Discover 12 stunning places for winter in Russia: Baikal’s ice, Karelia’s forests, Murmansk aurora, Kamchatka volcanoes, Suzdal, Kizhi, Altai and more.
Winter in Russia is more than frost and snow. It is the season when forests, cities, and even the most remote corners are transformed. Snowdrifts, river ice, glowing city lights, and the northern lights all conspire to make it feel special. In some places winter is soft and welcoming; in others it’s harsh yet hypnotic. We’ve gathered 12 places where the season is at its most beautiful—storybook settings, but without the stage sets.
Endless forests, lakes locked under ice, trees that crackle with frost—winter here is especially quiet and striking. Kivach Waterfall never freezes solid, and on the Ladoga Skerries the ice forms whimsical shapes. On clear nights, the sky sometimes blooms with northern lights in shades of green and violet. It’s the stillness that lingers after you leave.
This island on Lake Onega is home to historic wooden churches. In winter they’re edged with rime and glitter in the sun. Everything around is white and hushed, as if time itself paused. At sunset, the scene turns particularly luminous—simple, and all the more powerful for it.
A small town on the Golden Ring that looks made for winter: snow, ancient churches, wooden cottages, and powdery streets. Around it lie white fields and a river where you can ride in a sleigh, with festive lights tying it all together. It’s hard not to slow down and walk just for the pleasure of it.
Far north of the Arctic Circle, winter is long and dark, yet undeniably beautiful. Murmansk feels welcoming; Teriberka is austere, almost otherworldly. The Barents Sea, snow-draped cliffs, frozen waterfalls—all under a night sky that often flickers with aurora. Harsh, yes, but compelling in a way that’s hard to resist.
When Baikal freezes, its ice turns glass-clear. You can see bubbles, cracks, even strands of algae beneath your feet. Ice slabs rise like sculptures, while caves and grottos are fringed with icicles. Sunrise and sunset bring the most delicate colors. Few sights feel as unearthly, or as pure.
Snowy streets, white-stone churches, the Volga sealed with ice—Yaroslavl in winter is both cozy and festive. In December, garlands light up the city, while markets and the smell of gingerbread spill onto the streets. A fine place to walk and remember what winter is supposed to feel like.
The homeland of Ded Moroz offers a textbook winter: deep snow, old churches, decorated firs, wooden mansions, and ice sculptures. At the residence of Ded Moroz you can ride in a sleigh, tackle the slides, and step straight into a storybook mood.
Mountains under fresh snow, frozen lakes, air so clear it seems to ring. Lake Teletskoye in winter looks like a mirror. The Katun River freezes in places, drawing delicate ice patterns along its surface. Altai’s winter carries a quiet strength—nature stripped back to essentials.
Here the season sets a dramatic stage: volcanoes capped with snow, steaming hot springs, and snowfall in abundance. Kamchatka often brings the northern lights, forest hikes, and the kind of wild scenery that asks for unhurried attention.
In this national park, mountains and forests turn white and glittering. Frost rims the rocks, trails thread through snowy fields and pine woods, and sunset washes everything in pinks and purples. It’s deeply quiet—and profoundly beautiful.
Winter looks different in each of these places. In some it’s gentle and snug; in others, untamed and grand. But everywhere it’s honest and striking. This is more than snow and cold—it’s a whole world: quiet, white, and sparkling. In winter, nature tells its own stories; all you need to do is pause and listen.