Russia Winter 2026
(December – March)
10 Best locations
(December – March)
10 Best locations
Russia Winter 2026
(December – March)
10 Best locations
(December – March)
10 Best locations
Russian winter is not a season. It is a different Planet
While the rest of the planet hides from the cold, we opening our true face: singing ice, cities that turn into fairy tales, lights in the sky that stop your heart and a tons of winter's traditional activities
This is Russian Winter. This is real adventure
While the rest of the planet hides from the cold, we opening our true face: singing ice, cities that turn into fairy tales, lights in the sky that stop your heart and a tons of winter's traditional activities
This is Russian Winter. This is real adventure
Here are the 10 places you must see before winter 2026 ends forever.
1) St. Petersburg: The Imperial Ghost in the Snow
St. Petersburg in winter is like stepping into a frozen dream painted by a mad tsar. Founded by Peter the Great in 1703 as Russia's window to Europe. City located at 45 islands and 465 bridges (for transport and walkers)
St. Petersburg is the real imperial city. Not the postcard version. At the streets in winter away less tourists. That's giving you advantages with prices and available tickets
From December to March it’s usually −5 to −15 °C. Sometimes −20, but that’s rare. Snow falls and stays - giving magic ambience
What actually happens:
St. Petersburg is the real imperial city. Not the postcard version. At the streets in winter away less tourists. That's giving you advantages with prices and available tickets
From December to March it’s usually −5 to −15 °C. Sometimes −20, but that’s rare. Snow falls and stays - giving magic ambience
What actually happens:
- Hermitage, Russian Museum, Fabergé — you walk in and it feels like a private tour. I spent 40 minutes alone with Rembrandt’s “Prodigal Son” last January. No queues, no crowds
- Mariinsky Theatre — tickets for Swan Lake or Nutcracker from 2000–6000 rub, half the summer price. Row 10, no problem
- Peterhof in the snow — the fountains are off, but the palaces and parks look exactly like when Catherine the Great walked there. Empty. Magical
- Ice skating on the frozen canals or New Holland — 300–500 rub, lights, music, mulled wine
- Night rides on the rivers when the ice is thick enough — boats break the ice, you drink tea from a samovar on board
- Banya — Yamskiye or Degtyarniye. 1500–2000 rub, venik, snow plunge, rebirth
- Rubinstein street after midnight — bars open till 6 AM, English menus, no tourist crowds, just locals and atmosphere
The city feels like it belongs to you. The same streets where Pushkin dueled, Dostoevsky wandered, and the Romanovs partied — now quiet, clean, and glowing under snow.
I’m there every January.
2) Moscow: New Year's Fire and Frozen Majesty
Moscow doesn’t do “quiet winter”. It does “epic winter”.
From December to March it’s usually −5 to −15 °C, sometimes −20, but the city just turns up the lights and keeps going. Snow falls, but the streets are cleaned every hour — it’s cleaner than any European capitals in summer.
What actually happens:
From December to March it’s usually −5 to −15 °C, sometimes −20, but the city just turns up the lights and keeps going. Snow falls, but the streets are cleaned every hour — it’s cleaner than any European capitals in summer.
What actually happens:
- Red Square at midnight on New Year’s Eve – the fireworks are so big you feel them in your chest. I was there last year – vodka, strangers hugging, the whole square singing the anthem at 00:01
- Kremlin and the Armoury Chamber – no queues. You walk in and stand alone with Fabergé eggs, the crown of Catherine the Great, and the 800-year-old swords of Ivan the Terrible.
- Churches & cathedrals – St. Basil’s at 8 AM, Christ the Saviour at sunset, or the hidden Novodevichy Convent when the nuns are singing. In winter they’re empty, the candles burn brighter, and the bells hit you right in the soul.
- Tretyakov Gallery – Russian icons and Repin’s masterpieces without a single tour group. I spent an hour alone with “The Appearance of Christ” last January.
- Metro at 7 AM – the “underground palaces” are empty, chandeliers glowing, marble shining. I once rode the circle line for 2 hours just taking photos – nobody cared.
- Ice skating on Gorky Park or VDNKh – huge rinks, music, lights, 500 rub entry, hot chocolate that actually tastes like chocolate.
- Banya – Sanduny is the classic (2500–4000 rub), but I go to Seleznevskiye – cheaper, same steam, same venik, same snow plunge that makes you scream.
- Nightlife – rooftop bars with views of the Kremlin, underground techno clubs in old factories. Everything open till 6 AM, English menus everywhere in the center.
- Food – Café Pushkin at 3 AM for beef stroganoff and live piano, or a random pelmeni place on Tverskaya that’s been there since Soviet times.
I’m in Moscow every December–January. Who’s ready for the real Moscow winter?
3) Lake Baikal: The Sacred Sea of Turquoise Ice
Lake Baikal in winter is no more body of water—it's a living god, the deepest and oldest lake on Earth.
I’ve been to Baikal four winters in a row. Every time I think I’m ready. Every time I’m wrong.
This is not a lake. It’s the planet’s deepest scar — 25 million years old, 1.6 km deep, 20 % of all fresh water on Earth.
In February–March the whole thing freezes into turquoise glass. 1–1.5 metres thick. So clear you see cracks, bubbles, and fish swimming 40 metres below like it’s an aquarium the size of a country.
What actually happens:
I’ve been to Baikal four winters in a row. Every time I think I’m ready. Every time I’m wrong.
This is not a lake. It’s the planet’s deepest scar — 25 million years old, 1.6 km deep, 20 % of all fresh water on Earth.
In February–March the whole thing freezes into turquoise glass. 1–1.5 metres thick. So clear you see cracks, bubbles, and fish swimming 40 metres below like it’s an aquarium the size of a country.
What actually happens:
- You drive real cars, buses, even trucks on the ice road from the mainland to Olkhon Island. I did 70 km/h in a UAZ — the ice sings under the wheels like a church organ.
- You skate for hours. No rink. Just endless mirror. I once skated 25 km non-stop, stopped only because my face froze.
- Picnics on the ice — people drill a hole, pull out fresh omul, grill it on a campfire right there. You eat fish that was swimming 10 minutes ago, drink tea from a samovar heated on coals, and the smoke mixes with your breath at −25 °C.
- Hovercraft rides — 100 km/h over perfect ice, wind in your teeth, nerpa seals popping up like they’re waving.
- Banya on the shore — 110 °C inside, then you run out in swimsuit and jump into a hole in the ice. 10 seconds in 0 °C water = full system reboot.
- Olkhon Island — shaman rocks covered in ice, prayers frozen in the air. Locals still leave milk for the spirits. Sometimes the milk disappears. No one asks questions.
I’m going again in March 2026. There are still 8 spots left in the small group. Come while it still exists like this.
4) Karelia / Murmansk: The Land of Northern Lights and Ice Kingdoms
The real North, where adventure and magic are the same thing
This is not a “cozy winter getaway”. This is the place where Russia shows its teeth.
February. −20 to −30 °C. Endless taiga, frozen lakes, and the sky on fire every night.
What actually happens:
This is not a “cozy winter getaway”. This is the place where Russia shows its teeth.
February. −20 to −30 °C. Endless taiga, frozen lakes, and the sky on fire every night.
What actually happens:
- Northern lights — 90 % chance in February–March. You stand on a frozen lake, mouth open, while green and purple rivers explode overhead. I’ve seen it so strong the snow glowed. No filter needed
- Ruskeala — the marble quarry turns into a glowing ice cathedral. You walk underground corridors lit in emerald and blood-red. Then hop on the Ruskeala Express — a real 1913 steam train that still runs in winter, smoke and sparks cutting through the darkness.
- Husky sledding — 40–60 km/h through pine forests. Dogs don’t bark, they howl. The air smells of resin and frost. You’re the only human for miles.
- Snowmobiles — 1000 cc beasts. You fly over frozen swamps and up hills no car can climb. Adrenaline so pure you forget the cold.
- Ice swimming — after 100 °C banya you run out in a swimsuit and jump into a hole cut in the ice. 10 seconds in −0 °C water = rebirth. Locals do it laughing. Tourists scream. Both come out different people.
- Food — kalitki with rye and lingonberry, smoked omul straight from Onega lake, cloudberry jam that tastes like liquid northern lights, tea from a samovar heated on coals.
Karelia & Murmansk in winter is not a vacation. It’s an initiation.
We know the exact weeks when the lights are strongest, the ice is safest, and the banya is hottest.
All winter - wonderful time for visiting. Snow, Pure air, Real North
Only for those who want to feel truly alive.
5) Derbent (Dagestan): The Ancient Fortress by the Caspian
Dagestan is the place where Russia shows its wild, southern face.
This is mountains dropping straight into the Caspian Sea, 30+ different ethnic groups living side by side, and a history that goes back 5,000 years.
Derbent is the star — the oldest city in Russia. The Naryn-Kala fortress is a UNESCO site, built by Persians in the 6th century to block invaders from the north. You walk the walls and feel like you're in Game of Thrones — stone towers, views over the sea, and the city below like a carpet of lights at night.
Winter here is mild: +5 to +12 °C in December–March. Snow on the high mountains, green valleys below. Perfect if you’re tired of −20 °C in the north.
What to do:
This is mountains dropping straight into the Caspian Sea, 30+ different ethnic groups living side by side, and a history that goes back 5,000 years.
Derbent is the star — the oldest city in Russia. The Naryn-Kala fortress is a UNESCO site, built by Persians in the 6th century to block invaders from the north. You walk the walls and feel like you're in Game of Thrones — stone towers, views over the sea, and the city below like a carpet of lights at night.
Winter here is mild: +5 to +12 °C in December–March. Snow on the high mountains, green valleys below. Perfect if you’re tired of −20 °C in the north.
What to do:
- Walk the old town — narrow streets, ancient mosques, caravanserais. Eat fresh fish from the Caspian and drink tea in tiny cafés where old men play nardy all day.
- Day trip to mountain villages — Kubachi for silver jewelry, Gamsutl (ghost village on a cliff), or Gunib where Imam Shamil held off the Russian army for months.
- Horse treks — locals take you up trails where eagles fly below you. No crowds, just you, horse, and mountains.
- Food — wonder bread (chudu), khinkal dumplings with lamb, dried sausage that tastes like smoke and sun. Everything halal, super fresh, and cheap.
And yes, this is Khabib Nurmagomedov's homeland. People here are proud, hospitable, and tough — you feel it the moment someone invites you for tea (and you can’t say no).
Dagestan is different from the rest of Russia — more Caucasus spirit, more ancient, more diverse. But still 100 % safe for tourists in the main areas. We call them "Gortzy" ("Highlanders.") They are incredibly hospitable.
We run small groups here in winter — warmer weather, no heat, perfect light for photos.
Come see the Russia that surprises everyone.
6) Golden Ring: The Fairy-Tale Towns of Ancient Rus
The Golden Ring is my favorite part of Russia in winter.
These small ancient towns — Suzdal, Vladimir, Rostov, Yaroslavl, Pskov— are where Rus' really began, back in the 12th century.
No big cities, no skyscrapers. Just onion-domed churches, wooden houses, and snow that makes everything look like a fairy tale from childhood books.
Winter here is proper Russian winter: −10 to −20 °C, snow deep enough for sleds, and the air so clean it hurts your lungs in a good way.
What actually happens:
These small ancient towns — Suzdal, Vladimir, Rostov, Yaroslavl, Pskov— are where Rus' really began, back in the 12th century.
No big cities, no skyscrapers. Just onion-domed churches, wooden houses, and snow that makes everything look like a fairy tale from childhood books.
Winter here is proper Russian winter: −10 to −20 °C, snow deep enough for sleds, and the air so clean it hurts your lungs in a good way.
What actually happens:
- You ride a troika — three horses pulling an old wooden sleigh through the fields. Bells ringing, snow flying, driver in a sheepskin coat singing folk songs. I did it last year in Suzdal — felt like I went back 200 years.
- Sledding down hills that locals use for centuries. Kids and adults screaming together
- Blini week (Maslenitsa in February–March) — everywhere you go, people eat blini with sour cream, caviar, honey. Stacked high, hot from the pan
- Ancient kremlins and churches — Rostov Kremlin looks like a fortress from a movie, Vladimir's golden domes shine even in grey sky. Inside it's quiet, candles, old frescoes that survived everything
- Dip in the ice hole (prorub) after banya — locals do it for health and tradition. You come out freezing but alive
- Bonfires in the evening — people dance around them, sing, drink tea from huge samovars. Samovar on coals, tea with herbs and jam that tastes like summer in a cup
I go there every winter to remember why I love this country.
7) Altai Mountains: The Wild Heart of Siberia
Altai is my favorite winter escape in Russia. It's raw, huge, and feels like the edge of the world.
February is the best month — temperatures drop to −30 to −40 °C in the high areas, snow is deep, and the air is so clean it almost hurts to breathe. Everything freezes solid, and the silence is unreal.
What actually happens:
February is the best month — temperatures drop to −30 to −40 °C in the high areas, snow is deep, and the air is so clean it almost hurts to breathe. Everything freezes solid, and the silence is unreal.
What actually happens:
- You drive or snowmobile across the Chuya Steppe — endless white desert with mountains on all sides. Wind howls, but the views are insane. Eagles really do fly below you sometimes.
- Hikes to ancient petroglyphs — rock drawings from 5,000 years ago, nomads left them. In winter they're easier to spot against the snow. I did a day hike last year — boots crunched, no one around for miles.
- Stay in yurts or small guesthouses — stove inside, warm as hell. Locals cook shashlyk from fresh lamb over open fire — juicy, smoky, with herbs. Altai tea with thyme and mountain honey — tastes like the place itself, earthy and sweet.
- Snowmobiles or horse rides — locals take you up trails where no car can go. Speed, wind in your face, adrenaline.
- Banya in the middle of nowhere — 100 °C steam, then roll in the snow. You come out feeling like a new person.
- Stargazing — no light pollution, stars so bright you feel they're close enough to touch. Locals still tell stories about spirits and the gateway to Shambhala.
Altai is different from the rest of Russia — more nomadic, more shamanic, more Asia than Europe. People are quiet, proud, and incredibly hospitable.
It's not easy — cold, remote — but that's why I keep going back.
If you want the real wild winter, this is it.
Who’s ready for the real Siberia?
8) Sochi & Krasnaya Polyana: The Subtropical Snow Paradise
Sochi is the place that always surprises people.
You wake up in the morning — +10 °C, palm trees swaying, Black Sea right there. By lunch you’re on the slopes in Krasnaya Polyana — −5 °C, fresh powder, Olympic runs.
It’s the only place in Russia where you can ski in the morning and swim in the sea in the afternoon (yes, some locals do it).
What actually happens in winter:
You wake up in the morning — +10 °C, palm trees swaying, Black Sea right there. By lunch you’re on the slopes in Krasnaya Polyana — −5 °C, fresh powder, Olympic runs.
It’s the only place in Russia where you can ski in the morning and swim in the sea in the afternoon (yes, some locals do it).
What actually happens in winter:
- Skiing or snowboarding on Krasnaya Polyana — runs for every level, lifts modern, snow reliable from December to April. I’ve been there in February — perfect conditions, not too crowded.
- Down in Sochi — walk the promenade, eat fresh oysters or kebabs from the market, drink coffee looking at the sea. The air smells of salt and pine at the same time
- Food — Black Sea fish grilled on the spot, khachapuri that oozes cheese, churchkhela hanging everywhere. Everything fresh, cheap, tasty
- Banya with a view of the mountains — steam, then cold plunge, then tea with mountain honey
- Nightlife — bars and clubs open till late, people from all over Russia come for the vibe
Sochi is Russia’s holiday spot — relaxed, sunny even in winter, and completely different from the north.
I go there when I need sun after too much snow.
Who’s ready for snow and palm trees in one day?
9) Kamchatka: The Ring of Fire in Ice
Kamchatka is Russia's wildest corner. Volcanoes, Pacific Ocean, bears — everything bigger and louder than anywhere else.
Winter here february - march is −15 to −25 °C, snow deep, but the ocean doesn't fully freeze. That's when it gets interesting.
What actually happens:
Winter here february - march is −15 to −25 °C, snow deep, but the ocean doesn't fully freeze. That's when it gets interesting.
What actually happens:
- Snowmobiles or helicopters to active volcanoes — you stand on the edge of a crater, steam coming out, snow melting around you. I did it last year — felt like standing on another planet
- Whale watching — killer whales (orcas) and gray whales come close to the shore. Boat tours from Avacha Bay — you see them jumping, tails slapping the water. Sometimes humpbacks too
- Skiing or snowboarding down volcano slopes — fresh powder, no lifts, just heli-drop and ride
- Pacific ice walks — where the ocean meets lava rocks, waves freeze mid-crash
- Fresh king crab and red caviar — pulled from the sea the same day, boiled or grilled on the spot. Tastes like the ocean itself
- Banya with a view of the volcano — steam, then cold plunge in a mountain stream
- Bear watching — from safe distance, with guides. They wake up early in spring, but in February you see tracks everywhere
Kamchatka is not easy — long flight, remote, expensive to get to. But if you want Russia at its most raw — this is it.
I go there when I need to remember why I love this country..
Who’s ready for fire under ice?
10) Yamal Peninsula: The Edge of the World
Yamal is the place where Russia ends and the Arctic begins. Tundra as far as you can see. Reindeer everywhere, and people who still live like their ancestors did a thousand years ago.
Yep, winter here is serious — −30 to −40 °C in february, polar night till late January, then the first sunrise after 40 days of darkness is something you remember forever
What actually happens:
Yep, winter here is serious — −30 to −40 °C in february, polar night till late January, then the first sunrise after 40 days of darkness is something you remember forever
What actually happens:
- You ride reindeer sleds with Nenets nomads — they pull faster than you expect, bells ringing, snow flying. I did it last year — felt like being in a real fairy tale, but with frozen nose
- Live in a chum (their traditional tent) — reindeer skins on the floor, stove in the middle, warm as home even at −40 outside. Drink hot tea with reindeer milk, eat stroganina (frozen raw fish/meat) — thin slices that melt in your mouth with salt and pepper
- See the first sunrise in late February — the whole camp comes out, quiet, watching the sun appear for the first time in weeks. Colors you can't describe
- Northern lights almost every clear night — green, purple, dancing right above your head. No light pollution, just stars and aurora
- Snowmobile rides across the frozen tundra — endless white, no roads, just you and the wind
Yamal is different — nomadic life, real people who move with reindeer hundreds of kilometers every year. Quiet, proud, incredibly hospitable.
It's remote and cold, but if you want the most authentic Russia — this is it. Who’s ready for the real Arctic?
