A non-stop trip on the Trans-Siberian Railway takes six to seven days, though most travelers stretch the trip to two weeks or more to take in stops. The majority of tourists travel from west to east, beginning in Moscow. This route allows visitors to acclimate to Russia in an international city. For more experienced travelers, the east -to-west route from Vladistovok or Beijing offers an intense immersion experience from the beginning. While any time of the year offers its own benefits, many travelers choose late autumn for a Trans-Siberian trip, as the seasonal transition delivers scenic snow without the bitterness of winter.
The Trans-Siberian Railway reveals much more of Russia than just the major cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg. The best part of planning this trip comes from the choice of many possible stops. Kazan, the 1,000-year-old capital of Tatarstan, features the World Heritage Site Kazan Kremlin. The last Russian royal family, including famous Grand Duchess Anastasia, met their end in the city of Yekaterinburg. Irkutsk provides access to the nearby Lake Baikal, the deepest lake in the entire world. Near the Mongolian border, the Buddhist center of Ulan Ude features Russia’s largest population of indigenous peoples.
In order to travel on the Trans-Siberian Railway, you must first secure a Russian tourist visa. This process occurs through your local Russian consulate and can take more than a month. After securing a visa, you can book train tickets up to 45 days in advance on Russian-language websites. If you have a flexible schedule, you can also buy tickets at stations as you go along. Travel agencies can help with the ticketing and visa process. Most railway travelers fly into Moscow to begin their journeys. If you want to travel east to west, you will need to acquire a Chinese visa for the flight into Beijing.
Once all of your logistical preparations are made, you can begin practical considerations for the journey and your time on the train. Trans-Siberian trains sell food in the dining car, but many travelers choose to pack their own to save money. Attendants provide water, and every car features a samovar, which is a traditional Russian water-heating vessel. Travelers book train accommodations according to their budgets and personal tastes, with options available from private compartments to those shared with up to three others. Every train car has a restroom, with electrical outlets in the hallways.
