Moscow Tops List of Foreign Tourist Destinations for Summer 2025
Moscow is set to be the leading destination for international travellers in Russia this summer, with early booking figures showing a steady rise in demand. According to the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, overall bookings for summer 2025 accommodations in Russia are up 10% compared to last year, with Moscow alone accounting for half of all foreign tourist reservations nationwide.
Other cities drawing strong interest from overseas visitors include St Petersburg, Vladivostok, Kazan, Kaliningrad, Sochi, Irkutsk, Volgograd, Novosibirsk, and Nizhny Novgorod, each offering unique cultural and historical attractions.
“Inbound tourism is a crucial driver of the economy,” a ministry representative noted. Experts stress that to maintain growth, Russia must cater to the specific needs of foreign travellers—such as providing convenient transfers, multilingual guided tours, and culturally sensitive services. These improvements, they say, will push hotels, restaurants, and other hospitality providers to raise service standards, strengthening Russia’s competitiveness in the global tourism market.
The largest numbers of inbound tourists to Moscow this summer are expected from Belarus, India, Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan, China, the UAE, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan.
Growth in international tourism is being fuelled by several factors, including recent visa relaxations with Oman and the upcoming launch of direct flights with Saudi Arabia. Simplified visa processes and better transport connections are seen as key drivers behind this upward trend.
