Wigan Athletic fans’ guide to Rubin Kazan

We appreciate that not many fans will be making the trip out to Russia for the game against Kazan, but if you are planning on going, though, and if you have any questions that aren’t answered on here, by all means email us at the FSF and we’ll do what we can to find it out for you.

The key information for anyone considering travelling is about visas.

A consular visa is essential for all British passport holders – all foreign nationals entering Russia must fill in a Migration card. The card is in two sections – part “A” and part “B”.

Part A must be presented to the Immigration Officer on arrival. Part B must be retained with your passport and shown to police should they stop you at any time for an identity check. On leaving Russia, part B should be presented to the Immigration Officer. Should you lose part B, you will be fined and your departure from Russia could be seriously delayed.

You must complete a new migration form each time you enter Russia, even if you have a multiple entry visa.

If you are staying in Russia more than three days, you need to register your visa – your hotel should be able to do this for you. Make sure you do this, as failing to can cause problems and delays as you leave the country.

If you are staying less than three days, these requirements are waived.

During periods of high demand, for example during the summer holidays, you should apply for your visa well in advance. If you live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland you should apply to the Russian Embassy in London. If you live in Scotland, you should apply to the Russian Consulate General in Edinburgh.

The Embassy in London can normally process visas in 15 working days, and you can submit an application by post or in person. If you want to get a visa more quickly it is possible to queue in person and pay an extra fee, though the numbers processed in this way per day are limited.

Most entry visas include an exit visa. However, some entry visas including certain types of student visas, do not include an exit visa. If this is the case your sponsor, not the Embassy or Consulates, will need to obtain the exit visa for you before you can leave the country. Before you travel to Russia ensure that you are aware of the terms and conditions attached to your visa and check that the dates and details which have been entered on your visa are correct. Presenting documentation which contains incorrect information to immigration officials can lead to severe inconvenience and in some cases could result in refusal of entry.

You must register your visa with UVIR (department of visas and registration) within 72 hrs of arrival. Hotels deal with this for their guests but visitors in private accommodation should see to it themselves. UVIR’s office in Moscow is at Ulitsa Pokrova 42. (Metro: Kurskaya, Krasnie Vorota) Tel: 095 207 0239.

Eating and Drinking

There are quite a few nightclubs in Kazan for those who fancy painting the town red – the largest of which is Arena, on Pushkina Ulitsa, which is the main nightlife area of the city. Based over several floors and playing a range of music, there’s even a strip-club located within the complex for convenience. Also on the street you’ll find the Doctor Club, playing mostly R&B and hip-hop.

Kommuna is the place for you if you like a rave – dance music is all you’ll find banging out of the speakers on Butlerova Ulitsa.

It’s worth noting that many of the clubs in Kazan are large complexes that include bars and restaurants, as well as their after dark activities and tunes.

The Aphrodite Stonegrill sounds the most exciting to us – the trick here is that whatever you order is brought to your table raw, and you cook it to your liking yourself on a portable, obscenely hot stone. If you enjoy the novelty, you’ll reckon it’s worth the price. Find them on Tartarstan Ulitsa, or check out their website.

Staroye Mesto offers cheaper, more traditional Russian (or Tartar) fare. Located right in the city centre, close to the Kremlin on Kremlevskaya Ulitsa, you can eat like a king for next to nothing in this cosy restaurant.

Rubai on Profsoyuznaya Ulitsa is an Uzbek tea-room/restaurant, that’s perfect for a relaxing drink or a nice bite to eat. Very reasonably priced and comfortable, it’s worth popping in to check out.

Where to Stay

If you are heading out to Kazan and aren’t on a package deal, don’t fret – there are plenty of hotels available in the city, to suit all budgets.

At the cheaper end of the spectrum there’s the old Soviet era Hotel Tartarstan, which although large and imposing isn’t necessarily the nicest in town. It’s in a handy central location, however. More favoured, is the Hotel Volga, located close to the train station.

The Hotel Regina is much smaller than the previous two hotels, but perhaps better value for money. Although slightly more expensive, it’s located smack bang on the Baumana Ulitsa in the centre of the city, so you can’t beat it for location. The rooms are of a decent size and condition, too.

At the top end of the market, you might fancy the Shalyapin Palace Hotel on Universitetskaya Ulitsa, with prices starting around £100 a night.

Alternatively, the Mirage Hotel is the only 5 star hotel in the city, but that sort of luxury doesn’t come cheap, and it’s well above the rates you’ll pay at the Shalyapin!

The image used in this blog is reproduced under Creative Commons license from Wikipedia