Which currencies are easy to exchange in Russia, and which are hard?
US dollars and euros are the easiest: almost any bank with a cash desk and any licensed exchange office in Russia will take them. Chinese yuan is now widely accepted too. British pounds, Swiss francs, Japanese yen and UAE dirhams are exchanged only by some banks, usually at a worse rate, and most other currencies are hard to exchange at all.
Updated September 2026
Dollars, euros and yuan are the safe choice
Dollars and euros are the base of every rate board in Russia. Nearly every bank branch that handles cash and every licensed exchange office (обменник) will buy them, in Moscow and in most regional cities, and the spread is usually the narrowest you will find.
Chinese yuan has moved into the same group. As of 2026 most large banks and many exchange offices take it, especially in Moscow, St Petersburg and cities near the Chinese border. Rates differ from bank to bank, so compare a couple of boards, but finding a counter is not a problem.
Pounds, francs, yen and dirhams: possible, not easy
A second group of currencies is accepted only by some banks, mainly the larger ones in Moscow and St Petersburg. Expect a wider spread, and check the bank’s website before you travel across town. As of 2026 the list looks like this:
- British pounds (GBP)
- Swiss francs (CHF)
- Japanese yen (JPY)
- UAE dirhams (AED)
- A few other currencies at individual banks
Other currencies: change them before you fly
Anything outside those two groups is hard to exchange in Russia. Most banks will simply refuse it, and the rare counter that takes it will price it accordingly. If your home currency is not on the list, buy dollars or euros at home and bring those instead.
The same applies in reverse. Selling foreign cash for rubles is unrestricted, but buying foreign cash with rubles can be limited, so do not count on changing leftover rubles back into a less common currency before you leave.
The condition of the notes matters too
An easy currency is not enough on its own. Banks want clean, undamaged banknotes from newer series; worn, torn or old-series dollars are often refused or taken at a discount. Ask your bank at home for crisp notes.
Exchanging more than 40 000 ₽ at a time requires a passport under Russian law, and a bank may ask for it below that amount as well. Have it with you before you queue.
Cash is also only part of the picture. Most day-to-day spending in Russian cities can go through Russian payment network QR codes instead, so many travellers exchange a modest amount and pay the rest with PayInRussia, topped up online from their own global payment methods.
