General Moscow City Behavior Rules

​​​​​​​​​​​Moscow is a city with clean streets where there are no slums or dangerous neighborhoods/boroughs. Moscow is a safe city with a developed infrastructure and an efficient public transport system. However, if you attend city's mass events (for example, football matches, late-night concerts, etc.), you need to be vigilant in Moscow, just like in any other megalopolis. There are pickpockets. You should be especially careful when you use public transport, go to a nightclub or to a music concert. The risk of running into pickpockets is not higher in Moscow than in a big city in the USA, Canada or a European country. If you are careful, everything will be all right.   

We recommend that you take the following precautions that any resident of any megalopolis should take:

  1. Always have a copy of your passport, your visa and the original of your registration card on you;​
  2. Put the number of the Embassy of your country to the list of contacts in your mobile phone;
  3. Beware of pickpockets when you are in a crowded area;
  4. eep an eye on your luggage while traveling and try to minimize the number of items you carry for convenience purposes;   
  5. Keep your valuables (incl. money, wallets, credit cards, and passport) in zippered clothes or purse pockets;  
  6. Do not respond to verbal insults;
  7. Police officers have a right to stop anyone on the street/in the subway and request an ID. We recommend telling the police officer that you will call your Embassy and ask for a meeting with an embassy representative.

The emergency helpdesk number is 112 if you dial it using your mobile phone. A call from your mobile is free. You will be connected even if your mobile is blocked in case of non-payment or there is no SIM card. When calling, act in a calm manner. After you have been connected, an answering machine will give you directions in Russian and English. You will hear the following in Russian: To get connected with the fire and rescue service helpdesk, press 1; with the police call room, press 2; with ambulance helpdesk, press 3; with gas supervision department helpdesk, press 4. If the answering machine message has been repeated twice and you do not press any key, the call will be routed to the emergency service helpdesk number 112. Then the operator will ask you to answer some questions. Be concise and do not give irrelevant details when answering. Do not hang up when the operator asks you to wait and not to hang up. Even if you are in a situation that threatens your life, the operator will continue asking questions and the emergency response team personnel will be on their way.

Transport Infrastructure

1. Subway

The Moscow subway with its fast-moving trains is an efficient and easy-to-use means of transport. All lines have their own color on the metro line map. The ring line crosses all radial lines. You can see a big red M letter at the entrance to each of the subway stations.

Subway Operating Hours

 6:00 - 1:00

Key Subway Safety Rules

While on the escalator, stand on the right side of it, walk on the left side of it holding the handrail; do not cross the line indicated by the tape, never lean on the non-moving balustrade. Never sit down and put items on the escalator steps, do not run and do not walk on the escalator that is idle.

While on the platform, do not approach the edge of the platform until the train comes to a complete stop, and after it stops, make room near the car doors to allow passengers in the car to get out of the car. Never go down to the rails and do not throw any items down from the platform. While in the car, do not lean against the doors of cars and do not open them when the train is moving. Do not use the intercom to get connected with the driver unless it is absolutely necessary. Never place your luggage on the seats.

There are not many English-speaking ticket office employees. We recommend that you show the employee a travel pass where the number of trips is indicated to let him/her know what you need. Please note that the travel pass purchased at the subway box office is also valid when you travel using land transport. Students have a right to purchase travel pass cards with a discount. Please contact the Financial University International Student and Visiting Professor Department to learn how to get such a card.

Many stations in the city center have English-language signs. There are red and blue INFO / SOS info columns at the stations that are located in the center of the platforms. The subway line maps (incl. the maps inside the cars) are in English and Russian.    

For safety reasons, there are no trash cans on the subway platforms. So if you consume packaged food while in the subway, do not throw the package away until you leave the subway.

For more information, please visit the Moscow metro web site. You can get information on the estimated travel time if you use Yandex web site.

You can also use iOS and Android applications.   

What if…?

  • If you have lost an item in the subway, you should contact the Moscow Metro Lost and Found Items Department.
  • if you have dropped your belongings and they fell down on the rails, you should immediately contact the subway station attendant or a police officer.
  • if you find an unattended item in the car, immediately contact the driver using the intercom system. The system is operational in each car. State the fact, tell the driver the car number and follow the driver's instructions.
  • If you find an unattended item on the platform or in a passage connecting subway stations, you should immediately contact the police and report the location of the item. If there is no police department on the station or if there is no police officer in sight, you should tell any station employee or operator of the Subway Situation Center about the item by pressing the SOS button on the info column.
  • If there is smoke in the car or a car is on fire, you should immediately contact the train driver using the intercom system located in each car, inform him of the accident, indicate the car number and follow his instructions.
  • If there is some smoke on the platform or you observe open fire, you should immediately contact any employee (station attendant, station supervisor, subway police officer or a staff member on duty at the escalator) or inform the operator by pressing the SOS button on the info column.​
  • If you have fallen down on the rails, if there are no serious injuries and you can move, you need to get up and without approaching the edge of the platform walk quickly to the front end the platform. You should look for a black and white batten pegged to the rails. You are safe if you stand behind this barren. Wait for the subway employee to lead you out of the tunnel.
  • If you were injured when you fell or if you can see that the train is approaching you, lie face down in the  trough between rails with your head facing the train to keep your clothes from tearing apart, bend your head and try not to move. In this case, the train will not cause you any harm even if you find yourself under it. Do not move until the train driver or subway staff member on duty comes to your rescue. You should not hide under the edge of the platform or try to get back to the platform from where you are on your own as the third rail runs along the edge of the platform that provides electric power (voltage: 825V) so approaching it, let alone touching it, is a threat to your life.    
  • If you can see a person fall from the platform onto the rails, you should immediately contact any subway station employee or convey the information to the operator using the info column.
  • If there is a fight in the car, you should immediately contact the train driver using the intercom system, and inform him of the incident indicating the car number. In this case, the driver will call the police, and the police officers will come into the car at the nearest station.
  • If a passenger in the car you are in feels extremely unwell, you should immediately contact the train driver using the intercom system and inform him of the incident indicating the car number. In this case, the driver informs the train dispatcher about the situation using the radio communications. The train dispatcher conveys the information to the nearest station attendant and asks him/her to call the ambulance.  Before the medical professionals arrive, the station attendant ensures that first aid is rendered to the person.
  • If a passenger on the platform feels extremely unwell, you should immediately contact the station attendant or any station staff member (a subway police department officer, a staff member who is on duty at the escalator) or inform the operator by pressing the SOS button on the info column. They will promptly call the ambulance. Before the medical professionals arrive, the station attendant (a subway staff member) ensures that first aid is rendered to the person. 
  • If the escalator suddenly stops, you should follow the instructions of the subway staff member on duty at the escalator. If the escalator is idle for a short period of time, you should stand still holding the handrails; otherwise, you should walk up or down, it depends on the escalator prior movement direction. 
  • If a passenger falls down while standing on the escalator or his/her belongings are dragged under the escalator comb plate, you should immediately stop the escalator by using the stop joystick located on the balustrade and call the staff member on duty at the escalator.​
  • If you suffer from life injury, health harm or property damage on the subway premises, you should contact a police officer (the subway station attendant, station supervisor, police officer at the subway station department, the subway staff member on duty at the escalator) in order to issue a Moscow Subway Accident Report.

2. Land Transport

Moscow land transport system includes buses, trolley buses and trams. You can purchase travel passes from drivers or at the kiosks located near bus stops. You can also purchase the passes at subway stations. We do not recommend buying the passes from drivers as the pass price is higher in this case. Public transport is available from 5:30 to 1:00. There are several options offered by the land transport system for travelling in the night time.

There are plates bearing the trolley bus and bus images at the trolley bus and bus stops. There are plates bearing the tram images at the tram stops.   

For further information, incl. the tariff data, please go to Yandex Transport web page. It will help you get information on the city public transport system.

 3. Taxi Service Providers

We strongly recommend that you use the services of the officially registered taxi service providers. While the Moscow non-registered taxi service providers might seem a cheaper option, we strongly advise you not to use their services and not to hitchhike as this might be unsafe.

The following companies are the most popular taxi services providers:

  • Yandex Taxi
  • Uber Russia
  • CityMobil
  • Gett 

Community Services Infrastructure

​​My Documents Municipal Services Center.

Ulitsa Ostryakova, 1/2

08:00 – 20:00

https://md.mos.ru/ 

Meals near the University

1. Airport Gallery Shopping Center restaurants 

Leningradsky Prospekt, 62А (near Airport metro station, use the first car if you travel from the city center, then turn left when leaving the platform and then turn right when going up from the underground pass)   

9:00-23:00

2. Coffee House coffee shop near the Airport Gallery Shopping Center  

Leningradsky Prospekt, 74, bld. 1

8 (909) 952-94-19

24/7/365

3. Starbucks coffee shop

Leningradsky Prospekt, 39, bld.79, Skylight Business Center

Proyezd Aeroporta, 8

+7 (499) 270-40-40

Drugstores/Pharmacies near the University 

 1.  Vasha Apteka No. 1

Ulitsa Viktorenko, 2/1

+7 (495) 419-19-19

09:00 – 22:00

 2.  Gorzdrav 

Ulitsa Chernyakhovskogo, 7

+7 (499) 653-62-77

+7 (495) 797-86-86

08:00 – 22:00

 3. IFK

Ulitsa Chernyakhovskogo, 4А

+7 (495) 937-32-20

+7 (499) 151-35-12

+7 (499) 151-44-95

+7 (495) 935-84-80

+7 (495) 935-84-81

24/7/365

4. Round-the-clock pharmacy 

Leningradsky Prospekt, 66

+7 (495) 374-94-21

24/7/365

5.  36.6 pharmacy

Leningradsky Prospekt, 62А

+7 (495) 797-63-66

09:00 – 23:00

Supermarkets near the University 

 1.  Diksi

 Price range: $

 Vtoraya Peschanaya Ulitsa, 3

+7 (800) 333-02-01

08:00 – 23:00

 2.   Magnit

Price range: $

Chapayevsky Pereulok, 10/2

+7 (800) 200-90-02

07:30 – 23:30

3.    Azbuka Vkusa Daily

Price range: $$$$

Proyezd Aeroporta, 8

+7 (800) 700-34-87

24/7/365

4.    Magnolia 

Price range: $$

Leningradsky Prospekt, 66

+7 (499) 151-67-20

24/7/365

5.   Miratorg

Price range: $$$

Leningradsky Prospekt, 62А

+7 (495) 644-17-01

08:00 – 23:00

Banks near the University 

1.    Sberbank 

Leningradsky Prospekt, 62А 

+7 (800) 555-55-50

09:00 – 20:00

2.    Promsvyazbank

Ulitsa Baltiyskaya, 9

+7 (800) 333-03-03

09:00 – 20:00

3.    VTB Bank

Leningradsky Prospekt, 62, bld. 26

+7 (800) 200-23-26

09:00 – 20:00

4.    SDM Bank 

Leningradsky Prospekt, 64

8 (499) 155-01-69

09:00 – 18:00

5.   Alfa Bank   

Leningradsky Prospekt, 74, bld. 1

8 (495) 788-88-78

09:00 – 21:00

Leisure and Recreation 

Tours of Moscow

Nezabyvayemaya Moskva (Unforgettable Moscow) Travel Agency

 +7 (495) 320-40-15

WhatsApp: +7 (964) 698-24-23

Viber: +7 (964) 698-24-23

Telegram: +7 (964) 698-24-23

IMO: +7 (964) 698-24-23

Skype: Nezabyvayemaya Moskva (Chat)

Nezabyvayemaya Moskva (Voice Call)

unforgettable.moscow@gmail.com

Leninsky Prospekt, 39/1 

Doing Sports in Moscow

In the summertime, the Moscow parks offer many opportunities to do sports for free. 

Yoga classes in the Moscow parks.

More than 20 Moscow parks offer free yoga classes. If it is raining, the classes are conducted in the following parks where they have pavilions: Vorobyevy Hills Park, Goncharovsky Park, Fili Park, Izmailovsky Park, Vorontsovsky Park. If the outdoor temperature is lower than 18 C, the classes are cancelled.      

Click the park name link to see the exact place where the classes are conducted. Don't forget to bring your yoga mat.   

You can find tentative schedule below: 

  1. Babushkinsky Park (Mon., Wed.: 20:00; Sat.: 11:30)

  2. Fili Park (Mon.: 20:00; Sat.: 10:00)

  3. Goncharovsky Park (Tues., Thurs.: 19:30; Sat., Sun.: 10:00)

  4. Gorky Park (from Mon. to Fri.: 8:00 and 20:00)

  5. Hermitage Garden (from Mon. to Fri.: 20:00; Tues., Thurs.: 8:00; Sat., Sun.: 11:00)

  6. Izmailovsky Park (Thurs.:  14:00; from Mon. to Fri.: 19:30; Sat., Sun.: 10:00)

  7. Krasnaya Presnya Park (Tues., Thurs.: 8:00; Mon., Fri. and Sun.: 19:00)

  8. Kuzminki Park (Mon., Thurs.:  19:00; Sun.: 11:00)

  9. Lianozovsky Park (Tues., Thurs.: 20:00)

  10. Mitino Park (Tues., Thurs.: 20:00)

  11. Muzeon Park of Arts (from Mon. to Fri.: 8:00; from Mon. to Wed.: 19:00; Sat., Sun.: 10:00)

  12. Podedy Park   on Poklonnaya Hill (Mon., Thurs.:  20:00; Sat., Sun.: 12:00)

  13. Pervovsky Park  (Tues., Thurs.: 20:00)

  14. Bauman Garden (from Mon. to Fri.: 20:00; Tues., Thurs.: 8:00; Sat., Sun.: 10:00)

  15. Sadovniki Park (Tues.:  19:00; Sat., Sun.: 10:00)

  16. Northern Tushino Park (Tues., Thurs.: 19:30; Sat., Sun.: 10:00)

  17. Sokolniki Park (Mon., Wed.: 8:00; Tues., Thurs.: 19:30; Sat., Sun.: 10:00)

  18. Tagansky Park  (Mon., Wed., Fri.: 20:00; Sat., Sun.: 11:00)

  19. Vorobyevy Hills Park (from Mon. to Fri.: 20:00; Sat., Sun.: 11:00)

Dance classes in the parks.

The Moscow parks offer a lot of opportunities for those who wish to participate in a dance class in the open.

 1. Izmailovsky Park

Place: Solnechnaya Pavilion 

Thurs.: 17:30 Dances of Latin America 

Fri.: 18:00 Bachata; 18:45 Salsa

Sat.:17:00 Zumba; 18:00 Kizomba

Sun.: 16:00 Tango and foxtrot

 2. Gorky Park​

Place: dance floor near the Pioneer summer movie theater 

For more information, please go to Gorky Park web site. 

Mon.: 20:00 – 23:00   Forró

Tues.: 19:30 – 20:30 – Dances of the 1950s (rockabilly, jitterbug, stroll, etc.), master classes

​​           20:30 – 22:30 – Dances of the 1950s (rockabilly, jitterbug, stroll, etc.), practicals

Wed.: 19:00 – 21:30 – Ballroom dances

Thurs.: 18:00 – 19:00 – Dance classes (sponsored by ELLE and Galla Dance) (Caribbean mix) 

Fri.: 20:00 – 23:00 – Swing (lindy hop and balboa)

Sat: 13:00 – 14:00 – Dance classes (sponsored by ELLE,  D-FUSION and Galla Dance)   (Zumba)

       18:00 – 19:30 – Disco, hip-hop

       19:30 – 23:00 – Dance classes for the third age people   (twist, charleston, bee bop)

Sun.: 11:30 – 13:30 – Body ballet (sponsored by The Challenger)

        13:00 – 14:00 – Dance classes (sponsored by ELLE, D-FUSION and Galla Dance)   (Zumba) 

        18:00 – 23:00 – Rock-n-roll, boogie-woogie

3. Vystavka Dostizheniy Narodnogo Khozyaystva (VDNKh) (Exhibition of Achievements of National Economy)

For further information, please go to: VDNKh web site

Mon.: 20:00 - 21:00 Forro

Wed.:  18:30 - 23:00 Classical ballroom dances

Thurs.: 19:00 - 23:00 Dances of Latin America 

Sat.: 20:00 - 21:00 Argentina tango 

Sun.: 19:00 - 20:00 Hustle

4.  Muzeon Park of Arts

Place: Krymskaya Naberezhnaya near the Central House of Artists, Krymsky Val, 2.

Mon.: 18:00 – 19:00 Dance classes for the third age people  

           20:00 – 22:00 Zumba

Tues.: 20:30 – 22:00 Lindy hop

Thurs.: 19:00 – 21:00 Acrobatic rock'n'roll 

             21:00 – 22:00 Tango

Fri.: 18:00 – 20:00 Boogie-woogie 

        19:00 – 22:00 Boogie-woogie in class and in the open  

Sat.: 19:00 – 22:00 Zouk-lambada

Sun.: 20:30 – 22:00 Balboa 

Fitness/workout in the parks  

1. Muzeon Park of Arts

Place: Krymskaya Naberezhnaya near the Central House of Artists, Krymsky Val, 2.

Sun.: 9:00 – 10:00 Functional training exercises   

       10:00 – 11:30 Yoga

       19:00 – 20:00 Workout (sponsored by Match TV channel)  

2. Hermitage Garden 

Mon.: 11:00 – 12:30 Qigong

Place: summer library  

Tues.: 7:00 – 20:30 

Free workout in the open (sponsored by InterfitDance). Cardio and dance training; power training; stretching and balance training. 

Place: open-air area near the stage  

Wed.: 9:00 – 10:30 Tai chi chuan exercises in the open. Place: summer library  

Sun.: 10:00– 12:00 Qigong and Shaolin Fist in the open. Place: summer library  

3.   Vystavka Dostizheniy Narodnogo Khozyaystva (VDNKh) (Exhibition of Achievements of National Economy)

Free crossfit classes  

Place: Reebok area near Pavilion 9. Online participant registration is required.  

From Mon. to Fri.: 18:00 – 20:00

Sat., ​Sun.: 12:00 – 15:00

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