The Best Places to Visit in Russia
Note: Governments such as the US and UK advise against traveling to Russia due to the ongoing war with Ukraine.
Cyprus is a beautiful island in the Mediterranean Sea, located near Greece and Turkey. It is renowned for its stunning beaches with crystal-clear blue waters and rugged coastlines. The island is effectively divided into two parts: the southern side, inhabited mainly by Greek Cypriots, is where most tourists visit, while the northern side is known as the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). The TRNC declared independence in 1983, but this declaration is recognized only by Turkey and lacks wider international recognition. Officially, the Republic of Cyprus governs the entire island. A UN-controlled Buffer Zone separates the two sides with checkpoints. This blog will highlight some of the most beautiful locations across the island.
Capital: Moscow
Currency: Russian Ruble
Language: Russian
When to visit: May to October
1) Moscow
Moscow is Russia’s capital and by far its biggest city, with around 12.5 million people in the metro area. Within Moscow there are countless historical sites to visit as well as all of the impressive architecture amongst the city. Moscow has the most impressive modern skyline in all of the European continent, which makes sense when you understand the sheer size of the city. It is the northernmost megacity in the world.
Things to do:
The heart of the city begins at Red Square, where you find the iconic St. Basils Cathedral, as well as the Kremlin and the Bolshoi Theatre nearby too. A bit further down the river is Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, an iconic Russian orthodox cathedral. The city is filled with iconic arts, and one way to experience this is just to take the Moscow Metro, its an activity on its own. All the stations are decorated with chandeliers, mosaics, and sculptures, making it feel like an underground museum. For some space, visit Gorky Park and relax. There really is an endless amount of things to do in Moscow.
How to get there:
Moscow actually has four international airports (SVO, DME, VKO and ZIA). All are equally far from the city, so which one you pick isn’t too important. Most flights come in from Istanbul or Dubai.
There are high speed trains across all of Russia, connecting the big cities with each other, if you’re coming from inside Russia already.
2) Saint Petersburg
St. Petersburg is Russia’s cultural capital and one of the most visually stunning cities in the country. Founded by Peter the Great in 1703, it sits on the Neva River near the Baltic Sea and has around 5 million people in the metro area. Unlike Moscow, St. Petersburg has a more elegant, European vibe, which makes sense due to its proximity to Finland and Estonia. Due to this, it’s a must visit location in Russia, for sure.
Things to do:
Get ready to experience history when in St. Petersburg. The Hermitage Museum is a giant, world-renowned art and cultural museum which holds masterpieces by artists such as Da Vinci and Van Gogh. Around the museum, there are many sights to see; You’ll step out into Palace Square, and from there you can walk and see sights like Kazan Cathedral, St. Isaac’s Cathedral, the Bronze Horseman statue, and the Kuntskamera museum too. Savior on the Spilled Blood is a church with a similar style to the St. Basils Cathedral. The main street is called Nevsky Prospect, and known as the city's cultural, shopping, and entertainment heart. Lastly, you could even take a canal boat tour down the river.
How to get there:
Pulkovo Airport (LED) is good for domestic flights around Russia, and you can fly in from countries like Turkey too.
Otherwise the high speed trains across Russia which connect the big cities are always available and efficient.
3) Kazan
Kazan is the capital of Tatarstan, a republic in central Russia along the Volga River, with around 1.3 million people. It’s a city where Russian and Tatar cultures mix, with history dating back over 1000 years. Seen as the ‘Third Capital of Russia,’ Kazan is an active city with a very high standard of living.
Things to do:
The cities main landmark is the Kazan Kremlin, a large hilltop complex featuring numerous important buildings which act as museums today. A bit outside the main city area is the Temple of all Religions, a religiously diverse and unique piece of architecture. Wander through Kazan’s old streets and just explore what is the old capital of the Republic of Tatarstan.
How to get there:
Kazan International Airport (KZN) allows you good connections within Russia.
Otherwise, Russia’s high speed train system can get you to Kazan from Moscow, albeit taking a while.
4) Lake Baikal
Lake Baikal is a famous natural landmark in the southern part of Siberia, close to the northern border of Mongolia. It’s known as the deepest freshwater lake on Earth, plunging over 1,600 meters, and it’s also the largest by volume, holding around 20% of the world’s unfrozen freshwater.
What you’ll see:
Besides the stunning mountains surrounding the massive lake, living here is the Baikal Seal, the worlds only exclusively freshwater seal. In terms of other wildlife, the surrounding taiga forests host brown bears, wolves, lynx, sable, moose, elk and more. One of the most famous spots is Olkhon Island, the largest island on the lake. There are incredible viewpoints on this island, as well as an extremely diverse landscape.
How to get there:
Fly into Irkutsk Airport (IKT), and then take a bus or a shuttle to a nearby town or to Olkhon island.
5) The Golden Ring
The Golden Ring is not one single location, but a group of historic towns northeast of Moscow that show off Russia’s traditional architecture, churches, and small-town culture. It’s not one single place, but a route of 8–10 towns that are all worth visiting. These towns were important in medieval Russia, and many still have old kremlins, monasteries, and wooden houses.
Cities in the Ring:
The route includes the towns of: Sergiev Posad, Pereslavl-Zalessky, Rostov Veliky, Yaroslavl, Kostroma, Ivanovo, Suzdal, Vladimir, Gorokhovets, and Myshkin. You can pick and choose the towns as you like, as well as the order.
How to get around:
Trains, Buses and Mashrutkas connect the towns.
Most tourists combine it in a road trip or in an organised tour.
6) Kamchatka Peninsula
The Kamchatka Peninsula is one of the wildest and most remote places in Russia, sitting way out in the country’s far east between the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Okhotsk. It’s famous for its raw, untouched nature and incredible vast landscapes. There are very little roads and the settlements are small.
What you’ll see:
There’s a long list of beautiful places to visit on the peninsula, listed here: Klyuchevskaya Sopka, Valley of Geysers, Uzon Caldera, Avachinsky Volcano, Mutnovsky Volcano, Gorely Volcano, Tolbachik Volcano, Kuril Lake, Nalychevo Valley, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Avacha Bay, and lastly, Kronotsky Nature Reserve. You’ll see so much wildlife and beautiful places here, it’s an incredible experience.
How to get there:
From Moscow you have to fly to Yelizovo Airport (PKC), the main city on the peninsula. You need to organise a trekking tour, a photography tour, or a wildlife tour.
7) Altai Mountains
The Altai Mountains are a remote and beautiful mountain region in southern Siberia, right where Russia meets Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and China. People often come to the Altai for hiking, horse trekking, and rafting. It’s also home to indigenous Altai people who have deep spiritual ties to the land within the region.
What you’ll see:
In the region you will see snow capped mountains and deep valleys covering the region. Mount Belukha is Siberia’s highest peak (4500m+), and is often done as a multiple week hike with adventure guides. Another long but beautiful hike you can do is hiking to Shavlinskie Lakes. The rewards for the hikes are truly spectacular and those are just two options of many. You’ll see horses, golden eagles, and ibex. On the cultural side, you’ll see sacred ancient sites.
How to get there:
It is difficult; Fly into Gorno-Altaysk Airport (RGK), then use a private driver or tour group to get you the far distance all the way to the mountian region.