Russia is home to around 146 million people and over 190 ethnic groups, making it one of the most diverse countries in the world. Ethnic Russians make up about 80% of the population, but the country also includes significant Tatar, Bashkir, Chechen, Chuvash, and many other communities, each with their own languages and traditions.
The dominant religion is Russian Orthodox Christianity, which has experienced a major revival since the Soviet era. Islam is the second largest faith, concentrated among the Tatars, Bashkirs, and peoples of the North Caucasus. Buddhism has a presence in Buryatia and Kalmykia.
Russians can seem reserved or even stern to outsiders at first. The broad smile that Westerners offer to strangers is not a Russian custom -- smiling at someone you do not know is considered odd. But once you are introduced or invited into someone's home, the warmth and generosity can be overwhelming. Expect to be fed far more than you can eat, offered vodka whether you want it or not, and treated with genuine hospitality.
A few social customs worth knowing: always remove your shoes when entering someone's home. If you are invited for dinner, bring a gift -- flowers (in odd numbers only), chocolate, or wine. Do not shake hands across a doorway. And if someone offers you a toast, it is polite to drink to it.
Russian is the official language and is spoken everywhere. In large cities you will find young people who speak some English, but outside Moscow and St. Petersburg, expect very little English. Learning the Cyrillic alphabet and a few basic phrases will go a long way.