Europe > 🇷🇺 Russia
The city by city Car or no Car advice for Russia can be broken down into three similar questions - do you need a car in Russia; is it worth it (based on costs), and ultimately - should you rent one? (a balance of the two).🚆 🚌⛴️ Do we need to rent a car in Russia?
These scores are based on the quality of public transport and other travel options. If these are good enough to see the main points of interest, then you don’t need to rent a car.
💰💶💳 Is it worth hiring a car in Russia?
These scores reflect the practical factors that affect whether renting a car is convenient, good value, and stress-free.🏙️ Main Cities in Russia
| CITY | IATA | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Magadan | MQF | |
| Moscow | SVO | |
| Nizhnevartovsk | NJC | |
| Ostafyevo | OSF | |
| St. Petersburg | LED | |
| Zhukovsky | ZIA |
⚠️ Current Situation
Since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia has become increasingly isolated from the international community. Most Western governments — including the UK, EU, USA, Canada, and Australia — advise against all travel to Russia except for essential purposes. This is due to:
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Political tensions and the risk of sudden policy changes.
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Severely limited flight connections to and from Western Europe.
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Sanctions affecting payment systems, making foreign cards unreliable.
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Detentions and heightened surveillance of foreigners, particularly journalists.
While many Russian cities remain peaceful and daily life continues largely as normal for locals, the overall environment for tourists has become more uncertain and unpredictable.
Russia is vast beyond imagination — stretching across 11 time zones, from the forests of Karelia to the volcanoes of Kamchatka. Getting around such an enormous country raises the obvious question: should you rent a car in Russia?
🚗 Renting a Car in Russia — Technically Possible, But Not Simple
Before the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, car rental in Russia was relatively straightforward, with international agencies like Hertz and Europcar operating in Moscow and St. Petersburg. However, many Western companies have since suspended operations, and sanctions make international payments and insurance complicated.
Local firms in major cities still rent vehicles, but you’ll likely need to pay in cash or via local systems such as Mir cards. Fuel is affordable and roads between major cities — particularly the Moscow–St Petersburg highway (M11) — are of good quality. Yet in rural areas, conditions deteriorate rapidly, and signage may be in Cyrillic only.
Driving long distances in Russia is challenging. Distances between cities are huge, rest stops are sparse, and police checkpoints remain common. For travellers who don’t speak Russian or know the Cyrillic alphabet, navigation can be difficult even with GPS.
🚆 Rail — The Best Way to See the Country
Russia’s rail network is one of the world’s greatest engineering feats. It’s extensive, efficient, and comfortable on key routes:
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Moscow ➜ St Petersburg – The Sapsan high-speed train covers the 700 km journey in under 4 hours.
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Moscow ➜ Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod, or Sochi – Modern long-distance trains with sleepers.
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The Trans-Siberian Railway – The world’s longest rail route, linking Moscow with Vladivostok over 9,000 km. Variants connect with Mongolia and China, offering remarkable overland adventures.
Since Russia’s vast size makes driving impractical, the train remains the best way to cross the country. It’s safe, scenic, and still surprisingly affordable.
🚌 Public Transport and Domestic Flights
Within cities, Russia’s metro systems (especially Moscow and St Petersburg) are world-class — fast, clean, and reliable. Even medium-sized cities have buses, trams, or trolleybuses. Taxis and ride-hailing apps like Yandex Go are widely used and inexpensive.
For intercity travel, domestic flights cover enormous distances in hours rather than days. Airlines such as Aeroflot and S7 Airlines link Moscow with cities across Siberia and the Far East.
🌍 Regional Travel Restrictions
It’s important to note that some areas are off-limits or require permits — particularly border zones near the Caucasus, the Arctic, or the Far East. Foreign drivers must carry original documents, and insurance coverage is often limited to European Russia.
Currently, international driving between Russia and neighbouring countries such as Ukraine, Georgia, or Finland is heavily restricted or impossible due to political conditions.
🧭 Summary — Should You Rent a Car in Russia?
Why you might:
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Short regional trips around Moscow, St Petersburg, or the Golden Ring towns.
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Independent travel in scenic areas like Karelia or near Lake Baikal (with experience).
Why you shouldn’t:
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Enormous distances, unpredictable road quality, and language barriers.
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Political and insurance complications since 2022.
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Excellent alternatives by train and plane.
🚫 Conclusion:
You should not rent a car in Russia unless you have specific, local travel plans and speak at least some Russian. Trains and domestic flights remain far superior for covering long distances. Russia rewards travellers who move slowly, patiently, and safely — preferably from the window of a train, not behind the wheel 🚆
