Currency Exchange

Ruble Currency and Coins. Notes in circulation include 5, 10, 50, 100, 500, and 1,000 rubles. Coins include 1, 5, 10, 50 kopecks, and 1, 2 and 5 rubles.

What Dollar Bills to Bring. Bring along all denominations: $1's, 5's, 10's, & 20's for cash outlays and $50's and $100's for changing dollars into rubles. All bills should be in good condition without writing or marks on them. Soiled or torn bills are not accepted.

Official currency exchange offices are called “obmen valyuty”. There are now hundreds of official exchange offices scattered throughout the city, in banks and stores. Each St.Petersburg hotel has a currency exchange office inside. Official offices can change money and issue the proper receipts, which may be required to take some types of purchases out of the country. A passport is required to fill out the proper documentation. You can get information on currency exchange rates at the official site of Central Bank of Russian Federation. Here is the list of some official currency exchange offices in the city:

Credit Cards

Well-known western credit cards have been used in the Russian market for over 30 years, Diners Club and American Express since 1969; Visa International and Eurocard/Mastercard since 1974. The most widely accepted cards are still American Express, Visa, and Europay (Eurocard/Mastercard). Presently credit cards are commonly accepted form of payment in most major hotels, airlines, restaurants and upscale shops. However, most smaller shops and establishements do not accept credit cards.

Stolen or Lost Credit Cards: For American Express, call 329-60-60. For other cards, try the numbers in your home country. Keep a photocopy of your credit card number, passport, visa, and "stolen or lost credit card" telephone numbers in a secure place.

CASH ADVANCES WITH CREDIT CARDS. Automatic teller machines (ATM) are machines that dispense cash on demand. A small fee is often charged to your account. A bank card or credit card is inserted and a secret personal code is entered. ATMs in Russia usually dispense both rubles and dollars. Generally ATMs are located in secure, guarded areas like major metro stations, banks, big department shops.

To get cash through American Express, it is necessary to call the American Express office at 329-60-60 or go to their office in Grand Hotel Europe.

You can get cash advances on your credit card at any bank or big hotel of the city at a rate of 1% to 5% of amount received plus fee charged by the credit card company. You will need your passport for cash advances. Look for the Visa and Master Card sign on the bank currency exchange office.

Traveler`s Checks

Many banks in St. Petersburg now cash traveler's cheques for dollars, be sure, however, to purchase better known cheques such as American Express, Thomas Cook or VISA. These banks include: Bank Saint Petersburg, I&C (Promstroybank), Vneshtorgbank, Credo-Bank, or at the American Express office in the Grand Hotel Europe. Some other banks refuse them.

Note: Take your passport along.

Note: Traveler's cheques often are not usually accepted as a form of payment by shops, restaurants and hotels. Your passport is needed when paying by traveler's cheque or credit card.

American Express Traveler's Cheques. One convenient way to receive money in Russia is to use funds from your bank at home to purchase American Express Traveler's Cheques. They can be purchased in the American Express office in the Grand Hotel Europe and then cashed for dollars. By presenting your American Express card and passport, you may write a personal check to purchase up to $1,000 in traveler's cheques. If you do not have a personal check, you may purchase up to $500. Traveler's cheques can be cashed in the American Express office and in many other banks on Nevskiy Prospect. For more information, call American Express at 119-60-09.