Russia Travel Guide 2026: Moscow & St. Petersburg Itinerary

Last verified: August 2026

Russia: A Land of Onion Domes, Palaces, and Endless Horizons

Russia is the largest country on Earth, and its two great cities feel like two different worlds. This guide includes one critical payment detail that generic guides often get wrong or skip entirely, and that can genuinely derail a trip if you don't plan for it before you land.

7-Day Russia Itinerary

Day 1: Moscow – Red Square

• Morning: Red Square and Saint Basil's Cathedral
• Afternoon: The Kremlin and Armoury Chamber
• Evening: Dinner near Nikolskaya Street

Day 2: Moscow – Art & Architecture

• Morning: Tretyakov Gallery
• Afternoon: Moscow Metro tour (some of the most ornate stations in the world)
• Evening: Gorky Park at sunset

Day 3: Moscow – Local Life

• Morning: Izmailovo Market for souvenirs and crafts
• Afternoon: Novodevichy Convent and cemetery
• Evening: Overnight high-speed train to St. Petersburg

Day 4: St. Petersburg – Grand Palaces

• Morning: The Hermitage Museum and Winter Palace
• Afternoon: Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood
• Evening: Boat cruise along the canals

Day 5: St. Petersburg – Peterhof

• Morning: Day trip to Peterhof Palace and its fountains
• Afternoon: Peter and Paul Fortress
• Evening: Dinner on Nevsky Prospekt

Day 6: St. Petersburg – Culture

• Morning: Catherine Palace and the Amber Room (Pushkin)
• Afternoon: Free time for shopping along Nevsky Prospekt
• Evening: Russian ballet or opera performance

Day 7: Departure

• Morning: Last-minute sightseeing or souvenir shopping
• Afternoon: Departure

Where to Eat in Russia

• Cafe Pushkin (Moscow) – An elegant 19th-century-style restaurant serving refined Russian classics.
• Dr. Zhivago (Moscow) – Soviet-nostalgia decor with hearty traditional dishes, open 24 hours.
• Teremok – A popular fast-casual chain for blini (Russian pancakes), found in both cities.
• Restoran (St. Petersburg) – Traditional Russian dishes in a cozy, folk-inspired setting.
• Ziferblat – A pay-by-the-minute cafe concept popular with locals and travelers alike.
• Local markets – Try pelmeni (dumplings), borscht, and pirozhki from casual stolovaya-style canteens for an affordable, authentic meal.

Best Hotels in Russia

• Budget: Godzillas Hostel (Moscow), Soul Kitchen Hostel (St. Petersburg)
• Mid-range: Hotel Metropol Moscow (heritage wing), Domina St. Petersburg, Azimut Hotel Smolenskaya
• Luxury: Four Seasons Hotel Moscow, Belmond Grand Hotel Europe (St. Petersburg), The Ritz-Carlton Moscow

Staying near a metro station in either city makes getting around fast and affordable, and both metro systems are attractions in their own right.

How Much Does a Trip to Russia Cost?

Costs vary by travel style, but here's a grounded daily budget per person:

• Budget traveler: $50–80/day (hostel, metro, canteen-style meals, free/cheap sights)
• Mid-range traveler: $120–200/day (3-star hotel, occasional taxis, sit-down restaurants, paid museum entries)
• Luxury traveler: $350+/day (upscale hotel, fine dining, private guides, skip-the-line tickets)

The payment issue almost no guide explains clearly

Since March 2022, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and JCB cards issued outside Russia do not work anywhere in the Russian payment system — not at metro turnstiles, not in shops, not in ATMs. Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay with foreign cards don't work either. In practice, this means you need to bring enough cash (euros or US dollars to exchange, or pre-purchased rubles) for your entire trip, since you can't rely on topping up as you go the way you would almost anywhere else. For the metro specifically, buy a Troika card at any ticket window with cash (150 RUB refundable deposit) and load it with a balance — each ride then costs around 50–75 RUB depending on the payment method, cheaper than single paper tickets bought at the counter (90 RUB). A 1-day unlimited pass on the Troika costs around 415 RUB, useful for a full day of sightseeing by metro.

Other things to budget for: Hermitage Museum tickets (around $17), Kremlin and Armoury Chamber tickets (around $20–30), and an overnight train between Moscow and St. Petersburg (around $40–80 depending on class). Note that most non-CIS travelers need a visa to enter Russia — check current requirements well before booking.

Practical Tips for Visiting Russia

• Best time to visit: May–September for mild weather and the famous "White Nights" in St. Petersburg (June).
• Bring enough cash for your whole trip — foreign Visa and Mastercard do not work anywhere in Russia due to international sanctions in effect since 2022.
• Check visa requirements early — the application process can take several weeks.
• The Moscow and St. Petersburg metros are fast, cheap, and beautifully decorated — worth riding just to see the stations.
• Learn the Cyrillic alphabet basics; it makes reading signs and menus much easier.

Frequently Asked Questions About Visiting Russia

How many days do you need for Russia?

7 days splits well between Moscow and St. Petersburg, including an overnight train between them.

Do foreign credit cards work in Russia?

No. Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and JCB cards issued outside Russia have not worked anywhere in the country since March 2022 due to international sanctions. Bring enough cash (or Russian rubles) to cover your entire trip.

Is Russia expensive to visit?

Russia can be visited affordably — budget travelers can manage $50-80/day using the metro and canteen-style meals, while luxury hotels and private guides push costs to $350+/day.

What is the best time of year to visit Russia?

May-September offers the mildest weather, with June's White Nights in St. Petersburg being a particular highlight.