Useful facts and information for filming in Russia

Capital City: Moscow

Population: 145 million

Area: 17,075,200 square km, 6,592,735 square miles.

Language(s): Russian, many local languages. This language uses the Cyrillic alphabet instead of Latin and is one of the five most spoken languages in the world.

Dialing Code: +7

Emergency phone numbers: 112

Directory Enquiries: 09 (009)

TV Standard: SECAM (PAL)

Driving: Driving is on the right. National license with authorized translation or International Driving Permit required.

Electricity: 220V AC 50Hz

Russian power plug type: In Russia we use plugs of the C-Type and F-type.

Local Time: Moscow, St. Petersburg: +3 (GMT + 3:00)

Public Holidays: 1 Jan – 6 Jan New Year, 7 Jan Russian Orthodox Christmas Day, 22 Feb Day of the Defenders of the Motherland, 8 Mar International Women’s Day, 1 May – 2 May Spring and Labour Day, 9 May Victory in Europe Day, 12 Jun Russia Day, 4 Nov National Unity Day, 12 Dec Constitution Day.

Business/Social Hints: English is widely spoken and German is also a useful language when visiting. Alcohol is available and smoking is widespread

Tipping in Russia: 10% of the bill if you like the service.

Geographic facts about Russia

The largest country in the world, Russia constitutes one-seventh of the world’s landmass and spans eight time zones. This expansive area allows it to neighbors more countries than anywhere else on earth, as well as touch twenty-two bodies of water and hold twelve seas within its borders. Its vast and complicated array of landscapes has created a diverse blend of forty national parks alongside its forty UNESCO Biosphere Reserves. Here you can find the oldest mountains in the world, the Urals, and the deepest lake in the world, Lake Baikal. Travel from the tundra to the steppes, the desert to the glaciers, the valleys to the volcanoes without ever needing a new visa.

Climatic facts about Russia

Because of its size, Russia presents a drastically different atmosphere depending on your location. Most of the country has a continental climate with distinct periods of warm and cold weather that increases as you travel east. Temperatures for Moscow and St. Petersburg range from highs of 32 C in the summer to lows of -25 C in the winter.

Religious facts about Russia

Russian Orthodox is the official religion in Russia. 20% of Russians practice Islam while Catholicism, Protestantism, and Judaism are not widespread but have small roles in Russian culture. Many of Russia’s most famous sites are former or present churches, signifying the important role that religion has played in the past. The Russian Orthodox Church, diminished during the Soviet period, has in recent years begun to recover in popularity and strength.