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The Best 2 Week Russia Itinerary: What To See & Do In Russia

Written by our local expert SJ

Sarah-Jane has lived in Croatia for 10+ years. SJ, as she is known, has been traveling the Balkans & beyond since 2000. She now shares her passion for traveling with her husband & kids.

Written by Campbell & Alya of  Stingy Nomads. They’ve traveled together to over 30 countries globally, including Africa, Latin America, Asia & Europe.

For many travelers visiting Russia is an adventure on its own ; with huge countries like Russia, it’s often difficult to decide where to go, how to move around. This two-week Russia itinerary allows you to visit both must-see places and more off-the-beaten paths destinations in Russia.

Skip Ahead To My Advice Here!

Best Ways To Move Around Russia

Russia is a vast country for long-distance travel . We’d suggest flying, but budget airline options are quite limited in Russia – so be prepared to shell out some serious Russian Ruble. Also, if you are flying with a local airline, check for their luggage allowance, as it can vary.

For many tourists taking a train in Russia is a must-have experience, especially the Transsiberian or an overnight train from Moscow to St Petersburg . The train system is quite good in general for moving around Russia.

Taking a bus in Russia is also an option, but the costs for a coach are the same as for traveling by train for the same distance and the travel time might be a lot longer and buses, as you know, are much less comfortable.

Renting a car is not very popular for travelers to Russia, as it tends to be a bit of a hassle. There are always lengthy traffic jams, poor road maintenance, and random police inspections. So instead, look to get a private transfer service. 

The Best Two Week Russia Itinerary

Day 1 – 3: st.petersburg.

Russia’s most beautiful and romantic city has a lot to offer, from top world art museums and stunning royal residences to nightlife and shopping.

The best time to visit St.Petersburg is in the summer months of June and July to witness famous White Nights when the city literally doesn’t sleep, and neither do you.

Public transport works quite well in the city with the Metro being the fastest and the easiest way of moving around. One metro trip costs 0,5 Euro. There are hundreds of accommodation options in the city, from hostels to B&Bs and fancy hotels.

St.Petersburg Highlights

• The Hermitage Museum/Winter Palace:  One of the top art museums in the world. It says if you stop at every item (painting, sculpture, or artifact) for 1 second, you’ll need years to finish. In summer, it gets hectic with thousands of people surrounding the main art treasures; Da Vinci, Raphael, Rembrandt’s paintings. Buy your ticket online; it’ll save you a lot of time staying in a long queue outside .
• St. Isaac’s Cathedral: A stunning building crowned with a massive golden dome, inside it’s even more impressive. Not to miss the view from its colonnade, especially at night time.
• Church Of The Savior On Spilled Blood : Probably the most famous and photographed building in the city. Built in the traditional Russian style with many, very similar to the famous St.Basil cathedral on the Red Square in Moscow . Do yourself a favor and go inside; you won’t be disappointed; the interior is impressive, richly decorated in gold, with many fresque paintings.
• The Russian Museum: A great collection of Russian art from old icons to modern painting.
• The Mariinsky Theatre: The main city theatre has three stages; the original one (Old Stage), the Concert Hall, and the Second (modern) stage. All three give performances; ballet, opera, Philharmonic orchestra almost every day.
• Peterhof:  The fountain residence and ex-summer royal residence built as a repetition of Versaille. An impressive palace with golden, hundreds of small and big fountains, a beautiful park, it’s a must-visit place. If you travel with children, they will enjoy a visit there are many joke fountains where they can get soaking wet. Just be sure to bring extra clothes and a towel with you.
• The Catherine Palace and Park:  Another ex-royal summer residence in the southern suburb of St.Petersburg. Catherine Palace is probably the most beautiful palace in the city. The main highlights are the famous restored Amber Room and the Grand Hall.

• White Nights and Drawing Bridges:  These two are strongly associated with each other. White Nights is a fascinating phenomenon when the daylight is basically 24 hours. The shortest night, June 21, in St.Petersburg is less than 2 hours, but in fact , it never gets really dark. Summer is navigation season in the city, the Neva river gets quite busy, but it starts only at night when all the bridges are closed for traffic. The show of opening bridges begins with music and lights between 1 am, and 2 am; thousands of people, locals, and tourists watch it every day.
• St.Petersburg Metro:  Named one of the most beautiful metro systems in the world, and it deserves two hours of your time to explore. The most beautiful metro stations; Admiralteiskaya (the second deepest metro station in the world, 102m), Avtovo, Bukharestskaya, Kirovsky Zavod, Mezhdunarodnaya.

Day 4: Veliky Novgorod

Distance from St.Petersburg 195km takes 2h50min to get here by train.

Located between St.Petersburg and Moscow, the oldest Russian city, founded in 859, is definitely worthy of a day stop, especially for those who like history.

Veliky Novgorod is not a usual stop on any Russia itinerary, but it has many old churches and monasteries . The city is relatively small you can move on foot between the main attractions. To get from the train station take a bus, there is a bus stop in front of it.

You’ll notice that everything here is cheaper than in the capital cities; food, accommodation, souvenirs , and entrance fees. There are three of four hostels and quite a few hotels, both budget, and luxury , in the city.

Veliky Novgorod Highlights

• Novgorod Kremlin (Detinets):  The oldest Kremlin in Russia.
• St.Sophia Cathedral
• Yuriev Monastery
• The Millenium of Russia Monument
• Vitoslavlitsy Museum Of Wooden Architecture

Day 5 – 7: Moscow

Distance from Novgorod 537km takes 8 hours to arrive by night train.

Crazy and bustling Russian capital city is a strange mix of everything; old-style Russian churches neighboring with skyscrapers of Moscow City. Moscow is famous for the terrible traffic; the Metro is the best way to move around the city , it’s cheap, 0,6 Euro per trip, and fast in the rush hours it gets hectic.

There are many hostels, B&Bs and hotels in the city for any budget , the most important thing is to find a place in the city center, or as close to it as possible otherwise you risk spending quite a lot of time commuting.

Moscow Highlights

Like any capital city, there are many things to do and places to see , to explore Moscow you’ll need a lot of time, but you’ll be able to visit its highlights in three days.

• Moscow Kremlin:  The most iconic building in Russia and one of the most famous in the world. The complex is big with a lot to see; Armoury museum, Diamond Fund, the Grand Kremlin Palace, Patriarch Palace, Ivan the Great Bell Tower, Assumption Cathedral, and more.
• Red Square:  Its name doesn’t come from the color as many people think; in old Russian, “red” (Rus. “Krasny”) meant “beautiful.” Most of the central city sights are located on the square. Tip. Come here early morning, at 6 am, and you’ll get the square all to yourself without the crowds.
• St. Basil’s Cathedral: A favorite tourist attraction, its colorful domes and strange, vivid decoration contrast with traditional Russian churches found all over the city. It was built in the 16th century during the reign of Ivan the Terrible. City legend says that the cathedral architects were blinded to make sure they would not be able to build anything similar ever again.
• The Tretyakov Gallery:  The most significant collection of Russian art from to XX century. The building itself is fascinating.
• The Novodevichy Convent and Cemetery: The convent was founded in 1524 by Vasili III; during its history hosted many ladies from the Russian royal family who were forced to take the veil.
• Kolomenskoye:  Located 12km from Moscow, this complex consists of many buildings representing different eras of traditional Russian architecture; the White Column of Kolomenskoye, the Wooden Palace, Church of John the Baptist, Church of Our Lady of Kazan, etc. This trip takes half of a day .
• Moscow Metro: 212 stations with a total route length of 360km; it is the sixth-longest metro system in the world. But it is not just the size that is most impressive – it is also about its beauty.  Some stations look like palaces. The most spectacular stations are Komsomolskaya, Kievskaya, Novoslobodskaya, and Ploshchad’ Revolyutsii. The best time to explore the Moscow metro is Saturday and Sunday morning.

Day 8 – 9: Kazan

Distance from Moscow 825km takes 11 hours to get by night train.

Kazan is very different from St.Petersburg and Moscow, and visiting it will give you a more complete picture of Russia.

The city is becoming a new tourist attraction in Russia; in the last years, its infrastructure was improved significantly with FIFA World Cup games taking place here, the city got a new stadium and even a new metro. However, it’s relatively small and has only ten stations.

Kazan has the largest Muslim population in Russia, an interesting place to come, a unique mix of European and Asian traditions and culture. Due to recent significant sports events, many hostels and budget hotels were recently opened in the city.

Kazan Highlights

• Kazan Kremlin:  Don’t be surprised, there is a Kremlin in every old Russian town. In fact, the Moscow Kremlin is one of the youngest out of all of them, although the most famous one.
• Kul Sharif Mosque:  The biggest mosque in Russia.
• Millenium Park of Kazan
• Epiphany Cathedral and The Bell Tower
• Syuyumbike Leaning Tower

Day 10 – 12: Sochi

Distance from Kazan 2000km, there are three flights per week, duration 2h40min.

A subtropical sea city might be the last most people imagine when thinking of Russia.

The city is busy all year round; in summer, many locals come here seeking sea and sun; in winter, it welcomes ski and snowboard enthusiasts, mainly from the capital cities. The local infrastructure and hospitality service was improved quite a lot for the Winter Olympic Games.

There are many hotels and resorts in the city for holiday travelers, but it’s possible to find a hostel, price from 5 Euro per dorm bed. Chilling on the beach (though it’s rocky), swimming in warm water, hiking to the waterfalls , or exploring the nearby subtropical forest, all these you can do here.

Sochi Highlights

• Sochi Botanical Garden
• Olympic Sochi Park
• Krasnaya Polyana
• Aquapark Amphibius
• Caucasian Biosphere Reserve

Day 13: Sochi to St.Petersburg, Train/Flight

The longest distance traveled on this trip , 2339km. A train journey takes almost two days, usually two nights and one full day. For a comfortable ride, take the Severnaya Palmira train; it has AC, wi-fi, personal power outlets, showers, hot water boiler, and includes a hot meal. A flight is a better option if you have some extra cash; there are three daily flights between two cities, duration 3h10min.

Day 14: St.Petersburg

On the last day, you can relax, do souvenir shopping , wander around the city or maybe visit more city attractions. As an alternative to the standard sights and tours, you can do a roof tour or visit one of the modern art museums , e.g., Street Art museum, Erarta.

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Russia Travel Planning Tips

To move around the country take night trains this way you save time by traveling at night and save money on accommodation. Night trains have bunk beds and are comfortable enough for sleeping.

In big cities Moscow, St.Petersburg, Kazan, Couchsurfing is quite popular if you’d like to get some insider tips and meet locals , it’s a great way to do it.

Buy train tickets online on the official Russian Railways website – it’s easy you can choose your seats and best price range, it’s easier than trying to explain all these at a ticket office.

Download Google Translator as it works well with Russian – English language combination and translates even written text if you scan it.

How To Get To Russia

Flying to russia.

This is the fastest way to get the most out of any Russia itinerary.

More than likely, your flight will arrive in Moscow as it has the best air connection with international destinations . If you have a connecting flight to catch in Moscow: make sure your arrival and departure airport are not the same. There are three airports in the city , and sometimes all operate local and international flights, and to commute between them is a nightmare even at night.

Your second option is to fly into St.Petersburg. Numerous international airlines arrive and depart there. If you have a choice, choose this one, as it’s an easier option. There is only one airport and to get to the city center by public transport only takes 30-40min.

Taking A Train To Russia

Several train routes connect St.Petersburg and Moscow with some European capitals; Helsinki, Berlin, Warsaw, Vienna, Prague, Tallinn; most of them depart once a week , except Helsinki and Tallinn, these go every day. Prices are between 30 Euro and 250 Euro, depending on the distance.

Russia  By Bus

It’s an option if you come from one of the nearby countries; many buses connect St.Petersburg with Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Belarus . Bus tickets are usually relatively cheap, from 10 Euro.

Arriving To Russia By Sea

This option is basically limited to St.Petersburg; several cruises go to Scandinavian countries , Finland and Estonia, and make a stop here; ferries passengers are allowed to stay within St.Petersburg without a visa for 72 hours.

More Russia Travel Blogs

• What’s So Great About Russia? Know Before You Go!
• Traditional Food In Russia You have a Try

Comments (21)

thanks for sharing,pictures are really cool

I appreciate for your blog post, Thanks for sharing.

Nice Blog, I have been Russia in the month of August and I indeed such a beautiful country it is, will consider this to visit it again.

Nice Blog, I hope I have a chance to go to Russia.

Did any of your hotels register you during your stay ?

Yes, all of them had to back when I went – maybe rules are different now.

This two week experience is the finest experience for every new travelers who want to go for Russia. Thanks

This is a very nice itinerary that enables you to explore the country in just a few days. Thank you for giving us transport at a glance, this enables people plan better.

Really enjoyed this, thanks for the information you provided here!

Very nice Itinerary! It cover the best travel essential in Russia. Great Photography Too.

great blog…….i loved russia

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7 bloggers who’ll take you across Russia (PHOTOS)

1. Ksenia Minerva

Ksenia, 25, still lived in St.Petersburg in early 2021, working as a motion designer who daydreamed of adventure. She bought a mobile home in June, took her dog Busty along for the ride and the pair began travelling Russia.

She uses a gas cooker to prepare food, sleeps in the mobile home and a tent, replenishes her water supplies at gas stations, charges her equipment using solar batteries and even manages to use a hair straightener with the aid of a small power generator. 

She travels the taiga, the Far North, as well as southern Russia and likes to stop overnight in the mountains, woods and even desert islands. All of this beauty is, of course, shared with her followers. She also does streams to talk about the difficulties of living in the wilderness.

More here: Instagram , TikTok

3. Anna Korob

In 2018, Anna accidentally came across an old silver ruble from the time of Nicholas II’s reign. This led to an obsession with numismatics, followed by history and Russian architecture. She began collecting coins, studying the past, visiting old mansions and churches across the country and documenting it all in her blog.

“Each trip is like a little lifetime of its own. Thousands of kilometers by car through swamps, fields or highland serpentines, morning coffee at gas stations, misty dawns, interesting new acquaintances and stories told by locals, as well as chance encounters with wild animals and so much more…” Anna writes. 

With her blog, she seeks to draw attention to disappearing architectural monuments, claiming that there are thousands to explore - from Kaliningrad to Vladivostok. 

5. Artem Ray

Given that international travel was temporarily halted during the pandemic, Artem set about traversing Russia. 

Half a year ago, he began showing interesting Moscow and regional spots on his Instagram account. As a result, his blog turned into a mixture of the coziest and most atmospheric locations with wooden ‘izbas’, French-style castles, lighthouses and the most beautiful mansions across Russia.

“This life with its daily grind sucks you in like quicksand. You’re constantly solving issues related to work, studies and accommodation and, at some point, you begin to realize that you’re living the same scenario over and over again, while new experiences are reduced to a minimum… Traveling across Russia and blogging about it, therefore, are a source of inspiration, motivation and of sense of purpose, as well as a source of pleasure,” Artem writes. 

Russian travel tips: 30 things to know before visiting Russia for the first time

September 1, 2018 by Karen Turner 7 Comments

Earlier this year, I was invited by a Russian friend to spend New Year’s Eve with his family.  I realize that my experience traveling to Russia may be atypical for other travelers as we spent the trip with friends, however I hope that my experience helps you prepare to visiting Russia for the first time.

Seeing Moscow and the surrounding areas with my friend gave me the opportunity to see a side of Russia that many tourists don’t get to see as well as some of the main tourist attractions in Moscow. I’ve included a number of Russian travel tips as well as a few things that surprised me about traveling in Russia.

• 1 You can do independent travel in Russia, but it may not always be easy to find information
• 2 Learn the Cyrillic alphabet
• 3 Learn some useful Russian expressions
• 4 Credit Cards are accepted almost everywhere, but book things online was annoying
• 5 Russian hospitality is out of this world
• 6 Take your shoes off when entering someone’s home. 
• 7 The visa process is not easy for many nationalities
• 8 Checking your coat (during winter) is typically free and you may not be allowed into a museum without taking it off
• 9 The Metro stations in Moscow are worth admiring
• 10 The cities are very large
• 11 Book your tickets in advance for the major tourist attractions
• 12 Say goodbye to Google Maps and hello to Yandex for Maps
• 13 WiFi can be found, but you might not be able to sign on without a non-Russian phone number
• 14 Eating Russian food and other options…
• 15 Most people don’t speak English
• 16 Download a translation app before you go
• 17 People are excited to speak about English and…it can get weird
• 18 Russian architecture is incredible
• 19 Politics are better not discussed
• 20 If you’re visiting a city, you should be able to ask at your hotel for an English speaking guide.
• 21 Tea is more ubiquitous than coffee
• 22 Expect Central European prices in the major cities and things to be cheaper outside of the major cities
• 23 Visit at least one monastery 
• 24 Plan a visit to the flea markets for unique souvenirs
• 25 Be sure to visit a Russian banya and enjoy your bath
• 26 If you want to visit the Christmas markets, remember that Russia is majority Orthodox
• 27 Don’t drink (only) vodka
• 28 Russia is safe, but pickpockets definitely exist
• 29 Winter in Russia isn’t so bad, but different
• 30 Russian holidays to be aware of as it may drive up prices
• 31 Bring some nicer outfits if you’ll be going out to dinner or attending a dinner with a family
• 32 To get the best exchange rate, use a ATM. 
• 33 Standard European plugs are used
• 34 Russia is a huge country, so don’t underestimate your time traveling between cities that seem close on a map
• 35 Buy a Troika card in Moscow
• 36 Ask your Russian hosts for their version of cheers
• 37 Some amazing hotels that have remained intact since Soviet times still exist
• 38 The airports are outside of the city center
• 39 Have you visited Russia? Any travel tips you’d add?

You can do independent travel in Russia, but it may not always be easy to find information

I ended up doing a lot of research before our trip to Russia and it turns out that most people go with a tour.  There’s nothing wrong with doing a tour, especially if you’re not language inclined.  However, if you’re an experienced traveler who has been to a country where you encouraged somewhat of a language barrier and the alphabet was not readable to you, you should be fine.   

Depending on your visa situation, you might need to pre-book your hotels in order to get the visa.  Although not everyone is a big planner, the visa does require a bit of legwork if you intend to travel independently.  I’d recommend making an excel of your intended dates and whether you booked a hotel (with free cancellation) for those dates.

I encourage you to leave the main cities although it will be harder if you don’t speak Russian.  Finding information in English or your native language (that isn’t Russian) may be a bit tricky, however it is out there. 

It is fairly easy to hire a guide and I’ve heard that the Russian Couchsurfing community is very friendly.  I found the Lonely Planet Russia guidebook to be very helpful with giving us great recommendations consistently.

Learn the Cyrillic alphabet

This is my number one tip for traveling in Russia!  Even in Moscow where the Metro steps are announced in English, you need to figure out which direction you’re going in.  Without knowing the Cyrillic alphabet, this will be difficult as most of the establishments that we visited did not have English menus.  I learned the Cyrillic alphabet in about four hours , so it’s very easy–and doable on your plane ride.

Credit Cards are accepted almost everywhere, but book things online was annoying

I tried to book a couple of things in advance before my trip, however my credit card wasn’t always working well or I had to call to unlock it as my credit card company was worried that I had been hacked.  After setting up a travel notice on my account, we arrived in Russia. 

I took out a small amount of cash, however in general, we rarely used cash as almost every single shop took cards.  Basically every card was accepted although I’d definitely recommend a card with a chip.

The only thing that I found a bit strange was nobody ever asked for my signature and/or checked my name on my card against a form of identification.  Usually, staff at the various restaurants showed us the bills, put the card in, and handed it back.  It was that simple. 

Russian hospitality is out of this world

Somehow, Russians have a reputation for being unfriendly and cold.  I can personally attest to the degree of Russian hospitality that we visited and how warm we found the hospitality to be.  To be fair, finding a Russian friend might take a little effort, but you might have luck through different hospitality networks if you’re traveling in Russia.  You might be surprised how friendly Russians are, so expect to attract some attention if people hear you speaking English in public.

Originally, we intended to stay at hotels the entire time, however my friend and his parents refused to let us do this for the majority of our stay.   Prior to our visit, my friend’s parents offered their apartment while they were off on vacation to us to stay at together with our friend.  This was a very thoughtful gesture, but the story continues.

As we walked up to the building, I noticed a lot of signs indicating that there would be wet paint inside the building.  We carefully dodged the wet paint and made a comment about it.  My friend tells us that his mother specifically told the custodian of the building that she would have guests coming from the United States to visit, so the entire apartment building was repainted in time for our arrival.  

Our friend and his family were so generous with us.  They endlessly fed us, attempted to entertain us as much as possible as the language barrier allowed, and also wrapped us in scarves when we looked cold.   Simply, we felt at home almost immediately and I came away with the trip trying to compare it to anywhere else I’ve been.  The closest that I’ve experienced elsewhere was with my own family or with my husband’s parents.

Take your shoes off when entering someone’s home. 

People do not keep their shoes on while inside someone’s house.  Remove your shoes and put on slippers if they’re available.   It’s rude otherwise.

The visa process is not easy for many nationalities

Depending on your nationality, the visa process for Russia might be difficult and expensive.  The visa process for Americans was not easy or cheap, but it was worth it.  My friend encouraged us to go through a secondary agency who may have the ability to speed up the process compared to going to the embassy.

Checking your coat (during winter) is typically free and you may not be allowed into a museum without taking it off

At least for me, it took a bit of getting used to, but most establishments, including restaurants and museums, have a coat rack that is free and available for use.  Most people leave their coats at the door and they’ll look at you funny if they see that you’re trying to enter with your coat on.  While at a museum in Yaroslavl , I tried to keep my coat as I was cold, however the staff would not let me inside with my coat on.

The Metro stations in Moscow are worth admiring

It’s weird to write that you cannot miss the metro stations in Moscow, however the Moscow metro is an amazing historical artifact. It was built during Soviet times and the idea behind many of the early stations was to inspire the population with propaganda.  As a New Yorker, I was shocked at how incredibly clean the Metro lines are in Moscow.   I’d recommend taking a tour of the Moscow Metro to fully appreciate its stunning stations.

The cities are very large

Moscow itself is a sprawling metropolis with over 11.92 million residents.  Really.  It is the largest city on the European continent, so do not underestimate how long it may take to get between two places on the map. 

I recommend paying very close to attention to your hotel’s location.  Ensure that you will be along a metro stop if you’re staying in Moscow or St. Petersburg as the other train system is not as tourist-friendly. 

We stayed mostly on the outskirts of Moscow and ended up dealing with a separate train system: the suburban train system.  This system was very affordable, however buying a ticket can be quite intimidating if you are not well-versed in Russian.   There are faster as well as slower trains that will bring you closer to the city center.  After missing a fast train from one point in the city center, it took over 1.5 hours to return on the slow train…  

Book your tickets in advance for the major tourist attractions

If you intend to visit most of the major attractions, expect major crowds.  If you don’t want to wait in line, you can purchase your tickets ahead with a tour company who will be able to explain the historical or religious significance of what you’re seeing.

Say goodbye to Google Maps and hello to Yandex for Maps

Google did work while we were in Russia, however Google Maps didn’t work as well as Yandex Maps .  Yandex is the homegrown Russian equivalent of Google who has a host of applications that you can download onto your phone.  I found their maps to be far more accurate and actually very intuitive for non-Russian speakers.

WiFi can be found, but you might not be able to sign on without a non-Russian phone number

Although WiFi was generally available and there would be signs for it, many of the Russian WiFi networks require a Russian phone number in order to log on.  A foreign phone number is not possible in many cases.  As a result, I didn’t have WiFi for many of the days that we were there as roaming charges were high.

If you intend to use your phone while in Russia, a Russian travel tip would be to purchase a cheap Russian SIM card, which will probably be cheaper than your home network.  The major Russian phone companies are MTS, Beeline, and Megafon.  Similarly, it will allow you to access the various “free” WiFi networks.  There is free WiFi on the Moscow metro trains if you get desperate…

Most people don’t speak English

Unfortunately, many older Russians do not speak English. With the younger generation, English is becoming more common, but it’s still not widely spoken.  You can find English more widely spoken within Russia’s major cities.

In general, I recommend using caution about what you say in English in public, especially if you are in Moscow or St. Petersburg, as many people in these cities do speak English very well.

Even while we were dining at a local restaurant, a man came up to us after hearing the three of us talking in English after eavesdropping on our conversation for 20 minutes from the next booth after.  He wanted to just mention that he worked in a similar field and ask us where we were from in the United States, so be on your best behavior. You never know.

Download a translation app before you go

Google Translate offline was very handy on my phone as I was able to take a picture of a couple things that I wasn’t sure of and have an instant translation.   Yandex Translate  is slightly better for Russian translations.

People are excited to speak about English and…it can get weird

Many of the people that we met who did speak English were very excited about practicing English with us and to ask where we were from.   Expect Russians to ask you about your hometown or country. 

As Americans, we felt like people were actually very warm towards us.   People certainly would pay attention to us on the street after hearing us speak English and a number of strangers came up to us to talk on the street daily in Moscow.  Even my Russian friend found this bizarre…

All of these conversations were benign, but some interactions took a turn towards the weird side.. While at a train station in Moscow, my husband ordered a drink at a cafe.  A Russian man heard him ordering and introduced himself. He immediately decided to sing the Kokomo song from the Beach Boys with the lyrics messed up with the words, “Bahama, USA.”  He asked Jacob if he recognized it and continued to sing it over and over hoping that it would result in….something.   Another interaction resulted in a hug outside of a bar.

In general, people kept coming up to Jacob to ask where he was from (in English).  In a single day, this happened five separate times while we were in Moscow.  A man on a suburban train who refused to believe that Jacob was from Kentucky, asked to see his passport to verify, then told us everything that he knew about Kentucky.  

Russian architecture is incredible

I was blown away by the stunning architecture that we saw in Russia. In the major cities, you’ll find many streets reminiscent of other European cities with ornate exteriors.  The churches were also incredibly beautiful and unique.  

As someone who grew up in the US, I was also fascinated by the Soviet side of things, so don’t miss the seven sisters in Moscow.  These Stalin-era skyscrapers are incredibly impressive and large.  Even underground, you’ll find the metro stations in Moscow to be incredibly ornate and beautiful. 

Politics are better not discussed

A lot of people are not comfortable discussing politics and it’s generally better not to broach it unless you know the person well or they start the conversation.  

If you’re visiting a city, you should be able to ask at your hotel for an English speaking guide.

Most things outside of major cities are really geared towards Russians, who often travel within Russia.  As a result, not all tour guides will speak English well.  Most hotels will have tour guides available to call who you can hire for the day for an impromptu private tour.  My friend’s parents did this while we were in Yaroslavl and they said it wasn’t very expensive.

Tea is more ubiquitous than coffee

Russian tea culture is incredibly well developed.  You can find tea basically everywhere.  Even if you’re not a big tea drinker, like me, you might be surprised by the variants of the tea that you’ll find, especially at home.  Tea is easy and cheap to buy at booths and cafes all around Moscow.  Western-style coffee shops are still not overly common, but becoming more popular in major cities.

Expect Central European prices in the major cities and things to be cheaper outside of the major cities

Costs in Russia were what you’d pay while traveling in Central Europe.  They weren’t horribly expensive although hotels in Moscow were on the higher side (30-85 euros per night) depending on how nice the hotel is and your timing.  Expect to pay around 45-55 euros for a decent 3-4* hotel that isn’t a international chain. 

Food prices were on par with what you’d expect for Central Europe within Moscow.  At no point was I really shocked at the bill, however I paid around 8-15 euros for a decent meal.   Groceries and alcohol were a lot cheaper, on par with Central Europe. If you’re sticking to slightly nicer restaurants, you’ll spend more, but it’s possible to spend less than this if you stick to local restaurants and typically Russian food (like dumplings). 

Visit at least one monastery 

We visited the Sergiyev Posad monastery outside of Moscow.  The architecture were incredible and a nice change from the major cities.  It’s hard to describe how incredibly large these complexes are and luckily, the Sergiev Posad monastery is fairly tourist-friendly. 

Russian churches expect women to wear skirts that are on the longer side (below the knee) and to cover their head when entering.  Even when visiting Sergiev Posad in winter, I was surprised by how covered up many women were, so bring extra clothing to wear into the churches.  They’re absolutely stunning and worth the extra weight for.

Plan a visit to the flea markets for unique souvenirs

For the most unique souvenirs, head to the flea market.  We ended up visiting the  Izmaylovsky market  in Mosocw, which is a great place to pick up some unique souvenirs.  My favorite souvenirs from our trip were our hats and and a decorated tea cup holder with a rare Soviet-era tea glass inside.

Be sure to visit a Russian banya and enjoy your bath

A Russian banya is a unique experience to have while in Russia.  In winter, many people feel that the banya gives them a burst of energy to start off the day with.   I found the banya to be very good for my skin.

Banyas are gender separated in general although it’s okay for married couples to go together if it’s a private banya.  Some Russians even have their own private banya, especially if they have a self-standing house.  You can read more about visiting a banya here.

If you want to visit the Christmas markets, remember that Russia is majority Orthodox

Christmas in Russia is really cool to experience.  Expect to find Christmas markets around the New Year’s period and in early January prior to the 7th. We were lucky enough to be there for the Christmas lead-up and the Christmas markets were a lot of fun to browse. 

I visited one of the main Moscow Christmas markets and ended up finding lots of great souvenirs, including a birch coffee container.  (Birch is considered to be a symbol of Russia.)

Don’t drink (only) vodka

We didn’t have vodka once while in Russia and Russians get annoyed by these stereotypes.  Instead, we drank what our friend and his family drank: some sparkling wine, whiskeys from former Soviet republics, and on occasion, some beers.  The craft beer scene in Russia is growing and I was impressed with the local beer that I tried in Moscow.  

Russia is safe, but pickpockets definitely exist

Russia felt very safe while we were there.  We had no hassle and it’s like any city in the world: there’s crime and you need to pay attention to your surroundings. We were warned by my friend about pickpockets on the Metro, but we didn’t have any issues. In general, I never felt nervous about walking around, even at night when we were virtually alone.

Winter in Russia isn’t so bad, but different

Winter is a nice time to visit Russia as it opens up the opportunity for many more activities in the snow.  Unfortunately, we visited during a  warm winter , so the snow was not deep enough to go dogsledding with the dogs that belonged to my friend’s uncle. However, you can still enjoy hiking as the snow generally freezes over well enough that you can walk on it with a good pair of wool boots.

Dress warmly and in layers.  I ended up wearing my warm jacket with a t-shirt and a sweater underneath as needed with jeans.  This was enough, however I’d recommend a warm hat, gloves, and a scarf.  The wind chill is what often bothered me the most.

In terms of shoes (even in winter), you don’t need snow boots for traveling in Russia in winter if you’re only visiting the major cities as a good waterproof pair of shoes will do the trick.  I wore my waterproof booties, which were fine for Moscow.  I saw a lot of ladies wearing heels or heeled boots out in Moscow, so you’ll feel pretty underdressed if you’re wearing snow boots.

Russian holidays to be aware of as it may drive up prices

Shortly around New Years is a major Russian bank holiday and many people will travel between New Years (December 31st) and Christmas (7th of January).  As a result, expect elevated prices during this time as many people will visit the major cities for shopping. Moscow was incredibly busy when we were there and it also made hotels more expensive….  Another major holiday is Victory Day (May 9th).

Bring some nicer outfits if you’ll be going out to dinner or attending a dinner with a family

To say the least, Russian women know how to dress well.  I chronically felt underdressed, even though I packed a couple of dresses that I’d consider nice by Dutch or American standards.  If you intend to eat out at a nice restaurant as well as go out at a nicer establishment, bring some nicer outfits suitable for a really nice evening out with you.

To get the best exchange rate, use a ATM. 

In general, I recommend using an ATM to get the best exchange rate if you intend to take out cash.    If you need to exchange money, you can do this at a bank in order to get better rates, but I’d recommend minimizing foreign cash as the ruble is the Russian currency. 

Standard European plugs are used

This is a small note, but it’s the same two pronged plug used in the rest of Europe (besides the UK).  If you’re traveling from elsewhere, you might want to buy a European travel adapter for your electronics.

Russia is a huge country, so don’t underestimate your time traveling between cities that seem close on a map

We only had about two weeks and I was in the Moscow area.  I still feel that there’s a lot more to see in Moscow as well as other cities that I didn’t get to visit in the Golden Ring .  For this reason, I’d recommend ensuring that you have enough time to see the cities.

The most popular journey between Moscow and St. Petersburg is an overnight train between the cities that is quite luxurious (according to my friend), however it takes about eight hours.  If you only have a week, plan accordingly as Moscow can easily take up five days.

Buy a Troika card in Moscow

St. Petersburg also has a similar item, however the Troika card is a contactless reusable card used for the Moscow metro.  You can reload the card with ten rides (as we did), which made it easy enough to get around without having to worry about the balance.   The card itself costs 50 roubles and you can reload it at any Moscow Metro station.  It’s worth it, even just to see the stunning metro stations.

Ask your Russian hosts for their version of cheers

When we were staying with my friend, his uncle had his own version from the village near where we were staying.  That was the version that we used for most of our stay, however ask first to see what you host prefers to use. 

Some amazing hotels that have remained intact since Soviet times still exist

While looking at hotels, I ended up finding a few hotels that have barely changed since the Soviet era.  In particular, we stayed at Legendary Hotel Sovietsky, a hotel that has been mostly unchanged since Soviet times.  This hotel commissioned by Stalin himself was built in 1952 and it has marbled-columns as well as wood paneled rooms.  It did not disappoint to say the least.

Its famous Yar restaurant was moved from another location and was the site of a favorite theatre where famous Russian authors would dine in Czarist times….  It has been restored and it was used for party meetings and as well as banquets.  (It’s absolutely stunning if you get the chance to peek inside…)

The airports are outside of the city center

If you have a layover at one of the airports in Moscow or St. Petersburg, be warned that the airports are outside of the cities.  Plan accordingly for the transit time as it took us about 1.5 hours to reach the airport from our accommodation.

Luckily, Moscow has a high-speed train (Aeroexpress) that connects the airport with the city for a reasonable cost.  However, we still lost quite a bit of time navigating to the station where we caught the airport train.  Ensure that you’re heading to the right airport as well. 😉 

Have you visited Russia? Any travel tips you’d add?

About Karen Turner

New Yorker–born and raised. Currently living in the Hague, the Netherlands after stints in Paris and Amsterdam. Lover of travel, adventure, nature, city, dresses, and cats.

Reader Interactions

April 13, 2019 at 7:30 am

Very useful information Karen. We are planning a trip to Russia and have started reading blogsites in advance. You have touched on many aspects. Thanks.

June 26, 2019 at 3:45 pm

thank you for your sharing your experience in RZUDSIA. YES, IT IS VERY HELPFUL INFO. AD I AM VISITING RUSSIA SOON.

July 13, 2019 at 6:44 pm

Great article! Thank you for sharing many useful details,. We are going to Russia next week.

October 3, 2019 at 7:59 pm

Thanks Karen! Nice article! We are planning to visit In April and your advice will be helpful.

November 25, 2019 at 7:59 pm

Greetings, Any tour company you recommend? We’re plan to visit without specific dates just doing homework for family 2 adults and 2 kids ages 10 and 14yrs old.

December 9, 2019 at 3:25 pm

I went independently, so apologies as I can’t help here!

[…] friends and really get the most out of these conversations. If you find yourself traveling to Russia in the near future, this is a great way to learn some Russian phrases as well as […]

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Russia Travel Guide

Your ultimate russia travel guide, with tips, and things to see and things to do in russia. great for first-time and returning travelers..

Russia, the world’s largest country. From off-the-beaten-path destinations, like Irkutsk, to the idyllic countryside to glittering palaces and ancient fortresses to vodka induced parties that last until the wee hours of the morning, Russia definitely has it all. 

This Russia travel guide will help you plan your next vacation.

Popular City Guides

Our highlight.

Table of contents

Table of Contents

Fast Facts about Russia

• Russian power voltage is 220V 50Hz;  Plug C
• The Russian currency is the Russian ruble and is around 69 RUB to 1 USD
• Get your visa well in advance . North Americans and most Europeans will need visas to enter Russia. The official invitation option has been dropped, however people still need to show certain documents, such as hotel confirmation letters, bank/income statements or a travel insurance policy.
• Upon arrival you will be handed a  migration card  that is either filled out or blank (which you will need to fill out yourself!) You will need this card to register at hotels and to leave the country so make sure you don’t lose it!
• Be extremely careful at zebra crossing / crosswalks.  There are times when cars will not slow down and will fail to give way.  Never assume that a driver will stop for you when you cross the street. 
• When buying art you need the piece certified as being  culturally insignificant  to have it pass through customs. It can take time to get the proper documents, so it is advisable to avoid buying art if you are visiting Russia for a short time.
• Women should cover their heads with a scarf in Orthodox churches, if it is an active church.
• Travelers are advised against all travel to Chechnya, Ingushetia and Dagestan, as well as all but essential travel to North Ossetia, Karachai-Cherkessia and Kabardino-Balkaria.
• Avoid drinking water from the faucet, especially in St. Petersburg. The water leaving the purification plant is fine but the water pipe system is woefully outdated and the purified water is often contaminated with city ground water.

Things to See and Do in Russia

• Climbing Mt Elbrus  – You don’t have to pay a fee to conquer the 5640m European peak.
• Hiking in the Altai Region  –The region has incredible spots for hiking and beautiful scenery.
• Moscow Kremlin  – Features cathedrals built in the 15th and 16th centuries.
• Hermitage Museum  – Features over 3 million art and culture exhibitions.
• Attend a concert  – You’ll enjoy a stunning performance at the Moscow International Performing Arts Center.
• The Magnificent Moscow Metro  – the metro system is more of an art deco design project than a transport hub.
• The Astrakhan Kremlin  – Located on the banks of the Volga River ever so close to the Caspian Sea, this pleasant waterfront city boasts a bustling boardwalk complete with jugglers, rollerbladers, performers and vendors.

Russia Travel Guides

17 Exciting Things to do in Moscow

• Mongolia Pictures from the Russian Border to the Gobi Desert
• Motherland Calls – Mother Russia Stands Proud Over Volgograd

Accommodation

Budget  – Some budget hotels can be found in Russia starting at $15 US per night. They may include free Wi-Fi and a private room.

Mid Range  – Mid-range hotels start around $85 per night. They may include a restaurant, family rooms, and a lounge.

High End  – Luxury hotels are priced at $200 – $300 per night. These hotels offer high-end amenities such as indoor pools, fitness centers, and spas.

Check out our favorite booking platforms  Booking.com ,  Tripadvisor  and  Air B&B  for the best deals on accommodation in Russia.

• Pelmeni  – Pastry dumpling filled with meat.
• Borscht  –Soup made with beetroot. 
• Blini  – Thin pancakes that resemble crepes.
• Solyanka  – Stew made with meat, pickles, onions, herbs, and spices. 
• Kvass  –A beverage made from rye bread. 
• Plov  – Seasoned rice with meat.
• Okroshka soup  – Made with yogurt, mayonnaise, or kvass. 

The Best Ways to Get Around Russia

Getting to russia:.

Flights:  The main airports in Russia that have international flights include Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, and Vnukovo. These airports receive flights from many countries, including Britain, Turkey, Egypt, Spin, France, and many more.

You can check for the best flights to Russia on  Skyscanner .

Transportation:

Buses : In Russia, you can get around by bus at affordable prices. The general cost of bus fare in Russia is as low as $1.

Taxis / Uber : Taxis are available in almost every part of Russia. Some of the popular taxi services are Yandex Taxi, Taxi Moscow International, and Lingo Taxi. Taxi prices in Russia start from $13 for a distance of 1.5 KM.

Car Rental:  In Russia, there are both local and international car rental services such as Avis, Europcar, Hertz, Sixt, Prokat Auto, and Arenda Car. On average, a rental car in Russia costs $45 a day. You can also compare  prices here .

When to go To Russia

Russia  has a largely continental  climate  because of its sheer size with warm to hot dry summers and cold winters with temperatures of -30°C and lower and sometimes heavy snowfall. 

In Moscow and St. Petersburg the first snow usually falls in late November and stays till early April. The average winter temperature is about -10°C. Much of the country experiences only two main seasons: summer and winter.

• Russia has four seasons and there is no bad time to visit Russia if you are prepared for the weather.
• It has a very similar climate to Canada.
• Summer (June to August) is a good time for road trips , hiking, and exploring cities.
• Winter (November to February) is great for skiing, ice skating, and winter carnivals.
• Spring (late March to May) can be unpredictable with a mix of snow, rain and warm sunshine and the same can be said for Autumn (September/October) although Autumn is usually dry.

Where to Stay in Russia

• Four Seasons Hotel Moscow  – Located just steps from Red Square, this hotel offers luxury accommodation and many incredible amenities for travelers.
• Kempinski Hotel Moika  – This is a great place to stay in Zenit St Petersburg. The hotel offers warmly decorated rooms, entertainment facilities, among many other amenities.
• Vysotskiy   – This is one of the best hotels for tourists in Yekaterinburg. It offers genteel rooms, suites, city views and spa.

What to Pack for Russia

• Layers –  You could possibly be sweating all afternoon and then be freezing by nightfall! Make sure to stock up on the layers. If you plan on heading to Russia during the winter make sure to pack the  winter essentials:  Warm, waterproof, fleece-lined boots big enough to wear with heavy wool socks, hat, waterproof gloves and thermal long underwear!
• Classic Basic items  – You do not need to be a fashionista to blend in. The key is in embracing neutral toned items that can be mixed and matched easily. Avoid logos, baseball caps, shorts, hoodies, flip-flops and running shoes as these items scream  tourist!
• Rain Essentials –  the weather can be a little unpredictable so make sure to pack a lightweight easily compacted waterproof/windproof jacket and a pair of waterproof boots.
• Personal Safety products  – Certain areas in Moscow and St. Petersburg are known as pickpocket hotspots. Before leaving for your trip, make sure to pack some  personal safety products , like money belts and locks, so that you can keep your valuables safe on your trip.

See our packing tips:  packing tips

Russia Travel Guide: Best Booking Resources

Whenever we travel to we make sure to start with these companies. We have tried a lot of different ones over the years and all of these have consistently proven to be the best when it comes to offering great prices.

We have used every one of these personally and continue to do so.

• Booking.com : This is our go site to when comparing prices for accommodation. It usually has the cheapest prices, especially in Europe and we love their interface. Not to mention you get free cancellation and you are guaranteed the best price.
• Trip Advisor :  What we like about Trip Advisor is that we can look at all the reviews and then book our accommodation. TripAdvisor is where we go when we want to compare prices with multiple accommodation providers.
• VRBO : is the main search engine we use when we are looking for a home or apartment rental. It can sometimes be cheaper than hotels and it is the best way to stay in areas that offer a more local feel.
• Hostelworld :  With one of the largest databases of hostels in the world, Hostelworld is the go-to site when you are looking for budget accommodation.
• Skyscanner : This is the first place we check for flights. It consistently comes back with the cheapest and best options. It allows us to compare a lot of airlines to get the best price.
• Rome 2 Rio :  If you want to see how to get somewhere by plane, train, bus, ferry or car Rome2Rio lays it all out for you as well as related costs.I love how they show it all to you on a Google Map and it works offline.
• Get Your Guide:  For all your day trip and city guide needs, we use Get Your Guide. It has the world’s largest collection of things to do with more than 30,000 activities in 7500 destinations.
• World Nomads Insurance:  When traveling to Italy you should always have travel insurance. We have found the best bang for your buck is by far World Nomads.

Russia Travel Guide: Related Articles

To browse all our articles and guides about Russia click here .

16 Interesting and Surprising Facts About Russia

12 Beautiful Reasons to Visit Tbilisi, Georgia

DESTINATIONS

How to visit Russia: 20 travel tips, from visas to vodka

Pack The Suitcases uses affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks!

Here’s a list of my top 20 Russia travel tips to get you started with planning a trip. Lots of people have asked me exactly how to visit Russia since I got back and began raving about it as a destination, so I’ve been working on this massive Russia travel guide over the last few months. It covers everything from how to get a Russian visa, to cultural ‘must knows’, to safety and more. 

After falling in love with both Moscow and St Petersburg when I visited, I realised that although I’d blogged a lot about both cities, I’d not written more generic stuff about visiting Russia overall. It’s not somewhere most people have been to in my experience, certainly not here in the UK anyway. I’ve also not been able to find many UK-based Russia travel blog posts out there. So hopefully these Russia travel tips will help anyone planning on visiting this incredible country.

Anyway, pour yourself a vodka and get reading…

Please note that this travel guide is from 2018. For obvious reasons, I do not want to promote visiting Russia at the current time. I didn’t want to delete the guide as I hope one day Russia’s political situation will have changed and we can return to visiting this beautiful country.

1. Plan how to get your Russian visa (from the UK)

You need a tourist visa to visit Russia from the UK for a holiday. It’s not cheap (a bit over £100 per person for a 30-day one) and it’s bureaucratic, which I think combine to put a lot of people off visiting. But with a bit of planning it’s perfectly doable, so please don’t let it hinder you if you want to go.

Shelling out a hundred-odd quid might feel a bit painful at the time, but you can save loads of money when you get to Russia because it can be done so cheaply. More on that later though.

So to sort out your Russian travel visa, you can either do it yourself or pay an agency to do it all for you. I did mine myself, but if you do want to outsource it to an agency then Visit Russia UK , the official tourist board, would be a good bet. I really don’t think there’s any need to outsource it though, and of course getting a third party to do it costs more. If you want some dead easy steps on how to do it all yourself, I cannot recommend these instructions from the Russia travel blog ‘Russiable’ enough. There’s no point me typing how here what I did to sort my visa out, because I basically followed this blogger’s steps to the dot. 

2. Get a SIM card that’ll work there

If you’re visiting Russia from the UK, remember that it’s not within the European Economic Area. This means that your phone isn’t covered by the usual roaming data we’re used to now (subject to the looming horrors of Brexit). It’s not somewhere you can easily navigate without the internet to hand, so getting a Russian SIM card for your phone is vital. 

At the time of writing, Megafon seems to be the best bet. When I went a few months back, I used Beeline , which was dead cheap for unlimited internet. You can’t order it online, so you need to plan to pick it up as soon as you get there. There are SIM cards you can order online, but they work out more expensive and actually buying it in real life is easier. Moscow Airport has a Beeline shop in the terminal you land in. They put the SIM in your phone for you and get it all set, which is really good. The bonus here was that everyone working in the Beeline shops seemed to be young, which meant that they were more likely to speak enough English to be able to know what you’re on about. 

3. Download all the Yandex apps

Google who? It’s time for Yandex, people.

Yandex is the Russian version of Google, which it would probably hate me for saying. It works much much better for while you’re in Russia, especially the maps and taxis. I downloaded the following Yandex apps (all free). Pretty much all of them came in handy every single day:

• Translate – so you can muddle through conversations with people (English isn’t that widely known outside the cities) and decipher menus using its image-translation feature (you scan your phone camera over the text and it’ll translate – genius)
• Maps – so you can find everything (Google maps won’t cut it; they simply don’t map things in Russia well enough)
• Metro – so you can easily navigate the glorious metro system, using the world’s most user-friendly app (you just tap on stations and it’ll give you the quickest route)
• Taxi – just as good as Uber and might come in handy despite the incredible public transport
• Weather – this is far more accurate than just using your normal BBC weather app or whatever.

4. Learn a few phrases in Russian (but good luck with that)

English is not widely spoken outside of the big cities, apart from by young people. And even within them, I found a lot of people only did the basics.

If you learn a few phrases in Russian, it’ll go a long way in showing willing and being polite. The only issue here is how mind-bogglingly difficult pronouncing anything Russian is. I’m not bad at languages but OMG, even saying hello ( zdravstvuyte ) is a challenge. I could just about manage thank you ( spasiba ).

But don’t worry too much. Being brusque and pointing at stuff will actually go down really well with the locals. They love a bit of ‘direct’ communication.

5. Forget false stereotypes about Russia

I’ll be honest, I didn’t realise just how many stereotypes there were about Russia until I started planning my trip. Of course, all my experiences there relate to visiting the big cities, so bear that in mind.

Here are some things I found that were absolutely baffling and not at all true:

• People seem to think Russia will be expensive. It’s not expensive. You can get a slap-up lunch for about £5. It does have swanky hotels and restaurants if you want to have a spendy and glam holiday, but it generally has a huge range of options for any price bracket. You can absolutely do it on a budget.
• It’s not cold all the time. Russia seems to only be known for snow and people waddling about wrapped up in fur. But it has four seasons and is only cold in winter. Hello 30-degree sweltering heat in June when I went! Of course you can go in winter and see it as a snowy wonderland, but it was gorgeous in summer and I really enjoyed it.
• The food is not  ‘just beetroot and cabbage’. It’s some of the best and most varied in the world. I’d not heard a stereotype about poor food quality until I spoke to some old people about Russia and they said it had a rep for bad grub. Russia actually had the best food I’ve experienced outside of Japan , which is proper high praise. You can also get lots of other interesting cuisines there, but more on that in #8 of this list…

6. Be prepared for the size and scale of cities… and just all of Russia

The buildings in Russia are massive. The squares are ginormous. Everything is on a big old scale. Nevsky Prospekt, the main road in St Petersburg, would take ages to walk down. The Kremlin in Moscow is so much bigger and grander than your average palace.

It’s all so OTT and extra. Have a read of my Moscow blog post where I talk about having some kind of overawed meltdown in VDNKh (I can’t even begin to describe what VDNKh is right now).

7. Don’t be scared of the Cyrillic alphabet

Yes it looks terrifying, but you can do it! I’m here as your personal cheerleader to say that a lot of the words are European language words just translated. And if you get to grips with what the Cyrillic letters are, it’s amazing how much you can work out.

A bit of understanding of it will really help you when navigating to somewhere.

8. Be prepared to get fat because the food is unreal (especially if you’re veggie)

While vegan food takes a little bit of planning in Russian cities (where doesn’t it?!), it’s perfectly doable and often amazing. Obviously I’m talking about cities here – I’m not sure how it’d be out in the sticks. But I’m going to assume most other travellers will be doing the cities too.

Veggie and pescatarian options take little to no planning. Everywhere caters for us really well.

As already mentioned, outdated stereotypes about the food being bland and just cabbage/beetroot are so, so wrong. Russian food actually the best I’ve had outside of Japan. Also, it’s not only about Russian cuisine. You’ll get the chance to experience loads of other interesting ones because the Russians like to eat like we do in the UK: VARIED. Every street has a great selection of options we don’t tend to see in most of Europe like Israeli, Cuban, Georgian, and Ukrainian food. Of course it has the usual Indian, Thai, Japanese, Chinese, Italian etc too, but it’s so good being able to experience new stuff that you probably won’t bother with the more ubiquitous. 

Despite all these exciting foods, one of my favourite things was a simple cherry brioche pie sold by street stalls. Incredible stuff and only 9 million calories a pop.

9. Assess safety risks for yourself

Quite a few people have asked me about safety in Russia so I’m going to attempt to answer you here.

On my trip, I felt incredibly safe the whole time (apart from when crossing roads – see #16 of this list).

But, and this is a big but, my feeling safe in Russia is based on my trip just to the two biggest cities and as a privileged, white, cis woman. Moscow and Saint Petersburg felt much safer than many cities I’ve been to and lived in. Of course in some touristy areas, there’s the risk of pickpockets. But the same goes for most European capitals.

However , I can’t judge safety for others. If you’re LGBTQ+ and/or any ethnicity other than Caucasian, it may not be so smooth sailing in Russia. Being gay isn’t illegal in Russia like it is in some places and I did see openly gay people in both Moscow and Saint Petersburg. But nowhere near as many as you would in most European cities and none giving public displays of affection. These are the two most ‘accepting’ cities, with thriving LGBTQ+ scenes. Clearly, we’re all aware that Russia has serious problems with equality. But there are plenty of other countries with horrendous laws/attitudes that tourists go to all the time, too. Look at Hungary, Egypt, China, Turkey, Morocco, or Latvia. Name me a country in which all the citizens agree with their government and I’ll eat my proverbial hat.

I think you have to do your own specialist research and reading up to decide whether Russia is right for you to visit. 

10. Be aware of when Russian national holidays are

This kind of goes for any holiday abroad, but especially so in Russia. You may want to avoid times when Russians are off work, and a holiday will usually increase hotel/flight prices too.

But you might also want to plan to be there for specific things.

For example, when I went to St Petersburg, I deliberately made sure our travel dates aligned with the White Nights holiday. This was one of the most surreal things about visiting St Petersburg. It’s a period during summer when the city stays light late into the night, with very white skies. It was about 23.30 in this picture below!

White Nights usually runs through mid-June to the beginning of July, but do check because it varies each year. During the period, the city is alive 24 hours a day and museums/restaurants/bars all stay open later, while festivals and gigs go on. The city’s drawbridges get raised in the night, taking boat cruises on the Neva River after 1am. This is a big deal and people flock to watch the bridges go up, but if you’re knackered from walking all day then it’s good just to wander the city’s many canals earlier in the night. There’s a proper hyped-up atmosphere and everyone is in a sort of euphoria, having lost all sense of time. I loved it and am so glad I planned the trip around it.

11. Don’t worry about there being no normal (British) tea

Does anyone else lose sleep over this? Every time I travel, I pack a suspicious-looking parcel of teabags in the bottom of my suitcase because in most of Europe, you can’t get normal tea (for non-UK readers, that’s English breakfast tea with milk).

I assumed Russia would be the same and that I’d have to do my usual teabag drug-smuggling. But I was pleasantly surprised. Normal tea was everywhere . Most cafés had it and there were no qualms about serving it with milk rather than doing something weird involving a slice of lemon (looking at you, Germany).

I felt at home instantly. Thanks, Russia. Thrussia.

12. What to pack: go glam or go home

Anyone who knows me knows that I love dressing up (the making an effort kind, not the fancy dress costume kind). So do lots of people in Russia. This is the main reason I very quickly decided that Russia is my spiritual home.

It was the first place I’ve ever been to where I was frequently not the only person in the room who’d matched their nail varnish to both their outfit and earrings. What a place. 

The locals also seemed to love glamming up for a meal and drinks out. It was like being at home in Liverpool, which also has this scene. Most European cities are incredibly laid back with outfits. I’m normally actively dressing myself down to fit in, and still end up feeling overdressed while surrounded by people in the classic jeans-Converse-and-jumper uniform of Europe. Not so in Russia. I was cracking out the jumpsuits and heels like there was no tomorrow and fitting right in every evening. So if you’re packing for a trip to Russia, don’t be afraid of throwing in more nice stuff than you would for other countries.

Another great thing about this attitude was getting plenty of outfit inspo when wandering about in the daytime. SO many great midi skirt and top combos everywhere. I ended up buying a few new midi skirts while I was there because I got so overexcited.

13. Forget any preconceptions you may have about costs

Russia can be really cheap for Western travellers. When you’re planning your trip, take this into account with your budget.

• Public transport: So efficient and affordable. Metro tickets cost less than 50p per journey. A train ticket from Moscow to St Petersburg in a nice class was less than £50.
• Food: As already mentioned, food can be really really cheap yet very tasty and nutritious. Canteens mean that you can literally have a slap-up meal for a few pounds (see #20 of this list).
• Drinks: Beer is cheap too: a large lager (think Baltika) can be as little as £1, and a pint of excellent craft beer is less than £3.
• Culture: Getting into the big museums, galleries and exhibits is not free, and is more expensive for foreigners, but it’s still cheaper than major European destinations. 
• Hotels: I was in awe of Russian hotels for their quality and affordability. Grey House is a gorgeous aparthotel in St Petersburg, where I stayed in a massive superior double room for about £75 a night, and Azimut Smolenskaya in Moscow was a big glossy hotel in Moscow with incredible views over the city for about £40 a night for a normal double room. Both would have been a lot more in other countries.

14. Embrace your resting b*tch face

In Russia, smiling at stranger is seen as the behaviour of a lunatic and beaming at people for no other reason than ‘being polite’ is unheard of. As the proud owner of a resting b*tch face, I’m completely with the Russians on this.

Don’t let their RBFs put you off. Everyone we met was warm, friendly and funny once you got talking. They just don’t arrange their face into a smile unless they’re genuinely laughing or chuffed at something. It’s refreshingly authentic. 

15. Assess the weather carefully before you go

Like I said in #5 on this list, many people seem to think of Russia as being cold, but it’s a place of extremes. Yeah, you get the stunning snowy winters that you see in Russian postcards full of people wrapped up in fur and snow on the Kremlin, but summers are SIZZLING hot. When I went, it hit 35 degrees in June, in both Moscow and Saint Petersburg.

If you’re going in the height of summer or winter, you’ll need to look carefully at how that affects what you get up to. Melting on the metro in Moscow after doing 30k steps round VDNKh  with my feet covered in blisters from my sandals was a low point for me.

16. Be prepared to cross roads with caution

In Russia, roads are for cars and pavements are for people and never the twain shall meet. Until you need to cross the road that is, and then you take your life into your own hands.

Think the madness of Italian drivers, mixed with a casual disregard for human life (both yours and the drivers’ own), and you have the Russian road experience. Use pedestrian crossings and don’t chance it. Ever.

17. A tipping travel tip: tip 5 to 15%

I know my American readers are obsessed with tipping so you’ll want to ask me this now I’ve been to Russia! Nowhere has a tipping culture quite like the USA. In Russia, tipping is similar to the UK and Europe. You only need to tip if you really liked it, and then go for 5 to 15% of the whole bill. I’m talking about proper restaurants here obviously. You don’t need to tip if you’re just buying food at a counter. 

18. Don’t get too excited for vodka

Russia’s known worldwide for its vodka, right? #ladsontour #shotshotshot

While it’s true that vodka (often served with pickled herring) is a Russian tradition, it’s not as prolific as you might expect.

I experienced a lot of craft beer, and a thriving craft beer scene, in both Moscow and St Petersburg. And the amount of Georgian restaurants meant that you could get the best wine in the world very easily (Georgian orange wine – seriously, if you’ve not tried it you’ve not lived). They also had a serious love for their national drink kvass , which er, I did not share. Soz. 

I think it’s still worth trying a proper Russian vodka while you’re there though. My top tip would be this rooftop bar by Pushkin near St Petersburg .

19. Leave your medications at home

… Well apart from any you need on prescription, obvs. If you do need that, double check it isn’t on Russia’s banned drugs list and get a note from your GP (translate it into Russian online just to be on the safe side). I don’t know how frequently the banned drugs list is enforced at airports, and certainly no one queried anything in my hand luggage when I arrived (not even the teabags: see #11 of this list). But I’d advise being better safe than sorry.

Also, don’t bother bringing headache tablets, hayfever sprays or your suppository of choice with you to Russia. There are pharmacies everywhere in the cities and they’re open all the time. No wasted hours trawling the streets of Munich on a Sunday looking for flu relief here. Hell no. You’ll be able to sample the much higher-powered Russian versions of paracetamol and Night Nurse, not to mention the Russian favourite cure-all, activated charcoal. Enjoy.

20. Don’t be scared of self-service restaurants

A trip to Russia would be incomplete without a trip to a Soviet-style self-service stolovaya.  This roughly translates to ‘canteen’, but it’s so much more than that. They’re ridiculously cheap, the food is simple but delicious and I couldn’t believe what a good quality sizeable meal you can get for around £4.

Also, they’re an important part of Soviet history so it’s interesting to still be able to visit them. They started in the 1920s as a new programme of public catering facilities. Today, despite McDonalds and the like being everywhere, locals still flock to stolovayas.  Stolovaya No. 57  is probably the most famous in Moscow, located in GUM department store.

Whichever stolovaya you go to though, they’re all roughly the same concept: point at what you want or load it into your own tray as you go around the canteen. No botched attempts at Russian required. 

Save and share: 20 Russia travel tips – how to get a visa and more

If you enjoyed this blog post on Russia travel tips and how to plan a trip, why not hover over the image below and pin to your Pinterest board? (Desktop only).

You might also like my other Russia posts:

• 45 things to do in Moscow, Russia
• 4 days in Moscow, Russia: a city guide and itinerary
• 3 days in St Petersburg, Russia: a city guide and itinerary
• 38 things to do in St Petersburg, Russia .

If you’ve used one of my travel guides and enjoyed it, you can also buy me a drink . Cheers. 

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Ooh I’ve never been to Russia but have enjoyed all your posts about it and this has convinced me I need to go!! We went to the Ukraine many years ago.

Really love your writing style as usual, it’s like hearing from a friend.

Thanks Janice. Hope you get to go. I’d love to go to Ukraine at some point too 🙂

Thank you so much for this post. My wife is liking the sound of how dressy it can be! We’re going in April, Moscow and Kazan.

Go glam or go home 😉 Enjoy yourselves. Jealous of Kazan – that’s next on my list!

love this, bring on the craft beer xx

Craft beer (cherry was my favourite) and Georgian food are lush. By the end of my week I had OD on gold and jewels love the tips in your post, cannot wait to return.

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Russia Travel Experiences

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Russia offers some of the most unique and authentic travel experiences that everyone needs to have a least once in their lifetime! This includes cosmopolitan Russian cities, snow-capped mountains, timeless townships, old Soviet military bases, volcanic craters and ancient forests.

Discover Russia through the eyes of experienced travel bloggers. They’ll take you through the good, the bad and the absolutely breathtaking aspects of this often misunderstood country. 

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Interested about Cultural Immersion For Russia Travel Experiences?

You’ll unravel the many delights of Russian cuisine while strolling through the marvellous streets of Moscow and St Petersburg . In Russia’s capitals, you’ll get the opportunity to explore the diverse array of local restaurants near famous landmarks. As you embark on a life-changing journey around the country, Russia’s rich cultural monuments and architectural gems will be on full display. From vibrant, onion-domed cathedrals and ancient wooden monasteries…to the finest art galleries, classical museums and UNESCO World Heritage sites, you’ll never be bored of what Russia has to offer. 

The Russian capitals are also brimming with numerous theatres, concert halls and entertainment venues, from the Bolshoi Theatre to the Hermitage Theatre. These all hold incredible performances related to ballet, opera, classical music and traditional folk dancing. You’ll find yourself in awe at the surrounding medieval grandeur of Russia’s Golden Ring , which is located northeast of Moscow, where archaic fortresses, grandiose palaces and idyllic meadows dominate the scenery.

Craving An Adventure Voyage & Nature Expedition Across Russia?

For more adventurous travellers, rest your eyes upon the spectacular view of the Northern lights (Aurora Borealis) in Murmansk which streak magnificently across the clear night skies.  You can also unearth the mysteries of the vast, uninhabited archipelago of Franz Josef Island during an breath-taking arctic expedition.

If you’re searching for a quiet escape away from the noisy clutter of the modern world, then look no further than taking an adventure cruise to Wrangel Island , a remote Arctic refuge which is renowned for the world’s biggest population of polar bears. Situated off the northeast coast of Siberia, this hauntingly beautiful yet lonely wilderness provides the perfect Russia travel experiences for nature lovers and adventure seekers. 

Russia has many fun, exhilarating travel experiences such as hiking around Russia’s far east in Kamchatka and the Commander/Kuril Islands. You’ll be surrounded by hot springs, geysers, volcanoes and abundant wildlife with bears, Arctic foxes, sea lions (and more).

Whether you’re preparing for your long-anticipated Kamchatka adventure , searching for reasons to visit the frozen wonderland of Lake Baikal, or simply looking for quality travel inspiration for your next trip, our Russia travel blogs are here to help. Discover new and exciting must-see destinations and hear first-hand traveller experiences. Gain insider tips, local advice and travel expertise on what to expect when visiting Russia. 

Want to Experience Russia’s Indigenous Villages & Countryside? 

Beyond the main capitals, Russia is exploding with rural villages , quaint fairytale cottages and sprawling countryside regions that have been sculpted by centuries of rich Soviet Era history. This can be seen through ancient villages such as Kinerma in the Karelian Republic and Vyatskoye in the Yaroslavl region.

In the aftermath of Soviet collectivised agriculture and state industrialisation, many of these rural centres have preserved their traditional way of life. Many local civilians live inside unique wooden terrace houses and honour sacred customs. You’ll never find more authentic and culturally enriching travel experiences when exploring Russia’s countrysides. 

Russia’s beautiful natural landscapes within Altai Republic and Yamal Peninsula are also home to the various indigenous tribes of Russia (such as the Nenets people). You’ll have the rare opportunity to go dog-sledding, white-water rafting  and horseback-riding. Whether you prefer hiking across Altai’s majestic Golden Mountain ranges and learning about the nomadic folk, discovering Karelia’s peasant traditions, or experiencing the resilient livelihoods of indigenous tribes in the Arctic Circle, Russia has all the wonderful travel experiences which you’ll cherish for a lifetime. 

We understand that many still see Russia as unknown territory, making it an unusual (and at times scary) travel destination. That is why our goal is to make the unfamiliar familiar. We help travellers feel more at ease by exposing them to the natural beauty and soul of almighty Russia. This is not only within the major cities of Moscow and St Petersburg, but also the lesser-known yet equally beautiful rural townships and villages.  

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Russia – probably no other country triggers so many associations and emotions in people just by mentioning its name. The largest country on earth in terms of area arouses a feeling of fear in many and is perceived as a threat. But no matter how you stand on the great world politics, Russia is and remains a fascinating and diverse country with friendly people.

You can find old tsarist splendor in Russia thanks to the many palaces and colorful churches just as icons of Soviet Realism or Soviet Modernism, which there are in almost all major cities.

But also the Russian nature will inspire you. The country stretches over two continents and is accordingly diverse. Whether beach vacation at the Black Sea, camping in Karelia or hikes over snow-covered peaks in Siberia, everything is possible here.

And the culture has been fascinating ever since too. Russian literary figures such as Dostoevsky and Tolstoy have left their homeland a wonderful literary legacy. In the country’s metropolises, however, a modern, new culture is increasingly forming, breaking with old traditions and constantly reinventing itself.

Reasons enough to pay Russia a visit! Come with us on a trip to Russia and get here the best travel tips, descriptions of the most beautiful regions and browse through our background articles!

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The best travel destinations of russia.

By far the largest city in Europe, Moscow is one of the most dazzling metropolises in the world. Old tsarist splendor on Red Square meets communist monumental buildings and modern skyscrapers in Moscow City. The often hectic city with its fantastically beautiful metro offers enough sights to spend a whole month here and never get bored. On top of that, there is a creative artist scene that is always reinventing itself.

Saint Petersburg and Karelia

The former capital of the Tsarist Empire is by far the most beautiful and popular city in the country. In the former Leningrad is the Hermitage, one of the most important museums in the world. In the surrounding area you can explore old palaces with luxurious parks and fountains. And if you are looking for a change from the city, the region of Karelia north of the city offers you an untouched landscape, consisting of lakes and forests.

The Golden Ring and Northwest Russia

The region northeast of Moscow is called the Golden Ring, since the oldest cities of the country surround the capital like a ring. Here you can walk in the footsteps of the ancient Rus and experience the magic of ancient Russia in Yaroslavl or in the monastery of Sergiyev Posad. In Veliki Novgorod, once an important seat of the Hanseatic League, there is a kind of Russia in miniature in the northwest of the country at Lake Ilmen, and you can explore a real Kremlin on the Volchov River!

The Caucasus and Southern Russia

The Caucasus is avoided by many tourists due to security concerns. Cities like Makhachkala and Grozny don’t have a reputation for being particularly safe destinations. In fact, however, the ethnically diverse region is one of the most interesting in Russia and a very appealing destination, especially for hikers. The Black Sea and Caspian Sea regions offer a complete contrast. Here, temperatures often prevail that one associates more with Rimini than with Russia. And in Sochi, where the Olympic Games already took place, you can even do winter sports!

Along the Volga river

Where is the closest you can get to the Russian soul? Hard to say, but perhaps a trip on or along the Volga, the country’s most important river, would be ideal for that. Cities like Saratov, Samara and Nizhny Novgorod all have their own character. But Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan, is particularly beautiful. The Muslim-influenced city with its mosques and churches is one of the most exciting, because most diverse, travel destinations in Russia.

The Kaliningrad region

Many people associate the former German Königsberg with German philosopher Immanuel Kant and the castle. Today the city, which was heavily destroyed during World War II, forms the Kaliningrad Oblast together with the surrounding area. Petersburg is said to be the “westernmost” city in Russia, but Kaliningrad actually deserves this title due to its history. The region between the Curonian Lagoon and the Vistula Lagoon with its seaside beaches is also extremely attractive.

The Urals and Siberia

Once you’ve chugged through Russia on the Trans-Siberian Railway, you’ll never forget the journey. Slowly, the landscape changes from the mountainous Urals to endless forests and lakes. One of the most diverse natural landscapes on earth awaits explorers all year round, and you can make countless fascinating discoveries between the border of Europe, Lake Baikal and the Sea of Okhotsk.

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Unlike many tourist spots in western Europe, English is not a commonly spoken language in post-Soviet countries . Depending on the goals of your trip, this can either be a fantastic opportunity to further your Russian language-skills or a scary language barrier that makes you immediately search Google for any and all ‘Russian for Tourists’ handbooks.

If the latter applies to you – this article is for you. Getting around in a country where you don’t speak the language can be tough. It can feel isolating and menacing at times, but when you prepare yourself with the right tools, it is incredibly rewarding.

Last updated: 6/22/2022

And while I do guarantee that you do NOT need to be fluent in Russian to travel to a Russian-speaking country, I do highly recommend learning the basics. But that’s true for any foreign country you visit! Making even the slightest effort with the language not only goes a long way in the eyes of the locals , but it also gives you the opportunity to dive deeper into the culture you’ll be immersed in. So, check out my list of Russian travel phrases below and be sure to reference this article the next time you travel to the former Eastern bloc!

Absolute Basics

Greetings & simple conversation.

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• In Case Of Emergency (ICE)

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Russian for Tourists – More Resources

With these 100+ sentences and phrases, you’re sure to be able to get by #onthebloc. Be sure to save this guide for the next time you travel to a Russian-speaking country!

If you’re interested in diving a little deeper into Russian, definitely check out my Learn Russian page. There are a ton of FREE Russian language resources for you to reference and study to prepare you to not only get by speaking Russian, but thrive 🙂

See you next time,

In need of a better way to organize your language notes? Check out my planner below!

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More travel information for Russia

From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for traveling to Russia

• How to get to Russia
• Culture and Etiquette in Russia
• Eating and drinking in Russia
• Getting around Russia: Transportation Tips
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• Best time to visit Russia

Daily budget Basic €55/occasional treat €75. Drink Beer ( pivo ) €2.50. Food Pancake ( blini ) €1.50. Hostel/Budget hotel €15–25/€45. Travel Train: Moscow–St Petersburg from €25.

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Russians' Wanderlust: Exploring The Globe

• Last updated Jun 28, 2024
• Difficulty Beginner

• Category Travel

Russian citizens are making millions of trips abroad each year, with tourism spending reaching tens of billions of US dollars. In 2017, Russians made 40 million journeys outside their country, spending $31 billion on tourism, an increase of nearly 30% year-on-year. This rebound in Russian tourism was fuelled by a mild economic recovery and ruble appreciation. Turkey is the most popular destination for Russians, with 3.9 million Russian tourists visiting in the first nine months of 2017. Other popular countries include China, Thailand, Spain, Greece, Italy, and Germany. Russians' demand for international tourism is expected to continue growing.

What You'll Learn

Russians spent $31 billion on tourism abroad in 2017, turkey is the most popular destination for russians, russians spent $1,676 per trip in 2016-2017, russians are making fewer trips abroad due to safety concerns, russians are travelling more to asian countries, which are considered safer.

Russian tourism saw a rebound in 2017, with Russians spending a total of $31 billion on tourism abroad. This marked a significant increase of nearly 30% year-on-year, according to the World Tourism Organization UNWTO. The rise in tourism expenditure can be attributed to the country's mild economic recovery and ruble appreciation.

Russians made approximately 40 million journeys outside of Russia in 2017, with Turkey being the most popular destination, followed by Finland, Kazakhstan, and China. The lifting of travel restrictions to Turkey contributed to a nearly six-fold increase in Russian tourists to the country. Beach holidays and sea/river cruises also gained popularity among Russians, with an increase in the proportion of Russians opting for these vacations in 2017.

The upward trend in Russian outbound tourism continued into 2018, with 2 million more Russian tourists travelling to foreign countries during the first three quarters compared to the same period in 2017. Russia's outbound tourism market is significant, with the country ranking among the top 10 countries with the highest expenditure on holidays and travel abroad.

The average expenditure per trip for Russian travellers between 2016 and 2017 was $1,676, higher than that of European travellers, who spent $1,174. Additionally, 52% of Russians who travelled abroad in 2017 did so for 1.5 to 2 weeks. The preference for 4-star accommodations also increased by 2% in the same year.

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In 2017, Russians made 40 million journeys abroad, with Turkey being the most visited destination. This was a significant increase from the previous year, with the number of Russian tourists to Turkey almost sextupling. Turkey's popularity among Russians can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, it is one of the most affordable destinations for a beach holiday, with a wide range of resorts catering to different tastes. Secondly, Turkey is easily accessible from Russia, with direct flights available to popular destinations like Antalya and Bodrum. Additionally, Turkey's unique position as a country that bridges East and West offers a blend of cultures that appeal to Russian travellers.

Turkey's tourism industry has greatly benefited from Russian travellers, with tourism revenues increasing by more than 25% in the first half of 2024, reaching $21.7 billion. This influx of Russian tourists has contributed to the country's economy, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which impacted the tourism industry globally.

The popularity of Turkey among Russians is also influenced by the country's relaxed visa policies. While many Western countries have imposed sanctions and visa restrictions on Russia due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Turkey has maintained its visa-free travel policy for Russians. This makes it an attractive option for Russians seeking to travel abroad without the hassle and cost of obtaining visas.

In addition to its cultural attractions and natural beauty, Turkey also offers a sense of familiarity to Russians. Russian is widely spoken in Turkey's tourist areas, and Russian tourists can find familiar food options and cultural similarities. This sense of comfort and ease can be appealing, especially for those travelling for the first time or seeking a relaxing beach vacation.

It is worth noting that the presence of Russian tourists in Turkey has created some tensions, particularly with the influx of Ukrainian refugees fleeing the conflict. Both Russians and Ukrainians favour resort towns like Antalya, leading to friction between the two groups. Despite these challenges, Turkey remains a top choice for Russians, with its combination of affordability, accessibility, and cultural appeal.

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Russians spent an average of $1,676 per trip between 2016 and 2017, according to Visa's Global Travel Intentions Study. This amount is higher than the average European traveller, who spends $1,174 per trip.

The study also revealed that Russians tend to spend 51% of their budget before their trip and the remaining 49% at their destination. In addition, 70% of Russians use bank cards when planning their travel.

This spending reflects the economic upsurge in Russia, which experienced a currency crisis in 2014 and 2015 due to a drop in oil prices and economic sanctions over the conflict in Ukraine. By 2017, Russia's international tourism expenditure had increased by 13%, moving the country from 11th to 8th place in the world rankings.

In 2017, Russians made 40 million journeys abroad and spent a total of $31 billion on tourism, a nearly 30% increase from the previous year. This growth continued into 2018, with 2 million more Russian tourists travelling to foreign countries in the first nine months compared to the same period in 2017.

Turkey was the most popular tourist destination for Russians in 2017, with a nearly six-fold increase in visitors as Russia lifted its travel restrictions. Other popular destinations included neighbouring countries such as Finland, Kazakhstan, and China.

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Russians are increasingly opting to stay closer to home for their holidays, with the number of those travelling abroad dropping by almost a third in 2015, the biggest decrease in 15 years. This downward trend is largely due to safety concerns, with terror attacks and political tensions reducing the number of countries where Russian tourists feel welcome.

Safety Concerns

The safety of popular tourist destinations for Russians has been impacted by terror attacks and political tensions. For instance, in 2015, Russia suspended flights to Egypt and advised its citizens to stay away from the country after terrorists blew up a Russian plane. Similarly, diplomatic tensions between Russia and Turkey led to a ban on Russian travel agencies selling trips to Turkey and the prohibition of charter flights to and from the country. These incidents have restricted travel options for Russians and contributed to the decline in outbound tourism.

Cost and Economic Factors

In addition to safety concerns, the cost of travel has also played a role in Russians' decisions to holiday closer to home. The collapse in the value of the ruble has made many previously affordable destinations too expensive for Russian travellers. This is particularly true for long-haul destinations, which have seen significant drops in visits from Russians. Moreover, Russia's economic crisis has resulted in falling disposable incomes and soaring inflation, further discouraging outbound tourism.

Impact on the Tourism Industry

The decline in Russians travelling abroad has had a notable impact on the tourism industry. Turkey, which has been the top destination for Russian tourists for 13 consecutive years, saw a significant drop in Russian visitors following the diplomatic spat and travel restrictions. Additionally, popular European destinations such as Greece, Spain, and Croatia have suffered substantial losses in Russian tourism.

Future Trends

While the number of Russians travelling abroad has decreased due to safety concerns and economic factors, it is important to note that this trend may not be long-lasting. As economic conditions improve and political tensions ease, Russians may once again seek to explore destinations beyond their borders. Additionally, the development of positive publicity and effective marketing strategies by tourism industries can play a crucial role in attracting Russian tourists and reversing the current trend.

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Russians are increasingly travelling to Asian countries, which are considered safer. In 2017, Russians made 40 million journeys abroad, with Turkey being the most popular destination, followed by Finland, Kazakhstan, and China. China, Thailand, Spain, Greece, Italy, Cyprus, Germany, and the UAE are also among the top 15 countries visited by Russians.

According to the RusIndex survey, the number of Russians taking beach holidays increased by 2% in 2017 compared to the previous year. There was also a rise in the number of Russians going on river or sea cruises, with 7% choosing this type of vacation in 2017, up from 4% in 2016. Security is a significant factor in Russians' travel decisions, and Asian countries like Japan and China are perceived as safer due to lower risks of terrorist threats and lower crime rates.

The upward trend in Russian outbound tourism continued into 2018, with 2 million more tourists travelling abroad from January to September compared to the same period in 2017. Russia's outbound tourism market is significant, with Russians spending $31 billion on tourism in 2017, making the country the eighth-largest spender on international tourism in the world. In 2012, Russians spent $43 billion on holidays abroad, ranking them among the top 5 countries in terms of expenditure.

While Russia's tourism market experienced a decline during the currency crisis of 2014-2015, it rebounded in 2017 and has been growing since. This growth is attributed to the country's economic recovery and ruble appreciation. Russia's foreign tourism earnings, however, are relatively lower, with about 24 million foreign tourists visiting the country in 2017, a 1% decrease from 2016.

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Frequently asked questions.

Russians made 40 million journeys abroad in 2017, including 15 million for tourism purposes.

Russians spent $31 billion on tourism abroad in 2017.

Popular destinations for Russians travelling abroad include Turkey, Finland, Kazakhstan, China, Thailand, Spain, Greece, Italy, and Cyprus.

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Ukraine war latest: Russia says it is considering nuclear shift - and tells West it is 'playing with fire'; US leads drills after North Korea warhead test

A senior Russian diplomat says Putin is reviewing the country's nuclear doctrine - and warns the West it is "playing with fire". Meanwhile, a Russian navy missile cruiser carries out drills in the Mediterranean. Listen to a Sky News podcast on Putin and North Korea while you scroll.

Thursday 27 June 2024 23:33, UK

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We're pausing our live coverage of the war in Ukraine for this evening.

Scroll through below to catch up on the latest developments.

Two people have been killed and two more are wounded as a result of Russian shelling in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region, an official has said.

Vadym Filashkin, head of the regional military administration, said Russian forces struck the centre of Kurakhove city, killing a woman and a 40-year-old man.

Two injured people were taken to hospital, he said.

He added that the extent of the damage in the attack was being assessed.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban had a seemingly lively chat ahead of a meeting of European leaders in Brussels today.

It's not known what that the two men discussed - but relations between Budapest and Kyiv have become more strained since the Russian invasion in 2022.

Hungary is Russia's closest ally in the EU and Mr Orban has maintained a friendship with Vladimir Putin while criticising the EU's strategy on Ukraine.

In December, Mr Orban blocked a €50bn aid package for Ukraine in a move that frustrated other EU leaders. He lifted the veto several months later.

Two people have been injured in a Russian drone attack on southern Ukraine, an official has said.

The Kherson regional administration said Russian forces launched an attack on the village of Novodmytrivka, leaving a 66-year-old man and 71-year-old woman hurt.

Both have blast injuries and have been taken to hospital for treatment, it said on Telegram.

The US, Israel and Ukraine are all in talks to provide Ukraine with up to eight Patriot air defence systems, according to the Financial Times.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly called for NATO members to send his country the US-made Patriot systems as it battles intensifying Russian attacks.

The FT said the deal would likely involve Israel first sending the systems it plans to retire to the US, before they are handed over to Kyiv.

Sources with knowledge of the negotiations told the paper the outlines of the deal have been discussed between ministers and senior officials from each of the three countries.

Mr Zelenskyy said in May that Kyiv urgently needed at least seven more Patriot missile systems to ward off Russian strikes against its power grid, civilian areas and military targets.

Pictures have emerged this evening of the aftermath of Russia's latest airstrike on the northeastern Ukrainian region of Kharkiv.

Emergency services said earlier that five people were injured and buildings were damaged in the attack (see 17.55 post).

Russian forces launched an assault on a new front in Kharkiv in May, after months of fighting focused on the east.

Ukrainian troops have repelled Russian forces from a neighbourhood in the frontline town of Chasiv Yar, a Ukrainian military official has said.

Nazar Voloshin, a spokesman for the Khortytsia operational-strategic group, told the Interfax-Ukraine news agency that Russian forces had been pushed out of the Kanal neighborhood in the east of the town.

Mr Voloshin claimed Moscow's forces were not slowing down in their push to break through in Chasiv Yar, and said two assault operations were ongoing.

"Ukrainian defenders reliably hold the defence in this area and give a decent rebuff to the Russian aggressor," he told the agency.

For context: Chasiv Yar, a strategically-important town in the eastern Donetsk region, has long been a Russian target.

It has been pummelled by Russian air, artillery and drone strikes for months now, as Moscow views the town as a gateway to launch direct offensives against several Ukrainian "fortress cities".

Chasiv Yar had a pre-war population of more than 12,000, but now only a few hundred residents remain.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged EU leaders to make good on their promises to provide his country with military aid after the bloc signed a security agreement underlining its support for Kyiv in the long term.

"Fulfilment of every promise is important, not only in terms of protecting lives but also to destroy the Russian illusion that they will achieve something by war," he said at the summit in Brussels today.

The Ukrainian president thanked countries that have so far promised equipment and arms aid, but pointed out that they were "needed urgently on the battlefield".

He also urged more help on "the urgent things - air defence, that is one".

The EU-Ukraine security agreement entrenches the EU's commitment to help Ukraine in nine areas of security and defence policy - including arms deliveries, military training, defence industry cooperation and demining,

In essence, it encapsulates what the 27-nation bloc has been doing for the country since the start of the war.

But the EU has made a specific commitment to the "predictable, efficient, sustainable and long-term provision of military equipment" for Ukraine.

Kyiv in return has promised to uphold European values and continue on its reform path in preparation to join the EU.

Five people have been injured in Russian airstrikes in Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv region, according to emergency services.

The State Emergency Service of Ukraine said the strikes hit a residential area of the region, partially destroying one building and damaging others - including a school - as well as cars.

Crews at the scene said five people were hurt.

The windows and gates of the local fire station were also damaged, the emergency service said.

While the apparent gains made by Russia during its spring offensive in Kharkiv were the focus of much of the news coverage of the way in May, a new report indicates any progress made by Vladimir Putin's troops came at a significant cost.

According to UK and other Western intelligence agency sources cited by the New York Times, more than 1,000 Russian soldiers were injured or killed each day last month.

However, the newspaper also cites US officials as saying Moscow is continuing to recruit between 25,000 and 30,000 new soldiers a month - roughly as many as it is losing from the battlefield.

American officials told the outlet that Russia achieved a critical objective of Mr Putin in creating a buffer zone along the border to make it more difficult for the Ukrainians to strike into the country.

But, the Western officials said, this did not threaten Kharkiv and was ultimately stopped by Ukrainian forces.

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Taiwan Issues Travel Warning Amid Growing China Threats

Taiwan advised its citizens to avoid traveling to china, hong kong, and macao amid rising threats from beijing to execute supporters of taiwan's independence. the advisory comes after the election of pro-independence president lai ching-te and follows china's refusal to engage with taiwan's government since 2016..

Taiwan has issued a stern travel advisory, urging its citizens to avoid trips to China, Hong Kong, and Macao amid heightened threats from Beijing. These threats include the potential execution of those supporting Taiwan's push for independence.

The advisory, announced by Mainland Affairs Council spokesperson Liang Wen-chieh at a press conference, follows the election of Lai Ching-te of the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) as president. China's hostile stance has been evident since the 2016 election of former president Tsai Ing-wen of the DPP, who rejected Beijing's demand for Taiwan to recognize itself as part of China.

Liang warned citizens of the genuine risks involved in such travels, advising them to avoid expressing political opinions or carrying materials that could be weaponized by the Chinese Communist Party. Despite hundreds of thousands of Taiwanese traveling to China annually for various reasons, the government emphasizes caution amid China's increasing military activities and economic pressure tactics.

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The Big Ideas: What Do We Fear?

In Russia, Fear of the Past Is Ever-Present

The trauma Russians endured during the transition from communism to capitalism in the 1990s helps explain why Vladimir Putin remains in power.

By Elena Kostyuchenko

Elena Kostyuchenko is a Russian journalist and L.G.B.T.Q.+ activist.

This essay is part of a series called The Big Ideas, in which writers respond to a single question: What do we fear? You can read more by visiting The Big Ideas series page .

I was about 10 years old and I was coming home from music school on a bus. I was wearing a coat the color of the ocean. It was a hand-me-down, but it was warm. I was still cold in it, though, because I was hungry. I was always hungry.

At one of the stops, a woman got on carrying a bunch of big sacks. She sat down and started talking to me. She was a foreigner. She had come to our town to bring aid to orphans. I told her I wasn’t an orphan, but she gave me a sack anyway.

It was huge. Getting off the bus, I tripped and dropped it. Barley spilled all over the ground. I got down on my hands and knees and began shoving grain, dirt and snow into the sack. A man approached and stood over me. He picked up the sack. Determined not to let him take it, I clung to the sack with all my might. “I’ll carry this for you,” he said.

I led him through the snowy courtyards to my building. I was scared he would try to break into our apartment. But I wanted this sack. We went up the stairs, past walls covered in curses and burn marks, stepping on used syringes that snapped under our feet. He rang the doorbell. To my relief, my mother opened the door. The man put the bag down and left.

“Mama!” I told her excitedly, “There’s pearl barley in there! But I fell! I spilled it! But I picked it up! I’m sorry! It’s mixed with snow.”

My mother looked at the dirt mixed with the grain.

“It’s OK,” she said. “We’ll pick through it.”

We poured the barley onto newspapers and put it into plastic bags, grain by grain. Then we soaked it and washed out the snow and the dirt. We ate it at the end of a day marked by terror and joy.

This was my Russia in the 1990s. It was a Russia intent on survival, where food was the most precious commodity. People worked two or three jobs to get by. My mother was a teacher and janitor in two schools — and she barely made ends meet. Criminal gangs shot each other in the streets. There was a constant fear of tomorrow because of what the unknown could do to you and your loved ones. This was my childhood.

Russia’s transition from a command economy to a market economy wreaked havoc on the country. In 1992, the year I turned 5, price controls for goods were canceled. Inflation reached approximately 2,500 percent and the cost of basic food items rose 26-fold. Many enterprises shut down, others stopped paying their workers. The privatization schemes that were supposed to give Russians shares in formerly state-owned factories, farms and mines led to the transfer of all of these industries into the hands of a small group of oligarchs.

“The Russian famine is neither internationally recognized nor publicized for the very good reason that Russia was making a transition to capitalism and it is this process which gave rise to the famine,” wrote the economist Utsa Patnaik in her 2007 book “The Republic of Hunger and Other Essays . ” She attributes Russia’s four million additional deaths between 1990 and 1996 to the transition from communism to capitalism.

Afraid of losing control of the country, the democratically elected president, Boris Yeltsin, abandoned democracy. In 1993, in violation of the Constitution, he dissolved the parliament. When its members resisted, he called on the army to shell the parliament building. Four months later, a new constitution that concentrated power in the hands of the president was approved.

The next year, Yeltsin ordered the army into the southern republic of Chechnya to prevent the region from breaking away from Russia. The ensuing conflict went on for nearly two years and caused the deaths of thousands of Russian soldiers and tens of thousands of civilians.

In 1996, despite having an approval rating of 8 percent, Yeltsin won re-election. His victory over the Communist Party candidate was thanks to the active support of Russia’s television channels, which were owned by oligarchs. These men also sponsored Yeltsin’s campaign; they didn’t want the source of their wealth to be questioned.

On New Year’s Eve 1999, when I was 12 years old, Yeltsin stepped down from the presidency, and Vladimir Putin , then the prime minister, became the acting president. Three months later, Putin won his first presidential election. He had essentially been appointed to the post, but Russians did not mourn the death of their nascent democracy.

Over the course of the 1990s, “democracy” had become a kind of curse word for many Russians. It was synonymous with poverty, crime, chaos and fear.

Putin was lucky. The price of oil, Russia’s most important export, began increasing as soon as he came into power, and it continued to rise for the next 15 years. The crime rate went down; the standard of living went up. Putin’s government offered the people stability in exchange for their political indifference and eventually, their liberties. This tacit agreement is what led Russia into its current war.

Now there is no more stability. Men are drafted to fight in Ukraine, and they return to Russia in coffins. Political dissent has been crushed. There is no independent press. Repressions have become routine. Prices are rising, the value of the ruble is falling and people are once again asking the question that I remember from my childhood: Can we afford meat?

I tell my mother that we need to be done with Putin.

But she says she is afraid that without him, our lives will be like they were in the ’90s. “Don’t you remember?” she asks me. I do.

Her fear of the past is greater than her fear of the present. This fear is what has kept Putin in power. He uses it wisely. And it is strangling our future.

Elena Kostyuchenko is a Russian journalist and L.G.B.T.Q.+ activist. Her book “I Love Russia: Reporting From a Lost Country” was published in 2023.

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India’s Prime Minister Modi will visit Russia, the Kremlin says

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the media as he arrives to attend the first day of the Parliament session of the 18th Lok Sabha in New Delhi, India, Monday, June 24, 2024. (AP Photo)

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MOSCOW (AP) — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Russia, the Kremlin announced Tuesday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s foreign affairs aide, Yuri Ushakov, said that Modi’s visit was being prepared but didn’t announce a date, saying that it will be done jointly later.

Russia has had strong ties with India since the Cold War, and New Delhi’s importance as a key trade partner for Moscow has grown since the Kremlin sent troops into Ukraine in February 2022. China and India have become key buyers of Russian oil following sanctions imposed by the U.S. and its allies that shut most Western markets for Russian exports.

Under Modi’s leadership, India has avoided condemning Russia’s action in Ukraine while emphasizing the need for a peaceful settlement.

Modi’s visit follows his reelection for a third straight term. He last visited Russia in 2019 for an economic forum in the far eastern port of Vladivostok. He last traveled to Moscow in 2015.