Many tour operators offer trips to see the highlights of Russia, and letting someone else handle the paper work for entering the country is often the easiest way to visit. However, there are some great flight deals to some of Russia’s airports (check out Swiss Air and Aeroflot for example), and it is possible to do it all yourself, get a personalised tour, and save money.

Getting A Visa

Non-Russian passport holders will need a visa to be able to enter Russia. This means a fee is paid and the visa attached to your passport. As this requires contact with a local Russian embassy, make sure there is ample time to organise a visa before the date of your trip.

To get a tourist visa, visitors need some paperwork, which includes what is known as an invitation to enter the country. Don’t panic, this doesn’t mean a Russian has to invite you to stay! All it means is that you have booked a hotel in advance, and they have sent official confirmation that rooms are booked.