Paying in Moscow: how to use cash and cards in the capital city

The latest manifestation, RUB (replacing the RUR) was introduced in 1998 (although all notes and first issues of coins bear the year 1997).

All pre-1998 currency is obsolete. The ruble is sometimes symbolised using ₽. Coins are issued in 1, 5, 10, and 50 kopek and RUB1, RUB2, RUB5 and RUB10 denominations.

Banknotes come in RUB10, RUB50, RUB100, RUB500, RUB1000 and RUB5000 banknotes.

Kopeks are generally useless, with most prices given to the nearest ruble. The 1 and 5 kopek coins are especially useless: even places that quote prices in non whole rubles will round to the nearest 10 kopeks.

The ruble has been fairly stable in recent years (at least up until the Ukraine crisis in August 2014), hovering around 38 to the US dollar and about 49 to the euro. All banknotes have special marks (dots and lines in relief) to aid the blind in distinguishing values. Russian law forbids payments other than in rubles.

If you compare the situation now with even just a few years ago, it would seem that all establishments in Moscow take cards. However, if you intend to travel without cash you can expect to run into problems during your stay.

            

In boutiques, large shopping malls and chain restaurants you don't need to think about bringing cash. However, many small grocery stores still take only cash. Small independent restaurants usually do not accept credit cards. The same goes for cafes with modest interiors and prices, as well as practically all self-service and fast food

restaurants. In more established and expensive restaurants and chains you can pay by card without any problems.

Taxis, even official ones, generally do not accept credit cards. The same goes for practically any form of public transport, be it metro or train.

Travelers‘ checks are still foreign to Moscow. You can cash them only in certain departments of well-established banks and usually at an unfavorable exchange rate.

Souvenirs

Matryoshka

Matryoshka is a traditional Russian wooden toy-doll, painted as Russian lady dressed in pinafore. Inside the lady there are several other dolls, similar but smaller in size. The number of the inserted dolls is usually three and more. In 1900 matryoshka was presented in the Paris World Exhibition, where it won a bronze medal.

Zhostovo painting

This Russian folk craft (народное ремесло) of hand painting on metal trays originated at the beginning of the 19^th century in the village of Zhostovo, Moscow region. Bunches of big and small garden and wild flowers on black background is the main theme of Zhostovo painting.

Hohloma

Hohloma is an ancient Russian folk craft, born in the 17th century in Nizhny Novgorod region, as a decorative painting of wooden dishes and furniture, performed in black and red colors on a golden background. The images of rowanberries,

strawberries, flowers and branches are mainly used in Hohloma painting. Not infrequently you may come across the images of birds, fish and animals.

Samovar

The tea imported from China has become the favorite beverage of Russian bourgeoisie, but the Russian form of taking tea has gained its specific swing and immensity typical for Russians. Samovar is the device for boiling water for tea. Inside samovar there is a vertical pipe. The cinder placed into this pipe warms up the water. The city of Tula is the home-country of samovar. Here many metal working craftsmen historically lived in.

Gzhel

Gzhel is a traditional Russian ceramics, painted with blue colors on a white background. The name Gzhel originates from the group of villages names situating 60 km (37 miles) from Moscow in the direction of Kazan city. The clay mining was being carried out here since the 17th century. At first it was performed in order to be used for drugstore equipment, and afterwards for the production of a porcelain dinner ware, which was rated high both in Russia and abroad.

Orenburg down shawl

An Orenburg down shawl is a shawl knitted from goat down. The shawl‘s name originates from the name of Orenburg city. Exactly in the neighborhood of Orenburg the down-knitting manufacture was conceived 250 years ago. The down of Orenburg goats is the thinnest in the world, but at the same time it is very strong, much stronger than wool. The most wonderful thing is that Orenburg goats may be ranched in Orenburg region only, which in many ways is promoted by a unique local climate.