By Robert Schrader | Published on February 3, 2026
I have fantasized about visiting Russia in the winter since studying Russian history and literature in school. As one could imagine, when I had the chance to walk into Red Square one snowy January night, it was literally a dream come true. "Does the cold not bother you?" my friend Dasha, whom I'd previously seen in balmy Bangkok, asked with shock and awe as we neared the domes of St. Basil's Cathedral. The bitter air was difficult to bear, and I forced a smile through my gritted teeth. Unlike Napoleon's doomed troops, I'd made it to Russia in the dead of winter alive. I'd lived — and I intended to tell the world about it. Allow me to share a personalized guide for visiting Russia in winter to inspire your next vacation.
Key Takeaways
- ● Winter in Russia can be an enchanting time, and Red Square and Moscow’s Christmas markets offer dazzling lights, festive stalls and a magical winter atmosphere — even after the holiday season.
- ● Savor authentic Russian cuisine like hot borscht, vareniki and vodka to stay warm and immerse yourself in local culture.
- ● Moscow city in winter is all about the Bolshoi Theatre and St. Petersburg’s Winter Palace, providing unforgettable indoor experiences that are perfect for cold winter days.
- ● Horse-drawn sleigh rides at Catherine Palace and visits to traditional banyas showcase uniquely Russian winter traditions.
- ● Planning a Russian vacation, especially a cruise, includes knowing what to pack. So prepare layered clothing, sturdy boots and thermal gear to fully enjoy snowy streets, icy sidewalks and outdoor sightseeing.
- ● Explore your best cruise opportunities to visit Russia this winter.
Exploring Red Square’s Christmas Markets: Winter Lights and Festive Sights
The best way to start this personalized travel guide is to admit that, to compound the cold, traveling to Russia from the U.S. had left me beyond jet-lagged. Much to my surprise, the dazzling lights all around motivated me to stay awake. The contrast between Russia's somber history and the cheery Christmas colors left me in awe. On my left was Lenin's tomb underneath the towers of the Kremlin; on my right, Christmas lights still shone over the ornate facade of the GUM department store.
The crowdedness of the highly seasonal market enthralled me, thanks to the low mercury reading and the fact that Christmas had passed three weeks earlier. Relics of the Red Square Christmas Markets remained, too, with stalls selling matryoshka dolls and chai tea still open and a carousel for children (who were even less bothered by the sub-freezing temperatures than I was) spinning with wild abandon. It made sense that sellers would want to stay in business into the new year, if only for the chance of attracting passers-by like Dasha and me, as we neared the entrance to GUM.
"This was the closest thing Moscow had to a mall during Soviet times," Dasha explained as we went inside, eventually walking up to the second floor to take it all in. "It's shocking, of course, since this is one of the most European buildings (and the least Soviet ones) in the entire city." Built in 1893, the department store is a time capsule with its Russian Revival style architecture and stalwart stores from the 1950s.
Savoring Russian Borscht and Vodka: Hearty Winter Flavors
The next day, I met Dasha and our mutual friend Tanya for a morning stroll through the Kremlin and a view of the city from the Lubyanka children's store. We then piled into Dasha's car for a day trip to Sergiyev Posad, one of the old towns in the aptly-named "Golden Ring" around Moscow.
"I hope you're hungry," Tanya said as we crowded into a cafe whose walls were papered with Soviet-era kitsch, and where the earthy aroma of beets filled the air. We were having hot borscht, a soup many foreigners believe is only served cold, alongside sweet cherry-filled vareniki dumplings. We also indulged in shots of vodka to wash it all down.
It was the very picture you’d expect when visiting Russia in the winter, as we warmed up with hot borscht while people bundled in thick fur-lined coats bustled by. Not a word of English was spoken outside of Dasha, Tanya and me, which was its own colorful adventure.
Over lunch, my Russian friends explained to me that we were technically in another Kremlin. "The word simply means 'citadel,'" Dasha explained. Russians find it amusing that foreigners (and especially Americans) always use the word as if it represents the Russian government. "Every Russian city and town has a Kremlin — Putin only lives in the one along the Moskva River."
Upon our exit from the citadel, my friends proceeded to ask me which I preferred, Moscow's or Sergiyev Posad's. I honestly couldn't answer, as both were towering examples of traditional Russian architecture and both brought me close to fully living out the Russian winter dreams of my adolescence.
Experiencing the Bolshoi Theatre Ballet: Enchanting Moscow Nights
My obsession with impressions of Russia from literature and history led me to spend a lot of my trip walking around outside, dipping in and out of shops and being wowed by the ornate buildings. Back in Moscow, after our day in the Golden Ring, we watched a ballet performance inside Moscow's famous Bolshoi Theatre. It's pure sensory overload, particularly if you're just a few days out from a long flight.
Do you gaze straight ahead and immerse yourself in the tale being told (in our case, it was Sleeping Beauty) and create your own mental subtitles for the familiar tale as it plays out in Russian? Do you look all around, at the golden balconies and burgundy walls behind them? Or do you scan the expressions on the faces of your fellow ballet-goers who are just as entranced by the novelty of the experience as you are?
Whichever you choose, the wonderment will make you feel like a kid again.
Wandering the Winter Palace: Step Back in Time in St. Petersburg
Somehow, nearly five days had passed by the time I boarded the Krasnaya Strela (Red Arrow) overnight train from Moscow to St. Petersburg. I was still getting over my jet lag when I saw Dasha and Tanya waving goodbye to me, their facial expressions happy and sad at the same time, as I moved on to more Russian winter locations.
I slept surprisingly well in the plush train cabin, to the extent that when I arrived in the city formerly known as Leningrad, I hit the ground running. Well, not quite running: The streets leading from the station to the iconic Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood were literally frozen. I walked like a penguin, as my mother had always advised me as a kid about navigating snow and ice.
The good news: Due to my early arrival time, I made it to the courtyard of the Winter Palace before any footprints had been left in the deep snow (which gleamed powder blue in the first light of day) in front of its gold-accented mint facade. The bad news: I still had a few hours to kill before the world-class Hermitage Museum (housed inside) opened for the day.
I spent my frigid morning walking slowly to St. Isaac's Cathedral. Here, I enjoyed a stunning panorama of the city, in spite of the brisk, cold wind that blew in my face as I looked down on the city. From this vantage point, the winter wonderland looked like a postcard, and it was absolutely worth battling the ice and wind.
Riding a Horse-Drawn Sleigh Past Catherine Palace: A Fairy Tale Winter Scene
As had been the case in Moscow with Sergiyev Posad, I spent my second day visiting St. Petersburg just outside the center, in the small city of Pushkin. My destination here was to visit Catherine Palace, which, as its name suggests, was the former residence of Catherine the Great — well, one of them.
The palace's exterior is technically blue; my snowblindness upon reaching it fooled me into thinking it was a similar shade of seafoam as the Winter Palace itself. For some reason, I tasked myself with exploring its entire frozen grounds on foot. Horse-drawn sleighs are available for hire (and at a competitive price, due to the historically favorable USD-RUR exchange rate) for a whimsical ride around the grounds.
I wanted to take in all the details of the place, which only a slow procession allows one to do. From the evergreen forests that towered over frozen ponds on the palace's periphery, to the barren trellises ensnared with deadened ivy branches closer to the entrance, the beauty of Catherine Palace is as much about the museum inside as it is about the carefully curated landscape outside.
After warming myself up in the museum, I walked back outside and wondered if Catherine herself ever truly noticed the details that went into the creation of her refuge from the world. Perhaps the sum of the scene spoke more loudly than any of its parts, mindfully selected as each might have been.
Rejuvenating at a Russian Banya: Warm Up the Traditional Way
I'll be honest: Bathing, mostly naked, alongside naked Russian men was not high on my list when I first orchestrated my travel to Russia from the U.S. Later, it seemed like a missed unique experience not to sample traditional Russian banya bathing before I left, if only to warm my body — which was utterly frozen after a week spent mostly outside.
Compared with the other men relaxing inside the wood-walled chamber, with its traditional interior, I didn't have much stamina amid the intense heat. Likewise, I very quickly excused myself from the massage session (which, due to the masseur's strength and hand size, felt more like a beating), and my stiff and sore muscles were grateful for it.
The silver lining of the experience was the plentiful vodka on offer throughout. Again, I couldn't keep up with any of the Russian men around me on this front either. Still, it softened my perception of a ritual that I struggled to see as relaxing.
Overall, my first banya was definitely transformative. I was rejuvenated walking back into the frigid air, which felt bearable and even refreshing, as it had days before in Red Square when I experienced my first Russian snow.
Traveler Insights: What To Expect in Russia in Winter
Visiting Russia in winter means embracing cold temperatures that can plunge well below freezing, especially in January and February. Expect snowy streets, icy sidewalks and breathtaking frost-covered architecture that transform cities into a true winter wonderland.
So, clothes to wear in Russia in winter revolve around layering: Thermal undergarments, a heavy insulated coat, warm hats, scarves, gloves and sturdy waterproof boots will keep you comfortable while exploring.
Indoor attractions like museums, palaces and theaters offer a cozy escape from the chill. Stepping outside is unavoidable and rewarding with a little prep beforehand. With a proper plan of action in hand, the crisp air, sparkling snow and festive atmosphere make Russia an unforgettable winter destination.
Discover Russia in Winter: A Magical Season for Cruise Travelers
Even if you didn't spend your teen years dreaming of traveling to Russia in the winter like I did, there's no more authentic time to try and understand this country than when it's at its most ... well, Russian. Beyond classic attractions in Moscow and St. Petersburg, the Russian winter environment will prove to be a unique character and a reliable travel companion in your story, even when traveling solo.
Through the cold, Americans travelling to Russia must remember that they can warm their body (and soul) with a bowl of hearty borscht or an indoor museum tour. And hold onto the knowledge that the heat of every memory will live on for years after saying Dasvidaniya (Russian for "goodbye") to Russia.
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