01Free
The 30-second card
TimeUTC+3The capital’s time. The country has 26 time zones.Source: IANA Time Zone Database · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗
Emergency · tap to call
Source: GOV.UK · Checked 24 Oct 2026 ↗SIM and eSIM
Local SIMs need a passport, biometrics and up to 2 weeks; a UK SIM with Russian roaming avoids local checks.Source: GOV.UK · Checked 24 Oct 2026 ↗Apps locals use
Yandex Maps: the most widely used navigation app, with live public transport positions; works in English.2GIS: a rival map and directory app that leads in some regions.Organic Maps / OsmAnd: offline maps built on OpenStreetMap data.RZhD Passengers: Russian Railways' own app for long-distance train tickets.Yandex Go: the leading ride-hailing app, available in most cities.
Source: Wikivoyage · Checked 24 Oct 2026 ↗Cards or cash
Mostly cashMostly cards
Step 2 of 5: Cash covers most payments, though cards work in some places.Source: Wikivoyage · Checked 24 Oct 2026 ↗Money in Russia
Russian Ruble · ₽ · RUB
Bring US dollars or euros to change into roubles; other currencies get poor rates or are refused.
Carry crisp, undamaged notes, which exchange offices accept more readily.
Eat at a stolovaya, a Soviet-style canteen serving cheap, quick traditional meals.
Change leftover roubles back before you leave, as they are hard to exchange abroad.
Collect Russian Ruble in CointryOur sister app for coin and banknote collectors · cointry.appOpenPublic holidays in the next 12 months
Wed, 4 Nov 2026 · Unity Day День народного единства
Fri, 1 Jan 2027 · New Year's Day Новый год
Sat, 2 Jan 2027 · New Year holiday Новогодние каникулы
Sun, 3 Jan 2027 · New Year holiday Новогодние каникулы
Mon, 4 Jan 2027 · New Year holiday Новогодние каникулы
Tue, 5 Jan 2027 · New Year holiday Новогодние каникулы
Wed, 6 Jan 2027 · New Year holiday Новогодние каникулы
Thu, 7 Jan 2027 · Christmas Day (Orthodox) Рождество Христово
Tue, 23 Feb 2027 · Defender of the Fatherland Day День защитника Отечества
Mon, 8 Mar 2027 · International Women's Day Международный женский день
Sat, 1 May 2027 · Labour Day День труда
Sun, 9 May 2027 · Victory Day День Победы
Sat, 12 Jun 2027 · Russia Day День России
Thu, 4 Nov 2027 · Unity Day День народного единства
02Free
Safety today
Germany, the US and the UK publish their travel advice openly. Here is what those that cover Russia say, side by side, checked daily.
German Foreign Office says
Travel warning
Calm
Caution
Serious
Don’t go ●
Source: Auswärtiges Amt
Updated 21 Oct 2026 · Checked 24 Oct 2026Official page
Updated 21 Oct 2026 · Checked 24 Oct 2026Official page
U.S. Department of State says
Do not travel
Calm
Caution
Serious
Don’t go ●
Level 4 of 4
Source: travel.state.gov
Updated 28 Dec 2025 · Checked 24 Oct 2026Official page
Updated 28 Dec 2025 · Checked 24 Oct 2026Official page
UK Foreign Office says
Advises against all travel
Source: GOV.UK
Updated 18 Sept 2026 · Checked 24 Oct 2026Official page
Updated 18 Sept 2026 · Checked 24 Oct 2026Official page
Scams to know
Fake official taxis
Book registered cabs by local app or hotel; fix price or meter first; never hail or share.
Source: GOV.UK · Checked 24 Oct 2026 ↗Dating scams
Never send money or buy gifts for someone you have not met face to face.
Source: GOV.UK · Checked 24 Oct 2026 ↗Money transfer scams
Avoid untraceable transfer services and confirm who the recipient really is before paying.
Source: GOV.UK · Checked 24 Oct 2026 ↗Fake police checks
If stopped by someone in uniform, insist on seeing their ID; report harassment to police.
Source: GOV.UK · Checked 24 Oct 2026 ↗Countrywise is a summary. The official page is authoritative.
03Free
Health
Get routine vaccines; ask about hepatitis A/B, rabies, tick-borne encephalitis. Altitude risk in W. Caucasus.
Vaccinations
Be up to date on all routine vaccines before you go; ask a doctor about hepatitis A and B, rabies and tick-borne encephalitis for your plans.
Altitude
Parts of the country, such as the Western Caucasus mountains, carry a risk of altitude sickness.
Talk to a travel clinic 4–8 weeks before you go.
Source: CDC
Checked 24 Oct 2026Official page
Checked 24 Oct 2026Official page
Summarised from the CDC’s Travelers’ Health pages. Using them does not mean the CDC endorses Countrywise.
04Travel layer
In the app: the travel layer
The travel layer
Read a country like someone who’s been there.
What’s different from home, and what’s the lawMust-see places, free entry and World Heritage sites20 words to remember, with pronunciationStrange and surprising factsThe anthem and national symbolsSaved for offline use
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05Free
Deep facts
| GDP | ≈ $2.6 trillionSource: World Bank · 2025 figures · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
|---|---|
| Per person | ≈ $17,547Source: World Bank · 2025 figures · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
| Top exports | crude petroleum, refined petroleum, natural gas, coal, fertilizers (2023)Source: The World Factbook (archive) · as of 2025/26 · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
| Population | 143.5 millionSource: World Bank · 2025 figures · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
|---|---|
| Median age | 42.3 yearsSource: The World Factbook (archive) · 2025 figures · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
| Life expectancy | 72.3 yearsSource: The World Factbook (archive) · 2024 figures · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
| Religions | Russian Orthodox 15-20%, Muslim 10-15%, other Christian 2% (2006 est.)Source: The World Factbook (archive) · 2006 figures · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
| Area | 17,098,242 km²Source: The World Factbook (archive) · as of 2025/26 · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
|---|---|
| Climate | ranges from steppes in the south through humid continental in much of European Russia; subarctic in Siberia to tundra climate in the polar north; winters vary from cool along Black Sea coast to frigid in Siberia; summers vary from warm in the steppes to cool along Arctic coastSource: The World Factbook (archive) · as of 2025/26 · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
| Terrain | broad plain with low hills west of Urals; vast coniferous forest and tundra in Siberia; uplands and mountains along southern border regionsSource: The World Factbook (archive) · as of 2025/26 · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
| Type of government | semi-presidential federationSource: The World Factbook (archive) · as of 2025/26 · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
|---|---|
| Calling code | +7Source: libphonenumber · Checked 24 Oct 2026 ↗ |
About the data
Written from the sources we link, and checked against them before each release. Countrywise summarises public sources. We are not an official source. For safety and entry rules, always follow the official page we link to.
From your foreign ministry when it publishes its advice openly (Germany, the US, the UK). Otherwise we show those three side by side. Checked daily, with the date next to every entry.
CDC · 24 Oct 2026 ↗GOV.UK · 24 Oct 2026 ↗IANA Time Zone Database · 23 Oct 2026 ↗libphonenumber · 24 Oct 2026 ↗Nager.Date · 23 Oct 2026 ↗The World Factbook (archive) · 23 Oct 2026 ↗Unicode CLDR · 24 Oct 2026 ↗Wikidata · 24 Oct 2026 ↗Wikivoyage · 24 Oct 2026 ↗World Bank · 23 Oct 2026 ↗
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