Back from Russia, really don’t recommend going because it’s just too tough……
Just got back from Russia, feeling mixed. Really don’t recommend going because it’s so overwhelming. 😫
⛔️ Let me be blunt and discourage you
❶ Painfully expensive 💸
Round-trip tickets cost 6,000–8,000 in July and August peak season. A regular hotel in Moscow starts at 800 per night. A simple meal on Nevsky Prospect is 200+. Money flies out every day.
❷ Walking yourself to exhaustion 🦵
The attractions are huge. You can’t finish the Winter Palace in 4 hours. Transferring in the metro feels like running 800 meters. Easily walk 20,000 steps a day. Your feet won’t feel like your own.
❸ Weather on shuffle, white nights torture 🌦️🌙
In one day you get blazing sun, sudden rain, even hail. Most old buildings have no air conditioning. You’re constantly switching between short sleeves and a light down jacket. Even worse is the white nights in St. Petersburg in June and July. The sun sets at 9:30 PM, then there’s endless orange-pink twilight. The sky doesn’t get fully dark until midnight. Hotel curtains let in a little light, causing insomnia. You’ll walk around every day with dark circles. It’s brutal.
❹ English basically doesn’t work 🗣️
Menus are all in Russian. Locals rarely speak English. Buying a bottle of water means lots of gesturing. Social anxiety will freeze you on the spot.
BUT‼️ If summer break is your only chance to travel, for graduation trips or with kids, keep this survival guide handy to help you suffer less. ✨
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🚇 Getting around
Take the Sapsan high-speed train between Moscow and St. Petersburg. It takes 4 hours. Buy early bird tickets in advance on the RZD website.
Use Yandex Go for city taxis. Fixed prices, no haggling. In Moscow, get a “troika” metro card and snap photos at the most beautiful stations like Mayakovskaya and Komsomolskaya. Taxis in St. Petersburg are just as cheap. Don’t take unlicensed cabs on the street.
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📍 Must-see spots and insider tips for July and August
🔴 Moscow
▪️ Red Square + St. Basil’s Cathedral: Opens at 9:00 AM. Tickets 700₽. Arrive by 8:30 to get photos without crowds.
▪️ Kremlin and Armory Chamber: Book tickets 4 days in advance on the official site. Buy separate tickets for the Diamond Fund. Opens at 10:00 AM. Go right at opening. Closed on Thursdays!
▪️ Metro tour: Buy a single-ride ticket and stay inside to take photos repeatedly. Line 5 circle line is the highlight.
🔵 St. Petersburg
▪️ Winter Palace: Night openings on Wednesdays and Fridays until 9:00 PM. Fewer people, great experience. Use e-tickets to enter through the General Staff Building entrance to skip lines. Rent an audio guide. Allow 4 hours.
▪️ Summer Palace: The Lower Garden fountain main show starts at 10:00 AM. Take a hydrofoil from the Winter Palace pier for 40 minutes. Comfortable and no traffic.
▪️ Catherine Palace (Amber Room): Must book online in advance! No ticket windows on site. Mornings before noon are all group tours, so grab afternoon slots. Closed on Tuesdays. The Amber Room is stunning but skip if no ticket.
🔵 Lake Baikal (not on the classic two-city route, visit separately) 🏞️
July and August are the best months at Lake Baikal. The water is deep blue, temperature around 20°C, perfect for summer escape. Fly from Moscow to Irkutsk (about 6 hours), then 1 hour by car to Listvyanka village, or take a trip to Olkhon Island. Must try the lake train, lakeside hiking, and raw omul fish. ⚠️ Note: Summer is peak season, so book wooden cabins on the island 2 months in advance! Add 3,000–4,000 to your budget for flights and accommodation, and allow 3–4 extra days. Don’t cram it into a tight schedule. Better to visit separately next time.
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🗺️ 7-day no-exhaustion itinerary (Moscow + St. Petersburg)
D1 Arrive in Moscow, evening stroll at Red Square + GUM department store
D2 Kremlin Armory + Diamond Fund → St. Basil’s Cathedral → Arbat Street
D3 Metro tour → Tretyakov Gallery, evening high-speed train to St. Petersburg
D4 Full day at Winter Palace (choose night opening), evening on Nevsky Prospect to enjoy twilight
D5 Hydrofoil → Summer Palace Lower Garden → Kazan Cathedral → Photo outside Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood
D6 Catherine Palace Amber Room → Peter and Paul Fortress, watch Neva River bridge open at midnight
D7 Buy souvenirs, return trip
💡 If you want to visit Lake Baikal, extend your trip to 10–11 days. After 7 days in Moscow and St. Petersburg, fly directly to Irkutsk for 3 days, stay 2 nights on Olkhon Island, watch the shaman rock sunset. Absolutely stunning.
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💰 Budget per person
Summer is really expensive: tickets 6,000–8,000, e-visa 400, 7 nights accommodation 2,000–3,000 per person, food about 2,400, tickets and transport 1,500. Total around 12,000–15,000 per person. Add 4,000–5,000 more for Lake Baikal flights and lodging. To save money, bring your own snacks and take fewer taxis.
🌟 Best months
May or September are the most comfortable for Moscow and St. Petersburg. Fewer crowds, cheaper, and stable weather. Lake Baikal is best in July and August for water temperature but also most expensive. If summer break is your only option, bring an eye mask and sunscreen and go for it.
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⚠️ Detailed pitfalls (each one a hard lesson)
① Red Square photo scammers 👑
People dressed in royal costumes or holding pigeons will hug you for photos and then demand 2,000₽. Just wave them off and say “No.” Avoid any eye contact.
② Street taxis are a huge rip-off 🚕
Cars outside airports and train stations charge 3 times the app price. Only use Yandex Go, linked to your card for automatic, safe, and transparent payment.
③ Catherine Palace no reservation means wasted trip 🎫
You must book the Amber Room 1–2 months in advance online during summer. No tickets sold on site. Don’t trust scalpers; tickets may be fake.
④ White night insomnia essentials 😴
Most St. Petersburg hotel curtains don’t block light. Bring your own eye mask and earplugs or you’ll get pale and exhausted from sleepless nights.
⑤ Weather changes too fast 🧥
Always carry a light down jacket or raincoat and an umbrella. Don’t wear mesh shoes; one rain and your feet will be soaked and miserable.
⑥ Dress code for churches ⛪
Women must cover their heads at the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood and Kazan Cathedral. No shorts or short skirts. Scarves sold at entrances are expensive; bring your own silk scarf.
⑦ Public restrooms mostly charge fees 🚻
Toilets at attractions and malls usually cost 15–30₽. Bring coins. Very few toilets in metro stations, so don’t hold it in until you’re desperate.
⑧ Avoid withdrawing money at airports 💳
Airport exchange rates are terrible. Use ATMs at official banks on the street. UnionPay works and you get the best rate of the day.
⑨ Watch your backpack in the metro 🎒
Moscow metro is crowded. Carry backpacks in front. Don’t put your phone in back pockets. Be extra careful at circle line transfer stations.
⑩ Restaurant water is a trap 💧
If you say “water” when seated, you’ll get bottled sparkling water charged. Say “tap water” or “без газа” (no gas). Many places provide it free.
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Do your homework and go boldly. The gentle sunset at Red Square, the stunning treasures of the Winter Palace, and the endless blue of Lake Baikal are truly worth it! 🇷🇺✨