Money in Russia: ATMs, Credit Cards, Travelers Checks

Ruble is the only legal tender on the entire territory of the Russian Federation. According to Russian laws, it is illegal to pay for goods and services in foreign currency, with the exception of authorized retail establishments. Old and tarnished $, ?... bills and coins will not be accepted at banks and exchange offices - money changers want to deal with pristine banknotes only. Although in major cities there appear more restaurants and shops welcoming credit cards , in some cases you will have to pay in cash. If you are going to travel to smaller Russian cities, make sure you have cash, as credit cards are not widely accepted in Russian provinces.

In case you bring travelers' checks , you can cash them either at American Express offices (of which there is only one in St. Petersburg, by the way) or at a local bank. Beware though that you will be charged a commission varying from 1% (at the official Amex office) to 3% for this transaction. Major hotels or AmEx suggest locations for obtaining cash advances on credit cards.

ATMs or Credit Card Advance machines accept PLUS or Cirrus ATM networks, Visa, MasterCard and Amex. Depending on a Russian bank that maintains a cash machine, you may be charged up to 2% fee in overcharges. Some ATM machines charge as low as 0% commission (for example, Alfabank in St. Petersburg), so you will only pay your own bank's ATM withdrawal fee.

You can also cash credit cards at most exchange offices without using an ATM machine: all you need is your card and a valid passport. A fee of 3% for this service is standard. Additionally, there is a network of Western Union agents in St. Petersburg that disburse money wired from abroad.

Important ! You need to present your passport for any currency operation at exchange offices and banks!

Tipping in Russia is just as in any other country - around 10% of the bill. If you have a private tour guide and driver working for you, tipping is usually done at the end of your tour program. A tip around $10/person per day (i.e. $10 for the tour guide and $10 for the driver) is standard. Naturally, if you enjoyed your tour and would like to express your gratitude, the best way to do so is tipping a bit extra.

For additional information on customs regulations regarding foreign currency (how much you are allowed to take with you when leaving home, etc.), visit our Customs Regulations section.