Tourist Scams in Russia — Safety Guide 2026

Organized pickpocket teams work the full length of Nevsky Prospekt, particularly around the underground crossings at Ploshchad Vosstaniya metro (exit 1) and the crowded segment near Gostiny Dvor arcade. A team member bumps into the tourist or causes a minor confrontation while an accomplice extracts wallets, phones, or cameras from bags and jacket pockets. The technique is also used on the packed metro during rush hour on Line 2 (Blue) between Sennaya Ploshchad and Nevsky Prospekt stations.

How to avoid: Use a money belt or keep cash in a front trouser pocket. Switch bags to your front when on Nevsky or in the metro. Be alert to anyone who unnecessarily bumps you or tries to engage you in conversation in a crowded spot — look around immediately for an accomplice. Use contactless payment where possible to avoid showing a wallet.

Unlicensed taxi drivers known locally as bombilas aggressively solicit arrivals in the arrivals hall at Sheremetyevo International Airport (SVO), particularly at Terminals B and C. They quote attractive initial prices of 500-800 RUB, then escalate demands to 3,000-8,000 RUB or more once the passenger is in the vehicle and moving. A documented 2025 criminal case involving five police officers from the airport interior ministry directorate revealed that officers actively helped touts identify and steer vulnerable arrivals toward unlicensed cabs.

How to avoid: Download Yandex Go before landing and book your ride from inside the arrivals hall using the app -- a legitimate taxi to central Moscow within the Garden Ring should cost 1,200-1,800 RUB and the price is fixed before you enter the vehicle. Alternatively, purchase an Aeroexpress train ticket at the terminal for the 35-minute ride to Belorussky railway station. Never follow anyone who approaches you unsolicited inside the terminal.

Unlicensed taxi drivers congregate in the arrivals hall of Pulkovo Airport (LED) and aggressively approach passengers with offers of a "fixed price" ride to the city center. They typically demand 2,000–5,000 RUB for a journey that costs 700–1,200 RUB via the Yandex Go app. Drivers may claim the app "doesn't work in Russia" or that surge pricing applies — both are false. Some will collect payment upfront and then demand more upon arrival.

How to avoid: Pre-book via Yandex Go before landing; the app functions at Pulkovo and allows you to see the fare in advance. The official taxi desk inside arrivals (look for the yellow Yandex Taxi counter) is also legitimate. Never accept offers from men approaching you in the arrivals hall. Bus 39 runs to Moskovskaya metro station for approximately 40 RUB as a budget alternative.

Restaurants along Nevsky Prospekt between Ploshchad Vosstaniya and Admiralteyskaya metro stations seat tourists using an English menu displaying moderate prices, then present a Russian-language bill reflecting prices 2–4 times higher. Common additions include a mandatory "service fee" of 15–20%, a cover charge per person not shown on the menu, and inflated prices for "specials" not listed on the tourist menu. Some establishments also add unrequested appetizers or bread that appear on the final bill.

How to avoid: Before ordering, ask for the same menu in Russian and compare prices — they should match. Confirm the price of any dish described verbally as a "special." Request an itemized bill and check each line against menu prices. Avoid restaurants with aggressive doormen who pull you inside from the street. Verified restaurants in Zinger House (Singer House building at Nevsky 28) and around Rubinstein Street have consistently fair pricing.

Drivers outside Domodedovo Airport (DME) operate a fixed-price scam in which they agree on a fare before departure but present a running meter or POS terminal showing a drastically inflated total on arrival. Reports document cases where fares quoted at 1,500 RUB resulted in card charges exceeding 25,000 RUB on the driver's own POS terminal. Some drivers carry POS terminals pre-configured to charge foreign card amounts in euros or dollars at an undisclosed conversion rate.

How to avoid: Use Yandex Go or the Domodedovo official taxi desk in the arrivals hall -- the desk issues a printed receipt with a fixed fare before you board. If using an app, confirm the destination, fare, and vehicle details inside the terminal before walking to the pickup point. Never hand your bank card to a driver who claims his terminal only takes card.

Around Palace Square (Dvortsovaya Ploshchad) outside the Hermitage's main Jordan (Winter Palace) entrance, individuals dress as Peter the Great, Catherine the Great, or tsarist hussars and invite tourists to pose for photographs. No price is stated beforehand. Once the photo is taken they demand 500–1,500 RUB per shot and become aggressively insistent if refused. Children are particular targets as the costumes are designed to attract them.

How to avoid: Agree on a price in writing or on a piece of paper before posing for any photograph with a costumed character. If no price is disclosed upfront, decline entirely. The Hermitage's official interior and grounds are inside the gates — costumed individuals outside are not affiliated with the museum. Be especially vigilant with children.

Street promoters stationed along the Griboedov Canal embankment near the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood (Spas-na-Krovi) and on the Fontanka River quaysides lure tourists onto unofficial canal boat tours at prices of 1,500–3,000 RUB per person, sometimes triple the market rate. The boats are often poorly maintained, the commentary is brief or absent, and additional charges for "audio guide headsets" or "drinks" are added at the end. During White Nights (June–July) prices rise sharply and pressure tactics intensify.

How to avoid: Buy boat tour tickets directly at the official piers of Neva Trip (nevatrip.ru) or Astra Marine, where printed price lists are displayed. Standard canal tours run 800–1,200 RUB per person. Avoid anyone who approaches you on the embankment with a handheld ticket. Check reviews on TripAdvisor for the specific company before boarding.

Men posing as plain-clothes police officers approach tourists on Nevsky Prospekt or near Palace Square (Dvortsovaya Ploshchad), flashing unofficial-looking ID cards and demanding to inspect passports and wallets. The pretext is typically checking for counterfeit currency or verifying visa compliance. Once your wallet is in their hands they remove cash, and if you resist they threaten arrest. In some cases a uniformed officer is a co-conspirator who arrives to "confirm" the plain-clothes officer's authority.

How to avoid: You are legally required to carry ID in Russia but do not hand your actual passport or wallet to anyone who stops you on the street. Real police wear uniforms with visible personal identification numbers (ZHetony) and make stops at checkpoints, not randomly on sidewalks. Politely state you will only present documents at the nearest police station and call 112 immediately. Carry a certified photocopy of your passport data page to offer instead.