halfapair

DH and I just had a fantastic trip to Central Europe and are pondering our next destination. We are interested in Estonia and Russia. If we went in December and January then the prices for airfare and hotels would be crazy cheap. But of course it would be very cold, snowy, etc.

We are in our early 50's, love museums, art, history, and the performing arts. We are experienced travelers who plan our own trips, itineraries, and accommodations, etc.

Has anyone traveled to these places in winter? If so, what was your experience? Or is this too crazy and we should go to someplace like Italy, instead?

Thank you for any advice you can offer.

janisj

I've been to Moscow and St Petersburg in February -- close enough to Dec/Jan to have an opinion. I LOVED it then. Was it cold -- absolutely. Really REALLY cold. But I managed just fine w/ a wool coat (down would have been better but I didn't have one at the time), wool socks, gloves, silk long underwear, ear muff and/or scarf, and just regular leather booties.

Daylight hours are short of course but the cities were beautiful.

Christina

So your sole reason for doing this is that you think you'll save on airfare and hotels? First, check your assumptions. I don't know about Russia, but a lot of people on Fodors ask questions and assume that major European capital cities are solely for tourists and thus they have "high seasons" that are identical to American kids vacation time, very bizarre idea. So they'll assume that Paris' high season for hotel rates is summer, for example. Which isn't true, nor is it true in any European capital city I've been in, summer actually often has lower hotel rates because of lack of businesss travelers. The only time it is true is in vacation/resort areas. That's the same in the US, actually.

So first, I"d find out if your assumptions are even valid in the cities where you want to go, and then figure out how much you'd save to decide if it's worth pursuing. It is true airfare is usually lower in winter though, but often not anything else. And in fact, some cities have very high hotel prices during some of those holiday periods, like Christmas/New Years.

Odin

Christmas does not start in Russia until January, it is not the same dates as the western Christmas, they are Orthodox in Russia. New Years Eve is really great especially in Red Square where there will be festivities, maybe fireworks at midnight etc and the metro runs all night. Hotel rates will be high on new years eve most likely but after that, the hotel rates should be very reasonable, at least in Moscow.

It is not always extremely cold in Dec/Jan, the last time we were there which was between our Christmas and NY, the temps fluctuated between 32F and 14F, when it warmed up to 32F the snow started melting and it was slushy and unpleasant, whereas when it was colder it was better when it was frozen.

Don't forget to factor in the cost of visas which are quite pricey. Russia is really something special to behold in the winter.

nytraveler

Yes, it will be very cold outdoors - and very warm indoors. the only problem with long silk underwear is when you go indoors and start to roast you really can't take it off the way you can outerwear.

I haven't been that late in the year - but the second week of Sept it turned from moderate (high about 60) to cold (low 40s during the day but damp and windy) in St Pet - and I ended up wearing everything I owned. The locals had obviously decided winter had started and they all began wearing heavy coats, boots, etc.

A friend who did a December tripa couple of years ago didn't take her mink off the entire time she was outdoors - said it was just bitter. She said she saw a LOT of other furs - which you hardly see at all here anymore.

halfapair

@Christina - cost is one consideration. But when I think of Russia, I think of snow and ice and all things wintery. I saw a picture of some building with a Christmas tree in front of it and all the other trees were dusted with snow and it just looked marvelous.

Yes, I read about the Orthodox church celebrating Christmas in January. So we could celebrate Christmas here at home with family and friends, fly to Moscow and ring in the New Year, then celebrate Christmas in St. Petersburg.

I have already done some looking around on Kayak.com and TripAdvisor at flights, hotels and prices. Initial research shows that the prices are significantly lower during December/January than for the summer months. Which would be a bonus.

DH and I both work at places that take off the week between Christmas & New Years. With saved leave time we could take a 4 week trip instead of a 3 wks. The cheaper airfairs & hotel rates would make this even more possible.

So I was noodling this around and DH is quite skeptical of the whole "Russian Winter" idea. So I turned to the experts at Fodors.

Thank you!

julies

halfapair--

I am curious about where you live and whether you have much experience with day after day in a truly cold climate where there is snow, ice and slush. And, the hours of daylight are really short. I'm suspecting from what you said about the trees dusted with the pretty snow that you are not familiar with the realities of cold and snow.

Yes, it can be beautiful for a half of day or so after a fresh snow. Then, that pretty white snow starts to turn grey from air pollutants (which I am guessing there are probably lots of in major Russian cities). If the temperatures fluctuate so as to go above and below freezing, or if the sun is shining enough to melt some of the snow, it turns to water. Then, as soon as it drops below freezing again all of that melted snow turns to slick ice. Not super safe for walking!

I live in a climate probably somewhat similar to those of the places you are talking about visiting. I certainly wouldn't choose to visit in the dead of winter.

weekend_celebrations

Guys- let's not go crazy here this is not a North Pole we are talking about. I was actually born and raised in the South (of former Soviet Union) - and went to University in Moscow for 4 years. It was not that bad (especially in January). The New Year is indeed pretty special and the art museums and music and theater will all be pretty active and that is what OP is interested in. My parents have gone to their college reunion in Moscow over New Years a couple of years ago and had great fun too. of course it will be cold and you would not spend a lot of time outdoors, but bitter cold would be an exception in January (My friends go skating at Red Square outdoor ring and enjoy it

so it is NOT a crazy idea at all. just plan lots of indoors activities (as well as a couple pretty walks).

janisj

>>I certainly wouldn't choose to visit in the dead of winter.<<

I've been and it was a GREAT trip. Did miss out on the loooooong summer daylight and the gardens. Absolutely. But I still saw and did a lot and had a wonderful time. More cultural events than are available in the summer.

weekend_celebrations

very true janisj about the cultural events. it should not be all about the pretty gardens

halfapair

I am really loving all the responses. I grew up in California, DH is born & bred in Washington State. He loves the dreary, drippy weather here. I do prefer sunshine and we usually do a "sunshine vacation" over Xmas (this year is AZ, last year was a Caribbean Cruise).

Anyway, do get some cold weather here, usually a week or two at a time in the winter, so yeah, the cold might get to me. But I thought it would be a unique travel experience. And a different way to see Russia.

We are still in the very early "scout out possibilities" stage of planning a trip. And who knows, we may go to New Zealand - sunshine!!! DH is not really sold on the Cold Weather trip to Russia...

julies

Because of my job, I used to have to travel during that time frame, and we would usually take a 2 week trip. If you want an out of the country trip, here are places we went over that New Year's time frame that I'd recommend.

Venice and Rome
Nicaragua
Mexico--Yucatan peninsula
Mexico--San Miguel de Allende and Guanajuato
Vietnam

I am the one who commented on the reality of cold weather. You also need to think about how you typically spend your time on trips. Do you spend hours every day just walking and wandering around to soak up the atmosphere of the city? Not going to happen at all comfortably in the middle of winter in Russia.

janisj

>> Not going to happen at all comfortably in the middle of winter in Russia.<<

I did . . . if your head/hands/feet are warm and you have a decent coat walking is fine. I'm also a Californian and am generally in cold weather only when I go up to Tahoe. But in the last two years I've visited NY during their big blizzard in Feb 2104 and Chicago when it was frozen solid last January.

I put what I learned visiting Russia in winter to cope w/ both of those trips - and took walks in both. And now I do have a down coat - LOVE it. I never wear it at home because it simply never gets cold enough. But for the 2 or three times a year I need it -- heaven.

Plus I go to London and/or Scotland most winters -- not cold like Moscow, but short daylight and pretty cold.

I have relatives living in Alaska - would I live through one of their winters - no. Would I want to spend the whole winter in Alaska/Moscow/Norway conditions - nope. But a week or 10 days is no problem and is actually fun partly because it is so different than back home.

Odin

<<But when I think of Russia, I think of snow and ice and all things wintery. >> I could not agree more. Some places are meant to be seen in winter and Russia is one of them. I've been to Russia over 20 times and lived through an entire winter there and loved it. I don't know why people are so afraid of the winter there, probably because posters who have never been keep posting inaccurate info or have preconceived ideas of what it might be like.

>> Not going to happen at all comfortably in the middle of winter in Russia.<< I was comfortable. Nothing stops because it is winter, life goes on. Buildings are kept really warm, restaurants, museums etc are organised with places to hang coats and change footwear, the trains run etc.

<<it will be very cold outdoors>> Not always. End of Dec/beg Jan is not always that cold, it might be about 32F or a little lower which is the perfect temps to keep the snow frozen. Do you hibernate when it is winter in NY?

<<love museums, art, history, and the performing arts. >> Winter is the ballet season, go to the Bolshoi, there are so many museums and places of interest.

<<Then, that pretty white snow starts to turn grey from air pollutants.>> Moscow & St Petersburg have alot of open spaces, parks and country estates. The sight of snow with the golden cupolas is stunning. The snow does not melt and go grey everywhere. People go for walks in the many parks, where there are ice skating rinks, its a busy place in winter.

traveller1959

I have been to Moscow in mid-winter and, yes, it was extremely cold, but it was a dry coldness, so bearable. Besides the usual very thick winterclothes do not forget a really warm hat that warms your ears - the most sensible parts of the body.

We had not much snow, just a thin layer. In fact, we had sunny days but the sun was like neon light - emitting no warmth at all.

After all, I liked it as much as everybody else here on this thread who has really been there in winter.

r0mbas

In fact, winter in central Russia ceased to be cold, like a couple of centuries ago The coldest month is February, at this time is really going on icy hell! In the remaining months, temperatures rarely exceed -15 C. Historically, the winter in Russia - during national holidays and festivities, and if you really want to see something different and fun, a true Russian, the winter - it's your choice. And if you are interested in culture, history and the Russian traditions, my strong recommendation to visit not only the capitals, but also the provinitsalny cities. For example Torzhok, Veliky Novgorod, Tver - the cities which is more ancient than Moscow, and traditions are kept much better there.

daniiltimin

It is cold during the winter, but I think it's what it would make your trip so unique and memorable! Winter is what Russia known for all over the world!