Traveling to Russia? Here’s What You Need to Know About Cultural Norms

Cultural backgrounds vary from country to country, so you’ve likely had some bewildering experiences while traveling abroad. Natural actions in our country can attract disapproval if done carelessly overseas.

Russia, in particular, has many behaviors that could cause misunderstandings due to cultural differences. Let’s explore some of these.

Giving up your seat on public transportation such as the bus or subway is customary in Russia. Not only is it expected to offer your seat to the elderly or pregnant women, but it is also implicitly understood that men should yield their seats to women.

Therefore, a healthy adult male who does not give up his seat to a standing woman may receive a scolding from those around him.

Russia is famous for Vodka. The extreme cold weather led to developing a drinking culture to keep warm. They even enjoy strong alcohol, to the extent that anything under 40% alcohol content is not considered alcohol.

As alcohol is widely consumed, traffic accidents due to drunk driving occur frequently. Not only that, but disputes on the streets often escalate into violence. Alcohol addiction-related crimes, domestic violence, and divorce are severe issues within Russia.

To combat this, Russian authorities have been strengthening alcohol policies since the 2010s. They have not only banned drinking in the streets by law but also prohibited the purchase of alcohol after 10 PM in 2013.

You do not clean up your dishes in Russia after eating at fast-food restaurants or food courts in shopping malls. Even in ordinary restaurants, staff members’ tasks are meticulously divided, including seating, ordering, serving, billing, and cleaning up.

In Russia, it is best to avoid staring at strangers to prevent unnecessary disputes. These groups of hooligans are called Konikpf. They are known for their unique posture and for sitting anywhere.

They can start a fight with passersby, so it’s best not to stare at them or go near them. Due to poor public safety in Russia, it’s advisable to avoid quiet alleys and dark evening hours.

Russia still openly despises and suppresses homosexuals. Since 2013, they have enacted and enforced a law that prohibits the distribution of information related to homosexuality to minors.

In Russia, two men holding hands in public can provoke disgust among locals. Acts promoting or advocating homosexuality are also banned. Wearing rainbow T-shirts or accessories, symbols of homosexuality, on the streets can lead to misunderstandings and disputes, so it’s safer to avoid wearing them if possible.