Best Time to Visit Russia: A Month-by-Month Guide
The best time to visit Russia depends on the trip you want. For sightseeing in Moscow and St Petersburg, choose May to September. For snow, New Year and the Northern Lights, choose November to March.
From Ashok's travels
I lived in Russia for 19 years, from 1991 to 2010, where I studied, worked and ran my own IT company, mostly in Moscow. If you ask me when to go, I will say summer, when both cities are at their most beautiful. Moscow is a business city; St Petersburg is the cultural one, and to me it is even more beautiful than Moscow.
Flights make the trip costly, so with them Russia works out at about the same price as Europe, and many people choose Europe for the same money. But Russia is more beautiful, and every traveller should see Moscow and St Petersburg at least once.
Ashok Saini, Founder, Dreamland Vacations
Russia month by month
| Months | Moscow and St Petersburg | Murmansk |
|---|---|---|
| May – June | Mild, green parks; White Nights in St Petersburg from late May | Midnight sun, no aurora |
| July – August | Warmest (18–25°C), busiest season | Midnight sun ends in July |
| September – October | Golden autumn colours, fewer crowds | Aurora season begins |
| November – February | Snow, New Year, quieter museums | Long nights, best aurora; polar night in December |
| March – April | Late snow to early spring | Good aurora with longer days |
Best time to visit St Petersburg
Late May to mid-July brings the White Nights, when the sky never gets fully dark and the Neva bridges open after midnight. Peterhof's fountains run from late April or May to early October, so summer is the best time to visit St Petersburg for palaces and gardens.
Best time to visit Moscow
May to September is pleasant for walking around Red Square, the Kremlin and the parks. December is magical for New Year lights and snow, if you dress warmly.
Best time for the Northern Lights
Late September to March in Murmansk, with the darkest nights in December and January and a good balance of daylight in February and March.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best month to visit Russia?
June and July for the White Nights and warm weather; December to February for snow and the Northern Lights.
When is the White Nights season?
From late May to mid-July in St Petersburg.
When is the cheapest time to visit Russia?
Usually October–November and late January to March, outside the summer peak and New Year.
Can I visit Moscow and St Petersburg in winter?
Yes. Our Moscow and St Petersburg tour runs all year, with departures every Friday from Delhi.
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