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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Anyone ever visited Russia?

101 replies

TravellingSpoon · 13/02/2021 09:30

I am 40 on a few years and to celebrate would love to visit Moscow and St Petersburg and take my DC's.

Has anyone visited any of these two cities? What was your impression?

Forgive my daydreaming - lockdown is getting to me.

OP posts:

Nordstrom · 13/02/2021 09:34

Me! I sadly only had 3 days there but visited Moscow then took the overnight to St Petersburg.

Was very surprised at how much I loved Moscow. Would highly recommend staying at the Metropol if budget allows...beautiful and fantastic history. The people were wonderful too.

HugeAckmansWife · 13/02/2021 09:34

I went to both last year, with an overnight sleeper train between. It was amazing (though I was shepherding 20 odd teenagers)!. Moscow as a city is mostly a bit grim but the museum at the Kremlin is incredible and the whole Red Square area generally. St Petersberg is more European in feel and has lots to see. Make sure you get to the Alexandra Palace just outside.

HugeAckmansWife · 13/02/2021 09:35

Oh and train is epic.. You get woken up in the morning with hot pancakes and tea in an actual glass, not cardboard!

Nordstrom · 13/02/2021 09:37

Yes, the Red arrow train we took. Great experience.

mogtheexcellent · 13/02/2021 09:40

I did both as a school trip in 1985. Was brilliant. I recommend the Moscow subway. I loved st Petersberg more. And yes the overnight train between the two cities is fab. I remember the breakfast well.

listsandbudgets · 13/02/2021 09:42

I went to Moscow about 20 years ago.

Some of it I've. The touristy areas were phenomenal and the people friendly.

However the night I went for a wander and got lost was less impressive. I saw a lot of homeless people against the back drop of Soviet style housing estates. The sheer greyness and grimness of it is something I've never quite shaken off.

But overall yes go and whatever you do don't miss the Metro. Much of Moscows glory lies under your feet. It's breathtaking. If you ignore it in favour of taxis you will be missing out.

mdh2020 · 13/02/2021 09:42

My daughter and I took a tour to Moscow and St Petersburg tow years ago and loved it. Take the train during the day - we got talking to a group of Russian teenagers and then met a very interesting man in the buffet who we decided was FSB. The food was surprisingly good and the art galleries are wonderful. When you go to the Hermitage use your ticket to visit the Modern Art Gallery opposite. Oh, and the shopping for souvenirs is cheaper in St Petersburg.

MrsPatrickDempsey · 13/02/2021 09:43

St Petersburg was a cruise stop for us with an overnight. We decided to take the Sapsan train to Moscow. It was a 21 hr day but it totally blew my mind. Admittedly didn't see loads of the city but Red Square and The Kremlin were incredible. I cried when I saw St Basils Cathedral.
We didn't really have enough time in St Petersburg but I was so blown away by Moscow I didn't really appreciate it.

Backupthebus · 13/02/2021 09:43

Me!, We visited 5 years ago and absolutely fell in love with Moscow. Even the underground stations are stunning. We spent a week riding the tube and walking everywhere, Kremlin, Red Square and all along the river front. I’d definitely recommend a visit. The only annoyance for me was getting travel visas, I was determined to apply myself to save cost (they’re still expensive) but the process was frustrating including a trip to the embassy. This may have improved over time.

I’m looking to go back and spend time in St Petersburg but may use a company for the visa this time.

Maladicta · 13/02/2021 09:43

Lived there for 6 months, spend the bulk of your time in St Petersburg, you can do the best bits of Moscow in a couple of days easily.

NoseinBook3 · 13/02/2021 09:44

No I haven’t been but I’m glad you started the thread OP as I like a good daydream too

listsandbudgets · 13/02/2021 09:45

@mogtheexcellent that must have been fascinating. It was a brave school that took you on a trip behind the iron curtain. It must have felt strange. Tell us more.

Punching · 13/02/2021 09:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Thisischocolate · 13/02/2021 09:46

I went with a friend and a small tour group about 15 years ago and had a fantastic time. We flew into St Petersburg and over the course of a week stayed there and drove to Moscow, staying at a couple of towns along the way. One of the best holidays I’ve had!

I seem to remember the language barrier was the most significant that I’d encountered travelling, and the Cyrillic alphabet meant it was difficult to difficult to read signs etc. I’d highly recommend it and I’d love to go back when my DC is older.

Puut · 13/02/2021 09:49

I lived in Moscow for a year and loved it, the architecture is just incredible and taking the night train between St Peters bug and moscow is a fun experience.

jellybeanteaparty · 13/02/2021 09:53

Watching with interest. We normally book everything separately but with the visa requirements needing a invitation from your accommadation/travel agent and language barrier are wondering about a package - any recommendations ?

Sixgeese · 13/02/2021 10:05

My DSis went in the late 80s and loved it (apart from the food), she took a night train between the two cities. I was always so jealous I never had the chance to go, we were 1 school year apart and her year did all the trips and my year seemed to be the teachers rest year.

DH went with a friend after University, he loved it too, still talks about how they had different rates at some attractions for Russians and tourists.

For that matter DBil went as well in the 80s, I really feel like I have missed out not going.

I don't know anyone who has been and regrets it.

My Y9 DD was meant to have gone in October but Covid out an end to that. Hopefully her school will reschedule when the world goes back to normal. The trip got cancelled just as we were going to have to get the visas

Original poster

TravellingSpoon · 13/02/2021 12:15

It sounds amazing.

I definitely want to do a sleeper train.

OP posts:

The1twothree · 13/02/2021 12:38

I've been to Moscow but it wasn't a pleasant experience, sorry OP. I have NC for this but I've mentioned it on here before. I am not white and was the only non white person on a school trip in the early 200's and I (only me) got physically attacked by a gang in the middle of the red square and the police seemed like they were not even bothered by what they saw when they came to stop it.

loopsngeorge · 13/02/2021 12:43

Yes I lived in St petersburg as part of my year abroad at university in the 90s. Its an amazing place, definitely go when you can. I was planning to take my son there last summer as he is studying Russian history for part of his A level.
I've only been to Moscow briefly but as others have said you can cover the things you are likely to want to see in a couple of days. St Petersburg would be a much better base I think and if you go in summer you can experience the white nights as well.

Giggorata · 13/02/2021 12:43

I went to Moscow to visit DIL's family and friends. I had the most amazing experience, they really pulled the stops out for me. I went to opera, the Bolshoi, churches, museums, markets, dachas and Pirogi, which are a cross between bookshops and cafe bars, full of students and political discussions which I couldn't understand, unfortunately. The underground railway was amazing and I could see why DIL found the Tube a bit prosaic and disappointing.
I liked the food, mostly westernised but also at a traditional Russian restaurant, where there were masses of salads and grains. The most curious ones were meat and fish in jelly (referred to as “wobble food” by DS) and the most piquant thing I have ever eaten, pickled garlic shoots.

Then I went to Siberia on the Trans Siberian railway, to view a total solar eclipse, which was more of an adventure than a holiday. I took masses of reading material but gazing out of the window at pine and birch woods was my main occupation. That and interacting with a variety of Russians on their shorter journeys, with whom I shared food and even played chess.
Hardly anyone spoke English, but with good will and a phrase book, we managed.
When we got to Novosibirsk, the eclipse chasers and me hired an English student from Novosibirsk University to be our guide and interpreter, which I would recommend to anyone going East for any time.

Next time, I'm going to St Petersburg. 🙂

SirSamuelVimes · 13/02/2021 12:46

I went about fifteen years ago, to Moscow. It was a fascinating city but beyond the tourist areas / sights it was very grim. We stayed with Russian friends in a one bed flat in a Soviet tower block and it was eye opening. I went with a Russian speaker and would have found it very intimidating to be there with no-one who spoke the language. Had travelled pretty extensively before, usually alone, and never felt as unsafe as I did there.

I would recommended the overnight train through, we came into Moscow that way and it was brilliant.

WonkyCactus · 13/02/2021 12:52

I would love to go to St Petersburg. One of my (many!) dream holidays is a Baltic cruise with stops in Copenhagen, Helsinki, Tallinn, St Petersburg etc. Maybe one day!

ludothedog · 13/02/2021 12:52

Around 25 years ago.... We stayed in an old military barracks. Highlights include the shower going on fire and the terrible food thatbthey served in the food hall including using this scraps from your plate for soup the next day and piles of stale bread above the ovens

VestaTilley · 13/02/2021 12:53

Only Moscow for a few days before taking the Trans Mongolian train to Beijing (now that I would recommend, only first class though).

There’s not loads in Moscow, and it’s really hard navigating the underground because there are no signs in English, but the Kremlin museum, St Basil’s Cathedral and the Treasury are excellent visits. Cafe Pushkin was stuck up and overrated.

Not sure how much more there is to see there, but St Petersburg is meant to be fabulous, I’d love to go there.

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