How To Reach Russia

One of the world’s largest nation, landmass wise, Russia is located in the northern parts of Europe and Asia, becoming a kind of continent in itself. The country has a very strife-torn history, what with the Bolshevik Revolution, the World Wars, the rise of Communism and its ill-effects followed by dissent in the erstwhile Soviet Union. In early 90s, Russia was born. And what a country it is. Political sparring and wars aside, Russia is a great tourism haven. With its palaces and snow plains, old cities and new beaches, you will be thrilled to holiday here. Now how to get to Russia? Here’s a guide.

India operates numerous daily flights to Russia, You can take one-stop or two-stop flights from Mumbai or Delhi to Russian cities like Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan etc. The busiest airports in Russia are Sheremetyevo International Airport, Domodedovo Airport, Pulkovo Airport. The airlines flying between India and Russia include Air India, Lufthansa,  Air France, Qatar Airways and Air Arabia.

Russia boasts of great highways and very well maintained motorways and roads. Hence travelling to Russia from neighbouring countries by road is not much hassle. You can cross the border to Russia from countries like Georgia, China, Ukraine, Belarus, Norway, Finland, Estonia and Latvia among others. Security checks are tight on borders and patrol police is also regularly checking international travellers, so driving to Russia can be a longer procedure. Buses and coach services also ply, with Eurolines heading the fleet.

Russia has progressed to flights across its most rural areas today, and yet trains are considered one of the cheapest and most convenient ways to go across the country. RZhD Russian Railways have a network that joins rural places to Russian cities, as well as major European cities. Moscow receives trains from Asia, Eurasia, the Balkans, Central Europe as well as Western Europe. Eurail and others ply to Russia.

Most waterways in Russia are operational only during the summer, when ice beds thaw to accommodate ships and boats. Some of the best routes to reach Russia by ferries are from Trabzon (Northern Turkey), Finland, Denmark etc. This mode of transport is not always recommended.

For travelling between cities in Russia, flights and trains (Trans-Siberian Railway) are the best bet (especially in winters). If it is summer, then hiring a car to drive by yourself is also a good option as the country is full of breath-taking sceneries. Only, make sure you print your travel maps through Mapquest or Google Maps before setting off, as many areas still don’t have internet connectivity. For traipsing around the cities, Moscow and St. Petersburg have metro trains for cheap and comfortable transport. You also have the option of hailing taxis or hiring cars.