Eurasia
Russia
St Petersburg and Moscow remain among the great European cities. Kamchatka and the Trans-Siberian remain unique.
Plan it right
Before you book the flight
Quick checks that decide whether a Russia trip actually works on your dates.
Find it on the map
Open Russia in Google Maps and drop a pin on your base before you lose signal.
Open in Google MapsCheck the visa policy
Rules for Russia change with your nationality and current advisories. Confirm before booking anything.
Read entry rulesGet help with a visa
A reputable visa service can handle paperwork and invitation letters if you'd rather not deal with the consulate.
Compare services- 1 EUR ≈ 87.25 RUB
- 1 USD ≈ 76.40 RUB
- 1 GBP ≈ 102.4 RUB
Exchange Rates Updated Daily. Last updated on 11/Jul/2026.
No McDonald's benchmark available.
Use local café / fast-food meal prices instead.
Approximate McDonald's Big Mac® price where available. Prices vary by city, branch, tax, delivery channel, and date checked. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by McDonald's.
Source: Countries with McDonald's restaurants reference
McDonald's ceased Russian operations; do not use official Big Mac benchmark
Prices Researched at May 2026
Where to stay
8+ rated stays near Russia
Booking.com opens filtered to an 8+ guest score so you can compare photos, prices and recent reviews before choosing a base.
When to go
Best: May-Sep. For general Russia travel, late spring to early autumn is best; winter is severe in many regions.
Avoid: Nov-Mar cold/snow/dark; regional variation huge
Why it is difficult
Status, May 2026: At war with Ukraine since February 2022. Sanctions in place; flights from the US, UK, Canada and almost all EU countries suspended; foreign cards (Visa/Mastercard) do not work; the ruble has stabilised around 80-90 to the USD. Tourism continues from “friendly” countries (Turkey, UAE, China, India, Belarus, Central Asia, parts of Africa and Latin America). Travel by Westerners is legal but logistically complex and not advised by most embassies.
Why it is worth visiting
St Petersburg and Moscow remain among the great European cities. Kamchatka and the Trans-Siberian remain unique. Tatarstan (Kazan), the North Caucasus (Dagestan, Chechnya), the Russian Arctic, Lake Baikal. The country is enormous and intellectually it is genuinely one of the major civilisations.
Practical travel notes
Use this guide as an early planning brief. Re-check official advisories, insurance coverage, local transport reliability, communications, and cash access before committing to a route.
Access and logistics
Flights from “friendly” countries: Turkish Airlines (most reliable), Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad, Flydubai, Uzbekistan Airways, Belavia, Air Serbia, Air Arabia, EgyptAir, Air China. Air Astana via Astana/Almaty is the easiest route from many Western itineraries. Overland from Belarus, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, China and Georgia (Verkhny Lars - when open). Money - pay attention here No Western cards work. None. Bring USD or EUR cash; exchange at banks (Sberbank reliable, 60-80 RUB/USD typical, passport required). Russian-issued Mir cards work locally but you cannot get one as a foreigner without a Russian bank account. Train tickets can be bought in cash at stations; some online portals reject foreign cards even after VPN. A common workaround per the archive: pay a trusted Russian friend in USD or USDT crypto, have them book on their card. There is trust involved. Connectivity NordVPN does not work in Russia. Working VPNs per the archive: 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare), X-VPN (fastest but reconnect every 5-10 min), Turbo VPN, VPN Super Unlimited. SIM: Megafon was the archive author’s pick (best coverage outside cities); MTS and Beeline also good. Around USD 15 for 35 GB. Internal travel Train tickets via rzd.ru (works without VPN for foreigners during quiet periods). Red Arrow Moscow-St Petersburg overnight is a classic. Buses via avtovokzaly.ru, biletyplus.ru, na-avtobus.ru, BlaBlaCar. Accommodation: onetwotrip.com, ostrovok.ru (Russian equivalent of Booking). Avoid guesthouses unregistered for foreigners - the archive reports refusals at check-in. Moscow - Red Square, Kremlin, Tretyakov, GUM, VDNKh, Bunker-42 cold-war museum. St Petersburg - Hermitage, Peterhof, Catherine’s Palace, Mariinsky, canal cruises. Kazan - Tatarstan capital, Kul-Sharif Mosque, Kremlin. Kaliningrad exclave - separate visa procedure (the archive has notes). Kamchatka - Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Avacha Bay, Mutnovsky / Gorely volcanoes, Russian Bay killer-whale day trips (60 km south of city). Note: helicopter trips to Geyser Valley and Kuril Lake were cancelled after a 2021 crash - verify availability. Lake Baikal - Listvyanka, Olkhon Island. May-September best. Trans-Siberian / Trans-Mongolian / Trans-Manchurian - long-haul rail journeys. North Caucasus - Dagestan (Derbent), Chechnya (Grozny), Ingushetia. Recommend a guide. Sample 12-day Moscow-St Petersburg-Kazan Days 1-4: Moscow. Day 5: Red Arrow overnight train to St Petersburg. Days 6-9: St Petersburg. Day 10: Sapsan to Moscow, evening flight to Kazan. Days 11-12: Kazan, fly out via Moscow or Istanbul.
Safety considerations
Treat security as the core planning constraint. Avoid improvising routes, keep a conservative schedule, and re-check local conditions immediately before travel.
Visa or permit notes
E-visa relaunched in 2023 for ~55 nationalities - 16 days single entry, USD 53. Apply at evisa.kdmid.ru. Not available to US, UK, Australian, Canadian passport holders. Tourist visa: requires an invitation letter (LOI). Auto-generated by online agencies: GoingRus (~EUR 15), iVisa (~EUR 50), Fortuna Travel, OstWest. The cheap auto-generated letters work fine - historically USD 10-15 was standard. On arrival you receive a small migration card. Do not lose it; every hotel will ask. Re-register within 3 days if you stay anywhere longer than 3 nights.
On the ground
10 practical tips
The decisions that separate a smooth trip from a stranded one.
Choose the strongest season
Use May-Sep as the first planning window for Russia, then check weather, access and local conditions again before booking.
Avoid the hardest months
Be cautious about Nov-Mar cold/snow/dark; regional variation huge, because the wrong season can make transport, outdoor access and backup plans much harder.
Confirm entry rules first
Check visa, payment and sanctions-related practicalities before booking Russia, because card access, flights and consular support may be constrained.
Plan the access route
Build the itinerary around the real access route: Flights from "friendly" countries: Turkish Airlines (most reliable), Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad, Flydubai, Uzbekistan Airways, Belavia, Air Serbia, Air Arabia, EgyptAir, Air China.
Re-check security conditions
Check sanctions, payment, insurance and consular-support constraints before booking Russia, because practical travel risk is not only about local safety.
Plan cash and payments
Check how you will actually pay for hotels, drivers and emergencies in Russia, because international cards, sanctions or banking restrictions may limit normal payment options.
Secure scarce accommodation
Book the first night and trusted transfers before arrival in Russia, then avoid relying on last-minute local arrangements in sensitive areas.
Use local support selectively
Shortlist a reputable local operator for Russia before departure, then confirm route, permissions, security expectations, inclusions and cancellation terms in writing.
Build in buffer days
Treat 7 to 14 days, depending on route and security constraints as a planning range for Russia, but add buffer time if the route depends on flights, boats, permits, road conditions or security checks.
Decide if the trade-off fits
Choose Russia for St Petersburg and Moscow remain among the great European cities, but only if you are comfortable with the main trade-offs: political instability, health or safety concerns, difficult permits.
Good to know
Russia FAQ
Honest answers, including the ones that might change your plans.
Can tourists visit Russia?
Tourism may be possible in parts of Russia, but conditions can change quickly. Check current government travel advisories, embassy guidance, local contacts, and recent traveller reports before booking.
What visa do you need for Russia?
Visa and permit rules vary by nationality and can change without much notice. Use this guide as a starting point, then confirm current requirements with official government, embassy, or consulate sources.
What is the best time to visit Russia?
The usual planning window is May-Sep. Weather, access, holidays, security conditions, and transport schedules can still affect the final route.
How long do you need for Russia?
A realistic first plan is 7 to 14 days, depending on route and security constraints. Add buffer days for permits, route changes, weather delays, and unreliable transport.