Beltertuyuk Waterfall, Altai, RussiaVideo: Ludvig14, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Find your Bliss in Russia
Russia, explained honestly: palaces, rivers and long trains, with real risks
Russia is the world's largest country: imperial palaces in St Petersburg, the Kremlin and grand metro of Moscow, onion domes along the Golden Ring, Tatar Kazan on the Volga and the deep blue of Lake Baikal. It is also a country that the UK, US and many other governments advise against visiting, because of the war in Ukraine and the risk of arbitrary detention. This guide gives you the plain facts so any decision you make is an informed one.
Your trip, step by step
- Before you decideCurrent travel advice, insurance limits, visas and money, answered plainly
- ArrivingIndirect flights, Moscow and St Petersburg airports, registration and your first day
- Your days in RussiaMoscow, St Petersburg, the Golden Ring, Kazan and Baikal, planned with care
- Home againExit checks, cash and departure routes so the last day is calm too
Where to go, eat and stay
- Honest firstWe say clearly where governments advise against travel and why.
- Official sourcesEntry, health and safety facts point to official pages for you to confirm.
- No price surprisesWe explain why foreign cards fail and how to carry cash safely.
- Free to useEvery guide and the trip planner are free.
Our promise
A trip to Russia should never be a gamble taken blind. We set out the risks, the rules and the rewards in plain words, so you can decide with confidence and, if you go, find your Bliss with care.
Visiting parents in Moscow, a grandmother in a Volga town or the dacha you grew up at? This guide was written with you in mind, including the extra questions dual nationals face.
How to use this guide
Four steps from first idea to a decision you feel sure about.
- Read the adviceStart with your government's travel advice and what your insurance will and will not cover.
- Sort the essentialsVisa or e-visa, registration, cash and a route in, checked against official sources.
- Pick your placesUse our places to visit list for museums, cafés, markets and stays in each city.
- Plan your routeUse the free trip planner to shape your days and the trains between cities.
Everything your Russia trip needs
Free tools and guides for every stage of the journey.
Destinations
Moscow, St Petersburg, the Golden Ring, Kazan and Lake Baikal, each explained in depth.
Explore destinationsPlaces to visit
More than a hundred museums, cafés, parks, markets and stays, from classics to quiet corners.
See places to visitFlights and stays
Search connecting flights into Moscow and St Petersburg and stays across the country.
Plan travelPlaces finder
Sights, food and stays mapped around each base.
Find placesFree trip planner
Tell us your dates and interests and build a route that fits.
Plan your trip
The classic Russia route
Two capitals, then east along the Volga
Most first trips pair Moscow and St Petersburg, linked by the fast Sapsan train in around four hours. With more time, add a few days in the Golden Ring towns of Vladimir and Suzdal, a night train to Kazan, or a flight east to Irkutsk for Lake Baikal.
- Red Square, the Kremlin and the Moscow metro
- The Hermitage, canals and white nights of St Petersburg
- Wooden churches and monasteries in Suzdal
- Kazan's Kremlin, where mosque and cathedral stand side by side
Plan with care
Cash, connections and caution
Foreign Visa and Mastercard cards do not work in Russia, there are no direct flights from the EU, UK or US, and consular help is limited. Plan money, routes and insurance before you book anything.
- Bring enough cash for the whole trip
- Fly via Istanbul, Dubai, Yerevan or similar hubs
- Check entry rules on the official e-visa site
- Keep a low profile on politics, in person and online
Where to go in Russia
From the two great capitals to medieval towns, the Volga and the shores of Lake Baikal.
Central Russia
Moscow
A vast, confident capital of red walls, golden domes, grand metro stations, big parks and a restless food scene.
Read the guidePhoto: Юрий Д.К., CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
North West Russia
St Petersburg
Russia's elegant northern city of canals, palaces, the Hermitage and summer nights that barely get dark.
Read the guidePhoto: Victorgrigas, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Central Russia
The Golden Ring
A loop of old towns with white stone churches, monasteries and wooden houses, an easy escape from Moscow.
Read the guidePhoto: Alexxx1979, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Volga, Republic of Tatarstan
Kazan
A friendly Volga city where mosques and cathedrals share a white Kremlin, with superb Tatar food.
Read the guidePhoto: This Photo was taken by Wolfgang Moroder. Feel free to use my photos, but please mention me as the author and send me a message. This image is not in the public domain. Please respect the copyright protection. It may only be used according to the rules mentioned here. This specifically excludes use in social media, if applicable terms of the licenses listed here not appropriate. Please do not upload an updated image here without consultation with the Author. The author would like to make corrections only at his own source. This ensures that the changes are preserved.Please if you think that any changes should be required, please inform the author.Otherwise you can upload a new image with a new name. Please use one of the templates derivative or extract., CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Eastern Siberia
Lake Baikal
The oldest, deepest lake on Earth, with clear water in summer and crystal blue ice in winter.
Read the guidePhoto: Sergey Pesterev, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A note from our founder
A note from our founder
My first time visiting Kenya, I was genuinely surprised with how fast it began feeling like home. The people are so friendly, the food is delicious and familiar, and the accommodations are modern and upscale.
During my travels throughout the continent, I commonly hear tourists share stories about being scammed or taken advantage of, which is both frustrating and disheartening.
Living in Kenya for the last 2 years, I have had the great fortune to meet a network of wonderful Kenyans who have continuously help guide my family's journey. Their shared knowledge has not only greatly enhanced our overall experience here, but it has also saved us tons of time, energy, and resources.
With BlissPoint Travel, my hope is to build a global community that is willing to share useful, uncommon knowledge so that we can all blissfully enjoy the wonders our world has to offer.
Questions we hear most
Is it safe to travel to Russia?
Street crime in central Moscow and St Petersburg is moderate, but the UK, US and many other governments advise against all travel to Russia because of the war in Ukraine, drone and missile attacks, the risk of arbitrary detention and very limited consular help. Most travel insurance is invalid against such advice. Read your government's current advice first.
Do I need a visa for Russia?
It depends on your passport. Many nationalities can apply for a unified e-visa online, some are visa free, and others need a full visa from a Russian consulate. Check the official e-visa site of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for your passport before booking.
Can I use my bank card in Russia?
Usually not. Visa and Mastercard cards issued outside Russia do not work there because of sanctions, and foreign Apple Pay and Google Pay fail too. Most visitors bring enough cash, often euros or US dollars, and change it at banks.
How do I fly to Russia?
There are no direct flights from the EU, UK, US or Canada. Visitors usually connect through Istanbul, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Yerevan, Baku or Belgrade on airlines still serving Moscow and St Petersburg.
What is the best time to visit Russia?
Late May to early September is warmest, with the white nights in St Petersburg in June. Winter, from December to February, is very cold but beautiful, with snow, festive lights and frozen Lake Baikal.
I am a dual national. Is there anything extra to know?
Yes. Russia treats dual nationals as Russian citizens only, which can limit consular help and may bring military service obligations for men. Read your government's dual nationality advice before you travel.
Thinking about Russia?
Use the free trip planner to think through dates, routes and timing, and read the latest official travel advice first.