Planning a trip to Russia nowadays requires a bit more organization than before, but it’s still absolutely feasible. In this guide, I’ve compiled all the resources I use (and recommend) to book flights, accommodation, train tickets, arrange valid travel insurance, get mobile internet, or find out which bank cards work in the country. Everything is up to date for 2025, and includes solutions that accept foreign cards.
Travel Planning
Find out how to book flights to Russia with a foreign card, where to stay without complications, and which transportation options to use within the country. Everything you need to plan your trip to Russia easily and safely.
🛂 Visa and invitation to travel to Russia
iVisa
If you need a regular (non-electronic) visa to enter Russia, one of the first steps is to obtain a letter of invitation (visa support). Through iVisa, you can get it in minutes directly, paying with a foreign card without hassle. The document will be sent to you by email and is valid for presenting when applying for a Russian visa.
In addition to the invitation, health insurance is mandatory for most travelers, even if you enter with an electronic visa. With the Russian insurer Solidarity, you can purchase your policy online in under 5 minutes, and pay with a foreign card from anywhere in the world. The policy is valid for entry into Russia and covers emergency medical expenses, hospitalization, or repatriation.
✈️ Flights to Russia without a Russian bank card
AirSerbia
One of the few airlines that connects Europe to Russia without major detours. For example, you can fly to Moscow via Belgrade quite easily. It’s not always the cheapest option, but it is direct and operational.
Turkish Airlines
Flying via Istanbul remains one of the most reliable and comfortable ways to reach Russia from Europe or America. It offers multiple daily flights to Moscow, Saint Petersburg, and many other Russian cities.
FlyOne Armenia
A more budget-friendly alternative. It operates flights via Yerevan, although with fewer frequencies and longer layovers. Worth considering if you’re looking to save money.
Trip
A Russian platform where you can buy tickets from Russian airlines (like Pobeda, Azimuth, or Aeroflot) with your foreign Visa or Mastercard. Useful both for flights from Istanbul or Yerevan and for travel within Russia.
💳 Flights with a Russian bank card or MIR
Aviasales
The most popular flight search engine among Russians. Although payment can only be made with a Russian bank card, its search feature is very useful for finding options and comparing prices.
Yandex Travel
Yandex’s version for searching flights, trains, and accommodation. It also requires a MIR or Russian bank card for payment, but it’s very handy for checking routes and alternative prices.
Aeroflot
The Russian national airline. It currently doesn’t fly to Europe, but does serve destinations in Central Asia, the Caucasus, and the Middle East. Ideal for connections within Russia or if you enter from non-sanctioned countries.
Azimuth
A regional Russian low-cost airline with punctual flights and good service. It operates both domestic routes and some international ones, such as from Istanbul or Yerevan. Highly recommended if you need connections to southern Russia.
🏨 Accommodation in Russia
Triphotels
If you’re traveling from outside Russia and have a foreign Visa or Mastercard, Triphotels is your best option to book hotels, apartments, and other accommodations throughout the country. The website is in English, offers free cancellation on many bookings, and often has excellent rates. Remember that Booking, Airbnb, Zenhotels, and other Western platforms do not currently operate in Russia.
Here you can only pay with MIR or a Russian bank card. Sometimes you’ll find more variety or better prices, but you need a local payment method.
🚆 Transportation in Russia
Services that allow payment with a foreign card
This is the best alternative to the official RZD portal for purchasing train tickets in Russia from abroad. The site is in English and accepts foreign Visa and Mastercard. Perfect for booking trains between Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Kazan, Vladivostok, etc., without needing a VPN or a MIR card.
Services that require a Russian card or MIR
RZD
This is the official page of Russian Railways. Its interface is clear, has an English version, and also a mobile app, but since 2022 it only allows payments with cards issued in Russia. Even so, you can use it to check schedules, train types, and availability. To access it from outside Russia, you’ll need a VPN.
Tutu.ru
A very popular portal in Russia for booking trains, buses, flights, and even accommodation. It’s helpful for planning routes and comparing options, but payment is also restricted to Russian cards. It’s useful for checking journeys.
Yandex Taxi
The most used taxi app in Russia (like the local Uber). It works well in major cities, lets you see the fare before the trip, and track the car via GPS. It only accepts Russian bank cards or cash payments, so make sure you have rubles on hand or ask if you can pay the driver in cash.
📶 Internet in Russia: eSIM and mobile connection
One of the easiest ways to have internet in Russia in 2025 is with an unlimited data eSIM. With Holafly, you can buy it online and install it on your phone in just a few minutes. It works well in Russia’s major cities and is ideal if you don’t want to rely on hotel Wi-Fi or look for a physical SIM (which is currently quite complicated for foreigners).
A similar option to Holafly, but more affordable, is Manet, which also offers eSIMs for Russia. The main difference is that it doesn’t include unlimited data, but it’s still a very good alternative if you have a more moderate data usage or are taking a short trip. You can also purchase it online and pay with a foreign card.
💳 Bank cards in Russia
Since 2022, foreign Visa, Mastercard, or American Express cards do not work in Russia: you cannot use them in shops, ATMs, or for online payments. Therefore, if you plan to spend a long period in the country, you may want to open an account with a Russian bank to get a MIR card, which is the national payment system.
It’s one of the most popular digital banks with one of the best apps in the country. It offers accounts in rubles and MIR cards that you can use at any store, transport, restaurant, or online service within Russia.
Currently, getting a Russian SIM card has become quite difficult for foreigners. For this reason, the account opening process at T-Bank can be started by email by writing to customer support.