How to get to Russia in 2024 (INFOGRAPHIC)
With the closure of direct flights with many countries, due to sanctions, it’s not as easy for foreign tourists to come to Russia as before. But it’s possible! Read about all the latest nuances of tourism to Russia in this new guide.
1. Visa
For citizens of 65 countries, a visa is not even required to enter Russia. For the majority of these countries, the length of stay without a visa is up to 90 days; however, for some, it’s shorter, so be sure to check.
In 55 more countries – including countries in Europe and Asia, such as Germany, Denmark, Japan, China – you can apply for an electronic visa to enter Russia. In this case, the length of stay in the country is up to 16 days. We addressed all queries regarding how to do it in detail here and you can find the full list with all countries here.
2. Transport
As of January 2024, 36 countries have direct flights to Russia, among which are Israel, China, Turkey and many others. The majority of European countries, however, are not on this list; they prohibited their airlines from conducting passenger flights to the territory of the Russian Federation. The only European country from where you can board a direct flight to Russia is Serbia.
Three other most popular hubs, from which you can come to Russia on a direct flight:
- Istanbul, Turkey
- Yerevan, Armenia
- Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Aside from that, you can reach Russia also on land transport – with a car, bus or train. However, in 2024, the checkpoint on the border with Finland is currently closed, which was a convenient route for the residents of the Scandinavian nations, while Finland itself is, as of right now, unavailable.
Several other countries – Estonia, Latvia and Norway – are also contemplating the possibility of closing their borders with Russia, but, for now, this hasn’t happened and the passage is open (we advise you to follow developments closely, however). The route from Georgia to Russia via Vladikavkaz remains one of the most popular land routes, due to which there are still hour-long waiting lines at the border.
3. COVID restrictions, vaccinations & quarantine
In 2022, the government of Russia canceled all restrictions linked to the COVID-19 pandemic; in 2023, it allowed foreign tourists to enter the country without a negative PCR test.
However, there are still occasional random COVID-19 checks at airports, so don’t be surprised if you are asked to get tested.
