The largest country in the world really has it all–mountains, valleys, frozen lands, and warm sands, and an incredible number of amazing natural destinations to impress any visitor.
Some of the oldest cities in Russia, including Moscow and St. Petersburg, still retain their imperial splendor–obvious not only in their architecture but also in their majestic parks, shopping centers, and even metro stations.
Other cities and regions–including far-away destinations in Siberia and the Far East–offer a chance to explore things like the stunning beauty of the tundra and the Northern Lights, volcanoes, and more skiing than you could ever dream of.
From striking gilded palaces to vast natural spaces, take a look at our list of the best places to visit in Russia.
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1. Lake Baikal
Lake Baikal is difficult to beat when it comes to breaking records. This massive high-altitude rift lake in Siberia is the world’s oldest and deepest lake, reaching a maximum depth of 1,642 metres and estimated to be 25 million years old. Baikal is also the world’s largest freshwater lake, holding more than 20% of the world’s freshwater.
Although Lake Baikal is one of the clearest lakes in the world, this is especially noticeable in winter, when it is possible to see up to 40 metres down into the water in some areas—despite the fact that much of the lake’s surface freezes over for up to five months of the year.
The lake’s water temperature can reach around 16 degrees Celsius for about a month around August, making it ideal for quick dips or short swims. During the rest of the year, however, temperatures typically remain below five degrees Celsius.
Lake Baikal is a popular summer destination for kayaking, boat cruises, and island hopping to explore shorelines and beaches. When the lake freezes over in the winter, visitors can cross-country ski across sections of it and explore the frozen Tazheran Steppes caves.
2. Moscow
Because most international flights arrive or at least stop in Moscow, it’s worthwhile to plan your trip so that you have at least a few hours to explore the city. Russia’s capital is a magnificent mix of greenery, stunning architecture, and numerous historical relics.
Visitors to Moscow usually begin their explorations in the city centre, which includes the Kremlin, Red Square, and the colourful St. Basil’s Cathedral. The glass and steel-roofed GUM shopping mall is also a popular destination—even for tourists who cannot afford the luxury brands sold here—and a great place to try authentic Russian food.
Even if museums aren’t your thing, Moscow has some amazing options worth seeing, such as the State Tretyakov Gallery (which only houses Russian art); the Pushkin Museum (which houses more international collections); and the Kremlin Armory Museum, which houses some unique items, such as Ivan the Terrible’s ivory throne and gold-covered imperial carriages.
If you can get tickets, the Bolshoi Theater, one of the world’s largest ballet and opera houses, is also worth seeing.
Some of Moscow’s best attractions, such as the pedestrian-only shopping street Stary Arbat and the boardwalk along the River Moskva, require some walking to fully appreciate.
The Metro stations in Moscow are works of art in and of themselves, with porcelain relief, crystal chandeliers, and unique mosaic artworks that make these places look like subterranean palaces. Mayakovskaya metro station, with its ceiling mosaics and pink rhodonite columns, and Kiyevskaya metro station, with white marble, frescoes, and elaborate artworks, are two of the most beautiful.
3. St. Peterburg
Although smaller than Moscow, St. Petersburg has so much to offer that seeing it all in one day is often impossible. St. Petersburg feels more European than Moscow, with fine art and exquisite design details mingling with history around every corner. You can explore it on foot to get a close look at the architecture, or you can take a cruise to see some of the 300 kilometres of canals that cut through the imperial city.
Visit Moika Palace (most famous for being the site of Rasputin’s assassination) and the Neoclassical, 19th-century St. Isaac’s Cathedral, which is actually a Russian Orthodox museum, for a stunning display of white and gold colours.
The Hermitage Museum, possibly St. Petersburg’s most famous tourist attraction and the world’s second largest art and culture museum, houses over three million items ranging from prehistoric art (including articles from nomadic tribes in Altai) to Catherine the Great’s art collection.
Peterhof Palace is located about 25 kilometres outside of St. Petersburg and is well worth the day trip. It was built in the early 1700s as Peter the Great’s summer residence and is very similar to the Palace of Versailles in France.
5. Sochi
Sochi, a summer beach resort town on the Black Sea, offers long stretches of pebble and sand beaches, imposing examples of Stalinist architecture, the Kinotavr summer film festival, and plenty of spas and outdoor markets to suit all budgets and tastes. Mzymta, Russia’s longest river, runs through Sochi before emptying into the Black Sea, and it’s a popular rafting destination.
The UNESCO World Heritage Site Caucasian State Nature Biosphere Reserve, just 50 kilometres from Sochi, is home to a number of unique species of flora and fauna, including the endangered Persian leopard.
The nearby Rosa Khutor ski resort is another popular winter destination and a world-class alpine skiing area; the 2014 Winter Olympics were held here.
6. The Russian Tundra
The tundra is a distinct biome that can only be found in or near the Arctic Circle. Temperatures here are so low that trees cannot grow, and only moss, shrubs, and certain types of grasses survive the winter. Most people associate the tundra with permafrost, which means that the ground is permanently frozen. In areas where the top layer of ground melts during the summer, marshes and streams form, resulting in beautiful patches of colourful icy water.
During nesting season, the Russian tundra is home to polar bears, seals, grey wolves, and a diverse birdlife. Over the last few decades, ecotourism has grown in popularity in tundra areas, particularly the Great Arctic State Nature Reserve near Krasnoyarsk Krai, where visitors can explore a variety of environmental routes, try bird-watching, or visit as part of an educational tour.