The biggest question when planning a trip on the Transsiberian is probably: “How much money do I need?”

No worries, here are some guidelines to calculate your budget. Obviously, if you’re pockets are full and you wanna splurge, the prices can easily go up as your add comforts to your trip, but, assuming you’re sort of broke as we were, the prices below refer to as cheap as it gets.

1. Visa: there’s no escape here, you need a tourist visa to travel in Russia, which allows you to stay up to 30 days. Here is how to get one. Price may vary depending on your nationality, but you can expect an average of 70-100 EUR.
2. Train tickets: assuming you’ll be travelling in platskart (3rd class), the price may vary depending on how many stops you decide to make, still:
   • A direct ticket from Moscow to Vladivostok costs about 7,200 Rubles (100 EUR), for the slower train (7-day trip) and 10,700 Rubles (150 EUR) for the faster one (6-day trip)
   • Assuming you’re going from St. Petersburg to Vladivostok, making some 4-5 stops (Moscow, Yekaterinburg, Irkutsk, Ulan Ude, Khabarovsk) the price will be around: 15,500 Rubles (220 EUR)
   • If you’re going to Mongolia, the train from Ulan Ude to Ulaanbaatar costs around  90 EUR (no 3rd class available, only 2nd class)
   • If you’re going to China, the train from Chita to Beijing costs about 200 EUR (international trains are a lot more expensive)  
3. Accommodation: hostels in Russia are very cheap, with some variations depending on the city. On average, you can find hostels for 350 Rubles a night (5 EUR/night), Moscow and Saint Petersburg are more expensive, but you can still find a place for 10-15 EUR/night. Assuming you’re travelling for about 3 weeks/a month, half the nights will be spent on the trains, you’re looking at some 100-150 EUR to be spent on accommodation.
4. Travel Insurance: you need it to apply for a Russian visa and it should be around 100 EUR.
5. Food and drinks: Russia is cheap, you can easily feed yourself (without starving) for about 10-15 EUR/day. So in a month you’ll be spending some 400 EUR.

So, all in all, a 1-month trip on the Transsiberian will cost you around: 1000 EUR, including train tickets, visa, accommodation, travel insurance and food and extras!

PS: To that you should supposedly add the price of a flight (or whatever means you’ll be using) ticket to get to St. Petersburg/Moscow and to fly back (if you’re going back!). On average, a flight from Europe to Moscow is around 150 EUR, a flight from Vladivostok to Europe around 400 EUR.

So what should you expect when boarding a Russian train?

Well, first of all, Russian trains usually have three classes:

1) First class (SV) = 2-berth compartments. It is the most comfortable type of carriage, it has a fold-down table between the beds, personal reading lights and a sliding, lockable door. There are 2 wash rooms and toilets one on each end of the corridor and are usually very clean. Sometimes you also get a TV and DVD player.

2) Second Class (Kupe) = 4-berth compartments with two upper and two lower berths. Luggage-storage is located below the lower berths, and in the large overhead bays. There are reading lights and a table + a sliding lockable door. 2 clean wash rooms and toilets are located at the ends of the corridor.

3) Third Class (Platskart) = it is an “open” carriage with 54 bunks (which means that there are no separate compartments), arranged in abs of 4 on one side and 2 parallel to the central aisle. Obviously there is much less privacy in this type of carriages, which can get quite noisy and are usually dirtier than kupe, but they are also way way cheaper. Also, if you’re a solo female traveller and are worried about safety, this is actually the safest option, since there are always people around and you won’t risk getting stuck with unwanted neighbors in a “kupe” compartment. Plus it’s the best way to meet people, so we definitely recommend this third option!

Toilets and showers

At each end of the carriages there is a toilet with a WC and a sink, which, unless you are travelling in first class, usually get dirty pretty quickly. There are no showers in 2nd and 3rd class wagons, while they are provided for 1st class passengers. Also, most trains don’t have retention toilets, so they discharge on the tracks, which is why the toilets get locked by the provodnik about 20 minutes before arriving at a station until after departure.

The provodnik

Each carriage, whatever class you’re travelling in, is looked after by two attendants called “provodnik” (male) or “provodnitsa” (female).  The provodnik will check your ticket when you board and, shortly after departure, he will come to your seat to give you the bedding (two sheets, pillowcase and towel) which is handed out in sealed packs, while blankets and mattresses will already be stacked in your compartment. Note that if you bought your ticket online and haven’t purchased the linens then, the provodnik will ask you to pay some 120 rubles. It is anyway specified on your ticket. The provodnik also does the daily cleaning on the carriage.

The samovar

A samovar (which is a big water boiler basically) with unlimited free hot water is available at the end of the corridor , so bring some tea bags or instant coffee, soups or noodles and your own mug!

The restaurant car

Most long distance trains have a restaurant car serving drinks, snacks, and full meals (price around 20 euros for a two course-meal and a couple of beers). It is usually located in the middle of the train.

The restaurant-car staff also do a drinks/snacks trolley service down the whole train several times a day.

Still, the best thing is that at every stop there are old women selling home-made food outside of the train. You can buy soups, potatoes, meat, fish, pastries– whatever really. That’s what most of the people do anyway. Also, if you’re nice enough you’re Russian neighbours will usually offer you their salted cucumbers, rye bread, and vodka (so maybe make sure you have pack something to offer them in exchange).

Electricity sockets and Wifi

Forget the wifi. There is no wifi on most Russian trains, so bring a book, play cards or talk to your neighbour to pass the time.

Every carriage has at least one or two sockets next to the toilets. First class and second class carriages have individual sockets in each compartment.

Safety

Russian trains are some of the safest in the world. Besides their other functions, the provodniks kind of act like the train police, so they watch everyone like KGB agents. Also, each train has its own police on board. There are no lockers, however if you take the lower bunk and put your valuables under your bed, no one will have access to it during the night (cause you’re sleeping on it). Things don’t usually get stolen, at least it never happened to us, but just maybe watch out for your stuff during the train stops when lots of people get on and off the train.

Smoking

Smoking is allowed in “tambur” only (the passage areas between the carriages).

The norms to enter Russia vary from country to country. Countries of the former Soviet Union generally have a visa-free agreement with Russia, or easier visa procedures, while on the opposite, citizens of the US will have to submit many documents to get a visa. The EU has a facilitation visa agreement with Russia, but still the visa procedure is long and rather expensive.
We recommend you to check the visa requirements for you country at the following website:
http://www.russianembassy.net/

In general, the requirements to enter Russia are the following:

• Passport should be valid 6 months beyond intended stay, with at least 2 blank pages
• You need Tickets and Documents for return or onward travel
• Russian visa is required
• You need to keep the Migration that you will receive when entering the country for the whole length of your stay
• A medical insurance valid for the period of your stay

If you are traveling to Russia as a foreigner, you will need a Russian visa. You can do it either from a consulate or from a travel agency. To get a visa, you will need:

• Invitation letter
• 2 copies of the consular application form
• 2 photos format 3×4 cm
• Payment of the consular fee

The invitation letter

To get your visa, you will need an invitation letter from a Russian company, that complicates the procedure. But don’t worry, there are various methods to get this letter.

1. From your hotel in Russia: you can ask your hotel if they provide the invitation service. In this case, they will provide you with a telex number that you will show to the Consulate. Usually hotel ask for a sum of money for this service, that can be up to 60-70 euros. So ask your hotel and think if it is convenient before booking!
2. Many travel agencies that provide you with the invitation letter. The agency should be properly registered with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and possessing a valid “tour reference” number. Make sure you are dealing with a reliable travel agency which can provide you with registration and support services when you arrive to Russia. Many agencies provide you directly with the visa, and in most cases, this is the most convenient option in terms of money and time-saving.

The registration in Russia

Once you are in Russia you have to be registered with the Federal Authorities within 7 days, otherwise you will have troubles when leaving the country – you may be fined as well as deported and denied from entering Russia again for 5 years. Officially, the registration should be done by the accommodating party, so make sure your hotel does it for you. Hotels generally ask for a small sum of money to register you, and they give you a confirmation of the registration request.

IMPORTANT: during your travel in Russia, always keep with you:

• Passport with valid visa
• Migration card
• Registration confirmation