10 ideas for a WINTER trip to Russia (PHOTOS)

1. Experience a dog sled ride

A sled pulled by a team of frisky huskies, carrying you through a snow-covered coniferous forest – what could be better, especially on a sunny winter day? And don't worry about the dogs: huskies are an incredibly frost-resistant breed (read more about it here) that requires constant movement (they can cover hundreds of kilometers in a single day!). You can try dog sledding in many places across Russia, there are even a dozen such parks in Moscow and Moscow Region, for example, ‘Ruzskaya Alyaska’ or ‘Husky Land’.

2. Attend the ‘The Nutcracker’ ballet 

It's worth securing tickets well in advance, as long waiting lines of fans form at the Bolshoi Theater box office every year. However, you can catch this popular New Year's ballet not only at the Bolshoi. In Moscow, it's also performed at the Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Music Theater and the State Kremlin Palace. In St. Petersburg, meanwhile, it can be seen on the stage of the Mariinsky Theater. 

You could also combine a trip to the ballet with a visit to other Russian cities where this iconic production is also staged (Novosibirsk, Perm, Yekaterinburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Yaroslavl and Tyumen).

3. Admire the Lake Baikal’s ice

Those who have been to Lake Baikal unanimously agree: it's a true place of power with incredible natural energy! In winter (and actually also until the end of March), the atmosphere there is truly special, as the entire vast expanse of water turns into one giant skating rink! The rocks and islands become covered with dozens of types of patterned ice, a real wonder of nature (read more about them here). There are driving tours on the ice of Baikal and you can also listen to the ice cracking while ice skating.

4. See the Northern Lights

Multicolored flashes in the night sky are a sight that sparks the imagination! Hunting for the Northern Lights is now a popular pastime in Murmansk, the Russian city situated above the Arctic Pole. In winter, you might even see an aurora right on your way from the airport to the city. You can also head to the famous Teriberka village by the Barents Sea and watch the lights under the glass dome of a trendy glamping site.

5. Skiing & snowboarding

We don’t have to convince you that Russia is well-suited for all winter sports! The season lasts from mid-fall to mid-spring (especially in Siberia). You can ski at the popular ‘Sheregesh’ resort in Kemerovo Region, at ‘Krasnaya Polyana’ near Sochi, in the Khibiny Mountains (right in the city of Kirovsk, Murmansk Region), as well as in several locations around Moscow. You can check out a list of popular ski resorts here.

6. Warm up in thermal springs

How pleasant it is to immerse yourself in hot water under the open sky in the frost… Russia has several places that are famous for their natural springs: in Krasnodar Territory, at the resorts of the Caucasian Mineral Waters (a group of spa resorts, located in the Northern Caucasus region) and even in Siberia, for example, in Tyumen Region, Altai Region and Kamchatka. Here’s a detailed list of popular sites with geothermal waters that can cure many ailments.

5. Ice skate on Europe’s (or maybe even the world’s) largest ice rink

In 2024, a new open-air ice rink was installed on the shore of the Gulf of Finland in St. Petersburg and its developers claim it to be the largest in the world. Its area is 28,000 square meters (roughly equivalent to 4 football pitches!) and several thousand people can ice skate on it simultaneously. The backdrop features the landmarks of the new, modern St. Petersburg, such as the ‘Lakhta Center’ skyscraper and the ‘Gazprom Arena’ stadium. See more photos from the rink here.

8. Have a winter party, Russian style

A banya (bathhouse/sauna), a horse-drawn troika ride, walks on frosty streets with views of the golden domes of Russian churches, tea from a ‘samovar’ pot, pies and hot soup accompanied by crepes with pike caviar… Do you need any more reasons to visit Suzdal, Russia's coziest and most ‘gingerbread’ town, which has preserved its ancient atmosphere? There are no modern buildings there; instead, there are lots of traditional wooden houses with carved window frames. However, we advise planning your trip early, as hotels are overbooked quickly!

9. Visit the hometown of the Russian Santa Claus

The main character of the New Year in Russia is ‘Ded Moroz’ (Grandfather Frost), a stately old man with a long white beard, dressed in a luxurious blue fur coat with a fluffy white lining and a fancy walking staff. Check out our infographics showing the differences between Santa Claus and Ded Moroz here. 

Ded Moroz has several residences across Russia, but his main headquarters is in Veliky Ustyug, a town in Vologda Region that is unofficially considered the capital of the New Year.

There, you can hand your wish letter directly to Ded Moroz and also visit a master class on painting Christmas tree ornaments, for example. By the way, special tourist trains run to Veliky Ustyug during the winter.

10. Celebrate New Year's Eve on Red Square

Hearing the country's main clock gong 12 times and drinking champagne with the cheering crowd under a fireworks display… such impressions will definitely stay with you for a lifetime! Access to Red Square in Moscow on New Year's Eve is restricted, so it's better to buy tickets in advance for the night session at the GUM Skating Rink. By the way, the Moscow Metro subway system is open all night on January 1 (and it’s even free of charge!), so you can stroll through festive Moscow and easily leave the city center by subway after!

Check out our 'Useful information' section to find helpful information about visa issues and to better plan your trip.