Flying to and From Russia:
Although there are numerous airports located throughout Russia the majority are
only for domestic flights, the three main international airports in Russia are:
- Domodedovo (Moscow) - Is located 35km South of Moscow and is the largest international
airport in Russia. Domodedovo has undergone
extensive reconstruction, and is now quite a modern and efficent facility. There
is a regular train service into downtown Moscow and to other Moscow stations from
the airport, as well as plenty of bus and taxis available, Long stay parking is
also available.
British Airways, Qatar Airways, Swiss International Air Lines, Austrian
Airlines, Emirates, Brussels Airlines, Thai Airways International and Lufthansa
all now fly from Domodedovo due to it's better facilities than Sheremetyevo International
Airport.
When looking for flights to moscow you will find most flights are to Domodedovo
these days.
- Sheremetyevo International Airport (Moscow) - Is located in the North of Moscow. Sheremetyevo
is the hub for Aeroflot (Russian national airline) and is the second largest airport
in Russia. Sheremetyevo - 2 is the main terminal for the airport as it handles the
international flights. If you are unlucky enough to fly to Sheremetyevo expect long
queues at arrivals and the traffic is quite often heavy on the road to and from
Sheremetyevo, though a rail connection is supposed to be opening shortly. There
are improvements ongoing at Sheremetyevo which may significantly improve it in the
future.
- Pulkovo International Airport (St Petersburg) - Is located about 17km south of St
Petersburg. Pulkovo is the airport at which international flights to St Petersburg
will arrive. Although there is no rail access, there are numerous buses, taxis,
express-buses which can quickly take you into St Petersburg center or to the nearest
Metro station. Terminal 2 services international flights, where as terminal 1 is
for domestic flights. The airport underwent reconstruction in 2003 and is therefore
in a reasonable condition and a new terminal to handle the increased number of flights
is scheduled to start being built in 2008.
There are more and more flights operating from various airports to Russia, however
if you want a direct flight then you are most likely to find these if you depart
from Heathrow. Otherwise you can expect to have to change flights probably in Germany,
Poland or nearby. When searching for flights to Russia it's best to avoid the peak
times for business (Sunday/Monday and Friday/Saturday) and holiday flights, as you
have much more chance of getting a cheap flight if you fly mid-week. Expect to pay between
£280 to £1000 for an economy flight to Russia, depending upon your times,
route and flexibility.
Some Images of Russia
A bit of information about Russia
Russia has the largest landmass in the world and stretches across Europe and Asia.
Due to it's large size there is considerable variation in it's terrain, scenery
and weather. Though in general Russia has warm dry summers, with freezing snow filled
winters. Offset by a wet spring as the snow melts and a mild normally reasonably
pleasant autumn.
With short days in winter and long summer days, the more noticeable
the further North you go. It's best to visit Russia between June and September when
the weather is pleasant. If you are looking for a historic trip full of scenery
then St Petersburg is your best choice, or if you are looking for a more westernized
scene then Moscow will be more suited to you. Either way you will want to travel
out from the major cities and enjoy the beautiful Russian countryside and peaceful
villages, but you will want a guide if you do this. You could also take the Trans-Siberian railway for a varied and interesting trip through the largest country (landmass-wise)
on the planet.
From Irkutsk to the Lake Baikal and down to Odessa by the black sea (traditional
holiday destination for Russians), there is much to see - relax and enjoy.
So compare flight prices and book your trip today!
IMPORTANT: You will need a
visa for your trip, this will require an invitation form a tourist agency, business
or private person in Russia which you can then use to apply for a visa from the
Russian Embassy in London. After arriving you will need to register this visa with
the local authorities of the town or city you are staying in. The inviting agency
or hotel you stay at can do this for you normally. There is plenty of information
online on how to do this.
Some useful information:
Time: Moscow and St. Petersburg are Three hours ahead of GMT. Russia
spans 11 time zones. The difference between Greenwich Meridian Time (GMT) and the
time in some Russian cities are: Volga-river towns +4, Krasnoyarsk and Enisei-river
towns +7, Kamchatka +12.
Currency: The Russian currency is Rouble.
Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz.
|
City
|
Average temperature
July (Centigrade) |
Average temperature
January (Centigrade) |
|
Moscow
|
22 |
-15 |
|
Saint Petersburg
|
22 |
-12 |
|
Vladimir
|
20 |
-15 |
|
Irkutsk (Lake Baikal)
|
20 |
-23 |
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