5 Mistakes Tourists Make In Moscow And How To Avoid Them

Modern Moscow is undoubtedly one of the most attractive and exciting destinations to visit. A lot of museums, art galleries, theatres, churches, restaurants and more are explored each day by visitors. But sometimes it may be unclear to tourists how to behave correctly or do the right thing in public places. Here’s a list of the most common mistakes tourists make and some tips on how to avoid them.

Visiting Arbat Street

Seriously, skip it! Of course we all know that souvenir shopping is a ‘must do’ in Moscow, and it’s very important to bring beautiful presents back home to your loved ones. It can be hard to pass up the trinkets glimmering in the shops, but waiting in a 5 km (3 mile) queue outside on a cold winter day is not worth it. We highly recommend you go to Partizanskaya Metro Station and the Izmailovsky Market for souvenir goodies. No queues, no tourists, basically nobody milling around a vast choice of local souvenirs, as well as antique goodies like old samovars and jewelry.
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Assuming Russia is always cold

No, it’s not. Don’t bring too many sweaters with you; check the weather before you leave home. Yes, it sounds strange, but all Russians are used to this crazy weather. One day you may be wearing a fur coat against a blizzard. The next day, you may wake up to warm sunshine and melting snow. It’s not very cold all the time, in fact there are four seasons in Russia, all of which are quite different. Summers can be extremely hot, so plan in advance about what to put in your luggage.
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Expecting to see a musical bear in Red Square

Avoid stupid stereotypes and keep an open mind about everything. We absolutely can’t deny the fact that modern Moscow is totally different from what we’ve imagined. Many things have changed here during recent years and Russia’s capital has become even more contemporary than many other big European cities. Unfortunately, some cliches still exist and we highly recommend you to forget about them. One thing is for sure, you won’t see a bear playing a balalaika in Red Square.
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Following the maps and brochures from the hotel

Moscow’s city centre is huge and compact. It is easy to get turned around and confused if you are not from the area. However, the maps in the hotel brochures won’t help you find your way. Google Maps is more than sufficient, and if you don’t have access to Google Maps, tourism centres have printed maps that are also helpful.

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Avoiding common rules

When in Moscow, do as locals do. Unfortunately, sometimes tourists forget that local rules apply to them too. Visitors should know how to say ‘no’ to the taxi drivers, who are increasing their fee, or how to avoid small talk with police officers, especially if they seem suspicious of others. Tourists should be able to recognize negative situations and know when to walk away at the right moment. A good rule to follow is to never put your iPhone or wallet in a back pocket when riding the subway or shopping in a supermarket. You’ll return home without it.

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About the author

Yulia S.

Contributor / Journalist

Yulia was born and raised in Moscow, Russia but it didn't take long for her to move to Milan, Italy back in 2011 because of her passion for arts, culture, fashion & travel. Yulia is a travel expert, photographer, observer and all time traveler, she speaks fluently 3 languages and passionate about everything she does for living.