Russia Market

Electricity. Everywhere in Russia 220 Volt and 50 Hz AC current supplies are used. Most of the sockets are standard European-size for double round-pin plugs, the same as in France or Germany. Appliances from the US, Canada, Britain will need adaptors (it's better to buy them in your own country, as it's very hard to find them in Russia).

Power cuts and not very common, but the electricity current is not as quality as in Europe (power surges), so if you have a sensitive device it's better to get a stabilizer for it, especially if you are traveling.

Most trains have electricity sockets where you can change your mobile telephones or plug in a shaver, but it is not recommended to use them for sensitive devices (such as laptops) without a stabilizer.

National Holidays.
31st of December- 1 of January - New Year's Day, which is the main holiday in Russia, everybody’s happy because people wait for the great new life in the new year and give each other the presents. There’s no Father Christmas, there’s Father Frost in Russia. He comes on new year’s eve and gives presents. Traditionally people gather with family or friends.

7th and 8th of January - Orthodox Christmas. In Russia, contrary to many western countries, Christmas is being celebrated not on 25th December but on 7th January, because it’s orthodox’ Christmas. And the New Year is much more celebrated than christmas.

8th of March - Women's Day. Flowers are sold for doubled prices, and men suddenly realize the importance of women.

1st and 2nd of May - May Day & the Day of Spring. In the Soviet times they called it The Day of Labor, but it was a holiday for all. Now it’s just May Day - another free day to meet friends.

9th of May - Victory Day. The day of victory in World War II

12th of June - Independence Day Still not everybody knows exactly why this date was chosen, but we reckon that this is sthe day when the first president of the Russian Federation was selected. .

7th of November - Day of Reconciliation and Harmony. After 1917 until 1992 that was the Day of the Great October Revolution (1917). It’s a wise decision to rename the day when the civil war began to the Day of harmony of the whole society.

12th of December - Constitution Day.

Photography.
The Films. The 35mm photo films are readily available everywhere in Russia, especially Kodak Gold (100, 200, 400) brands. If you need a professional or a slide film, either bring it with you, or buy them in Moscow or St. Petersburg (the price is usually the same as in other countries). See Practicalities section in city guides on our site for professional photo shops addresses.

Processing. The film processing labs can be found everywhere - even in the smallest provincial towns and it usually costs about $0.3 to develop a film and $0.1 for one 10x15 photo and takes 24 hours.

There are also digital photo labs in major cities.
If you're after good quality, it's better to develop your films at a professional photo lab either in Moscow or St. Petersburg (the price is around $0.8-$1 for a film and $0.2 for a 10x15 photo).

Time & Open Hours.
The Time in the European part of Russia is 3 hours more than Greenwich meridian time or two hours more than central European part. (+3 GMT or +2 CET). During summer daylight saving time, Russia's time is + 4 hours to Greenwich.

So if in London it’s 10.00 in Moscow it’s 13.00 (in Russia the 24-hour system is used).

Every year the clock goes 1 hour forward in the last Sunday of March and back 1 hour in the last Sunday of October.

There are 11 time zones in Russia - so when it’s evening in Moscow, it’s morning of the next day in Vladivostok (a Russian port on the Pacific Ocean).

Open Hours. One great thing about Russia is that all shops are opened even on Sunday. The food shops are usually opened from 8.00 to 20.00 except on sundays from 8.00 to 18.00, however many of them are opened 24 hours a day, even in small villages.

Big department stores, clothing stores, supermarkets are opened all week long from 9.00-10.00 to 9.00-10.00.

State institutions, offices, companies are usually opened from 9.00 or 10.00 to 18.00 or 19.00 and do not work on Saturday, Sundays and public holidays.

Most banks are opened 9.00 to 17.00 Monday to Friday, some are opened on Saturday as well. The major banks, such as Sberbank, AlfaBank, Guta Bank are opened Monday to Friday 9.00 to 20.00, and 10.00 to 18.00 on Saturdays. Self-service ATMs operate 24 hours a day usually.

There are many currency exchange offices in the big cities (Moscow, St. Petersburg) working until late night and sometimes 24 hours a day.