There are a number of festivals, holidays and other events celebrated in Moscow each year. The main ones are listed below.
January 1 : New Year's Day (national) January 7 : Russian Orthodox Christmas (national)The Russian Orthodox Church follows the Julian calendar and thus celebrates Christmas thirteen days after it is celebrated by most Christians in the rest of the world.
February 23 : Defender of the Fatherland Day (national)Previously commemorated the anniversary of the creation of the Red Army in 1918. Today, it is celebrated as the Russian equivalent of Father's Day, on which women and girls give presents to their male relatives of any age, whether they have served in the Russian armed forces or not.
March 8 : International Women's Day (national)Celebrated worldwide, this holiday honours all women. In Russia, men and boys give flowers, chocolate and small presents to their wives, mothers, daughters, sisters, girlfriends and female colleagues. Throngs of flower sellers and other vendors line the sidewalks in Moscow on this day.
April 30: Labour Day (national)Celebrations of May Day lost their political meaning in Russia after 1991. Occasionally, political parties and labour unions have demonstrations on this day, but most Russians use this holiday for gardening or spending time with their families. If May 1 falls on a weekend, the public holiday is usually moved to the following Monday.
May 9 : Victory Day (national)For Russians, this is the day the Great Patriotic War against Nazi Germany ended in 1945. Big military parades are held in front of thousands of spectators on Moscow's Red Square, and the thunder of fighter jets echoes in the sky!
June 12 : Russia Day (national)Marks the day the Russian Federation proclaimed its sovereignty in 1990. The main parade is held on Red Square in Moscow.
December 25 : Christmas (national)| Month | Min. Average Temperature (°C/F°) | Max. Average Temperature (°C/F°) | Average Rains (MM) | Best Time to Travel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | -9/16 | -4/25 | 46/1.8 | Not the best period to go |
| February | -10/14 | -4/25 | 36/1.4 | Not the best period to go |
| March | -4/25 | 3/37 | 33/1.3 | Not the best period to go |
| April | 2/36 | 11/52 | 38/1.5 | Not the best period to go |
| May | 8/46 | 19/66 | 52/2.0 | Good period to go
|
| June | 12/54 | 22/72 | 84/3.3 | Good period to go
|
| July | 14/57 | 25/77 | 90/3.5 | Good period to go
|
| August | 12/54 | 22/72 | 80/3.1 | Good period to go
|
| September | 7/45 | 16/61 | 67/2.6 | Good period to go
|
| October | 3/37 | 9/48 | 66/2.6 | Not the best period to go |
| November | -3/27 | 1/34 | 60/2.4 | Not the best period to go |
| December | -8/18 | -3/27 | 53/2.1 | Not the best period to go |
The Moscow-Sheremetyevo International Airport is located about 30 kilometres (19 miles) north-west of the city centre. More than 25 million passengers are served by this airport every year, making it the second busiest in the country after Moscow Domodedovo Airport.
With an underground railway system consisting of 12 lines, 197 stations and a total route length of 329 kilometres (204 miles), a very large number of bus lines criss-crossing the capital, plus a convenient and inexpensive tram network, public transport is by far the best way to get around Moscow.
Inaugurated in 1935, the Moscow Metro was one of the USSR's most ambitious architectural projects. Apart from its mere practicality, the opulent world underneath the city streets is worth discovering for its beauty and historical interest. When planning a trip on the Metro, make sure you check your route carefully because some stations are a good distance apart. Metro trains run from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. every day. Around 7 million passengers use the system every day, making the Moscow Metro the busiest in Europe and the fifth busiest in the world in 2014. All station names on signs are written in Cyrillic. Before leaving home, make sure you take with you a metro map showing stations names in both Cyrillic and Latin characters. You can purchase your tickets at the counters in Metro stations. Tickets may be purchased individually for RUB 55 or in books of 20 tickets for RUB 747, respectively. Passes are also available, in smart-card format, offering an unlimited number of rides for 1 day (RUB 210), 3 days (RUB 415) or 7 days (RUB 830). Note that when changing lines within the system, there are sometimes long distances to cover on foot.
Ideally complementing the Metro, Moscow's buses and trolleys allow you to reach points between its stations. All of Moscow's main thoroughfares are served by bus lines. Buy your ticket at a bus stop (the least expensive way) or directly from the driver.
Due to the language barrier, but also the limited parking spaces available, getting around Moscow by car is not recommended.
Taxis are very useful to get around the city when metro stations are quite spread out. Official cabs, usually yellow with a large “Taxi” sign on the roof, are all equipped with a meter. A regular fare in the city centre costs around RUB 500.
Bikes are an excellent way of exploring the city, but keep in mind distances can be quite important. There are numerous bike lanes in Moscow and its parks.
The city has launched Velobike, a self-service bike rental system that offers more than 4,000 bikes, 260 of them electric, spread in the 500 stations. The day pass (RUB 150) gives you 30 minutes for free. The next half-hour costs RUB 30, RUB 100 for 2 hours and RUB 450 for 3 hours. For more information: https://velobike.ru/en/
Upon your arrival in Moscow, you can get in touch with local tourism professionals for further information and to help organize your stay.
Moscow City Tourist Information OfficeOffers practical information and useful recommendations (accommodation, restaurants, public transport, festivals, cultural events, etc.).
The city of Moscow has set up a wide network of tourist information centres in the city centre, the Belorussky, Leningradsky, Kievsky, Paveletsky, Kursky and Kazanskyet stations, as well as in the Sheremetyevo and Vnoukovo airports. For more information: https://discover.moscow/
Russia travel guideThe English-language website maintained by the Russian National Tourist Office provides a wealth of information for visitors to Moscow.
The currency used in Russia is the Russian Ruble (RUB).
1 PLN = 20,50 RUB
1 RUB = 0,05 PLN
The above exchange rate is given for information because is variable.
In order to travel in the best conditions and for your health and safety, we invite you to check all information regarding preventive measures and best practices to be respected, available on the official website of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs: https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/
Your comfort, well-being and health are at the heart of Air France's concerns, and we want to help you prepare for your trip in the best way possible. Find out more about the measures taken to ensure safe travelling on our website: https://www.airfrance.fr/FR/en/common/page_flottante/information/coronavirus.htm#notre-engagement-sanitaire
See your doctor before you travel. It is also recommended to take out insurance covering medical expenses and repatriation before your trip. Moscow counts several hospitals and medical institutions, as well as quality medical practitioners and health specialists.
There are no vaccination requirements for visitors to Russia.
The following vaccines are recommended for travel to Russia:
For more information, contact Air France's international vaccination centre:
There are no specific food safety risks in Moscow.
WaterIt is recommended to drink bottled water.
Foreign nationals are required to be in possession of a visa in order to enter and stay in Russia.
For further information, visit the website of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
To enjoy peace of mind during your stay in Moscow, visit the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of your country.
Here are a few basic Russian phrases that will make your stay in Moscow a little easier:
Hello / Good morning / Good afternoon: Sdrastvouité/ Dobroe Utro / Dobri Den'
Good evening: Dobryï vetcher
Goodbye: Do svidania
Yes: Da
No: Niet
No, thank you: Niet spasiba
Thank you very much: Bal'shoye spasiba
Please: Pozhaluysta
I don't understand: Ya ne ponimayu
Could you repeat ?: Ne mogli by vi povtorit' ?
What time is it ?: Katory tchass ?
Sorry / Excuse me: Izvinite
Airport: Aeraport
Train station: Zheleznodorozhni Vokzal
Taxi: Taksi
Hotel: Otel'
Hospital: Bolnitsa
Bank: Bank
Telephone: Telefon
I'm (…): Ya (…)
I'm looking for (…): Ya ichtchu (…)
How much is (…)?: Skolka stoït (...) ?
Do you have (…)?: U vass yest' (...) ?
Where can I find (…)?: Gde ya magu naïti (…) ?
Where can I buy (…)?: Gde ya mogu kupit ' ?
I'd like (…): Ya by khotel (…).
Tipping
In Moscow, leaving a tip (called na chaï, literally “for tea”) is highly recommended, but not required. In Moscow's restaurants and bars, the standard for tipping is about 10%, but check the bill first to make sure a service charge has not already been added.
