Russia Travel Guide for Americans

Buy a local SIM card immediately at the airport (both Moscow SVO and St. Petersburg airports have carrier booths). MegaFon, Rostelecom, and Beeline are major carriers—Beeline has best reputation for tourist support. SIM card itself costs $1-3, data plans are shockingly cheap (~$0.50-1 per GB). Buy a plan with 5-10 GB of data for $5-8 covering your stay. Phone calls within Russia are cheap (~$0.01 per minute). Critical: You need a Russian number for many services (Yandex, hotel bookings, etc.). Do NOT try to use US number via roaming—it's slow and expensive. Note: Many Russian apps require verification codes sent via SMS, and some platforms have geofencing restrictions. VPN usage is technically legal for tourists but carries minor risk. Stick to Moscow/St. Petersburg where connectivity is modern; rural areas have spotty coverage.

Tipping is NOT a cultural expectation in Russia like it is in America, and Russians often find the American tipping obsession bizarre. That said, rounding up bills or leaving small tips (5-10%) is becoming increasingly accepted in Moscow and St. Petersburg's tourist restaurants. In fine dining or hotels catering to international visitors, 10-15% is appropriate but genuinely optional. Tipping taxi drivers is uncommon—round up if you want but never obligatory. Tipping housekeeping: leave $1-2 per night in hotels if you're staying 3+ nights. Tour guides expect 5-10% tips. Restaurant staff in non-tourist restaurants won't expect tips; leaving coins on the table when locals don't is socially awkward. The safest approach: don't tip unless service is genuinely exceptional, and never let tipping obligation stress you like in the US.

Moscow and St. Petersburg are genuinely safer than American major cities in terms of street violence (murder rate is lower than Chicago or Baltimore). You will not be randomly mugged. That said, petty theft from distracted tourists is real—keep phones and bags secure in crowded areas, metro, and markets. Don't flash expensive gear. Political sensitivity is the bigger risk: avoid discussing politics, don't photograph military installations or police, and understand that geopolitical tensions mean some Russians are suspicious of Americans (rare but possible). LGBTQ+ travelers: Russia has homophobic laws on the books criminalizing 'propaganda' and openly gay displays can invite harassment. Most locals in major cities don't care, but private discretion is wise. Avoid protests or political gatherings. Scams targeting tourists exist but are avoidable with basic awareness—use official taxis (Yandex app, never street hails) and established restaurants. Tap water is safe in Moscow and St. Petersburg despite reputation. Violent crime against tourists is rare. The biggest safety issue is bureaucratic friction: losing your passport is a nightmare requiring consulate help, so keep it secure. Travel with copies of your visa and passport pages. Overall: statistically safer than you'd expect, but maintain urban awareness and don't be stupid.