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Dolomites

Countries in the atlas · Europe

Italy

The Dolomites, Cinque Terre and Rome: mountains, sea and history worth going through the visa process for.

Russian passport: visa required · 90 daysRussian Foreign Ministry: risk of detention at the request of other countriesprices ×2.0 vs Russia

Photo: Ximonic (Simo Räsänen) · CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Dolomites
Photo: Ximonic (Simo Räsänen) · CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

South Tyrol and Veneto, Italy · World’s best

Dolomites

Access 2/5 · fairly easyJFMAMJJASOND

The Dolomites are a UNESCO World Heritage Site: pale limestone towers that glow pink at sunset. The most famous views are the three peaks of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo, the meadows of Seceda and Lago di Braies.

In summer there are treks, via ferratas and mountain huts with alpine cooking; in winter, the Sella Ronda ski circuit.

Getting there
Fly to Venice, Verona, Innsbruck or Munich, then 2–3 hours by car or bus.
Fees and tickets
The road to the Tre Cime costs €40 per car with an online booking; in summer, access to Lago di Braies is by booking, €44.
Sources (4)
Cinque Terre
Photo: Flickr 150594450@N07 · CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Liguria, Italy

Cinque Terre

Access 1/5 · easyJFMAMJJASOND

Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore cling to the cliffs of the Ligurian coast. The vineyard terraces, the trails between the villages and the sea are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

A train runs between the villages, and the finest views are from the Sentiero Azzurro trail. Summer is crowded; spring and autumn are calmer.

Getting there
Train from La Spezia or Genoa; it is better to leave the car behind, as the villages have almost no parking.
Fees and tickets
The Cinque Terre Trekking Card costs from €10 a day (€15 on the busiest days), or €17.30 with trains; for the Via dell’Amore, book a time slot.
Sources (4)
Rome
Photo: Diliff · CC BY-SA 2.5, Wikimedia Commons

Lazio, Italy

Rome

Access 1/5 · easyJFMAMJJASOND

The historic centre of Rome is a UNESCO World Heritage Site: the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, the Pantheon with its open dome, and squares with Baroque fountains.

The Vatican, with St Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel, is a separate state within the city. Seeing the main sights takes at least three or four days.

Getting there
Fly to Rome (Fiumicino) with a connection; from the airport to the centre, 32 minutes by train.
Fees and tickets
Access to the basin of the Trevi Fountain has cost €2 since 02.02.2026; the Colosseum is by tickets from the official website.
Sources (3)

Before you go

Italy: entry, safety, money, flights, laws and budget — with sources.

Entry

Russian citizens need a Schengen visa: €90 (children aged 6–12 — €45), paid in roubles. Since November 2025 the EU has, as a rule, issued Russians only single-entry visas. The Consulate General in Moscow warns that processing takes at least 60 days.

Since 10.04.2026 the EES system has been fully in operation at the Schengen border: fingerprints and a facial photo instead of stamps. Your passport must be valid for at least 90 days after the end of the trip.

Rules for any passport

Checked 2 November 2026. These are the rules for a Russian citizen with an international passport on a tourist trip. For other passports and purposes, see the official website — the button above.

Sources (9)

Safety

Since 11.12.2024 the Russian Foreign Ministry has urged people to refrain from non-essential travel to the USA and its allies, including almost the whole European Union, because of the risk of detention at the request of the USA. The Consulate General advises staying out of several quarters of Palermo’s historic centre after dark.

Sources (3)

Money and cards

Russian bank cards do not work in Italy, and SWIFT transfers are unavailable. Euros in cash only; declare sums from €10,000.

Sources (2)

Flights

There are no direct flights: EU airspace has been closed to Russian airlines since 28.02.2022. Connections are via Istanbul, Belgrade, Baku, Yerevan, Dubai and Doha.

Sources (2)

Laws and bans

  • Cash from €10,000 must be declared on entry and exit.
  • Insulting state symbols can be treated as a crime.
  • In the Dolomites at the Tre Cime you may sleep in your car, but not pitch camp — the fine is €100–500.
  • In Rome’s historic centre, access to the Trevi Fountain is by ticket; bathing in fountains and sitting on monuments is not allowed.
Sources (2)

Budget

prices ×2.0 vs Russia · price level 0.73 (US = 1), 2025

Prices are twice as high as in Russia. Plus the €90 visa; popular places charge for access: the Trevi €2, the road to the Tre Cime €40 per car, Cinque Terre from €10 a day.

The price level is the ratio of purchasing power parity for household consumption to the market exchange rate (World Bank). These are national averages: resorts and capitals cost more, the countryside less. Flights are not included.

Sources (3)