Russia is the largest country in the world. The Ural Mountains divide the Eurasian continent - and Russia – from Europe and Asia. One quarter of Russian territory lies in Europe, the other part lies in Asia. Russia occupies an area of 18 million square kilometers, - rather like the USA and Europe together, and the country is 9,000 kilometers from east to west and 5,000 from north to south. The capital of Russia is Moscow and the second largest city is St Petersburg (which is also called the Northern capital).

The population is 143,2 million people and three quarters live in the European part and one quarter lives in the Asian part of Russia (Siberia and the Far Eastern regions).

The currency in Russia is rubs which come in coins (1,2,5) and notes (10,50,100,500, 1000,5000).( Exchange offices are spread all round the towns/ in the centre of the town/cities). Here are some sample prices just to give you an idea: Lunch or dinner with drinks in a café – 300 per person. Lunch or dinner with drinks in an expensive restaurant – 1000 per person. Bus, tram – 12. Loaf of bread- 20.

The climate of St Petersburg is maritime and much milder than one generally expects. January temperatures average -8С (though it can get down to -20C). The biggest trouble is the wind, which can be pretty chilling in some areas, so bring a good warm scarf, hat and gloves. Summer is cool and slow to come.

Famous cities in Russia Moscow St. Petersburg

Moscow is a big cultural and tourist centre in Europe and in the world, Moscow region has one of the richest historic-cultural potentials in Russia there are a lot of interesting places in Moscow - different historic-cultural and architectural monuments and modern entertaining infrastructure. There are more than 60 museums in the city. besides the state museums, there are a lot of private galleries in Moscow. Moscow is an important tourist centre, which attracts the guests with the saved monuments or Russian culture, developing modern entertaining infrastructure there is a big well developed net of hotels in the city, there are also represented the worldwide hotel brands worldwide famous hotel brands. Москва крупный культурный и туристический центр Европы и мира, московский регион имеет один из богатейших в России историко- культурных потенциалов. В Москве много интересных мест это как различные историко-культурные и архитектурные памятники, так и современная развлекательная инфраструктура. В городе имеется более 60 музеев. Помимо государственных музеев в Москве действует множество частных художественных галерей Москва важный туристический центр, привлекающий гостей сохранившимися памятниками русской архитектуры развивающейся современной развлекательной инфраструктурой. В городе довольно крупная и развивающаяся сеть отелей и гостиниц, представлены крупные мировые гостиничные бренды

St. Petersburg is a cultural centre of the worldwide meaning, it is often called the «Cultural centre». There are 8464 objects of cultural legacy( the monuments of history and culture) and there are also 4213 the objects of culture of the federal meaning. In 1990 the historical centre of St. Petersburg and the suburbia palace-park unions are included in the list of the objects of worldwide UNESCO. There are about 8000of monuments under the control of the government in St. Petersburg in 2005 was accepted the strategy of saving the cultural population in St. Petersburg. Санкт-Петербург является культурным центром мирового значения, часто его называют «Культурной столицей». В городе располагаются 8464 объекта культурного наследия (памятники истории и культуры), в том числе 4213 объектов культурного наследия федерального значения. В 1990 году исторический центр Санкт-Петербурга и дворцово- парковые ансамбли пригородов включены в список объектов Всемирного ЮНЕСКО. Под охраной государства в Санкт- Петербурге находятся около 8 тысяч памятников архитектуры. В 2005 году принята Петербургская стратегия сохранения культурного наследия