May is a great time for travel: nature has woken up from winter hibernation, but there is no summer heat and stuffiness yet. And at the beginning of the month, we also have long holidays ahead of us, for which we just want to go on a short trip. If you don’t have any ideas yet on where to go in May, read our selection: it contains not only ten cool destinations throughout Russia, but also good hotels.
Spoiler: a trip for several days, including tickets and hotel, will cost no more than 30,000 rubles! We calculated prices for travelers from Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Sochi
Travel dates: from 6 to 8 or 9 May.
Travel cost: air ticket from Moscow (from 6 to May 8) – 10,100 rubles; from St. Petersburg (from May 6 to 9) – 17,300 rubles.
Cost of accommodation (Grace Seasons Hotel, rating 9.2 out of 10): 11,500 rubles.
Total travel budget:
21 600 rubles – for travelers from Moscow.
28 800 rubles – for travelers from St. Petersburg.
Sochi in May is beautiful: the weather here is already quite summer. It can even be a bit hot during the day: don’t forget light clothing and sunscreen. Everything is blooming, there is minimal rain, and although it is still too early to swim, walking along the sea is a pleasure. They say that salty sea air soothes the soul, improves mood and strengthens the immune system. This will definitely not hurt all of us.
Plan a visit to the Sochi Arboretum, home to rare plants from all over the world, and spend the day in the famous Sochi Park (the attractions will appeal not only to children).
We recommend staying at the Grace Seasons hotel, located near the Southern Cultures park. Guests write that they felt real care in this hotel – everything was so thought out and convenient.
Pskov
Travel dates: from May 13 or 12 to May 15.
Travel cost: train ticket from Moscow — 2,900 rubles; from St. Petersburg – 1,300 rubles.
Cost of accommodation (Family hotel, rating 9.2 out of 10): 7,000 rubles.
Total travel budget:
9,900 rubles – for travelers from Moscow.
8 300 rubles – for travelers from St. Petersburg.
Pskov in May is warm and sunny: there is minimal rain, and the air temperature rises to +17 °C. This means it’s time to walk a lot and admire the sights.
And there is something to see here. The city is considered a monument of ancient Russian architecture with a two-thousand-year history. There are ancient fortresses, beautiful cathedrals, and amazing architectural ensembles. Be sure to visit the heart of Pskov, the Kremlin, perfectly preserved to this day, look at the mysterious Gremyachaya Tower and admire the majestic Trinity Cathedral. And then go to the Pogankin Chambers Museum-Reserve, where a unique collection of ancient icons and rare weapons is stored.
If you want to stay in the historical center of Pskov, but at the same time feel at home, choose the Family Hotel. It has only five rooms and everything is very family-like: a cozy terrace, stylish rooms with all amenities and friendly staff. The patio has everything you need for a barbecue, and you can also warm up in the sauna or take a dip in the ice plunge pool. In general, explore the city and have a great rest.
Kaliningrad
Travel dates: from May 13 to 15.
Travel cost: air ticket from Moscow – 10,000 rubles; from St. Petersburg – 9,000 rubles.
Cost of accommodation (hotel Holiday Inn Kaliningrad, rating 9.3 out of 10): 15,300 rubles.
Total travel budget:
25,300 rubles – for travelers from Moscow.
24 300 rubles – for travelers from St. Petersburg.
May in the Baltic is warm and sunny, so rest assured that you will enjoy your trip to Kaliningrad at this time of year. There are no crowds of tourists in the city museums yet, which means you can leisurely and in a comfortable environment explore all the most interesting things, for example, the Amber Museum or the Museum of the World Ocean (here you can look into a real submarine).
If you suddenly decide to stay in Kaliningrad until May 27, you can watch the traditional bike parade dedicated to Wheel Day. You can even take part in it – just rent a bike.
The ideal choice for an overnight stay is the Holiday Inn Kaliningrad hotel, located in the very center of the city. From here it is only ten minutes on foot to Kant Island and the cathedral, and twenty minutes to the Church of the Holy Family. European level service, spacious modern rooms and a restaurant with good cuisine – this is the recipe for a great holiday.
Kazan
Travel dates: from May 13 to 15.
Travel cost: air ticket from Moscow – 10,200 rubles; from St. Petersburg – 10,100 rubles.
Cost of accommodation (“Grand Hotel Kazan”, rating 8.7 out of 10): 8,300 rubles.
Total travel budget:
18,500 rubles – for travelers from Moscow.
18 400 rubles – for travelers from St. Petersburg.
Kazan in May means neatly trimmed green trees, giant flowering flower beds, frequent but short-term rains (without them this lush greenery would not exist) and cool evenings (don’t forget to take a jacket with you, sometimes the temperature drops almost to zero!).
And be sure to prepare comfortable shoes: you will want to walk a lot. And how can you not walk around the entire embankment in the center and the Kazan Kremlin, admire the leaning Syuyumbike tower and look into the Temple of All Religions?
We recommend that guests of the city stay at the Grand Hotel Kazan: it is located in the center and is famous for its views from the restaurant, where breakfast is served in the morning. Great photos can also be taken from the observation deck on the roof. There is also a sauna: after a long walk around the city it’s so nice to warm up and relax.
Murmansk
Travel dates: from May 13 to May 15.
Travel cost: air ticket from Moscow – 10,400 rubles; from St. Petersburg – 9,100 rubles.
Cost of accommodation (Tundra Hotel, rating 8.5 out of 10): 3,600 rubles.
Total travel budget:
14,000 rubles – for travelers from Moscow.
12,700 rubles – for travelers from St. Petersburg.
It’s not hot here in May, let’s face it – although sometimes the temperature during the day rose to +27. But we still advise you to prepare for a level of +8-10 ℃ and the fact that in some places on the streets Snow can still be found in the city. This, however, will not interfere with walking; it has been verified by many travelers. Walk along the central streets, visit the Five Corners Square and look at one of the longest bridges in Russia – across the Kola Strait.
In general, Murmansk attracts people not with its historical monuments or unique sights, but with its natural beauty. In winter people come here to catch the northern lights, and in May you can catch another miracle – white nights.
If you haven’t decided on housing yet, we recommend taking a closer look at the small cozy hotel “Tundra”, which is located in a quiet courtyard near the city center. It is more convenient to take a taxi to the main attractions – the journey will take only five minutes – but you can also walk. Guests note that this hotel has the best balance between price and quality of service.
Vyborg
Travel dates: from May 13 to 15.
Travel cost: air ticket from Moscow – 5,200 rubles; train ticket from St. Petersburg to Vyborg and back – 800 rubles.
Cost of living (hotel “Northern Crown”, rating 8.2 out of 10): 4,400 rubles.
Total trip budget:
10,400 rubles – for travelers from Moscow.
5,200 rubles – for travelers from St. Petersburg.
A small medieval town with narrow cobblestone streets and a real castle – that’s Vyborg. In May it is cool here, but very beautiful and atmospheric: the trees are shrouded in a green haze, and in tiny cafes it is especially pleasant to warm yourself with hot coffee.
Come see ancient churches, towers and ancient fortifications and walk around the huge Mon Repos Park Museum-Reserve on the shore of the bay (dress warmly, it can be windy). By the way, in May there are also white nights here, so you can walk around the clock.
A great place to stay for a couple of nights in Vyborg is the Northern Crown Hotel. It is located close to the main train station and the main attractions can be reached on foot. The bright, modern rooms have everything you need, and after a long day on your feet you can relax in the Finnish sauna.
Makhachkala
Travel dates: from May 13 to 15.
Travel cost: air ticket from Moscow – 11,500 rubles; from St. Petersburg – 15,000 rubles.
Cost of accommodation (Jacques business hotel, rating 9.3 out of 10): 12,000 rubles.
Total travel budget:
13,500 rubles – for travelers from Moscow.
27 000 rubles – for travelers from St. Petersburg.
But in Makhachkala in May you will find it almost summer – certainly by the standards of the middle zone. And that’s great. Starting from June, it’s already a bit hot here, but now you’ll have time to calmly explore all the most interesting things in the Dagestan capital and have plenty of fun.
There are not many ancient buildings in the city that have survived, which makes them more valuable. Arrange yourself a quest to find them and collect a collection of photos. And, of course, you should definitely admire the Juma Mosque, built on the model of the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, and the Holy Assumption Cathedral.
And for relaxation after a busy day of walking, choose the stylish business hotel Jacques. All the main attractions are within walking distance, and the rooms and restaurant offer great views of the city and surrounding mountains – you’ll definitely want to take a photo.
Veliky Novgorod
Travel dates: from May 12 or 13 to May 15.
Travel cost: train ticket from Moscow — 3,600 rubles, from St. Petersburg — 1,400 rubles.
Cost of accommodation (Volkhov Hotel, rating 8.2 out of 10): 6,500 rubles.
Total trip budget:
10,100 rubles – for travelers from Moscow.
7,400 rubles – for travelers from St. Petersburg.
May is a great time to visit Veliky Novgorod. This year the weather is promised to be warm and sunny – in general, perfect for long walks around the city. And here, of course, you need to walk a lot and with taste, it’s not for nothing that some streets are called open-air museums. Historical monuments of Novgorod and its environs, by the way, have been recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 1992.
Where to start getting acquainted? Of course, with the Kremlin, built back in the 15th century. Nine ancient towers, the Hagia Sophia Cathedral (it dates back to the 11th century) and the Sofia Belfry with bells from the 16th-17th centuries have been preserved here. In general, there are a lot of antiquities in the city: Yaroslav’s Courtyard with St. Nicholas Cathedral, many churches in which ancient frescoes and icons have been preserved, and there are also museums with their rich collections… If your eyes wander, go to the Krasnaya Izba tourist information center near the Kremlin, they will be happy to arrange an excursion for you.
And we have the perfect hotel for you. “Volkhov” is located literally on the next street from the Novgorod Kremlin. Built in the middle of the last century, the building was recently renovated, the rooms are new, spacious and clean, and the breakfasts, which are included in the price, are praised by almost all guests. You can also book excursions around the city and surrounding area directly at the reception.
Tula
Travel dates: from May 6 to May 10.
Travel cost: train tickets from Moscow – 1,200 rubles, from St. Petersburg – 3,500 rubles.
Cost of accommodation (apart-hotel “Center”, rating 9.0 out of 10): 22,400 rubles.
Total travel budget:
23 600 rubles – for travelers from Moscow.
25 900 rubles – for travelers from St. Petersburg.
Spring Tula is festive and hospitable. It’s already warm like summer here and, as always, soulful. This is a city with a rich history, but people here didn’t build gingerbread houses, but invented a recipe for real gingerbread, and also forged weapons and riveted samovars. There are plenty of craft museums in the city, and the famous Tula gingerbread (and marshmallows, which are also delicious here) can be bought in literally every store. Be sure to walk around the Kremlin, preferably with an audio guide or a tour, admire the brand new embankment and explore all five floors of the new Weapons Museum.
Tula is not a very big city, but living in the center is always more pleasant, and you will definitely like the apart-hotel with the telling name “Center”. There are many different types of rooms, a restaurant that serves a good breakfast, and a nice patio where you can sit with a cup of coffee. Guests praise the hotel for its comfort, beautiful interior and, of course, location – all major attractions can be reached on foot.
We also recommend spending one day on a trip to Yasnaya Polyana: the estate of Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy in the May greenery is especially beautiful.
Yaroslavl
Travel dates: from May 6 to May 9.
Travel cost: train ticket from Moscow – 2,300 rubles; air ticket from St. Petersburg – 12,000 rubles.
Cost of accommodation (Hotel Cosmos Yaroslavl, rating 8.6 out of 10): 15,500 rubles.
Total travel budget:
17,800 rubles – for travelers from Moscow.
27 500 rubles – for travelers from St. Petersburg.
It was not for nothing that this city became the capital of the Golden Ring, one of the most beautiful tourist routes. There are so many attractions and interesting places here that you don’t even have to look for them: just leave the hotel and go wherever your eyes lead you.
Assumption Cathedral, Yaroslavl Museum-Reserve, numerous churches and temples, merchants’ mansions, shopping arcades – in total more than eight hundred architectural monuments. And you also want to take a walk along the beautiful Volzhskaya embankment and look into one of the most unusual museums of the Golden Ring – “Music and Time”. In general, if possible, stay longer, otherwise you won’t see half of it.
If you come to Yaroslavl by train, take a closer look at the Cosmos Yaroslavl hotel: it’s only a five-minute walk from the station. Guests have everything they need: laundry and dry cleaning, you can organize a transfer, book any excursions and even rent a bicycle. We would also like to mention the 4Stars restaurant, where they cook from local products.
