Russia | ZHO Travel & Tourism

In Russia you can walk Red Square in the morning and be among the palaces and canals of St Petersburg four hours later by high-speed train.

The destination

About Russia

Russia is the largest country in the world, stretching across Europe and Asia and eleven time zones. It brings together the splendour of the tsars, broad avenues full of culture and immense landscapes, and offers a journey quite unlike any other.

Most travellers begin in Moscow, where the Kremlin and Red Square have been on UNESCO's list since 1990, then take the Sapsan high-speed train to St Petersburg, the cultural capital of canals, palaces and the Hermitage. For nature there is Sochi on the Black Sea with the Rosa Khutor mountain resort, Lake Baikal in Siberia, and the old towns of the Golden Ring near Moscow.

Since 11 May 2026 Saudi citizens can enter Russia without a visa for up to 90 days a year, and flynas flies direct from Riyadh and Jeddah to Moscow. Moscow and St Petersburg keep the same time as Saudi Arabia, so there is no jet lag.

Moscow has a large Cathedral Mosque and many halal restaurants serving Tatar, Uzbek and Caucasian food, and St Petersburg has its historic Cathedral Mosque. We arrange private cars and Arabic- or English-speaking guides, and book museums and palaces ahead so you avoid the queues. Cards issued outside Russia do not work there, so we tell you before you travel how much cash to bring.

Best timeMay to September for the cities; December to March for snow and frozen Lake Baikal

FlightAbout 5 to 6 h direct from Riyadh or Jeddah to Moscow (flynas)

VisaNo visa for Saudi citizens since 11 May 2026, up to 90 days a year for tourism and visits. Residents depend on their nationality; many can use Russia's unified e-visa.

CurrencyRussian rouble (RUB)

LanguageRussian

TimeMoscow, St Petersburg and Sochi: same as Saudi Arabia; Lake Baikal (Irkutsk): +5 h

Ideal stay7 to 10 nights

Ideal for

Family travel Honeymoons Travel with friends

Regions

Where to go

01 · City

Moscow

The dazzling capital: Red Square, St Basil's Cathedral with its coloured domes, the Kremlin, and metro stations that feel like underground palaces.

02 · City

St Petersburg

The cultural capital, often compared with Venice for its canals: the Hermitage, Peterhof and its golden fountains, and the Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood.

03 · Coast

Sochi

Russia's summer and winter capital on the Black Sea, combining beaches and seaside resorts with advanced ski areas such as Rosa Khutor.

04 · Lake

Lake Baikal

The deepest and oldest freshwater lake in the world, and a remarkable winter sight when its surface freezes into clear glass.

The Kamenka river winding through meadows below the Suzdal kremlin

05 · Region

The Golden Ring

A circle of historic towns near Moscow, such as Suzdal and Vladimir, that keep the traditional Russian spirit and their golden-domed churches.

Experiences

What to do

The Grand Kremlin Palace above the Kremlin wall in summer evening light, Moscow

The Kremlin and Red Square Moscow A day at the heart of Moscow among the Kremlin's cathedrals, the treasures of the Armoury and Red Square. We book ahead and send a private guide.Discover

The Winter Palace, home of the Hermitage, across the Neva in St Petersburg

The Hermitage and the Winter Palace St Petersburg One of the world's largest museums, in the tsars' Winter Palace on the Neva. We plan a route through the key halls with a private guide and booked entry.Discover

The vaulted hall and chandeliers of Komsomolskaya metro station, Moscow

City and shopping The palaces of the Moscow metro A guided ride through the finest metro stations, with their chandeliers, mosaics and marble columns. Two hours is enough for the best of them. Read more

The Moskva river at night with the lit Kremlin towers in the distance

City and shopping An evening cruise on the Moskva A boat trip on the Moskva past the Kremlin and the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour as the lights come on, with dinner on board if you wish. Read more

The Grand Cascade and golden fountains below the Grand Palace at Peterhof

Culture and heritage Peterhof and its fountains Peter the Great's summer palace on the Gulf of Finland, with the Grand Cascade, gilded statues and gardens running down to the sea, reached in summer by hydrofoil. Discover

The blue-and-white facade of the Catherine Palace at Tsarskoye Selo with its formal garden

Culture and heritage The Catherine Palace and the Amber Room A blue-and-white palace with golden domes at Tsarskoye Selo, home to the rebuilt Amber Room. Half a day from St Petersburg. Read more

Gondolas over autumn forest at Krasnaya Polyana above Sochi

Winter Rosa Khutor in the mountains above Sochi A modern mountain resort in Krasnaya Polyana, for skiing in winter and gondolas and walks in summer. About an hour from Adler. Read more

Slabs of clear ice standing on frozen Lake Baikal at sunset

Winter The clear ice of Lake Baikal In February and March the surface of the world's deepest lake turns to clear glass. We take you with a guide and adapted vehicles to the islands and ice caves. Discover

The Kamenka river and a white church on the edge of Suzdal

Culture and heritage A day in Suzdal and Vladimir A private drive from Moscow to the loveliest towns of the Golden Ring, with white churches and wooden houses. A long day or a quiet night. Read more

Where to stay

Hotels and resorts we recommend

View all 4 stays

The Art Nouveau facade of the Hotel Metropol on Teatralny Proezd, Moscow

Moscow Hotel Metropol Moscow Historic palace Explore

The lobby staircase and crystal chandelier of Lotte Hotel Moscow

Moscow Lotte Hotel Moscow City Explore

The Hotel Astoria on St Isaac's Square, St Petersburg

St Petersburg Hotel Astoria, St Petersburg Historic palace Explore

A pavilion of Rodina Grand Hotel among palms in its subtropical park, Sochi

Sochi Rodina Grand Hotel & Spa Sochi Beachfront Explore

Taste and addresses

Flavours and places to know

Russian food is warming and generous: thin blini, borscht and dumplings of every kind. The big cities also have many halal restaurants serving Tatar, Uzbek and Caucasian cooking, and we recommend the ones we know.

Rolled Russian blini filled with red salmon roe

To tasteBliniБлины

A plate of pelmeni dumplings with mushrooms and a sauce

To tastePelmeniПельмени

Golden fried syrniki curd-cheese patties with a bowl of jam

To tasteSyrnikiСырники

A bowl of red borscht with sour cream and a slice of dark rye bread

To tasteBorschtБорщ

The glass-roofed middle arcade of GUM on Red Square, seen from the upper floor

Shopping · Moscow GUM A historic arcade under glass roofs on Red Square, with international brands and cafés. Read more

The golden dome and minarets of the Moscow Cathedral Mosque

Landmark · Moscow Moscow Cathedral Mosque One of the largest mosques in Europe, rebuilt and reopened in 2015 near Prospekt Mira. Read more

St Basil's Cathedral and the Kremlin towers seen from the floating bridge in Zaryadye Park

Landmark · Moscow Zaryadye Park A modern park beside the Kremlin, with a floating bridge over the Moskva and views of Red Square. Read more

The turquoise dome and twin minarets of the St Petersburg Cathedral Mosque

Landmark · St Petersburg St Petersburg Cathedral Mosque A historic mosque with a turquoise dome and two minarets, opened in 1913 in the style of Samarkand. Read more

Journeys

Ways to see it

Itineraries drawn up by our consultants, to adapt to you day by day.

Russia · 8 days

Imperial Russia: Moscow and St Petersburg

7 nights from the Kremlin to the Hermitage, Peterhof and Tsarskoye Selo

Three nights at the historic Hotel Metropol in Moscow and four at the Hotel Astoria in St Petersburg, with private guides, the Sapsan high-speed train and booked entry to the Kremlin, the …

Price On request View the package

Questions

Before you go

Do Saudi citizens need a visa for Russia?

No. The Saudi-Russian mutual visa waiver came into force on 11 May 2026, so Saudi citizens can enter Russia on their passport for tourism or visits for up to 90 days a year. For residents of Saudi Arabia it depends on nationality, and we help with Russia's unified e-visa where their nationality qualifies.

When is the best time to visit Russia?

May to September for Moscow and St Petersburg, when the weather is mild and the Peterhof fountains run; June, with its White Nights, is the finest. December to March is for snow, the New Year atmosphere and skiing in Sochi, and mid-February to mid-March for the ice of Lake Baikal.

Is halal food easy to find?

Yes, in Moscow and St Petersburg, which have many halal restaurants serving Tatar, Uzbek, Caucasian and Arab food. The Hotel Metropol in Moscow offers certified halal products at breakfast. We suggest restaurants for each day of your programme and order halal meals on long trips.

Where can I pray in Russia?

Moscow has its large Cathedral Mosque and others, and St Petersburg its historic Cathedral Mosque. The Hotel Metropol in Moscow has opened a prayer room for guests, with the qibla marked, prayer mats, copies of the Quran and a place for wudu. We plan tours around prayer times.

How do I pay in Russia?

Cards issued outside Russia, including Visa and Mastercard, do not currently work there. We therefore prepay your hotels and tours, and suggest you carry US dollars or euros in cash to change into roubles at banks and official exchange offices. Before you travel we tell you how much suits your programme.

How do I travel between Moscow and St Petersburg?

The best way is the Sapsan high-speed train, about four hours from city centre to city centre, with a comfortable business class. We arrange a private car from your hotel to the station and on arrival.

What should I wear in Russia?

Modest dress is welcome everywhere. Women cover their heads in churches and everyone covers their shoulders. Winter is very cold, below freezing in Moscow, so bring a winter coat and non-slip shoes; summer is mild with occasional rain.

Russia, from the Kremlin to the palaces of St Petersburg