If you’re heading to Moscow for MAC19 then this quick guide will give you a breakdown of everything you need to know.
Moscow Affiliate Conference 2019
Dates: 9-10 April 2019
Location: Sharikopodshipnikovskaya St. 13, Building 33, Moscow
Website: http://moscow.affiliateconf.com
Exchange Rate: 1 Euro is approximately 73 Rubles
Always check the rates before you exchange money
Getting around:
Uber/Yandex: If you clicked on the location link at the top of this article, you’ll notice that it took you to Yandex and not Google Maps. Yandex is a popular service in Russia and has even teamed up with Uber to provide low-fare taxi options. Don’t worry if you don’t have the Yandex app, Uber works too, so you can simply order as you would anywhere else.
Taxis: As with most major cities, taxis are pretty pricey and it’s easy to get ripped off. Therefore, if you really have to, make sure to negotiate the price before you set off.
Public Transport: If you want to experience Moscow like the locals then you can use public transport. They have a similar setup to most European countries. All you need to do is buy a Unified Travelcard which are available from machines at all metro stations across the city. Unified Travelcards can be used on buses, trams, metro, MCC and monorail. The ticket options include:
24 hours -210 roubles 3 days - 400 roubles 7 days - 800 roubles
Food and Drink
Here are some of the average prices for food and drink in Moscow:
Beer - €1-2 (150-200руб) Coffee - €2-3 (160-200руб) McDonald’s - €4-5 (300-350pуб) Cheap restaurant - €8-9 (600-700руб) Mid-range restaurant - €30-40 (2000-3000-руб)
Top Restaurant Tip
If you want to get all of your sightseeing and eating done in one go, then check out the Ostankino TV Tower. The restaurant great food and views across the city.
Sightseeing
Want to see the sights but don’t have much time? Then take Tram Route 39. It starts near Chistye Prudy and will give you the chance to see the Boulevard Ring, St. Daniel Monastery, Donskoy Monastery, Leninsky, Lomonosovsky.
Most of the famous sights in Moscow are really close to each other so you can easily see them all in a day. However, if you want to look inside, then make sure to plan ahead as the queues can get very long.
Here’s a quick list of what to see:
The Kremlin
The Kremilin is the official residence of the President of the Russian Federation, aka Vladimir Putin. In recent years, security has been relaxed and now much of the building has been turned in national museums.
Website and ticket info https://www.kreml.ru/en-Us/museums-moscow-kremlin/ Show on Map
St. Basil’s Cathedral
Probably the most iconic building in Russia, St. Basil’s Cathedral dates back to 1561, when it was built for Ivan the Terrible. It’s now a museum and apparently has the official name of ‘The Cathedral of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos on the Moat.’ No prizes for guessing why people still call it St. Basil’s.
Bolshoi Theatre
Website and Ticket info https://www.bolshoi.ru/en/ (Most shows are sold out for the 9-10 but there are tickets available for 7, 11, 12 April.) Show on Map
Lenin’s Mausoleum
Lenin’s Mausoleum is free to enter, and while queues are shorter than they used to be, it’s still worth planning plenty of time if you want to go inside. Lenin’s body is still on public display, so this trip comes with a slight advisory warning first in case you’re squeamish.
GUM
If dead communists aren’t your thing then how about a shopping trip instead. GUM is Russia’s largest department store. Seriously, it’s pretty big! There are 141 shops inside with nearly every major label. It’s not a place to go for bargains, but if you’re looking to treat yourself then it’s well worth checking out. Website: https://gumrussia.com/shops/ Show on Map
Top Souvenirs
Want to get something to remember your time in Moscow? Then here are our top souvenir tips.
Confectionary
The most popular sweets in Russia are made by Alenka. The website is only in Russian, however, it works with Google Translate. https://shop.alenka.ru/catalog/zavtraki/
Keepsakes
If you’re looking for something to impress your friends back home, then nothing says Russia like a nesting doll. Now, you can get your very own Putin to put in your Putin!
For this and all other traditional Russian trinkets, check out https://www.souvenirdvor.ru/product/matreshka-politiki-v-putin-5-mest-17-sm/
Alternatively, if you want to forget your time in Moscow then here are two of the most popular vodkas:
For the full list, visit: https://eng.winestyle.ru/vodka/russia/
Remember, if you can’t find what you’re looking for and no one around you speaks English, just keep repeating yourself more loudly until they understand what you’re trying to say! Or, alternatively, you could use this phrase guide. Both are equally good options.
We hope this little guide can be of some use. If there’s anything you’re not sure of, you can always contact your affiliate manager and they will help you out.