Russia is famous for its natural monuments and cultural heritage. Cities with centuries-old history are famous with their architectures such as churches and temples. Here you can learn a lot about the development of regions, their participation in the destiny of the country, as well as the life of several generations of local residents in local history museums.
Tourist routes are not limited to Moscow, St. Petersburg and the cities of the Golden Ring of Russia. Sightseeing holidays in the Krasnodar Territory, the Urals, Altai, the Caucasus and other regions are interesting all year round. In addition, in the summer, the Black Sea coast is not only beaches, but also interesting classical and modern architecture site and natural attractions.
If you are planning a trip to Russia in the winter, you can stop at one of the major regional centers and register yourself in the program of walking along the central streets with visits to museums and study of the nature of the surroundings – for example, national parks and reserves, which can be reached by car or bus. Famous ski resorts are located near Sochi, Altai and the Caucasus, in the suburbs of Yekaterinburg. There are so many to see and visit in Russia, and here are the sort of “a-to-z” popular destinations in the country:
1. Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin
At the moment, it is the oldest building in the Russian capital. Having begun its history in 1326, the temple survived many fires, the looting of Napoleon’s troops, shelling of the Red Guards and even an earthquake, but still managed to survive in a storm of historical events.
The State Academic of Bolshoi Theater is an object of the country’s cultural heritage, one of the most significant theaters in Russia and the world. The foundation date of the Bolshoi Theater is March 28, 1776. The building on Theater Square was built in 1856.
The Catherine Palace in Pushkin (Tsarskoye Selo) is a museum and palace and park complex, founded in 1717, during the reign of Catherine I. It is this superbly reconstructed architectural ensemble in a restored form that can be seen today. The palace is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
4. Darwin Museum
The Darwin Museum is a large natural-science museum in Moscow and one of the largest in Europe, which is very popular for its uniqueness, diversity and use of the most modern technologies. The collection of the Darwin Museum of Moscow is, first of all, a graphic illustration of the theory of evolution of Charles Darwin, the history of the living world of the Earth from the most ancient times to the present.
Elbrus stratovolcano in the Caucasus (5642 meters above sea level) is the highest mountain peak in Russia and Europe. It is also included in the list of the highest peaks of the parts of the world called the “Seven Peaks.” Due to the well-developed transport and related infrastructure, Elbrus and the surrounding areas are very popular in recreational, sports, tourist and mountaineering. On the saddle of Elbrus (5416 m), dividing its Eastern (5621 m) and Western (5642 m) peaks, the highest mountain shelter of the Caucasus is located.
6. Genoese Fortress
The historical landmark, which has well preserved traces of various peoples living on the Crimean peninsula, is the Genoese Fortress in Sudak. Now it is the Sudak Fortress Museum-Reserve.
7. Hermitage
The Hermitage (State Hermitage) is one of the largest and most significant art and cultural-historical museums in the world, located in the northern capital of the country, St. Petersburg. The museum has a rich history, and its exposition is located in more than 350 rooms. The State Hermitage was founded in the middle of the XVIII century since the acquisition of a collection of paintings by Catherine II, now the number of exhibits in the Hermitage exceeds three million. At present, the State Hermitage consists of five magnificent Baroque buildings located on Palace Square.
This universally popular landmark of Russia is the central, main square of Moscow, adjoins the eastern wall of the Kremlin. On the other hand, it is limited by the area of Vasilyevsky Descent, the Middle Trading Rows and the GUM Department Store at the Nikolskaya Street.
The Kul Sharif mosque is one of the symbols of Kazan and the functioning Jum’a prayer mosque of Tatarstan. It is located in the western part of the Kazan Kremlin and is included in the historical and architectural complex included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
10. Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin
This is not only a famous fortress, but also an ancient historical district, which is the main architectural complex of the city. It houses the city government and the arbitration court, museums and concert halls. The Kremlin is located in the Nizhny Novgorod region of Nizhny Novgorod on the right bank of the river – overlooking the mouth of the Oka River and the Volga itself.
11. The Dancing Forest
The dancing forest is one of the most mysterious sights of the Curonian Spit national park in the Kaliningrad region. It is located on the 37th kilometer of the spit, near the village of Rybachy. The place got its name after the curiously curved trunks of pines, as if frozen in a dance. The trunks twist, bifurcate and even bend in a ring. What is most interesting is that the anomalous shape of the trunks is not found in the whole forest; it is concentrated in only one small area.
There are actually hundreds more interesting places you can visit in Russia. It is important to make a good and clear itinerary when you plan to travel to the country. Find your best interest and narrow down the destinations to the ones that fit that interest the most. There are cultural and historical spots, super fun events, relaxing natural retreat, and many more. It all comes back to your choices. Russia is big! Explore it.