Russia

US State Department: Level 4 "Do Not Travel"

The highest warning category, reflecting:

- Ongoing conflict with Ukraine - Risk of arbitrary detention of American citizens - Severely limited consular services (consulates closed, embassy staff reduced) - Unpredictable law enforcement against "discrediting the Russian military" - Drone attacks and explosions near Ukraine border, also in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan

What Has Changed Since 2022

No direct Western flights: Must route through Istanbul, Belgrade, Dubai, Doha, or other intermediaries.

Western bank cards don't work: Visa, Mastercard, American Express withdrew. Must carry cash or obtain Russian MIR card.

Websites/apps blocked: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, many Western services require VPN.

Western tourists rare: You won't hear much English at tourist sites anymore. Chinese and Middle Eastern tourists dominate.

Biometric data (December 2024): Required for foreign travelers at Moscow airports and some land borders.

LGBTQ+ criminalized (January 2024): Organizations labeled "extremist," support considered criminal.

Security Incidents

March 2024: Crocus City Hall attack in Moscow—130+ killed (ISIS-Khorasan claimed).

2024: Drone attacks and explosions in Moscow, Kazan, St. Petersburg, border regions.

Martial law zones: Bryansk, Kursk, Belgorod, Voronezh, Rostov, Krasnodar (near Ukraine border).

Who Should NOT Travel

- US government employees prohibited from North Caucasus including Mt. Elbrus - Dual US-Russian citizens (Russia won't recognize US citizenship) - LGBTQ+ travelers - Anyone uncomfortable with detention risk - Anyone who has criticized Russia on social media

US Citizens

No e-Visa available. Must apply through Russian embassy/consulate.

Other Nationalities

e-Visa available for ~50 countries (EU, many Asian countries). Does NOT include USA, UK, Canada, Australia.

Single entry: 16 days within 60-day validity Regular visa: Apply at consulate

Western cards do NOT work. Visa, Mastercard, AmEx non-functional due to sanctions.

Options: - Bring cash (USD or EUR) for exchange - Obtain Russian MIR card through specialized services - Some travelers get cards from friends/contacts in Russia

Electronic transfers: Nearly impossible from US due to sanctions.

Costs: Russia has become more affordable as domestic tourism replaced international visitors. Quality hotels $80-150 where $200+ was once common.

By Air (Indirect Only)

FAA downgraded Russia's air safety rating to Category 2. US government personnel prohibited from Russian airlines.

By Land

Bus from Estonia: LuxExpress, Ecolines from Tallinn to St. Petersburg.

Finland border: Closed.

Georgia, Kazakhstan: Land border crossings available (check e-visa restrictions).

Blocked services (require VPN): - Facebook, Instagram, Twitter - Netflix, Apple TV - CNN, BBC News - Many VPN websites themselves

Install VPN before arriving—websites often blocked in Russia.

WiFi: Often requires Russian phone SMS verification. Get local SIM or use hotel WiFi.

SIM cards (2025): Increasingly difficult for foreigners except at airports.

Despite everything, Moscow continues functioning normally for those who visit.

Highlights

Red Square: St. Basil's Cathedral, Lenin's Mausoleum, GUM department store, Kremlin walls.

Kremlin: Cathedrals, Armory Museum treasury, Diamond Fund imperial jewels.

Tretyakov Gallery: World's finest Russian art collection—icons to Constructivism.

Bolshoi Theatre: Ballet and opera performances (book in advance).

Metro stations: Underground palaces with marble, mosaics, chandeliers—especially Circle Line.

VDNKh: Soviet exhibition grounds transformed into park.

Peter the Great's "Window to Europe" remains aesthetically extraordinary.

Highlights

Hermitage Museum: 3+ million items in Winter Palace—one of world's largest art collections.

Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood: Colorful architecture amid neoclassical surroundings.

Nevsky Prospekt: Main artery linking major landmarks.

Peterhof: Gardens and fountains rivaling Versailles.

Tsarskoye Selo: Catherine Palace with reconstructed Amber Room.

White Nights (June): Magical extended daylight, but peak crowds.

The world's longest railway line remains operational.

Moscow to Vladivostok: ~9,300 km, 6-7 days continuous.

Key stops: - Yekaterinburg (Romanov execution site) - Irkutsk ("Paris of Siberia") - Lake Baikal (world's deepest lake, 20% of Earth's unfrozen freshwater) - Vladivostok (Pacific terminus)

Current status: Operating normally, but Western tourism significantly reduced.

Booking.com, Airbnb: Suspended in Russia.

Alternative: Ostrovok (Russian platform). Pay cash at property.

Costs: More affordable than pre-2022. Mid-range hotels $80-150/night in Moscow/St. Petersburg.

Metro: Efficient, affordable in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Sapsan train: High-speed Moscow-St. Petersburg (book in advance at station if online payment fails).

Taxis: Affordable. Ride-sharing apps work but may require Russian payment.

Arbitrary detention: Americans have been detained on charges widely considered politically motivated.

Social media: Posts critical of Russia can result in prosecution.

Political activity: Attending demonstrations creates serious legal risk.

"Discrediting military": Vague law used against critics.

Dual citizens: Russia won't recognize US citizenship—you're treated as Russian only, subject to draft.

LGBTQ+: Organizations labeled "extremist" since January 2024. Support is criminal.

US Consulates in Russia: All closed.

US Embassy Moscow: Reduced staff, limited assistance capability.

If detained: Very limited help available. Dual citizens may be blocked from consular visits.

1. Register with STEP (Smart Traveler Enrollment Program) 2. Obtain insurance that specifically covers Russia and evacuation 3. Install VPN before departure 4. Carry sufficient cash (USD/EUR) 5. Avoid political discussions and demonstrations 6. Review social media history for anything potentially problematic 7. Have contingency plans for rapid departure 8. Avoid border regions with Ukraine 9. Avoid North Caucasus entirely

- Those with family connections - Academics with professional necessity - Travelers from countries maintaining normal relations (China, Middle East, some Asian countries) - Cultural enthusiasts accepting the risks - Some EU citizens via e-visa

Russia's cultural riches remain genuine—the Hermitage's collections, the Bolshoi's performances, the Trans-Siberian's epic journey—but the current moment transforms what was once challenging tourism into something requiring far more serious consideration.

The ethical dimension cannot be ignored: tourist spending contributes, however marginally, to an economy funding the conflict in Ukraine. Individual travelers must navigate these questions honestly.

Daily life in Moscow and St. Petersburg continues normally. Travelers report feeling safe in major cities. But the risks of detention, the complications of sanctions, the absence of consular support, and the moral questions create a fundamentally different calculation than existed before 2022.

Whether Russia's experiences justify the risks, complications, and ethical dimensions is a decision only individual travelers can make. This guide serves those making informed decisions, not as encouragement for a destination currently under the highest warning level.

Key Trends: DO NOT TRAVEL—Level 4 advisory. Ukraine conflict ongoing. Arbitrary detention risk for Americans. Western bank cards (Visa/MC/Amex) don't work—cash only. No direct Western flights—route via Istanbul, Dubai, Belgrade. Websites blocked (FB, Instagram, Twitter)—VPN essential. Biometric data required at Moscow airports (Dec 2024). Chinese/Middle Eastern tourists now dominate. Consulates closed, embassy staff reduced. Drone attacks reported in border areas and major cities. Visa required (2-4 weeks). World's largest country but effectively isolated from Western tourism.

Last updated: December 2025

Russia has 4 UNESCO World Heritage Sites:

Russian cuisine is built for cold winters—hearty soups, preserved foods, and the classics: borscht, pelmeni, and blini.

Borscht

Beet Soup

Iconic beet soup with beef and vegetables—served with sour cream.

Ingredients: 300g beef, cubed, 3 beets, grated, 2 potatoes, 1 carrot, 1 onion, Cabbage, Tomato paste, Dill, sour cream.

Preparation: Simmer beef until tender. Then sauté beets, carrots, onion. Add tomato paste. Add to beef broth with potatoes, cabbage. Then simmer until vegetables tender. Last, serve with sour cream and dill.

💡 Add vinegar at the end to keep the bright red color.

Pelmeni

Meat Dumplings

Siberian meat dumplings—served with sour cream and vinegar.

Ingredients: For dough: 480ml flour, 1 egg, water, For filling: mixed beef and pork, onion, Salt, pepper, Butter, sour cream, vinegar.

Preparation: Make firm dough, rest. Then mix meats with onion, season. Roll thin, cut circles. Fill and fold into ear shapes. Then boil until they float. Serve with butter, sour cream, splash of vinegar.

💡 Traditional shape looks like a little ear—fold corners together.

Blini

Yeasted Pancakes

Small yeasted buckwheat pancakes served with caviar or sour cream.

Ingredients: 240ml buckwheat flour, 240ml wheat flour, 1 packet yeast, 480ml warm milk, 2 eggs, separated, Butter, sour cream, caviar.

Preparation: Mix flours with yeast and warm milk. Let rise 1 hour. Add egg yolks, fold in beaten whites. Then let rise again. Cook small pancakes in butter. To finish, serve with toppings.

💡 The fermentation gives blini their characteristic tangy flavor.