Tourist Places to Visit in Russia

As the largest country in the whole wide world, Russia has an array of experiences on offer, all in one breath-taking landscape. From glacier-capped mountains to trekking on the slopes, Russia promises a travel experience you are bound to remember for years to come. If magnificence is what you seek, here is a list of places to visit in Russia that you should definitely consider:

1. Mount Elbrus

Mount Elbrus is situated in Southern Russia in the Caucasus Mountain Range. It finds its name in the list of Seven Summits which are the highest summits in all the continents of the earth. Appealing to both novice and experienced mountain climbers, the mountain is one of the best places to visit in Russia and is among the more accessible ones of the seven summits.

This mountain was made from a volcano, a dormant one with no reported eruptions. At 5,642 meters, the mountain is a towering beauty which you can visit through a cable car system that takes you several meters up, for you to admire it to your heart’s content.

2. Kizhi Island

Kizhi Island is situated in Karelia, a region in North western Russia. While the Island is famous for its fascinating open-air museum, another intriguing aspect here is the peasant culture that is represented by folk ensembles and craft demonstrations.

Other remarkable tourist attractions in the area are the spectacular windmills, intricate wooden houses chapels, and barns. Kizhi Islands, without a speck of doubt, is one of the best tourist places in Russia to see beautiful structures dating back to the 14^th century.

3. Valley of Geysers

Located in the Russian Far East on the Kamchatka Peninsula, the Valley of Geysers is the second largest geyser field in the entire world. Since the time it was discovered by a local scientist in 1941, it has gradually turned into one of the top places to visit in Russia. Tourists and scientists from all over the world visit the place because of the amount of interest it draws. Upon visiting the Valley of Geysers, you are in for one of the sights of your life - approximately 200 active and colourful geysers with several hot-water springs working together to create a visual spectacle that Mother Nature will be proud of.

4. Lake Baikal

The oldest and deepest lake on the earth, Lake Baikal is on the travel wish list of many. An interesting fact to note here is that the lake holds about 20% of the total fresh water in the world. Situated in Siberia, the lake has stunning mountain ranges in its surroundings, making for a breathtaking view. Being a 25-million-year-old lake, the lake is one of the clearest lakes in the world. It is without any doubt one of the best places to see in Russia or on the planet and looks even more beautiful in winter - like a fairy tale with transparent ice and freezing temperatures and bright sunshine all at the same time.

5. St Sophia Cathedral, Novgorod

One of the oldest cities of Russia, Novgorod houses the Saint Sophia Cathedral. Standing at 125 feet, the cathedral has a total of five magnificent domes. Dating back to the 12^th century, the three gates of the cathedral are ornately carved especially the west doors that have portraits of the artists and miniature cast-bronze biblical scenes. Being the oldest church building in the country, it is unquestionably one of the most interesting places to visit in Russia where you get to see ancient religious artifacts.

6. Hermitage Museum

The Hermitage Museum was founded by Catherine the Great. Being one of the most exciting places to see in Russia, the museum showcases a collection of over 3 million pieces. These collections are present in a big complex that has a number of historic buildings. One of the buildings here is the Winter Palace where the Russian emperors resided once. The museum is located in Saint Petersburg and looks breathtakingly beautiful.

After you are done visiting the museum, you can then head to discovering the other parts of Saint Petersburg. It is the second largest city in Russia depicting a lot in terms of history, culture, and art. Rest assured as you will always have things to do in Saint Petersburg, such as go to the interesting ballet shows and opera.

7. Saint Basil's Cathedral

Situated in Moscow, the St. Basil’s Cathedral was constructed between the years 1555 and 1561. Being one of the most prominent tourist places in Russia that you get to hear a lot about, the unique architecture of the building attracts people from all over the world. Looking at how colours have been merged with the architectural bits, you will be hard pressed to find something as distinctive as the St. Basil’s Cathedral.

8. Sochi

Sochi became famous worldwide because it hosted the Winter Olympics in the year 2014. Being the biggest summer resort destination of Russia, Sochi is one of the best places to visit in Russia from May to September. The weather is warm during these months and people get to relax on the beaches. However, its thought-provoking monuments, museums, and the Stalinist-period buildings can be visited during other times of the year as well. You can also visit the Sochi National Park where you can see remarkable caves, picturesque mountains, and wildlife.

9. Trans-Siberian Railway

Trans-Siberian Railway was originally meant to connect Moscow with the city of Vladivostok, and today it stands as a popular mode of travel through Russia. Journey on the Trans-Siberian is enthralling and offers scenic views of the country. The train stops usually around every 3-4 hours so that the passengers can eat and stretch their legs a bit. Do not forget to travel in this railway to scope out the beautiful Russian landscape. Get Russia holiday packages to experience the same.

 10. Moscow

If you need an insight into the Russian culture, visit the country’s capital, Moscow. Being the largest city in Russia, Moscow is dotted by noteworthy monuments and significant historic buildings.

One of the stand-out attractions here is the Kremlin which is located in the centre of the city. The Kremlin houses historical buildings, churches, museums, and many other interesting structures. It also has the famous Red Square in its vicinity. The Red Square offers a great view of the Kremlin, St. Basil’s Cathedral, other iconic structures, and all the big streets radiate from this very place. Also, during your time in Moscow, do make the most of the shopping centres, bars, and restaurants that have come up in recent years. To make the most of it, do as the locals do. One of the best places to visit in Russia, Moscow has something in store for every kind of traveller.

If you happen to be the kind of traveller who plans every excursion, then the best time to visit these places in Russia is from May to September as the temperature is on the warmer side at the time. Plan it well, and you will have the time you need to revel in the magnificence that Russia has on offer.