Did you know that there are 195+ countries worldwide? That’s many cultures, languages, traditions, and attractions to explore.  

Most countries sit within the boundaries of one of seven continents, but the largest country in the world stretches over two.

That’s right – Russia is a vast expanse of land that spans across both Europe and Asia, extending over 11 timezones, with borders stretching from the Baltic Sea in the west to the Pacific Ocean in the east.

So it’s an understandable question – is Russia considered part of Europe, Asia, or both?

Discovering Russia’s Continent: Is It In Asia or Europe or Both?

Russia: The World’s Largest Country

Russia is almost double the overall measure of area compared to the United States, and is officially the largest country worldwide, taking up about 10% of the globe.

It’s location spans across both Asia and Europe, with the separation of the two continents being the Ural Mountains.

Russia’s southern area is in the Asian continent bordering China, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia. Though much of this is uninhabited land, and most of Russia’s actual population are settled in Europe versus Asia.

Russia’s European territory stretches to the borders of Azerbaijan and Georgia. The country also borders eastern-based European areas of Belarus and Ukraine.

As you go further to the north, Russia then borders Norway, Estonia, Latvia, and Finland. Within the European area of Russia, the Caucasus Mountains has the highest height of all mountain chains within the continent and the country. 

Is Russia More In Europe or In Asia?

Russia has more landmass in Asia, though more human population in Europe. 

The Ural Mountains, commonly considered the boundary between Europe and Asia, run through Russia, effectively dividing it into two parts. The western part, where major cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg are located, is in Europe, while the larger eastern part, including Siberia, falls within the Asian continent.

Siberia itself as a region is bigger than the United States, though by contrast has only 10% of the population. There are only 33 million people in Siberia versus almost 336 million people in the United States. 

How To Sign Up for a Russia E-Visa

A Russian eVisa is needed to visit Russia whether you plan to visit the European or Asian side.

You can conveniently apply for an eVisa online as long as you have a copy of your passport and other identity-verifying documentation, and it’s important that your information like first, middle, and last name, match between your application and your passport.

Once approved for the Russia e-visa, you’re cleared to enter the country, and can tour both the European and Asian side, including popular destinations like Moscow, Saint Petersburg, and Siberia. 

As you wait for the processing of your Russian eVisa, some of our favorite spots to start researching for inspiration (and according to TripAdvisor these are the most popular attractions), include:

• Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood in Saint Petersburg, Russia
• Red Square in Moscow, Russia
• The State Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia 
• Grand Peterhof Palace in Saint Petersburg, Russia
• Saint Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow, Russia

Summary: Russia is Transcontinental

Russia is a transcontinental country, meaning it spans two continents: Asia and Europe.

The majority of its landmass lies in the Asian part, while a smaller portion extends into Europe.

You can visit one country, and tick off two continents!

Daniel Moore is an experienced content writer. He is associated with many renowned travel blogs as a guest author where he shares his valuable travel tips with the audience.