|
Local time in St Petersburg:
|
|
Public phones
Public phones called taksofons may be found in the streets of Moscow and St. Petersburg. The use of taksofons requires a special prepaid phone card that can be bought at metro stations or in newspaper kiosks. If you live in a hotel it is a good idea to use a prepaid card as well, since the tariffs for international calls are pretty high. International or long-distance calls can also be made at post offices and telegraph centres. Write on a piece of paper the number you need to call and the approximate amount of minutes; pay a deposit to the operator. She dials the number and shows the booth where your call is forwarded. After your call is finished go back to the operator to pay the difference (if you talked long) or get money back if the call was less than anticipated.
Faxes may also be sent from post offices and telegraphs.
Making calls within Russia
For domestic long-distance calls dial 8 (and wait for a tone) and area code before the number. Remember that digits in an area/cellular code and a number itself must total 10. For calls within Russia just dial 5-7 digit subscriber number.
Calling Internationally from Russia
When calling internationally from Russia dial 8 and wait for a tone, then dial 10 and country code followed by a phone number.
e.g. for a call to UK, dial 8-10-44-xxx-xxxx.
Calling to Russia from abroad
Remember not to dial 8 before the area code when calling internationally.
E.g. +011-7-9xx-xxx-xx-xx for a call to a cellular phone
When calling from abroad to a land line in Russia, always dial the area code for the city you are calling. Don’t forget the international access code and country code too!
e.g. +00-7-495-xxx-xx-xx for a call to Moscow from London
Toll-free numbers
Toll-free numbers in Russia usually start with 800. To call a toll-free number dial 8 (and wait for a tone) and then the number. Toll-free numbers are free when you call from Russia.
Cell Phones
Russia uses the GSM network so it is quite comfortable for European tourists, but not for American ones. However, it is quite easy to purchase a cell phone at a reasonable price from one of the mobile phone shops that you can find everywhere in city. Your Russia SIM Card will require a SIM-unlocked GSM cell phone that supports the 900 and 1800 frequencies. The Russia SIM card is a simple and affordable way for any traveller to make and receive calls while in Russia. This will save you lots of money, if you plan on making a lot of local calls. No yearly contract, monthly charges or credit check is involved. The most popular operators are MTS, Beeline and Megafon. In St.Petersburg, for example, Beeline SIM card will be the best deal. It is common to buy prepaid phone cards for cell phones. They usually come in $5, $10 or $50 equivalent unit denominations. To deposit money on your account scratch off the code on the back of the card and follow the instructions. Another way is to pay through the payment terminals located nearly in every store and metro station, but in this case you might need help of a native since the interface of the terminals is in Russian. Passport, visa, migration card and registration proof are required to buy a SIM card. There exist 2 types of cell phone numbers. The 1st one is a 9-digit federal number dialed using the long distance prefix +8 (or +7) before the 9 digits. It’s a bit cheaper to have a federal number, but not always convinient. The other type of number is a local, direct 7 digit number like a regular telephone number.
Public restrooms
Public toilets in the centre are located in small cabins of green or blue colour. Also, innovations are toilet buses (10Rbl) parked at public events or outside the Hermitage. In general, some random cafes and hotels are your best option. Most station public toilets do not have toilet paper and hand dryers. It might be a good idea to bring along your own toilet paper and tissues.
Electricity
Electricity throughout Russia is 220 volt/50 hz. The plug is the round two-pin thin European standard. Make sure to pick up a transformer for 110 - 220 volts at a local hardware store in your own country before arriving.
Weights and Measures
Russia uses the metric system. Below you may find a conversion table: 0.6 liters 1 pint
1 liter 1 ¾ pints
1 kilogram 2 lb 2 oz
1 kilometer 5/8 mile
1 meter 39 ¼ inches
1 hectare 2.5 acres
1 gallon 4.5 liters
1 mile 1.6 kilometers
Shot glass 100 grams
Large glass 200 grams
Beer bottle 500 grams (0.5 liters)
Business hours
Business hours for government offices are usually from between 9:00 and 18:00 or 8:00 and 17:00, private companies and stores are typically open from 10:00 to 19:00. Some stores and mobile centres are open till late or round the clock. As for the hospitality sector, cafes, restaurants and bars close 1a.m. or 2 a.m. A lot of groceries, gas stations and pharmacies are open 24/7.
|
|
|
|
|
All you need to know Russian visas
Find (mini-) hotels, hostels and apartments
Learn about the top attractions and more
How to travel to and around St. Peterburg
St. Petersburg tourist survival guide
Don’t miss these great offers and promotions!
