30 best sights in Russia

Russia is a huge multinational country that attracts attention with beautiful cities with centuries-old history, golden-domed temples and diverse nature.

Who comes to Russia and why

Every year millions of people come to Russia to get acquainted with its cultural and historical heritage. Popular routes are Moscow, St. Petersburg, Veliky Novgorod, the cities of the Golden Ring. There you can see the royal palaces, cathedrals, ancient defensive fortifications, the estates of famous landowners.

Russia is a treasury of world art. Its museums contain truly unique exhibits. The Tretyakov Gallery, the Hermitage and the Faberge Museum daily receive a huge number of tourists who want to see the masterpieces with their own eyes.

Russia has different climatic and natural zones. Travelers can admire the endless ice expanses of the Arctic, relax on the hot coast of the Black Sea, conquer high mountains or go to the taiga. The resorts of the Krasnodar Territory are of great interest. People go to Anapa, Sochi, Gelendzhik to swim in warm sea water, sunbathe on clean beaches, go fishing and water sports.

There are many ski resorts in the country. For winter entertainment, people tend to Sochi, the Murmansk region, Krasnoyarsk, the Urals and the Caucasus. There are slopes of varying difficulty for skiing, as well as snowboarding tracks and cable cars.

Connoisseurs of untouched nature go to the Far East. In the Bystrinsky nature park in Kamchatka, tourists are offered volcano climbing, kayaking, hiking and horseback riding. The Call of the Tiger National Park in Primorsky Krai has 400-year-old cedars, huge waterfalls and fast-flowing rivers. From special towers it is convenient to observe wild animals: the Himalayan bear, the Amur tiger, the red wolf.

Each region of Russia has its own characteristics and deserves close attention, so you won’t be able to quickly explore the sights. In order not to miss anything, it is better to set aside several weeks for the trip and plan the route in advance.

Interesting places

the Red Square

In the center of Moscow is Red Square, which is the symbol of the Russian state. The pedestrian area, paved with stone blocks, is surrounded by beautiful buildings. The central place is occupied by the Spasskaya Tower, from which the crenellated wall of the Kremlin with several smaller turrets extends in both directions.

Walking along it, you can see the granite mausoleum of V. I. Lenin and the necropolis where prominent communist figures are buried.

On the south side of the square rises the multi-headed Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed of the 16th century, the Execution Ground and the sculptural composition «Minin and Pozharsky». On the north side stands the mansion of the Historical Museum, built of red brick.

To the right of it is the Iverskaya Chapel, the Resurrection Gates, the Red Mint. Opposite the Kremlin wall, a three-story GUM building stretches.

Peterhof

The palace and park ensemble in the vicinity of St. Petersburg, which has grown to the size of a small city, is the front residence of Peter I. The Grand Palace is the center of Peterhof. Two monumental staircases depart from its facade, framing the fountain structure — the Grand Cascade, connected to the Sea Canal.

«Cascade» is decorated with 75 fountains, 255 sculptures, numerous bas-reliefs and grottoes. The main figure is considered to be a three-meter statue of Samson tearing apart a lion. Opposite the palace is the Lower Park, which has the Marly Palace, Monplaisir, Catherine’s building, Voronikhinsky colonnades and fountains.

Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin

An ancient fortress rising on a natural hill at the confluence of the Oka and the Volga is the heart of Nizhny Novgorod. The first mention of its construction appeared in the documents of 1374. It was then that the Novgorod prince began the construction of protective structures.

The two-kilometer Kremlin wall had 5 rectangular towers that acted as gates, and 8 blind round towers. Now on the territory of the Kremlin there are authorities, an art museum, historical exhibitions, cafes. Tourists can see the obelisk of Minin and Pozharsky and the Mikhailo-Arkhangelsky Cathedral, founded in the 13th century.

Kazan Kremlin

The Kremlin, built in the 12th century, is located in the center of Kazan. The complex covers an area of ​​150 thousand m². The length of its walls is 2 km, with a thickness of 3 meters and a height of about 6 meters. Outstanding architectural monuments are hidden behind the walls: the Syuyumbike Tower, the Kul Sharif Mosque, the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, the Transfiguration Cathedral, the Transfiguration Monastery.

In the Kazan Kremlin you can admire the Spasskaya Tower with the entrance gate, the Annunciation Cathedral, the Presidential Palace. The territory also houses a historical museum, an art gallery and a museum of Islamic culture.

Kizhi Museum-Reserve in Karelia

The historical and architectural complex on the island of Kizhi is an excellent example of wooden architecture. Initially, it consisted of a bell tower and two churches surrounded by a single fence. The central figure of the ensemble is the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord with 23 domes. The log house was made according to the old Russian tradition without nails — they are found only in domes.

Gradually, the museum was supplemented by Karelian and Russian villages, churches, and chapels brought from other places. Now the island is divided into several sectors. They contain worship crosses, mills, barns, churches made of wood with preserved ancient icons.

Rostov Kremlin

The ensemble was built by order of Metropolitan Iona Sysoevich in the middle of the 17th century. It includes 11 towers and unites the most important historical sites of the city: the main square, the Assumption Cathedral, the Church of St. John the Evangelist, the Holy Gates, the Red Chamber, the Metropolitan Garden and the Bishop’s Court.

The Kremlin has opened a reserve with thematic expositions and exhibitions. There is a museum of church antiquities, a medal cabinet, a museum of Russian merchants. In the warm season, guests can admire Lake Nero and the surrounding area from the observation deck at the top of the Water Tower.

Catherine Palace in Pushkino

The palace and park erected for Catherine I were rebuilt more than once. Its last reconstruction took place according to the project of B. F. Rastrelli. The baroque palace has been restored and welcomes visitors. Guests are shown the Large, Portrait, Picture Halls, the Chinese Living Room, the Green Dining Room, the Main Staircase. The Amber Room is of great interest.

During the Great Patriotic War, the panels were dismantled by the Nazis and lost. The interior of the room was restored for more than 20 years, using Kaliningrad amber for work.

St. Isaac’s Square in St. Petersburg

One of the central squares of St. Petersburg is located in the Admiralteisky district. On it stands the famous St. Isaac’s Cathedral, reaching a height of almost 102 meters. Opposite rises the Mariinsky Palace and the house of Prince Lobanov-Rostovsky.

Marble lions sung by A. S. Pushkin in The Bronze Horseman froze at the main facade. An equestrian sculpture of Emperor Nicholas I is installed in the center of the square, and a square is laid out between St. Isaac’s Cathedral and the monument.

Palace Square

Palace Square is the central place of St. Petersburg. It is surrounded by the Winter Palace, the buildings of the Hermitage, the General Headquarters with the Triumphal Arch, the Guards Corps. Here stands the Pillar of Alexandria, erected in honor of the victory over Napoleon’s army. The column is crowned with a bronze angel piercing a snake with a cross.

Tourists can enjoy the panorama of Palace Square, explore the sculptures on the roof of the Winter Palace and visit the Hermitage.

Temple of the Matrona of the Moscow Intercession Monastery

The Intercession Convent in Moscow was founded in 1635 and revived at the end of the last century. Since 1998, the relics of the blessed old woman Matrona of Moscow have been kept in the church of the monastery. Every day pilgrims come here to heal from diseases and get rid of sorrows.

On the territory of the monastery there is a single-domed Cathedral of the Matrona of Moscow, the Church of the Resurrection of the Word, a three-tiered bell tower. The architectural complex is surrounded by Tagansky Park, which has a source of holy water.

Museums of Russia

Hermitage

The State Hermitage Museum is located on the Palace Square in St. Petersburg. 5 baroque mansions house historical treasures of world importance. Guests can see works of art from different eras, collections of antique statues, bas-reliefs, objects reflecting the cultural specialties of Asia and Europe.

In the Winter Palace, which is part of the Hermitage, you can explore the ceremonial royal apartments, the magnificent decoration of the halls. Alas, to get acquainted with each exhibit of the museum, you will need to spend at least 8 years.

Tretyakov Gallery

The Moscow Tretyakov Gallery has the largest collection of Russian paintings of the 11th — early 20th centuries. Here you can see paintings by Viktor Vasnetsov, Ivan Shishkin, Valentin Serov, Ilya Repin, Nicholas Roerich, Vasily Surikov, Karl Bryullov. The gallery also contains icons, sculptures, graphics.

Permanent and temporary exhibitions introduce the best works of art from different eras and trends.

Faberge Museum

A private Faberge Museum has been opened in the Naryshkin-Shuvalov Palace in St. Petersburg. It consists of 11 halls with 4,000 unique items on display. The pearl of the collection are the imperial Easter eggs created by the firm of Carl Gustav Faberge.

Guests are shown silverware, jewelry, Russian icons. In the museum halls there are paintings by Renoir, I. Aivazovsky, K. Bryullov, K. Korovin.

Diamond fund

There is a permanent exhibition of the Russian Diamond Fund in the Moscow Kremlin. The collection represents state regalia, jewelry and orders. The pride of the Russian treasury are precious stones with a rich history: diamonds «Shah», «Orlov», giant emeralds, sapphires and gems.

Museum visitors have the opportunity to see the family jewels of the royal family, a map of the country lined with diamonds and imperial crowns.

Armouries

The Armory Chamber is located on the territory of the Moscow Kremlin. Even by decree of Emperor Alexander I, a museum was created in it, which contains numerous values ​​\u200b\u200bof the 4th-20th centuries. The basis of the collection are gifts made to the emperor by ambassadors of other countries, objects of arts and crafts, archival documents. Popular exhibits include the Monomakh’s hat, royal carriages, Faberge eggs, and coronation costumes.

Pereslavl-Zalessky Museum-Reserve

In Pereslavl there is a historical and architectural museum, opened in the Assumption Goritsky Monastery in 1918. It preserves ancient Russian icons, wooden sculptures, antique furniture, church utensils, items of noble and peasant life.

The administration of the museum offers excursions designed for different age categories. Guests can take part in entertainment programs, theatrical historical performances and visit branches within the city: the Transfiguration Cathedral, the Ganshin Museum-Estate or the Boat of Peter the Great.

Kunstkamera

in St. Petersburg there is a «cabinet of rarities», opened by order of Peter I. Now it is a museum of anthropology and ethnography, which includes museum halls, a library, an anatomical theater and an astronomical observatory. Tourists are shown a collection of canned freaks, skeletons of Siamese twins and people with physical disabilities.

The Kunstkamera hosts permanent ethnographic exhibitions that tell about the cultural characteristics of the Japanese, Eskimos, Africans, Chinese, Indonesians and native Americans.

Amber Museum in Kaliningrad

Kaliningrad is famous for the largest amber deposit in the world. The museum, established in 1979, is located in a spacious three-story building. The natural-scientific exposition presents samples of amber of various shapes and sizes.

In many exhibits, it is easy to detect parts of plants or insects that got there millions of years ago. The cultural-historical department is designed to display ancient and modern items made of amber.

Stalin’s bunker

At the beginning of the Great Patriotic War in Samara, in conditions of strict secrecy, the construction of a bunker for Joseph Stalin began. In 1990, the bomb shelter was declassified and a museum was opened on its territory. There is an office of the leader, a meeting room, rooms for rest. Inside, the Soviet interior of the forties has been preserved. The underground structure goes 37 meters deep — there are stairs and an elevator for descending.

Experimentanium

The interactive museum in Moscow was created for the study of science by everyone. It is allowed to interact with the exhibits, that is, touch them with your hands, turn them on and off. Adults and children can see installations explaining why sea waves appear, how electricity is generated and how a space rocket is built.

Visitors also have the opportunity to independently conduct chemical and physical experiments, compete with each other in solving puzzles, and enjoy optical illusions.

Natural attractions of Russia

Lake Baikal

In the Irkutsk region there is the largest storage of fresh water — Lake Baikal. The pearl of Russia attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists who want to see the most beautiful landscapes. In summer, people bathe in clear water, go scuba diving, go fishing, explore caves in the nearby mountains, and ride horses.

In winter, they travel across the ice on snowboards, dog sleds and cars. In the vicinity of the lake, children’s health camps are open, for adults there are boarding houses and recreation centers.

Manpupuner

In the Komi Republic, on the Manpupuner plateau, there are 7 mysterious stone pillars of different heights and shapes. Natural formations were formed from rock under the influence of wind, rain and sun hundreds of millions of years ago.

The attraction is located within the Pechoro-Ilychsky Reserve. Travel agencies organize hiking trips to Manpupuner in winter and summer. The route runs through Mount Otorten and the infamous Dyatlov Pass. During a multi-day trek, people live in guest houses or in tents. For those who wish, a helicopter tour is possible.

Valley of Geysers in Kamchatka

In the southern part of Kamchatka, in a deep canyon, there are mud pots, hot springs, waterfalls, lakes and geyser outlets. The ecosystem of the area is biodiverse and vulnerable to any outside influences, so excursions here are strictly limited.

The lucky ones who got into the Valley of Geysers can see the Giant Geyser with their own eyes, throwing up a huge column of hot water, Malachite Grotto and a crack in the ground, from which a high jet of steam rises.

Kungur ice cave

A karst gypsum cave in the Perm region is a popular attraction in the Urals and Siberia. It attracts attention with ice grottoes, stalactites, stalagmites and is surrounded by mystical stories. Its total length is about 5.7 km, but only 1,500 meters are open to tourists.

Inside are underground lakes and galleries adorned with ice crystals. A trip to the Kungur Ice Cave is accompanied by a laser light show and interesting stories from the guide.

Lena Pillars

Hundreds of tourists come to Yakutia to breathe clean air, go fishing and look at the elongated rocks that pile up along the banks of the Lena River. Their height reaches 220 meters, they were formed millions of years ago from limestone rocks and have an unusual striped color.

The Lena Pillars are included in the natural park of the same name, designed to preserve the sights and develop ecotourism. The reserve also found sites of ancient man and bones of prehistoric animals.

Elbrus

In the system of the Caucasus Mountains is the highest peak in Europe and Russia — Mount Elbrus. This is a popular tourist area that attracts climbers and lovers of outdoor activities. The slopes of Elbrus are covered with glaciers and eternal snows.

There are many tourist bases offering skiing, snowboarding, cable car. Those who wish can prepare for climbing Elbrus and conquer the summit with an instructor.

thirty three waterfalls

In Sochi there is a mountain gorge with a cascade of waterfalls reaching a height of 12 meters. The natural monument is included in the Sochi National Park and is protected by law. For the convenience of tourists, a wooden walkway with railings has been laid around the waterfalls.

During the tour, you can stop by the nearest village to try Adyghe cheese, natural wine, and national cuisine. Not far from the waterfalls grows the Tulip tree, planted by General Nikolai Raevsky in 1840.

Entertainment

Gorky Park in Moscow

On the banks of the Moskva River, the central park of the capital is located, designed for sports and recreation. The zone is divided into 4 parts: the main park, Vorobyovy Gory, Neskuchny Garden, Museon Arts Park.

Guests here can play badminton, football and volleyball on the summer playgrounds, rent roller skates, bicycles, ride catamarans in the pond, visit the summer cinema or the Garage Museum of Contemporary Art. The park has a club for young naturalists, an observatory with powerful telescopes, master classes for children and adults in modeling, drawing, and cooking.

Summer garden in St. Petersburg

The summer garden in the northern capital was founded by decree of Peter I. Famous architects and gardeners of that time took part in the project. They managed to create a sample of landscape gardening art, perfectly preserved to this day.

Walking along the alleys, you can see marble sculptures, fountains, a bronze monument to the fabulist Krylov and a statue of Aesop.

Moskvarium

The Capital Center for Marine Biology and Oceanography includes a dolphin swimming area, an aquarium, and a water stage. In the main hall twice a day there is a show with the participation of walruses, dolphins, fur seals and killer whales.

The aquarium has 80 large aquariums, which are home to 7,000 marine life, including moray eels, octopuses, sharks, freshwater fish, rays, jellyfish. Guests are happy to pass through the transparent tunnel and admire the marine life in almost natural conditions.