Just the sight of St. Basil's Cathedral is typically all it takes for people to get interested in Moscow tourist information. This 860-year old, gigantic city has a lot to see and do so it's important that you are up to speed on general tourist information regarding transportation, currency, safety, etc., so you don't have to worry about these things when you arrive.
Russian ruble (RUB) is the currency in Moscow. Although credit cards are becoming more widespread, there are still plenty of shops and restaurants that don't accept them. The
Garden Ring in the heart of the city is lined with banks and foreign currency exchange offices or you can withdraw funds using an ATM. When possible, carry notes smaller than 1,000 RUB, many vendors are unable to or simply won't cash something so large.
If you are interested in Moscow tourist information regarding safety, you will be pleased to learn that this is quite a safe city. You must have your passport on you at all times and ready to show police if they request to see it. Also, women should take caution when walking at night. If you need the police, dial 02, if you need an ambulance call 03. It is a good idea to keep the phone number of your country's embassy on you.
Russian is the primary language spoke in Moscow. In fact, it's not uncommon to find police officers who don't speak any English at all. It is strongly encouraged to learn a few Russian words and terms that can get you help or directions. You will find that many major hotels do have English-speaking employees though and younger people in the city at least speak and understand a little.
If you're interested in weather tourism information, you should know that the city offers a humid continental climate with long, cold winters and short comfortable summers. June through August can enjoy temperatures around 23°C with a significant amount of rain. In fact, it rains generally 15 days out of the month. Snow cover begins in November and sticks around through March so expect accumulations. November and March are the coldest months with an average temperature of -1.4°C but record temperatures have dipped considerably lower.
The most important tourist information you need to know is how to get around this massive city. The metro system here will take you everywhere you need to go but be warned, you need to transfer quite often. Study a map and have an idea of where you are going before jumping on one. If you ever encounter a problem on the metro, every car has a black button near the door to call the conductor. Even if he doesn't speak English, he will understand that there's an emergency. Do not call the conductor because you missed your stop.
There is also at least one bus route that travels down every major street. Both buses and the trolleybuses operate from 5:30 AM to 1:00 AM but they don't really keep a set schedule due to the constant traffic jams.
Depending on where you are venturing, ferry tours may be needed. The river bus system makes seven stops as long as the water is free of ice. Even if you are not going anywhere special, this is a great way to get some photos of the city.
The taxi service is confusing to most visitors because hailing a cab is often mistaken for hitchhiking. It has always been a tradition for Russian drivers to stop and offer a ride to a stranger who needs one for a fee. Many make a good income doing it even though they are technically not a taxi driver. When you do get a
cab , negotiate a price, very few have meters and even fewer speak English. If you want a legitimate taxi, there are yellow Volgas and Fords that wear the name
Novoye Zholtoye Taxi.
