How to plan your trip to Russia in 10 steps
Once your visa is sorted, almost everything else can be done from home: a flight with a layover, hotel, trains, tickets, money and internet. The key thing to know is that your cards and many of your apps don’t work in Russia, so some things can’t wait until you land. Here’s the order I follow and what you need at each step.
In 30 seconds
What you can’t improvise in Russia
Almost everything works like on any other trip. Not these four things: if you don’t sort them out before you leave, your first days get complicated.
- Step 7Your card won’t workForeign Visa and Mastercard cards don’t work in shops or ATMs. Bring cash and, if you’re staying a while, open a Russian card once you arrive.
- Step 8Internet arrives lateForeign SIMs and eSIMs get no data for about 24 hours after arrival, and WhatsApp is blocked. Set up your eSIM and VPN at home.
- Step 2There are no direct flightsFrom the US, the UK and the EU there’s always a layover, and the usual flight search engines no longer show flights to Russia.
- Step 10You must be registeredYour hotel registers you within 7 working days. If you’re staying in an apartment, check who will do it.
The 10 steps
What to do and when
This is the order that works. The visa comes first: if you don’t know yet which one you need, start with my guide to the Russian visa.
- 2–3 months out · Steps 0 and 1Pick your route and seasonCheck the current situation, choose cities and days, and apply for your visa and insurance with time to spare.
- 1–2 months out · Steps 2 to 6Book what sells outFlight, hotel, the Moscow–St Petersburg train in summer and tickets for the Bolshoi or the Hermitage.
- The week before · Steps 7, 8 and 9Money, internet and packingCash, a tested eSIM and VPN, apps and maps downloaded, medication with prescriptions.
- On landing · Step 10Arrival and registrationPassport control, transfer to your hotel and the migration registration, usually done by your accommodation.
Steps 0 and 1
Before you book anything
First, find out how things stand right now and what kind of trip you want. The best time to go is late May to early September; from late May to mid-July you get St Petersburg’s White Nights.
Step 0
The situation now
Whether you can travel, which areas to avoid, what has changed this year and the restrictions you’ll meet.
Step 1
Route, days and season
Itineraries for the time you have, how long to spend in each city and the weather in each season.
Before step 1
Visa, border and insurance
Apply for your visa and medical insurance early. And the border you cross decides how much the trip costs.
To fine-tune your plan
Steps 2 and 3
Flights, trains and transfers
Skyscanner, Kayak and Google Flights stopped showing flights to Russia in 2022, but the routes still operate and you can buy them on other sites. Trains are similar: the official site only takes Russian cards, but there are ways to pay with yours.
- 0direct flights from the US, the UK or the EU. Connect in Istanbul, Belgrade, Yerevan or Dubai.
- MIRis the only card accepted by Russian Railways’ website, RZD.ru.
- 3 sitesto buy train tickets with a foreign card: RussianTrain, Tutu and Belarusian Railways.
Step 2
Your flight
Where to search, which airlines take your card and which don’t.
Step 2
Hubs and airports
Which hubs work and which Russian airports receive international flights.
Step 3
The train
How to buy the official ticket from abroad and pay with a foreign card.
On landing
Airport to city centre
Taxi, Aeroexpress or a pre-booked transfer, with prices and times.
More on getting around
- Moscow to St Petersburg: train, plane or bus
- Train types and classes
- Travelling by bus in Russia
- Bus from Tallinn and Riga to St Petersburg
- Renting a car in Russia
- Train stations: luggage storage and services
- New rules for flying in Russia
- Airport services and prices
- Train nights on your visa invitation
Steps 4, 5 and 6
Accommodation, museums and shows
The big international booking platforms don’t sell stays in Russia, but others do and take foreign cards. Since 1 March 2026 you can cancel any hotel booking up to the day before arrival and get a full refund. The big state museums charge foreigners more, and the ballet sells out in high season.
Step 4
Where to stay
Which platforms work, how to pay and which neighbourhoods to stay in.
Step 5
Museums and palaces
Tickets, opening hours and tricks to skip the lines at the must-sees.
Step 6
Ballet, opera and circus
How to buy tickets as a foreigner and which shows are worth it.
More on accommodation
- Where to stay in Moscow
- Where to stay in St Petersburg
- Types of accommodation
- New hotel rules since March 2026
More sights and shows
Step 7
Money, payments and cards
This is the step that surprises people most. Visa and Mastercard cards issued outside Russia don’t work in the country, nor do Revolut, N26 or Wise, nor Apple Pay or Google Pay. What works is bringing cash and, if you’re staying a while, opening a Russian card such as T-Bank’s once you’re there.
- $10,000in cash you can bring in without declaring it. Above that, declare it at customs.
- €35–55per person per day, not counting accommodation: meals, metro, taxis and a museum or two.
- 0Russian ATMs that accept your foreign card.
Paying
How to pay in Russia
What works, what doesn’t and how to combine cash with a Russian card.
Cash
Which currency to bring
US dollars are the safest bet, and the EU bans taking euro banknotes to Russia. Here’s what to bring and where to exchange it.
Budget
How much it costs
Real prices for food, transport and museums in Moscow and St Petersburg.
More on money
Step 8
Internet, eSIM and VPN
In the cities the internet is fast, but many foreign apps are blocked, mobile internet is often cut in some regions and public wifi asks for a Russian number. Set everything up at home: it’s much harder once you’re in Russia.
- 24 hourswithout data the first time a foreign SIM or eSIM connects, since October 2025.
- February 2026since then WhatsApp has been blocked and only works on and off or with a VPN.
- Hotel wifithe most reliable connection. Public wifi asks you to verify with a Russian number.
Data
eSIM or roaming
Which eSIMs actually work according to travellers and how to shorten the block on arrival.
Blocked apps
VPN
What worked for 192 travellers and how to have it installed and tested before you leave.
On your phone
Apps to get around
Maps, taxis, translation and bookings: the Russian apps that replace Google Maps or Uber.
More on internet and staying in touch
Steps 9 and 10
Packing and arrival
Pack the usual plus a couple of things: medication with its prescription and clothes for weather that changes a lot. On arrival there’s passport control, which includes fingerprints and a photo at Moscow’s airports, and the migration registration, which your hotel handles for you.
Step 9
What to pack
Practical packing for each season, and carry-on rules for the airlines that fly to Russia.
Step 9
Medication
What you can bring, when you need a prescription and how to declare it.
Step 10
On landing
Passport control, migration card and customs, step by step.
Step 10
Registration
Who registers you, how quickly and what to do if your accommodation doesn’t.
More on packing and arrival
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FAQ
Your questions about planning the trip
How far ahead should I plan a trip to Russia?
Two or three months gives you plenty of time. Start with the visa and medical insurance; then the flight, hotel and, in summer, the Moscow–St Petersburg train and ballet tickets, which sell out. The week before, get your cash, eSIM and VPN ready.
Can I use my card in Russia?
No. Visa, Mastercard and American Express cards issued outside Russia don’t work in shops or ATMs, and neither do Revolut, N26 or Wise. The practical solution is to bring cash and, if you’re staying a while, open a Russian card such as T-Bank’s once you’re in the country.
How much money do I need per day in Russia?
Not counting accommodation, €35–55 per person per day in Moscow or St Petersburg covers meals in ordinary restaurants, the metro, taxis and one or two museums. On a tight budget you can get by on €25–30 a day.
Are there direct flights to Russia from the US or the UK?
No. There are no direct flights from the US, the UK or the EU, so you always connect. The most common hubs are Istanbul, Belgrade, Yerevan and Dubai. Skyscanner and Google Flights no longer show these flights, so you have to search on other sites.
Does WhatsApp work in Russia? Do I need a VPN?
WhatsApp has been blocked since February 2026 and only works on and off or with a VPN. For WhatsApp, Instagram or YouTube you’ll almost always need a VPN, which you should install and test before leaving. To get around, pay and find your way you don’t need one: Russian apps work without it.
Why don’t I have internet when I arrive in Russia?
Since October 2025, foreign SIMs and eSIMs get no mobile data for about 24 hours the first time they connect to a Russian network. Calls usually work. Activate your eSIM the day before you fly and use the hotel wifi in the meantime.
Can I travel to Russia independently?
Yes. You can arrange the visa, flights, hotels, trains and tickets yourself from home. What’s different from other destinations is payments and internet access, which you need to prepare before you go.
What is registration in Russia and who does it?
It’s the notification of your arrival to the migration authorities. If you stay in a hotel, the hotel does it within 7 working days and gives you a slip you should keep until you leave the country. In a private apartment, check beforehand who will take care of it.
When is the best time to visit Russia?
From late May to early September, with long days and good weather. July and August are the busiest and most expensive months; May, June and September are a good balance. Winter is very cold, but there are fewer crowds and lower prices.
Still have questions?
Ask someone who just got back
On the Russiable forum you’ll find travellers who were in Russia just a few weeks ago. And if you’d rather have everything in one document, get the 2026 guide.
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