Russia is the largest nation in the world and end-to-end, it borders Europe and Asia with a landscape that ranges from tundra and forests to subtropical beaches. Steeped in rich culture and history along with beautiful landscapes, Russia is opening up to the world and it’s time to take the leap and see its beauty for yourself!
Now, we’re quite sure you won’t be able to cover the whole of Russia (17 million kilometres!) during your vacation but perhaps choosing a few choice spots and exploring the area around it. There are 227 operational airports in Russia so this comes in handy when you’re planning your trip.
Depending on what you like to do when you travel, here’re a few suggestions for places to check out.
Moscow
This is the capital of Russia located in western Russia and at its centre is the Kremlin, home to the president! Take a tour of the Kremlin and Armoury Museum and take in sights like medieval churches, three of Russia’s most important Royal Cathedrals, or stroll along the Secret Garden. The Armoury Museum, despite its name, is where you’ll be able to ogle at Russian treasures such as gold and silverware, Faberge Eggs, along with collections of royal crowns decked in huge diamonds, emeralds, rubies and sapphires!
Surrounding the walls of the Kremlin is the Red Square which has lots of interesting places to visit such as:
Saint Basil’s Cathedral is another iconic attraction of Russia, known for its colourful onion-shaped domes and is now a museum. Located right next to the Kremlin, construction finished in 1561 making this cathedral almost half a millennia old!
The Bolshoi Theatre is not to be missed especially if you’re visiting Moscow and is a fan of theatre, opera and ballet. Opened on the 20th of October 1856, The Bolshoi Theatre is home to Russian performing arts providing world-class ballet and opera performances.
St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg is the second largest city after Moscow and also a place to visit if you really love architecture. Additionally, if you visit between June and July, temperatures are milder and there will be arts festivals ranging from opera and ballet performances, pop music concerts, carnivals and more!
Unsurprisingly, it is also Russia’s cultural centre with places such as the Mariinsky Theatre that hosts opera and ballet performances.
Visit the Winter Palace to see how the Russian emperors of yesteryear lived in opulence from 1732 to 1917. Today, the palace is a complex of buildings that houses the State Hermitage Museum which boasts millions of works of art, archaeological artefacts, arms and armoury and more! For more information on their exhibits and tickets, check out their website at www.hermitagemuseum.org.
Lake Baikal
For the adventurers and nature lovers, Lake Baikal, located in Siberia, just north of the Mongolian border, is the place to visit. The lake, formed 25 to 30 million years ago, is a photographer’s dream with its deep blue water and soaring mountain ranges during summer and is equally as breath-taking during winter when it freezes solid making it possible to dog sled over it in winter.
Additionally, there are plenty of outdoor activities to do such as trekking, hiking, biking, rafting, rock and ice climbing, cross-country skiing and more! Check out www.baikal-adventure.com for more information and bookings.
Near Lake Baikal is Irkutsk, one of the largest cities in Siberia also known as ‘Siberian Paris’. A walking tour of this city is very much recommended in order to fully explore this historical city with its mix of unique architecture alongside wooden and stone houses.
Notable landmarks in Irkutsk include the Kazan church with its colourful Siberian baroque façade, the Irkutsk Academic Drama Theatre along with Bogoyavlensky Cathedral with its signature onion domes.
References: Lonely Planet; Russian National Tourist Office; Travel All Russia.
