By Varia Makagonova
Russia Travel Expert, about.com
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Russia is an amazing place to visit,
and lots of people have wistfully said to me “I would love to go to
Russia one day”. But it can seem a bit daunting to actually plan the
trip, and thus for many people going to Russia remains just a wish and
not a reality. The truth is, however, that it’s actually not difficult
to go to Russia – or at least not nearly as difficult as you think. Here
is your complete guide to an easy and safe trip to Russia:
Before You Go:
Before you go to Russia, find out where you would like to go and for how long. Then find yourself a reputable travel agent and get started on getting a Russian visa.
This is the most important – and often, most daunting – step to
visiting Russia and thus it’s crucial to get it over with as soon as
possible. Once you have your visa application in process (it’s really
not that scary), you can go ahead with all your other travel planning.
Getting There:[post_ads_2]
By Air: You can fly to Moscow and St.
Petersburg from most major airports. Getting to
other Russian cities is not always as easy; however, even if there isn’t
a direct flight from your closest airport (like, for example, to Murmansk), you can usually fly to Moscow and from there take a connecting flight. If you are going to do this, however, don’t forget to check the airports you are flying from – getting from one to another in Moscow can be difficult.
Hint:
If you are going to be traveling through Europe anyway, don’t forget to
check out small local airlines such as Germanwings and Rossiya
Airlines, which sometimes have very cheap flights to Russia. You can
also consider the following options if you are on a budget...
By Train:
Two trains (one day train and one overnight) run from Vilnius,
Lithuania to St. Petersburg. You can also catch a train to St.
Petersburg from Helsinki, Finland. You can get to Moscow by train from
Riga, Latvia.
Within Russia, you can (and should, unless you’re very tight on time) travel anywhere by train. If you’re going to Siberia in the east, you may even have no other choice, as flights can be rare and prohibitively expensive.
By Bus: From Riga (Latvia), you can take a cheap bus to St. Petersburg. It takes about 11 hours.
Staying There:[post_ads_2]
When booking a hotel, keep in mind these tips for Eastern European hotel bookings. If you’re on a budget – or just feeling up for an adventure – consider choosing a hotel alternative instead.
Where to Go:
Give some thought to where you want to go in Russia and why. While Moscow and St. Petersburg
are the obvious options, there are so many other places you can
discover if you take a bit more time to find them. Check out this guide to the best student cities in Russia for fun travel; or check out these other popular travel destinations in Russia. If you’re traveling in the winter, consider going to a warmer area of Russia, unless you truly believe you’re ready to battle the famous Russian winter.
Survival Tips:[post_ads_2]
Budget Travel:
I don’t have to tell you that budget travel can be more difficult than
the kind where you can buy convenience and simplicity. The good news,
however, is that it is very possible to travel through Russia on a
budget. Check out these Russia budget travel tips before you go.
Language: One of the best ways to make your trip to Russia (or anywhere, really) easier is to learn some Russian words and phrases
before you go. If you want to travel in Russia longer, go to remote
regions, or just get to know the country & culture better, I would
suggest learning the alphabet and taking some additional Russian language lessons.
What to take: Trip booked? Check out these Russia packing essentials when you're getting ready to go. Enjoy!
