Russia Tourist Traps

  Baikal Bear
by Kuznetsov_Sergey
  • Baikal Bear
      Baikal Bear
    by Kuznetsov_Sergey
  • No one is watching you
      No one is watching you
    by HORSCHECK
  • taste room
      taste room
    by JuliaMac
  • Foreigner Prices
      Foreigner Prices
    by HORSCHECK
  • Ticket prices at the Kremlin
      Ticket prices at the Kremlin
    by HORSCHECK

Most Viewed Tourist Traps in Russia

1.

Tourist prices   Moscow

Tourist prices, Moscow

 14 Reviews  Russia still has a sort of dual-pricing system, according to which foreigners are charged often 3 to 10 times more at theatres, museums or sights than Russian citizens. This price system is a relic... 

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2.

Taxis   Saint Petersburg

Taxis, Saint Petersburg

 10 Reviews  never hire a taxi near the airport - men offering you a cab will charge you a double or thee times price! order a taxi from english speaking taxi service or hire from a taxi point inside the airport... 

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3.

Taxis/Transportation   Moscow

Taxis/Transportation, Moscow

 17 Reviews  Especially for the blue lines, it can be hard to tell the light blue verses the dark blue. Also, if you are color blind, the line coloring is not a big help. However, in addition to color, each line... 

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4.

Personal Observations   Saint Petersburg

Personal Observations, Saint Petersburg

 16 Reviews  When your guide stop you from buying in a museum souvenir shop it means that she will bring you to another place where she is paid her 10-20% interest on your account. Just compare prices. Moderate... 

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5.

Old Arbat Street   Moscow

Old Arbat Street, Moscow

 12 Reviews  I personnaly would avoid shopping here, Its a haven for Pickpockets and I dont think there are any bargains to be had Keep your valubles well hidden and just join in the fun, Dont barter for something... 

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6.

Museums   Saint Petersburg

Museums, Saint Petersburg

 11 Reviews  I suppose this message is more for people whose mother language is Russian but they are not from Russia ( like me :-) ) I just wanted to say that you need to remember that ticket price is lower for... 

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7.

Shopping/Souvenirs   Moscow

Shopping/Souvenirs, Moscow

 7 Reviews  Prices of everything are quite high, don't expect a real bargain, but the market could be called cheap if we compare it to Duty Free at Moscow airports. Take a lot of money with you, but put it safely... 

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8.

Downtown Sites   Saint Petersburg

Downtown Sites, Saint Petersburg

 8 Reviews  Along the Canal Griboedova behind the Church on the Spilled Blood is the main outdoor souvenir market in St. Petersburg. All the tour buses dump out scores of tourists every hour. You have a better... 

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9.

Tickets   Saint Petersburg

Tickets, Saint Petersburg

 5 Reviews  Russia still has a sort of dual-pricing system, according to which foreigners are charged often 3 to 10 times more at theatres, museums or sights than Russian citizens. This price system is a relic... 

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10.

Eating Out   Saint Petersburg

Eating Out, Saint Petersburg

 5 Reviews  It will be a high tickets price for the opening date but sure depend on you. Do you like to be in a crowd and see nothing but people? We like to enjoy the nature, sit down on the banch by every... 

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Comments

Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Dating scams from Russia

by a_team

I'll answer you in a few words.ALL DATING COMING FROM RUSSIA "SPONTANEUSLY", is JUST SCAM.I'm telling you this from my own experience.You may check it with google.It doesn't worth bothing, not even a phone calling with someone telling you that she is the one you wrote to.

Photo fees for the permanently hopeful

by melosh

Just because they are willing to charge you a 'photo fee' for a Russian palace, monument, attraction or museum does not mean that you will find anything that you should photo. Especially for small little churches with these fees you should probably hold off on buying that overpriced photo ticket until you have seen if there is anything you might want to snap. If you are a photography addict like me, consider a beer or a meal instead of a useless ticket.

No people or usual things to photograph inside
As usual

by Gili_S

Russia can be a big tourist trap, foreign visitor who do not speak the language can be easy used and scammed, there are also the issue that tourist pay much more then locals to enter museums and national parks, in my case I kept silences and no one knew I’m a tourist.

The "seventh rouble"

by brazwhazz

Due to the redenomination of the rouble on January 1, 1998 -- with one new rouble equalling 1000 old roubles -- only bills and coins from 1997 and later are accepted in Russia. Always make sure your money is dated 1998 or later, since older coins and bills are worthless.

FOREIGNER PRICES

by stevemt

This is something that annoyed me greatly.The foreigner price is a hangover from the good old days of INTOURIST-organised Soviet travel. At some venues, foreigners are required to pay 6 to 20 times more than the Russians pay. These institutions insist the the Russian tickets are subsidised and that foreigners pay the "real" price. Most visitors to the country find this exploitative and discriminatory.If you have a document that says you are studying or working in Russia you should be able to pay the "Local" price.Investment Consultants Victor Konovalenko and Cheryl Ann Sigsbee have started an initiave to combat price descrimination against foreigners. You can write to them at "rustex99@mail.ru" Your comments will be attached to an uipcomming letter to the Russian President and Russian Prosecutor General requesting that all Foreigner Prices be deemed to contravene articles 62, 19 and 44...

Taxi mafia

by Tobias_Plieninger

In many countries the taxi mafia is active,If they see a tourist they see the dollars and try to cheat you.So don't be naiv, Get a feeling for the right price by asking other people.Always ask for the price before you get off.Always look what the driver does if he uses the taxameter.In Hungary they have sometimes a manipulated taxameter.If you drive by day be sure that he doesn't use the night tarif. Pay and try to do better next time! Use public transport.

Nevsky Prospekt: look, but don't buy

by DukeCancun

Yeah, I admit it, I fell for a tourist trap in St. Petersburg, in the popular street of Nevsky Prospekt. The street is practically tailor-made for tourists, so stroll down this lovely street, but when it comes to buying souvenirs and eating, try something away from the center, you'll be amazed on how low the prices go.

L'ambassade de France

by Klod5

Ambassade de France en RussieBolchaia Iakimanka 45 - 117049 MoscouTél. 236.00.03 - Fax 237.19.56. Consulat de France (ouvert au public t.l.j. de 9h. à 12h. sauf les mer. Les après-midi sur rendez-vous uniquement)Kazanski pereoulok 10 - 117049 MoscouTél. 236.00.03 - Fax 230.21.69.Service de Coopération et d'Action culturellemême adresse que le Consulat de France à MoscouTél. 236.00.03 - Fax 237.20.77.Centre culturelOulitsa Nikolaiamskaia 1 - 109189 MoscouTél. 915.79.74 - Fax 975.76.84.Lycée FrançaisPervy Spassonalivkovsky per. 12/16 - 117049 MoscouTél. 237.46.36 - Fax 237.89.59. Le service des Français est ouvert de 9h à 12h,sauf les mercredis et les après-midi sur rendez-vous Kazansky pereoulok 10 - 117049 MoscouTél.: 236 00 03 / fax: 230 21 69

OVIR

by Klod5

No doubt, it has become much easier to get to Russia. However,all foreign guests, when visiting Russia, should be granted an entry visa. At present, there are three basic categories of entry visas : Tourist visa valid up to thirty days. One may get it in the Russian Embassy through a travel agency. BUSINESSvisa valid up to sixty days. One may get it uponshowing an invitation from a Russian firm/partner. Visitor visa may also be issued, providing the personalinvitation and accommodation guarantee are available. Any foreigner wishing to visit Russia may get a tourist visa after appealing to a tourist agency and filling-in an official application form. An invitation issued by the Russian firm/partner plus three photographs and a photocopy of the first six pages of a passport are to be sent to the Russian Embassy for BUSINESSvisa. Visitor visa is also issued in Russian Embassies. One have to...

Inflated Tourist Prices

by darthmilmo

Be prepared before you visit. Most of the tourist attraction charges you up to 10 times more then a local (sometimes more)! I have encounter this before in my travels, but never have I seen such a discrepancy publicly advertised. Russians like to be straight and to the point so they don?t ran around this issue. They will put both prices everywhere. If you spend hundreds of dollars, euros, etc to get into Russia the least you can do is go see the overpriced museums and attractions. Most of them are worth the money. Just used your judgement and budget accordingly. Some people try to pass like a local, but most of the workers behind the counter are experts in distinguishing locals and tourists. Trust me; it?s really hard to pass as a local. If the accent doesn?t give you away, your clothes and backpack will.

Catherine Palace near St. Pete

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Russia Tourist Traps

Reviews and photos of Russia tourist traps posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Russia sightseeing.
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