HOW TO HAVE INTERNET IN RUSSIA. BUY A LOCAL SIM

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Unfortunately, Russia is outside the area where Roaming was eliminated a few years ago, so you will not be able to use your own phone contract in Spain to use data on your trip to Russia. But calm, because it will not be very difficult to be connected: next we tell you the options that there are have internet on the phone in Russia, Y how to buy a local SIM. We also talk about the most important local telephone companies.

It is the alternative for those who do not want to complicate life much. You can buy a special SIM for Russia in Spain and have it sent to your home before leaving. Then when you get to Russia you put it on the phone and it activates, with unlimited data.

To buy this SIM we recommend Holafly, where you also have a 5% discount for being our reader if you follow this link. Remember to put the SIM in slot 1 and enable data roaming to make it work better. You can always keep your Spanish number active if you have a Dual SIM phone (yes, check the settings that are selected to use the data is Holafly).

It is important to know that this SIM is only valid for 10 days. If your trip is longer, it would not be interesting.

It is the option by which we choose. You have to find the place to buy it and make a small procedure, but it has greater advantages, such as the price or the longer duration. We will tell you the key aspects to buy a local SIM in Russia:

Which telephone companies are more important in Russia?

On our trip we saw at least 3 companies with their own stores and which, apparently, are the most important in the country:

Megafon: the one with the best coverage, although its prices are higher.
Beeline: it has very interesting offers, such as unlimited data for 15 days at 700R.
MTC: it is the largest operator and has very cheap data packages.
TELE2: of the 4, probably the least popular.

We opted for Beeline because we knew they had an unlimited 4G internet rate for 15 days, in addition to calls to Russia and some minutes also from international calls, for 700R. Although there for whatever it was for 600R (less than € 10), more reason to decide. We caught one for each and had internet without problems (and with a fairly intensive use) during our entire stay in Russia (just 15 days).

The rest of the companies have package offers with data and calls. The best thing is that you take a look at their websites and do screen shots of the rates that interest you. Normally in Russia they don't speak English and it will be very useful to teach them what you are looking for.

Where and how to buy a SIM in Russia?

There is stores of the operators themselves distributed by both Moscow and St. Petersburg, is the most "official" way to buy a SIM card. Although the best option is to buy it directly in the airport. We arrived at Vnukovo airport in Moscow and in the arrivals hall we met various posts dedicated exclusively to selling these SIMs. We believe that the rest of the important airports will also have these types of stations, and we also saw them in the surroundings of the main train stations.

In theory and from what we read later, these posts are not entirely legal, and the SIMs are pre-activated, so there is a risk that they will be deactivated ... But come on, we had no problems on the entire 15-day trip through Russia , and we found them completely in order.

If you do not see any of these positions on arrival, it is likely that there are technology stores (or even from one of the telephone companies), where you can quietly buy a local Russian SIM. Shop around if you have time and check out. If you are late or do not have time to buy the SIM card at the airport, both in Moscow and St. Petersburg (and the rest of large cities) have enough phone shops. Search on Google the closest and ready!

To buy a SIM in Russia it will only be necessary show your passport and deliver the phone, so that they leave it installed and working. Before you go to get money from a cashier (do not forget to bring your Bnext card) and so when paying you will have some money in case you have to buy the transport tickets in cash.

We leave you a website where you will find a lot more information in English.

We hope we have resolved your doubts how to buy a SIM card in Russia Y how to have internet on mobile in Russia. As you can see, it is quite simple and cheap!