If you\u2019re curious to explore the largest country in the world\u2014Russia spans nine time zones\u2014here are some tips to help demystify the planning process and get you excited for the adventure.<\/p>\n
ALSO<\/strong>: Oakland is the Bay Area’s new it destination. Here’s why.<\/a><\/p>\n Get your visa White Nights in St. Petersburg<\/p>\n The best time to go: White Nights Consider a cruise Learn the Cyrillic alphabet The Trans-Siberian Railway<\/p>\n Join one of the world\u2019s most epic train journeys Oh, the churches! Oh, the palaces! ALSO<\/strong>: Russian to see the world? Do it for less by using Orbitz Rewards!<\/a><\/p>\n The State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg<\/p>\n Oh, the museums! Don\u2019t forget the smaller museums Check out\u00a0the ballet Take the subway, it\u2019s insanely gorgeous\u2014and cheap! Go skating, sky-high Eat, drink and be merry Try on Russian style
\n<\/strong>You need a Russian visa to enter the country as a tourist. Traveler forums make it sound way more complex and scary that it really is; but if you follow directions and apply several weeks ahead of your departure, it\u2019s a straightforward (albeit bureaucratic) process. The biggest thing is to make sure to have your travel pre-booked and a \u201cvisa invitation\u201d document from your tour company or hotel(s) before applying via the Electronic Visa Application Form<\/a>. If this still feels overwhelming, or you need to expedite your visa, apply through a trusted visa or travel agency such as Russian Visa Center<\/a> or Passport Visas Express<\/a>. They\u2019ll hand-hold you through the process and address any ambiguity. Just expect to pony up about $300 if you go this route.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The sweet spot is May through September, when temperature highs reach the 70s to 90s and the days are longer. In fact, it\u2019s worth timing a trip with the \u201cWhite Nights\u201d celebrations across St. Petersburg (May to early July). This is when round-the-clock daylight inspires residents and visitors to meander the streets all night long in this city nicknamed \u201cThe Venice of the North.\u201d However, if you romanticize about wearing the country\u2019s famous fur hat, also known as an ushanka<\/em>, you might find winter a cozier (and less crowded and cheaper) alternative.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>A river cruise stringing together Moscow and St. Petersburg is a popular choice for first-timers to Russia. Lines such as Viking River Cruises<\/a> and Uniworld<\/a> offer cruises in spring and summer months. In fact, Viking now has four ships operating in Russia\u2014an increase from last year that speaks to renewed popularity in the destination. Most major cruise lines also offer Balkan cruises which port at enchanting cities like Copenhagen, Helsinki, Stockholm and, yes, St. Petersburg. Bonus: These cruise lines will assist you with the visa process.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>While it might seem intimidating at first\u2014like hieroglyphics even\u2014spending a little time learning the Russian alphabet will serve you well.\u00a0It will help you decipher street signs and maps, which aren\u2019t always in English. Download an app such as Russian Alphabet<\/a> or Russian Alphabet Mastery<\/a>, or invest in a pocket guide or flashcards. You can then spend part of your flight brushing up on your A-\u0411-Bs.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Trans-Siberian Railway begins in Moscow and extends 6,000 miles to Vladivostok on the Pacific coast. It\u2019s a weeklong journey that requires pre-planning\u2014or you could make it easier by joining\u00a0an organized tour. The train odyssey gets high praise from intrepid souls, as you\u2019ll encounter remote parts of Russia most travelers\u00a0never experience.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>There are a lot of them in Russia, and they are all utterly beautiful and ornate. The wildly colorful kaleidoscope of onion-like domes atop St. Basil\u2019s Cathedral<\/a> in Moscow\u2019s Red Square are iconic. But don\u2019t just stare at this masterpiece from the outside. Pay the entrance fee to go inside this 16th-century cathedral.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Russian Tsars loved their palatial homes, and some are now open to public. The most famous among them is in St. Petersburg: the Winter Palace (which resides within the sprawling Hermitage Museum). This lavishly decorated Baroque building on the bank of the Neva River wows with its 1,945 windows and 1,057 decorated halls and rooms.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Moscow Kremlin<\/a> and The State Hermitage Museum<\/a> in St. Petersburg are \u201cmusts\u201d for first-time visitors. Both are so massive and overwhelming that it\u2019s worth hiring a guide, just so you can avoid aimlessly wandering without context amidst the crowds. (You\u2019ll thank us later.)<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Seek out\u00a0museums that might not make it into the \u201ctraditional\u201d Russian itinerary. A few to consider include the Museum of Cosmonautics<\/a> in Moscow, where you can learn about space exploration from the Russian perspective, and the Museum of Soviet Arcade Games<\/a> (there\u2019s one in Moscow and<\/em> St. Petersburg), where you can indulge your inner geek with an old-school collection of arcade games.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Seeing a ballet in Russia is akin to seeing a soccer (a.k.a., football<\/em>) match in Brazil: It\u2019s part of the cultural experience. Even if you\u2019re not a ballet fan, you\u2019ll likely find the novelty of the experience enchanting. The Bolshoi Theatre<\/a> in Moscow, and the Mariinsky Theatre<\/a> and Mikhailovsky Theatre<\/a> in St. Petersburg, feature regular performances. Book in advance, as performances routinely sell out.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Riding the Moscow Metro is\u00a0likely the fanciest you’ll ever feel taking public transit. Built under Stalin, it’s\u00a0palace-like in its architectural grandeur, with many stations boasting marble walls, high ceilings, stained glass, mosaics and chandeliers. In both Moscow and St Petersburg, the subway is the most convenient and inexpensive way to travel. Just avoid using either metro system during rush hour.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>From October to early April,\u00a0ice skating takes place in public spots like Red Square and VDNKh<\/a> (Europe’s biggest skate rink). But a new attraction tops them all. Moscow’s 85-floor OKO Tower\u2014one of Europe’s tallest buildings\u2014boasts a skating rink on its roof, with sweeping views of the city skyline.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Indulge in vodka, borsch and caviar. You are in Russia, after all. Tip: Vodka is a religion in Russia, and locals drink it differently. Gulp it in one go, rather than sipping it, and avoid mixing it into cocktails\u2014as that is considered a waste. Beyond the stereotypical cuisine, be prepared for other adventurous dishes from this diverse country, such as pelmeni<\/em> (meat dumplings) and shashlik<\/em>\u00a0(Russian kebab) from Caucasus.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Dress to impress when going out at night. You’ll fit in better if you’re overdressed, as this is a culture that takes looking good seriously when it comes to a night on the town. For fashion inspiration, do some shopping at GUM<\/a>, a Moscow institution. During the Soviet Union days, the top floor was home to a secret clothing store only open to the most important members of the party. Now anyone with a credit card can shop its boutiques and enjoy the architectural opulence of this\u00a0Communist relic.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/pixel.newscred.com\/px.gif?key=YXJ0aWNsZT1hOWVjYjM0YWJlZGVlMGY0N2I0ZjdkOTkyMjE2MDFjNA==\")
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"