Discover Russia, your own way

Most nationalities need a visa to travel to Russia. A number of countries are eligible for an electronic e-visa, which is faster and cheaper than a full consular visa — but eligible countries and rules change over time, so please check with us for the current list before booking. Cruise passengers typically don't need a visa for visits of up to 72 hours.

No — visas are issued only by Russian consulates. What we do is prepare and send you the invitation letter free of charge with every booked tour, which you then use to apply for your visa. If you're travelling independently, your hotel can usually provide this letter instead.

Less than most visitors expect. Moscow and St. Petersburg used to rank among the world's priciest cities, but currency shifts over the past years mean your money now goes noticeably further on accommodation, food and internal travel.

It depends on what you want to see — Russia is vast, and even locals haven't visited every region. For a first visit, a week covering Moscow and St. Petersburg is a great introduction. With more time, the full Trans-Siberian route from Moscow to Vladivostok (9,259 km, about 6 days 9 hours non-stop) is the trip of a lifetime.

The local currency is the Russian ruble. Euros and US dollars exchange most easily, at any bank branch or currency exchange point. Cards are widely accepted in restaurants and shops, but it's worth checking before you order, especially outside major cities.

SIM cards from local operators are easy to buy at airports, phone shops and railway stations. Bring your passport — it's required to register a SIM card.

Yes, in large cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg you'll find free wifi at airports, on the metro, and in most hotels, cafés and restaurants — increasingly in parks and public spaces too. If you're travelling to smaller towns and villages, a local SIM card is a safer bet.

We'd steer you away from renting a car — distances are long and road quality varies. Trains are the most convenient and affordable way to cover ground between regions; the high-speed "Sapsan" connects St. Petersburg and Moscow in about 4 hours. Within cities, the metro, buses, trams and trolleybuses cover most routes, and taxis (by app or official taxi rank) fill the gaps.

Most major Russian cities have a metro system — look for the "M" sign marking station entrances. It's the fastest way to beat traffic. Rechargeable transit cards (called "Troika" in Moscow, "Podorozhnik" in St. Petersburg) work like an electronic wallet and can be topped up at station terminals.

Three main categories cover most budgets: international and local hotel chains (from 3 to 5 stars); fully furnished tourist apartments, well suited to families or groups; and hostels, offering shared rooms and kitchens at the best price, usually in central locations.

Ask a passerby or a police officer — even without shared language, people will point you in the right direction. It's worth picking up an English-language city map from your hotel's reception before you head out for the day.

Climate varies hugely by region, so there's no single answer — but as a rule of thumb, May through October is the most comfortable window across most of the country, including colder regions like Kamchatka.

Russian cuisine varies by region but leans on potatoes, beets, cabbage and hearty portions of meat. Borscht, pelmeni (dumplings), Olivier salad, pancakes (bliny) and caviar are the classics — best paired with vodka, kvass or tea with lemon, and worth trying at any traditional Russian restaurant.

It's more traditionally a meat-heavy cuisine, but vegetarian dining has grown significantly. In larger cities you'll find dedicated vegetarian restaurants as well as plant-based options on most menus, including international cuisines like Indian.

We recommend against it. Bottled water is inexpensive and available at any supermarket or kiosk.

Tipping is common practice. Around 10% of the bill is standard in restaurants if you're happy with the service. On guided tours, a tip of roughly 5 EUR/USD per person per day for your guide and driver is customary, though entirely at your discretion.

220V, 50Hz, with the two-round-pin European (Type C/F) socket. Bring a travel adaptor if your devices use a different plug.

If you're travelling with a group, contact your tour leader first. For emergencies, call 03 or 112 — basic first aid is provided free of charge, though hospitalisation or a doctor's visit is not. We strongly recommend arranging travel health insurance before your trip.

Leave room in your suitcase: a matryoshka nesting doll is the classic choice, alongside an ushanka fur hat, a bottle (or two) of Russian vodka, jars of local honey and bars of Russian chocolate.

Send us your details by email — tour name, travel dates, hotel category, group size, passport details and guide language, plus any extras — and we'll confirm your booking. You can also start the conversation with the form above.

By bank transfer or credit card. Note that card payments usually carry a small commission set by your bank. Full payment details are included on the invoice we send by email once your tour is confirmed.

Better rates than booking everything separately, priority or skip-the-line access at major sites, guides who know the destinations firsthand, flexible payment options, free visa support, and a team available 24/7 for anything that comes up along the way.