Traveller questions
Traveller questions
Here are the questions that come up most often before a trip to another city for a concert or show, and once you're there. The answers are short and general: if a question is about dates, prices or timetables, we tell you where to check the current information rather than quoting figures that may go out of date.
Most questions about tickets are answered by the law or on the venue's website. Our job is to point you to where to look.
How this section works: a question is included if travellers ask it often and it can be answered without made-up prices or promises. There are no ticket sales or personal consultations here.
Before the trip
How many days do I need for a big city?
Two or three days are enough for a first visit: one for the centre, one for a museum and the embankment, and an evening for a concert or show.
What should I plan first?
The main event. Buy the ticket first, then choose accommodation and travel so that it's easy to get back after it ends.
Which cities have a metro?
Of the cities on our list, Yekaterinburg (one line, since 1991) and Novosibirsk (two lines, since 1986). Perm has no metro.
What is the tourist tax?
Since 2025, municipalities in Russia may introduce it. The rate rises every year, up to 1% in 2025 and up to 5% by 2029; the tax is included in the price of a hotel stay.
Tickets
Where is the safest place to buy a ticket?
On the venue's official website or from the seller it links to. Don't buy tickets from touts or through ad links.
Can I return a ticket if I change my mind?
Yes, under Article 52.1 of the Russian Fundamentals of the Legislation on Culture: no later than 10 days before the event, 100%; no later than 5 days, at least 50%; no later than 3 days, at least 30%. After that the organiser may refuse a refund, except for the ticket holder's confirmed illness or the death of a close relative. Rules outside Russia differ.
What if the concert is cancelled or postponed?
If an event is cancelled, replaced or postponed, you're entitled to a full refund of the ticket price. Contact the place where you bought the ticket.
What is the Pushkin Card?
A programme running since 2021: Russian citizens aged 14 to 22 can use it to pay for tickets to events on an official list. Terms are on Gosuslugi, the Russian public services portal.
Once you're there
What time should I arrive for a concert?
With time to spare: there may be a security check at the entrance and a queue at the cloakroom. The venue publishes when the doors open.
Can I film during a show?
That's up to the venue or organiser. If you don't know the rules, it's best not to film and to silence your phone.
How do I get home late at night?
Compare the end time with the last transport services in advance. If you won't make it, take a taxi through an official app or stay near the venue.
What number do I call in an emergency?
112, the single emergency number in Russia.
Article catalogue for English-language readers
This section will feature standalone articles for English-speaking travellers. They are written with their questions in mind and are not translations of material from other language versions of the site.
- GTA 6 Preorder Guide and Editions: Player FAQ
Answers to common GTA 6 preorder questions: release date, Standard and Ultimate editions, the preorder bonus, boxed copies and safe buying habits.
- Exploring gaming service categories: Gaming Culture
A gaming-culture look at the main categories of gaming services, from coaching and guides to boosting, with scenarios, comparisons and the risks to weigh.
- How Gaming Assistance Services Are Organized: Progression Road Map
An explainer on how gaming assistance services are structured around progression, with World of Warcraft as the main example and criteria for comparing them.
- Aion 2 Arcana cards: How It Fits into Aion 2 Progression
How to think about Aion 2 Arcana cards within character progression, what is and is not confirmed, and how to stay within the game's rules.
Topics the editors are planning
- A weekend in Yekaterinburg: two days on the Iset
- Getting around a Russian city when you don't read Cyrillic
- How to check a ticket seller before you buy
- Novosibirsk in two days: both banks of the Ob
Editorial rules
- Articles in this catalogue are written separately for each language version and are not translations.
- Some articles link to third-party websites, including gaming services; we do not control their content, prices or terms.
- We do not publish unverifiable ratings of venues or bars, prices or reviews.
Related sections
- Trip planning
How to plan a city weekend around a concert: step by step, with common mistakes and a checklist.
- Transport
The metro in the cities on our list, getting to the venue and back at night, taxis and car sharing.
- Local guide
City etiquette, safety and what to do if a concert is cancelled or postponed.
Sources
- Fundamentals of the Legislation of the Russian Federation on Culture (Art. 52.1)
- Tax Code of the Russian Federation (Ch. 33.1 "Tourist Tax")
- Gosuslugi (Russian public services portal): Pushkin Card
- Official websites of city transport operators and venues
Information is correct as of the date of preparation. Concert and performance dates, ticket prices, transport timetables and venue rules change, so check them with the organisers and on official websites before you travel.