Way to Russia Talk Lounge

st erik · Just Starting Joined: 23 Jun 2008 Posts: 1

I'm travelling to Moscow on a tight budget, and I understand that there is a dual-pricing system at museums. Is it possible to avoid the foreigner rates? I speak (rather rusty) Russian, but I was wondering what EXACTLY would a Russian say when buying one adult ticket for a museum? Also, does anyone know how staff react if they catch you trying to impersonate a Russian…?

Does the dual pricing also apply to theatre and concert tickets (e.g. at MKhat, Maly Teatr)?

Thanks.

greg222 · VIP Joined: 15 Feb 2005 Posts: 506

You can get away with it sometimes. Keep it as short as possible: just say "Odin" and put the money down. If you say too much they'll hear the accent. But read the sign first as there are often different tickets (getting you into different areas) available. If they realise you're a foreigner they'll shout a bit and (if there is one) tell you to get in the foreigner queue. No harm done so it's always worth a shot.

If you fail you can also just ask a Russian to buy your ticket for you.

Paul Varjak · Frequent Guest Joined: 30 Jul 2005 Posts: 36

I got into a museam in St. Petersburg at Russian prices, because I was with a Russian girl and let her do the talking. But once inside and they realised I was not Russian I had to pay the foreigner price.

On another occasion I did a bus tour (with another Russian girl) but manged to avoid the foreigner price even though we were with the tour guide all day (I think he was a bit drunk).