Russia is the largest country in the world. Its coastline stretches from the Arctic Ocean to the North Pacific Ocean, including the inland sea, the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, covering a wide range of geographical environments. It has the world's largest forest reserve and a lake containing about one quarter of the world's fresh water. It is rich in natural resources, diverse in landscape, as well as a large number of historical and cultural sites The cultural city landscape and the special scenery of the North attract many tourists to visit Russia. So, what's the best time to visit Russia?
Russia in spring
Russian spring officially began on March 1 and ended on May 31. It's a quiet time, not many tourists, although the weather may get very cold until April. March and early April are bad times, because you'll find the snow on the streets melting.
At the beginning of spring, celebrate Maslenitsa or 'butter week', and at the end of Sunday before Lent, celebrate Russian tradition for a whole week, with many activities, performances, music and games. During this period, Orthodox Easter (ruled by the Julian calendar) was also known as one of the most important dates in the orthodox calendar, as well as people interested in orthodox religious rituals.
The best months are May and June. As the days get longer, the temperature gets warmer. We should note that unlike Europe, Russia will not change its time zone. May is a good month to go to Russia, during which some celebrations are held, such as May 1 (labor day) and May 9 (Victory Day), the date of the parade, fireworks and celebrations. It's exciting on the street.
Moscow in summer
In Russia, the summer officially begins on June 1 and ends on August 31 (the academic year begins on September 1). Russians like to go to the countryside in summer to enjoy the sunshine. In fact, in big cities, the local population declines in the summer because many Russians go to the countryside for holidays, in their 'dachas' (summer homes). You'll also see many Russians sunbathing in the city (see photo above, Gorky Park, near the Moscow River).
Summer is one of the best time to visit Russia. July and August are the highlights of the tourist season. In big cities such as Moscow, St. Petersburg or the golden ring city of Russia, you often see a large number of foreign tourists from all over the world (including tourists from the former Soviet Union Republic) visiting major tourist attractions.
In summer, the days are longer and the tourist attractions have a broader schedule. In some places in the northernmost part, such as St. Petersburg, the sun will not appear at 'white night', mainly from late May to mid July, which is the ideal time to go to Russia.
But there are also problems in the summer. The temperature may exceed 30 & deg; C (July is the hottest month), which can be very uncomfortable, especially if you think not all hotels and restaurants have air conditioning, neither many buses nor subways. Russia is a country well prepared for the cold, but it may not be so hot, although in the past few years, there have been some heat waves in summer.
The downside is that accommodation and air or train tickets tend to be more expensive due to increased demand.
Also pay attention to mosquito pests, which are common in rural areas, especially in cities, but this can be solved by buying insecticides in any store.
You should also consider that the temperature may start to drop significantly at the end of August, and the minimum temperature may have started to be around 5 ℃ throughout September, although this may vary greatly, for example, some years in September can become a hot month (especially in the first few weeks). Another aspect to consider is that the main theatre in August, such as the Moscow Grand Theatre or malinsky in St. Petersburg, is usually closed. However, there are other good options in August, such as going to the opera house or ballet, or other programs. If you are going to some opera or ballet performances in Russia, it is important to know that there is no dress code, as long as you wear good clothes, but in no case you need to wear a tuxedo or evening dress.
Russia in autumn
Autumn is a short season in Russia and the weather is very unpredictable. Although it may start to get cold in September, the fact is that sometimes it's also hot (but not hot in July). Therefore, considering the sharp drop in the number of tourists in September, if the temperature is suitable for a month, it may be the best time to travel.
By mid October, the temperature may have been negative and you have to get good shelter. The advantage is that there are fewer people and fewer tourists. Late October and November are already a relatively cold period, and it may start to snow, so it is no longer a good time to travel, although autumn in Russia is very beautiful because the trees are dyed orange, yellow and red.
Winter in Moscow
The harsh Russian winter begins on December 1 and ends on the last day of February, although it is not uncommon for snow to reach April. At the end of December, most parts of the country are usually covered with snow. However, it is well prepared and there are always many cleaners removing snow from the streets and roads.
Winter in Moscow
The harsh Russian winter begins on December 1 and ends on the last day of February, although it is not uncommon for snow to reach April. At the end of December, most parts of the country are usually covered with snow. However, it is well prepared and there are always many cleaners removing snow from the streets and roads.
Winter temperatures vary greatly, depending on your country. In Moscow and St. Petersburg, it's no surprise that the temperature is below - 20 or even higher. In Siberia, they can go down to 50 degrees below zero. However, it should be noted that both Moscow and St. Petersburg are much wetter than Siberia, so the cold may feel more intense.
The coldest population in the world is oymyakon in the east of Siberia, with a minimum of - 70 & deg; C. In addition to the cold, you should also consider the short winter days, especially in northern cities such as St. Petersburg.
The benefits of winter travel are also obvious: fewer tourists, fewer queues, cheaper hotels, airline and train tickets, although some attractions are closed or for a short time. Many Russians also go skiing in winter.
January 1-8 is a holiday in Russia to celebrate the new year and Orthodox Christmas. In these days, there are special activities, many activities around the city center (there are skating rinks), and in Moscow, some museums are open for free. December 25 is a working day in Russia, because January 7 celebrates Orthodox Christmas (Christmas Eve is January 6), but December 25 is also a very popular day. Many people still celebrate the orthodox new year on January 14.
What's the best time to go to Russia? It all depends on your needs:
From May to September is a good time because of the high temperature. The busiest months are July and August.
If you are looking for more peace, fewer tourists and still good weather, the end of spring and the beginning of autumn are also good times, although the weather can change.
If you want to see snow and Russian winter, put on the right clothes to protect yourself from the cold.