Try new food…

When the weather is cold, it’s all the more important to nourish yourself with nice warm food. The ultimate autumn vegetable – pumpkin – is always a good idea, if you ask me. You can cook it in an endless number of ways, just several of which are described here. Among other comfort foods to try this season are sharlotka pie and all kinds of kashas.

… and learn new words

To complain about the autumn weather, which is totally justified, you would need to expand your vocabulary (no, not necessarily with swear words, although this is also an option). So, speak like a Russian, and find out what to call this muddy mess that will definitely cover our streets during this season.

Explore the city (and the culture)

Despite all the cold and dirt, autumn is beautiful, especially if you know where to go to appreciate it. Alexander Pushkin definitely did, so follow his footsteps. Alternatively, see our team’s favorite autumn places of choice here and here.

To get into the whole Halloween vibe, visit local spooky places or take a stroll at one of the city’s old cemeteries.

Speaking of spookiness – you can learn more about what Russians in particular find scary through oral folklore. That’s what we’ve covered in stories titled Russian Horror Stories: What Do We Find Spooky? and Why Russian Lullabies Are Sort of Terrifying.

Get quality indoor time

Staying home doesn’t have to equate to doing nothing, as we have proven in our list of activities for cold weather: from crafts to mood boards, there's lots to choose from.

One of the tips is to hold a movie marathon, and we actually have a lot of suggestions for your watchlist: among the most recent ones are documentaries about Russia and motivational films. Also, if Halloween is among your favorite holidays, consider checking out one – or several – of these spooky cartoons or movies. Even if you don’t like horror films, we’re pretty sure you’ll find something to your taste.  

In case our previous stories didn't quite help you fight that fall blues, stay tuned for more tips on the topic and don’t let the rain and the mud put you down – the sun will shine again!

And if autumn in Russia doesn’t scare you this much, but the upcoming winter does – don’t hesitate to prepare in advance and check out our guide to winter in St. Petersburg. It’s not that bad, really.