Packing list for Russia, travel insurance for Russia and taking your belongings

What to take to Russia: brief

To pack and check:

• Documents and money: a passport valid for at least 6 months upon arrival and a visa (mandatory for most travelers). Check current visa regulations and any additional registration requirements well before departure. Take multiple copies of your passport, visa, and travel insurance with you. Due to international sanctions, many foreign debit and credit cards no longer work in Russia. Therefore, bring sufficient cash in a common currency (such as euros or US dollars) and research currency exchange options in advance.
• Clothing: Russia is vast, and the climate varies greatly by region. It can be wet and chilly in Saint Petersburg, while Siberia experiences extreme cold and Southern Russia has hot summers. A layering system therefore works best. If you are traveling in winter, thermal clothing, a warm winter coat, a hat, gloves, and waterproof shoes are essential.
• Shoes: comfortable shoes are suitable for city trips. For hikes in nature reserves or mountainous areas, sturdy hiking boots with good grip are best.
  Personal care and hygiene: sunscreen, especially during winter sports or mountain hikes. Lip balm and hand cream are pleasant during cold winters.
• Packing and protection: a waterproof backpack cover and a sturdy daypack are useful.
• Insects and animals: mosquito repellent is especially important if you are traveling to wooded areas, Siberia, or around lakes in the summer. Also bring a tick remover if you spend a lot of time in nature.
• Medicines and travel first-aid kit: a comprehensive first-aid kit with blister plasters, painkillers, oral rehydration solution (ORS), and personal medication. Check carefully in advance whether your medicines are allowed to be imported into Russia; strict rules apply to some medicines, or a doctor's certificate is required.
• Outdoors and handy items: a reusable water bottle and sunglasses. Offline maps can be useful, as some international apps have limited functionality.
• Technology and equipment: a travel adapter for type C and F sockets, and a power bank is handy for the winter when your phone battery drains faster.
• Safety and theft: knowledge of current travel advisories is important. There are strict controls, registration requirements, and restrictions regarding photography of military objects, government buildings, and infrastructure.

To consider:

• Thermos flask for cold days.
• Heatwear and hand warmers in winter.
• A translation app or a few basic Russian words, as little English is often spoken outside the major cities.

Are there mosquitoes in Russia?

• Yes, especially during the summer months, mosquitoes can occur in large swarms in vast forest areas, along rivers and lakes, in marshlands, and in Siberia.
• For travelers, mosquitoes are mainly a nuisance. Tropical mosquito-borne diseases pose hardly any risk.
• Nevertheless, protection is nice in some cases, as large swarms of mosquitoes can significantly disrupt a walk. Covering clothing and good mosquito repellents work best.
• More about protection against mosquitoes and insects.

Are there sandflies in Russia?

• Yes, but sandflies only occur in the extreme south of Russia, particularly in warmer areas around the Caucasus and the Caspian Sea. For most travelers, they do not pose a problem. What can be a problem during the summer months are swarms of gnats, also known as "black flies." They are mainly found around water and can bite annoyingly.
• Fortunately, you can protect yourself against both with protective clothing, mosquito repellent, and, in the worst cases, a head net.
• More about sandflies and sand fleas.

Can you buy DEET, or other mosquito repellents, in Russia?

• Yes, mosquito repellents are available at pharmacies, supermarkets, and drugstores.
• If you are going to remote (nature) areas, it is wise to bring sufficient DEET or a similar product with you beforehand.
• Read more about DEET and other insect repellents.

Can you buy a joint or weed in Russia, or bring it into Russia?

• No, absolutely not. Russia has a very strict drug policy. Cannabis is prohibited, and possession, use, sale, and import can lead to severe penalties. There is no tolerance policy.
• Foreigners can be punished particularly severely, as has been shown in previous cases. Prison sentences of years in the notorious Russian penal camps are not uncommon.