Best time to go to Russia
There is a very popular, but somewhat unfair, joke that there is no summer in Russia, just nine months of expectations and three months of disappointment.
The best time to come to Russia is during the summer when days are generally warm, sunny and ideal for sightseeing. The end of May and beginning of June is a very special time in St. Petersburg, with “white nights” when it practically never gets dark.
Winter time has its charm too. Cold Russian winters are known all around the world, but in recent years the temperature has rarely gone below -5°C in Moscow and St. Petersburg. A famous Russian fur hat will keep the head warm and shot of vodka will warm you from the inside whilst you admire the palaces and onion-domed churches glittering with snow and icicles.
Events
Vyugovey Ice Sculpture Festival
25th Dec 2011 - 28th Feb 2012 (annual)
Moscow
Muscovites take advantage of the winter freeze with Vyugovey, a spectacular exhibition of ice sculptures. Admire intricately-crafted works, illuminated by coloured lights and preserved in Moscow's sub-zero temperatures, during the two-month festival at the Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics.
Golden Dolphin
16th - 19th Feb 2012 (annual)
Moscow
Golden Dolphin is Moscow's international diving festival, held at Gostiny Dvor, near the Kremlin. Exhibitors promote a great range of diving equipment, while an amazing underwater film and photography festival documents the interaction between people and the underwater world.
Maslenitsa Festival
20th Feb - 26th Feb 2012 (annual)
St Petersburg
The Maslenitsa festival (Butter Week) has a long tradition in Russia, celebrating the end of winter. There are parties in the whole city offering sweets and riding troikas through the snow. Parades can be seen with fairytale characters, dancing, theatre, music and fireworks. Various tourist attractions in town offer special events referring to the festival and the streets of St. Petersburg are full of festive decorations. Do not miss the opportunity to try the bliny (pancake), for the Russians a symbol of the sun, eaten with sour cream, caviar or honey and jam and of course enjoyed with lots of vodka.
Musical Hermitage Festival
14 Feb - 20 Feb 2012 (annual)
State Hermitage Museum, Moscow
Music of the highest order is played in the sumptuous surroundings of the Hermitage Museum at the Musical Hermitage Festival. The annual concert series includes everything from baroque to jazz, and pays homage to Hermitage concerts of imperial times.
Dance Open
12 - 16 April 2012 (annual)
St.Petersburg
The Dance Open are Russia’s largest ballet festival and stages exciting performances for a whole week throughout St. Petersburg. Performers and visitors come from all over the world to see pirouettes and pas.
Stars of the White Nights Festival
25 May - 15 July 2012 (annual)
St.Petersburg
Each year the acclaimed ballet and opera company of the Mariinsky Theatre performs to a specific theme during this special summer time.
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