Essential Apps for Russia Travel
At a glance
Yandex, maps, translation, payments — 12 must-haves for Russia.
⚠️ Important notice: International sanctions have tightened since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. International cards (Visa, Mastercard) no longer work inside Russia, and Uber, Apple Pay, and Google Pay have all stopped service there. Before traveling, always check your home country's official travel advisory (many regions currently carry an elevated-risk rating) and the latest visa policy.
TL;DR – Install These Right Away
| Category | Apps |
|---|---|
| Taxi | Yandex Go |
| Maps | Yandex Maps, 2GIS |
| Translation | Google Translate, Yandex Translate |
| Payments | Ruble cash essential |
| Dining & delivery | Яндекс.Еда (Yandex Food) |
| Booking | Booking.com (before departure), GetYourGuide |
1. Taxi & Transport
Yandex Go (Яндекс Go)
📱 Download: App Store | Google Play
A ride-hailing and taxi app run by Yandex, Russia's largest tech company — effectively Russia's version of Uber. Uber consolidated its Russia operations in 2019 and withdrew entirely after 2022. Yandex Go works across Russia — Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Kazan, and more. Options include Econom, Comfort, Business, and minivan, with the fare shown in the app before you go. Payment can be made with a card issued in Russia, but foreign cards may not work, so you may need to select the cash payment option. The app interface is in Russian but can also be set to English. Moscow's metro network is dense, but Yandex Go is essential for connecting between metro stations or getting around at night.
💡 Moscow Metro: Considered one of the most beautiful metro systems in the world, the Moscow Metro (subway) connects the entire city with 15 lines. The stations' ornate architecture makes them tourist attractions in their own right. Use Yandex Maps to check transfer routes — it's cheap and fast.
2. Maps & Navigation
Yandex Maps (Яндекс Карты)
Russia's largest map app, offering more accurate traffic info and more detailed building data than Google Maps inside Russia. It's detailed for major sights like Moscow's Kremlin, Red Square, the Bolshoi Theatre, and Arbat Street, or St. Petersburg's Hermitage Museum, Nevsky Prospect, and the Peter and Paul Fortress. It also accurately guides transfer routes for Russia's metro, buses, and trolleybuses. Some Google services can be restricted inside Russia, making Yandex Maps the more reliable choice. It also supports offline map saving, so save Moscow and St. Petersburg maps ahead of time.
2GIS
An app providing very detailed offline maps, centered on Russia and Central Asia. It shows detail down to building interior layouts, business/store info, and public transit stops. Its strength is an offline mode that works perfectly without internet — especially useful in Russia when you have no data. It also supports an English interface and has powerful search.
💡 VPN tip: Some global services (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, etc.) are blocked inside Russia. Google Maps, Gmail, and YouTube are still accessible as of writing, but installing a VPN app before you leave gives you a backup option in an emergency (note that Russian law restricts the use of some VPNs).
3. Translation
Google Translate
📱 Download: App Store | Google Play
Russia's official language is Russian, written in the Cyrillic script. English works to some extent at tourist sites in Moscow and St. Petersburg, but Russian is essential at local restaurants, shops, and on public transit. Downloading Google Translate's Russian offline pack ahead of time lets you translate without internet. Instantly decode Cyrillic menus, signs, and metro signage with camera translation. Conversation mode also lets you communicate in real time with Russian speakers. Despite looking unfamiliar, many Cyrillic letters have sounds similar to Roman letters — memorizing a few basic characters helps with reading metro station names or menus.
Yandex Translate (Яндекс Переводчик)
A Russian local app that produces Russian↔Korean translations comparable to Google Translate, and sometimes more natural in specific cases. When Google service access is slow inside Russia, Yandex Translate is a good alternative. It also supports offline translation packs.
4. Payments
⚠️ International cards don't work: Since March 2022, Visa and Mastercard have suspended service in Russia. Internationally issued cards can't be used for ATM withdrawals or POS payments inside Russia. Bring plenty of ruble cash.
Wise
📱 Download: App Store | Google Play
Due to international sanctions since 2022, using a Wise card inside Russia is effectively impossible. That said, it's still useful for checking exchange rate info before your trip, or exchanging currency in another country before or after entering Russia. For ruble cash for a Russia trip, the practical approach is to exchange at an airport currency counter in your departure country (or a third country) or at a transit point in the Middle East or CIS.
Revolut
📱 Download: App Store | Google Play
Revolut cards are also restricted inside Russia due to sanctions. If you're planning a Russia trip, the safest approach is to prepare plenty of USD/EUR cash or ruble cash. UnionPay cards (Chinese) sometimes work for some payments inside Russia, so it's worth researching ahead if you're a long-term traveler.
💡 Cash preparation: Ruble cash is essential for Russia travel. Some upscale hotels or tourist restaurants in Moscow and St. Petersburg accept UnionPay cards. USD/EUR cash can also be exchanged for rubles at some currency exchange counters.
5. Dining & Delivery
Яндекс.Еда (Yandex Food)
A food delivery app in the same Yandex ecosystem as Yandex Go. Delivery is available from thousands of restaurants in Moscow and St. Petersburg, ranging from traditional Russian food (borscht, pelmeni, solyanka, blini) to global chains. The interface is in Russian, but you can order by translating the screen with Google Translate. Supports payment with a Russian-issued card or cash. Handy when you want to rest at your hotel and still experience local Russian food.
6. Tour & Activity Booking
GetYourGuide
📱 Download: App Store | Google Play
It's best to book tours from home before entering Russia. Since card payment on the ground is difficult due to sanctions, book a Moscow Kremlin guided tour, a St. Petersburg Hermitage Museum tour, a Golden Ring tour, or a Lake Baikal tour through GetYourGuide before you leave. Review the cancellation policy carefully and choose the "free cancellation" option.
Booking.com
📱 Download: App Store | Google Play
Book accommodation in Moscow and St. Petersburg from home with a card before you leave. Since payment on the ground is difficult due to sanctions, choosing accommodation with prepayment completed is the safest approach. Accommodation near the Hermitage Museum, along Nevsky Prospect, or near the Kremlin is convenient for sightseeing routes.
App Installation Checklist
- Yandex Go (essentially the only taxi option in Russia)
- Yandex Maps or 2GIS (offline Russia maps)
- Google Translate (Russian offline pack)
- Plenty of ruble cash prepared (international cards don't work)
- GetYourGuide (book tours before you leave)
- Booking.com (prepay accommodation before you leave)
Why You Need an eSIM for Russia
Hailing Yandex Go, navigating with Yandex Maps, using Google Translate, and checking tour tickets all require data. Since 2022, using a foreign SIM card or international roaming in Russia has become complicated. Roaming through a Korean carrier is sometimes possible but very expensive. Choosing an eSIM provider that supports Russia and installing it ahead of time is the more convenient option. Note that some global services may be restricted inside Russia, and VPN use exists in a legal gray area, so caution is needed.
👉 Compare the lowest global eSIM prices on esimoa
App information is current as of 2025 and service policies may change. Russia's international sanctions, visa, and payment policies can change at any time, so be sure to check the latest information and your home country's travel advisories before traveling.
