Russia
Eastern Europe / Northern Asia · Europe
- Capital
- Moscow
- Currency
- Russian Ruble (RUB ₽)
- Language
- Russian
- Timezone
- UTC+2 to UTC+12 (11 time zones)
- Safety rating
- 5.5/10
- Best time to visit
- May to September for city exploration and the White Nights of St. Petersburg (June). December to February for the theatrical snow-covered landscapes of Red Square and ice festivals.
Overview
Russia is the world's largest country — spanning 11 time zones from the Baltic to the Pacific. Moscow's Red Square, the Kremlin, and the coloured onion domes of St. Basil's Cathedral are iconic. St. Petersburg's baroque palaces, the Hermitage Museum, the Trans-Siberian Railway, and Lake Baikal (the world's deepest lake) make Russia a destination of unparalleled scale for those who travel there.
Visa requirements
Most Western nationals require a tourist visa obtained from a Russian embassy. The e-Visa system (available to some nationalities) has been suspended for many countries. Check current entry requirements carefully as they change frequently.
Safety information
Check your government's current travel advisories before planning travel. Western nations have issued various advisories since 2022. For those who travel: Moscow and St. Petersburg tourist zones are generally safe with normal urban precautions. Most Western payment cards don't function in Russia. Consular access for some nationalities may be limited.
Travel tips
Russian is essential in smaller cities — learn Cyrillic at minimum for navigating transport. The Trans-Siberian Railway (Moscow to Vladivostok, 9,289km) is one of the world's great journeys but requires substantial planning. The Bolshoi Ballet and Mariinsky Theatre offer world-class performance.