It may be March and the month of spring according to the calendar, but in most cities in central Russia temperatures are still below freezing, and the snow doesn’t even seem to melt. We have compiled a selection of places where spring comes early: there in March you can not only catch the warm rays of the sun and a sure plus on the thermometer, but also see primroses.
Kalmykia
In March-April in Kalmykia you can observe an absolutely incredible phenomenon: the flowering steppe. White snowdrops bloom first, followed by yellow Bieberstein tulips and red Schrenck tulips. In early spring, this region is especially beautiful: with the onset of the May heat, the steppe burns out, and by summer it completely turns into countless kilometers of dry vegetation and cracked soil.
Kalmykia is not very popular among Russian tourists, but we advise you to get there this March and admire the exotic color of the Buddhist shrines in Elista, the Sostinskie Lakes nature reserve and the relict salty Mozhar Lake, which can only be seen in the spring, because in the summer it dries up.
At the moment you can get from Moscow to Elista by bus. Travel time is 22 hours. The nearest operating airport is in Sochi.
Where to stay in Elista:
At the Nomad mini-hotel – from 3,800 rubles per day*.
At the White Lotus Hotel (rating 8.4) – from 6,300 rubles per night*.
In the three-star Marco Polo Hotel (rating 9.1) – from 7,800 rubles per day*.
Sochi
The seaside town is delightful at any time of the year, and it really gets warm here in March. At the beginning of spring, magnolias, forsythia and daffodils bloom on the streets of Sochi, and in the city arboretum you can admire the blooming of violas, tulips, Japanese quince, camellia, cercis, sakura and other plants. Sochi in March already boasts a large number of sunny days: it’s time to stroll along Primorsky Boulevard.
And if you don’t want to part with winter, go up to the mountains – to Rosa Khutor or Krasnaya Polyana to go snowboarding or skiing or just take a walk in the mountains. From Sochi it is convenient to get to neighboring Abkhazia: go there for a day or two in March to see mimosa blooming.
Where to stay in Sochi:
In the three-star Portobello Sochi hotel in Adler (score 10) – from 3,700 rubles per night*.
In a four-star hotel by the sea Hiloft (rating 10) – from 6,000 rubles per night*.
In the five-star Radisson Rosa Khutor hotel in Esto-Sadok (rating 9.1) – from 15,000 rubles per night*.
Astrakhan region
One of the hottest regions of Russia is one of the first to awaken: in March, when the snow melts, apricot trees bloom even before the first leaves appear. In the Astrakhan steppe at the beginning of spring you can also see tiny Schrenk tulips: many go to admire them at the foot of the sacred mountain Big Bogdo, which is located next to the salt lake Baskunchak. Also in March, with the melting of the ice, the spillway on the Volga begins, which is why the river floods widely, flooding the floodplain, and the fishing season begins – biting lovers come from all over the country to catch pike, perch or bream here.
In the spring, the Astrakhan region experiences comfortable temperatures, so this is a good time to visit the region: travelers avoid it in the summer due to the sweltering heat, although there are many interesting historical and natural locations.
Where to stay in Astrakhan:
In KvartHotel Premium apartments on Latysheva 3E/1 (score 10) – from 2,112 rubles per night*.
In the four-star hotel “Astrakhanskaya” (score 10) – from 4,500 rubles per night*.
In the five-star grand hotel “Astrakhan” (rating 9.9) – from 5,500 rubles per night*.
Kaliningrad
As soon as the sun begins to warm more and more, the Kaliningrad region rapidly turns green and blossoms: in March you can see snowdrops, anemones, hyacinths and crocuses. Be sure to take a walk through the Amalienau district, awakening from its winter sleep, where “elite” real estate in the Art Nouveau style was built at the beginning of the 20th century.
From Kaliningrad itself you can go to the sea – to Zelenogradsk, Svetlogorsk or the village of Yantarny (with a mandatory visit to the Nordic SPA bath complex right on the Baltic coast), to the Curonian Spit National Park. We also recommend going to explore the preserved Prussian buildings in Chernyakhovsk, Sovetsky, Polessk, Gvardeysk and other cities.
Where to stay in Kaliningrad:
At the country hotel FishDorf (score 10) – from 3,700 rubles per night*.
In the four-star Holiday Inn Kaliningrad (rating 10) – from 7,700 rubles per night*.
At the five-star Crystal House Suite Hotel & Spa (score 10) – from 16,700 rubles per day*.
Ingushetia
Visiting the Caucasus regions in early spring is a very interesting experience, as you can alternate between warm lowland temperatures and cold mountain temperatures: the peaks of the Caucasus are still covered with snow, and many tourists come here for skiing.
In Nazran and Magas, March temperatures range from +10 to +25 °C, the sun shines for most of the month and flowers bloom. From the cities you can go to the Dzheirakh Gorge, the Vovnushki complex in the Guloikhi Gorge, the Egika battle towers or numerous waterfalls.
Where to stay in Ingushetia:
In the three-star Assa hotel in Nazran – from 3 000 rubles per day*.
At the Magas Hotel (rating 8.9) – from 5,600 rubles per day*.
At the Artis Plaza Hotel in Magas (rating 8.9) – from 6,700 rubles per night*.
Baikal
Bonus option for those who don’t necessarily need to go somewhere warm to welcome spring. It is believed that the end of February and March is the ideal time to visit Lake Baikal. Extreme frosts end, and a period of sunny days begins: at such moments, the sparkling ice is especially beautiful, while it remains durable and can withstand not only the weight of a person, but also dog sleds, hivus and even jeeps in which tourists come. Temperatures in March range from -1 to -10 °C. And it is also in this month that you can see beautiful bubbles that appear due to the fact that methane rises from the bottom of the lake: there are especially many of them in Peschanaya Bay and near Bolshoi Goloustnoye.
When you arrive at Baikal in March, be sure to visit the ice grottoes on Olkhon: in summer you can’t get close to them, and these caves don’t look so impressive without ice decoration.
Where to stay on Baikal:
In the three-star Baikal View Hotel (rating 9.9) – from 7,800 rubles per day*.
In the apartments Baikal Hill Residence (rating 9.9) – from 7,900 rubles per night*.
In the holiday home “Ski-Let Hotel” (rating 9.5) – from 10,270 rubles per day*.
*Prices are current at the time of publication.
