Moscow
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|---|---|
| Red Square and the Kremlin | The historic heart of Moscow with its fortress, walls and colourful domes, on the World Heritage list. | Central Moscow |
| Zaryadye Park | A modern park with a bridge suspended over the river and views of the Kremlin. | Next to Red Square |
| GUM | A grand historic store under a glass roof, one of the best-known places to shop. | Red Square |
| The Moscow Metro stations | Stations like palaces with chandeliers and mosaics, an art tour underground. | Across the city |
| Moscow Cathedral Mosque | One of the largest mosques in Europe, with golden domes and minarets. | Near Prospekt Mira station |
Saint Petersburg
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|---|---|
| The Hermitage Museum | One of the world's largest museums, in the Winter Palace, with millions of works of art and antiquities. | City centre |
| Peterhof Palace and its fountains | Golden cascading fountains and gardens by the sea, known as the Versailles of Russia. | The fountains run from late April to early October |
| The Catherine Palace | A lavish palace with the famous Amber Room and wide gardens. | Pushkin, south of Saint Petersburg |
| The canals and the White Nights | A boat trip along the city's canals and under its bridges; during the White Nights it never gets fully dark. | The White Nights run from late May to mid-July |
Kazan
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|---|---|
| The Kazan Kremlin and Kul Sharif Mosque | A historic fortress on the World Heritage list, with Kul Sharif Mosque and its blue minarets at its centre. | Capital of Tatarstan, about 1.5 hours by air from Moscow |
| Bauman Street | A pedestrian street of shops and halal Tatar restaurants. | Central Kazan |
Nature and the north
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|---|---|
| Sochi and Rosa Khutor | A city on the Black Sea, with a mountain resort above it for skiing in winter and cable cars and walks in summer. | Southern Russia |
| The northern lights in Murmansk and Teriberka | Green lights dancing in the sky above the Barents Sea. | Roughly September to March |
| Lake Baikal | The world's deepest lake, with crystal-clear water that freezes like glass in winter. | Siberia, near Irkutsk |
Tips before you go
- Saudis have entered Russia visa-free since 11 May 2026, registering in the Gosuslugi RuID app 72 hours before arrival.
- International bank cards don't work in Russia, so take enough cash with you.
- The best time is May to September, and December to February for snow and the northern lights.
Hotels in Russia
Visa
Frequently asked questions
What are the top things to do in Russia?
Red Square and the Kremlin in Moscow, the Hermitage and the Peterhof fountains in Saint Petersburg, the Kazan Kremlin and Kul Sharif Mosque, Sochi, and the northern lights in Murmansk.
When do the Peterhof fountains run?
Roughly from late April to early October each year.
Do Saudis need a visa for Russia?
No, visa-free for up to 90 days in a calendar year since 11 May 2026, registering in the Gosuslugi RuID app before arrival.
Planning your trip to Russia? Read Travel to Russia from Saudi Arabia.
Last updated: October 2026. The information is for guidance only; ticket prices and opening hours are set by each attraction and may change, so check them on the official website before you go.