Travel Resources for Russia & the Caucasus
This page brings together the platforms, apps and services I personally use to organise my trips across Russia, the Caucasus and occasionally other parts of the former Soviet Union. I update this list regularly to reflect the realities of travelling in 2026.
Last updated: June 2026.
Why this page?
Since 2015, I’ve travelled regularly throughout Russia, the Caucasus and much of the former Soviet Union. Between sanctions, changing regulations and constantly evolving booking platforms, travel information can become outdated very quickly.
The resources listed below are the ones I personally use to organise my trips: flights, accommodation, insurance, transport, maps, hiking tools and much more.
Travel insurance that covers Russia
Travel insurance is essential both for obtaining a Russian visa or eVisa and for covering unexpected medical expenses while travelling in Russia.
Since 2022, many Western travel insurance providers have stopped covering Russia. I personally use Attollo Assistance, which includes medical coverage up to 35 000€ and offers an optional sports coverage add-on.
• Buy your travel insurance
• Read my complete Russia travel insurance guide
Booking flights with Aviasales.com
When searching for flights to Russia or domestic flights within the country, I use Aviasales.com (not .ru). It’s one of the most popular flight search engines in Russia and allows foreign card payments (on the .com version) while comparing a wide range of airlines and routes.
• Search for flights
• How to fly to Russia from the EU
Finding accommodation with Ostrovok
Since Booking.com and other Western platforms largely disappeared from the Russian market, Ostrovok has become my preferred website for booking hotels, guesthouses and hostels in Russia.
I use it regularly and recommend it for its simplicity, extensive accommodation inventory and responsive customer support. Today, it is Russia’s leading hotel booking platform.
• Book accommodation
Before you book:
As of June 2026, Ostrovok accepts Mastercard payments only. Visa cards are not currently supported.
Booking Russian train tickets with RussianTrain
RussianTrain allows travellers to purchase Russian train tickets using foreign bank cards, making it an excellent alternative to the official Russian Railways (RZD) website. You can even book trains to Crimea.
It’s a convenient solution if you want to organise your trip before arriving in Russia.
• Book a train
Buying bus tickets with Tutu.ru
For bus travel, I often use Tutu.ru to check schedules, compare routes and book tickets whenever possible. It is one of the most widely used transport platforms in Russia.
Please note that foreign bank cards only work for bus tickets but not for train tickets.
• Check bus schedules & prices
Getting a Russian bank card or paying in Russia
Foreign Visa and Mastercard cards have not worked in Russia since 2022. Foreigners can obtain a Russian MIR bank card or simply exchange cash locally upon arrival.
• Read my guide to exchanging money in Russia
• Read my guide to getting a MIR Card
eSIM for Russia & the Caucasus
Having mobile data from the moment you arrive makes travelling significantly easier, whether for navigation, bookings or using local apps.
Very few eSIM providers currently support Russia. I recommend Quibity, which operates on the Beeline network and offers particularly good coverage across the Caucasus.
• View the offer
• Why Getting a Russian SIM Card Has Become So Difficult
Maps, GPS & Hiking
Google Maps is unreliable in Russia. Instead, I recommend using Yandex Maps, which provides accurate walking directions, public transport routes and local navigation.
For hiking and exploring remote regions, I also use Maps.me, a popular offline mapping application widely used by Russian hikers.
• Discover Yandex maps & Maps.me
Ordering a taxi with Yandex Go
Yandex Go is the main ride-hailing app used across most big Russian cities. Fares are generally affordable and you can pay cash directly to the driver
• Available directly through Yandex maps or the Yandex Go app
The VPN I use in Russia
Some websites and services may be restricted in Russia (Telegram, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook), while certain Russian services can be difficult to access from abroad. I’ve used VPN.ac for years.
The service remains relatively unknown in Russia, so it hasn’t been noticed by Roskomnadzor yet. It offers a useful double-hop feature that makes accessing both Russian and Western websites at the same time without having to swap location constantly.
• Discover my VPN
Learning (a little) Russian
Even a basic knowledge of Russian can completely change your travel experience. I mainly use the Assimil method to learn Russian which I really recommend.
I’ve also completed the entire Russian course on Duolingo.
• Read my review after completing all 45 Duolingo Russian levels
