Time Zone
"Moscow Time" is valid in Moscow, St. Petersburg and much of European Russia. It is GMT +3, three hours ahead of GMT and generally eight hours ahead of New York.

Weather
Climate-wise, St Petersburg is much milder than its extreme northern latitude would suggest. January temperatures average -8°C (17°F); a really cold day will get down to -15°C (5°F). It's a windy city though and in some areas the wind chill is quite fierce, so bring a good warm hat and scarf. Summer is cool and takes a while to get going: snow in late April is not uncommon and the warm weather doesn't really start until the period between June and August, when temperatures reach 20°C (68°F).

Electricity
Electricity in Russia is the same as in Europe: 220 volt/50 Hz. The plug is the two-pin thin European standard. You can use either a converter (to bring the electricity down to 110 volt American standard) or an adapter that will plug into the wall with the European standard and allow you to plug in American standard items that have dual voltage power supplies (many computers, cameras and other electronic devices have such power supplies).

Public Holidays
In Russia the public holidays include January 1 and 2 (New Year's), January 7 (Russian Orthodox Christmas), March 8 (International Women's Day), Russian Orthodox Easter, May 1-2 (Spring and Labor Day), May 9 (Victory in Europe Day), June 12 (Russian Independence Day), August 22 (National Flag Day), and November 7 (now Constitution Day).

Photography
The shops in the main museums and tourist areas in Moscow and St. Petersburg will have Kodak, Fuji and Konica, although if you need a special type of film, it is better to bring enough with you. Most camera batteries will be available as well.

There are many places that do one hour developing and printing, but if you decide to use those, please keep in mind that not knowing the language may be a problem.

Video Tapes: Tapes for camcorders are sold in many specialty shops.
Digital Cameras: If you use the digital camera, the recommendations are the same: take enough memory cards with you, although many specialty shops do sell Compact Flash and other cards. There are some places that record from memory cards to CDs but you may have difficulty locating them.

There are restrictions on shooting photo and video in some places, including:
Border and customs offices and areas
Some government buildings
Military areas

Many museums allow photography with the purchase of a permit (although sometimes it is not clear as to whether or not flash photography is permitted, but for preservation of the works most art should not be photographed using a flash).

Toiletries
In Moscow and St. Petersburg personal items from such brands as Esteé Lauder, Revlon, Gillette, Colgate-Palmolive, Procter & Gamble and Unilever are readily available, although just as in other countries you may now be able to find the exact product you need in a convenient shop.

Health
Ensure that all of your vaccinations are up to date, and you have sufficient amounts of any prescription medicine you may be taking. Pharmacies are common in major cities and carry a large supply of quality western medications.

You are recommended to buy only bottled water in Russia, readily available in any hotel's shop or in neighborhood stores. In St. Petersburg you should not brush your teeth with the tap water.

The US Centers for disease control has other tips for travelers at their web site at www.cdc.gov/travel/.

Besides local doctors (generally good quality but often working in poor facilities) there are several Western-run medical centers in major Russian cities. These all have different policies for payment (some take credit cards, some require payment in cash up front, even if you have insurance) so make sure you know what you are paying for (and when and how) before you agree to any services.

Moscows's Health Centers
European Medical Center
    Medical Center address: 10 2nd Tverskoi-Yamskoi Perelok.
    Phone: 787-7000
Dentistry Center address: 34 Konushkovskaya Ulitsa.
    Phone: 797-6767
American Medical Center Moscow
    1 Grokholsky Perelok,
    Phone: (7-095) 933-7700
    Emergency Phone: (7-095) 933-7700
    Fax: (7-095) 933-7700

St. Peterburg's Health Centers
American Medical Center St. Petersburg
    10 Serpukhovskaya St.
    (7-812) 326-1730
    Emergency Phone: (7-812) 326-1730
    Fax: (7-812) 326-1731

Remember to bring any medications you may need. Check with your health insurer before you depart to ascertain your coverage in the event of emergency. Many insurance providers offer specialized riders which can cover emergency evacuation.

Safety in Russia
Largely because of the difficult transition from police state to democracy, Russia did experience a rise in criminal activity during the 1990's. The truth is that crime was greatly exaggerated in the media, and for the average tourist Moscow, St. Petersburg and the rest of Russia remain safe as safe as any major Western city, and likewise common sense goes far in protecting oneself against problems.

A note about police: Although they do have a bad reputation, the majority of Russian police officers are respectful of position as public servants. Most accounts of bribery stem from the civilian not following common rules, such as carrying identification papers at all times, or drinking excessively in public.

Note that everyone in Russia must carry state-issued identification papers, which means that foreigners must carry their passport and visa at all times and present it to police officers if asked. This can seem intimidating to people who grew up in the West but it is the law in Russia. If a police officer stops you, they normally salute you and ask for your passport and papers (generally in Russian). Hand these to them, they will look at it, hand it back and salute you.

Note: On entering the country, tourists must complete a customs declaration form which must be retained until departure. This allows the import of articles intended for personal use, including currency and valuables which must be registered on the declaration form. Cameras, jewelry, computers and musical instruments should all be declared. Customs inspection can be long and detailed. It is advisable when shopping to ask for a certificate from the shop which states that goods have been paid for in hard currency. Presentation of such certificates should speed up customs formalities.

Prohibited exports: As prohibited imports, as well as annulled securities, state loan certificates, lottery tickets, works of art and antiques (unless permission has been granted by the Ministry of Culture), saiga horns, Siberian stag, punctuate and red deer antlers (unless on organized hunting trip), and punctuate deer skins.