Russia truly is a giant of a country, bordering numerous states and stretching across an incredible array of latitudes, landscapes, climates, cultures, ethnicities, and languages. Russian is the official language, but over 100 local languages and dialects are spoken throughout the country. This immense diversity extends to religions and traditions as well.
Geographically, the shape of Russia resembles a vast bridge beneath the Arctic cap, connecting the Scandinavian countries (Finland and Norway) and the former Baltic Republics (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania) to the far reaches of East Asia (Mongolia, China, North Korea). To the south, Russia borders Poland and several former Soviet republics, such as Ukraine, Georgia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan. Its shores are washed by a range of seas, from the icy waters of the Arctic Ocean and Baltic Sea to the milder Black Sea and Caspian Sea, all the way to the endless Pacific Ocean.
Inland, Russia spans 11 time zones and is a vast mosaic of environments that stretch for hundreds of kilometers, often giving a sense of boundless monotony—yet these are places of breathtaking beauty and grandeur, where you can feel as small as an ant: tundra, steppes, northern forests known as taiga, temperate woodlands, endless plains, and even subtropical zones along the Black Sea coast.
Russia is crossed by over 100,000 rivers, and also boasts Lake Baikal, considered the largest in the world. Despite its vastness, Russia remains sparsely populated, with around 145 million inhabitants mostly concentrated in main cities: Moscow, St. Petersburg, Samara, Kazan, Novosibirsk, and Volgograd—industrial and service hubs.
Russia at a Glance
- Country: Russia
- Area: 17,075,400 km²
- Capital: Moscow
- Population: 145,181,900
- Language: Russian
- Religion: Non-religious/Atheist 72.4%, Orthodox 16.3%, Muslim 10%
- State System: Federal Republic
- Main Cities: St. Petersburg, Samara, Saratov
Practical Information for Travelers
- Currency: Ruble
- International dialing code: 007
- International plate: RUS
- Drive on: Right
- Entry requirements: Passport with visa, valid for at least 6 months after your planned return
- Vaccinations: None required, but health insurance covering medical expenses is mandatory.
- Electricity: 220V/127
- Units of measure: Metric system
- Time zone: +3
- Fixed public holidays: May 9 Victory Day, June 12 National Day, November 5 Unity Day
- Climate: Continental, with hot summers and harsh winters
- Average temperatures: 4.4°C (winter -12.5°C, summer 18°C)
- Transport: Trains are well organized and comfortable. Buses are ideal for traveling between small towns.
- Airports: Moscow/Sheremetyevo, Moscow/Vnukovo, Moscow/Domodedovo, St. Petersburg
