Best Places to Visit in Russia

As the capital of Russia and the country's largest city, Moscow is where most visitors get their first real taste of Russian culture. The city is surprisingly cosmopolitan, but it still maintains its traditional charm thanks to the many historic buildings and monuments that dot the streets. A visit to Moscow wouldn't be complete without a visit to the historic Kremlin, which sits in the city center and is surrounded by the well-known Red Square, but visitors should also make sure to take advantage of the many excellent restaurants, bars, and shopping centers that have sprung up in more recent years.

Kazan is the capital of the Tatarstan republic, ancient city with centuries-old history, situated in left on the left Bank of the Volga river. Because of its rich history and its location between Europe and Asia, the city is a fascinating blend of Russian and Tatar cultures and Muslin and Christian religions. The main tourist attractions are the Kremlin, which boasts an impressive tower and a mosque, Bauman Street, Staro-Tatarskaya Sloboda and there are many sights to visit in Kazan.

Saint Petersburg is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, primarily due to its unique architecture. Its historical centre and suburbs are known throughout the world for their outstanding architectural monuments, with palaces and cathedrals built by Russian and Italian masters from the 18th and 19th centuries. Must-see sights include the Peter and Paul Fortress, the Peter and Paul Cathedral, the Kunstkammer Museum, Peter I's Summer Palace, the Winter Palace, Smolny Monastery, the Hermitage, the Academy of Sciences, the Academy of Arts, the Marble Palace, the Taurida Palace, the Anichkov Palace, the Kazan and St. Isaac's Cathedrals, the Spit of Vasilyevsky Island, Palace Square, and Nevsky Prospect.

Yekaterinburg is an industrial city in the Ural Mountains that has many things going for it. It is, however, largely remembered as the place where Tsar Nicholas, the last tsar of Russia, and his family were executed in 1918 during the Russian Revolution. Today’s Yekaterinburg has a vibrant cultural scene, home to many libraries, theaters and playwrights, and dance companies as well as popular Russian rock bands. Russia’s fourth largest city also has more than 30 museums, including the oldest wood sculpture in the world at the Shigir Collection; another museum houses more than 300 Nevyansk icons.

Lake Baikal has the honor of being both the largest and the deepest lake in the world, and with an estimated age of 25 million years, it's widely believed to be the world's oldest lake as well. The lake is one of the biggest tourist attractions in southern Siberia, and it's a great destination year-round. The water freezes solid in the winter, allowing visitors to cross-country ski, skate, and take sleigh rides. Summer visitors, on the other hand, will be rewarded with marvelous scenery and the chance to swim in and boat on the world's largest lake.

Russia’s fifth largest city sits at the confluence of the Volga and Oka rivers. The town began as a fortress in the 13th century; at one time it was known as Gorky, after Maxim Gorky who was born here. The old town is walled in, though the Archangel Cathedral was about the only thing standing after the city was devastated by Bolsheviks. Nizhny Novgorod is a good place to immerse oneself in Russian art and architecture, with more than 600 monuments and statues, and at least 200 art museums, concert halls and the like.

Mountains and bays surround Vladivostok, making it a stunning beautiful city in Russia’s east. The last stop on the Trans-Siberian Railway, Vladivostok is the country’s largest port on the Pacific Ocean; it is just a hop, skip and a jump away from North Korea and China. The city offers many cultural attractions from theaters to museums to concerts; actor Yul Brynner was born here in 1920. Travelers may want to stroll through some of the city’s lovely parks, including Minny Gorodok, which was once a military base. The city’s main square is Admiralsky Skver, with a museum devoted to a submarine nearby.

Karelia is a remarkable land located on the border of Western and Eastern Russia. It was carved out by a glacier thousands of years ago. Karelia has the two largest lakes in Europe- Lake Ladoga and Lake Onega. It is renowned for its boundless forests, blue lakes and white nights. The culture of Karelia is influenced by the Scandinavian countries. The lush green landscape of Karelia will provide you with a host of other of outdoor leisure pursuits like sailing, hiking, bike riding and swimming. The other tourist attractions of Karelia include Mineralnye Vody, National Park Panayarvi, Tohmaioki Waterfalls and Mountain Vottovaara.