How to travel to Chechnya in 2024

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By Joan Torres Leave a comment Last updated on October 27, 2024

Chechnya is a republic from the North Caucasus that belongs to the Russian Federation.

Infamous for its agitated past, little is known about its gorgeous mountains, hospitality, and that it has become one of the most modern regions in the Caucasus.

This guide will cover everything you need to know about traveling to Chechnya, including cultural etiquette, permits, how to get in, where to stay, things to do, and more.

Don’t forget also to check our travel tips for Russia.

In this Chechnya travel guide, you will find:

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Chechnya today: what is it like to travel there

Chechens had always been a proud and fierce group of people living in remote mountain areas of today’s South Chechnya, feared by the Tsars who conquered them in the 19th century, but also Stalin, and modern Russians.

During WWII, Stalin began an ethnic cleansing that consisted of massive, forced deportations of Chechens into Kazakhstan, who weren’t allowed to return until 1957, with Stalin’s death. However, their social exclusion continued until the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.

Unlike other Caucasian countries such as Georgia, Armenia or Azerbaijan, Chechnya could not become an independent country because they were already part of the Russian Federation before the creation of the Soviet Union.

Decades of being excluded from the rest of Russia, fueled by their strong identity led to self-declaring independence from Russia, which led to the first Chechen war, from 1994 to 1996.

The war ended with Russia’s victory, but they were never able to fully control the ongoing rebellion, so a second war began in 1999 until 2009.

Those two wars came with a toll of 250,000 deaths but after 2009, a peace agreement allowed Chechnya to enter a new era under the rule of a controversial but pragmatic leader named Kadyrov, initially a pro-independence revolutionary but later a close ally to Putin.

Kadyrov is the man chosen by Putin to control Chechnya by keeping it free of any separatist movement. In exchange, they receive big chunks of federal investment and allow Kadyrov to rule the republic to its taste, acting like almost a dictator.

This was a very short summary of today’s Chechnya.

Chechnya was practically destroyed during the two wars but it was entirely reconstructed. When you travel there, you will realize that from an infrastructure perspective, Chechnya is an advanced region as per regional standards, but Chechens have never lost the strong identity that defines them.

Cultural Etiquette: what to expect when you travel in Chechnya

Chechnya is a surprising destination indeed.

Despite being part of the Russian Federation since 1858, this small country is a completely different world from anywhere you have been in Russia, or any other Caucasus country.

First of all, Chechnya is a Muslim country but, unlike in other former Soviet Muslim nations, religion plays a big role in Chechen’s daily life.

Men can’t wear shorts

That also translates into strict rules that may affect you as a traveler. For example, wearing shorts in public is strictly forbidden, a rule you will see announced in pretty much any public space, probably as a warning to all the Russians from Moscow who come for a visit.

No alcohol in Chechnya

Moreover, Chechnya is a nearly dry country with only one or two places in Grozny (top-notch hotels) serving alcohol. This is something I wasn’t expecting to experience in a country like Russia.

A homogenous society

After visiting Chechnya, it was easy for me to recognize Chechens in Moscow, not only because of their facial features but also because they all share a particular style.

Men trim their beards just like Kadyrov does, long beards without mustache. It was pretty interesting to walk along the main boulevard in Grozni and realize that pretty much all Chechen men looked like Kadyrov.

Most women dress similarly as well. They all wear a long, colourful dress with long trousers underneath, without exception. The vast majority wear a hijab too.

Chechnya has managed to keep a very strong identity, which I find truly fascinating.

Read: How to travel in Yamalia, Russia’s extreme north

Visas and permits for Chechnya

Can you travel to Chechnya?

Yes, you can. Chechnya is part of the Russian Federation, therefore any traveler visiting Chechnya will need a Russian visa.

For more information, check the visa section of our travel guide to Russia.

Permits for visiting Chechnya

Do you need any special permit to travel around Chechnya?

No, you don’t, not even in the areas near the border with Georgia.

However, remember that you will need a permit to visit South Ingushetia – travelers tend to include both republics in one trip.

By the way, Ingushetia is a different republic from Chechnya, but Ingushetians are ethnically and culturally like Chechens. They were split into 2 different republics in an attempt to divide their society.

You need a permit to visit the border areas, but you’ll need the help of a local guide and tour operator. It takes one full month for the permit to be issued so, if you are interested in visiting that part of North Caucasus, do plan accordingly.

Tours for Chechnya

Traveling around Chechnya and North Caucasus requires complicated logistics, not only in terms of transportation but also because a knowledgeable local guide will always come handy.

In Against the Compass, we have one expedition that combines not only Chechnya but also Ingushetia, Dagestan and North Ossetia.

Next tours are scheduled on:

April 22nd to 29th, 2025 – APPLY NOW

How to get in Chechnya

How to travel to Chechnya by plane

Grozny – the capital of Chechnya – has an international airport (GRV). To be honest, it’s a very small airport with few international flights, but you can find some flights from Istanbul, Jeddah and Dubai.

However, Grozny has several daily connections with Moscow.

Alternatively, you may also fly to the nearby airports of Makhachkala (Dagestan) and Vladikavkaz (North Ossetia).

For more information on how to book flights, read our Getting in section of our travel tips for Russia.

How to travel to Chechnya by train

Grozny has a train station with direct trains from Moscow and many other cities in Russia. Keep in mind however, that the journey from Moscow to Grozny takes more than 1 day.

I personally entered Russia from West Kazakhstan into Astrakhan, from where I took a night train to Makhachkala. From Makhachkala, I entered Chechnya by car through the mountains, but there’s a train connecting both cities as well.

For more information on how to book trains, read our Getting in section of our travel tips for Russia.

How to move around Chechnya

Chechnya isn’t great for public transportation.

I mean, you can easily get to Grozny by train and move between the different towns and cities by minibus but it will be very difficult to visit the southern part of the republic, since that’s a barely populated part of the Caucasus.

Hitchhiking, however, should be easy, that’s something the local people do all the time, and it can be quite an adventure if time allows.

Also, a 4WD is necessary for visiting the remotest and most gorgeous parts of Chechnya.

Best time to visit Chechnya

Generally speaking, the best time to visit Chechnya is from June and September.

That’s the best season for visiting the mountains and also trekking.

However, since Grozny is located in the lowlands, it can get overwhelmingly hot from June to September, and the same goes for pretty much any other city in North Caucasus.

Honestly, if you aren’t planning to do any particular hike, I’d say that April-May and October-November are the two best months for visiting Chechnya, since the weather in cities will be pleasant.

Where to stay in Chechnya

Where to stay in Grozny

Grozny has plenty of hotels. I personally stayed at Central City Hotel Grozny, a newly built, small hotel located in the center.

If you want something slightly fancier, you may also check Grozny City Hotel, located in one of the highest buildings in Chechnya.

Where to stay in other parts of Chechnya

In South Chechnya, near Itum-Kale, you can stay at Edelweiss Hotel, that’s very close to the Tusheti region in Georgia.

I also stayed at Kezenoy, a mountain lake in east Chechnya. While it’s true that the lake is nothing spectacular, you are likely to stop here on your way from Dagestan. There’s a Government-run hotel called Kezenoy-Am Hotel.

Remember that you can book your accommodation in Ostrovok. Check the accommodation section of our Russia guide.

Itinerary: Things to do in Chechnya in 3 days

Map of the things to do in Grozny

Day 1 – Grozny, the capital of Chechnya

When it comes to cities in North Caucasus, Grozny is my favorite, but only because it’s something you would never expect, not only because of its unique identity but also because some areas are more similar to Dubai than to anywhere else in Russia.

Besides walking in the city center and along the main boulevard, where all Chechens hang out, I recommend taking a Yandex to Argun, the most newly reconstructed area in probably all Caucasus.

Overnight in Chechnya.

Day 2 – Galanchozh, Tsoy Pede and Veduchi

This was my favorite part in all of Chechnya, home to real jaw-dropping landscapes.

You will need a 4WD, however, since the roads there are really rough.

It’s actually possible to reach Veduchi, the final destination, with a normal car but then, you’ll be missing the highlights found on the road that runs parallel with Ingushetia Republic. Please, check the above map for reference.

At the end of that mountain road, you will find Tsoy Pede, a Caucasus necropolis built in the 13th century, consisting of several crypts built on the top of a hill, and where you can still see the human remains.

Then, I recommend going to Veduchi, where you can find a good hotel named Edelweiss.

Day 3 – Sharoi, Kezenoy-am and Khoi

From Veduchi, you can travel from valley to valley through a pretty insane mountain road that will take you directly to Sharoi, a newly reconstructed Chechen mountain village, today turned into an open-air museum.

To be honest, I am not a big fan of those modern, soulless reconstructed places but I must admit it’s actually impressive to see.

From Sharoi, you can also travel to the next valley through another amazing mountain road that will take you to Kezenoy, a mountain lake and popular tourist spot for Chechens.

I don’t think the lake is particularly pretty, but it’s a cool place where to see local people hanging out and spending their day over a barbecue.

In Kezenoy, you may stay in the Government-run hotel called Kezenoy-Am Hotel.

On the next day, I recommend you continuing your journey to Dagestan.