Russia is one of the biggest countries in the world and has numerous interesting things to do. You can stroll around the oldest lake or hike up some steep mountains covered with ice. It is a good place for all types of travelers, especially if you love understanding the country’s history and traditions. Russia has a combination of great things to visit – enormous forts, old-time churches in maze-like streets, and cities such as Moscow and St. Petersburg that are extremely ancient and fascinating.
There are also modern places like trendy bars and cafes located next to older Soviet-style buildings. Russian food is peculiar and delicious, so you must taste it. It’s a place with many strange and incredible things to see, an ideal country for history buffs. Whether you love large forts, historic cities, or trendy spots, Russia has a bit of old and new to suit all tastes.
If you are going on a trip, we have selected some of the top destinations to help make your travel plans easier.
- Moscow
Moscow has a long and eventful history full of fantastic art and culture. It is known for the highest number of billionaires, making it a city that goes to extremes, and differences are vivid; there are lots of creative minds and intellect. Today, Moscow is slightly expensive and can be somewhat overwhelming, but it is a big exciting city with the best art galleries in town. There are really good restaurants and shops, old culture mixed up with revitalized ones; lively places that generate energy to dance through the night.
The famous Red Square and the mighty Kremlin full of red-bricked towers, and beautiful churches are considered to be at the heart of political life and support orthodox Russian culture’s financial success. Some of the world’s best museums and galleries are in this place. Don’t miss the incredible performances at the Bolshoi Theater, the Tretyakov Gallery showcasing Russian fine art, or the Pushkin Fine Arts Museum with its impressive European art collection.
Moscow also has its special house museums where you can find the history of Russian literature, such as the Pushkin Memorial Museum, Tolstoy House Museum, Dostoevsky House Museum, Mayakovsky Museum, and the small but charming Gogol Memorial Rooms. Moscow is high-class when it comes to nightlife, shopping, and dining out. Also, the city provides visitors with all sorts of bars and clubs, including restaurants, as well as fashion stores so that everyone can enjoy both luxury and entertainment.
- Petersburg
St. Petersburg is Russia’s most European city, a great destination for those who enjoy history and culture presented with the power and novelty of Russian creativity at every step. It features over 2,000 libraries, 221 museums, and 78 theaters that proudly showcase its rich cultural scene. Alongside the known destinations, you can uncover a more modern face of the city with fancy art galleries, casual cafes, and underground clubs, as well as fashionable hostels.
Must-visit St. Petersburg’s historic center is inscribed by UNESCO. It is decorated with charming canals and beautiful Baroque and Neoclassical buildings. Don’t forget to visit the famous Hermitage and Russian Museum, as well as Nevsky Prospekt – a central street for shopping, restaurants, and entertainment. Wander through the beautifully decorated churches, the famous Mariinsky Theatre, the historic Peter and Paul Fortress, or picturesque Vasilyevsky Island.
The summer season is ideal for visiting, as it’s the time of White Nights – a mystical phenomenon that implies almost no nighttime and numerous daylight hours, distinctive rituals welcomed by citizens together with an abundance of celebrations conducted long after dark. It’s a great time to witness how the city is pulsating with life.
- Kizhi Island
Kizhi Island, which is not as popular as Moscow or St. Petersburg, sits in Lake Onega and possesses its unique charm. It has an outdoor museum with old wooden constructions from the 14th century and some, even listed by UNESCO.
The Church of the Resurrection In this area, you will find ancient villages that characterize the region of Karelia amidst all these beautiful natural elements. It’s a calm and unique place that one can go to get away from the bustle of larger cities.
- Kazan
Wander around the attractive Kazan, which has recently been given a massive facelift for some of the world’s biggest events. Muller was also involved in the organization of such competitions as the 2014 World Fencing Championships.
Kazan is the capital of Russia’s Republic of Tatarstan, and it lies by the Volga River. It’s a fusion of various cultures where Muslims and Christians live harmoniously. There are churches, watchtowers, and museums that make the Kazan Kremlin a UNESCO-recognized spot.
Other than its historical heritage, Kazan has a vibrant social life with numerous bars, cafes, and restaurants, as well as shops that line the busy Bauman Street. So you have to prepare yourself for immersion in the rich cultural milieu of this city, where every corner tells a tale and each encounter bears testament to difference.
- The Golden Ring
Russia boasts several cool places such as the Golden Ring known for its pretty little towns, medieval castles, and old onion-domed churches. It isn’t a long way from Moscow, but it is like you have gone back in time. You can visit unique buildings, learn more about the history of this area, and watch crafts that have been in use for centuries.
Some interesting stops en route are Vladimir and the charming village of Suzdal. There is also Sergiev Posad, which is the core of the Russian Orthodox Church, and Pereslavl-Zalesskiy a hilly town. Rostov Veliky and the peaceful city of Pylos, also known as Pearl of the Volga, only make this journey magical.
- Siberia
Siberia, which makes up about one-third of Russia with a space as big as Europe and North America combined, is something that needs to be visited. With more than a dozen cities to its name, it is also noted for having the world’s deepest lake, Lake Baikal. If you like untouched nature, big hills, and mysterious beauties, Siberia is the place.
It is famous for its freezing winter season, but there are many things to appreciate. Siberia has lots of attractions from the great Lake Baikal, cool courses on the Trans-Siberian railway, and delightful cities to gorgeous mountains Altai. Novosibirsk is not only the capital of Siberia, but it’s also a live city with an exciting culture. Tomsk is a real architectural paradise with plenty of fantastic photo spots. Irkutsk is a blend of old and new – the gateway to Lake Baikal. Ulan-Ude is a quiet Buddhist city that one should surely visit.
Other than the lake, Siberia has amazing places to visit like the Ulkok Plateau, Lena River, Sayan Mountains, and Chara sands along with Ergaki National Park.
- Sochi
This amazing coastal town is called Sochi, where even celebrities and politicians go every year. This city was already considered to be very famous all over the world and in 2014 again it hosted Winter Olympics. It is also known as the “Pearl of the Black Sea.”
Visualize these beautiful mountains, attractive pebble beaches, and fantastic nightlife! Sochi is a tourist spot that millions of people visit every year, totaling more than 4 million, sightseeing its places and industries. And the neat thing is, it has something for everybody – parks if you are a nature lover, museums for fans of history, and great beaches to simply relax. It’s a place where you can find everything for fun!
