When we went a few years ago it was quite easy to get a visa, but depending on your nationality you will need an invite first, then send that to the Embassy (and they may ask you to send it to the Embassy in your home country) for the visa.  It is simple, just time consuming and expect to pay about 70 EUR in total.  My experience was from a couple of years ago, but it doesn't seem to have changed yet.

Depending on what you want for accomodation, we stayed in Godzillas Hostel - a fun place, much like any other back packers and inexpensive. But if you want a higher standard I don't know what the costs are.

Definitely go to see Lenin.  It is free and something to do.  Otherwise Moscow is as lively as New York and London.

Hi,

I think you should not worry about the tourist visa. I advise you to the visa through the agency, will save you lots of time.

Check MoscowTimeout for things to do.

Cannot give clear advice as it mostly depends on the preferences of a person. I bet you can find there almost everything.

You could write if you have any special questions

Regards,

Tatiana

I guys!

Thanks a lot for the answers, specially about the Visa and about the Hostel.

@Tatianak: Usually I'm not planning any of my trips through an agency, but in this case then maybe I will check it out.

@James R: Ans yes, the hostel you mentioned sounds like a great place to stay!

I might contact you guys later, meanwhile I will look for an agency to take care of my Visa!

Cheers

José

Check out http://switzerland.russianvisa.net/

im off to st petersberg next week, check out swiss internation airlines, and their offers, they have some good deals to moscow and st petersberg.  The visa seemed a nightmare but when you do it it is quite easy, but it did set me back about 200 francs all told and a morning off work plus a long lunch.  A friend had to do theres thro the bern embassy and this seemed harder than in geneva.

In Moscow go to trhe Kremlin, Red Square, St. Basils (Disney-style church) Novo Novodichy monastery, St Saviours Cathedral, Peter the Great monumnet, boat trip, Ishailova market, GUM department store, ride the metro, Sudzhal (Golden Ring) Tretykovskaya museum...

@DJ Ladybird: Thanks a lot, that site rocks!

@ peaky: Enjoy St. Petersburg! If everything works out, I'll hopefully by there for the late Spring. Didn't know the VISA was costing so much, but I think I will trt through some agency!

@Tx_exile: Thanks a lot for the tips. I definitely will go to all those places!

Any one else?

Hi!

Actually there is no need in using agency's support for obtaining visa. The hotels (if you decide on that, probably, the hostels as well) fully provide you with visa support documents (tourist vaucher)!

Come and have a look at Saint Petersburg as well;) It's a worthy thing to do in RUS:)

Cheers!

HI WE ARE SWISS AND WE WENT TO ST PETERSBURG IN '08,IT WAS WONDERFUL BUT MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A GUIDE COS WE SPEAK IRISH ,ENGLISH,FRENCH,GERMAN AND SPANISH AND NOTHING WORKED.

WE STAYED IN A BEAUTIFUL HOTEL CALLED  MOIKA 22.

GOOD IRISH PUB NEAR BALLET. DRINK PEPPER VODKA ,IT'S GREAT.

VISA CAN BE GOT IN MISSION IN GENEVA  QUARTIER SERVETTE/GRAN-PRE.

STAFF THERE EFFICIENT BUT A BIT SCARY ESPECIALLY IF YOU TAKE THE WRONG WAY IN LIKE US..WE DON'T SPEAK RUSSIAN. YOU HAVE TO MAKE AN APPT FIRST AND MONEY AS YOU HAVE TO GO PAY AT POSTOFFICE AND GO BACK WITH PROOF OF PAYMENT TO GET YOUR VISA.

BUT ONCE IN THE COUNTRY PEOPLE ARE LOVELY.

MARIA