A recipe for Russian pancakes. The real dough for bliny should consist of equal parts of flour and liquid. Traditionally the Russians eat blini with different fillings. Try the most popular fillings made of minces meat or curd.

With this method one learns Russian the way kids learn their mother tongue. There is no translation. Vivid real-life images convey meanings of Russian words and phrases. So learners find themselves in a Russian speaking world and learn slowly but surely.

Don’t be afraid of Cyrillic letters! Here you find all letters of the Russian alphabet with transcription. Once you have learnt the alphabet, studying Russian will get much simpler. Some Russian letters are same as Latin ones.

Foreign visitors must obtain a visa before travelling to Russia. Visas for Russia are issued by one of the Consular Divisions of the Embassy of the Russian Federation abroad. To apply for a Russian visa one is required to submit certain documents.

Saint Petersburg is one of the world’s most beautiful cities and one of the most important cultural centers in Europe. St. Petersburg is also called the "Northern capital of Russia", the "Venice of the North" and the "Window to Europe".

In the battle for the Olympic Winter Games and Paralympic Games, the resort Sochi in the South of Russia beat Pyeongchang (South Korea) and Salzburg (Austria). Sochi is situated between the Black See and the Caucasus mountains.

A selection of free Russian radio stations. Listen to popular international and Russian music. Some Russian radio stations offer a wide selection of programs: news, politics, education, culture and sport.

Chicken cutlets made of ground chicken are actually hamburger. They are very popular in Russia and are usually served on specials occasions. Also Tsar Nicholas I. and Alexander Pushkin loved this dish.

According to Russian law, a substitute day is to be appointed for all national holidays which fall on a Saturday or Sunday.

About 10.4 Mio people live in Moscow. Moscow is one of the world’s most beautiful (and unfortunately one of the world’s most expensive) cities and is definitely worth seeing.

Learn to say simple things in Russian like "Hello", "Good morning!", "How are you?. All Russian words are with sound samples for you to learn how to speak Russian properly. Practice your Russian with a native speaker. It's all free - get started now!

Matryoshka is a popular souvenir and is associated with Russia as well as balalaika, samovar or vodka. That is why Matryoshka is generally believed to have an age-long history. A mistake! Matryoshka is only about one hundred years young.

Nice and warm weather is perfect for visiting different regions. July and August might get very hot. January and February are best months to experience the real Russian winter.

Experienced florists in Russia and other CIS countries deliver flowers to Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg and other 276 cities in Russia, 126 cities in Ukraine, 39 cities in Belarus as well as to other republics of the former Soviet Union.