A little more
Russia.
A lot less roaming.

Travelling to Russia: what to know before you go

Russia is the largest country in the world, stretching across eleven time zones from the Baltic Sea to the Pacific. It has imperial cities and world-class museums, onion-domed churches, the Trans-Siberian Railway, Lake Baikal and the volcanoes of Kamchatka. Travel conditions can change quickly, so check your government's current travel advice carefully before planning a trip.

Where to go

• Moscow. Red Square, the Kremlin and the colourful domes of St Basil's Cathedral form one of the world's best-known city views.
• St Petersburg. Founded by Peter the Great in 1703 on the Neva delta, the city's canals and palaces are a UNESCO World Heritage site.
• The Golden Ring. A circuit of historic towns north-east of Moscow, including Suzdal, Vladimir, Sergiev Posad and Yaroslavl, with white-stone churches, kremlins and monasteries, some dating back to the twelfth century.
• Lake Baikal. The world's deepest lake, in southern Siberia, holds a large share of the world's unfrozen surface freshwater.

Best time to visit

Late May to September is the best time for most of Russia, with warm weather and long days. In St Petersburg, the White Nights in June bring late sunsets and festivals.

Staying online in Russia

Mobile coverage is good in Moscow, St Petersburg and other large cities, with fast 4G, and is generally available along major routes and in towns. It thins out or disappears across Siberia, in the far north, on long stretches of the Trans-Siberian and in mountain areas such as Kamchatka. Wi-Fi is common in cafés, hotels and the Moscow metro. Access to some foreign websites, apps and services is restricted, and mobile internet can be limited at times in some regions, so check before you travel. Install an eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land.