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Russia


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Where to go in Russia

Russia Custom Tour Packages

Russia is the largest country in the world, spanning both Europe and Asia. So far our expansion into Russia covers St. Petersburg Moscow, and Kazan. It can be a complex country to travel in and almost all visitors to the country will need to arrange a visa in advance, which our local partners can assist with.

What to see in St. Petersburg

St. Petersburg is a splendid city with more than enough to keep you enthralled, whether you enjoy architecture, museums, nightlife, or dining. We recommend hiring a local guide for an extended tour, so you can take in the city's three centuries of history. Saint Petersburg was the jewel in the Russian Imperial crown, and that grandeur remains clearly visible today.

Exploring Moscow

Moscow is another must-see destination for anyone visiting Russia. Red Square and the Kremlin are great places to start, but Moscow also has plenty of hidden gems. A walking tour will help you get your bearings, along with a little local insight.

Cosmopolitan Kazan

Russia's official "Third Capital," Kazan is a cosmopolitan mix of cultures. The capital of the semi-autonomous Republic of Tatarstan, Kazan's population is evenly split between ethnic Russians, and Tatars, the descendants of Genghis Khan's army, who now speak a language related to Turkish and practice Islam. This heritage is clear in the city's grand churches and mosques, many located in and around the Kazan Kremlin, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here you can find a new take on Russia's past, and a hopeful vision of its future.

Visit Russia's neighbors too

It's a popular destination, and you can combine it with Helsinki, Tallinn, and the other Baltic capitals.

Your Russian travel specialists

Our travel packages in St Petersburg will help you experience the city in style. We have several options for hotels in St Petersburg. We will also help you arrange visas to visit Russia. Your trip is sure to be memorable.

Frequently Asked Questions about travel to Russia

Is Russia safe?
We are not facilitating travel to Russia at this time due to the illegal war against Ukraine.
When is the best time to visit Russia?
We recommend visiting Russia from late spring to early fall. Although Russia is infamous for its cold, its summers can be hot too, even in some of the colder parts of Siberia. St. Petersburg is quite mild, with weather similar to nearby Helsinki and Tallinn: cold, dark winters, and temperate summers, with long days and highs generally in the upper 60s to low 70s, even at the height of summer. Moscow is warmer, but further south, and its cold winters are followed by summers with temperatures generally in the low to upper 70s. St. Petersburg is famous for its White Nights Festival, which runs from late May to late July, taking advantage of the city's long summer days.
What is Russian cuisine like?

Despite stereotypically consisting of potatoes and pork, Russian cuisine is a hodgepodge of diverse cultures, from French innovations, to traditions from Finland to Central Asia. Many of Russia’s most popular dishes, such as meat pies, soups, and barbecue, originally came from neighboring areas. Russian cuisine is hearty and often calorific, with pork, grain, fresh vegetables (in summer) and pickled vegetables during colder times of year. Pork, fish, chicken, dairy, mushrooms, berries, and honey are key ingredients, as well as cereals.

Meals generally start with salads or soups, with Salad Olivier (also known as Russian Salad) and Herring in a Fur Coat (pickled herring covered in layers of grated boiled vegetables, chopped onions, and mayo) must-haves for special occasions. Mayonnaise, dill, and Smetana (thick sour cream) are often used for flavor. No visit is complete without Borscht (Ukrainian beet soup), Pelmeny (medium-sized meat dumplings), Blini (crepe-like pancakes also known as Blintzes), or Beef Stroganoff (sautéed beef in a thick cream sauce, one of many dishes invented by 19th century French cooks serving nobility).

Russians are famous drinkers, perhaps in part because the tap water should be avoided! Vodka is of course omnipresent, and is often flavored, with anything from bison grass to rowan-tree berries, or hot pepper. Be sure to pay a bit more for smoother varieties, although there’s often little different between premium vodka and more typical brands. Vodka is traditionally drunk chilled, then immediately followed by a bite of caviar, or pickled vegetables, and often served with spicy or fatty meals. Russia is also one of the world’s largest producers of beer, and has a wine industry, although locals tend to drink imports, especially from Georgia and Armenia. Russia has a tremendous variety of ancient non-alcoholic drinks, such as Kvass (a fermented bread drink popular in summer, when it is often sold from large trailers). Black tea made in a samovar is a central part of Russian culture.

What is transportation like in Russia?
Due to Russia's immense size, poor roads, and even worse drivers, trains are typically the best way to get around. Train and ticket staff rarely speak English, but the attendants who check tickets, provide bedding, and sell tea and snacks, will do their best to make you comfortable. The high-speed trains that link St. Petersburg to Helsinki and Moscow are modern and dependable. Cities have complex networks of buses, streetcars, trolleybuses, and Marshrutkas (minibuses that follow a set route, but only depart once full). As Moscow is sprawling, tourists may need to take public transport. We recommend taking the Moscow Metro, one of the world's great subway systems, which is cheap, comprehensive, runs frequently, and has some of the world's most grand and beautiful stations. We strongly advise against car rental.
Do I need a visa? How does the 72-hour visa-free cruise work?
Visitors to Russia generally need a visa. Once a deposit has been paid on a trip and rooms are booked, we'll receive visa support materials from the hotel(s) where rooms are booked. We'll forward these to travelers, as well as contact information for a service that helps with visa paperwork, checks them for errors, and expedites the process, for a surprisingly small fee.

It is possible to spend 72 hours in Russia without a visa by taking a cruise/ferry from Helsinki via the Moby/St. Peter Line. Doing so involves follow a series of unusual restrictions. Passengers are required to sign up for a group tour of St. Petersburg upon their arrival, and are only allowed to stay at one of a short list of generally overpriced hotels in the city center. The cruise between Helsinki and St. Petersburg is overnight in either direction, so a 3-day trip takes another two days, unlike the high-speed train that tourists usually take to get between Helsinki and St. Petersburg. The sea is also often rough during fall and winter, which can cause problems even for those not normally susceptible to seasickness.
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