Russia Travel Guide 2026: Moscow, St Petersburg, Trans-Siberian, Golden Ring & Kamchatka
Browse more guides: Russia travel | Europe destinations TL;DR Russia is the largest country on Earth at 17.1 million square kilometres across 11 time zones. I spent three weeks moving between Moscow, St Petersburg, the Golden Ring, Lake Baikal and Kamchatka, using the e-visa pilot launched in August 2023 (USD 52, 16 days, open to Indian passport holders). Check current advisories, carry USD or EUR cash, and obtain a MIR card on arrival; Western Visa and MasterCard transactions are suspended inside Russia. Why Visit Russia in 2026 Russia reopened a unified electronic visa in 2023 for 55 eligible countries (India included), USD 52, valid 60 days from issue, 16-day stay. I applied at electronic.kdmid.ru four days before flying and the PDF arrived in 96 hours. The country in 2026 sits in an unusual position for foreign travellers. Western advisories (UK FCDO, US State Department, Government of India) recommend reading the current security and sanctions guidance before booking. The R...