How safe is it for an American tourist in Moskva?

Sep 14, 2009 by Eastern Promise | Posted in Russia

Im going in 2010. Im planning on taking the overnight train from Kiev to Moscow, with my younger cousin, ill be 18, he'll 14.

My father told me I have a great chance on getting robbed in Moscow, because im an American. I know a little Russian, but I have no real command of the language.

Should I rethink my plans, or go?

DON'T BE A LOUD AMERICAN. be as reserved as a russian. i have spent many days in moscow over the past 18 years. i have walked nights to the shops to scrounge for food, slept in the TRAIN STATION kazansky vokzal, ridden the metro ring route for an hour or two to stay warm and pass time until the city opens at 9am. many schoolchildren are always on the metro at night, late evenings. as any city, don't go to the bad places (research it- i don't know them) and always keep your wits about. keep money in a zippered pocket as holiday-crowded metros COULD be a pickpocket's lair. don't freak out from the crowds of people shoulder to shoulder boarding the 100 metre long escalators in the underground.
i never felt unsafe in moscow, quite the opposite. i have stayed in bad hotels that allow foreigners- in 1994 that meant georgians, azerbaidjanees, tajiks, etc. at dirt cheap prices. i kept my mouth shut most of the time, usually saying from czechoslovakia if asked. i let my russian wife do all the talking- BUT IT STILL SHOWS that you are not russian. you should be really ok. i assume you are a traveler and this is not your first flight from the coddling of suburbia. enjoy the sights and life in russia!