Traveling to Russia During the Sanctions: Everything You Need to Know

Contrary to popular beliefs and media portrayals, traveling to Russia is not only possible but also safe, albeit with some complexities due to ongoing sanctions. While these sanctions introduce certain complexities in the planning process, they don’t render a trip to Russia impossible.

So fear not, as planning and executing a trip to Russia during the sanctions is not impossible, and I’m here to guide you through every step.

Having recently spent three weeks in Russia, I’ve gathered insights and solutions to address all the questions one may have about planning a trip there during the sanctions. And since I believe that my brother and I are not the only non-Russian people on Earth nowadays who would love to visit this beautiful and interesting country despite all that is happening (I’m not going to get political here), I wanted to write this post to help you.

Note: My trip was made possible with the help of my partner, who organized most of it, while I was actively involved in the process. With our collective expertise, you can confidently prepare for your own Russian adventure.

Bilyana, Why Russia and Why Now?

Allow me to address the elephant in the room. I assume that many people won’t be interested in traveling to Russia right now during the sanctions, but if somehow end up at this post would probably wonder why I chose to visit the country at this particular time.

For me, the answer is simple: love.

Long story short, my partner who is of Russian origin, has been separated from his family due to the ongoing conflict and sanctions. Despite the geopolitical tensions, the situation in Russia remains relatively stable. We chose to visit during the holidays to reconnect with his family and friends, allowing us to experience Russia’s rich culture firsthand.

So, enough for my love story; whether you’re interested in Russia for personal, professional, or leisurely reasons, this guide will provide you with the necessary information to plan your journey effectively.

 

Here’s Everything You Need to Know About Planning a Trip to Russia During the Sanctions:

 

Visa and Entry Requirements Information

Obtaining a visa for Russia involves a few steps but is generally straightforward. I applied for my visa at the Russian embassy in Bulgaria, and the process was completed in about two weeks.

However, if you’re planning a short visit (up to 16 days), you might be eligible for an E-visa, depending on your nationality. Many European countries are included in the list of eligible countries for E-visas. Check the official Russian Consular Department website to verify your eligibility and for detailed application instructions.

This process is even easier and faster than applying through a local embassy. But if you do want to stay in the country for longer than 16 days, or if your country is not on the list of E-visa eligible countries, you will need to go through it nonetheless.

 

Getting to Russia During the Sanctions

Due to international sanctions, direct flights to Russia from many countries have been suspended. However, several countries maintain good relations with Russia and offer direct flights to major Russian cities.

Here are some options of countries through which you can fly into Russia during the sanctions:

• Turkey
• Serbia
• Armenia
• Georgia
• Azerbaijan 
• UAE
• Qatar
• Bahrain
• Oman
• China

For our trip, we traveled via Yerevan. There are direct flights from Sofia to Yerevan and from Yerevan to various Russian cities, making this a convenient route (for those who have a direct connection with Armenia). The round-trip cost was approximately €320 per person.

We used search engines like aviasales.ru and kupibilet.ru for flight comparisons but booked directly with airlines. Note that booking through these sites or with Russian airlines typically requires a Russian credit/debit card. To avoid this, consider booking with non-Russian airlines such as Qatar Airways, Serbia Airlines, etc.

Alternatively, you can enter Russia by land from Estonia. Although I haven’t done this personally, I know that companies like LuxExpress and Ecolines operate bus routes from Tallinn to Saint Petersburg.

The Finland-Russian border remains closed.

 

Traveling Around Russia

Russia’s public transportation, particularly the metro systems in Moscow and Saint Petersburg, is efficient and user-friendly. Taxis are also very affordable. All in all, getting around the cities is very easy, convenient, and cheap.

For travel between Moscow and Saint Petersburg, the Sapsan high-speed train is highly recommended. It offers a fast and comfortable journey between these two major cities. If you want to take it, make sure to book your tickets in advance (if you’re not able to buy tickets online due to the card restriction, go to the train station a couple of days in advance and buy your tickets at the ticket counter).

As we always book everything at the last minute, the tickets for the Sapsan were sold out for the day (and the next) when we wanted to travel, so we took a regular, night train. These trains are also a great option.

 

Money for Russia During the Sanctions

Because of the sanctions, your international credit/debit cards won’t work in Russia. I recommend exchanging some cash for ruble in your country and then taking euros or dollars to exchange once you get to Russia (the exchange rates there are better). You can do that in every bank and the numerous exchange bureaus.

Make sure to have new banknotes to exchange as older ones might not be accepted.

I managed to get a local debit card, which was very useful since in Russia you can pay for everything with a card. I exchanged most of the cash I took with me and topped up the card with it.

There are no restrictions as to whom can get a local card and who can’t. And although English is not so widely spoken, I don’t think the process would be difficult for anyone. So if you’re planning to stay longer than a few days and prefer not to carry cash with you, in my opinion, it is worth the 20-30minutes of your time to do it.

 

Safety and Security

Even amidst war, Russia is perfectly safe.

I honestly don’t know what else to add here… Maybe, ignore visiting the Russian part of the country that is close to the Ukrainian border, but the big cities, such as Moscow and Saint Petersburg are perfectly safe. Even despite the ongoing conflict, Russia feels (and I strongly believe it is) safer than some Western European cities.

Except for the occasional propaganda posters inviting people to sign up for the army (in exchange for better pay than most jobs pay), there is nothing else that shows in any way that the country is currently at war.

 

Booking Accommodation in Russia During the Sanctions

Global accommodation booking platforms such as Booking and Airbnb are also currently suspended in Russia. Your best alternative for booking accommodation is the Russian Booking – Ostrovok. There, again, you can’t pay in advance with your international card, but the majority of hotels accept payment in cash at the property, so that isn’t something you should worry about when planning your trip to Russia.

It really is easy and hassle-free. Ostrovok works similarly to Booking so you wouldn’t need to spend any additional time navigating a new and unfamiliar app.

 

Staying Connected in Russia

For connectivity, you can either purchase a SIM card upon arrival in Russia or opt for an eSIM beforehand. Data is veeeery cheap in Russia. Many other eSIM providers offer Russia eSIMs, but I can’t recommend any in particular as we bought eSIMs from a local operator, Yota.

 

VPN

Some popular apps, including Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube, are restricted in Russia. To access these services, you will need a VPN. Ensure your VPN is set up before traveling to bypass these restrictions.

I don’t remember anymore which one I used in particular when I was in Russia, but during my recent trip to China, I used the VPNs 1.1.1.1 and VPN Bucks (iOS; Android), both of which I was very happy with and can recommend.

 

Apps You Need for Visiting Russia

In other places of the world, you could easily survive by making use of the various applications developed by Google but when you’re planning to visit Russia, you need to download other applications that would help you while visiting the country (even if there are no sanctions introduced).

This is not to say that Google doesn’t work in Russia, it does, it just doesn’t work as well as its Russian equivalent Yandex. Similar to Google, Yandex also has a host of applications that you can download on your phone to help make your time in Russia stress-free.

• Yandex Maps / Maps.me: Excellent alternatives to Google Maps for navigation. Download Yandex Maps for iOS or Android.
• Yandex Translate: Offers reliable translations and is more effective than Google Translate in some cases. Download Yandex Translate for iOS or Android.
• Yandex Metro: Provides comprehensive information on subway systems, including interactive maps and route planning. Download Yandex Metro for iOS or Android.

Other countries where Google apps won’t work for you include China and South Korea. If you’re interested in visiting any of these countries, check out my list of recommended South Korean travel apps and the essential apps you need to visit China.

 

Language and Communication

English is not widely spoken, so a translation app like Yandex Translate is invaluable. Learning a few basic Russian phrases can enhance your experience and is appreciated by locals. Here are some phrases to get you started:

• Hello – Привет – Privet (informal)
• Hello – Здравствуйте – Zdrastvuyte (formal)
• Goodbye – До свидания – Do svindaniya
• Thank you – Спасибо – Spasibo
• Yes – Да – Da
• No – Нет – Nyet
• Do you speak English? – Ты говоришь по-английски? – Vi gavarite po angliyski?
• I don’t speak Russian – Я не говорю по-русски – Ya ne gavaryu po ruski
• Excuse me – Извините меня – Izvinete menya
• Please – Пожалуйста – Pozhalusta
• Nice to meet you – Приятно познакомиться – Priyatno poznakomitsa
• Have a nice day – хорошего дня – khoroshego dnya
• How much does it cost? – Сколько стоит? – Skol’ko stoit?
• The bill, please – Счет, пожалуйста – Schot pozhalusta
• Help – Помогите – Pamagite

 

Places to Visit in Russia During the Sanctions 

Here are also some recommendations of places to visit in Russia during your trip. Those are the cities that I personally visited and can share more about from personal experience:

Moscow

Moscow is a fantastic destination. The Russian capital is a city where history and modernity coexist in a vibrant and dynamic setting and where one can easily get overwhelmed by the amount of things to do. I recommend spending at least a week in Moscow to explore the city at a slower pace. I also highly recommend going to see a ballet performance and a classical music concert.

What not to miss in Moscow:

• The Red Square and the Kremlin
• Saint Basil’s Cathedral
• The Museum of Cosmonautics
• State Tretyakov Gallery
• State Historical Museum
• GUM shopping center
• Bolshoi Theater
• VDNKh Park
• Izmailovsky Market

 

Saint Petersburg

With its beauty and historical significance, Saint Petersburg, founded by Tsar Peter the Great in 1703 as a “window to Europe”, is a maze of canals and countless bridges. The city is famous for its Baroque and neoclassical architecture and for its numerous palaces, cathedrals, and museums.

Despite its historical aura, Saint Petersburg is also a lively modern city, with a vibrant arts scene, trendy bars, and a unique White Nights festival that fills the city with energy during the long summer days.

What not to miss in Saint Petersburg:

• The Hermitage
• Peterhof
• St. Isaac’s Cathedral (go to the top for a view of the city)
• The Peter & Paul Fortress
• Church of Our Saviour on Spilled Blood
• Nevsky Prospekt
• The Mariinsky Theatrer

 

Yekaterinburg

Located on the eastern side of the Ural Mountains, Yekaterinburg is a city that sits at the crossroads of Europe and Asia. Known for its industrial might, Yekaterinburg has also developed a reputation as a cultural and historical hub. It was here that the last Tsar of Russia, Nicholas II, and his family met their tragic end, making it a city of significant historical importance. Today, Yekaterinburg is a blend of Soviet-era architecture and modern skyscrapers, with a growing arts scene and a burgeoning reputation for innovation.

What not to miss in Yekaterinburg:

• Boris Yeltsin Center
• Visotsky Observatory
• QWERTY Monument
• The Beatles Monument
• Dom Pechati (Press House)

 

Last Words for Visiting Russia During the Sanctions 

Traveling to Russia during the sanctions requires some extra planning, but with careful preparation, it is entirely feasible. Use this guide to navigate the complexities of getting there in the first place, getting money, communicating with the locals, etc. and if you have any additional questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to me – I’d love to help!