Things to Do in Russia in December
December weather, activities, events & insider tips
Low Season · Budget Friendly
December Weather in Russia
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
27°F (-2°C)
High Temp
20°F (-6°C)
Low Temp
2.0 inches (51 mm)
Rainfall
70%
Humidity
⚠ Extreme cold warnings common - exposed skin can freeze within 10-15 minutes when temperatures drop below -20°C (-4°F)
⚠ Black ice on sidewalks and roads creates invisible slipping hazards. Morning after snow melt refreezes overnight. Walk like a penguin. One unseen patch can drop you fast.
Is December Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + December brings Russia's most atmospheric season - the kind of crystalline cold that makes St Petersburg's canals look like glass and Moscow's cathedrals glow against white snow. You'll photograph the country at its most photogenic without the summer crowds.
- + Hotel rates in Moscow and St Petersburg drop 30-40% from summer peaks - the same five-star properties that require three-month advance bookings in July suddenly have same-week availability, often with upgrade offers at check-in.
- + New Year preparations transform every city - from the Soviet-era ornaments at GUM department store to neighborhood yolka (fir tree) markets where babushkas sell hand-painted ornaments that smell of pine sap and cold metal.
- + The banya experience hits different at -15°C (5°F) - alternating between 90°C (194°F) steam and rolling in fresh snow is the kind of authentic Russian ritual that summer visitors never understand properly.
- + Winter menus appear - solyanka thickens to stew consistency, pelmeni come floating in rich broth, and the hot honey mead at Volkovka in St Petersburg makes sense when your eyelashes freeze together outside.
Considerations
- − Daylight hours shrink to just 6-7 hours in Moscow and 5 hours in St Petersburg - you'll need to plan sightseeing around the light, with most attractions effectively closing at 3:30 PM when dusk begins.
- − The cold could fairly be called the kind that makes your phone battery die in 20 minutes and turns facial hair into ice crystals. -20°C (-4°F) sounds manageable until you're walking against wind across Red Square.
- − Some suburban palaces and gardens close entirely - Catherine Palace's amber room might be open. But the surrounding parks become inaccessible, and river cruises obviously don't run when the Neva freezes solid.
- − Restaurant reservations get trickier during New Year period (December 30-January 8) when locals celebrate - many beloved spots either close or require bookings weeks ahead, though hotel concierges can usually help if you ask in Russian.
Best Activities in December
Top things to do during your visit
Moscow Metro Architectural Tours
December's good for underground exploration - the metro stations double as Soviet-era art museums, and you'll appreciate the 28°C (82°F) platform temperatures when it's -18°C (0°F) outside. The marble halls of Komsomolskaya, bronze sculptures at Revolution Square, and mosaic ceilings at Mayakovskaya look more dramatic against winter pale complexions. Plus, locals use these stations daily, so you're experiencing real Moscow infrastructure, not just tourist infrastructure.
Booking Tip: Book 3-5 days ahead through licensed guides who can explain the symbolism behind each station's design. Morning tours (10 AM) work best - you'll catch the architectural details before evening rush crowds arrive, and the natural light through surface entrances photographs better.
St Petersburg Hermitage Winter Visits
The State Hermitage Museum in December feels like Catherine the Great's private winter palace should - golden light reflecting off snow outside the Winter Palace windows, heating systems that work, and room temperatures good for studying Rembrandts without summer's sticky humidity. With 3 million items spread across 365 rooms, you'll need the full day anyway, but winter's low crowds mean you can see the Peacock Clock mechanism operate (normally booked solid) and photograph the Jordan Staircase without fifty selfie sticks in frame.
Booking Tip: Wednesday and Friday evenings stay open until 9 PM - book these slots to maximize your limited daylight hours. The museum cafe serves proper beef stroganoff that tastes better when you've just come in from -12°C (10°F) winds along Palace Square.
Russian Banya Experiences
December transforms banya from interesting cultural activity into essential survival skill. At Sanduny Bath in Moscow - operating since 1808 with Byzantine tilework and proper venik (birch branch) treatments - you'll alternate between 90°C (194°F) steam rooms and ice-cold plunge pools while locals debate politics over kvass. The post-banya meal of pickles, black bread, and vodka serves a physiological purpose when your core temperature needs stabilizing after temperature shock.
Booking Tip: Book the premium level (second floor) at Sanduny - first floor is more authentic but requires speaking Russian to navigate the separate male/female sections. Bring flip-flops; the marble floors are slippery and freezing.
Trans-Siberian Railway Winter Journeys
Riding the Trans-Siberian in December shows you the Russia that appears in literature - birch forests weighted with snow, wooden dachas smoking from chimneys, station platforms where vendors sell frozen fish and hot tea from copper samovars. The heating on Rossiya train #1 works in winter (unlike summer's unreliable AC), and watching sunrise over the Ural Mountains at -25°C (-13°F) from a warm compartment creates the kind of travel memory that beach photos can't compete with.
Booking Tip: Book kupe (second-class compartments) rather than platskart (open bunks) - the extra privacy matters when layers of clothing need removing. Bring slippers for walking to the restaurant car. Floors get wet from melted snow.
Moscow New Year Market Tours
GUM's New Year market transforms Red Square into a scene from Doctor Zhivago - hand-painted matryoshka dolls, amber jewelry from Kaliningrad, and food stalls serving hot solyanka that steams in the cold air. The orthodox Christmas (January 7) means decorations stay up through early January, and the combination of LED lights against Kremlin walls at 4 PM dusk creates photography that summer visitors can't replicate. Local artisans who only appear during winter sell wool scarves that keep you warm rather than just look Russian.
Booking Tip: Visit at 3 PM for golden hour photography, then stay for evening lights. The indoor sections stay open until 10 PM but get crowded after 6 PM when locals finish work. Bring cash - many vendors don't take cards and ATMs in the area charge premium fees.
St Petersburg White Nights Canal Cruises
Wait - December doesn't have White Nights? Exactly why these winter canal tours are special. The frozen Neva reflects palaces like mirrors, and your hydrofoil to Peterhof passes ice fishermen working holes in the river. Inside heated boats with vodka tastings, you'll see the Winter Palace from water level while guides explain how the 900-day siege played out along these embankments. Summer crowds pay premium prices for midnight sun. Winter visitors get better photos and actual history context.
Booking Tip: Book morning departures - afternoon light disappears quickly and some cruises get cancelled if winds pick up. The boats are heated but deck access for photos means dress in layers you can remove quickly.
Where to Stay in Russia in December
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for December travellers.
December Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
Early January
Russian Orthodox Christmas Celebrations
While Western Christmas happens December 25, Russian Christmas falls January 7, meaning December builds anticipation rather than climax. Midnight masses at Christ the Savior Cathedral feature choirs that echo off marble walls while worshippers line up to kiss icons painted with egg tempera. The religious services contrast sharply with New Year celebrations - you'll witness genuine faith rather than commercial festivities, and the smell of beeswax candles mixing with frankincense creates atmosphere no museum can replicate.
December 31
New Year Eve at Red Square
December 31 transforms Red Square into Moscow's largest party - military bands play w traditional songs, President Putin's midnight address plays on massive screens, and champagne corks pop against a backdrop of St Basil's onion domes. The crowd spans every generation - babushkas in fur coats standing next to teenagers in synthetic puffer jackets, all counting down together in Russian. Fireworks reflect off the State Historical Museum's red brick, creating photographs that scream 'I was here.'
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View Russia Packing List →Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Insider Knowledge
Learn basic Russian numbers - winter menus often posted outside restaurants without English translation, and knowing 'dvadtsat' (twenty) helps decode prices when your phone's too cold to work
Download offline metro maps - Moscow's underground system works well but phone service dies between stations in winter, making paper backup essential for complex transfers
Carry small bills for coat check - virtually every restaurant, theater, and even some museums require checking winter gear, and attendants expect tips in cash
Book restaurant dinners for 6 PM latest - with sunset at 3:30 PM, late reservations mean walking home in full night cold when temperatures hit their daily low
Bring gifts from home for hospitality - Russians you meet will likely invite you for tea, and small items from your country (local honey, coffee beans) reciprocate better than flowers that die in the cold
Avoid These Mistakes
Assuming English works everywhere - winter visitors are rare enough that many seasonal workers (ice rink attendants, market vendors) speak only Russian, so translation apps become essential
Wearing jeans as outer layer - cotton loses insulation when wet from snow and takes hours to dry in hotel rooms, leaving you cold for entire days
Trying to see both Moscow and St Petersburg in three days - winter logistics (slower transport, shorter days) mean you need extra time per city to see the same amount
Booking morning flights to save money - winter fog delays mean early departures get cancelled more often than midday flights, potentially stranding you with non-refundable hotel bookings
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Top-rated things to do in Russia this December
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