Undoubtedly, Russia is and will always be a hot destination as it is a beautiful country. Rich cultural heritage, stunning art and architecture, majestic landscapes, a haven for extreme sports, and last but not least imperial cities and towns. No wonder it attracts all types of travelers around the world. But with the ongoing political matters, everyone has been asking me what travel to Russia look like in 2024.
Disclaimer: This post is based on my personal travel experience and is intended purely to share practical travel insights. It does not engage in political discussions and I encourage readers to approach travel decisions thoughtfully based on their individual perspectives.
Why Travel to Russia in 2024?
The first question I've been asked over the past few weeks is, Why travel to Russia in 2024 in the first place?
To which, my answer was, because why not?
But save the scolding for now. Similar to how I pushed through my trip during the 2019 Hong Kong Protests, I did the same and traveled to Russia in 2024. The current situation is not the peak of the activity anymore, and as I've learned from these experiences, traveling to such destinations doesn't really require courage. But conviction and trust were.
Before traveling, I was firm in my conviction that I wouldn't participate in any activity that would compromise my safety. With millions living peacefully in Moscow and Saint Petersburg, I was confident that an ordinary traveler like me would be okay.
At the same time, I have solid trust in my friends and colleagues who gave me a better understanding of the situation on the ground. Last but not least, more than ever, I trust myself and my mental resilience that I can handle any potential challenges if an unexpected situation arises.
Safety Concerns
To address the elephant in the room, let's address safety concerns. While the situation may differ minute by minute, during my visit, the city functioned as usual. Businesses were open, public transportation was running, and both locals and expats carried on in their everyday lives. I did not encounter any signs of tension, violence, or hostility wherever I went.
Like any major city, there are still common safety concerns: pickpocketing, getting scammed, and occasional catcalling are all possibilities. Fortunately, I didn't encounter any of these, even when walking at night. Not in Moscow, not in Saint Petersburg, and definitely not in Murmansk.
As a solo female traveler, I felt just as safe in Russia as I did in Kyrgyzstan or Kazakhstan.
Sanctions and its impact on Tourism
International sanctions against Russia are a complex topic. To avoid any wrong information and becoming a political blog post, I would focus on how these sanctions impact tourism.
For travelers, the most immediate and practical impact is, of course, money/payment/banking issues. Mastercard and Visa cards issued outside Russia don't work, whether in person or on Russian websites.
From my experience, the biggest challenges were booking my domestic flights (SmartAvia and Aeroflot) and train tickets in advance. I couldn't trust any third-party websites so I ended up purchasing them directly in Moscow, at the Aeroflot office and the train station. Of course, the tickets were already expensive at that time since the travel dates were just days away. Aigoo, the price of my trust issue.
If you want to spend more and run out of cash, withdrawing cash with your Mastercard or Visa cards issued outside Russia is not an option either.
The only workaround here is to bring as much cash (USD) as you can and exchange it when you need it. There are some rumors that cards like Amex and UnionPay might work, or that tourists can get prepaid cards from Russian banks if you don't like bringing large quantities of cash. Unfortunately, I haven't tried these options yet, so I can't confirm them, for now.
Security & Passport Control
On arrival, I was expecting strict scrutiny at the airport, based on what I heard from other travelers. To my surprise, entry was smooth. I handed over my passport (with my tourist visa), return tickets, and Emirates ID. Finally, I was granted entry.
Leaving, however, was another story.
At the passport control, I noticed several people being pulled aside. I didn't do anything wrong, but the vibe made me anxious. When my turn came, the officer scrutinized my passport page-by-page and flipped it multiple times. The officer called someone over, and before I knew it, I was being escorted away.
I followed the officer down the hall, and with othersโall non-Russian passport holders, as far as I could tell. After ten minutes of intense anxiety, the officer called me and gave my passport back. But I had to go through Passport Control once more. And again, my passport went through several rounds of scrutiny. After the third round of page-by-page scrutiny, I was finally let through.
Up to this day, I wasn't sure what that was about. I heard stories from travelers about interrogation and phone checks, so I prepared myself for that. Instead, my experience was completely differentโlikely another layer of identity checksโbut still nerve-wracking.
Tourist Registrations
As a tourist, you are required to be registered upon your arrival in Russia. Hostels and Hotels will gladly do it for you and you must provide the following:
- Passport
- Russian Visa (if you want to know how I applied mine, read it HERE)
- Migration Card (will be given to you at the airport and you should keep this until your departure)
All the hostels I stayed in took care of my registration at no additional charge, except for Druzja na Sennoi Hostel in Saint Petersburg, which charged 300 rubles for registration.
Highlights & Travel Itinerary
If you've read my travel story (Oh Russia, you're my sweetest mistake), you probably have an idea of my itinerary already. But, here's a list of the places I've been to (written chronologically).
- Moscow - Christye Prudy, Red Square, Saint Basil's Cathedral, Kremlin, Cathedral of Christ the Savior, and Sanduniy Banya
- Saint Petersburg - Kazan Cathedral, Nevsky Prospect, Savior on the Spilled Blood, Peter and Paul Fortress, Peterhof Palace & Museum, Faberge Museum, Saint Isaac's Square & Cathedral, Palace Square
- Murmansk - Group Tour to Teriberka and Northern Lights Hunting Tour (but canceled due to rain) with Murmansk Tours
- Moscow - Andrew's Footbridge, Armoury Chamber, Moscow Kremlin Museums, GUM Department Store, Dolgoprudny, Timiryazevskaya, Sokol District, and Danilovsky Market
I will no longer write the day-per-day itinerary and will leave it to you to decide how you play it. Consider adding rest days (I did!), which I highly recommend. All the walking, inside and outside the museums, may sound manageable but your body will thank you for a little downtime. Even a slow morning or a me-time visit in a banya will do!
Travel to Russia in 2024: Yay or Nay?
Unlike in the past when I would directly encourage you to travel, this time, I'll leave that decision to you. Stay informed: read the news, check forums, and seek advice from travelers and locals alike. Avoid following advice from people without credible experience on this topic.
At the same time, remember that one story or situation may not represent the whole story. Ditch the stereotypes whether you're traveling or not.
If you do decide to go, here are a few things to remember:
- Focus on tourism
- Exercise common sense and stay cautious
- Inform family and friends of your whereabouts (Messenger doesn't work and Instagram is said to work only with paid VPNs)
- And in the worst-case scenario, expect the unexpected and have Plan B through Z.
Just as Dubai is seen as safe but a superficial city with terrible labor conditions (depending on whom you ask), Russia and its beautiful cities also carry two sides of complexity. As we always say, there are always two sides to the coin. So in the end, I will leave you with my favorite statement, it's your travel, it's your call.
Thatโs all, folksโsafe travels!
