How to travel to Russia in 2025 : A traveler’s guide
Traveling to Russia has changed significantly in recent years, and if you’re planning a visit in 2025, there are several things you need to know. From visa requirements and flight options to payment methods and safety updates, this guide covers everything you need to ensure a smooth trip to Russia.
Note : I’m a French national, I have been traveling to Russia frequently for the past decade (last trip : October 2025) so I believe I know what I’m talking about 😉
Can you (we) travel to Russia in 2025 ?
Yes, despite the political situation and the thousands of sanctions, it is still possible to travel to Russia in 2025 (even as a Westerner). Of course, many countries have issued travel advisories (included mine, France), and it has affected flights and financial transactions. Tourism is still possible if you plan carefully.
Visa requirements for Russia : 2025 updates
You can get a visa to Russia easily in your home country at the embassy, consulat or through a travel agency. Depending on the length of your trip you can either get :
• A 16 days eVisa online (no embassy needed) but not valid for all overland border crossings so be carefull when planning your travel itinerary.
• A tourist visa : from 1 to 3 months, single, double or multiple entries.
• Invitation letter : Most travelers still need a Letter of Invitation (LOI) or a Voucher (same thing, different name) to apply for a regular tourist visa. I recommend you GoingRus for your letter of invitation : it’s cheap and always does the job for my visas.
• Travel insurance : It is mandatory to have a insurance to travel in Russia and to apply for a any Russian tourist visa, including the eVisa.
Most of the western insurance compagnies do not cover for Russia nor Belarus anymore. I recommend you Attollo Assistance, which is the European branch of Ingosstrakh, one of the leading insurance companies in Russia. It includes 24/7 assistance, medical expenses up to 35 000 €, repatriation etc.
• Vehicle insurance (car/motorbike) :
The international Green Card agreements on motor liability insurance with Russia and Belarus ended in 2023. Now you need to get an OSAGO (ОСАГО short for Обязательное страхование гражданской ответственности владельцев транспортных средств = Compulsory civil liability insurance for vehicle owners) aka the russian version of the green card for your car or motorbike.
I can get you a reliable and good one via Ingosstrakh, just contact me here with the length of your stay in Russia + details of your vehicle and I’ll get you a quote.
Fly to Russia
Due to ongoing sanctions, direct flights from Europe and North America to Russia are limited. Most travelers reach Russia via connecting flights through Turkey (Istanbul), UAE (Dubai, Abu Dhabi), Serbia (Belgrade), the South Caucasus (Georgia, Armenia) or Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan).
Anywhere else in the world works just the same : you can fly from the Middle East, China, India etc to Russia.
If you want to fly from the West to Russia your best options are to go through Serbia, Turkey or the South Caucasus. I recommend you :
• Trip.com, a comparison booking platform and the best alternative to Skyscanner for booking international flights to Russia
• Turkish Airlines
• Air Serbia
• Kupi.com for national flights within Russia (a Russian booking platform based in the middle east = you can book with a Visa/Mastercard).
Overland by bus
Going overland by bus to Russia is the cheapest option. You can go from :
• Poland to Kaliningrad
• Estonia and Latvia to Saint Petersburg or Pskov
• Georgia to North Ossetia
• Azerbaijan to Dagestan
Warning : the borders with Finland are closed until further notice.
Overland by train
There are no more trains between the European Union and Russia.
If you travel the Transmanchurian and Transmongolian, the trains are running as usual. You can book train tickets from Russia to Mongolia on RussianTrain with a Visa/Mastercard.
Oversea by boat
Apparently there’s one ferry a week from Stokhom to Saint Petersburg with the St Peter Line and none between Finland and Russia but if you have proper info please message me or leave a comment.
In the Far East of Russia there are ferries from Vladivostok to Japan and South Korea taking both passengers and vehicles.
Overland with your own car or motorbike
You can still travel overland to Russia with your own vehicle, car or motorbike but be carreful of the border crossing you choose :
• Impossible to travel from Finland
• Norway (into the Murmansk Oblast) : the Storskog – Borisoglebsk border is open but is not valid with an eVisa.
• Estonia : Narva/Ivangorod is for pedestrians only until the end of 2025, you must go through either Kunichina Gora – Koidula or Shumilkino – Luhamaa border crossings
• Latvia : Burashki – Terekhova border crossing
• Georgia : Verkhny Lars / Kazbegi
• Azerbaijan : border open to get out of the country only.
• Kazakhstan, Mongolia, China should all be open as usual but make sure they allowed third country nationals if it’s a border post in the middle of nowhere.
Third-country nationals can finally cross the Belarus – Russia border in 2025
Since January 2025, Belarus and Russia have made a significant policy change : they have agreed on the mutual recognition of their visas. Previously, it was prohibited for foreigners to cross the border as there are no actual checkpoints between Belarus and Russia. The new agreement is expected to simplify transit procedures and benefit tourism.
However, specific entry requirements still apply: travelers must have a valid visa or residence permit issued by one of the two countries.
In short, one needs a proper visa. The Russian eVisa does not apply (no border crossing points through Belarus are listed on the official website). Likewise, the 1-month visa exemption for Belarus (available to Europeans) does not grant access to Russia (that would be too easy!).
Money & payments : How to pay in Russia now
Due to the Western sanctions on Russia no European banks nor any Western banks will sell you russian roubles. Same at exchange currency offices in Western countries including the ones at the airports in countries sanctionning Russia.
Russian banks are disconnect from SWIFT and the Visa – Mastercard banking systems suspended their operations in Russia so your foreign bank card does not work there anymore. It’s impossible to get cash from a russian ATM.
The best way to get russian roubles is in Russia, directly at a bank or in an exchange currency office. I recommend to exchange Euros or US dollars bills in good conditions.
How to book a hotel in Russia without a local bank card
The best alternative to Booking.com, Expedia, Airbnb etc in Russia is Zenhotels.
Zenhotels is the European branch (based in Cyprus) of Ostrovok, one of the main russian booking platform. You can book your hotels and pay directly online with your Visa/Mastercard.
How to book a Russian train tickets online with a foreign bank card
It’s impossible to book on the national RZD train booking platform with a foreign bank card.
I recommend to book your train tickets directly on RussianTrain. The prices are almost the same as on the official website, the platform only charges a small extra commission.
You can book any kind of russian trains on it : fast speed train from Moscow to Saint Petersburg, all your Transsiberian tickets, trains to Crimea and even international ones to Abkhazia and Mongolia.
Is Russia safe to visit in 2025?
As a frequent Western traveler to Russia, I can tell you without hesitation that Russia is safe to travel in 2025. Don’t listen to those sofa experts on travel forums, they’ve never been to the country anyway.
There are no arbitrary arrest and detention for Westerners. The FSB have better use of their time than chasing after random tourists.
Unless you plan to hang out by the border of Ukraine or “new Russian territories” (Donbass, Kherson …), you will feel safe in Russia in general whether it’s in Moscow, Siberia or or the Far North.
Follow the rules of the country (common sense, right?) and all will be well.
Disclaimer : Of course I take no responsibility for your actions if you get in troubles.
You’re planning to visit Russia soon ? Let me know in the comments if this post has been helpful to you !
Enjoy what you read and learn? Think about buying me a chai to support the blog !
