My visit to Moscow and Liden & Denz in December 2025

Arrival and First Impressions

I arrived in Moscow from Istanbul on a Friday at the end of December. At Vnukovo (VKO), I went through the foreigners’ customs line. The officer asked (in Russian) for my passport and visa and the purpose of my trip. When I said I was here to study Russian at a language school, she waved me through.

Visa Notes (for U.S. Citizens)

Last year I applied for a tourist visa through a visa center in New York City. The application cost about $400. They mailed my passport to the authorities, and about two weeks later I received it back with the visa. My tourist visa is valid for three years, and I can stay up to six months at a time. (These rules apply to U.S. citizens.)

Getting Around: VKO and the Moscow Metro

VKO is large and modern, with a metro connection right at the airport. If you want, you can reach Red Square by metro with just one transfer. Moscow is famous for its metro: trains run frequently, the network is convenient, and many stations are genuinely beautiful. One of my favorites is Prospekt Mira.

The First Three Essentials

When you arrive, there are three priorities:

1. figure out how you’ll pay for things

2. get a metro card (Troika)

3. get your phone working

Money: Russia uses the ruble. When I’m writing this, the exchange rate is roughly 80 rubles to $1. Western payment systems generally don’t work: Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay, PayPal, Venmo—none of it. Last year in St. Petersburg, I relied on cash and exchanged it as I went, which was inconvenient (some bills were rejected, change was limited, and I ended up carrying a lot of coins). This time, a Russian friend offered to lend me his Tinkoff card, and I paid him back after returning home. It has been a lifesaver. Cash is still useful for places like farmers’ markets, but I use the card for almost everything else.

Metro: Every station has kiosks to buy or top up a Troika card. There are also staffed desks, but I wouldn’t count on English. One funny moment: while I was buying my Troika, another foreigner tapped me on the shoulder and asked for help because the kiosk screen was only in Russian. Many signs in Moscow are bilingual, but translations sometimes disappear when you need them most.

Mobile phone: Before I came, I added an international plan with my phone company. For $100, I get access to Russian networks for one month. Texting usually works fine, but calls don’t always go through. GPS can also be unreliable in Moscow, likely due to deliberate signal interference. I use Yandex Go and try to review the route while I’m still on Wi-Fi. Most of the time, my phone can’t pinpoint my location accurately—so consider it an excuse to practice navigating the old-fashioned way.

Russian Classes

My main recommendation: take Russian classes. While more locals speak English in Moscow than in many other Russian cities, overall English proficiency is far lower than in major European hubs. Liden & Denz is centrally located—about a five-minute walk from Belorusskaya station. I also love the “family feel” among the faculty, students, and staff, and there are classes for every level.

Flea Markets and Local Color

Moscow has plenty to do beyond the usual sights, and I love the Izmailovsky Market. It’s wonderfully weird (in the best way), open on weekends, and packed with everything from handmade matryoshka dolls and ushankas to Soviet memorabilia and icons. A lot of what’s sold there is handmade or sourced in ways you won’t find in ordinary shops.

Red Square and Parks

Red Square is something everyone should see at least once. In winter, it looks like a fairytale. Beyond Red Square, Moscow is full of parks and museums. One of my favorites is Zaryadye Park, close to the center, with excellent views of the city.

Prices: A Few Real Examples

If you’re curious about costs, here are a few examples from my trip:

• Budget-friendly buffet lunch: 980 rubles (about $12)

• Russian sauna day pass (unlimited): 4,500 rubles (about $55)

• Metro ride: about 75 rubles (about $1)

• Jazz concert ticket: 2,000 rubles (about $25)

• “Nutcracker” at a prestigious theater: 10,000 rubles (about $125)

Final Thoughts

Moscow can feel intense at first—especially with payments, language, and navigation—but it’s also one of the most rewarding cities I’ve visited. If you prepare for the practical basics and give yourself permission to get a little lost now and then, the city opens up quickly and becomes a lot of fun.