Russia travel guide




Find out more in our Russia travel guide…
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Our Russia Vacations
Moscow to St Petersburg vacation in Russia
Fascinating history and architecture
Kamchatka vacations, small group tour
Explore Russia’s Kamchatka peninsula
Siberian Tiger & Amur Leopard tours in Russia
Track Siberian Tigers in the Russian winter wonderland
Russia vacation, St Petersburg and Karelia
Multi-activity cultural trip to Northern Russia, tailor-made
Moscow and St-Petersburg vacation in Russia
The best of Russia in 12 days
Trans Mongolian Eastbound, St Petersburg to Beijing
Overland from the Baltic Sea to the Chinese capital Beijing
Russia history and culture vacation
Explore Russian history and culture
Chukotka and Wrangel Island cruise, Russia
Authentic Arctic Festival & wildlife including Polar Bears
Kamchatka and Chukotka wildlife cruises, Russia
Explore wild Kamchatka's volcanoes, fjords and wildlife
Moscow to St Petersburg vacation
See the Winter Palace and the Red Square
Trans Siberian Railway vacation, Russian Summer
Remarkable Moscow to Vladivostok train journey, Tailor-Made
Grand Trans Siberian Railway, tailor made
Japan to Russia overland on the Trans-Siberian Railway
St Petersburg to Beijing winter tour, 18-35
An epic winter adventure that's not for the faint hearted!
Moscow to Warsaw vacation
Explore Russia and the Baltic's on this small group tour
North East passage cruise, Russia
Northeast Passage - travel the world's most famous sea route
Siberia small group vacation
16 Day trip exploring the Altai Mountains and Lake Baikal
Imperial Trans Siberian tour, Russia to Japan
Russia, Mongolia & Japan on the Trans-Siberian Railway
Track leopards and tigers in Siberia
Track wild Siberian Tigers & photograph rare Amur Leopards
Trans Siberian rail tour for 18-35
Want to hit the highlights without breaking the bank?
Kamchatka cruise in Russia, ring of fire expedition
Discover dramatic scenery & birdlife in the Russian Far East
Northern Sea Route expedition cruise, 19 days
Historic cruise in the footsteps of Nordenskiöld
Westbound Trans Mongolian vacation
The classic westbound Trans-Mongolian adventure
Festive Russia vacation by rail
Experience the frosty and festive delights of Russia
Russia vacation, Moscow to St Petersburg
Brief but exciting insight into Russia's unique culture.
18-25 Trans Mongolian tour, 21 days
An epic 3 weeks on the ultimate Trans Mongolian journey.
Trans Mongolian westbound tour
The most comprehensive Hong Kong to St Petersburg adventure
Kamchatka bear watching vacation
Travel to Kamchatka & walk with bears & explore volcanoes
Russian Arctic cruise, High Arctic Odyssey
Explore the extreme regions of the High Arctic
Winter Trans Siberian rail vacation
Siberian snowscapes from Vladivostok to St Petersburg
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 Vacation
Moscow to St Petersburg vacation in Russia
Fascinating history and architecture
2021: 10 Apr, 15 May, 22 May, 5 Jun, 19 Jun, 3 Jul, 17 Jul, 31 Jul, 7 Aug, 14 Aug, 11 Sep, 18 Sep, 25 Sep, 2 Oct, 9 Oct, 16 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