General information How to reach Vladimir region What to see Where to stay Where to eat Entry procedure Passport and visa Consulates and international organisations Currency exchange Credit cards Calendar of weather Clothing Health Transportation Communication and Internet Access Electronics Tables of measures and weights Other quality guides Absent services

This information is unofficial.
Official information about the Vladimir region can be obtained on the sport and tourism committee site, (e-mail). This committee is the official representative of the Vladimir region administration. I hope, these sources are already accessible in English.

It is recommended to contact any of the World tourism organisation as soon as you arrive in Vladimir region if you are visiting with a not organised tour. The organised trip here is more preferable than single tour, therefore familiarise with the local travel agencies which are organising tours in Vladimir region.

Unfortunately, I have to say about the attitude of some of the people of our country to foreigners. Recently, most of media carry out advocacy of violence and propaganda of hatred towards foreigners, especially Americans. This comes from the leadership of our country and many people believe that. Therefore, foreigners visiting our country now is no longer safe for them. Unfortunately, I had to warn you about this.

Time zone: 3 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (+3 GMT)
Daylight savings time offset: 1:00:00
Start of daylight savings time: April Sunday first 2:00:00 AM
End of daylight savings time: October Sunday last 2:00:00 AM
Telephone code: (+7)(4922)
Capital city: Vladimir
Weekend: Saturday and Sunday
Language: Russian only
Area: 30 000 square kilometres
Population: 1,6 million people
Location: the European part of Russian Federation, 180 kilometres east of Moscow, 200 kilometres west of Nizhny Novgorod
Religion: Christian (Russian Orthodox)
Economy: Agriculture, industry, services
Monetary unit: Russian rouble

Useful telephone numbers:
Emergency:
Police: 01
Fire: 02
Ambulance: 03

Official holidays:

January 1,2,3,4 and 5 - New Year's Days
February 23 - "Motherlands defender's" Day
March 8 - "Women's" Day
May 1 - "Spring and Labours" Holiday
May 9 - "Victory" (over German nazism in the Second World War) Day
June 12 - Independence Day
November 7 - "National unity" Day

Tourists are required to obtain an entry visa from Russian diplomatic missions and consulates abroad. All information about it you can receive from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or specially authorised travel agencies. For obtain an information about the local travel agencies organising tours in Vladimir region - see one of the cities visitor guides: Vladimir, Suzdal, Bogolyubovo.

Citizens without the Russian citizenship need passports and visas. Unless you hold an official invitation, it is better to apply for a tourist visa through a travel agency.
A tourist is not required to note in his visa every city, that plans to visit. A tourist must officially register his visa in a local police office during the first 3 days after his arrival. I recommend you to ask your hotel attendant to do it for you for tip. While registering the hotel will keep your passport and visa for 1-2 days. During that time you will need the copies of your documents.

 

For information about consulates and international organisations you must see one of the cities visitor guides: Vladimir, Suzdal, Bogolyubovo.

 

Currency exchange is available at nearly all banks, restaurants and hotels. Russian rouble is roughly worth 0.03 US dollar.
Here you may see today's rate of exchange.

Automated Teller Machines (ATM's) are not widely used in the region. Careful financial planning is necessary before your trip.

Service organisations are allowed to accept Russian roubles only. Credit cards are not always accepted, and traveller's checks remain difficult to cash. ATMs are the best way to obtain Russian currency. Most accept foreign ATM cards with PIN access, and most will also accept Visa and MasterCard. The private exchange points offer better rates than those in hotels. Some have signs reading "Exchange Office" in English, and they are all guarded. You must give your passport when exchanging currency.

Major credit cards (e.g. American Express, Visa, and Mastercard) are honoured at most hotels, restaurants, gift shops, car rentals, and large stores. Cash is often required, so make sure you carry enough of it. It is safe to carry large amounts of cash as long as you are careful (beware of pickpocketting in public places).

You can use services of the Vladimir department the "MENATEP St. Petersburg" bank.

Both men and women are expected to dress modestly, when visiting churches. Women are required to cover their hair before entering churches. It is preferable for them to wear long skirts or dresses.

Pharmacies are scattered around the cities, and some are open 24 hours a day, but basically from 8:00 till 20:00. For more information check with the information desk at any hotel.

A network of trolleys and buses connects all areas of the cities. Public transportation in Vladimir region is usually crowded and unreliable. Taxis are recommended as the most reliable transportation means for visitors. Taxis can be stopped anywhere by waving to the driver. At rush hours, you may ride a loaded taxi, provided there is enough space. But it is better to call for a radio taxi.
For more detailed information you must see one of the cities visitor guides: Vladimir, Suzdal, Bogolyubovo.

Telephone:

When you want to make a phone call to another country, you must dial 8, than you country code, than your region code, than you phone number.
When you call to Vladimir, you must know, that Russia code is +7, Vladimir region code is 0922.
To make phone call you can use phone booths, that are available at every hotel and other public establishments. To make phone call you must have "magnetic card".
Almost all post offices have trunk-line telephone booths. You can pay cash for every international phone call. International lines are also available at all major hotels.

Fax, Telex and Telegram
Telegrams are still widely used. Fax and telex is used here very seldom. The post offices are scattered around the cities, and basically are open from 8:00 till 20:00.

Electronic Mail

Some of post offices held public Internet and e-mail accesses. For more detailed information you must see one of the cities visitor guides: Vladimir, Suzdal, Bogolyubovo.

The electric current voltage is 220 Volts, 50 Hz with European-style plugs. For TV broadcasting, Russia uses MESECAM, which is a derivative of the SECAM standard. Usually, VCRs sold in country using MESECAM can also play tapes recorded in the PAL standard. All of these standards, however, are incompatible with the US standard (NTSC).

Measures of weights

	Gram	Kilogram	Tonne	Ounce	Pound
Gram	-	-	-	0,035	-
Kilogram	1000	-	-	-	2,2
Tonne	-	1000	-	-	2204,6
Ounce	28,3	-	-	-	-
Pound	454	0,45	-	16	-

 

 

 

 

Measures of liquid

	Litre	Pint	Gallon	Quart
Litre	-	1,76	0,22	0,7
Pint	0,57	-	0,125	0,5
Gallon	4,54	8	-	4
Quart	1,44	2	0,25	-

 

 

 

 

Measures of length

	Centimetre	Metre	Kilometre	Inch	Foot	Yard	Mile
Centimetre	-	-	-	0,39	-	-	-
Metre	100	-	-	39,4	3,28	1,09	-
Kilometre	-	1000	-	-	-	1094	0,6
Inch	2,54	-	-	-	-	-	-
Foot	30,5	0,3	-	12	-	-	-
Yard	91	0,9	-	36	3	-	-
Mile	-	1609	1,6	-	-	1760	-

Other quality guides

Yahoo! Travel's Destination Guides: get recommendations on attractions, restaurants, and hotels, and up-to-date weather, health tips, and general information for thousands of destinations.

Moscow's visitor guide: information for foreign visitors in Russia. Contains detailed and accurate information about anything and everything in Moscow.

Russian Visa Online: Multiple-Entry Travel Visa Support Invitation Services. Russian Federation Visa Requirements, Embassy and Consulate Application Form, etc.

 

Absent services in Vladimir region

There are:
Car rental
A school for the kids
International cultural centres for visitors
Airports
River ports