Russia Travel Highlights

We have been around. We have seen places. We liked some. Some we did not. We may go against some of the guidebooks opinions and mention what others never notice or alternatively we may totally ignore what others consider just great or a “must-see”. We hope it helps. You get a different perspective and perhaps become a bit more of a true explorer. Whatever you choose, we are with you. We hope you have a good time in Russia and leave with the memories that you will cherish.

In terms of land Russia is the largest country in the world. From every 100 square meters of land that exist on our planet – more than 11 are part of Russia. Russia is not that populous though, with a little over 140 million people inhabiting it.

Russia spans  two continents with 25% being in Europe and the rest in Asia. That makes Russia not exactly a European country. This facts also affect  Russian mentality, Russian vision of life and the world. It is quite erroneous to believe that Russians are Europeans. Even they are, then certainly not 100%.

Lots of customs, approaches and beliefs in Russia are more common for the eastern side of the Ural Mountains,  rather than what you may expect in London or Berlin.

Russia possesses enormous natural recourses (perhaps not exactly doing it right to dispose them).

Russia is the largest gas producer and exporter in the world.

It also possesses the largest proven natural gas reserves.

25% of the world fresh water  belongs to Russia.

Russia is the world largest oil producer.

No other country has greater forest area than Russia.

Russia ranks #1 as the world diamond producer.

Russia has the largest arsenal of nuclear weapons in the world (not sure, if one can take pride in this).

No other country has more tanks than Russia – a little under 23,000. (Dunno where  they keep them all…)

Russia  is  the  world's  top  supplier of arms (approximately 30% of the total world arms sales).

Russia has an enormous potential as a renewable  energy  producer with  her  Asian hydroelectric   potential    remaining   mostly unexploited.

The first   civilian nuclear reactor as well as the first nuclear power plant   were all built in Russia.

Calculated per capita, there are  more  doctors and hospitals in Russia than practically any other country.

The first man that travelled to space was also Russian.

Russia launches more satellites than any other country, being the only country providing  space tourism services. (May you be next? - anybody's guess!)

Russia has large reserves of unused arable land (very uncommon around the world now).

70% of domesticated reindeer are in Russia.

Russia has a unique past, her present keeps many in suspense, and considering all this, few can guess where the future will take the country.

Russia Travel Highlights

Moscow – this is where the majority of visitors begin.

The place has much to offer but we do not think you need to see all of this on your first visit. You should not miss:

The Kremlin – a beautiful impressive citadel in the  historical city center of Moscow. The current Russian President’s administration sits here. The symbolic Kremlin’s 71 meter Spasskaya Tower (500 years old) often serves as a postcard image of Russia with its huge clock called Kuranty.

The Red Square (330 x 70 meters) – if you go only one place in Russia – then go the Red Square. Red not necessarily meaning related to the Soviet times or the era of communism, rather having the origin in the old Russian word ‘krasny’ – beautiful. The Red Square is adjacent to the walls of the Kremlin, with Lenin Mausoleum  in the middle and Saint Basil's Cathedral on the left. Both the Cathedral and the Mausoleum are considered popular symbolic images of Russia.

It is best if you budget a complete day to visit the four above.

If you have more than one day, head to

Moscow walk – a good idea if the weather allows, half a day will make it a perfect tour. No need for a guide – center of Moscow is not that big (good news!) – a decent map is all you need. You may never get underground and still reach most of the places you want to see.

Moscow Underground or Metro – a piece of art rather than a mode of transportation. As you pay not for the distance but per entry – you may tour all of it on one ticket (less than 1 USD). Plan a little and see what station would be best to visit.

Cathedral of Christ the Saviour – de-facto principal Russian Orthodox  church, just a stone’s throw away from the Red Square, tallest Orthodox church in the world, many religious events here are attended by leaders of the Russian Federation. Originally built after the victory in the Napoleon war of 1812 (it took almost 50 years to complete), it was demolished in 1931 and rebuilt within ten years before the year 2000.

Tverskaya street – main and most expensive shopping street in Moscow (and Russia). It also acts as a center of Moscow’s night life.

Arbat – is a pedestrian mall and major tourist spot in a historical part Moscow. A good, but not cheap place for traditional Russian gift shopping.

Do not forget to check  the Soviet era buildings, especially the Stalinist architecture and all of (if possible) “Seven Sisters”.  Most of them are around the city center and a walking distance from each other.

The Museum of  Tretyakov Gallery, a Russian counterpart of the Louvre and the Metropolitan for a good collection of the Russian fine art.

Or spend an evening watching performance at the Bolshoi Theatre, a famous historical theatre, known for quality ballet and opera.

Kolomenskoye  - the Russian imperial residence 250 years ago. Go, if you have time. Under reconstruction now.

Tsaritsyno -  currently a museum,  it passed hands of numerous  families of Russian aristocracy in the past 200 – 500 years, until it finally was purchased by Empress Catherine the Great but was abandoned by her shortly after.

Novodevichy Convent –  best known 500 year old cloister of Moscow, which remained virtually intact for the past 300 years. Napoleon’s attempts in 1812 to destroy the monastery met fierce resistance from nuns, which eventually saved the place from demolition. The 1917 Revolution closed the monastery and turned it into a museum. The convent and its surrounding buildings were gradually returned back to nuns and believers starting from 1945. The cemetery of the convent serves as a last resting place for quite a few Russian notables (Chekhov, Khrushchev, Prokofiev, Yeltsin among them).

Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius -  most  important  Russian  monastery, with 700 years of history behind, currently home to 300 monks, the spiritual centre of the  Russian  Orthodox  Church, situated 70 kilometers away from Moscow in the town of Sergiyev Posad. The monastery was destroyed by tatars, served later as a place of baptism to the members of the Russian royal family. The Lavra was closed after the 1917 revolution where the building belonging to it were either turned into museums or allocated to various civic purposes. The place returned  to church after the end of World War II.

For years  Saint Petersburg  has been more of cultural capital where Moscow played the role of a business or commercial center. This remains true in many ways even now.

If you only have one day:

Take a walking tour around Saint Petersburg’s center.

Nevsky Prospect – main iconic street of Saint Petersburg. The place of trendy shops, vibrant nightlife and exorbitantly priced apartments.

Walk across a few of 300 impressive bridges that span multiple canals and banks of the River Neva. The original idea, thought, was to have no bridges and let people move in waterways in summer and use sledges in winter when the river freezes. Some of the bridges are rich with lovely décor and fine design not to be missed. In summer, see how some of the 22 drawbridges open up to give passage to ships heading for Saint Petersburg’s port. 

Palace Square – is the heart of the city, vast with a one of kind granite column in the middle. It is in this square that lots of events defining Russian history took place.

Hermitage – one of the world’s largest, oldest and famous museums of arts and culture. With the great number of items on display – one should give plenty of time for a visit unless the point is just to tick it off.

Mariinsky Theatre – a theatre of opera and ballet with 150 years of history.

Peter  and  Paul Fortress, sitting on an island on the Neva River, remarkably preserved place with 300 years of history. Long time (until 1924) VIP prison for political dissidents and statesmen.

Russian Admiralty – one the major Saint Petersburg’s   landmarks, a building hosting Russian Navy administration until 1917.

Best of Saint Petersburg’s  Parks and Palaces

Peterhof Palace - a fantastic series of old gardens, fountains and palaces in the town of Peterhof, suburbs of Saint Petersburg. Summer Tsars’ residence for a long time. The place was originally laid down 300 years ago but largely destroyed by German troops between 1941 and 1944. Restored.

Tsarskoye  Selo – a former royal country residence of the Russian imperial family and visiting nobility. 16 kilometers  from the center of Saint Petersburg  located in the town called Pushkin.

Pavlovsk – 30 kilometers from Saint Petersburg, another former place of residence of the Russian Royal family, a favorite summer retreat place of Russian aristocracy before the  revolution of 1917.

Old fortifications  (typically  Kremlins),  monasteries  and  churches are scattered  throughout  Russia,  forming  its unique cultural landscape both  in  big  cities  and in remote areas. See, if you can find then where nobody expects them.

Cruises on Russian bigger rivers  (Volga – being one of them) – can be a very rewarding experience. A quality slow insight into Russia, its people and places. The cruises normally last from a few days to two weeks, stopping every second day at places along the river, giving you a nice chance for a short visit. Rate of service depends on the class of travel. One also sleeps and eats on the cruise. The Rule of thumb would be right to say that medium class of travel would come at about 700 USD per one week of travel.

Experience journeys on the longest railway in the world, famous Trans-Siberian Railway. The Trans-Siberian is more of a network of railways rather than just one straight line. The Trans-Siberian branches itself into China, North Korea and Mongolia. Check our site for Trans-Siberian travel options.

Kazan – a historically important city in the middle of the European part of Russia, capital of predominantly Muslim Tatarstan with a good choice of sights both Muslim and Christian.  A good addition to Moscow and Saint Petersburg’s  visit when in Russia.

The Kazan Kremlin (or Citadel) is certainly worth a day spared. It hosts a few buildings being as old as 500 years, some - there all the time intact, some - recently restored.

Tatar  Sabantuy (or summer harvest festival)- colorful and flamboyant Tatar national holiday, full of events, competitions and happening - can easily become one of the major highlights of your visit to Russia. Contact us if you need assistance arranging a visit.

Udmurtia - this land in Russia, not much known except for the names of Kalashnikov and Chaikovsky, has  a lot to offer to those who are interested in seeing ‘true Russia’. You will probably find yourself one of those few visitors ever venturing into the region - no part of most guide books or standard package tours.  When in Udmurtia, apart from museums – do not miss unique derevnia (village) stay, parachuting, skiing, snowboarding, skating, kayaking, caving, cycling and  trekking in wild vast virgin  forests of Udmurtia, go fishing on one of the quiet rivers of Udmurtia or just have a good time!

Russian Golden  Ring  is  a “ring” of a  few ancient cities northeast of Moscow. Most of them can be reached from Yaroslavl Railway Station in Moscow. The following is the list of the most well-known Golden Ring cities:

They have  best preserved  the  architecture  and  the  spirit of ancient and medieval Russia. There is no need to visit all of them – two or three is more than enough.

Golden Mountains of Altai – vast mountainous area covering the Altai and Katun Natural Reserves, Lake Teletskoye, Belukha  Mountain,  and  the  Ukok  Plateau, all rich with unique altitudinal vegetation.

Mount Belukha - the 4,500 meter highest peak  of Siberia, a popular alpinist site, requires a special border zone permit in order to be allowed into the area.

Shamanist  rituals of Siberia – impressive, authentic – go see if you know where.

Visit Northern  Caucasus   and its  ski resorts. Stop at  Dombay, a picturesque mountainous resort  within the boundaries of the   Teberda Nature Reserve (summer or winter – both are great in their own ways).

Kamchatka is a Russian region located on an over 1000 kilometers peninsular. The area is famous as a excellent (but not cheap) natural destination, rich with wild life, active volcanoes and geysers, some of which are right next to the region’s capital, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.

Wrangel Island – a Russian island in the Artic Ocean hosting a Nature Reserve of the same name. Although the air temperature on the island rarely reaches above zero, the place is famous as a major polar bear breeding area, rich with polar plants. It also boasts  a  great number of visiting birds in summer. Known as a last mammoths retreat, mammoths are believed to have survived here until as late as 1700 B.C.

Karelia and Murmansk – areas North of Saint Petersburg, ideal for eco-travel, famous for their polar nights and days, virgin forests, rapid rivers, attractive clean lakes and lots of low-rise rocky creations. Mosquitoes is a major problem in summer, so if you come – come well prepared.

Kizhi Pogost – a 300 year old historical site located on the island of the same name in the middle of the lake called Onega in Karelia. Famous for its  tall wood-only churches.

Tyva (or Tuva) is an area in the South of Siberia, culturally and geographically close to Mongolia.  Ubsunur Hollow, or depression, is the main attraction for those visiting the area. It is here where the  world's most northern desert meets the northern hemisphere's most southern tundra zone. Ubsunur Hollow surprises a visitor with a wide variation of climates, unique richness and biodiversity of flora and fauna.

Sikhote-Alin -  a long, 1000 kilometer mountain range in the Russian Primorsky and  Khabarovsk  Krais meeting the Russian  Pacific Coast. Best known for its central part where excellent nature reserves are located.

Central  Sikhote-Alin comprises  one of the most unusual climate zones in the world, with wildlife mixed between taiga and subtropics. Typical northern species (Brown Bears and reindeer) can be found next to the species of tropics (leopards, tigers, and indigenous to Asia - Black Bears). Travel inside the reserves is restricted and is only possible if accompanied by a qualified ranger.

The Solovetsky Islands – a group of a few islands in the White Sea. Famous for its impressive huge monastery complex with a 500 year of history, one the most prominent Russian religious centers in the past, so powerful that when tsars sent their representatives to the islands, monks could not do better but expel the messengers back to where they came from. The monastery and the islands were turned into a notorious detention (prison) camp shortly after the Revolution of 1917. The camp ceased functioning as a prison in 1939 and wastransformed into a Naval base before the beginning of World War II. 1990 brought religious life back to the area.One can reach the islands either by sea (from Kem and Belomorsk) or by air (from Moscow, Arkhangelsk or Petrozavodvsk)

Ferapontov Monastery – 600 year old best existing example of Russian medieval art situated in Vololga Oblast (region).