12 Etiquette Tips for People Visiting Russia

Russia has cultural customs that should be practiced by tourists. While many Russians give foreigners a lot of leeway, it's best to come to prepared.

Visitors to Russia for business or pleasure should try to have good manners while interacting with locals. There are 12 tips useful for the typical tourist who comes to Russia for travel. These tips can be used when dining, shopping, in private Russian homes and out on the street:

1. Shoes are always removed upon entering a private home (and are sometimes removed upon entering Russian museums). Slippers are often given to museum visitors.

2. People should never show the soles of their shoes to Russians; this is considered grave disrespect. Tourists should always sit the soles of their shoes face the floor.

3. When people are invited over for dinner, then a small edible gift (for example wine, pastries or fruit) should always be given to hosts.

4. Russian people never give flowers in even numbers. Even-numbered bunches of flowers are reserved for funerals.

5. Visitors to Russia should try to refrain from smiling too much to avoid attracting attention.

6. Americans should speak a little lower than they would in their home country. Russians often remark that their American friends seem to be shouting when they speak.

7. Russians follow European table manners: fork in left hand, knife in right hand.

8. Single women should avoid sitting at the corner of a table. This is considered bad luck.

9. During train travel, it is considered polite for travelers to share all they have with the people in the carriage: food, drink and cigarettes.

10. There is quite a bit of jostling at outdoor markets and this is normal.

11. When tourists stand in line, they should get up quite close to the person in front of them. If the tourist fails to do this, it will lead locals to believe that the tourist is not in line at all.

12. Knowledge of the Russian language will go a long way. At least, tourists should learn to say "Please" (Pazhalsta) and "Thank You" (Spasiba).

It's hard to get around in Russia without knowing some of the language, but in major metropolitan centers like Moscow and St. Petersburg, there are many people (generally of the younger generation) who have learned to speak English in school and happy to help wayward tourists.

It's not necessary for tourists to be on pins and needles for fear of annoying or insulting Russians. Russian people are accustomed to foreign tourists. Most Russians will go out of their way to help tourists visiting their cities. It's not uncommon for a pair of visitors to be surrounded by dozens of Russians, each of them eager to assist.

Ex. 1. Answer the following questions:

1. Where are shoes always removed in Russia?

2. What is considered bad luck for single women?

3. How should Americans speak in Russia?

4. Where is quite a bit of jostling?

5. Are Russian people accustomed to foreign tourists?

Ex. 2. Match the words in A with their definitions in B:

A	B
1. remark	a. to communicate with one another and react to one another
2. local	b. to push against someone because you are trying to move past them in a crowd
3. insult	c. someone who invites people to a meal or party, or to stay in their home
4. jostle	d. someone who lives in a particular place, rather than a visitor to that place
5. host	e. to say a few words that give the facts or your opinion about something
6. interact	f. to say or do something offensive

Ex. 3. Complete the gaps with one of the words given below:

insulting	even
accustomed	on pins and needles
slippers	edible

1. ……… are often given to museum visitors.

2. When people are invited over for dinner, then a small ……… gift should always be given to hosts.

3. It’s not necessary for tourists to be ……… for fear of annoying or ……… Russians.

4. Russian people are ......... to foreign tourists.

5. Russian people never give flowers in ……… numbers.

Ex. 4. Put the verbs in an appropriate tense and voice:

1. There (be) many people who (learn) to speak English in school and happy to help wayward tourists.

2. When tourists (stand) in line, they should (get up) quite close to the person in front of them.

3. There (be) 12 tips useful for the typical tourist who (come) to Russia for travel.

4. If the tourist (fail) to do this, it (lead) locals to believe that the tourist (be) not in line at all.

5. Russia (have) cultural customs that should (be) practiced by tourists.

Ex. 5. Translate the sentences into Russian paying attention to infinitive and gerund constructions:

1. The chambermaid’s work includes cleaning up the hotel accommodation.

2. A guest went on complaining about the broken air conditioning in his room.

3. Travelers can learn how to avoid lost luggage in transit.

4. From the moment you arrive, we promise to envelop you in our time-honoured traditions of gracious Russian luxury.