In October, Russians continued to seek domestic hotel reservations, and overall bookings rose by ten percent from the previous year. This pattern points to a sustained appetite for travel within Russia during the autumn shoulder season, when short getaways and longer weekends encourage people to explore both city centers and coastlines. For readers in Canada and the United States, the trend offers a window into how residents of a vast country navigate travel options within their own borders, balancing city breaks with seaside escapes and mountain retreats.
The most pronounced growth occurred in major Russian cities that attract both leisure tourists and business travelers. Krasnodar saw bookings jump by seventy-three percent year over year, Rostov-on-Don rose by forty-seven percent, Vladivostok climbed by forty percent, Zelenogradsk increased by thirty percent, Moscow advanced by twenty-two percent, and Kaliningrad rose twenty-one percent. These gains underscore a mix of fast-paced urban excursions, coastal getaways, and regional tourism that together propelled the October lift in demand. The data highlights how large hubs and regional centers alike benefited from renewed travel activity, offering a spectrum of options for visitors seeking culture, history, and diverse landscapes across Russia.
Interest in specific holiday destinations also grew: Anapa posted a twenty-nine percent rise, Pyatigorsk saw a nineteen percent increase, and Sochi climbed seventeen percent. Anapa, a resort on the Black Sea, continues to attract sun-seekers and families; Pyatigorsk remains popular for spa and wellness experiences; Sochi, Russia’s famed resort city, maintains its appeal as a premier seaside destination even as other regions gain traction.
Across the country, the average nightly rate for accommodation in October reached 4,700 rubles, up eighteen percent from the prior year. This advance in price reflects the broader inflationary environment and the sustained level of demand across both urban centers and resort towns, where guests are willing to pay a premium for convenience, quality, and location during peak travel periods.
Top 10 destinations in Russia by number of bookings in October:
• Moscow – the average cost of a booked night is 4.9 thousand rubles, up seventeen percent year over year,
•St. Petersburg – 4.2 thousand rubles, up seventeen percent,
• Sochi – 4.9 thousand rubles, up twenty percent,
• Kaliningrad – 4.1 thousand rubles, up eight percent,
• Kazan – 4.5 thousand rubles, up thirteen percent,
• Kislovodsk – 5.4 thousand rubles, up twenty percent,
• Nizhny Novgorod – 5.1 thousand rubles, up sixteen percent,
• Ekaterinburg – 4.9 thousand rubles, up twenty-three percent,
• Vladivostok – 5.4 thousand rubles, up seventeen percent,
• Zelenogradsk – 4.9 thousand rubles, up twenty-three percent.
The cheapest accommodation in October appeared in Krasnodar and Astrakhan, with an average around 3,000 rubles per night. Other value options included Mineralnye Vody at about 3,200 rubles, as well as Makhachkala and Derbent at roughly 3,600 rubles each. These lower-cost destinations provide budget-conscious travelers with alternatives that balance price and location, whether they’re seeking beaches, history, or access to regional sites during the October window.
The study was conducted in September.
Earlier information outlined the countries Russians would visit for their October holidays.