What Should I Know Before Travelling to Russia?

 

Though Russia is one of the most famous (and certainly the largest) country on earth or many it is still considered to be one of the final frontiers of travel. It's Soviet past, century-long 'closed door' policy and occasionally hostile relationships with other countries serve to put many off - but it shouldn't. Russia is one of the most beautiful, complex and fascinating countries on earth and well-prepared travellers will have an unforgettable experience. To ensure that you're one of them, here are a few things you should know before travelling to Russia.

Visa

Being the largest country on earth and spanning across two continents, Russia's visa policy is rigorous for the vast majority of nationalities. Most will need to apply for a visa before arrival and should allow for at least two months before departure. Most visa applications also require a visit to the nearest Russian embassy or visa service, as well as an invitation from a licenced tourism operator.

Citizens from 54 nations are not required to obtain a visa prior to visit Russia as long as the length of their trip is within the visa waiver limit listed here. As always, it's important to make sure you have up-to-date information regarding your visa status for entry into any country.

Restricted content

Geo-blocking is extremely prevalent in Russia, where the large, dispersed population requires strong government control. This means that when you travel to Russia, you might find that some of your favourites sites are blocked or restricted, and in any case, will likely appear in Russian!

An easy way to get past this is to download a VPN before travelling to Russia. A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is software that encrypts and...

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