Russia travel guide




Find out more in our Russia travel guide…
Russia is...
Russia isn't...
Our Russia Holidays
Moscow to St Petersburg holiday in Russia
Fascinating history and architecture
Kamchatka holidays, small group tour
Explore Russia’s Kamchatka peninsula
Siberian Tiger & Amur Leopard tours in Russia
Track tigers in snowy Russian backcountry, accompanied by an expert guide of Durminskoye Reserve
Moscow and St-Petersburg holiday in Russia
The best of Russia in 12 days
Russia history and culture holiday
Explore Russian history and culture
Kamchatka and Chukotka wildlife cruises, Russia
Explore wild Kamchatka's volcanoes, fjords and wildlife
Trans Mongolian Eastbound, St Petersburg to Beijing
Overland from the Baltic Sea to the Chinese capital Beijing
Chukotka and Wrangel Island cruise, Russia
Authentic Arctic Festival & wildlife including Polar Bears
Russia holiday, a taste of Russia
Russia a land of mystery and intrigue
Russia holiday, St Petersburg and Karelia
Multi-activity cultural trip to Northern Russia, tailor-made
Moscow to St Petersburg holiday
See the Winter Palace and the Red Square
Trans Siberian Railway holiday, Russian Summer
Remarkable Moscow to Vladivostok train journey, Tailor-Made
Grand Trans Siberian rail tour
From the Pacific to the Baltic on the Trans-Siberian Railway
North East passage cruise, Russia
Northeast Passage - travel the world's most famous sea route
Amur leopard photography tour in Russia
Photograph the world’s rarest cat, the amazing Amur leopard
Moscow to St Petersburg winter holiday
Enjoy Russian winter and its beautiful cities, tailor-made
The Great Silk Road Adventure via the Caucasus holiday
Our classic Silk Road Adventure via the Caucasus 48 day tour
Trans Mongolian westbound tour
The most comprehensive Hong Kong to St Petersburg adventure
Trans-Siberian and Mongolia tour, westbound
Travel across continents on the greatest train journeys
Chukotka and Wrangel Island wildlife cruises, Russia
Explore Russian Arctic - home to Polar Bears, walrus & more
Westbound Trans Mongolian holiday
The classic westbound Trans-Mongolian adventure
Wrangel and Herald Islands expedition cruise
Diverse, abundant wildlife, dramatic and volcanic landscapes
Trans Siberian rail journey, winter in Russia
From Moscow to Baikal, tailor-made
Russian High Arctic cruise
The most remote regions of the Russian High Arctic.
Kuril Islands cruises, bird watching cruise, Russia
Explore wildlife-rich Kamchatka, Commander & Kuril Islands
Ulaanbaatar to St Petersburg rail holiday
Experience Mongolia, Siberia & Russia’s Golden Ring.
Trans Mongolian 21 day tour
Visit Russia, remote Siberia, Mongolia, the Gobi Desert & Beijing
Mount Elbrus climbing expedition, Russia
Elbrus with an international guide and doctor
Kamchatka cruise in Russia, ring of fire expedition
Discover dramatic scenery & birdlife in the Russian Far East
WHAT WE RATE & WHAT WE DON'T
Russian cuisine
Lake Baikal
Siberian tigers
Russian hospitality
Wrangel island
European Russia
Trans Siberian Railway
Kamchatka cruises
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
Summer
Sticking to the Metro
Cruising to St Petersburg
FOOD, SHOPPING & PEOPLE
Eating & drinking in Russia
It’s pancake day every day in Russia, with blini served with various toppings, including classic smoked salmon and caviar. Syrniki, are a denser ricotta pancake, eaten for breakfast or dessert.Moscow’s burgeoning restaurant scene showcases the cuisine of former Soviet countries – try Uzbek plov or khachapuri, a cheesy bread from Georgia.
There are hundreds of different vodkas, from cheap throat-strippers to classy varieties flavoured with lemon, pepper or caraway. Never add a mixer and don’t sip it – vodka should be knocked back in one! Kvass is a healthy alternative; this fermented drink is made from stale bread and has a tangy, earthy taste that quenches thirst and delivers a gut-pleasing dose of probiotics, too.


Our top Russia Holiday
Moscow to St Petersburg holiday in Russia
Fascinating history and architecture
2021: 19 Jun, 3 Jul, 17 Jul, 31 Jul, 7 Aug, 14 Aug, 11 Sep, 18 Sep, 25 Sep, 2 Oct, 9 Oct, 23 Oct
2022: 19 Mar, 26 Mar, 2 Apr, 9 Apr, 16 Apr, 23 Apr, 14 May, 21 May, 11 Jun, 18 Jun, 2 Jul, 9 Jul, 16 Jul, 23 Jul, 30 Jul, 6 Aug, 13 Aug, 20 Aug, 10 Sep, 17 Sep, 24 Sep, 1 Oct, 8 Oct, 15 Oct
People & language
Dobroe utro – good morning
Zdravstvuyte – hello
Spasibo – thank you
Do svidaniya – goodbye
Gifts & shopping
Mined on Russia’s Baltic coasts, amber is much loved by Russian artisans. It’s used mostly to make jewellery and ranges in colour from pale honey to almost black.Red caviar from the far east of Russia comes from salmon and is a beautiful jewel-like delicacy that’s nutritious, too.
If Matryoshka dolls feel a bit cheesy, a Zhostovo hammered tray is an equally colourful but less-stereotypical souvenir. They are typically decorated with vibrant fruit and flowers, painted onto a black background.
Keep your toes warm even when it’s -40°C in a pair of valenki boots. Made from felted wool, they were worn by the nomads of the Great Steppe more than a thousand years ago.


How much does it cost?
Set lunch in Moscow restaurant: £3-£5
Entrance to Hermitage museum: £9
Sapsan express train from Moscow-St Petersburg: approx. £70 one way
Half litre bottle of vodka: £2.50