Russian Travelers Favor Domestic Routes and City Breaks, with Moscow Leading the Way
A growing preference for domestic travel is shaping the Russian holiday landscape. A recent OneTwoTrip study, summarized by socialbites.ca, shows that the share of domestic travel orders rose by 14.0 percent over the year, bringing the domestic share to 78.4 percent. This shift highlights how convenience, accessibility, and evolving travel habits are steering Russians toward closer-to-home journeys while still enjoying a broad range of city and regional experiences.
Moscow continues to stand out as the primary travel hub within Russia, accounting for 25.2 percent of all orders. In second place sits St. Petersburg with a 14.6 percent share, underscoring the city’s enduring appeal for cultural, historic, and culinary experiences. The surge of tourism in autumn extends beyond the capital and the northern metropolis. Sochi, a perennial favorite for seaside escapes, ranks among the top three destinations with a 9.3 percent share of autumn trips. Other cities contributing to the national itinerary include Kazan at 3.0 percent, Yekaterinburg at 2.5 percent, Krasnodar at 2.2 percent, Kaliningrad at 1.9 percent, Nizhny Novgorod at 1.6 percent, Rostov-on-Don at 1.5 percent and Vladivostok at 1.4 percent. These figures illustrate a diverse map of domestic travel preferences across Russia, with both large metropolitan centers and regional hubs drawing visitors.
When comparing autumn demand with the previous year, Krasnodar stands out for hotel demand, rising by 22.2 percent, while Sochi experiences a decline of 15.5 percent. The overall shifts in other cities remain relatively stable, indicating a steady but evolving pattern in domestic hotel occupancy as travelers refine their destination choices and trip durations.
The autumn trip profile shows a tendency toward shorter getaways. A large majority of travelers booked hotels for 1 to 3 days, comprising 76.6 percent of bookings. A significant portion chose longer plans of about a week to 7 days, which accounted for 21.9 percent. A smaller slice, 1.5 percent, opted for extended trips spanning 8 to 14 days. These duration patterns help hospitality providers tailor offerings, pricing, and promotions to match traveler intent and seasonal demand.
On the international front, Istanbul remains the top foreign destination for Russian travelers during autumn, attracting 10.7 percent of hotel bookings. Dubai follows with 5.2 percent, and Minsk with 4.6 percent. Other notable choices include Yerevan at 3.8 percent, Bangkok at 2.4 percent, Antalya at 2.3 percent, Tbilisi at 2.2 percent, Almaty at 1.9 percent, Paris at 1.7 percent and Baku at 1.6 percent. The geographic spread reflects a mix of city breaks, cultural travels, and beach escapes across multiple continents.
Notable shifts in international demand show Bangkok up by 84.6 percent and Baku by 60.0 percent compared with last autumn, while demand for holidays in Dubai also grows by 13.0 percent. At the same time, visits to Antalya and Istanbul declined, by 41.0 percent and 15.7 percent respectively. Other destinations in the array of choices remain largely unchanged year over year, signaling persistent interest in certain popular cities alongside emerging favorites.
Regarding the duration of autumn international holidays, most orders—60.2 percent—were for trips lasting 1 to 3 days. About 34.1 percent stayed 4 to 7 days, and 5.7 percent extended to 8 to 14 days. These figures illustrate a clear preference for short, frequent getaways abroad, balanced with a willingness to plan longer experiences when opportunities arise.
The study also notes a historical note: the most popular destinations for Russians around the New Year continue to shape travel agency recommendations, reflecting seasonal demand patterns and the enduring appeal of both metropolitan icons and regional centers. The evolving mix of domestic and international destinations underlines a dynamic travel market where travelers weigh cost, convenience, and experience when planning their winter getaways.
Overall, the data paints a vivid picture of how Russians are balancing comfort with exploration. Domestic trips have become the default for many, while coveted international cities still attract strong interest during the autumn and winter months. This balance signals a resilient travel sector that responds to changing traveler priorities and the evolving landscape of available routes and accommodations. [OneTwoTrip study via socialbites.ca]