8 best places to go on vacation in winter in Russia. Ski resorts, sightseeing trips, outdoor activities and other options are ideal for holidays in December, January and February.
Krasnaya Polyana
The most obvious decision on where to go in winter in Russia (including with children) is Krasnaya Polyana. The resort has modern hotels, saunas, swimming pools, cafes. Almost all hotels have a shuttle service to the ski resorts. If you get bored with skis and snowboards, go on an excursion to Sochi, visit the Olympic Park, the open-air cage complex in Esto-Sadok, dolmens in Krasnaya Polyana and the Akhshtyrskaya cave.
Prices. Tours from Moscow to Krasnaya Polyana in winter 2020-2021 cost from 20 thousand rubles for two (7 nights). Flights from Moscow to Sochi and back cost from 3000 rubles. Hotels - from 2500 rubles for a double room.
Veliky Ustyug
Veliky Ustyug - this is where it is worth going with children in the winter of 2020-2021 in Russia! In late December and early January there are New Year programs - you can visit Santa Claus in his country residence, it is half an hour from the city by bus or car. Tourists on vacation visit merchant mansions, ancient temples and fairs where they buy souvenirs.
Prices. Double accommodation at the hotel costs from 2000 rubles per day. In winter, there are tourist trains from Moscow, Vologda, St. Petersburg and some other cities. You can fly to Cherepovets, from there every Tuesday and Thursday flights to Ustyug. You can take a train to Vologda, then go by bus for 9 hours.
Karelia
Where to relax in the winter of 2020-2021 in Russia if you want excursions and entertainment? Karelia is popular with tourists in December, January and February. Go to Petrozavodsk: in winter you can walk along the embankment, visit museums, temples and the Old Quarter, go on an excursion to the island of Kizhi. Fans of active recreation at the ski mini-resort "Gorka", where there are two slopes with lifts and a skating rink.
For recreation, you can choose other cities and towns of the republic or settle outside the city - at a recreation center. There are many entertainments: fishing, sleigh, sledding, snowmobiles and so on.
Prices. You can get to Petrozavodsk by train, bus, car and plane. Flights from Moscow cost from 7200 rubles. Double rooms in hotels - from 1400 rubles per day. Find out the prices for recreation centers in Karelia.
Crimea
It is real to have an inexpensive vacation in the winter of 2020-2021 in Russia - fly to Crimea. Winter Yalta will surprise you with not winter weather, an almost deserted embankment and low prices. Wine, long walks and leisurely excursions to palaces and museums are the main attractions in winter. Climb Ai-Petri, visit the botanical garden in Nikita or take an excursion to Sevastopol, Alushta, Sudak and other interesting places of Crimea.
Prices. Tours to Crimea from Moscow for 7 nights cost from 30 thousand rubles for two. Flights from Moscow to Simferopol and back - from 4400 rubles. You can get to Yalta and other resorts by taxi, bus, minibus. A room in a 3 * hotel - from 2000 rubles per day. The private sector in Yalta is even cheaper in winter.
Caucasian Mineral Waters
A great place where winter vacation in Russia will be not only pleasant, but also useful! Drink healing mineral water, walk along ecological paths, go on excursions. Clean mountain air, especially fresh in winter, silence and little physical activity will allow you to have a good rest and relaxation.
Prices. Flights to Mineralnye Vody from Moscow cost from 4000 rubles. Tours to Kislovodsk for two in December 2020 cost from 30 thousand rubles (departure from Moscow). The cost of living in a sanatorium or spa hotel is from 2000 rubles per day, but there are also more budget hotels.
Kaliningrad
Kaliningrad is a non-trivial option where you can go in the winter of 2020-2021 in Russia. There is romance in it: the island of Kant with the Cathedral, the Fish Village, military bastions, German villas and ancient castles in the vicinity. Explore the city on your own, or take a guided tour to see the area. However, in December, January and February the weather is very changeable and almost always cloudy.
Prices. Sightseeing tours cost from 30 thousand rubles for two people. Flights from Moscow - from 6,000 rubles. The most convenient way to get there is by plane; to travel by train, you need a Lithuanian transit visa and a passport. Hotels in Kaliningrad cost from 1100 rubles per day.
Lake Seliger
Feel all the power and charm of a real Russian winter at one of the tourist bases of Lake Seliger: fluffy snow and clean air saturated with the needles of the surrounding green pines, neat houses made of natural wood. Tourists go sledging, skiing and snowmobiling, go on an excursion to the Nilova Wasteland or the city of Ostashkov, and go ice fishing. Seliger is a great place where you can come in winter both for a family vacation with children and for a fun company.
Prices. The average rental price for a house for 4-6 people is 12,000 rubles per day (no meals). The best way to get from Moscow is by car. You can also take a train to Ostashkov, and get to your destination by minibus or bus.
Gold ring of Russia
It is a great idea to travel to the ancient cities of Russia in January or February, when the majestic Old Russian buildings are beautifully covered with snow. There are fewer tourists - this is a definite plus. You can travel around all the cities in a week, or you can go to any one and slowly see all the sights.
Prices. A guided tour of the Golden Ring for 3-4 days costs 18,000 rubles. for two. One-day tour to selected cities - from 4500 rubles. The easiest way is to get to Moscow first, and then take trips to individual cities or arrange a tour. Find out how to see the Golden Ring of Russia.
Where else can you go in winter in Russia
Of course, these are not all interesting places in Russia where you can relax in winter. Fans of winter entertainment and extreme sports flock to Dombay, Arkhyz and Elbrus, the Urals, Baikal, Altai and Kamchatka. Others visit the beautiful cities of Russia: St. Petersburg, Kazan, Veliky Novgorod. Or you can just go to a country boarding house or to relatives in the village to enjoy nature, silence and a good night's sleep.
