61 Essential Russian Travel Phrases

  • July 5, 2017

Perhaps you really love Tchaikovsky and you want to see his home city of Saint-Petersburg to walk around the old city and be surrounded by culture and inspiration,

Perhaps you love art and want to visit the Hermitage Museum, 

Or visit Petergof and see how the Russian upper class lived a few centuries ago,

Maybe you just wish to experience something different...

Well whatever your reason might be it is a​ necessity to learn these Essential Russian Travel Phrases

But why is it so important to learn them? Can't you just go and speak Enlgish there?

Well you can, but not really​

You see, Russia has a completely different culture and mentality. And actually most Russians don't speak English. But why is that? After all most Europeans do. 

The reason is largely because there isn't a big emphasis on learning English in Russia like there is in most European countries.

You should also learn these phrases because they will improve your overall knowledge in Russian and the natives would really appreciate you trying and talking with them in their native language

So lets start!

Transportation


Essential words and phrases to get you around Russia

English

Russian

Transliteration

Bus

Автобус

Avtobus

Plane

Самолёт

Samolyet

Train

Поезд

Poezd

Taxi

Такси

Taksi

Ticket

Билет 

Bilet

Passport

Паспорт 

Pasport

Luggage

Багаж 

Bagazh

Does this (train) go to (Moscow)?

Этот (поезд) едет в (Москву)?

Etot (poezd) yedit v (Moskvu) ?

What time does it (train/plane/bus) leave?

Во сколько отходит (поезд/самолёт/автобус) ?

Vo skol'ko othodit (poezd/samolyet/avtobus)?

When's the first/last train?

Во сколько первый/последний поезд?

Vo skol'ko pervy/posledny poezd?

Поезд едет (yedit) - самолёт летит (letit). Remember this! You can't say that "поезд летит" or "самолёт едет" If this confuses you, then instead of едет and летит use направляется!

Memorize and rehearse these words and phrases oftenly

When's the next bus?

Когда следующий автобус?

Kogda sledushiy avtobus?

What's the next stop?

Какая следующая остановка?

Kakaya sledushaya astanoka?

What station is this?

Какая это станция?

Kakaya eto stanciya?

Please take me to...

Пожалуйста довезите меня до...

Pozhaluysta dovezeete menya do...

How long does it take to get to... ?

Сколько понадобится времени что-бы добраться до... ?

Skol'ko ponadobyt'sa vremeny chto-by dobrat'sya do... ?

Please stop here

Пожалуйста остановите здесь

Pozhaluysta astanovyte zdes'

A ticket to Moscow please

Билет до Москвы пожалуйста

Bilet do Moskvi pozhaluysta

I'd like to cancel my ticket 

Я хотел(а) бы отменить мой билет

Ya hotel(a) by otmenyt' moy bilet

I'd like to change my ticket

Я хотел(а) бы поменять мой билет 

Ya hotel(a) by pomenat' moy bilet

Where's the luggage?

Где багаж?

Gde bagazh?

Lodging 


After a hard day or two of traveling it's time to take a rest in one of the many Hotels, be sure to use these phrases when searching for one or checking in

English 

Russian

Transliteration

​Where's a hotel?

Где здесь отель?

Gde zdes' otel'

Do you have a room available?

У вас есть свободные комнаты?

U vas est' svobodniye komnaty?

How much is it per night?

Сколько за ночь?

Skol'ko za noch'?

What time is checkout?

Во сколько чек-аут?

Vo skol'ko chek-aut?

I'd like to book a room

Я хотел(а) бы забронировать комнату

Ya hotel(a) by zabronyrovat' komnatu

I have a reservation

У меня есть резервация

U menya est' rezervaciya

Do you have a single room?

У вас есть однокомнатные номера? 

U vas est' odnokomnatniye nomera?

Do you have a double room?

У вас есть двухкомнатные номера?

U vas est' dvuhkomnatniye nomera?

Are there other rooms?

Есть другие комнаты?

Est' drugiye komnaty?

Eating out


Although most waiters at Russian restaurants speak English, they will be pleasantly surprised if a foreigner orders breakfast in Russian

English

Russian

Transliteration

Breakfast

Завтрак

Zavtrak

Lunch

Обед 

Obed

Dinner

Ужин

Uzhyn

Dessert

Десерт/сладкое

Disert/sladkoye

For two please

На двоих пожалуйста

Na dvoyih pozhaluysta

Menu please

Меню пожалуйста

Menyu pozhaluysta

What do you recommend?

Что бы вы порекомендовали?

Chto by vy porekomendovaly?

What's in this dish?

Что входит в это блюдо?

Chto vhodyt v eto blyudo?

I'll have...

Я буду...

Ya budu...

Do you have...?

У вас есть ... ?

U vas est'?

More please

Еще пожалуйста 

Eshe pozhaluysta

Tea

Чай

Chay

Juice

Сок

Sok

Your best friend at a restaurant is the word пожалуйста (pozhaluysta) and your wallet (кошелёк - koshelyok)

Water

Вода

Voda

Soda water

Содовая вода

Sodovaya voda

Wine

Вино

Vino

Beer

Пиво

Pivo

Meat

Мясо

Myaso

Chicken

Курица

Kurica

Pork

Свинина 

Sveeneena

Beef

Говядина 

Govyadeena

Fish

Рыба

Ryiba

Vegetables

Овощи

Ovoshy

Check please

Чек пожалуйста

Chek pozhaluysta

Thank you for everything

Спасибо вас за всё

Spasibo za vsyo

After filling your self up with some borscht and potatoes it's time to go shopping

Shopping


These phrases come in handy when asking for help at a store and purchasing various items

English

Russian

Transliteration

Do you have...?

У вас есть... ?

U vas est'?

How much is it?

Сколько это стоит?

Skol'ko eto stoit?

I'd like to buy...

Я хотел(а) бы купить...

Ya hotel(a) by kupit'...

I'll take it

Беру!

Beru!

Do you accept credit cards?

Вы принимаете кредитные карты?

Vy prinimaete?

I (don't) need a bag

Мне (не) нужен кулёк 

Mne (ne) nuzhen kulyok

Where are the/ where is...?

Где находятся ... ?

Gde nahodyat'sya... ?

Those were the Essential Russian Travel Phrases! Memorize and rehearse them and you will be ready to visit Russia. We think a big part of learning a new language is also understanding it's culture, and what better way to do it than travel to the place of origin and see things for yourself?

If you have any questions or feedback feel free to leave it in the comments below!

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