(Last updated: 19 July 2012)
Travel
Airports
Moscow and St Petersburg are well served by major international air carriers. The most convenient connections between Australia and Russia include:
- Aeroflot via Qantas interline connections in Asia
- Emirates via Dubai
- Etihad Airways via Abu Dhabi
- Qatar Airways via Doha
- Singapore Airlines via Singapore
- Thai Airways via Bangkok
- Numerous European carriers including Air France, Alitalia, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, Iberia, KLM, Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines
- Numerous Asian carriers via Beijing, Seoul and Tokyo
Low-cost airline connections from Europe
A number of low cost airlines are now servicing Moscow and St Petersburg from various points in Europe. Fares on these airlines are often considerably lower, but you may experience some differences in terms of service. Please see:
Ground transport
Moscow has three main international airports:
Each airport is serviced by a cheap and modern express train. Timetable and ticket information is available online at www.aeroexpress.ru/en/
All three are relatively far from the city centre, so it is cheaper and safer to arrange in advance for a driver to collect you from the airport. Austrade can provide you with a list of taxi websites in English language so you can make a booking. Alternatively, Austrade can make a booking for you as part of our Arrival Facilitation Service (see above).
Austrade can also help you arrange a driver during your stay in Moscow. Most taxi firms require payment directly to the driver in Russian roubles cash, although some more expensive firms now accept credit card.
Hotels
Moscow and St Petersburg are both served by a number of international-class hotels. Your travel agent should be able to recommend and book suitable accommodation to meet your budget.
Dining
A wide variety of good quality dining out options are available where you can find almost any type of food including Georgian, Japanese, Italian, Chinese, Mediterranean, fusion, Tex Mex, Indian and much more. Korean food is also popular in the Russian Far East.
Tipping
A 5-10 per cent tip is welcomed at restaurants, but tipping is not the norm elsewhere. As in other countries, restaurants may apply a service charge of 10-15 per cent to larger groups.
Tourist attractions
Russia is extraordinarily rich in tourist attractions, museums and galleries. There is always plenty to do on weekends in all the major cities and often surrounding countryside. Your hotel reception should also be able to provide information on tours, etc.