Russia

Basic Information

• area ... 17,075,400 km2
• capital ... Moscow (Москва)
• population ... 141.9 million
• highest point ... Elbrus (Эльбрус), 5,642 m.a.s.l.
• length of the railway network ... 85,500 km

Main railway carriers:

• RZhD (Russian Railways) – РЖД (Российские железные дороги)

Russia is the largest country in the world and spans eleven time zones from eastern Europe across Asia to the Pacific Ocean. Due to the country’s size it has many different climates, ranging from polar to subtropical. Russia can boast undisturbed nature, seaside resorts, historic cities and monumental modern architecture.

Moscow

Russia’s capital with its roughly 10 million inhabitants is one of Eurpoe’s largest cities. The first mentions of the city date from the 12th century. Moscow was the country’s capital from the 14th century until the beginning of the 18th century, and again after 1918. In Moscow, historical influences blend with modern architecture. Here you can admire traditional structures like the Kremlin, St. Basil’s Cathedral and the newly built Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, as well as modern buildings from the Soviet and post-Soviet eras – the Kotelnicheskaya Embankment Building, the Ostankino Tower and the group of high-rises making up the Moscow International Business Center.

Saint Petersburg

It was founded only in 1703 by Tsar Peter the Great as the country’s new capital. Despite its youth, it abounds in important monuments, eclipsing many older cities. Saint Petersburg is considered one of Europe’s main cultural centres. The Peter and Paul Fortress, Nevsky Prospekt, the Winter Palace and the Russian cruiser Aurora are all worth visiting. The drawbridges on the Neva are also of interest, as they are raised each night to allow ships to pass from the Gulf of Finland to the country’s interior. If you visit the city during the summer, don’t forget to go outside in the late evening hours as well and experience the atmosphere of the so-called “white nights” when the sun sets on the horizon but, thanks to the city’s northerly position, it never gets completely dark.

The Trans-Siberian Railway

The world’s longest rail line, known as the Trans-Siberian Railway, connects European Russia with Asia and the Pacific Ocean. It begins in Moscow and ends in Vladivostok, more than nine thousand kilometres away. The Railway was built between 1891 and 1916 and provided access to regions which were still unexplored even at that time. Modern trains make the trip from one end to the other in six to seven days. Of course if you wish to get to know places along the way the trip will certainly take you longer.

The easiest way to get to Russia by train is by using the R 404/405 Vltava direct connection, which runs daily between Bohumín and Moscow, and carries direct carriages from Prague and other Czech cities. The train also includes direct sleeper carriages to St. Petersburg (from the beginning of June until the end of September on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, otherwise only on Fridays and Saturdays). The train departs Bohumín at 4:15 and arrives in Moscow at 10:33 on the second day. The direct carriage to St. Petersburg reaches its destination at 17:22 on the second day. Direct carriages from Prague begin their journey before midnight as train EN 445 (dep. 21:54). On the return journey the train departs Moscow at 0:49, arriving in Bohumín at 0:50 on the second day; direct carriages to Prague arrive at 6:44. (Please note that from 25 March until 28 October departures and arrivals in Moscow are moved forward approximately one hour earlier!)

You can obtain more detailed information about train journeys to Russia from our Search for a Connection page.

How Much to Russia

We sell tickets to Russia according to the discounted East-West Tariff. A return ticket for two passengers from Prague to Moscow costs c. CZK 13,790 (EUR 532.40). Because direct train R 404/405 is composed of sleeper carriages only, it is also necessary to purchase a sleeper supplement.

For your trip to Russia, select the offer that suits your needs – where and what discount in Europe.