russia
A Comprehensive Travel Guide
eurasia
Russia – For everyone, the country name evokes a different set of feelings or perceptions more polarizing than most travel destinations. Regardless of one's preconceived notions, it doesn't take long after doing a quick Google search to realize what a great country destination it is for adventurous travelers! Spanning over 11 time zones, Russia is the largest country in the world, and has so much to offer travelers. Whether you take an interest in art, dance, opera, religion, history, or nature – Russia is sure to wow you. See below for a comprehensive guide to Russia!
*A note following Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine: After my time in Russia was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I intended to return as soon as possible. However, due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, I don't see myself returning for the foreseeable future. I lived in Russia for six wonderful months, during which time I was able to visit some truly magical places in Saint Petersburg and Moscow. While I don't advise visiting at the present moment due to the ongoing war, I ask you not to write off traveling to Russia in a post-war future. So I hope this travel guide finds you at a time when you feel that traveling to Russia is appropriate and safe!
st. petersburg
details
tallinn
Know
you go
before
Official Language(s) – Russian
Currency – Rouble (RUB)
Capital City – Moscow
Credit Cards & ATMs – Credit cards, including Apple Pay, are widely accepted in large cities. It is incredibly convenient, but be sure to read up on common ATM scams.
Outlets – C & F
Popular SIM Card Providers – Beeline, MTS, MegaFone, Tele2Russia
Average Costs
As the largest country in the world, Russia has so much to offer from the Gulf of Finland in the west to Lake Baikal in the east. See the following aggregated data for a general sense of how much it costs to travel daily in Russia based upon your preferred travel style.
**All data courtesy of Budget Your Trip. Visit their website for more information on how this data was collected here.
Сколько стоит?
browse by travel style
climate & weather
Due to the sheer size of the country, Russia's climate can be broken up by region. To the west of the Urals, also known as "European Russia," cities in the north experience freezing cold winters and rainy, mild summers, whereas cities in the south, such as Sochi, have a more Mediterranean climate. To the east of the Urals we have Siberia and the Far East, which can also be broken up by region. Northern Siberia is, of course, known for its frigid temperatures for the majority of the year. Cities in the southeast, such as Vladivostok, have cold, sunny winters, and wet, dark summers due to their proximity to the Sea of Japan and monsoon season. Finally, the southern plains of Siberia, which includes most cities along the Trans-Siberian Railway, have much more continental weather.
To best represent the climate of Russia, I've organized the average temperatures & rainfall/sunshine data below by three major cities - St. Petersburg in the northwest, Vladivostok in the southeast, and Sochi in the southwest.
recommended
WEATHER APP
Yandex.Weather
Average Maximum: 2 °C // 36 °F
Average Minimum: -6 °C // 21 °F
Average Sunshine: 7 hours
Rainy days: 4 days
Average Maximum: 9 °C // 48 °F
Average Minimum: 1°C // 34 °F
Average Sunshine: 6 hours
Rainy days: 7 days
Average Maximum: 15 °C // 59 °F
Average Minimum: 6 °C // 43 °F
Average Sunshine: 6 hours
Rainy days: 8 days
march
april
may
Average Maximum: 2 °C // 36 °F
Average Minimum: -4 °C // 25 °F
Average Sunshine: 4 hours
Rainy days: 9 days
Average Maximum: 9 °C // 48 °F
Average Minimum: 2 °C // 36 °F
Average Sunshine: 6 hours
Rainy days: 8 days
Average Maximum: 16 °C // 61 °F
Average Minimum: 7 °C // 45 °F
Average Sunshine: 8 hours
Rainy days: 8 days
march
april
may
spring
vladivostok
spring
summer
autumn
winter
Average Maximum: 12 °C // 54 °F
Average Minimum: 5 °C // 41 °F
Average Sunshine: 5 hours
Rainy days: 14 days
Average Maximum: 17 °C // 63 °F
Average Minimum: 9 °C // 48 °F
Average Sunshine: 5 hours
Rainy days: 16 days
Average Maximum: 21 °C // 70 °F
Average Minimum: 13 °C // 55 °F
Average Sunshine: 7 hours
Rainy days: 13 days
march
april
may
sochi
st. petersburg
Average Maximum: 17 °C // 63 °F
Average Minimum: 11 °C // 52 °F
Average Sunshine: 4 hours
Rainy days: 11 days
Average Maximum: 21 °C // 70 °F
Average Minimum: 15 °C // 59 °F
Average Sunshine: 4 hours
Rainy days: 11 days
Average Maximum: 23 °C // 73 °F
Average Minimum: 17 °C // 63 °F
Average Sunshine: 5 hours
Rainy days: 10 days
june
july
august
Average Maximum: 20°C // 68 °F
Average Minimum: 12 °C // 54 °F
Average Sunshine: 11 hours
Rainy days: 8 days
Average Maximum: 23 °C // 73 °F
Average Minimum: 15°C // 59 °F
Average Sunshine: 11 hours
Rainy days: 8 days
Average Maximum: 21 °C // 70 °F
Average Minimum: 13 °C // 55 °F
Average Sunshine: 9 hours
Rainy days: 10 days
june
july
august
summer
spring
summer
autumn
winter
Average Maximum: 25 °C // 77 °F
Average Minimum: 17 °C // 63 °F
Average Sunshine: 9 hours
Rainy days: 10 days
Average Maximum: 27 °C // 81 °F
Average Minimum: 20 °C // 68 °F
Average Sunshine: 9 hours
Rainy days: 8 days
Average Maximum: 28 °C // 82 °F
Average Minimum: 20 °C // 68 °F
Average Sunshine: 9 hours
Rainy days: 8 days
june
july
august
st. petersburg
vladivostok
sochi
Average Maximum: 19 °C // 66 °F
Average Minimum: 13 °C // 55 °F
Average Sunshine: 7 hours
Rainy days: 7 days
Average Maximum: 12 °C // 54 °F
Average Minimum: 5 °C // 41 °F
Average Sunshine: 7 hours
Rainy days: 6 days
Average Maximum: 3 °C // 37 °F
Average Minimum: -4 °C // 25 °F
Average Sunshine: 6 hours
Rainy days: 4 days
september
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER
Average Maximum: 15 °C // 59 °F
Average Minimum: 9 °C //48 °F
Average Sunshine: 4 hours
Rainy days: 11 days
Average Maximum: 9 °C // 48 °F
Average Minimum: 4 °C // 39 °F
Average Sunshine: 2 hours
Rainy days: 12 days
Average Maximum: 2 °C // 36 °F
Average Minimum: -2 °C // 28 °F
Average Sunshine: 1 hour
Rainy days: 12 days
september
october
November
autumn
spring
summer
autumn
winter
Average Maximum: 25 °C // 77 °F
Average Minimum: 16 °C // 61 °F
Average Sunshine: 8 hours
Rainy days: 9 days
Average Maximum: 20 °C // 68 °F
Average Minimum: 13 °C // 55 °F
Average Sunshine: 6 hours
Rainy days: 10 days
Average Maximum: 15 °C // 59 °F
Average Minimum: 8 °C // 46 °F
Average Sunshine: 4 hours
Rainy days: 14 days
september
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER
st. petersburg
vladivostok
sochi
Average Maximum: -6 °C // 21 °F
Average Minimum: -13 °C // 9 °F
Average Sunshine: 5 hours
Rainy days: 3 days
Average Maximum: -9 °C // 16 °F
Average Minimum: -16 °C // 3 °F
Average Sunshine: 6 hours
Rainy days: 3 days
Average Maximum: -6 °C // 21 °F
Average Minimum: -14 °C // 7 °F
Average Sunshine: 7 hours
Rainy days: 3 days
DECEMBER
JANUARY
FEBRUARY
Average Maximum: -2 °C // 28 °F
Average Minimum: -6 °C // 21 °F
Average Sunshine: 0 hours
Rainy days: 14 days
Average Maximum: -3 °C // 27 °F
Average Minimum: -8 °C // 18 °F
Average Sunshine: 1 hour
Rainy days: 14 days
Average Maximum: -3 °C // 27 °F
Average Minimum: -8 °C // 18 °F
Average Sunshine: 2 hours
Rainy days: 12 days
december
January
February
winter
spring
summer
autumn
winter
Average Maximum: 12 °C // 54 °F
Average Minimum: 6 °C // 43 °F
Average Sunshine: 3 hours
Rainy days: 17 days
Average Maximum: 10 °C // 50 °F
Average Minimum: 4 °C // 39 °F
Average Sunshine: 3 hours
Rainy days: 17 days
Average Maximum: 10 °C // 50 °F
Average Minimum: 3 °C // 37 °F
Average Sunshine: 4 hours
Rainy days: 14 days
DECEMBER
JANUARY
FEBRUARY
st. petersburg
vladivostok
sochi
vladivostok
st. petersburg
sochi
what to
wear in
Pelmeni
blini
Shchi
Pirozhki
приятного аппетита!
