What is the weather like in Russia?

Do you still imagine eternal frost and snow when you are thinking about the Russian weather? If this is the case, there is some good news for you! Russia is a vast country with 11 time zones and over 15 climate types ranging from the Arctic climate to Subtropical. During your journey with Volga Dream, you will be travelling around the Central or European Part of Russia, which has a predominantly continental climate with cool and snowy winters and warm and dry summers. No winter coats are necessary for a Russian River Cruise!

Moscow

Moscow is considered to have a humid continental climate with warm and sometimes even hot summers.

July is the hottest month of the year with the average high temperatures reaching 26°C (78°F). June and August are still very warm but just a little bit cooler than July with the average high temperatures reaching 24°C (75°F). It is recommended that you bring a light raincoat with you or a light jacket, in case the weather stays on the cooler side. You are also likely to experience cooler weather whilst you are staying on the ship and travelling along the rivers and lakes. The summer months of June, July and August are traditionally the most popular time of the year for travelling to Moscow, and therefore the museums are generally filled to their fullest capacity.

May and September are usually warm with the average high temperatures rising to 21°C (69°F) and 18°C (64°F) respectively. Therefore, it is important that you bring 1 or 2 light jumpers and a light coat, if you are planning to travel during these months. The possibility of rain can never be ruled out, and therefore it is always good to have something that will keep you dry and warm. At the same time, there are less tourists visiting the city in May and September, meaning less crowds in popular touristic places. The museums are also less crowded, which allows for a very relaxed and pleasant tour experience.

Octobers in Moscow are generally on the cooler side with a lot of precipitation expected. The average high temperatures reach 14°C (57°F), with early October being much warmer than the rest of the month. For this reason, plenty of warm clothing, perhaps even light woolens is necessary as well as a raincoat to keep you cosy. If you decide to visit Moscow in October, you will be pleasantly surprised by its autumn charm and the absence of crowds at popular museums and sights.

St. Petersburg

The city of St. Petersburg has a humid, continental climate. Its weather patterns are strongly influenced by its proximity to the Gulf of Finland and are often characterized as changeable and unpredictable. On average, the city enjoys 62 days of sunshine a year (mostly in the summer), as well as abundant precipitation. St. Petersburg even claims to be the rain capital of Russia – so a raincoat is essential in any season!

June and July are the most popular months for visiting St. Petersburg because of the natural phenomenon called “The White Nights”. It happens every year between the end of May and mid-July in places close to the Arctic Circle. During this time, the sun never fully sets and the sky stays light for most of the night. It is a truly special time of the year, when the city never sleeps and enjoys countless festivals, parties and traditional nighttime bridge openings. The weather also adds to the festivities as it is generally warm with the temperatures reaching 22°C (71°F) in June and 25°C (77°F) in July. August doesn’t benefit from the “White Nights” phenomenon but is still very popular with visitors. It is only slightly warmer than June and is certainly equally as busy.

Rain is an unavoidable part of life in St. Petersburg; it adds a unique charm to the city as it can be expected at least 50% of the time. Needless to say, a good umbrella and raincoat are absolute necessities while touring the city. The museums and other landmarks are filled to capacity with visitors, and crowds are to be expected in many places across the city.

May and September are quite warm with average temperatures of 18°C (64°F) and 17°C (62°F). We recommend that you bring several warm sweaters as well as a light coat for comfort. Precipitation is expected in September with an average of 19 rainy days and 80% humidity. May is considered the start of the tourist season and the weather is quite similar to September. During these months you can enjoy most of the important city landmarks while avoiding the big crowds of high summer.

October in St. Petersburg is nearly always on the cooler side with the temperature hovering around 14°C (57°F). Fog and rain are common at this time of year, adding a special atmosphere to the many palaces and other sights the city has to offer. The golden autumn of October offers wonderful photographic opportunities, especially because the majority of the city’s landmarks are quieter with fewer visitors.

Volgograd

Volgograd is certainly the warmest place you can visit with Volga Dream. The city enjoys a hot continental Summer climate and enjoys an average of 20-25 sunny days each month during the summer.

July and August are the warmest months of the year with the temperature peaking at up to 30°C (86°F) and 29°C (84°F) respectively. June is also warm and just a little cooler than July and August with average highs of 28°C (82°F). Rain is unlikely at this time as the Summer is mostly dry and sunny – be sure to bring your sunglasses!

Though no less interesting, Volgograd is not quite as well-known as Moscow and St. Petersburg, this means the main city landmarks are never overcrowded even at the height of Summer.

September in Volgograd can easily be described as Summer too, because of its warm temperatures and absence of rain. If you travel to Volgograd in September, you’re likely to enjoy lots of sun and very comfortable temperatures of around 25°C (77°F), which is perfect for admiring the views from the sundeck of MS Volga Dream.

May in Volgograd is just as warm as September, but it is also more popular with visitors. In May, many people travel to the city of Volgograd for the 9th of May Victory Day celebrations that mark the end of the Great Patriotic War for Russians. Volgograd is best known for the major decisive battle on its eastern front during WW2. Many people travel to Volgograd during this time to commemorate the heroism of the soldiers and to honor those who died during this battle. During this time, there are likely to be more people than usual visiting the city’s many landmarks.

When it comes to clothing recommendations, we suggest light, comfortable Summer outfits, preferably cotton or linen, to keep cool during these Warm Summer months, and don’t forget the sunscreen!

October on the other hand marks the real start of autumn in Volgograd, therefore much cooler weather can be expected with an average temperature of around 19°C (66°F). If you plan to visit the city at this time of the year, be sure to bring a light coat and a couple of good sweaters to keep warm.

*At Volga Dream we go out of our way to make our guests very comfortable at all times, but we have no control over the weather. There is always a chance of unusually warmer or cooler weather than the averages listed above at any time of year, so while we’ve accurately described the average month’s weather, we can’t guarantee that nature won’t have other plans from time to time.