Russia — A Ballet, A Babushka, &
A Bit Of Vodka
Took me nearly 11 years to check this off my Bucket List!
Join this Desi Chori all bundled up in layers, waltzing through imperial
palaces, luscious gardens, sipping vodka and chasing sunsets
during the famous White Nights of Russia.
Two cities, one tiny village and Just A Desi Chori
collecting stories, memories, tons of photos (and calories)
along the way!
Waltz into Russia Through My Eyes (and My Lens)
Weather
Visited Russia in June-July, which honestly is the best time — long sunlit days (thanks to St. Petersburg’s dreamy White Nights), pleasant temps around 18-25°C, and just-cool-enough evenings that make you reach for a light jacket. It can flip from sunny to drizzly real quick, so an umbrella is your BFF, and with all that humidity near the canals, be ready for a bit of hair drama. Overall, it’s the perfect season to wander cobblestone streets in comfy shoes, chase sunsets at 11 PM, and pack layers so you’re stylish and snug.
Things to Buy
Russia’s a total souvenir wonderland. I obviously came back with Vodka, Scarves, Ballerina Jewelry Boxes, bunch of Magnets and Chocolates. Interested people can purchase Matryoshka dolls of every shape and sass level, delicate painted wooden spoons, fluffy fur hats, and gorgeous amber jewelry that literally glows in the sun.
Language
Russian can look like an alphabet soup to us Desis — all Cyrillic squiggles and tongue-twisting words. Most locals don’t speak much English, especially outside touristy spots, so I basically survived on Google Translate, wild hand gestures, and the occasional doodle on a napkin. Honestly, half the fun was in the hilarious miscommunications. Pro tip: download the offline language pack, point your camera at menus or signboards, and voilà — instant decoder magic!
Plugs
Russia uses the standard European-style round two-pin plugs (220V). So don’t forget to pack a universal adapter unless you want to watch your phone battery crawl to zero while you panic-text your friends about it. Carry a power bank for emergency in case your camera runs out of juice and you have a picturesque site before you.
Currency
Russia runs on rubles, which meant my wallet was full of colourful notes with way too many zeroes. Although locals rely primarily on cards, it is advisable for tourists to convert their currency to avoid failed card payments. Since I was traveling in a group, most of our tickets were purchased by the travel agent, but for cute local markets or tiny cafes, cash was king. Keep emergency $$$ to convert into Rubles (there are plenty of Forex agents especially in Moscow)— haggling for Matryoshka dolls is way more fun with actual cash.
Safety
Moscow and St. Petersburg felt surprisingly chill. I walked around late during those never-ending White Nights, stuck to main streets, and kept my bag zipped tight, especially in busy areas or markets. Random people trying to sell tours or sketchy cab rides? A firm “nyet” and walking away did the trick. Trust your gut — we Desi girls come pre-installed with a pretty solid danger radar.
Destination:
St. Petersburg: Where Fairy Tales Meet Frostbite
Called the Venice of the North, St. Petersburg is Russia’s elegant daydream — a city of pastel palaces, glittering canals, golden spires, and endless poetry. Built by Tsar Peter the Great to rival Europe’s grandest capitals, it still feels like a slice of Paris and Venice stitched together with Russian soul. And if you’re lucky enough to visit in summer, you’ll catch the magical White Nights, when the sun barely sets and the whole city seems to dance till dawn under a sky that refuses to go dark. From storybook churches and imperial squares to ballet halls and bridges that rise at midnight, every corner of St. Petersburg whispers history, romance, and that soft promise of never-ending twilight.
Destination:
Whispers of Faith & Gold:
St. Petersburg's Sacred Jewels
Kazan Cathedral felt like a Roman dream with its giant colonnades wrapping around me. Fun fact: it was modelled after St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, but with a very Russian Orthodox twist. The purpose of the church has shifted over the years, consecrated as one of the most iconic structures of Russia as a Catholic Basilica, it later become a memorial for the victory over Napoleon and in recent times has become a focal point for political demonstrations.
Church of the Spilled Blood — a name that sounds like a murder mystery but is heartbreakingly beautiful, also probably the most Instagrammable church ever. Those candy-coloured onion domes hide a rather tragic history: it was built on the spot where Tsar Alexander II was assassinated.
Isaak Cathedral originally built as a Cathedral but converted into a museum. The cathedral took nearly 40 years to be constructed and was the first site to demonstrate Copernicus’ Heliocentric theory (sun is at the centre of the universe, not Earth as previously assumed) using the Foucault Pendulum.
Fun Tip: Would recommend climbing the 262 steps to get panoramic views of the city.
Destination:
Catherine the Great Sure
Knew How to Shop!
The Hermitage Museum is basically Catherine the Great’s ultimate shopping spree — she started it in 1764 by buying up hundreds of paintings from Berlin, and next thing you know, it turned into one of the biggest, most jaw-dropping art collections in the world. Housed inside the ridiculously grand Winter Palace, it’s like walking through a royal diary, dripping in chandeliers and gold. I spotted Leonardo’s “Benois Madonna,” Rembrandt’s epic “Return of the Prodigal Son,” and even a Michelangelo sculpture chilling like it’s no big deal. With over 3 million pieces, the Hermitage is less “museum visit” and more “time-travel marathon.” Trust me, your feet might give up before your eyes do — but every gilded room is worth it. The Hermitage made me wish I had six days instead of six hours — Catherine the Great basically curated the world’s best art haul.
Destination:
Pointy Toes & Ballet Twirls
Watching Swan Lake in St. Petersburg was one of those pinch-me moments — like stepping straight into a fairytale, but with tighter buns and shinier satin. Sitting there in a plush velvet seat, watching Tchaikovsky’s haunting score come alive in the very city where it was born, I felt equal parts fancy and emotional. The ballerinas seemed to float, the sets sparkled, and for those magical hours, it was just me, the swans, and a story that’s been breaking hearts for over a century. Honestly? Totally worth dressing up and pretending I was royal for the night.
Destination:
Ready for a Cinderella Moment?
The Catherine Palace is basically a royal flex turned up to a hundred — a dazzling baroque masterpiece just outside St. Petersburg in the town of Tsarskoye Selo. Originally built for Catherine I (Peter the Great’s wife) and later massively glamorized by their daughter, Empress Elizabeth, this palace is all powder-blue walls, gilded stuccoes, and grand ballrooms that look like they were made for Cinderella’s afterparty. Its most famous gem? The Amber Room, a glowing chamber of amber panels, gold leaf, and mirrors that’s been called the “Eighth Wonder of the World.” Strolling through its ornate halls and lush gardens, it’s hard not to imagine powdered wigs, swirling gowns, and a lot of royal gossip echoing off the walls.
Perk: Taking Amber Vodka shots before noon, cus we are in Russia!
Destination:
Versailles Who?
The Peterhof Palace is basically the Russia version of Versailles — a jaw-dropping summer estate on the Gulf of Finland, just outside St. Petersburg. Built by Peter the Great to outshine European royalty, it’s a riot of golden statues, playful fountains that sneak-attack you with surprise sprays, and manicured gardens that stretch forever. Walking through its grounds felt like stepping into a fairytale — minus the glass slippers, plus comfy sneakers (because trust me, it’s huge). With the sea sparkling in the distance and fountains dancing all around, it’s one of those places that makes you forget real life even exists.
Destination:
Moscow — Grand, Gritty, Gorgeous
If St. Petersburg was all poetry, Moscow was power.
Hopped on the SAPSAN high-speed train, zipped through charming dacha houses, sleepy villages, and dense birch forests. 4 hours later, hello Moscow!
Moscow is Russia turned up to full drama — bold, brash, and totally unafraid to show off. From the iconic onion domes of St. Basil’s that look like a candy shop exploded, to the mighty Kremlin walls that have witnessed centuries of intrigue, this city is where power and poetry collide. It’s a place of grand boulevards, buzzing cafés, hidden courtyards, and nights that somehow stretch on forever. One minute you’re gawking at tsarist treasures, the next you’re sipping coffee in a hipster nook or haggling for a matryoshka at a flea market. Moscow doesn’t just welcome you; it sweeps you up in its electric, slightly chaotic embrace — and trust me, you’ll love every dizzy minute of it.
Destination:
Moscow's Iconic Heartbeat
The heart of Moscow beats loudest around the Red Square — a vast cobblestone stage framed by the mighty red walls of the Kremlin, where centuries of Russian history still whisper through its towers. Iconic doesn’t even cover the high walls and watchtower of this historic location that simply exudes power.
Here, you’ll find Lenin’s Mausoleum, eerily stoic with its dark marble façade (and yes, that really is Lenin inside, lying in state). Just steps away, St. Basil’s Cathedral pops up like a psychedelic fairytale, all candy-coloured domes and swirling patterns. And if all that grandeur makes you crave a little retail therapy, the historic 19th century GUM departmental store is right there, blending tsarist elegance with luxury shopping under its glass-vaulted arcades — perfect for pretending you’re royalty while licking pistachio ice cream. I may not have bought any designer handbags, but I had to at least try the original ladies bathroom for 200 Rubles.
Destination:
Whizzing Past Moscow
Moscow State University loomed like some Gothic fairytale castle on Sparrow Hill, and the view of the sprawling city from there? Chef’s kiss.
Visited the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, rebuilt after the Soviets had demolished the original. Talk about resilience. Then wandered down Arbat Street, with buskers, souvenir shops, and tiny cafés.
If being thrifty is your style, don’t waste money at Arbat Street and dust your bargaining skills and get chatting in broken English and hand gestures for some souvenir shopping at Izmailovo Market. After putting my Desi haggling skills to use I bought some scarves, jewellery boxes, magnets, paintings, Matryoshka Dolls and more.
Start or end your day with a bit of people watching, enjoying the river side, pretty fountains, elegant swans and a lazy stroll through Gorky Central Park. After a hectic action packed trip, I decided to unwind with a glass of wine by the little pond with ducks and swans as my companions.
Destination:
Spotlights and What-Ifs
The world-famous Russian Circus was a swirl of bright lights, daring acrobats, and clown acts that had me giggling — but I’ll be honest, my heart sank seeing animals still used for tricks. Watching majestic lions, tigers, elephants, and horses perform under spotlights felt a bit too old-school for me, and left me wishing they would move to a more humane show. Having said that, the grandness of the stage, production, on-site orchestra, costumes, equipment, choreography and so much more left me in awe and engaged for the 3hrs.
As for the Moscow Ballet, we couldn’t get tickets inside the legendary Bolshoi Theatre, but even standing outside was something else. The grand pillars, the ornate façade — it’s like the building itself is performing. Having watched the ballet back in NYC, I couldn’t help but dream of seeing those delicate pirouettes right here, on their home stage. Maybe next time.
Destination:
Vladmir & Suzdal -
Russia's Countryside Charms
Left the big city lights for an overnight trip to Vladimir and Suzdal. Tiny cottages, gardens bursting with flowers, churches peeking out from around every bend. At the Suzdal Kremlin and Museum of Wooden Architecture, I got a real peek into Russia’s village life — simpler, sweeter, somehow more human.
Stayed at a homestay and ate at a local restaurant with homemade vibes and endless Borscht, soft freshly baked bread, creamiest of butter, and pancakes. Bliss.
Destination:
Just A Desi Chori's Special Highlights
No trip is complete without the mention of food. Although I didn’t get to try as much local food and restaurants as I would have liked, I still enjoyed exploring the different preparations with a special shoutout to Borscht, the only thing that could warm me from the cold weepy weather. This soup made with meat stock, tons of vegetables and seasoning is filling and satisfying, the red beetroots being the main ingredient giving it the bright red colour. Another super satisfying dish was the Perogies, simple dumplings with potato stuffing. Its so basic but yet hits the spot all the time.
I thought the Moscow nightlife would be very happening, either I didn’t really go to the right places or us Desis just know how to party hard. However the Depo FoodMall is a pretty good place to get countless options for food and drinks and they even have various DJ stations so walk around to find your kinda vibe.
Vodka and Caviar – a hit and a miss! Obviously I am a fan of cocktails, but the local vodka was just so smooth, you wouldn’t need to pair it with anything. Start your day with sips of Stolichnaya and be merry for the rest of the day despite the gloomy weather. Caviar on the other hand was definitely a miss for me. At least I got to check it off my bucket list, but the Black and Red Caviar is not something I am a fan off. Its slimy popping and salty texture is rather off-putting and knowing what it is, is just sad to think about eating.
Last but not the least, something that made my trip to Russia extra special was all the floofs I saw! From tiny mini teacup puppies to gigantic Siberian Huskies the size of me (or more), every one of them so well groomed, enjoying the weather whether it is rain or shine, being carried in trains, planes and metros. Many shops also allow floofs to happily roam around with their petpawrent.
Destination:
What Russia Taught This Desi Chori
Made me realize that history isn’t just in books, it’s in whispers of old walls and songs of balalaikas on the street. That vodka flows like water and is a valid breakfast. That ballerinas and babushkas both deserve medals. Russia is a land of contrasts, although I only saw a very tiny part of the vast country – where gilded palaces stand next to stark Soviet blocks.
And that sometimes, you find bits of home — in a stranger’s smile, in stories shared over steaming cups of tea or you make friends over shared shots, thousands of miles from your own city.
Till the next adventure,
this desi chori is signing off — heart a little heavier, phone memory full, and passport pages running out. 💛
Jump into our latest deal
Get the most exclusive and curated travel itinerary of Tanzania to experience the Wildlife, Culture, Paradise, Food and so much more
3-5 Star Getaways
Experience the landscape, wildlife and food at amazing GLAMPING, Resorts and Boutique Hotels
Dip Into the Blue Ocean
Breathtaking clear blue seas that can truly be called PARADISE
Be Free Be Wild
Experience wildlife up close in their natural habitat, just the way it should be
Book Now to save
Offer valid until April 2026
20%
Off
$1599
10 nights in Tanzania
- Personal Safari Vehicle for the Entire Trip
- Stay at the Most Elusive, Boutique Glamps to Witness Tanzania in the Wildest and Free Style
- Eat Authentic Food to Understand the Culture, Heritage and Traditions
- Airport Pick up and Drop and Meals During Safari Included
* Air travel to be booked on your own. Recommendations will be provided from desired destination.
$1599
7 nights in Morocco
- Recommendation on the Best Available Flight Routes from your Desired Destination
- Try the Local Cuisine at an Authentic Moroccan Restaurants
- Curated Travel Itinerary to Various Cities Within Morocco
- 3-5 Star Accommodations that Suit your Needs and Style
- Enjoy the Desert Safari and Explore the Saharan Landscape
$2099
10 nights in Senegal
- Recommendation on the Best Available Flight Routes from your Desired Destination
- Try the Local Cuisine at an Authentic Senegalese Restaurants
- Curated Travel Itinerary to Various Tourist Points Within Senegal
- 3-5 Star Accommodation that Suit your Needs and Style
- Enjoy the Desert Safari and Glamp in Style
