The theatre cloakroom
In theatres and philharmonic halls, coats are usually left in the cloakroom. Arrive early: there are queues before the start and after the end.
Local guide
Local guide
Many awkward moments on a trip happen not because the city is unfamiliar but because you don't know a few simple rules: how to behave at the theatre, what to do with your coat, whether you can film at a concert. This section covers everyday etiquette for city weekends, safety tips and what to do if a concert is cancelled or postponed.
Half of a relaxed evening at the theatre is the time you set aside for the cloakroom. The other half is a way home planned in advance.
How this section works: it brings together the rules and customs a traveller comes across on a weekend in a big city, along with simple steps in case something goes wrong. We don't recommend specific establishments or services.
City etiquette
Small habits that make a city weekend noticeably easier.
Arriving late
At many venues latecomers are only let in during the interval or shown to free seats. The venue sets the admission rules, so check them in advance.
Filming
Whether photos and video are allowed is up to the venue or organiser. If you're not sure, don't film, and silence your phone.
Age ratings
Concerts and shows carry an age restriction. Bear it in mind if you're going with children or teenagers.
Weather and clothing
In large cities on big rivers it can be windy by the water and cold in winter. Dress for the weather and allow time for warm breaks in museums.
Tourist tax
Since 2025, Russian municipalities may introduce a tourist tax. It is included in the price of a hotel stay, so you usually don't have to pay it separately.
Safety
What to do to make sure your evening goes smoothly.
The number 112
The single emergency number in Russia is 112. Call it for help if there is a threat to life, a fire or a crime.
Evening walks
Return along well-lit, busy streets, keep your phone charged and let your companions or family know where you are.
Tickets from touts
Don't buy tickets from strangers at the entrance or through classified ads: the ticket may be fake or already used. Buy from the venue or from the seller it links to.
Mikhail Boyarsky: archived address (in Russian)
Belongings in the cloakroom
Don't leave documents, money, keys or your phone in the pockets of the coat you hand in. Keep the cloakroom tag separately and don't lose it.
If a concert is cancelled or postponed
- If an event is cancelled, replaced or postponed, ticket holders are entitled to a full refund (Art. 52.1 of the Russian Fundamentals of the Legislation on Culture); rules in other countries differ
- Watch for announcements from the venue and the seller: they usually publish the refund procedure on their websites
- Request your refund where you bought the ticket, and keep the e-ticket and receipt
- If you decide not to go yourself: no later than 10 days before the event you get 100% back, 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 in cases of the ticket holder's documented illness or the death of a close relative
- If the trip can no longer be cancelled, use the weekend for walks and museums; you'll find routes in the "Routes" section
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.
- Traveller questions
Answers to common questions about the trip, tickets and evenings in town. Plus the article catalogue.
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")
- 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.