Hello!

I'm a US/Russian dual national coming to visit my mother, having not lived in Moscow since I was a child.

I'll be there for about 4-5 weeks, and wanted to ask a few specific questions:

1. Which bank would be the simplest in opening an account with, given that I only have an external passport?
2. Will I run into any friction with not having registration/internal passport?
3. What's the best fitness club where I would be able to purchase a one month pass?
4. Has padel taken off in Moscow yet - are there courts? If so, is there any app that would make it easy to find matches? (eg. similar to Playtomic)
5. Are there any run clubs?

Hello everyone!

Posting here because I don't know if there is any subreddit specific to this. I (29m) arrived a couple months ago to Moscow with a long stay visit permit because my wife is russian.

I'm interested in changing the permit to a residency (РВП) to be able to work here but as far as I'm concerned we need to be married for at least 3 years to be able to apply for it (which would be in march 2027).

I'm interested in someone who went through this and have any insights that can be shared just in case the 3 year mark is a bit flexible or I do really have to wait until this date.

Thanks for any help because I really love the city.

Wondering who this player is doing a simul at the Theatre Square in downtown Moscow, anyone know who he is?

I've been offered a spot as a foreign delegate at the International Festival of Youth / World Youth Festival, happening in Ekaterinburg Sept 11–17, 2026 (flights, meals, and accommodation covered). Before I commit, I want a reality check from people who actually live there or follow the region closely.

A few things I'm trying to understand:

1) What's the current mood/situation in Ekaterinburg day-to-day? Has life gone back to normal since the April 25, 2026 drone attack (the one that hit the "Trinity" residential complex)?
2) Has there been any repeat of drone activity in Sverdlovsk region since then, or was that a one-off?
3) For a large international event like this, is there any visible extra security, or does it feel like a non-issue locally?
4) Any general advice for a foreign visitor attending a state-organized event there right now?

Not trying to start a political debate — genuinely just want practical, first-hand perspective before deciding whether to go. Any input appreciated, even "it's fine, don't worry" or "I'd think twice."

Does anyone know a good, trustworthy website for booking apartments in Russia? Most international sites like Booking.com don’t list properties there anymore, so I’m looking for reliable alternatives that people have actually used. Any recommendations would be appreciated

всех приветствую. я ищу неофициальную работу по Москве и ближайшем пригороде, до конца лета.

могу работать курьером, автомойщиком, грузчиком, маляром или официантом. дата рождения 23.10.2011, рост 180. выгляжу явно старше, так что вопросов к вам никаких не будет.

готов работать до 12 часов в день, до 6/1.

пишите в телеграм если появилось желание меня взять на работу

юз в тг: @feilyha

Hi everyone!

I’m planning my next vacation and Russia is one of the countries I’m considering. I’d love to hear some advice from locals or people who have traveled there recently. Is it generally safe for tourists to visit Russia right now? Besides Moscow and St. Petersburg, which cities or regions would you recommend? I don’t like staying in one place—I prefer exploring different cities and towns. Would renting a car and driving between places be safe and practical? I’m also interested in knowing what activities or experiences you think every visitor should try, what the weather is like, and how you would describe the people and the overall atmosphere for foreign visitors. I enjoy nature, local culture, good food, and road trips, so I’d really appreciate any recommendations or tips. Thanks!

Hi,

I've been planning on a trip to Moscow in the coming weeks and I have a question about how functioning the GPS is in Moscow because of the war.

I've heard here and there that GPS is essentially non existent since the war, especially in Moscow, and it never shows where you are accurately.

So how functioning is it?

Are the problems only in certain regions or is it all across town? Is there any solutions to it?

Спустя 17 лет жизни в своём небольшом городе я начал замечать, что каждый день вижу одни и те же лица, в автобусах, на остановках, в кафе, вообщем везде. Мне стало интересно: "Сколько нужно прожить в Москве, чтобы начать замечать такое?"

Ну так сколько?

собираемся пойти с друзьями, но не хотим тратить лишние деньги, так можно сделать?

Together with colleagues from Russian Railways (RZD), we shared our experience in upgrading the Leningradskiy Railway Terminal with top officials from the railway sectors of Azerbaijan and Iran:

🔹 Rovshan Rustamov, Chairman of Azerbaijan Railways CJSC.
🔹 Jabbarali Zakeri, Deputy Minister of Roads and Urban Development of Iran, Chairman of the Board and Managing Director of the Railways of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

We discussed how we implemented the following:

🔹 Fast transfers between trains, the metro, and other urban transport
🔹 Digital navigation and a redesigned layout for passenger flows
🔹 Services meeting Moscow Transport standards and the deployment of modern technologies
🔹 Comfortable waiting areas, family spaces, and accessible solutions for all passenger categories
🔹 Passenger assistance services at every stage of the journey

For us, this is a vital international dialogue and a clear recognition of the practices implemented at the country's most modern long-distance railway terminal. The Leningradskiy Railway Terminal is becoming not just a symbol of modernization, but an exemplary global standard for passenger service

Today, ordinary day, 19.07.2026, Marino district, Moscow

Also how do i identify muslim men here? Any common characteristics?

Shelterz Elektrozavodskaya Hotel
ulitsa Bolshaya Semenovskaya 32, bldg. 3, Moscow, Russia

I just arrived yesterday to Moscow

"This timely handbook of recent scholarship on Moscow moves beyond today’s headlines to present a broad spectrum of methodological and historiographic perspectives on the city’s historical and contemporary significance.

In the over 30 years since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the history of Moscow has been explored through focused approaches including academic and architectural histories, guidebooks, fiction, and other texts. However, the broader history of Moscow as a whole has been a secondary consideration, and the lack of a unified body of academic works is profound. The Routledge Handbook of the History of Moscow redresses this deficiency by placing the city within its deserved longue durée context. It is particularly notable in that it includes chapters from historians who continue to work within the Russian Federation despite personal risk, scholars in the Russian diaspora, and Russian studies specialists from Europe, Canada, and the United States. Through this variety of lenses, readers will be provided with an understanding of Moscow’s prominent role on the world stage, both past and present.

The Routledge Handbook of the History of Moscow will be useful for university faculty seeking a non-textbook option for their undergraduate and graduate courses in Russian, Soviet, and post-Soviet studies."

https://www.routledge.com/The-Routledge-Handbook-of-the-History-of-Moscow/Ward/p/book/9781032690810

Photos taken with a Kodak disposable camera