, one can gain access
to ATMs, cash traveler's checks and send or receive money.
Many Russian banks house Western Union and MoneyGram offices.
These popular companies allow you to send or get money very
fast.
Credit Cards and Traveler's Checks
Credit cards and traveler's checks are widely
accepted only in large cities. However one must remember that
Russia is a country, which operates mainly on a cash-only
basis. So it-s recommended that you always have some cash
in case your card won't be accepted. Moscow, St. Petersburg
and other big cities have wide networks of ATMs. To obtain
money through automated teller machines won't be a problem.
However note that the most popular credit cards in Russia
are Visa, MasterCard and EuroCard. We recommend that you withdraw
money from the Savings Bank's ATMs as a commission rate is
lower than in commercial banks.
Currency
The ruble is the only legal tender in Russian
Federation. There are one hundred kopecks for one ruble. This
is illegal to pay for goods and services in establishments.
But dollars, euros and other hard currencies can be easily
exchanged at currency exchange offices. Large cities have
wide networks of such offices, and it won-t be a problem to
exchange money.
Gratuities
Tipping is usually required in restaurants
and can be 5-10% of your bill. Do not tip in fast food eateries
and cafes. You don-t need to tip hairdressers either (as they
do in France or Britain). As a rule, it is not required to
tip taxi drivers and tour guides, but you can always tip for
a good service whatever it can be if you really like the person
and that job he or she does for you.
