Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
What to Wear
Muscovites are style mavens. They are not always successful, but most Muscovites make an
effort to look good - not only for the theatre or a posh restaurant, but also for an outing to
the park or a stroll around town. If you want to go out on the town, plan to 'dress up' - that
means dresses and heels for women, and collared shirts and leather shoes for men. Sneakers,
sandals and jeans are not acceptable.
For sightseeing, a comfortable pair of waterproof walking shoes will come in handy, as
will an umbrella or rain jacket.
In winter, bundle up with several layers and wear a long, windproof coat to stay nicely
warm. Hats and coats are always removed on entering a museum or restaurant and left in the
cloakroom.
Be Forewarned
Moscow is a mostly safe city, with relatively little street crime and no dangerous 'bad' parts
of town. Some precautionary measures:
Be extra alert about pickpockets at train stations and metro stations.
Avoid unofficial taxi cabs late at night, especially those waiting outside clubs and bars.
Never get in a taxi that already has two or more people in it.
Always carry a copy of your passport, visa and registration. Dark-skinned people, in par-
ticular, may be targets for police harassment.
Money
Even if prices are listed in US dollars or euros, you will be presented with a final bill in
roubles.
ATMs, linked to international networks are all over Moscow - look for signs that say
bankomat ().
Credit cards are commonly accepted, but Americans may have some difficulty if they do
not have a 'chip and pin' credit card. This is more of a problem at shops than at hotels and
restaurants.
