Türkiye has become the top international destination for Russian travellers in July, with Istanbul leading the list and drawing more than twice as much demand as Antalya, according to flight ticket sales data.
The research also found that Kaliningrad was the most popular domestic destination for Russian holidaymakers in the peak summer travel period, while Vladivostok emerged as the most expensive internal route.
For overseas travel, Istanbul ranked first, ahead of Antalya, Yerevan, Denpasar on Indonesia’s Bali island, and Tbilisi. Industry figures said the pattern showed Russian tourists were booking earlier and looking beyond traditional beach resorts.
The data, published on 24 June 2026, showed that the average one-way ticket to Istanbul cost 22,130 rubles, compared with 27,600 rubles for Antalya. Demand for Istanbul was more than double that for Antalya, according to the study.
Kaliningrad led the domestic market with an average one-way fare of 12,960 rubles. Sochi came second, with bookings less than half the level of Kaliningrad, while Makhachkala was third at 13,110 rubles.
Vladivostok and Mineralnye Vody also appeared in the domestic top five. Vladivostok was the priciest domestic destination, with an average one-way ticket price of 28,150 rubles.
Türkiye’s strong position in the July rankings suggests Istanbul remains one of the most attractive city break destinations for Russian travellers, even during the busy summer season.
The overseas list also pointed to growing interest in longer-haul journeys. Bali’s Denpasar was the most expensive destination in the study, with average one-way fares reaching 75,300 rubles, while Tbilisi averaged 30,650 rubles.
Industry representatives said July is traditionally the busiest month of the summer travel season. They added that this year’s figures showed Russian holidaymakers were not only choosing familiar resort centres but also heading to farther destinations such as Bali and Vladivostok.
Experts said Russians were planning holidays earlier and showing a greater willingness to travel long distances in search of new experiences.
