Sightseeing

1. Здесь можно фотографировать?

   Zdes' mozh-no fo-to-gra-fi-ro-vat'?

   Can I take photos here?

   Usage

   Used to ask permission to take photos at a tourist site

   Grammar Note

   "можно" + infinitive forms an impersonal structure "it is allowed to". Many Russian museums prohibit or charge for photos.

2. Сколько стоит билет?

   Skol'-ko sto-it bi-let?

   How much is the ticket?

   Usage

   Used to ask the price of a ticket at a tourist attraction

   Grammar Note

   "билет" (ticket) is from French "billet". Related: "льготный билет" (discounted ticket), "студенческий билет" (student ID).

3. Есть экскурсия с гидом?

   Yest' eks-kur-si-ya s gi-dom?

   Is there a guided tour?

   Usage

   Used to ask about guided tour availability

   Grammar Note

   "с" (with) governs the instrumental case. "гид" (guide) takes instrumental form "гидом".

4. Что здесь знаменитое?

   Chto zdes' zna-me-ni-to-ye?

   What is this place famous for?

   Usage

   Used to ask about local specialties or famous sights

   Grammar Note

   "знаменитый" (famous) takes neuter form "знаменитое" to agree with neuter "что" (what).

5. Есть карта?

   Yest' kar-ta?

   Is there a map?

   Usage

   Used to request a map at a tourist information center

   Grammar Note

   "карта" means both "map" and "card". Specify: "туристическая карта" (tourist map).

6. Когда открывается музей?

   Kog-da ot-kry-va-yet-sya mu-zey?

   When does the museum open?

   Usage

   Asking the opening time of a museum

   Grammar Note

   "Открываться" (to open) is a reflexive verb. Many Russian museums are closed on Mondays. The Hermitage and Tretyakov Gallery are world-class institutions.

7. Можно сфотографировать?

   Mozh-no sfo-to-gra-fi-ro-vat'?

   May I take a photo?

   Usage

   Asking permission to take photographs

   Grammar Note

   "Можно + perfective infinitive" is the standard permission request. Many Russian museums post "съёмка запрещена" (photography prohibited) signs.

8. Это историческое место

   E-to is-to-ri-ches-ko-ye mes-to

   This is a historic place

   Usage

   Describing a place of historical significance

   Grammar Note

   "Историческое" (neuter adjective) agrees with "место" (neuter noun). The copula "есть" (is) is often omitted in Russian nominal sentences.

9. Экскурсия на русском языке есть?

   Eks-kur-si-ya na rus-skom ya-zy-ke yest'?

   Is there a guided tour in Russian?

   Usage

   Asking if a guided tour is available in Russian

   Grammar Note

   "На + prepositional" expresses language medium: "на русском" (in Russian), "на японском" (in Japanese). "Языке" is prepositional of "язык" (language).

10. Когда построен этот собор?

    Kog-da pos-tro-yen e-tot so-bor?

    When was this cathedral built?

    Usage

    Asking when a cathedral or building was constructed

    Grammar Note

    "Построен" is the masculine short-form passive participle of "построить" (to build). Russia has iconic cathedrals: St. Basil's, St. Isaac's, and more.

11. Где находится Красная площадь?

    Gde na-khod-it-sya Kras-na-ya plosh-chad'?

    Where is Red Square?

    Usage

    Used to ask for directions to a famous landmark

    Grammar Note

    "находиться" (to be located) is the formal way to ask about location. Swap "Красная площадь" with any landmark.

12. Как добраться до Эрмитажа?

    Kak do-brat'-sya do Er-mi-ta-zha?

    How do I get to the Hermitage?

    Usage

    Used to ask how to get to a famous museum or attraction

    Grammar Note

    Infinitive of "добраться" (to reach). "до" governs the genitive. Swap "Эрмитажа" with any destination.

13. Это далеко отсюда?

    E-to da-le-ko ot-syu-da?

    Is it far from here?

    Usage

    Used to check how far a destination is

    Grammar Note

    "отсюда" (from here) is an adverb. Opposite: "близко" (nearby). Common reply: "Нет, недалеко" (No, not far).

14. Можно туда доехать на метро?

    Mozh-no tu-da do-ye-khat' na met-ro?

    Can I get there by metro?

    Usage

    Used to check if a destination is reachable by metro

    Grammar Note

    "на" + transportation in prepositional/accusative expresses means of travel. Moscow metro is famed for its elaborate station designs.

15. Как далеко до Кремля?

    Kak da-le-ko do Krem-lya?

    How far is it to the Kremlin?

    Usage

    Used to ask about the distance to a famous landmark

    Grammar Note

    Genitive of "Кремль" is "Кремля". "до" governs genitive. "Как далеко до~" asks for distance to any destination.

16. Где находится Третьяковская галерея?

    Gde na-khod-it-sya Tret'-ya-kov-ska-ya ga-le-re-ya?

    Where is the Tretyakov Gallery?

    Usage

    Asking for directions to Russia's premier art gallery

    Grammar Note

    The Tretyakov Gallery was founded by merchant Pavel Tretyakov in the 19th century. It houses the world's greatest collection of Russian fine art.

17. Хочу увидеть озеро Байкал

    Kho-chu u-vi-det' o-ze-ro Bay-kal

    I want to see Lake Baikal

    Usage

    Expressing desire to visit Lake Baikal, the world's deepest lake

    Grammar Note

    "хотеть + perfective infinitive" expresses desire. Lake Baikal holds 20% of the world's unfrozen fresh water and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

18. Хочу поехать по Транссибирской магистрали

    Kho-chu po-ye-khat' po Trans-si-bir-skoy ma-gis-tra-li

    I want to travel on the Trans-Siberian Railway

    Usage

    Expressing desire to travel the Trans-Siberian Railway, the world's longest railway

    Grammar Note

    "по + dative" expresses the route one travels along. The Trans-Siberian Railway spans 9,288 km from Moscow to Vladivostok — the world's longest railway.

19. Сочи — лучший курорт России

    So-chi — luch-shiy ku-rort Ros-si-i

    Sochi is Russia's best resort

    Usage

    Talking about Sochi, Russia's top resort city on the Black Sea

    Grammar Note

    "Лучший" is the superlative of "хороший" (good). "России" is the genitive of "Россия". Sochi hosted the 2014 Winter Olympics.

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