Russia in December
December weather, activities, events & insider tips
December Weather in Russia
Is December Right for You?
Advantages
- Winter Palace and Hermitage have 70% fewer crowds - you can actually photograph the grand staircases without people in December
- New Year's markets (Новогодние ярмарки) transform city squares with traditional crafts, mulled wine (глинтвейн), and warm blini from late November through January 7th
- Theater season peaks in December - Mariinsky and Bolshoi offer their finest productions, with tickets 40% cheaper than summer tourist season
- Banya (traditional sauna) culture is at its most authentic when temperatures drop below -10°C (14°F) - locals embrace the contrast between 90°C (194°F) steam rooms and icy plunges
Considerations
- Daylight lasts only 6 hours (sunrise 9:30am, sunset 3:30pm) in Moscow and Stpetersburg, severely limiting outdoor sightseeing time
- Sidewalks become treacherous ice rinks - even locals wear специальные шипы (ice cleats) and emergency rooms see 300% more slip injuries
- Many suburban attractions like Peterhof fountains and monastery gardens close completely until April, cutting tourist options by roughly 30%
Best Activities in December
Moscow Kremlin and Red Square Winter Tours
December transforms Red Square into a winter wonderland with the GUM Christmas market and ice skating rink. Snow-covered St. Basil's Cathedral creates Instagram-perfect shots without summer crowds. The Kremlin Armoury is heated and uncrowded - perfect for seeing Fabergé eggs and imperial regalia. Walking tours work best 11am-2pm during precious daylight hours.
St. Petersburg Hermitage and Palace Tours
Winter is ideal for palace-hopping as heating systems keep interiors perfectly comfortable while outdoor queues disappear. The Hermitage's 3 million pieces get proper viewing time without summer rush. Catherine Palace's amber room photography is unrestricted in December. Golden hour light (11am-2pm) creates magical interior photography conditions.
Trans-Siberian Railway Winter Journeys
December offers the most dramatic Trans-Siberian experience - snow-covered Siberian wilderness, frozen Lake Baikal, and authentic Russian winter life in small towns. Compartments are well-heated and the dining car becomes a social hub. Views of snow-laden birch forests and icy rivers are unforgettable. Three-day Moscow-Irkutsk segments are perfect for first-timers.
Moscow Metro Architecture Tours
December is perfect for exploring Moscow's underground palaces - stations stay 18°C (64°F) year-round and become warm refuges between outdoor sightseeing. Komsomolskaya and Mayakovskaya stations are less crowded during winter tourist season. New Sokolnicheskaya line extensions opened in 2024 add fresh architectural marvels to standard routes.
Golden Ring Winter Village Tours
December brings authentic Russian winter to historic towns like Suzdal and Vladimir. Traditional wooden architecture looks magical under snow, and local families offer banya experiences impossible to find in summer tourist season. Horse-drawn sleigh rides and troika experiences operate only when snow is reliable (December-March).
Murmansk Northern Lights Expeditions
December offers 20 hours of darkness daily in Murmansk - ideal for aurora hunting. Peak viewing occurs 6pm-2am with 75% clear night frequency. Dog sledding and reindeer farm visits complement aurora tours. The nuclear icebreaker Lenin museum stays open with special winter exhibits about Arctic exploration.
December Events & Festivals
New Year's Markets (Новогодние ярмарки)
Every major Russian city hosts traditional winter markets from early December through Orthodox Christmas (January 7th). Red Square's market features 100+ wooden stalls selling матрёшки, warm валенки boots, and steaming чай из самовара. Local craftspeople demonstrate traditional skills like lacquer box painting and birch bark crafting.
Russian Winter Festival (Русская зима)
Moscow's premier winter celebration features ice sculpting competitions, traditional sledding hills, and outdoor concert stages with folk music. Sokolniki Park transforms into a winter wonderland with ice slides reaching 15 m (49 ft) high. Traditional foods like сбитень (honey drink) and жареные каштаны (roasted chestnuts) warm festival-goers.
Mariinsky Theatre Winter Season Opening
Stpetersburg's world-famous theater unveils its most ambitious productions in December, traditionally opening new ballets and operas for the cultural elite. Swan Lake and Nutcracker performances reach artistic peaks with international guest performers. Tickets become available exactly 60 days prior to performances.