Russia
The world's largest country spans eleven time zones from the Baltic to the Pacific. Moscow's Kremlin and Red Square, St Petersburg's canals and the Hermitage, and the onion domes of the Golden Ring sit in the west; beyond the Urals, the Trans-Siberian crosses the taiga to Lake Baikal. Read the FCDO travel advice before considering a trip.
Overview
Russia stretches about 9,000 km from Kaliningrad to Kamchatka, but the classic first trip stays in the west: four or five days in Moscow, a Sapsan train to St Petersburg, and perhaps a loop through Golden Ring towns such as Suzdal and Vladimir. The great adventure is the Trans-Siberian, about a week non-stop from Moscow to Vladivostok, or better broken with stops in Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk and Irkutsk for Lake Baikal. Further-flung trips reach the Altai Mountains, Kamchatka's volcanoes and Karelia's lakes and wooden churches, though these need time and local help.
For British travellers, Russia has become far harder to visit since 2022: there are no direct flights, UK bank cards do not work, and the FCDO's advice must be read first. Those who do go find big, efficient cities with superb metros, world-class museums and ballet at modest prices, and a countryside where English is rare and Cyrillic signs are the norm. Long-distance trains are sociable, with hot water from the carriage samovar and neighbours sharing food. Winters are severe but often bright; summers in the west are warm, with white nights in St Petersburg around the June solstice.
Map of Russia
Top 5 highlights
- 1History
Red Square and the Kremlin
The fortified heart of Russian power for centuries: tour the Kremlin's cathedrals and Armoury, then cross Red Square to the candy-striped domes of St Basil's Cathedral, completed in 1561 for Ivan the Terrible.
- 2Culture
The Hermitage
Founded by Catherine the Great in 1764, the museum fills the Winter Palace and neighbouring buildings with some three million objects, from Rembrandts and Matisses to the opulent state rooms of the tsars.
- 3Adventure
Trans-Siberian Railway
Nearly 9,300 km of track from Moscow to Vladivostok across the Urals, the Siberian taiga and the shore of Lake Baikal; ride in a four-berth kupe compartment and break the journey in Yekaterinburg, Irkutsk and Ulan-Ude.
- 4Nature
Lake Baikal
The world's deepest and oldest lake holds about a fifth of the planet's unfrozen surface fresh water; base yourself in Listvyanka or on Olkhon Island, or come in February and March to walk on clear ice.
- 5Architecture
Suzdal
The best preserved of the Golden Ring towns, a few hours' drive north-east of Moscow: a riverside kremlin, white-stone churches, fortified monasteries and a museum of wooden architecture, all within a gentle walk.
Biggest cities
Moscow
Red Square, the Kremlin and St Basil's justify the trip, but leave time for the palatial metro stations, the Tretyakov Gallery, Gorky Park and evening walks along the Moskva embankments.
Saint Petersburg
Peter the Great's planned capital of canals and Baroque palaces: the Hermitage, the Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood, ballet at the Mariinsky and Peterhof's fountains by hydrofoil.
Novosibirsk
Siberia's largest city and a major Trans-Siberian stop, with Russia's largest theatre building, the Opera and Ballet Theatre, and the Akademgorodok science town; a sensible break on the long ride east.
Ranked by urban-area population where available. Figures are rounded estimates, and sources define city limits differently, so rankings of similar-sized cities can vary.
When to go to Russia
Best time: May–Sep.
Average climate in Moscow
Festivals & events
- Jan, DecNew Year and Orthodox Christmas
New Year is Russia's biggest holiday, with fireworks, Ded Moroz and illuminated squares; Orthodox Christmas follows on 7 January, and much of the country stops for the first week of January.
- Feb–MarMaslenitsa
Pancake week before Orthodox Lent, celebrated with blini, sleigh rides, folk music and the burning of a straw effigy of winter on the final Sunday.
- JunScarlet Sails
St Petersburg's celebration for school-leavers in late June, during the white nights: a tall ship with scarlet sails glides along the Neva amid fireworks and crowds on the embankments.
How much does Russia cost?
Estimates per person per day, excluding flights. Prices vary by season and city.
Food to try
Pelmeni
Small meat-filled dumplings from Siberia, boiled and served with smetana (sour cream) or melted butter; once frozen by the sackful through winter, now eaten everywhere.
Shchi
Cabbage soup, made with fresh cabbage or sauerkraut and beef or mushrooms — the peasant staple of the proverb 'shchi and kasha are our food'.
Blini
Thin yeasted pancakes eaten with smetana, jam or caviar, especially during Maslenitsa, the festive pancake week before Orthodox Lent.
Getting around
Rail is the backbone: Sapsan high-speed trains link Moscow and St Petersburg in about four hours, and overnight sleepers, in four-berth kupe or two-berth SV compartments, cover longer routes including the Trans-Siberian. Aeroflot and S7 fly between major cities. Moscow and St Petersburg have superb metros, and Yandex Go is the main ride-hailing app. Western bank cards have not worked since 2022, which complicates booking from abroad.
Practical information
- Plugs & voltage
- CF230V — bring a UK-to-C/F adapter
- Emergency numbers
- Telephone: 112 (ambulance, fire, police)
Source: FCDO “Getting help”
- Dialling code
- +7
- Time zones
- UTC+2, UTC+3, UTC+4, UTC+5, UTC+6, UTC+7, UTC+8, UTC+9, UTC+10, UTC+11, UTC+12 (standard time)
- Tap water
- Varies — bottled or filtered is safer
- Driving
- On the right
- Tipping
- Around 10% is usual in restaurants for good service, occasionally added to the bill; round up taxi fares and tip guides modestly in cash.
- Etiquette
- Bring an odd number of flowers (even numbers are for funerals), remove shoes in homes, don't shake hands across a threshold, and in Orthodox churches women cover their heads and men remove hats.
- Main airports
- Sheremetyevo International Airport (SVO), Moscow; Domodedovo International Airport (DME), Moscow; Pulkovo Airport (LED), Saint Petersburg
Visas & entry for Russia
Shown for a British passport.
Visa required — apply before you go
You must get a visa before you travel.
From the UK government's FCDO entry requirements for British passport holders — read the full page for passport validity, permits and exceptions.
Health & vaccinations
- Recommended for most travellers
- Hepatitis ATetanus
- Sometimes advised — depends on your trip, activities and health
- MeaslesRabiesTick-borne encephalitisTuberculosisTyphoid
- Yellow fever certificate
- No yellow fever certificate is required to enter.
- Malaria
- No malaria risk
Source: TravelHealthPro (National Travel Health Network and Centre), checked 21 October 2026. This is a summary, not medical advice.
Public holidays in Russia
The next 12 months. Banks, offices and some sights may close, and transport and hotels get busy around these dates.
| Wed 4 Nov 2026 | Unity Day |
| Thu 31 Dec 2026 | Day off (substituted from 01/04/2026) |
| Fri 1 Jan 2027 | New Year Holidays |
| Sat 2 Jan 2027 | New Year Holidays |
| Sun 3 Jan 2027 | New Year Holidays |
| Mon 4 Jan 2027 | New Year Holidays |
| Tue 5 Jan 2027 | New Year Holidays |
| Wed 6 Jan 2027 | New Year Holidays |
| Thu 7 Jan 2027 | Christmas Day |
| Fri 8 Jan 2027 | New Year Holidays |
| Mon 22 Feb 2027 | Day off (substituted from 02/20/2027) |
| Tue 23 Feb 2027 | Defender of the Fatherland Day |
| Mon 8 Mar 2027 | International Women's Day |
| Sat 1 May 2027 | Holiday of Spring and Labour |
| Mon 3 May 2027 | Holiday of Spring and Labour (observed) |
| Sun 9 May 2027 | Victory Day |
| Mon 10 May 2027 | Victory Day (observed) |
| Sat 12 Jun 2027 | Russia Day |
| Mon 14 Jun 2027 | Russia Day (observed) |
National holidays only. Dates based on lunar calendars can move by a day or two depending on official announcements.
Useful phrases in Russian
| English | Russian | Say it |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Здравствуйте | ZDRAST-vooy-tyeh |
| Thank you | Спасибо | spa-SEE-bah |
| Please | Пожалуйста | pa-ZHAH-loo-stah |
| Excuse me | Извините | eez-vee-NEE-tyeh |
| How much is this? | Сколько это стоит? | SKOL-kah EH-tah STOH-eet |
Know before you go
- Read the FCDO travel advice before planning anything; consular help is limited, and many UK travel insurance policies will not cover a trip against official advice.
- UK-issued Visa and Mastercard cards have not worked in Russia since 2022, so travellers have had to carry enough cash, usually euros or dollars to exchange, for the whole trip.
- Learn the Cyrillic alphabet before you go: it takes an evening or two and makes metro maps, station boards, menus and street signs far easier to decode.
Russia travel FAQs
When is the best time to visit Russia?
The best time to visit Russia is generally May–Sep. Peak months are May, June, July, August and September. Average highs in Moscow range from -4°C to 24°C across the year.
How much does a trip to Russia cost per day?
Roughly £40 a day on a tight budget, £90 mid-range and £200+ for comfortable travel, per person including accommodation, food and local transport. Flights are extra.
What currency is used in Russia?
Russian rouble (RUB).
What plug type does Russia use?
Type C and F sockets at 230V. UK visitors need a travel adapter — UK Type G plugs will not fit.
Which side of the road do they drive on in Russia?
Traffic drives on the right in Russia, unlike the UK.
Is tap water safe to drink in Russia?
Varies — bottled or filtered is safer.
Do I need a visa for Russia?
For British passport holders, the FCDO says: You must get a visa before you travel. Entry rules change, so check the official FCDO entry requirements for Russia before you travel: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/russia/entry-requirements
What vaccinations do I need for Russia?
TravelHealthPro recommends Hepatitis A and Tetanus for most travellers, with Measles, Rabies, Tick-borne encephalitis, Tuberculosis and Typhoid sometimes advised depending on your trip. Make sure routine UK vaccinations are up to date and see a travel health professional 6–8 weeks before you go.
