Russia travel guide

Getting there

Moscow's main airports are Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo and Vnukovo, with St Petersburg's Pulkovo the second gateway. International flight options have changed significantly in recent years, and land borders connect Russia with numerous neighbours; check current routes with official sources.

Best time to visit: Jun–Aug for long, warm days and White Nights; Dec–Feb for snowy winter scenes.

Tougher months: November-March for cold, short days in most regions, unless you're seeking winter experiences like frozen Baikal.

Weather by month in Moscow

• -4°J●
• -3°F●
• 3°M●
• 11°A●
• 19°M●
• 22°J●●
• 24°J●●
• 22°A●●
• 16°S●
• 9°O●
• 2°N●
• -2°D●

Average daytime highs in °C; dots show how rainy the month is (one dot dry, three dots wet).

Time zone: Asia/Anadyr, Asia/Barnaul, Asia/Chita, Asia/Irkutsk. Compare with your local time.

Visas: in our passport dataset, 66 of 198 other passports can enter Russia without arranging a visa first (visa-free or visa on arrival), 61 need an e-visa or electronic authorisation, and 71 need a visa in advance. Check your passport.

Background: Visa policy of Russia (Wikipedia).

Official advisory: Level 4: Do Not Travel (U.S. Department of State, updated 2025-12-29). Read the advisory.

Source and more: Russia travel facts on RoamSun

Stay

Most trips to Russia are based around Moscow, St Petersburg or Golden Ring. Pick a base for your main interest, then add day trips rather than moving hotels every night.

Typical daily budget: about US$35–55 for a backpacker and US$100–180 mid-range, per person.

Source: RoamSun Russia page · Browse hotel guides

Connect

Plug types: C, F. Voltage: 220 V. Check your own devices on the plug and currency checker.

Calling code: +7.

Mobile data: read the travel eSIM setup guide before you fly so the plan is installed and ready on landing.

Source: Advinne eSIM guide · RoamSun

Do

• Moscow (Central Russia · capital): The Kremlin, Red Square, world-class theatres and grand Stalin-era architecture.
• St Petersburg (Northwest · imperial city): Canals, palaces and museums in Russia's cultural capital on the Baltic.
• Golden Ring (Northeast of Moscow · historic towns): A loop of ancient towns with kremlins, monasteries and wooden churches.
• Kazan (Volga · Tatar culture): A vibrant blend of Russian and Tatar heritage around a UNESCO-listed kremlin.
• Lake Baikal (Siberia · lake): The world's oldest and deepest lake, with clear water and unique wildlife like the Baikal seal.
• Kamchatka (Far East · volcanoes): A remote peninsula of active volcanoes, geysers and brown bears.
• Kizhi Island (Karelia · wooden architecture): Famous for an extraordinary multi-domed wooden church built without nails.
• Altai Mountains (Southern Siberia · mountains): Snowy peaks, turquoise rivers and remote valleys near the borders of Mongolia and Kazakhstan.

Things to do

• Explore the Kremlin and Red Square. Walk past St Basil's Cathedral's swirling domes and the red walls of Moscow's fortress.
• Tour the Hermitage. Lose yourself among millions of artworks in the Winter Palace in St Petersburg.
• Experience the White Nights. Stay up late in St Petersburg in June, when the sun barely sets and bridges rise over the Neva.
• Ride the Trans-Siberian Railway. Cross a continent by train from Moscow to Lake Baikal and beyond.
• Walk on frozen Lake Baikal. Explore the world's deepest lake when its ice turns crystal clear in late winter.
• Admire Moscow's metro stations. Ride beneath the city through stations adorned with chandeliers, mosaics and marble.
• Visit the Golden Ring. Discover medieval monasteries and white-stone churches in Vladimir, Suzdal and Sergiev Posad.
• See Peterhof's fountains. Watch cascades of gilded fountains in Peter the Great's seaside palace gardens.

Source: full Russia guide on RoamSun

Eat and drink

• Borscht – beetroot soup with sour cream
• Pelmeni – small meat dumplings
• Blini – thin pancakes with sour cream or caviar
• Beef stroganoff – beef in a creamy mushroom sauce

Source: RoamSun Russia guide

Money and safety

Currency: Russian ruble (RUB). Currency and plug checker.

Tipping: About 10% in restaurants is common; rounding up for taxis is fine..

Emergency numbers: 112 all emergencies · 102 police · 103 ambulance · 101 fire.

• The currency is the Russian rouble.
• Foreign-issued bank cards may not work, so check the current situation and be prepared to rely on cash.
• Many governments advise against all travel to Russia, and consular support may be limited – check your government's latest travel advice before planning a trip.
• Certain regions, especially those near the border with Ukraine and in the North Caucasus, are particularly risky.

Source: RoamSun Russia facts