Useful Information, Addresses and Contacts in Moscow

contents: accommodation • beauty • city guides and information • emergency phone numbers • health • laundry • laws • money • open hours • peak hours • prices • safety • shopping: [books, music, photolabs, travel gear] • new: online shopping • weather




BEAUTY. There are many beauty salons and barbers in Moscow, the prices vary from$3.5 to $20 for a haircut. You can go to any place, however here's out recommendation:
Persona Lab. No.1 Address: Vorotnikovski pereulok, #6/11 (north center, Tverkaya area, metro Mayakovskaya (green), walk Tverskaya in the centrum direction on the left side of the road, then turn left at the first road - by Mariott hotel and walk until the next turn right, the house on the corner is it). Phone: 299-0111. Open: 10-21. ||| No.2 Address: Bolshaya Serpukhovskaya, #17/1 (Zamoskvorechie, south center, just by the exit of Serpukhovskaya (grey) metro). Phone: 237-7471. Open: 10-21. ||| No.3 Address: Kutuzovski prospekt, 22 (west center, close to Arbat area, metro Kutuzovskaya, 2 trolley stations to the direction of the centrum, opposite side of the bus stop)
Phone: 243-6121. Open 11-21.

CITY GUIDES & INFORMATION. There's no tourist information offices in Moscow, so you'll have to help yourself using the printed guides available.
Of the travel guides to Moscow the two most popular ones are Rough Guide (http://www.roughguides.com) and Lonely Planet (http://www.lonelyplanet.com). The quality of information is generally the same, the newest guide to Moscow is printed by Rough Guides. For the most comprehensive (though sometimes outdated) information on sightseeing and entertainment a very useful guide is Time Out Moscow (no web for Moscow though).
For a directory of companies' addresses and contacts (yellowpages) the best guide in English is the Moscow Business Telephone Guide (MBTG - http://www.mbtg.net/), which is distributed in some Moscow hotels and business centers. The full text is also on the internet.
The main English language newspaper is The Moscow Times (http://www.themoscowtimes.com) - the Friday issue features "Context" section, with a list of what's on in Moscow, as well as restaurant and clubs reviews. You can get this newspaper in business centers, big supermarkets, some restaurants and clubs for free.
The Moscow Times also publishes a monthly Go-Magazine (http://www.go-magazine.ru), which has listings of clubs, restaurants, bars — a bit like a Moscow version of Time Out. It is distributed with The Moscow Times newspaper for free.
If you can read Russian, a very good Moscow guide in Russian is bi-weekly Afisha magazine sold almost everywhere. http://www.afisha.net (russian).
Another English language newspaper is a weekly Russia Journal (http://www.russiajournal.com) with a 'LifeStyle' section that lists many Moscow restaurants, clubs and has listings.
If you want something alternative, try the Exile (http://www.exile.ru) newspaper. Although their style may seem offensive to many people, they are very funny at places and actually give a very interesting view of life in Moscow.
But the best guide to Moscow, in our opionion, is WayToRussia.Net (http://www.waytorussia.net/Moscow/Guide.html) - the most up-to-date information resource with loads of unique and interesting information about Moscow.

EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS. Only Russian is spoken.
Fire Rescue: 01 | Militsia (Police): 02 | Medical Care (government): 03 | Moscow Rescue Force (similar to 911 in the US): 937-9911 | Lost things in metro: 222-2085 | Lost documents: 200-9957 | Moscow Townhall Hotline: 200-6730

FOREIGN PRESS. You can buy foreign magazines and newspapers in Moscow. Usually, they are sold in 5-star hotels, but the prices there are much too high. Also, you can try some newstands in the city (especially on Tverskaya St.), but the prices are high also, and selection is poor.
However, there's a couple of places in Moscow, where you can get almost any magazine or newspaper, in English and in other languages.
1. Maxim's News Stand. They have everything, if they don't -- you can order. Prices are lower than on the cover. Also, they sell books and movies in English. Metro: Savyolovskaya (grey line, north center), Address: Nizhnyaya Maslovska, #2 (an underground pass). Open: 11 to 19.30 Mon to Sat.
2. Arbat Supermarket. Just next to the entrance they sell some English-language magazines and fresh newspapers. Metro: Arbatskaya. Address: Novy Arbat st, Novoarbatsky supermarket - grocery store (there's only one).

HEALTH. If you got ill, you can go to the government hospitals, but you'll have to stand long queues, talk to the doctor who speaks russian only (in most cases) and I'm not sure about the quality of service. So it's better, but expensive, to go to professional medical care centers in Moscow. Here's a list of the main western health centers and dental clinics:

US Dental Care. They have american and russian english-speaking staff, very friendly, and nice interior. Recommended. Address:Bolshaya Dmitrovka ul., #7/5, build. 2. Contacts: tel 933-8686, fax 933-8687, internet: http://www.usdentalcare.com/ email: kazakovak@usdentalcare.com | European Medical Service. Address: 2nd Tverskoy-Yamskoy pereulok , #10 (Tverskaya area, north center). Contacts: tel 254-4545, fax 254-4545, email: doctor@emcmos.dol.ru | Canadian Family Clinic. Address: Michurinsky Prospekt, #56 (south-west Moscow). Contacts: tel 931-5018/5318, fax 932-8653, internet: http://www.mediclub.ru/ email: mediclub@cityline.ru | American Medical Centers. Address: Grokholsky pereulok, #1 (north-east center of Moscow). Contacts: tel 933-7700, fax 933-7701, internet: http://www.amcenters.com | International SOS Clinic (IMC). Address: Grokholsky pereulok, #31, 10th fl. Contacts: tel 937-5760, fax 280-8677, internet: www.internationalsos.com/countries/russia email: mow.marketing@internationalsos.com

You can buy the medicines you need at many of Moscow's 24 hour pharmacies. Here's a list of some:

36,6 Pharmacies. Work 24 hours. Addresses: Tverskaya Ulitsa, 25 (Tverskaya area, metro Mayakovskaya (green), walk to the centrum direction 4 mins) | Zemlyanoi Val, 25 (east center, metro Kurskaya (blue)) | Novy Arbat, 15 (Arbat area, west center, metro Arbatskaya (blue) or Smolenskaya (blue)). Phone: 797-6366.
Other 24-hour pharmacies are at the beginning of Novy Arbat street (metro Arbatskaya) and the one at the beginning of Nikolskaya street (Kitai Gorod or Kremlin area, metro Lubyanka (red) or Ploshchad Revolutsii (blue).

LAUNDRY. There are no self-service laundromates in Moscow yet, however if you stay in a hotel you can ask a maid to wash your stuff. Or you can use any of the laundry services below:
Central Area / Arbat: 1. Diana Cleaners. Address: Ostozhenka ul, #11 (south-west center, Arbat area, metro Park Kultury (circle or red)) tel. 202-9490. ||| 2. Sivtsev Vrazhek, #45 (Arbat metro (blue)) tel. 241-3609. ||| 3. Smolenskaya sq. #3/5 (Smolenskaya metro (blue)) tel. 136-8721.
Central Area / Tverskaya: 1. Diana Cleaners. Address: Bolshaya Gruzinskaya, #16 (metro Krasnopresnenskaya (violet) or Belorusskaya (violet)) tel. 254-9613 ext. 22. ||| 2.Lesnaya ul. #63 (north center, metro Mendeleevskaya (grey)) tel. 489-1394.
Central Area / Kitai Gorod: 1. Diana Cleaners. Pokrovka ul., #45 (Kitai Gorod area, metro Kitai Gorod (orange)) tel. 917-8683. ||| 2. Solyanka ul., #1/2 (metro Kitai Gorod) tel. 928-5539.
Central Area / Kuznetski Most: California Cleaners. Bolshaya Lubyanka ul., #12/1 7th Continent supermarket. (metro Lubyanka (red) or Kuznetski Most (violet)) tel. 928-9577.
North-East Moscow: Diana. Address: Prospekt Mira, #69 (metro Prospekt Mira (circle) or Rizhskaya (orange), close to Travellers' Guest House hostel) tel. 281-2928.
South-East Moscow: Diana. Address: Ryazanski prospekt, #75 (south-east Moscow, metro Ryazanski prospekt (violet), just outside of the metro exit, close to Hostel Asia). tel. 319-6821

LAWS. Here's some information about what might happen if you make a small infringement in Moscow and how to deal with it:
Not having a visa registration: the fine is usually around $5-15 US and one has to spend time in police station (not more than 3 hours). The chances you get checked are not high. What you can do in case a policeman stopped you, is to pretend naive, not to speak Russian, not to show you have money. After the cop will realize he won't get much from you (money is what they want), he'll let you go and try to find someone else, who'll agree to share some $$.
Stealing can get you from $600 fine up to two years in prison. So if you feel some kind of strange excitement about stealing, it's still not a good idea to try to steal something in shops or somewhere else, even if you think nobody's watching you.
Drugs posession (including marijuana). An official punishment is up to 10 years in prison, and the laws are quite strict about that. An 'unofficial' punishment is around $30-$40, depending on your ability to negotiate and the kind of stuff you carry.
Pissing on the street. Once I felt a great urge to piss, and there wasn't a single toilet around. So, I had to do it on the street. After I finished, two cops came up to me saying that what I did wasn't right, cause there are women walking around. Hmmm... So they checked my passport and wanted to fine me for $3 (an official punishment for pissing on the streets), but I was polite and the situation settled down.

MONEY. It's better to carry US dollars - then you won't have any problems with changing them. There are currency exchange offices all around Moscow, many of them work 24 hours.
There are also many ATMs, usually next to banks' offices. The ATMs take no comission or only 1%, but your bank will charge you about $5 for a transaction.
You can use the credit card in most of the supermarkets, department and clothes stores, restaurants and clubs. Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted, AMEX and Diners are more rare.
The most wide-spread travellers' cheques are AMEX and Thomas Cook, you can go to any bank to cash them. The banks are open from 9.00 to 17.00-20.00 usually. There it's also the most secure place to change your money.

Foreign Banks Representative Offices.
Abn Amro. Phone: 931-9141, Fax: 931-9140 | American Express Bank. Phone: 725-6570, Fax: 725-6571 | Banca Commerziale Italiana. Phone: 209-6675, 209-6518. Fax: 209-6569 | Banka Di Roma. Phone: 209-6625. Fax: 200-0233 | Banque Nationale de Paris. Phone: 258-5676, Fax: 258-5679 | Bayerishe LandesBank. Phone: 234-4958, Fax: 234-4988. | BCD Bank. Phone: 250-5367, 251-7298, Fax: 250-5367 | Berliner Bank Phone: 956-9802, Fax: 956-9803 | Chase Manhattan. Phone: 956-9393, Fax: 956-9366 | CitiBank. Phone: 725-1000, Fax: 725-6700 | CommerzBank AG Phone: 797-4848 | Credit Commerciale de France. Phone: 792-3554, Fax: 792-3557 | Credit Suisse First Boston. Phone: 967-8201, Fax: 967-8220 | Dresdner Bank AG. Phone: 258-5666/5667, Fax: 258-5665. | Parex. Phone: 737-7340, Fax: 737-7341 | Paribas. Phone: 915-8511, Fax: 967-3722 | Raiffeisen Bank. Phone: 721-9904, Fax: 721-9907

Russian Banks Offices and ATMs in Moscow.
Area: center, Tverskaya: 1. Address: Dolgorukovskaya Ul., d. 5. Area: north center, Tverskaya, metro Mayakovskaya (green). Hours: mon-fri - 09.30 - 20.30 sat - 09.30 - 17.00. Phones: 251-50-79, 251-52-18 ||| 2. Address: Tverskaya Ul. d 6/1 bld.7. Area: downtown, Tverskaya, the crossing of Tverskaya street and Kamergersky pereulok, metro Okhotny Riad (red) or Tverskaya (green). Hours: mon-thu 9.30 - 16.30 fri 9.30 - 16.30 closed 13.00 - 14.00. Phones: 292-56-49, 292-56-64 |||
Area: downtown, Kuznetski Most: 1. ul. Rozhdestvenka h.3,
Hotel "Savoy" (walk out from "Lyubyanka" metro and walk down the large Okhotny Riad street until you see Savoy hotel to your right). 24 hours, phone 921-1016.||| 2. ul. Myasnitskaya h.35 (Just when you walk out from "Chistye Prudy" metro station, it's in the big white office building). Daily 7.00 - 23.00
Also, see on the internet the list of Alfa Bank Cash Machines:.
http://www.alfa-bank.com/branches/atm/?id=Moscow

OPEN HOURS. State institutions, offices, companies are usually opened from 9.00 or 10.00 to 18.00 or 19.00 and do not work on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. The food stores are usually opened from 8.00 to 20.00 except on sundays from 8.00 to 18.00, but most of them are opened 24 hours. Big department stores, clothing stores, supermarkets are opened all week long from 9.00-10.00 to 9.00-10.00. There are many currency exchange offices working until late night and sometimes 24 hours a day.

PEAK HOURS. Usually 8:00-10:00 in the morning and 17:30-20:00 in the evening. If you don't want to be stuffed, better avoid the metro and public transport during these hours.

PRICES. (in $ US, $1 buys about 30 roubles) Moscow is a relatively expensive city, just a few years ago it was at the top of the list of the most expensive cities in the world. After the financial crisis of 1998 the situation changed, most of the businesses realised that they should work for middle class, but still Moscow is expensive for some things.
The most expensive is accommodation, you can get a decent luxury hotel room for not less than $350, while 3-star hotels offer their rooms for $50-$100 a night, and what you get is usually worse than what you expect for the money. There are only a few budget accommodation options in Moscow: generally you can get a crappy single for $20, and a crappy double for $30-$40. There are only three hostels in Moscow, they offer a bed in a dorm room for $16 and higher. Read more on accommodation below on this page.
The food is relatively cheap: if you cook yourself you'll fit in 50-100R ($1.7-$3.5) a day, if you go to the restaurants only, expect to spend from 100 to 300 R ($3.5 - $10) a day - of course if you're not up to the luxury stuff.
The transportation is very cheap: a ride on the metro is 5 R ($0.15), a bus, a trolley, or a tram is 4 R ($0.13). A taxi will charge 50-200R ($1.7 - $7) depending on your appearance and your ability to negotiate.
You'll have to pay more than Russians to do sightseeing. Museums and famous sights charge about $3, however there are some tricks, see in the appropriate sections of our site.
If you go partying, you can spend nothing or everything. Most of the clubs don't charge any entrance cover, however if you get to a concert expect to pay $1-$10. A drink is usually about $1-$2. A meal is about $3-$4. There are some 'high class' clubs where you'll have to leave about $30 to enter, and pay double prices in the bars.
Shopping is expensive, though there's very much variety: all the main fashion and casual wear brands are represented. The prices are about 20% higher than in Europe.

SAFETY. Moscow generally has the same level of security as European capitals, and it's not so hectic and bustling as some Asian cities.
The common sense applies, as everywhere. There are quite many policemen on the streets (especially in the centrum), and the cases of assaults, especially on the foreigners, are very rare.
Like in any big city you should avoid dark streets in the night and some suburb areas: the worst reputation is south-east and north Moscow.
If you're careful with your things, nobody will rob you, however, in the crowdy areas beware of your belongings.
If you were robbed or lost something important. Contact the police (militia) first and then the embassy of your country. The police phone number is 02, you can dial this number from any payphone for free, but don't expect anyone speaking English there. Also, you can find police stations in the city: there's Mi`litsia - Милиция sign or inside the metro stations. The problem is that police speaks russian only, so either find someone to help you to explain, or go directly to the embassy of your native country. The addresses of the embassies in Moscow are at Practicalities  / Embassies & Consulates page.

SHOPPING / BOOKS:
1. Biblio Globus. Probably the biggest bookshop in Moscow. A great variety of Russian and some English-language books. Address: Myasnitskaya, #3 (Kitai Gorod area, metro Lubyanka (red line)). Open: 10-19.30 ||| 2. Trading House Moscow. Also a very big bookshop, many Russian and foreign titles. Address: Novy Arbat street, #20 (Arbat area, metro Arbatskaya (blue)). Open: 10-20 ||| 3. Anglia Bookshop. Many English and American book in original language. Address: Khlebny pereulok (Area: Arbat, metro Arbatskaya (blue). Open 10-18. ||| 4. Shakespeare Books. A big variety of English titles + second hand English-language books. Address: Novokuznetskaya street, (Area: Zamoskvorechie, metro Paveletskaya (green or circle) or Novokuznetskaya (green). Open: 10-19. ||| 5. English Books. New English-language books and art albums. Address: Kuznetski Most street (Area: Kuznetski Most, metro Kuznetski Most (violet)). Open: 10-18 ex. sun.

SHOPPING / FOOD:
1. Jagannat. The biggest selection of vegeterian products. Also a cafe. Where: Kuznetski Most street, on the right. Open: 11-23. ||| 2. Various supermarkets market on the appropriate maps.

SHOPPING / MUSIC:
1. Archi's Shop. The best selection of our favourite music on CDs and cassettes at the place where our friend Archi works. Special prices: a CD for up to $8, casettes $2. Don't ask why. Where: Kuznetski Most metro (violet), walk out of the metro, go straight forward in the arch that's the most left one. The shop will be on your right inside the arch. ||| 2. Purpur Legion. A big selection of various Russian and foreign CDs. Where: Zamoskvorechie area, Tretyakovskaya metro. Walk out of the metro, turn left, walk straight ahead, after 3 mins you'll cross Pyatniskaya street, leaving Pizza Hut on your left, then walk further - there'll be the shop in front of you.

SHOPPING / PHOTOLABS:
Here's a list of professional photolabs in Moscow that have quality service, a choice of amateur and professional films, and have the status of Kodak Q-Lab (that means quality). The normal prices are: developing - around $1, one 10x15 print - $0.17, one 15x23 print - $0.4. Kodak Gold film: $2, a professional Kodak 35mm negative film - $2-$5, slide - $4-$5.
(The laboratories are listed in the order of our preference). 1. Kodak-Mosfilm. The best photolab in the city. The quality is superb, the service is nice, the location is far. All Kodak films on sale. 2-3 days for an order. Open: 10-19, 11-17 on sun. Address: Mosfilmovskaya ul., #1 (Mosfilm movie studio complex, inside the courtyard. Area: Moscow south, metro: Kievskaya (blue) or Universitet (red). If you have a question how you can get there, drop us a message - it worths it). ||| 2. Profi Lab. Closer to the center of the city, quite good service. A good choice of Kodak, Fuji & Agfa films. Phone: 254-3790. Area: close to Tverskaya, metro Ulitsa 1905 goda (violet), walk out of the metro, turn left, walk along the paved street until there's an arch on your left (about 3 mins), turn left, then left again and you'll see a one-story yellow building. The photolab is there. ||| 3. FotoLab. A good selection of all kinds of films, central location. Area: Kuznetski Most, metro Kuznetski Most, walk out of the arch, turn left, walk along the street, cross Kuznetski Most street, walk pass the building on your left and then turn left.

SHOPPING / TRAVEL GEAR
AlpIndustria. The biggest variety. There's also a club for travellers. Address: Pervomaiskaya Ul., 18. (east Moscow, metro Izmaylovskaya (blue), follow the white pained footsteps on the ground). Phone: 165-9481. Open: 10-21. | Adrenalin Sport. Snowboard and skateboard wear. Address: Krasnaya Presnya Ul., #32/34 (north-west Moscow, metro Ulitsa 1905 Goda (violet), direction of the centrum). Phone: 252-4294. Open: 10-20 | Erzog. Travel gear. Address: Suvorovsky Boulevard 25 (Arbat area, metro Arbatskaya (blue)). Phone: 290-5513 | Sket Shop-Atelier. Travel gear, travel food. phone: 176-6674 Address: metro Perovo (yellow line), 3rd Vladimirskaya st., #29 | Start. A very large variety, but the shop is hard to find. Address: 6th Kozhukhovskaya Ul., #21 (north-east Moscow, metro Kozhukhovskaya (light green)). Phone: 277-5080. Open: 10-20. | Vertikalny Mir. Alpinist equipment, ski, snowboard. Address: Profsoyuznaya Ul., 15 (south Moscow, metro Profsoyuznaya (orange)). Phone: 124-0481. Open: 10-20

INTERNET SHOPPING -- ONLINE SUPERMARKETS IN MOSCOW
1. Service 77. (http://www.service77.ru or tel.: 777-0077 -- 24 hours) In Russian only. An online supermarket: food, accessories, medicines, flowers etc. Delivery in 3 hours. The prices are about 5-10% higher than in the cheapest supermarkets, but if, while ordering, you'll make a reference to me, Dmitri Paranyushkin, you'll get a 5% discount (me too). Free delivery for orders from 1500 R ($50), if your order is less than 1500, the delivery costs about 200 R ($7). Payment options: rubles cash, upon delivery, credit cards (Visa, MasterCard).
2. Lozhka.Ru. - temporarily closed (http://www.lozhka.ru -- 10 to 22.00) In Russian only. An online grocery store. Very cheap prices. Delivery in 3 hours -- 150 R ($5), in 6 hours -- 50 R ($1.7). Free delivery for orders over 300 R ($10). Payment options: rubles cash upon delivery.
3. Raskladka.Ru (http://www.raskladka.ru or tel.: 535-9766). Internet shop selling food for travelers -- energy food, travel packs etc. -- a very good option if you're going outdoors or Trans-Siberian. Dried meat, cheese, soups, lunch packs. Delivery: 50 R ($1.7), free delivery for orders > 500 R ($17). Payment: cash roubles upon delivery.
4. Trans-Pizza (http://www.transpizza.ru/eng/index.htm or tel.: 745-0555). In English! Online pizza delivery -- pizzas, salads, drinks, tabacco, starters. Prices from 200 R ($7). Delivered in 1 hour, 24 hours a day. Payment: cash roubles.
5. Rukzak.Ru (http://www.rukzak.ru) in Russian,travel gear, equipment, food.





WEATHER. Moscow is located in the middle of the Euroasian continent, far from the oceans - that's why the climate here is continental: cold in winter and hot in summer. There's no specific rain season, however in October, beginning of November and in the beginning of April it rains more often.
The best weather in Moscow is in January and February, when there's snow and bright sunlight almost every day; in May, June, July, August it's summertime: hot and sunny, and in September the weather is mild, the nature blooms with colours.
The average weather in Moscow, the way we feel it in the year 2001: January -10 | February -9 | March -4 | April +4 | May +12 | June +19 | July +24 | August +20 | September +13 | October +6 | November -2 | December -8