15 Best Amazing Places To Explore in Russia

Russia the world’s largest country truly has it all: warm sands, mild climates, freezing areas, mountains. A plethora of breathtaking natural sites that are sure to wow any traveler.

Moscow and St. Petersburg, two of Russia’s oldest cities. They managed to hold onto its imperial grandeur, which is evident in their grand parks, shopping malls, and metro stations.

There are opportunities to explore things like the breathtaking grandeur of the tundra and the Northern Lights, volcanoes, and more skiing than you could ever imagine in other towns and areas.

Check out our list of the top destinations in Russia:

Best Time to Travel Russia:

The ideal time to go to Russia depends on several factors, including where you want to go in the vast nation and what you want to do when you get there (hiking around Lake Baikal or visiting museums in Moscow, for example). and just how much you’re willing to endure severe weather.

November and early Spring (especially March) are the most affordable months if you’re looking for savings, but both are gloomy and rainy, with November feeling more like winter than fall.

The costliest times to travel to Russia are during the summer, when hotels are completely booked, and airfares are extremely high. In addition to the extreme heat, summertime brings large crowds and long waits to enter museums or board boats to explore St. Petersburg’s waterways.

• Summer is frequently hotter than early fall if you want to spend time outside. Fall foliage with the surrounding crimson hue make for breathtaking views in locations like the Golden Ring, which stretches northeast of Moscow, Lake Baikal, and the Ural Mountains.

• Fall offers ideal hiking conditions and access to most of the mountain paths. Lake Baikal is just as stunning in the winter, when the ice creates a deep navy-blue reflection that makes skating across the largest freshwater lake in the world an amazing experience.

Places To Visit in Russia:

Let’s explore the 15 Best places to travel in Russia:

1. Lake Baisal:

Lake Baikal is truly unbeatable when it comes to setting records. The world’s oldest and deepest lake. This gigantic high-altitude rift lake in Siberia is thought to be 25 million years old. It has a maximum depth of 1,642 meters. In addition, Baikal is the world’s largest freshwater lake, containing more than 20% of all freshwaters worldwide.

Even though much of Lake Baikal’s surface freezes over for up to five months of the year. This makes the lake appear especially clear in the winter, when visibility can reach as low as 40 meters. Baikal regarded as one of the world’s purest lakes.

The lake’s water can get as high as 16 degrees Celsius for about a month in August. Which is comfortable for fast swims or dips. But for the remainder of the year, the temperature typically hovers around five degrees Celsius.

Lake Baikal is a well-known summertime destination for island hopping, boat tours, and kayaking to explore beaches and shorelines. When the lake freezes over in the winter, people can visit the frozen caves of the Tazheran Steppes and cross-country ski across portions of the lake.

2. Moscow:

Moscow is the destination of most foreign flights, so it’s important to schedule your travel. So you have at least a few hours to spend seeing the city. The capital of Russia is a wonderful combination of lush vegetation, breathtaking architecture, and numerous artifacts from bygone eras.

When visiting Moscow, most visitors begin their exploration in the city’s heart, which is home to the St. Basil’s Cathedral, Red Square, and the Kremlin. Even tourists who cannot afford the expensive brands sold here frequent the glass and steel roofed GUM shopping complex. Which is also a fantastic spot to sample traditional Russian cuisine.

If you’re not really into museums, there are still some incredible places in Moscow that are well worth a visit. These include the Pushkin Museum, which features collections from around the world. The State Tretyakov Gallery, which exclusively displays Russian art, and the Kremlin Armory Museum. It offers an opportunity to see some unusual artifacts. Like the ivory throne of Ivan the Terrible and gold-covered imperial carriages.

If you can get tickets, you should also visit the Bolshoi Theater. It is one of the biggest opera and ballet houses in the world.

Some of Moscow’s biggest attractions, like the promenade along the Moskva River and the pedestrian-only Stary Arbat shopping area, are best explored on foot.

The porcelain reliefs, crystal chandeliers, and distinctive mosaic artworks that adorn Moscow’s Metro stations elevate these spaces to the status of underground palaces. Two of the most beautiful metro stations to visit are Mayakovskaya. With its ceiling mosaics and columns made of pink rhodonite, and Kiyevskaya, with its white marble, paintings, and intricate artwork.

3. St.Peterberg:

St Petersburg is considerably bigger than Moscow, but it’s frequently impossible to see it all in a single day. St. Petersburg feels more European than Moscow does, with beautiful art and elegant design elements blending seamlessly with the city’s rich history. You can take a walk around the imperial city to get a close-up look at the architecture. You can take a ride along some of the 300 kilometers of canals that run through it.

Visit Moika Palace, best known for being the site of Rasputin’s execution, and the Neoclassical, 19th-century St. Isaac’s Cathedral, which is actually a Russian Orthodox Museum, for a breathtaking overload of white and gold hues.

With more than three million artifacts ranging from prehistoric art (including artifacts from the nomadic tribes in Altai )to Catherine the Great’s art collection. The Hermitage Museum is arguably the most well-known tourist destination in St. Petersburg and the second-largest art and culture museum worldwide.

4. Altai,Russia:

Siberia’s Altay Mountains stretch across China, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia from Russia. Historically home to several ethnic groups engaged in forestry and horse husbandry. It is also a well-liked tourism attraction for both residents and visitors. As part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Altay Mountains are surrounded by several lakes and natural reserves.

There’s plenty of unspoiled beauty in Altay. In the winter, cross-country skiers and other outdoor enthusiasts are drawn to the region’s frozen rivers and snowcapped mountains; in the summer, hikers, kayakers, and climbers frequent the area near Aktru Glacier. This place also offers more odd pursuits including diving, cave exploration, and mushroom and herb gathering.

The fact that the Denisova Cave in Siberia contains artifacts, bone fragments. And even ancient horses—some of which date back 50,000 years—makes it very noteworthy.

The resort town of Belokurikha is a well-liked jumping off place for adventures in Altay. Numerous travel companies provide planned tours out of here.

5. Sochi:

Located directly on the Black Sea, Sochi is a popular summertime beach resort town. It has extensive sand and pebble beaches, striking specimens of Stalinist architecture. The Kinotavr summer film festival, and a wide variety of spas and outdoor markets to suit all tastes and budgets. The Mzymta, Russia’s longest river, passes through Sochi before emptying into the Black Sea. Rafting is a very popular activity there.

Only 50 kilometers from Sochi, the 3000-square-kilometer Caucasian State Nature Biosphere Reserve is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is home to several rare kinds of plants and animals, including the endangered Persian leopard.

6. Russian Tundra:

The tundra is a distinct biome that can only be found around the Arctic Circle or close by. Only particular kinds of grasses, moss, and bushes can survive the winters here; trees cannot withstand the extreme cold. Most of the world associates the tundra with permafrost, or permanently frozen ground. Marshes and streams will grow across the terrain in places. Where the top layer of the ground does melt during the summer, creating stunning spots of bright, ice water.

During the nesting season, polar bears, seals, gray wolves, and a diverse array of birds inhabit the Russian tundra. The tundra regions have drawn increasing attention from ecotourism in recent years, particularly the Great Arctic State Nature Reserve near Krasnoyarsk Krai, where guests can explore via a variety of environmentally guided tours, go bird watching, or visit as part of an educational tour.

In addition to providing breathtaking views of the tundra, Murmansk, located on the Kola Peninsula. It is an excellent location to book a tour to see the Northern Lights.

7. Peterhof,Russia:

Although a university and a significant Russian watch manufacturing are in Peterhof. The main attraction of this very small city is the Peterhof Palace. The nearly 4000-hectare palace grounds were first planned and constructed in the early 1700s in a style reminiscent of the Palace of Versailles for Tsar Peter the Great.

The palace is surrounded by 173 garden fountains, some of which, like the Grand Cascade fountains. They have unique characteristics that cause water jets to shoot forth when people approach. The lower gardens have an aviary pavilion, walking lanes covered by trees. And marble statues all fashioned in a formal French manner.

8. Olkhon Island:

Olkhon, one of the biggest lake islands in the world, is covered in taiga, lush woods, and high mountains. Situated in Eastern Siberia, the island is home to a small permanent population primarily made up of indigenous Buryats from Mongolia who consider the island to be a potent spiritual site.

Island’s tourism business is expanding as more people come to see locations like the neighboring abandoned Peschanaya Village and former Soviet labor camp, as well as the coastline sand dunes.

Another unique phenomenon that makes this location well-known is “walking trees,” which occur when strong winds expose tree roots on the shore, giving the trees the impression of a standing person.

The island has several semi-urban communities. The biggest of which is Khuzir, which is also the one where guests can stay in guesthouses. The small but fascinating National History Museum of Revyakin, which documents island life dating back to the Neolithic era, is also located in the settlement.

9. Petropavlovask-Kamchatsky:

Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, a city in the Russian Far East, is inaccessible by road and can only be reached by air. The city is surrounded by volcanoes, including the active, snow-capped Koryakskaya Sopka volcano.

But for those who brave the journey and arrive, they will find a bustling city center full of monuments, squares, and churches. The city is just next to Avacha Bay, which is a fantastic location for a stroll along the waterfront and to book a whale watching cruise.

10. Vladivostok,Russia:

The largest port city in Russia is Vladivostok, which is situated close to the borders with North Korea and China as well as just over the ocean from Japan. Originally off-limits to foreigners during the Soviet Union, the city is today a popular destination for tourists from across the world who are anxious to see it. It is a key stop on the Trans-Siberian Railway route.

The city has many parks and open areas, such as the Eagle’s Nest viewpoint at the top of a hill and Sportivnaya Harbor with its lovely beach and promenade.

At 1,885 meters, Vladivostok’s Russky Bridge is the world’s longest cable-stayed bridge and a magnificent architectural feat. The bridge links Vladivostok with Russky Island, home to the military museum Voroshilov Battery as well as Philippovsky Bay and its lovely sandy beaches.

11. Anapa, Russia:

Anapa a well-known resort town with sandy beaches, spas, and breathtaking views from the rocky promontory where the town’s lighthouse is situated. It situated perfectly against the Black Sea and has been a popular vacation spot for decades. Anapa is a slightly more subdued resort than Sochi, but it still has a lot to offer tourists in addition to its coastline charms.

The Anapa Archaeological Museum and the lone gate of the Ottoman fort that originally stood here are two locations worth seeing. In addition, there is the archaeological site of Gorgippia, which was formerly a bustling harbor for marine trade and dates to the sixth century BCE.

Only a short drive from the city is the Sukko Valley and the Bolshoy Utrish Wildlife Preserve, which provide lots of opportunities for hiking, swimming in crystal-clear waters, and natural exploration.‘

12. Novosibirsk:

Novosibirsk, the unofficial capital of Siberia and the third-largest city in Russia, situated on the banks of the Ob River. The city boasts a man-made beach on the shores of a reservoir, and during the summer months, temperatures can reach a scorching 45 degrees Celsius.

The city has a lot to offer tourists and is home to the Novosibirsk Opera and Ballet Theater, many universities, and various museums. With its large collection of electric and diesel locomotives, electric trains, snow ploughs, and a variety of odd carriages like tank cars, jail, and hospital cars, and even fire engines, the outdoor Museum for Railway Technology is especially fascinating.

13. Taiga Forest:

Situated between the more temperate mixed forests of the South and the freezing tundra of the North, the Russian taiga is a distinct ecoregion. It’s basically a kind of boreal forest where the only trees that grow there are conifers, such as larches, spruces, and pines.

Although taiga covers parts of Alaska and Canada as well, the Russian taiga offers an unmatched lonely beauty. While the Siberian taiga can easily see nights of -50°C during the coldest months, temperatures here can drop as low as -20°C. The taiga in the country’s north sees polar darkness in the winter and midnight sun in the summer.

North of Irkutsk city is the heart of the taiga, offering activities like dogsledding, snowshoeing, and viewing the northern lights. As part of a local custom, extreme tour operators bring tourists to the area where they must spend days outside before warming up in a steam room inside a wooden cabin.

14. Dargavas,Russia:

There are just over 150 permanent residents in Dargavs, also referred to as “the city of the dead,” and at least that many deceased people. This small community, which is only accessible after a challenging one-hour drive from its secluded location near the Georgian border, is well-known for its historic cemetery.

According to legend, the peculiar cemetery established in the 18th century as the last resting place for plague victims. It made up of little stone houses with serrated roofs that perched on a hill. After contracting the infection, families would relocate into these “homes” and remain there until their deaths, bringing food and a few personal belongings with them. Today, people travel from all over the world to experience this hauntingly gorgeous sight.

The next large city is Vladikavkaz, a fascinating industrial town rich in historical and cultural landmarks that is well worth a visit.

15. Kizhi,Russia:

This little island, measuring about six kilometers in length, situated in Lake Onega in northwest Russia and inhabited since at least the 15th century.

The Kizhi Pogost, an outdoor museum including more than eighty historic wooden constructions, is the most well-known attraction on the island. Particularly beautiful are the two cathedrals from the 18th century, which recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. They rank among the most magnificent and towering wooden buildings in all of Europe.

The main church has 102 symbols that adorn its walls, a big wooden altar, and 22 silver domes, the tallest of which is 37 meters. It was constructed, so the story goes, using just one axe and no nails. No other wooden building constructed in the same manner exists in Russia.

Travelers must ride the scenic ferry from Petrozavodsk, a nearby city, to the island. Cruises take guests around the lake and to the island in the summer.

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