Karelia, Russia: What to pack, what to wear, and when to go [2021]
This article contains affiliate links to Amazon and other vendors. We may earn commission from purchases made through these links. Traveling to Karelia, Russia? If you're planning to go to Karelia, below is some important information about when to go, what to wear, and what to pack.
Contents
- When to go to Karelia
- Important essentials for Karelia
- Karelia in January: weather and what to pack
- Karelia in February: weather and what to pack
- Karelia in March: weather and what to pack
- Karelia in April: weather and what to pack
- Karelia in May: weather and what to pack
- Karelia in June: weather and what to pack
- Karelia in July: weather and what to pack
- Karelia in August: weather and what to pack
- Karelia in September: weather and what to pack
- Karelia in October: weather and what to pack
- Karelia in November: weather and what to pack
- Karelia in December: weather and what to pack
When to go to Karelia, Russia
Based on the climate and weather in Karelia, the best time to go is July. See below for details.
Important esssentials for Karelia, Russia
Here are some general tips on what to wear in Karelia, as well as several items to remember to pack when traveling there.
IMPORTANT COVID-19 PACKING ESSENTIALS
- proof of COVID-19 vaccination if you have it
- vaccine card protector
- N95 masks for top protection
- kids' KN95 masks
- hand sanitizer
- touchless thermometer
- travel disinfecting wipes (for plane, etc)
- A plug adapter that supports outlet types C and F. This one is sufficent for most areas, but check with your hotel.
- A portable power bank, like this one
- A SIM card that works in Karelia. A good global SIM card works in most countries, but check the country list before buying. In some locations you may need a satellite phone. We recommend this satellite phone
- If you plan to visit a church, make sure to bring appropriate clothing
- Emergency water purifier
- For families with young children:
- Padany visitors tend to do a lot of walking, so a lightweight backpack like this is essential
- Airplane or car necessities:
- Photography items that we like:
- cell phone photography gimbal
- camera drone for outdoor shots
- extra batteries
- extra memory cards
What to wear/what to pack for Karelia, Russia by month
January
If you are traveling to Karelia in January, you will notice that it can be dangerously cold and extremely snowy. Expect it to snow most days. Daytime temperatures are in the 10s F (single digits below 0 C).
What to wear/what to pack:
- Thick pajamas
- Thermal undergarments. We like:
- Heated socks. We found these to be the best
- Coveralls; We love:
- Neck warmer/cold weather face mask our favorite
- Fleece for under jacket
- Extreme cold weather gear
- Lip balm
- Heated gloves
- Multiple layer jacket shell:
- Insulated boots:
- Insulated water bottle
- Goggles for eye protection our pick
- In addition to regular shoes, you should bring snow boots. For visiting Karelia, we suggest these boots:
- Waterproof jacket that can be used in snow
- Waterproof boots
- A wind resistant umbrella is important here. This one is a great option.
February
February in Karelia can be bitter cold and very snowy. The average overnight temperatures in the area are in the single digits F (10+ below zero C).
It snows about two thirds of the time. But the colder weather doesn't bring low humidity, which is in the 80% to 80% range on average.
What to wear/what to pack:
- Goggles for eye protection our pick
- Heated gloves
- Multiple layer jacket shell:
- Heated socks. We found these to be the best
- Insulated boots:
- Insulated water bottle
- Thick pajamas
- Coveralls; We pick:
- Fleece for under jacket
- Neck gaiter/ski mask our favorite
- Extreme cold weather gear
- Thermal undergarments. We suggest:
- Lip balm
- In addition to day-to-day shoes, you should bring snow boots. For travel to Karelia, a great option is these boots:
- Waterproof jacket that can be used in snow
- Waterproof boots
- A umbrella is important here. This one is an excellent choice.
March
March in Karelia is frigid and very snowy. Temperatures average in the high 20s F (single digits below 0 C) during the day. It snows about two thirds of the time.
What to wear/what to pack:
- Thermal undergarments. We suggest:
- Coveralls; here are some of the best values:
- Insulated boots. We use:
- Gloves
- Scarf our favorite
- Multiple layer jacket shell:
- Very heavy socks, or heated socks like these
- Pajamas
- Fleeces
- Lip balm
- Heavy sweaters:
- In addition to day-to-day footwear, you should bring snow boots. For traveling to Karelia, a great option is these boots:
- Waterproof jacket that can be used in snow
- Waterproof boots
- A windproof umbrella is worth investing in for this weather. This one is an excellent choice.
April
April in Karelia is cold and somewhat snowy. The average overnight temperatures in the area are in the 20s F (single digits below 0 C). It tends to rain about a third of the time.
It also snows a bit less than half of the time. But the colder weather doesn't bring low humidity, which is in the 60% to 60% range on average.
What to wear/what to pack:
- Warm pants or jeans
- Gloves or mittens
- Sweaters
- Heavy jacket
- Insulated water bottle
- Lip balm
- Heavy socks, such as:
- Cold weather footwear
- In addition to standard shoes, you should bring snow boots. For visiting Karelia, a great option is these boots:
- Waterproof jacket that can be used in snow
- Waterproof boots
- A windproof umbrella is vital here. This one is an excellent choice.
May
If you go to Karelia in May, you will notice that it can be very chilly and somewhat rainy. Expect it to rain a bit less than half of the time and snow once in a while.
Daytime temperatures are in the 50s F (low 10s C).
What to wear/what to pack:
- Socks
- Warm pants or jeans
- Light gloves or mittens
- Jacket or coat
- Fleeces
- Lip balm
- Standard footwear
- In addition to regular footwear, you should bring snow boots. For travel to Karelia, we suggest these boots:
- Waterproof jacket that can be used in snow
- Waterproof boots
- A windproof umbrella is essential here. This one is a perfect choice.
June
June in Karelia is mild and somewhat rainy. The rain can amount to several inches/centimeters.
During this time, temperatures average in the 60s F (high 10s C), although night temperatures can dip into the low 30s F (single digits C).
What to wear/what to pack:
- Pants or jeans
- Dresses
- Long sleeve shirts or blouses
- Socks
- Light jacket or fleece
- Standard footwear
- Long skirts
- A rain jacket to layer with another jacket
- Waterproof footwear. We use these:
- A waterproof phone bag; we like this one
- Windproof umbrella. This one is a perfect option.
- A waterproof luggage cover so your bags remain dry. We recommend: this one
July
July in Karelia is balmy and somewhat rainy. The rain can amount to several inches/centimeters. During this time, temperatures average in the low 70s F (low 20s C).
What to wear/what to pack:
- Long and short sleeve shirts
- Bug repellent
- Dresses
- Sandals
- Sunscreen lotion
- Light footwear
- Skirts
- Shorts or short pants
- A rain coat to layer with a jacket
- Waterproof footwear. We like:
- A waterproof phone bag; we like this one
- Windproof umbrella. This one is a great choice.
- A waterproof luggage cover so your suitcases stay dry. We suggest: this one
August
August in Karelia is mild and very rainy. The rain can amount to several inches/centimeters.
During this time, temperatures average in the high 50s F (mid 10s C) to 60s F (high 10s C), although night temperatures can dip into the low 30s F (single digits C).
What to wear/what to pack:
- Socks
- Light jacket or fleece
- Standard footwear
- Long sleeve shirts or blouses
- Dresses
- Long skirts
- Pants or jeans
- A rain poncho to layer with a coat
- Waterproof footwear. We like:
- A waterproof phone bag; we like this one
- Wind resistant umbrella. This one is an excellent one to buy.
- A waterproof luggage cover so your belongings remain dry. We like: this one
September
If you are traveling to Karelia in September, you will notice that it can be brisk and very rainy. Expect it to rain about half of the time. Daytime temperatures are in the 50s F (low 10s C).
What to wear/what to pack:
- Long skirts
- Light jacket or fleece
- Pants or jeans
- Standard footwear
- Dresses
- Socks
- Long sleeve shirts or blouses
- A rain poncho to layer with a coat
- Waterproof footwear. We use:
- A waterproof phone bag; we like this one
- Windproof umbrella. This one is a great option.
- A waterproof luggage cover so your things remain dry. We like: this one
October
If you visit Karelia during October, you might notice that it is pretty cool, somewhat snowy and somewhat rainy. Temperatures tend to hover around the low 40s F (single digits C) during the day, while at night they can dip into the low 30s F (single digits C).
Humidity is generally between 70 and 80% during the day. In terms of precipitation, you can expect it to rain about half of the time and snow regularly.
What to wear/what to pack:
- Fleeces
- Warm pants or jeans
- Jacket or coat
- Socks
- Light gloves or mittens
- Lip balm
- Standard footwear
- In addition to day-to-day footwear, you should bring snow boots. For traveling to Karelia, we suggest these boots:
- Waterproof jacket that can be used in snow
- Waterproof boots
- A windproof umbrella is essential in this type of weather. This one is an excellent choice.
November
If you are traveling to Karelia in November, you will notice that it is very cold and very snowy. Expect it to rain a bit less than half of the time and snow most days.
Daytime temperatures are in the high 20s F (single digits below 0 C).
What to wear/what to pack:
- Heavy socks, such as:
- Insulated water bottle
- Sweaters
- Lip balm
- Heavy jacket
- Gloves or mittens
- Warm pants or jeans
- Cold weather footwear
- In addition to regular shoes, it's important to bring snow boots. For traveling to Karelia, a great option is these boots:
- Waterproof jacket that can be used in snow
- Waterproof boots
- A windproof umbrella is essential in this type of weather. This one is a great option.
December
In December, Karelia is unbearably cold and extremely snowy. Temperatures routinely are in the low 20s F (single digits below 0 C) range. At night, lows are in the low 10s F (10+ below zero C).
This is also a rainy time for Karelia, with a few of the days of the month having rain. In December, humidity reaches as high as 90%.
What to wear/what to pack:
- Scarf our favorite
- Insulated boots. We use:
- Thermal undergarments. We love:
- Multiple layer jacket shell:
- Fleeces
- Lip balm
- Very heavy socks, or heated socks like these
- Pajamas
- Coveralls; here are some of the best values:
- Heavy sweaters:
- Gloves
- In addition to standard footwear, you should bring snow boots. For visiting Karelia, a great option is these boots:
- Waterproof jacket that can be used in snow
- Waterproof boots
- A wind resistant umbrella is something you need here. This one is a great option.
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