Early summer and autumn are the best times to visit. By May, winter’s snow has usually disappeared and temperatures are pleasant, while the golden autumnal colours of September and early October are stunning. July and August are the warmest months and the main holiday season for both foreigners and Russians. They’re also the dampest months in most parts of European Russia, with as many as one rainy day in three. Winter, if you’re prepared for it, is also a great season to see Russia: the snow makes everything picturesque, and the insides of buildings are kept warm. Avoid, though, the first snows and the spring thaw, which turn everything to slush and mud.