The vast size of Russia and the remoteness of many areas from the sea result in the dominance of the humid continental and sub-arctic climate, which is prevalent in European and Asian Russia except for the tundra and the extreme southeast.
Most Russians live in areas that enjoy a continental climate with distinct periods of warmth in the summer and cold weather in winter. The coldest month is January (February on the shores of the sea), the warmest usually is July. Temperatures range greatly throughout the area in the most touristic places. For example, in Moscow and St. Petersburg it is quite normal to have summer days reaching +25 C and -25 C in winter!
However, it is possible to visit most tourist destinations in Russia throughout the year. If you visit Moscow and St. Petersburg in winter, it will give you a different perspective and a break to the cities during this time of year can actually be quite magical and picturesque. Just be sure to bring suitable clothing with you. Also bear in mind that hours of daylight will be much shorter.
In general, early summer and autumn are many people’s favourite periods to visit Russia. By May everything becomes green and starts to bloom and October is famous for the “golden autumn” with yellow and red leaves falling from the trees.
