The closest sea: where Russians are planning to spend the summer

Approximately half of Russians (43.6%) travelling in June-August 2021 will be heading to the Black Sea, according to Sberbank insurance and the Tutu.ru travel service analytical center. The top destinations for flights from Moscow and Saint Petersburg this summer are Simferopol, Sochi, and Anapa. Airfare for these connections has so far seen a slight increase within 5%.

Despite the gradual reopening of various overseas tourist destinations, few Russians - less than 5% - plan on vacationing abroad in summer 2021. Just like last year, the main tourist flow will be in the direction of Russian Black Sea coast resorts.

The most popular summer flight route right now is Moscow - Simferopol, which accounts for 17.2% of all passengers. A year ago, that figure was slightly higher, at 22%. The average cost of a round trip plane ticket is currently around RUB 11,000, which is 4% higher than in 2020.

The second most popular route is Moscow - Sochi, which, like last year, accounts for 7.5% of passengers. A round trip ticket will currently cost you RUB 11,600 (a 2% increase compared to 2020). Closing the top three is Moscow - Anapa, representing 4.8% of Russian travelers. An average round trip ticket for this route is currently RUB 12,500 - 5% more expensive than last year.

The top 10 most popular summer connections for Russians right now include: Saint Petersburg to Simferopol (4% of passengers), Sochi (1.6%), Anapa (1%), and Kaliningrad (0.5%), as well as Moscow to Gelendzhik (2%), Kaliningrad (1.9%), and Krasnodar (0.9%). Two non-resort destinations are also in the top 20 - Moscow to Vladivostok and Khabarovsk.

The average cost of domestic summer airfare in Russia is RUB 9,256 for a one-way ticket (12% lower than last year) and RUB 15,793 for a round trip (6% lower than 2020), according to Tutu.ru. Prices fell even for certain popular routes: tickets from Saint Petersburg to Sochi this year will cost you 17% less than last year, while flying from Saint Petersburg to Kaliningrad is 13% cheaper.

Having lived through the coronavirus pandemic, Russians have adopted a more serious attitude toward potential health issues during trips. They now also attempt to preclude unexpected expenses that could affect their personal budget and prefer to take out insurance for the duration of their trip. Last summer medical expenses accounted for the largest proportion of insurance payments for trips in Russia. Trip cancellation insurance was second and loss of luggage was third. In anticipation of summer vacation, we are offering 25% off our Traveler Insurance policy. You can take out a policy under special conditions between May 24-30 in the SberBank Online mobile app or on the Sberbank insurance website using the promo code TRAVEL05.

Elena Kosheleva

Project Director, Sberbank insurance

Sberbank insurance's travel insurance program is valid both in Russia and abroad. The policy covers compensation for medical treatment for a variety of illnesses, including viral diseases. The insurance also covers loss of luggage and trip cancellations, with immediate insurance payouts in case of a delayed flight. You can take out a policy remotely on the Sberbank insurance website and in SberBank Online.