I normally take trips off season. However, I realize that some places you should not visit off-season because the weather is unpleasant to the point of being unbearable. <BR> <BR>Is the weather in Russia at the end of March still unbearably cold? Also, how is the "daylight"? Is this the time of the year when there is only a few hours (or no hours)of daylight or can I expect to see a normal 7:00am to 6:00 pm day of light? <BR> <BR>Is there any reason we should avoid going at this time of year and go later? <BR> <BR>FYI, we are planning on going to Helsinki, Finland; Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russia. <BR> <BR>Thank you

Hi, Julie, <BR> <BR>My message might come up to you somewhat late. Still your question: we have a normal daylight in Russia in end of March starting from 9.00a.m. and closing on 9.00p.m, with average temperature about <BR>18 - 23 degrees (C) above zero. If you still want to come, you are welcome! <BR> <BR>Regards, <BR>Anton Yegorov <BR>GLOBAL HOSTING SERVICE, Ltd. <BR> <BR>Fax in the US: +1 208 361 85 43 <BR>Fax in the UK: + 44 (0)7050 654 407 <BR>Ph. / fax in Russia: +7 095 354 89 09 <BR> <BR>Email: [email protected] <BR>http://www.russia-at-ease.narod.ru <BR> <BR>

I have been to Russia in March and most other months of the year as well. March is not a good time to go there. The problem is not cold, it is the good possibility of slush. That time of the year, you do not typically have the beauty of the snows which can be magical or the beauty created by the green of summer. You generally have greys; the cities are cleaning up after the winter, the flowers have not yet been planted, and there is nothing green. If you don't want the cold, go in May or September or anytime in the Summer.

It's too cold in March. I have lived in Moscow and I would say June - September is the best time. <BR> <BR>Russia is not crowded with tourists, therefore, you will not find many benefits to going "off-season". We were just back in Moscow visiting in May and it snowed one day, was too cold and rainy to go out much, and generally the weather was disappointing. I think the ideal time to be in Moscow was early September. <BR> <BR>Have a great trip whenever you go. It is a fascinating country. <BR> <BR>Shel

I actually have two choices of dates. One is Mardi Gras holiday...Feb. 12 and the other is Easter break...week starting 3/23. Weather-wise, crowd-wise and all other things considered, would one date be better to choose than the other? <BR> <BR>Should I expect to see many things closed during Easter if I choose that date? <BR> <BR>Thanks for all your suggestions and helpful information.

I have to agree with the previous posters - it will still be cold and gray in March. If possible, go in early-to-mid May before the airlines price increase and before school vacation, and you'll love the city.

Haven't been in Russia in March (only later in the year), but would expect it to be similar to our years in Alaska, i.e., "breakup," when as David says, you get the worst of both worlds - not yet spring, but not midwinter either, so that the melting snow reveals the debris of the winter, or worse, late freezes or snows make it muddy, icy, soggy, or all of the above, sometimes in one day. I'd vote for February given your choices. <BR> <BR>Remember, though, that Easter in Russia goes by the Orthodox calendar, which means in 2002 and 2003 Russian Easter is in mid- or late April. <BR> <BR>

End of March temperatures are well below 18-23C. Bad time to go really because of slush etc.

Thanks for all your replies. I am definately leaning towards the early Feb. departure date now. Later in the year is not an option. It is either 2/12 or 3/23. I have to make a decision soon! <BR> <BR>If anyone else wants to add their opinions, I look forward to reading them. <BR> <BR>Thank you.

I was in Moscow/Petersburg March-April 1999, and was lucky--it only snowed one day, and the weather was mild-35-55 degrees. As for sunlight, on the first day of March there will be 12 hours of day/12 hours of night, and you would see the sun come out more and more as your trip went on. <BR> <BR>That said, there could easily be big storms and unbearable cold at this time, but far less likely than February. <BR> <BR>As to the comment about there never being a tourist season in Russia, try getting a hotel room in Petersburg in June--the deluxe hotels are almost filled now for June 2001.

Marc, <BR> I am not sure what you meant by this comment: <BR>"That said, there could easily be big storms and unbearable cold at this time, but far less likely than February." <BR> <BR>Do you mean that in February the cold is unbearable and that there are big storms in February? <BR> <BR>

What I meant was that uncomfortable weather is more likely to occur in February than in March. <BR> <BR>

What I meant was that uncomfortable weather is more likely to occur in February than in March. <BR> <BR>

I have traveled to Moscow at different times over the past several years. While the temperatures may be worse in February which tends to be the coldest month, March is far worse for travel due to the slush and warming. At least when everything is frozen you can dress warmly and keep dry, but when its a mixture of rain and snow or alternately, there is no way to be comfortable. <BR> <BR>March through early May are considered by most locals to be the worst times. <BR> <BR>Be sure whenever you go to bring warm waterproof footwear. <BR> <BR>Also i would not be particularly concerned about the lack of sunlight. You probably won't be spending much time in parks and such and only a few museums have different hours in the winter and summer. <BR> <BR>I don't know where you live that you have 11 hours of sunlight in February but in Moscow it is probably closer to 8 usable hours at the beginning of the month. (Remember that is 12 hours each around the equinox on March 20. )

Correction to my post above: On the first day of Spring there are twelve hours of sun and darkness.