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'''Russia''' is the largest country on Earth, and is a fantastic country for hitch hiking. It is well ingrained within the country's culture, and it is a much more comfortable way to see the country, compared to taking the train. Despite the popularity of hitch hiking compared to other countries, people will still be surprised by what you are doing. Especially if you are (and look like) a foreigner.

Also, there are maps almost completely presenting full infrastructure of some cities including public transportation system at [http://www.2gis.ru/ 2gis.ru]. November, 1st 2009 there were 22 cities: Астрахань, Барнаул, Бийск, Екатеринбург, Иркутск, Казань, Кемерово ,Красноярск ,Курган, Нижневартовск, Нижний Новгород, Новокузнецк, Новосибирск, Одесса, Омск, Пермь, Самара, Тольятти, Томск, Тюмень, Уфа, Челябинск. U can use on-line version or download installer and use maps off-line. Also there is opportunity to use 2gis on Windows Mobile platform and even on usual cellphone with Java MIDP-2 engine (needs internet access).A more modern alternative is Maps.me, as it has offline maps and shows gas stations. (Most platforms)

Also, there is a possibility to get a lift by talking to drivers on gas stations. You will not be misunderstood but since there are almost no highways and you can point your thumb anywhere, wasting time on a gas station waiting for cars is not preferred unless there is heavy raining, or the spot is bad etc. If there are two of you one can hitch on the road and the other one ask people on nearby gas station; that really might bring you a lift faster. But the “default” method of hitchhiking in Russia is still thumbing on the roadside ;). If you don't speak the language, thumbing is better - as people will just drive towards your direction and you can join them.

Hitchhiking in Russian is called ''автостоп'' (avtostop). It literally means “car stopping”, and is basically the only word understood as hitching (i.e. travelling by getting lifts for free). A more colloquial word for it is "попутка" (poputka). When people ask you anywhere in Russia: "куда ты едешь?" (Kuda TjIE edesh?)[where are you going to?) ] you should answer: "я еду автостопом" (ya yedu avtostopom), then they will ask you another question and this time you say the name of the city. It might be better and more polite to ask "Вы могли бы подкинуть меня в направлении ..." (Vy mogli by podkinut menya v napravlenii ...), which means "Could you give me a lift in the direction of ...".

If the area feels unsafe you might want to hitchhike from police post to police post. The police posts situated on all highways with intervals of about 100 km. These posts, commonly called "ДПС" (Post DPS), are good places to hitchhike since cars will drive by slowly, and police is always close. Local hitchhikers swear on these police posts. You can also ask the police officers to help you get a ride which really might work. Be prepared to be asked for your ID or even run a cell-phone check (verification that your cell is not in the stolen cells database), though.

== Border Crossings, Police, Visas and formalities ==The general consensus is that, providing your passport and visa are in order, you will have no problem entering Russia. Even hitching in at remote border crossings in the middle of the night is fine. However you are very likely Ultimate Guide to be held when leaving the country by a land crossing, particularly if hitching out. You will most likely be required to describe your trip in great detail€35 Russian Visa without an Agency for Most EU Citizens (except UK, Ireland and explain other passport stamps. Do not worry if this happensCroatia, just answer their questions and you will be allowed to go. (eventuallyamong others)==

Whilst hitching ''Most Russian embassies in Russia, the police will occasionally stop the vehicle EU don't require you are travelling in to submit an application through a visa center/travel agent or to complete any additional steps, but it's very important to check the driverrespective embassy's documents. There is a small possibility that your driver will be asked about you, the passenger. This is likely to be the only time your ID is likely to be checked when hitching in Russia, other than at the borders. The police will not ask website for too much information usually; they will look at your passport, visa and immigration card, and they may take notes of your name and address. They will most likely not check your visa registrationtheir particular requirements. ''

You do have to have 1. Get an appointment at the respective embassy of your passport with choice. This is the visa and other papers you get while crossing biggest hassle of the border handyentire process as appointments are usually booked out for at least two months ahead.. A good idea is . You'll find a link to put them in some transparent waterproof bag – the immigration card is absolutely soviet style, and will not survive even online appointment booking system on the embassy's website - it'll look something like http://paris.kdmid.ru/queue-en/. Record the light rainingappointment details.

As a visitor 2. Two weeks or so before your appointment, book accommodation through this [http://www.saint-petersburg.com/russian-visa/free-visa-support/ website]'s affiliate link to Booking.com. They give free tourist invitations to Russia, anyone who books using their affiliate link - it is 's important to understand follow the registration ruleslink to Booking. Officiallycom from their website. As it's Booking.com, you must register your visa in Russia within 3 working days can give them a fake credit card (using a fake CC number generator of arriving in the country, course) and also subsequently register again in any town or city you remain in for 3 days or longer though in 2011, the rules apparently changed: Now you only don't actually have to register if you stay somewhere at the places or pay for upwards from seven business days, ithem in advance.eBut you do need the reservations. nine "real" days. The registration upon arrival Alternatively, you could also isn't necessary any more. Furthermore, get an invitation through the new law clearly stipulates that many websites which offer itfor as low as €10 (look up Fortuna Travel) - but the steps above will get you one for free. 's your 'Recent reports seem to suggest that the agency is getting wary of suspicious free visa support request, so if you'host's'' responsibility re going to register Russia for longer than a week, you (i.e. hotel, hostel, or potentially private host). To be sure, check with people who know what they're talking about [http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/forum.jspa?forumID=15&keywordid=142 such as probably better off coughing up the thorn tree forum]€10.''

Hotels are legally required 3. Once you've managed to register foreign guests within 24 hourssuccessfully book accommodation through Booking. Hostels arecom, too, but in practice often don't or only do for a feefill out this [https://www.saint-petersburg.com/russian-visa/free-visa-support/request/ form]. If They should send you are being hosted by a private citizen then you can register at the post office. This process is complicated and time consuming unfortunately, but registration provides peace scans of mind that you will have no problems if the police or border police try invitation to find anyyour e-mail. Print those out.

If 4. Fill out this [https://visa.kdmid.ru/PetitionChoice.aspx?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1 form] exactly as you do not plan to stay for a long time just have some strong evidence that you have just arrived've filled out the previous form. Buy a vegan hamburger if you can find one and keep This is the receipt before leaving some nice town or city official Russian form which you pass by (make sure there is 'll submit to the place‘s name on embassy. Print it). The train or bus tickets are the best means to persuade cops you are not hanging around StSign it. Petersburg for half Glue a year already, so you might take a short ride on a local train from time to time to have a set of tickets marking your waypassport photo onto it (3.5x4. Alternatively, you might also get your visa registered the once for peace of mind5cm size).

The border police do not often check visa registration, particularly 5. Get travel insurance which has at non European bordersleast €30, as it is too much hassle000 cover. Some regular tourists in Russia comment that the cost and time consumption of registering Print a visa is too great, and prefer to hope that they are not checked when leavingconfirmation. However if If you are caught 're good enough with an unregistered visa, expect photoshop you can give them something legit looking. You'll also probably need this at least a 2000 Ruble fine (as of before 2011 -- we are not aware of how the situation is now)Russian border.

If you are travelling anywhere North 6. Go to the embassy for your appointment with all the paperwork (printout of St. Petersburgthe invitation, particularly around Murmansk the official Russian form with your signature and towards Norway, it is highly recommended that you register your visaphotos and confirmation of insurance). Pay them €35. In early 2011, user haggismn had registration and other documents checked three times at Wait for the various military check pointsvisa. (not including the Norwegian border itself)

Citizens of most countries need a visa, the notable exceptions are most former Soviet states (apart from the Baltic states) and Israel. Most visa types require an invitation. ==== [[Azerbaijan]] ====The border seems to be open only for holders of CIS passports. Official sources (f.e. the German ministry of foreign affairs) say that this status changed IMPORTANT: Every embassy and now it is possible also for Non CIS passport holder. Please check the discussion about this. Before there every nationality is an confirmation by a traveller that crossed that border, different! Check the status will not be updated only to "open" instead of "disputed". ==== [[Belarus]] ==== The border between Russia and Belarus is open. You will feel almost like in other parts of Europe, no border controls with an everlasting que at all. This is of course a nice time-saving fact, but it also means that you will recieve no entrance stamp to Russia.After the German embassy was creative enough to recommend to go to an airport and ask random police for an entrance stamp, the ministry of foreign affairs in Moscow confirmed that this is no problem for an overland traveller on another border and at the crossing to Kazakhstan nobody asked about the missing stamp. '''UPDATE''' (2017): Third country nationals (ie. not [[CIS]]) are no longer allowed to cross the Belarus/Russia border even with a valid visa for both countries, due to reciprocity measures undertaken by the Russian Government because of EU sanctions. Non-CIS travelers are redirected to cross from Lithuania or Ukraine. There are checks at all major transit points. "Sneaking in" at a random village is not advised. ==== [[People's_Republic_of_China|China]] ====The crossing at Zabaykal'sk/Manzhouli requires that you are on board a vehicle. It is possible to get on board a Chinese tour bus for around 300 roubles. It is also ok to stand website before the entrance to the border area and wait for a ride. As long following these steps as its not too cold, you shouldn't have any problem getting a ride. If you are not Chinese, Mongolian or Russian, prepare to be interrogated by the Russian border police about your journey. Coming from China is a similar process, however you will probably not be interrogated. ==== [[Estonia]] ====It is possible to cross the border by foot. ==== [[Finland]] ====* [[Torfyanovka-Valimaa border crossing‎]]* [[Brusnichnoe-Nuijamaa border crossing]] ==== [[Georgia]] ====The [[Verkhny Lars-Darial Gorge border crossing|Verkhny Lars - Darial Gorge crossing]] was reopened on March 1st, 2010 and since July 2011 is open for international travellers as well. Getting into [[Georgia]] via [[Abkhazia]] is not possible. For more specific information, check the [[Abkhazia]] article. === [[Kazakhstan]] ===  ==== [[Latvia]] ====It's no problem to walk over the checkpoints between Latvia and Russia.* [[Terehova-Zasitino border crossing]], towards [[Riga]]  ==== [[Lithuania]] ==== No border from Lithuania to the main land of Russia (so you have to go via Latvia), but there are several border crossings between Lithuania and Russia's [[Kaliningrad Oblast]] * [[Chernyshevskoye-Kybartai border crossing]] ==== [[Mongolia]] ==== ==== [[North_Korea|North Korea]] ====As there is currently no chance for independent travelling/hitch hiking in North Korea, there is also no possibility to cross the border by hitch hiking. ==== [[Norway]] ====The high amount of security between Murmansk and the border with Norway is a relic of Soviet rule, when people could escape into Norway without fear of being deported, unlike Finland. You will find that it isn't possible to walk to the border. From about 5 km out you will need to be in a vehicle. However, hitching is no problem, provided your documents and registration are in order (they will be checked). The army may also assist you in getting a ride at the military check points. If you are leaving Russia, prepare to be interrogated at the Russian side of the border about your journey. ==== [[Poland]] ==== * [[Bagrationovsk-Bezledy border crossing]] with Russia's [[Kaliningrad Oblast]] ==== [[Ukraine]] ====The country is Russia's eternal 'native brother' and, despite all the political mess that constantly happens between the two states, [[Ukraine]] is one of the countries that is very easy to enter from Russia (Russians do not even need a foreign passport to enter it, as well as for [[Belarus]]). Make sure that the border crossing is working before attempting to use it. The big gate on the M2/E95 road ([[Moscow]] to [[Kharkiv]]) can be crossed on foot, which is very convenient because you do extra requirements not have to wait in the line of the cars and you wont make your driver wait for you in case you have any delays with your passport. You will have to leave the car before all the checkpoints begin, though, or you will be considered a car passenger by the border police.covered here!