Skip to content

    Guide 2026
    The Izmailovo Kremlin in Moscow, on Alberto’s trip

    Real Traveller Experiences in Russia

    Here I gather the real experiences of travellers who have been to Russia recently and send me their story and their photos. First-hand accounts, no filters: how they entered the country, whether their card worked, how the accommodation was, how they changed money, the language, safety… So you really know what travelling to Russia is like right now, told by someone who’s just done it.

    Read the stories
    Share your experience

    In 30 seconds

    What comes up again and again

    • Pristine casheuros or dollars with no folds or marks. Half of Philippe’s euros were refused, and Miki wasn’t let through Latvia with euros: he had to change them into dollars.
    • Patience at the land borderfrom 5 hours in the Narva queue (Michael) to a ten-hour wait (Ernst, at Koidula) or twelve hours at Mamonovo, coming from Poland (Саймон).
    • Questions on landingby plane too: 2.5 hours at passport control in Kazan, with phones and laptop checked (Michael), or a “small interrogation” with a phone check in Moscow (Catherine). Others were through in two minutes (Alican).
    • An eSIM before you goYesim worked for Iñaki and for Thomas, who set it up before flying.
    • The VPN, ready at homein my survey, Amnezia worked well for 28 of the 39 readers who took it, and Proton for only 9 of 61.
    • The eVisa isn’t valid everywhereNicolas was turned back on the train from Minsk to Smolensk, and Etienne went in through Shumilkino because Pechory doesn’t accept it.

    How they got in

    The stories by how they reached Russia

    Almost everyone’s first question is how to get in. Here are the stories grouped by the route they took, so you can read the ones from people who took the same way as you. The up-to-date situation at each crossing is in my guide to Russia’s borders.

    Overland: from Estonia and Latvia

    On foot at Narva or by bus via Koidula and Shumilkino, towards Saint Petersburg. It’s the route with the longest waits and the most questions. I explain it in my guide: the Estonia–Russia border: Narva, Koidula and Luhamaa.

    Through Belarus: via Minsk

    Careful with the eVisa: Nicolas wasn’t let through on the train from Minsk to Smolensk and had to fly instead. I explain it in my guide: how to travel to Russia through Belarus.

    By plane: Istanbul, the Gulf, Belgrade or China

    With a connection in Istanbul, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Doha, Belgrade, Baku or Tbilisi, or on a flight from Beijing. Less waiting than overland, although Michael was held for 2.5 hours in Kazan and Catherine had her phone checked. I explain it in my guide: entering Russia by air: hubs and airports.

    Overland: from Poland, via Kaliningrad

    By bus or with a driver, with long waits at the border, and from there by plane to Saint Petersburg. I explain it in my guide: the Kaliningrad border by land.

    On wheels or by sea: car, bike or ferry

    In your own car through Latvia, Norway or Georgia, by solar bike to Kazakhstan, or by ferry from South Korea to Vladivostok.

    Destinations

    Stories by destination

    Most travellers combine Moscow and Saint Petersburg, and more and more add Kazan. In each city’s guide you’ll find its stories alongside everything you need to plan the visit.

    Beyond the two capitals

    By topic

    What they tell you, and where I explain it in depth

    First-hand

    All the traveller stories

    From the most recent to the oldest. Each one tells the trip in the words and photos of the person who made it.

    Just back?

    Share your experience

    If you’ve been to Russia recently, tell me how it went: how you got in, how you paid and what surprised you. Your story will help other travellers plan their trip.

    Share your experience
    Ask on the forum