Do you enjoy ice skating, Christmas festivals, and ornate buildings covered in snow?

There is no place like Russia in the winter.

As the largest country in the world in terms of landmass, the sheer breadth of Russia is hard to match. From the woods of Siberia to the urban neighborhoods of Moscow and the coasts of St. Petersburg, Russia sprawls across two continents and eleven time zones. While it spans about twice as long as the United States from east to west, over three quarters of Russia’s population lives within its westernmost quarter.

Russia has a very complicated diplomatic relationship with most of the western world, and this has led to periods of severe tension for travelers. On our trip to Russia, we felt nothing but a warm welcome from the locals, despite any tensions going on between our governments. However, due to its government’s hot and cold relationship with the west and reputation for censorship and autocracy, we highly advise researching the current climate before planning your trip.