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The Country

Russia is not just known for communist history, it’s a draw for tourists and independent travellers alike that wish to immerse themselves in its rich history, architectural delights and the warmth of its people. And after all the sightseeing, chill out in one of Russia’s many delightful cafes.  But first visit places such as –

• Grand Palace
• Hermitage Museum
• Yugyd Va National Park, in the Komi Virgin Forests
• The active volcano in Kamchatka

There are other cities and sights, as we will see later in this guide.

The country is home to approximately 144 million people, Russia’s 160 ethnic groups speak some 100 languages with Russian being the main spoken language. Russia shares land borders with Norway, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Kaliningrad Oblast exclave on the Baltic coast, Belarus, and Ukraine to the west, Georgia and Azerbaijan to the southwest, and Kazakhstan, China, Mongolia, North Korea to the east and much of the south and covers a total land area of 17,125,200 square kilometres (6,612,100 square miles) and has eleven different time zones making this the largest country in the world by land area.

The brief summer months in Russia are June to August, while the winter months are November, to March. The outside temperature in the European part of Russia can get below – 15 Celsius but can drop even lower at night. The weather in the country is temperate, with four distinct seasons.

The nations sporting obsession is football, along with ice hockey, and track and field athletics. Russia paid host to the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi and will pay hosts to 2018 Football World Cup.

Driving Tips

As with any new experience, you will need to know what you are letting yourself in for. Check all the rules of the road before you leave for Russia to ensure you stay safe, do not draw attention to your hire car and making sure that nothing is left in the vehicle when it is unoccupied. Here are some of the more important ones –

• The driver is responsible to make sure all occupants of the car wear seat belts at all times.
• It is illegal for children under the age of 12 to travel in the front seat unless using a restraint system appropriate to size.
• Russia has a zero-tolerance policy with regards to drink driving. If a driver is caught, the driving licence can be suspended for two years. The maximum permitted blood alcohol level is 0.03%.
• You must carry an international driver licence (IDP) with you at all times while on the road in Russia, legal age to drive a car in Russia is 18.
• Dipped headlights must be used during the day.
• You must have at least third-party insurance to drive in Russia, it is compulsory. Fully comprehensive insurance is recommended. Additional insurance can be purchased at the border, green card recognised. Should a motorist wish to travel to Russia and use a green card, they must ensure the code RUS is included on the document
• The use of a mobile phone while driving is prohibited and is a serious offence. A hands-free system can be used.
• It is compulsory to carry warning triangles, a first aid kit, headlight deflectors, spare bulbs, a fire extinguisher and a reflective jacket in Russia. Failure to do so often results in on the spot fines.
• It is illegal to drive a dirty car, especially with mud on the licence plates – penalties imposed range from R.800 to R.2,000. Crossing a solid double white line is forbidden.
• Turning right at a red light is not allowed when there are no special green arrow traffic lights.
• If you’re in an accident, you MUST notify the Police and the car rental supplier and get an accident report for insurance purposes. Failure to do so may result in you footing the whole bill.
• If you break down, you must put on your reflective jacket and place the reflective triangle behind the vehicle to warn other drivers. You must notify the rental car company and suppliers for advice and assistance.
• It should also be noted that most signs and indications on the roads are in Cyrillic alphabet, so it is advisable to learn the alphabet to understand the indications.
• A GPS system is handy to have whilst driving in Russia.
• Drivers in Russia should carry these documents at all times – passport including a valid visa, migration card, valid driving license, insurance policy, car registration policy and certificate of annual technical inspection,
• The major cities can be very busy at rush hour so leave plenty of time for your journey
• The speed limit on outside built up areas is 55 mph (90km/h).
• The speed limit in built up areas is 37 mph (60 km/h).
• The speed limit on the expressways is 68 mph (110 km/h).
• In some residential zones 13mph (20km/h) as signposted.
• Motorists who have held a driving licence for less than two years must not exceed 43 mph (70 km/h).

Make sure you know what to do when driving in Russia be safe and stay on the right side of the law.

Airports in Russia

Russia has transport links to the rest of the world through trade and other activities. Here are some of the busiest airports in Russia –

• Sheremetyevo International Airport.
• Domodedovo International Airport
• Sochi International Airport
• Ufa International Airport
• Rostov-on-Don Airport
• Vladivostok International Airport
• Pulkovo Airport
• Yemelyanovo Airport

The best way to get the most from your car hire Russia is to book from the airport so you know you have the transport you need. Do this in advance to get the best prices available.

When driving on the roads of the Russia you want to be safe. You should research the rules of the road, as said before, but also have the following numbers programmed in your phone on case of emergency. For the police, ambulance and fire brigade is 112.