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Browse more guides: India travel | Asia destinations Siberia evokes images of vast forests, frozen lakes, ancient cultures, and the legendary Trans-Siberian Railway. For travelers seeking truly extreme adventures, Siberia represents one of the world's last great wildernesses. But 2024-2026 political situations have significantly affected access for Western travelers. This guide covers honest 2026 assessment of Siberian travel. Short answer Siberia in 2026 for Western travelers: Russia currently restricted for many Western nationalities (US, UK, EU, Canada, etc.) Visas difficult or restricted Western banking systems blocked in Russia Travel insurance mostly excludes Russia Embassy support limited in Russia For Asian/non-Western travelers : More accessible Trans-Siberian Railway : Operating but with restrictions Lake Baikal : Accessible if Russia visa available For most Western travelers in 2026: Siberia trips are difficult and not recommended. Current Russia si...

Browse more guides: Russia travel | Europe destinations Moscow vs St. Petersburg: Time to Spend in Each City Last updated: April 2026 · 12 min read The pre-2022 standard answer was clean: four nights Moscow, four nights St. Petersburg, Sapsan train in between, done. That answer hasn't actually changed for the trip itself. What's changed is who is taking it. I went pre-COVID for nearly two weeks, then again most recently in late 2024 on a much shorter loop. In 2026, with Western government advisories still in place over the Russia-Ukraine war and most direct flights from Europe and North America still suspended or rerouted, the question of how to split your time has to start with whether you can , or should , go at all. For travelers from countries with normalized Russia relations (India, China, the Gulf, much of Central Asia, several African and Latin American states), Moscow and St. Petersburg are still very much open, the Sapsan still runs daily, and the original split ...