Packing for Russia comes down to six blocks you can’t skip: documents, electronics, cash, medication, season-appropriate clothing and a couple of local essentials. If you’re heading to Moscow —which is the most common case— almost anything you forget can be bought there without trouble, but there are a few things you absolutely have to bring from home. Here’s the practical list I actually use, with what really matters and what you can leave behind.
1. Documents: what you can’t forget
The document folder is the first thing I prepare and the last thing I check before closing the suitcase. If you forget a sweater at home, you can buy another one in Moscow; if you forget your passport, the trip is over.
Personal documents
- Passport with at least 6 months of validity from your entry date and a couple of blank pages for stamps.
- Russian visa: if you need a visa to enter Russia, bring it printed (eVisa) or already stuck in your passport (regular visa). You’ll be asked for it at boarding and at the border.
- National ID card (if your country issues one): it takes up no space and saves your life if you lose your passport. I always carry it in a different place from the passport.
- Driving license: only if you’re going to rent a car. In that case, it’s a good idea to bring an international driving permit too.
Travel documents
- Flight tickets printed or on your phone (also the boarding pass).
- Travel medical insurance printed or as a PDF on your phone. It’s mandatory to apply for both the eVisa and the regular visa, and it’s worth keeping it handy in case anything happens. If you haven’t bought it yet, you can do it in a few minutes on the travel insurance for Russia page.
- Invitation letter: if you’re entering on a regular visa, bring it printed. The eVisa doesn’t require one.
- Hotel or apartment reservation: sometimes you’ll be asked for it at the border and almost always at check-in. Bring it printed or save the PDF on your phone. If you don’t have accommodation yet, you can book with a foreign card on Ostrovok.
- Train tickets: if you’re going to use the Russian railway, bring your tickets printed or the QR code on your phone. For the Sapsan Moscow–Saint Petersburg your passport is enough, but having the ticket on you always helps.
Copies
This is what people forget the most and what helps the most when something goes wrong. Before leaving home:
- Take photos of your passport, visa and insurance and save them in the cloud (Google Drive, Dropbox) and on your phone. When you enter Russia, take a photo of the immigration card you’re given in case you lose it.
- Write down the phone number of your embassy or consulate in Russia: if you lose your passport, that’s the first call you’ll need to make.
2. Electronics and connectivity
- Phone charger + USB-C / Lightning cable: the basics. You don’t need a plug adapter: Russia uses European sockets (type C/F, 220 V, 50 Hz), the same as continental Europe. If you’re coming from the UK or the Americas, you do need an adapter.
- Power bank: very useful for long sightseeing days. Remember it must travel in cabin baggage, not checked-in.
- eSIM activated before leaving: I strongly recommend it. You arrive in Moscow with mobile data from minute one, without the headache of buying a physical SIM. The full explanation is on the eSIM for Russia page. It’s also a good idea to have a VPN installed on your phone.
- Local apps downloaded: Yandex Go (taxis), Yandex Maps (better than Google Maps in Russia), Yandex Translate, 2GIS (detailed maps). I explain them all in the article about apps to use in Russia.
- Camera, video and laptop: if you use them regularly. Be careful when photographing official buildings or military facilities; it’s forbidden and can land you in trouble. Many museums charge a small fee for taking photos.
- Headphones: for long flights and overnight trains. If they’re wireless, bring the charging cable.
3. Cash and cards
In Russia, your foreign Visa or Mastercard is useless: you can’t use it to pay in shops, withdraw cash or book anything online inside Russia. You have to arrive with cash and have a strategy in place.
Cash: euros or dollars
The simplest approach is to bring euros or dollars in cash and exchange them in Moscow as soon as you arrive. The border lets you bring in up to USD 10,000 or the equivalent per person without declaring. Anything above that has to be declared at customs.
A few practical tips:
- Bring €50 or €100 notes (or USD 50/100) in good condition, no markings, no tears. Damaged notes are often rejected at exchange offices.
- Don’t change all your money at the airport: the rate is bad. Exchange only what you need to get to the hotel and then look for a bank branch in the centre (Sberbank, T-Bank and VTB usually offer reasonable rates).
- You’ll find all the details in these two articles: Can you bring euros to Russia? and where to exchange dollars or euros for rubles.
Cards: what works and what doesn’t
- Visa, Mastercard, Amex, JCB issued outside Russia: they DO NOT work. Bring them anyway in case you need them in another country during the trip (stopover, return), but don’t count on them in Moscow.
- Russian MIR card: the long-term solution if you’re staying several days or planning to come back. You set it up from inside Russia and you need to open an account at a Russian bank (T-Bank is the most accessible for foreigners). I walk you through the process in how to get a T-Bank card as a foreigner.
- If you need someone to send you money from Europe while you’re there, there are services that still work; they’re all listed on the send money to Russia page.
My advice: arrive with enough cash in euros or dollars for the whole trip + a margin, and only consider the MIR card if you’re staying more than a week or coming back frequently.
4. Medication and basic first-aid kit
In Russia there are pharmacies (аптека, apteka) on every corner and most common medicines are available without a prescription. The problem isn’t availability, but the fact that brand names are different and the list of restricted medicines (especially psychotropics and opioids) is stricter than in many other countries.
- Chronic medication: bring enough for the whole trip + a couple of extra days. Pack it in your carry-on, in its original packaging with the leaflet inside.
- Medical prescription translated into English or Russian: essential if you’re carrying opioids, anxiolytics, antidepressants or any psychiatric medication. Without a translated prescription in your name, they can hold them at customs. I explain it in detail in the article on taking medicines to Russia and the medical prescription.
- Basic first-aid kit: paracetamol, ibuprofen, anti-diarrheal, antihistamine for allergies, plasters, hand sanitiser. Small quantities, for personal use.
If you’re entering Russia by car or have any doubts about what you can bring through customs (alcohol, tobacco, electronics, valuable jewellery), I recommend reading the Russia customs guide: it explains the exact limits so you won’t get any surprises at the checkpoint.
5. Clothing and footwear by season
Moscow’s climate is continental: long, very cold winters; short, hot summers; and unpredictable spring and autumn. Here’s the essential breakdown.
Winter (December – February, sometimes March)
In Moscow temperatures swing between 0 °C and -25 °C, and in a bad cold spell they can drop even lower. The trick is not to bring one very thick garment, but layers you can peel off when you go indoors, because Russian heating is always cranked up to the max:
- Hat that covers your ears (the Russian shapka is the star piece).
- Thick scarf and lined gloves.
- Long coat below the knee, or a long down jacket if you don’t want to invest in a Russian-style coat. A “stylish short coat” is not an option at -15 °C.
- Thermal base layer (thermal top and leggings or thermal trousers).
- Waterproof boots with thick, non-slip soles. The dirty, melted snow on the pavements is the classic trap. Urban sneakers are a mistake.
Summer (June – August)
In summer Moscow can swing from 15 °C to over 30 °C and, heads up, not all hotels, restaurants or the metro have air conditioning. Russians are better prepared for cold than for heat.
- Light clothing in cotton or linen for daytime.
- Something long-sleeved or a light hoodie: Moscow mornings and evenings can be cool, especially in June.
- Folding umbrella or light raincoat: summer downpours can hit without warning.
- Comfortable walking shoes: Moscow is a city of long distances and kilometres on foot.
- Sunglasses, sunscreen and a cap: in July the sun is fierce.
Spring and autumn
These are the two most unpredictable seasons. You can go from +20 °C to -5 °C in a single week, with rain, wind and melting snow (the dreaded slush that gets on everything). The strategy is layers + waterproof + sturdy footwear:
- Windbreaker or waterproof jacket.
- T-shirts + sweaters or hoodies you can mix and match.
- Waterproof or water-resistant shoes.
- Scarf and light hat for late October and November.
- Umbrella in autumn (no question).
Orthodox churches: an important detail
If you’re going to enter churches or monasteries (and in Moscow you’ll enter several), worth knowing:
- Women: always carry a scarf or shawl in your bag to cover your head and shoulders if needed. Some churches lend them at the entrance, but not all.
- Men: in summer, avoid very short shorts when visiting important churches.
Most clothing items can be bought in Moscow without trouble (malls such as GUM, Aviapark or the Outlet Village), so if you’re not sure what to bring or don’t want to invest in winter clothing for a one-off trip, buying the heavy stuff on arrival is also an option.
Quick summary: the mini-checklist so you don’t forget the essentials
If you’re short on time and just want a checklist of the critical items:
- Passport (6 months valid) + visa + national ID + digital copy of everything
- Travel insurance bought and handy
- Flight tickets and accommodation reservation
- Phone + eSIM activated + VPN installed + Yandex Go and Yandex Maps downloaded
- Cash in euros or dollars (enough for the whole trip + a margin)
- Basic first-aid kit + chronic medication with translated prescription if applicable
- Clothing in layers according to the season + suitable footwear + folding umbrella
Frequently asked questions about packing for Russia
How much cash can I bring to Russia without declaring it?
Up to the equivalent of USD 10,000 per person, in euros, dollars or any other currency. Above that amount you must declare it at customs when entering the country. Declaring it doesn’t mean paying anything, but skipping the declaration can result in penalties.
Can I buy a Russian SIM card on arrival?
In theory yes, but since 2025 the process has become much harder for foreigners: they require in-person registration with your passport, a Russian verification number and, with some operators, a Russian tax ID (INN). That’s why I recommend arriving with an eSIM already activated and only buying a local SIM if you’re staying for several weeks and need it for local matters.
What do I do if I lose my passport in Russia?
The first step is to go to the nearest police station to file a report. With the report and a copy of your passport, you then go to your country’s embassy or consulate to apply for an emergency travel document so you can return home. That’s why it’s so important to bring a digital copy of your passport, a physical copy kept separately from the original, and the consulate’s phone number written down before leaving.
