Best Time to Visit Nizhniy Novgorod

May to August: the easy months

Summer is when Nizhniy Novgorod works best. May is fresh and green, with highs around 18°C. June to August is warmer, with highs of 21–23°C. July is the wettest of the lot, and June and July both have rain on 15 days. But showers are usually short, and the evenings stay mild.

This is the time for walking the Kremlin walls, which look out over the point where the Oka meets the Volga. It's also the time for strolling Bolshaya Pokrovskaya, the main pedestrian street, and taking the cable car across the Volga to Bor. Boat trips run on the rivers, and the Strelka area is lovely at sunset. Travelling with kids? Summer is the easiest season for you.

August is a good pick if you want warm days and slightly less rain than July. Summer holidays mean more Russian visitors, especially at weekends, but the city rarely feels packed.

September and April: the in-betweens

September is still pleasant, with highs of 16°C, but the sun fades fast. It's a good month if you like quiet streets and autumn colour along the Volga slopes. Bring a rain jacket, though.

April is the awkward one. Highs reach 8°C, but nights still dip below freezing, and melting snow turns paths muddy. Go only if you want low prices and few other tourists, and stick to museums and cafés. The Kremlin's art museum and the Nizhny Novgorod State Art Museum suit this kind of day.

October to March: cold and grey

Winter is long, dark and properly cold. January highs sit at -10°C, with only about two hours of sun a day. Humidity is high, so the cold feels damp. October and November aren't much better: grey, drizzly and short on light.

So why come? If you like snow, New Year lights and warm food, it can be a cosy trip. The city's Christmas market and decorated Minin and Pozharsky Square give it a festive feel in December. Think hot tea, pelmeni (Russian dumplings) and long museum afternoons. Skip the walking tours, because you won't want to stand outside for long.

Crowds are lowest from November to March, apart from the New Year holidays. If you hate cold, avoid these months. If you want empty streets and a real local winter, they're worth a go.