The international access code for Russia is +7. When calling Russia from the US, dial 8-10-7 + city/area code (495 for Moscow and 812 for St. Petersburg).

Public phones are good for local and international calls; phonecards can be bought at newspaper kiosks and post offices. Phone booths in airports and major hotels usually take credit cards but are generally much more expensive than street phones.

Mobile phones work in most large towns and cities. Please note that the majority of mobile phones in Russia operate on a GSM 900 band network. If you intend to use your existing phone and SIM card first check that your provider has an international roaming agreement with one of the local providers, and ensure you have international roaming enabled. For longer term it may be more cost effective to purchase a phone and SIM card package.