Hassle-Free Moscow: Tourist Card Launched for Indian Travellers

Indian tourists visiting Moscow now have an easier and more convenient way to explore the Russian capital. Sber bank, Russia’s largest bank, has opened a new travel and banking office on Bolshaya Dmitrovka Street, near Red Square, offering a unique Tourist Card and helpful services designed for foreign guests.

This new space combines financial and tourist services under one roof. Travellers can obtain a plastic Tourist Card, exchange currency, make payments, and receive travel guidance — all in one location. The Tourist Information Centre offers help in English, Russian, and Arabic, while banking staff can assist in both English and Russian.

Tourists can also plan their itinerary, collect multilingual guidebooks, relax in a cosy lounge, enjoy local Moscow delicacies, and let children play in an area designed with the help of “Soyuzmultfilm”, creators of classic Soviet cartoons.

The Tourist Card works on Russia’s MIR payment system, helping foreign visitors make cashless payments for shopping, dining, and public transport. It has no monthly fee, making it budget-friendly.

Travellers can sign up for a YooMoney account and get a virtual card using just a phone number — no Russian SIM card is needed. Physical cards can be pre-ordered and delivered to homes or hotels. Payments can be made via QR codes or, for Android users, with NFC tap using the YooMoney app.

With around 86,000 Indian visitors to Moscow in 2024 alone, stated by Moscow Tourism, this new service reflects the city's growing popularity as a global tourist hub.