by Kenneth Elliott

Since Russia is a large country, it has a continental climate. Russia is not protected from the Arctic and North Atlantic influence and it has mountains that block the moderating temperatures from Pacific and Indian oceans. Large areas of the country are covered by snow for six months. So before you go to Russia on a holiday, make sure you get your timing right. No matter what time you go, there is always something to do but if you are specific about what you want to do, you will have to keep an eye on the climatic changes.

Russia has two main seasons, winter and summer. The winters are extremely cold and long with only about six hours of daylight. In Moscow, it is only in the mid summer which is July and August that the temperature is pleasantly warm. It gets little rainfall as most of the precipitation comes in the form of snow. November is the time when the season changes to winter and this time is quite unpleasant.

The most popular travel destinations of Russia are Moscow and St. Petersburg. A good time to visit the two cities would be May and June. Both the cities will be vibrant with a lot of carnivals, concerts and such other special events. The warn season lasts for about four months and the people of Russia will be rushing around to make the most of the summer. If you want to come during winter season, you can go snow boarding in Khibiny Mountains in January and February.

Around the beginning of July, St. Petersburg will experience daylight all day long. These White Nights are special and are worth experiencing. Autumn in Russia is beautiful with the bright trees and sunny weather. People are out to make the most of the time before snow comes in and the winter begins. This is a nice time to be visit Russia.

The unique landscape, the Baikal Lake and the Altai mountain make Siberia a must visit place for a few days. It is remote and gives you a feeling of being disconnected. Since the climate change is remarkable, you may want to fix the time of visit depending on what you wish to do in Russia. Krasnoyarsk located along the river is a beautiful place if you are in Russia for sightseeing.

The only time you should not visit Russia is November. It is usually rainy and cold and not at all fun. September and December is party time in Russia and you will have loads of fun if you plan your visit around this time. In September you may get to hear Russian and foreign musicians play.

From mid- October to mid- April, it will be too cold to camp outside so skip this time if you are looking for outdoor activities, except snow boarding of course. Careful planning of your activities will make sure that no unpleasant surprises are sprung on you by Mother Nature.