---
title: "Moscow, Russia"
description: "Russia · airport SVO"
canonical: "https://sorted.travel/places/moscow"
last-updated: "2026-10-11"
---

# 🇷🇺 Moscow, Russia

Russia · airport SVO

## On the ground

- Safety: Avoid all travel
- Currency: Russian Ruble (RUB). 100 USD = 8162 RUB
- Phone code: +7
- eSIM: [https://airalo.pxf.io/Vy15zR](https://airalo.pxf.io/Vy15zR)
- Taxi / ride-hailing: Yandex Go
- Wikivoyage: [https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Moscow](https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Moscow)

## Brief

- Try local dishes such as pelmeni, blini, beef stroganoff, syrniki and okroshka; kvass is a common non-alcoholic drink.
- International bank cards may not work reliably because of sanctions. Carry sufficient Russian rubles and do not rely solely on foreign payment apps or card-based transport services.
- Keep passports and registration documents accessible. Police identity checks are possible, and foreign visitors should avoid photographing military, police or strategic infrastructure.

## Safety and health

- Russia remains a high-risk destination for foreign visitors. The U.S. Embassy advises against travel and says citizens in Russia should depart because of security threats, wrongful detention and limited consular assistance. ([usembassy.gov](https://ru.usembassy.gov/health-alert-u-s-embassy-moscow-russia-october-6-2026/))
- Moscow and the surrounding region have experienced repeated Ukrainian drone attacks, with airport closures, fires and casualties. Avoid military, industrial and government sites, follow official alerts, and expect sudden restrictions or shelter-in-place instructions. ([bbc.com](https://www.bbc.com/news/topics/cq265lx4rvpt) | [aljazeera.com](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/6/ukraine-launches-major-drone-attack-on-russias-moscow-region-killing-two))
- A suspected pneumonic plague case and related quarantine measures have been reported in the Irkutsk region. The case has not been publicly confirmed, but avoid affected facilities and seek urgent medical care for fever or respiratory symptoms after travel in the affected area. ([usembassy.gov](https://ru.usembassy.gov/health-alert-u-s-embassy-moscow-russia-october-6-2026) | [themoscowtimes.com](https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/07/us-embassy-urges-citizens-to-leave-russia-over-siberian-plague-suspicions-a93899))
- Protect yourself from tick bites in parks and wooded areas. Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever is transmitted by ticks or contact with infected animal or human body fluids. ([cdc.gov](https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/russia))
- Tap-water quality can vary, particularly in older buildings. Use bottled, filtered or boiled water, take enough prescription medicine, and use care when buying prepared food, fish products and alcohol from informal sellers. ([wikivoyage.org](https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Russia))

## Recent News

- **9 October 2026:** Ukrainian drone activity temporarily closed all four major Moscow airports, reportedly delaying more than 370 flights for roughly six to seven hours. Further closures and diversions are possible, so check directly with airlines before travelling to or from Moscow. ([dailymail.com](https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16197065/Russian-government-planes-left-trapped-air-amid-Ukrainian-drone-attacks-on-Moscow.html) | [united24media.com](https://united24media.com/war-in-ukraine/putin-reportedly-unable-to-land-in-moscow-as-drones-paralyze-russias-capital-23319))
- **6 October 2026:** A large Ukrainian drone attack targeting Moscow and the surrounding region reportedly killed two people, injured seven and damaged homes, vehicles and a warehouse. An oil storage and distribution facility near Moscow was also reported to have caught fire. ([aljazeera.com](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/6/ukraine-launches-major-drone-attack-on-russias-moscow-region-killing-two) | [kyivindependent.com](https://kyivindependent.com/ukrainian-drones-reportedly-attack-moscow-oblast-in-mass-attack-near-russias-capital/))
- **6-8 October 2026:** The U.S. Embassy issued a health alert over reports of a suspected fatal pneumonic plague case in Irkutsk and associated quarantine measures. The incident is outside Moscow, but it has prompted broader travel warnings and highlights limited assistance for visitors in Russia. ([usembassy.gov](https://ru.usembassy.gov/health-alert-u-s-embassy-moscow-russia-october-6-2026/) | [themoscowtimes.com](https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/07/us-embassy-urges-citizens-to-leave-russia-over-siberian-plague-suspicions-a93899))

_Updated 2026-10-11._

## Weather and timing

The best times to visit Moscow are May and June, with mild conditions suited to parks, walking and city sightseeing, and August and September also rated highly. July is warm but can bring showers and occasional heat, while October to April are generally colder and more unsettled, with winter conditions from November to March.

| Month | Fit | Avg °C | Rain mm | Sun hours |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| January | OK | -9 | 28 | 2 |
| February | OK | -7 | 27 | 2 |
| March | OK | -3 | 27 | 3 |
| April | OK | 6 | 33 | 7 |
| May | Great | 15 | 41 | 10 |
| June | Great | 18 | 41 | 12 |
| July | OK | 21 | 43 | 12 |
| August | Great | 19 | 32 | 11 |
| September | Great | 13 | 32 | 7 |
| October | OK | 5 | 31 | 4 |
| November | OK | 1 | 28 | 3 |
| December | OK | -5 | 33 | 2 |

### Month by month

- **January (OK):** January is deeply wintry, around -10°C to -6°C, with snow and freezing conditions. Indoor sights suit the weather, while outdoor visits require proper winter clothing.
- **February (OK):** February is bitterly cold, around -10°C to -4°C, with persistent snow likely. Moscow suits visitors seeking a snowy city atmosphere and indoor cultural sights.
- **March (OK):** March is wintry, around -6°C to 0°C, with thawing that can create slush and unsettled conditions. Plan for indoor attractions and brief outdoor walks.
- **April (OK):** April is a changeable spring month, around 1°C to 10°C. Snow usually disappears, while cool days and unsettled weather suit flexible sightseeing plans.
- **May (Great):** May is a comfortable spring month, around 7°C to 18°C, with conditions suited to parks, walking and city sightseeing. Layers help with cool mornings and mild afternoons.
- **June (Great):** June is mild to warm, around 12°C to 22°C, with long days and regular showers. Outdoor exploring works well when a waterproof layer is handy.
- **July (OK):** July is warm and sometimes humid, around 14°C to 25°C, with summer showers and occasional heatwaves above 30°C. Outdoor sightseeing suits visitors prepared for rain.
- **August (Great):** August is warm, around 13°C to 24°C, with occasional humidity and showers. Parks, river walks and cultural sights are practical, with a light waterproof layer useful.
- **September (Great):** September is mild, around 8°C to 17°C, with comfortable conditions for walking and cultural sightseeing. Cool mornings and changeable autumn weather are common.
- **October (OK):** October is cool and unsettled, around 2°C to 10°C, with frequent rain and substantial cooling during the month. Indoor attractions suit the weather.
- **November (OK):** November is cold, around -4°C to 2°C, with freezing conditions and early winter weather. Snow may arrive, making warm clothing essential for outdoor plans.
- **December (OK):** December is firmly wintry, around -8°C to -3°C, with snow cover and short, cold days. Festive indoor attractions suit the weather, while outdoor visits need full winter clothing.

### 7-day forecast

_Forecast by [Foreca](https://www.foreca.com)._

| Day | High °C | Low °C | Precip chance |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 05 Nov 05 Nov | 4 | -1 | 100% |
| 06 Nov 06 Nov | 1 | -1 | 100% |
| 07 Nov 07 Nov | 0 | -2 | 53% |
| 08 Nov 08 Nov | 2 | -1 | 60% |
| 09 Nov 09 Nov | 4 | 1 | 53% |
| 10 Nov 10 Nov | 3 | 1 | 44% |
| 11 Nov 11 Nov | 2 | 0 | 53% |

## Visa

Passport-specific visa stance is on the HTML page after you set a passport, or via MCP `check_visa_requirements`. Confirm with a government source before you fly.

## More

- HTML: [https://sorted.travel/places/moscow](https://sorted.travel/places/moscow)
- MCP: [https://sorted.travel/mcp](https://sorted.travel/mcp) (`get_destination_info`, `get_destination_weather`, `check_visa_requirements`)
- Discover: [https://sorted.travel/discover](https://sorted.travel/discover)