40 most interesting cities in Russia for travel
Miscellaneous / / August 21, 2022
A great guide with unbeaten places to stay that will surprise you: from thousand-year-old fortresses to mini-copies of Europe.
What is this guide
There are more than a thousand cities in Russia, but when choosing a place to stay, they usually remember Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan and resorts on the Black Sea. We have collected 40 alternative destinations in different regions of the country. Traveling through each of them will surely leave a lot of impressions.
Some cities can be explored over the weekend, while somewhere it is better to stay longer. For a long trip, choose several points on the map at once and get ready to rediscover Russia.
Vologda
The capital of the Vologda Oblast, founded in the middle of the 12th century, is a 6-hour drive from Moscow and an 8-hour drive from St. Petersburg. The city has more than two hundred architectural and historical monuments: monasteries, stone churches and old houses with palisades - carved wooden fences. Here you can visit ethnographic museums and festivals, learn more about the culture and traditions of the Russian North.
How to get there: by plane from Moscow or by train from Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Where to live: in a cozy apartment for four next to the Kremlin 3 450 rubles, spa hotel room for 3 585 rubles or a compact studio for 1 943.
Things to do in the city:
- Bypass the Vologda Kremlin, laid down Ivan the Terrible, see St. Sophia Cathedral and climb its bell tower, see the Bishop's Court complex and the Church of the Intercession at the 18th century market.
- Go on an excursion to the center of folk crafts "Carved palisade", the lace museum, the museum of frescoes and the house-museum of Peter I.
- Find monuments of wooden architecture on the streets of Vologda - peasant huts and rich merchant houses, decorated with carvings.
- Visit the Lazy Square - the center of the settlement of the XV-XVI centuries, located on the bend of the Vologda River. Now this place is equipped with an observation deck, from where you can see the panorama of the city.
- Walk along the embankment of the Vologda River, cross the pedestrian bridge and look at the funny monument to the electric lantern.
- See Vologda churches - the Church of Constantine and Helena, the churches of the Ilyinsky parish, the church of St. John the Baptist and others.
What to bring from Vologda: Vologda lace, home textiles and linen clothes, Kurakin ceramics, caskets and dishes decorated with Vologda enamel - colored enamel painting.
Velikiy Novgorod
Veliky Novgorod is one of the oldest cities in the country; it is already 1,163 years old. Novgorod has a rich history, it was the most important trading center of Ancient Russia and a place where urgedRurik / Big Russian Encyclopedia for the reign of Rurik.
Numerous architectural monuments help to plunge into the atmosphere of the ancient principality. During the Mongol invasion, the Horde army did not reach Novgorod, so the temples of the 11th-12th centuries have been perfectly preserved to this day.
How to get there: on the bus or train from Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Where to live: in a bright one-room apartment 4 000 rubles, a four-star hotel room for 5 600 rubles or a double hostel room for 2 200.
Things to do in the city:
- Go on a tour of the Novgorod Kremlin - citadel, see the Magdeburg Gates of St. Sophia Cathedral and the monument "Millennium of Russia".
- Take a walk in the Kremlin park and stop at the fountain "Sadko and Princess Volkhova".
- From the Kremlin, cross the pedestrian bridge across the Volkhov River and explore the ancient buildings on the Trade Side.
- Take a ride on a river tram along the Volkhov and look at the city from the water.
- Walk along the renovated embankment near the Novgorod Drama Theater and appreciate its unusual building in the Soviet style modernism.
- Go to the museum of wooden architecture "Vitoslavlitsy" and visit the St. George's Monastery.
- Try sbiten, tinctures, gray cabbage soup and fish from Lake Ilmen.
What to bring from Veliky Novgorod: liqueurs and tinctures from the Alkon factory, Ivan-tea, game delicacies, baskets and boxes made of birch bark, Valdai bells, tablecloths and towels with Krestets stitching.
Staraya Russa
This small but remarkable resort town is located 100 kilometers from Veliky Novgorod. Staraya Russa is known for its ancient history and mineral springs with healing waters. And the name of the city is definitely familiar to fans of Dostoevsky - it was here that he wrote the chapters of "Demons", "Teenager" and "The Brothers Karamazov".
How to get there: on the train from Moscow or bus from Saint-Petersburg.
Where to live: The choice of housing in the city is extremely scarce, but the prices are low. A hotel room with an old-fashioned interior will cost 2 700 rubles, a night in a slightly more modern hotel with breakfast for two will cost 3 500 rubles.
Things to do in the city:
- Take a walk in the spa park and try mineral water in the drinking gallery.
- Take a tour of the house-museum of Dostoevsky and the "Estate of the medieval Rushan".
- See the ensemble of the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery, the Resurrection Cathedral, St. George and Trinity Churches.
- Climb to the observation deck in the water tower and see the city from above.
What to bring from Staraya Russa: old Russian salt, printed gingerbread, sbiten, Ivan tea, postcards with quotes from Dostoevsky, handmade soap.
Pskov
Next to Novgorod lies another ancient city - Pskov. The first mention of this important commercial and defensive center on the Velikaya appliesPskov / Great Russian Encyclopedia by the 10th century. Pskov is famous for its architectural monuments and original school of icon painting, which is distinguished by rich colors and dramatic images.
How to get there: from Moscow to train or airplane, from St. Petersburg — to bus or electric train.
Where to live: there are not too many hotels in Pskov, you have to pay for a room in one of them 4 200 rubles. The alternative is a separate apartment, there are many options. For example, there are spacious apartments for four 3 300 rubles.
Things to do in the city:
- Explore the impregnable Pskov Kremlin Krom and the adjoining city of Dovmontov, a fortification of the 13th century.
- See the monuments of medieval architecture - the Gremyachaya Tower, Pogankin's Chambers and the buildings of the Roundabout City.
- Learn about the intricacies of the craft at the Blacksmith's Yard.
- Walk along the arboretum and the embankment of the Velikaya River.
- Go to "Mikhailovskoye" - the estate of the Pushkin family - and visit the grave poet.
- See the ancient Pskov churches from the UNESCO list - the cathedrals of John the Baptist, the Transfiguration of the Lord and the Nativity of the Virgin, the churches of Cosmas and Damian, the Protection of the Prolom, Nicholas from Usokha and others.
What to bring from Pskov: dishes from the Pskov Gonchar factory, souvenirs made of wood and birch bark, linen textiles, forged decor for the interior.
Vyborg
This city on the shores of the Gulf of Finland at various times was part of Sweden and Finland. Here you can feel the mood of a medieval European town and look at lock XIII century, old paving stones, town hall, houses with colored roofs and fabulous towers.
How to get there: by train or bus from St. Petersburg.
Where to live: the city is easy to see in a day. For those who want to stay in Vyborg for the night, there are not too many options. There is a hotel for 4 600 rubles, a separate house with a terrace on the outskirts of 2 800 and apartments in the center 4 000 rubles.
Things to do in the city:
- Visit the central city library, designed by the Finnish architect Alvar Aalto.
- Take a walk in the Mon Repos park and go boating.
- Explore the Vyborg Castle and climb to the observation deck in St. Olaf's Tower.
- See the old buildings - the Burger's estate, the Round Tower, the City Hall, the Clock Tower, the "Witch's House" and the house of the merchant Buttengoff.
- Take pictures at the monuments to the elk and the Vyborg tram.
What to bring from Vyborg: Vyborg kalach, glög and mead, ceramic dishes.
Sortavala
This small town in the western part of Karelia is the starting point for a trip to the island of Valaam and to the mountain park "Ruskeala». But Sortavala is interesting in itself, so it's worth staying here for a while. Until the 1940s, the city was part of Finland, so the architecture is very eclectic: typical Soviet houses coexist with northern modern and functionalist buildings. Sortavala is surrounded by Karelian nature - blue lakes, mountains and forests.
How to get there: from Moscow to train or from St. Petersburg to bus or electric train.
Where to live: in the city itself there are a couple of rather old hotels and several dozen apartments for daily rent. For example, a three-room apartment in the center will cost 5 500 rubles. But we advise you to stay in the surroundings, at recreation centers with a bath, barbecue and other country pleasures. Cottage for three in one of them can be rented for 6 500 rubles.
Things to do in the city:
- Go for a walk in the Vakkosalmi park, climb Mount Kuhavuori and look at the city and Lake Ladoga from above.
- Go to the local history museum of the Northern Ladoga region with expositions about the history of Sortavala and the life of the Karelians - the indigenous people of the republic.
- Go around the center of Sortavala to look at the St. Nicholas Church, the buildings of the former town hall, the women's gymnasium and the Finnish Bank, the houses of Leander and Siitonen.
- Wander along the embankment of Lake Ladoga and ask the Wishing Stone for a dream come true.
What to bring from Sortavala: smoked trout, red caviar, Karelian balsam, cloudberry jam, caskets and dishes made of Karelian birch, jewelry and figurines made of shungite, aprons and towels with Zaonezhskaya embroidery, a charm doll.
Tula
This city, 180 kilometers from Moscow, is associated with three things: printed gingerbread, samovars and the famous arms factory. But besides sweet tastings, tea parties and viewing cannons, travelers will have something to do. In recent years, Tula has been actively landscaped, modern spaces, restaurants and bars have appeared here.
How to get there: by train or bus from Moscow.
Where to live: in Tula you will find housing for any budget. A room in a four-star hotel in the center costs 5 700 rubles, one-room apartment 2 400, and the hostel 1 400.
Things to do in the city:
- Visit the Tula Kremlin, see the towers and the Assumption Cathedral.
- Go to the State Museum of Weapons and the Museum of Samovars.
- Look into the "Old Tula Pharmacy", take a picture at the monument to the mother-in-law and the sculpture "Lefty Shoe a Flea".
- Go to a lecture, master class or concert at the Oktava creative cluster.
- Arrange a walk along the Kazanskaya embankment and the Central Park of Culture and Leisure named after P.I. P. Belousov.
- Dine in one of the establishments of the urban space "Iskra".
- Go to the museum-reserve "Yasnaya Polyana" and see the estate Lev Tolstoy.
What to bring from Tula: Tula gingerbread, Belyov pastila, samovar, Belyov lace, clay toys and birch bark souvenirs.
Suzdal
Dozens of films have been shot in this city of the Golden Ring of Russia: from Balzaminov's Marriage to The Tsar Pavel Lungin. The white-stone Kremlin and many temples and monasteries of the 17th-18th centuries are ready-made scenery for historical dramas and Russian folk tales. You can get to Suzdal from Moscow in just 3 hours, so the city is ideal for a short but eventful trip.
How to get there: on the bus from Moscow.
Where to live: usually there are a lot of tourists in Suzdal, so the choice of accommodation is excellent. There are several small comfortable hotels, a room will cost 3 500 rubles. One-room apartment 2 600, and a private house for four - 5 500.
Things to do in the city:
- Get around the architectural monuments - the Suzdal Kremlin, Spaso-Evfimiev, Pokrovsky and Alexander monasteries, the Church of the Resurrection, Constantine and Helena, St. Antipy and others.
- Go to Market Square for mead, jam, pickles and dried mushrooms.
- Sign up for a master class at Dymov Keramika or the Center for Folk Art and make dishes and traditional Russian toys with your own hands.
- Look at the city from the Reverend Bell Tower.
- Go to the Shchurovo Settlement Museum and the Museum of Wooden Architecture.
- In summer, see the flowering of the Ilyinsky meadow.
What to bring from Suzdal: mead, Dymovskaya ceramics, patchwork quilts and oven mitts, birch bark and wooden utensils, kokoshnik, knitted mittens and socks.
Sergiev Posad
Another city of the Golden Ring for lovers of Russian antiquity, this time in the Moscow region. Its name is associated with the name of Sergius of Radonezh, the founder of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the main attraction of the city. Sergiev Posad is also called the capital of Russian toys, there is even a version that it was here that the matryoshka was invented.
How to get there: by train or bus from Moscow.
Where to live: the city is a godsend for travelers on a budget. The studio is in the center 2 000 rubles, and a room in a three-star hotel - 2 400.
Things to do in the city:
- Visit the temples of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra and the Gethsemane Chernigov Skete, draw water from the monastery springs.
- Go to the toy museum, the Horse Yard complex, where you can look at Russian arts and crafts, Sergiev Posad State Museum-Reserve and "Sergievskaya Kukhmisterskaya" - museum-cafe with 19th century entourage century.
- Climb to the observation deck on Blinnaya Gora and relax on the banks of the White Pond.
- Go to the Gremyachiy Klyuch waterfall and the Abramtsevo estate, where Gogol, Turgenev, Repin and Vasnetsov were guests.
- Wander along Red Army Avenue and look at the white-stone churches.
What to bring from Sergiev Posad: Zagorsk nesting dolls, Bogorodsk bears and other traditional toys, porcelain and wooden utensils, icons, painted boxes, woolen shawls.
Kolomna
Another option for a short trip from Moscow is Kolomna, you can get here from the capital in just a couple of hours. The city was founded in the 12th century at the junction of the Moscow and Oka rivers. Kolomna used to be at the crossroads of important trade routes. In the Middle Ages, it was one of the richest cities in the Moscow principality, so its streets are decorated with the works of the best Russian and Italian architects.
How to get there: by train or bus from Moscow.
Where to live: for example, in one of the hotels a room can be rented for 3 000 rubles. A little cheaper than individual apartments, a two-room apartment will cost 2 600.
Things to do in the city:
- See the temples and chambers of the Kolomna Kremlin.
- Try kalachi in "Kalachnaya" and marshmallows in the museum "Kolomenskaya pastila".
- Evaluate the expositions in the tram museum, "Samovar House", "Blacksmith's Settlement".
- Walk through the center past the Pyatnitsky Gates, Cathedral Square, the Church of St. Nicholas on Posada and ancient wooden houses decorated with carvings, relax at the Shevlyaginskaya pool - a monument to the historical plumbing.
What to bring from Kolomna: marshmallow, gingerbread, rolls, sbiten and cider, handmade soap and cosmetics, forged products of Kolomna blacksmiths.
Zaraysk
In Suzdal, Sergiev Posad and Kolomna, there is no end to tourists all year round, but neighboring Zaraysk, located on the right bank of the Osetr River, is undeservedly deprived of attention. There may be less entertainment, restaurants and modern museums, but the city has no less unique architecture and interesting ancient history.
How to get there: by bus from Moscow.
Where to live: there are big problems with housing in the city, so it’s better to explore Zaraysk in a day and return to Moscow in the evening. But if you look carefully, you can find options. For example, a guest house in the city for 2 000 rubles.
Things to do in the city:
- Explore the Zaraisky Kremlin and see St. Nicholas Cathedral, built in the 13th century.
- Plunge into the waters of the holy spring "White Well".
- Ride a dog sled and feed the goats at the Svyatopol Zoo.
- Go to the house-museum FROM. Golubkina, a Zaraisk sculptor.
- Climb to the observation deck in the water tower built in the early 20th century.
- Walk around the city center and look at merchant houses, Gostiny Dvor, the Zemstvo building, the Church of the Trinity and the Annunciation.
- Look at the Zaraisk site of the Upper Paleolithic - an archaeological monument of world importance, where figurines made of mammoth tusks, tools made of stone and bones, and other valuable finds were found.
What to bring from Zaraysk: honey gingerbread, ceramic figurines and hand-painted plates.
Vladimir
The pearl of the Golden Ring is located 176 kilometers from Moscow on the high bank of the Klyazma. It is worth coming here to see Vladimir's white-stone churches - masterpieces of ancient Russian architecture and UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
How to get there: by train or bus from Moscow.
Where to live: at the hotel for 2 800 rubles per day, one-room apartment in the center for 2 300 rubles or hostel for 1 100.
Things to do in the city:
- Take a look at the frescoes of Andrei Rublev in the Assumption Cathedral, go through the Golden Gates, look at the stone carvings of the Dmitrievsky Cathedral and the Church of the Intercession on the Nerl in Bogolyubovo.
- Go around the Pushkin Park and the Patriarchal Garden, founded by order of Andrei Bogolyubsky.
- View the water tower of engineer Zharov, the Catholic Cathedral of the Holy Rosary, the building of the City Council and the Nikitskaya Church.
- See the city from above - from the cabin of the Ferris wheel or from the observation deck on Georgievskaya Street.
- Go to the Historical Museum, the Museum of the Spoon and the Old Pharmacy.
- Approach the walls of the Vladimir Central - the same prison from the song of Mikhail Krug.
What to bring from Vladimir: wicker baskets and furniture, dining rooms silverware, towels and pillows decorated with Vladimir smoothness, caskets with Mstyora lacquer miniatures, Kovrov clay toys, glasses and vases made of Gusev crystal, cherry jam and herbal teas.
Smolensk
Smolensk is located in the upper reaches of the Dnieper, 400 kilometers from Moscow. The city is more than 1,000 years old, and numerous wars have left an important mark on its long history. Smolensk more than once had to heroically defend itself and cover the capital from the west, which is why it is often called the shield of Russia.
How to get there: by train or bus from Moscow.
Where to live: no frills hotel room worth 1 800 rubles, a four-star hotel with a swimming pool already 4 700, studio in the center - 2 400.
Things to do in the city:
- Climb the Smolensk fortress wall, built by the architect Fyodor Kon at the beginning of the 17th century.
- Walk along the Dnieper embankment and Bolshaya Sovetskaya Street, make a stop at the Cathedral Hill and admire the Assumption Cathedral.
- Go on an excursion to the art gallery, the Smolensky Len Museum and the historical one.
- Visit the church of Michael the Archangel, the church of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Peter and Paul and Varvara churches.
- Take a ride on the Ferris wheel in Lopatinsky Garden.
What to bring from Smolensk: linen bags, towels and tablecloths, earthenware, Vyazma gingerbread, Kardymov beer.
Tver
This ancient Russian city is located between Moscow and St. Petersburg and is well suited for a short trip. In a couple of days in Tver, you can admire the wide Volga, take a leisurely walk along the green streets, see architectural monuments and look into several interesting museums.
How to get there: by train or bus from Moscow.
Where to live: in a four-star hotel room 2 600 rubles, one-room apartment in the center for 1 900 or a capsule hostel, like in Japan, for 800.
Things to do in the city:
- Take a walk along the Afanasy Nikitin embankment and look at the building of the river station, cross the Old Bridge to the opposite side of the Volga, take a boat ride and a Ferris wheel.
- Go on an excursion to the regional art gallery in the Travel Palace, where Catherine II and Alexander I stayed.
- Go to the Goat Museum and Plyushkin Museum.
- Walk along Radishchev Boulevard and Tver Arbat - Trekhsvyatskaya Street, take pictures with the monument to Mikhail Krug.
- See the Ascension Cathedral of the 18th century, the White Trinity Church built in the 16th century, the Cathedral Mosque and the unusual building of the Catholic Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord.
- Take atmospheric photos in the historical quarter of the Proletarka Yard.
What to bring from Tver: a figure of a goat - an unofficial symbol of Tver, dishes from the Konakovo faience factory, Tver figured gingerbread, tinctures and Ivan Chai.
Vyshny Volochyok
Vyshny Volochyok, a small town on the Tsna River, is located a 2-hour drive from Tver. Because of the well-preserved historical buildings, many canals and small bridges, it is called the Russian Venice.
How to get there: on the train or by bus from Moscow.
Where to live: the choice of housing is very limited, of the available options there is a simple hotel with rooms for 1 558 rubles and a guest house with rooms for 2 500.
Things to do in the city:
- Visit the Kazan Convent founded in the 19th century.
- Take a walk along the canals and see the Tsnin Beishlot - one of the oldest hydraulic structures in Russia.
- View the building of the Drama Theatre, the Cathedral of the Epiphany, the wooden mansion of the Ryabushinskys, the Torgovye Rows and the abandoned estate of the shipbuilder Serdyukov of the 18th century.
- Look into the glass museum of the Krasny May factory and the Russian felt boots museum.
What to bring from Vyshny Volochek: felt boots and felt toys, glass vases, figurines and glasses from the Krasny May factory, Old Kashin balm.
Torzhok
In about an hour from Vyshny Volochek, you can get to another interesting city in the Tver region - Torzhok. First of all, he is known for gold embroidery - hand embroidery with the finest threads coated with gold and silver. Local craftswomen have been engaged in this traditional craft since the 12th-13th centuries. Also in Torzhok, architectural monuments of the 17th-19th centuries have been preserved. Not all of them are in excellent condition, but this gives the city a special atmosphere.
How to get there: by train or bus from Moscow to Tver, from there another hour and a half by bus.
Where to live: Torzhok, like Vyshny Volochek, does not have a developed tourist infrastructure. There are a couple of hotels, you can rent a room there for 4 200 rubles, and a hostel with places for 1 095.
Things to do in the city:
- Go on a tour of the museum "Torzhok gold embroiderers" and the "House of the Belt".
- Walk along Tveretskaya embankment and see merchant houses.
- Visit the Borisoglebsky Monastery, founded in 1038.
- Look at the wooden Old Ascension Church and climb the bell tower of the Church of the Savior Not Made by Hands.
- Look into the Pozharsky hotel and try the very cutlets for which A. FROM. Pushkin and Nicholas I.
- Go to the museum of wooden architecture "Vasilevo" and walk along the stone bridge, where they filmed the battle scene from "night watch».
What to bring from Torzhok: gold-embroidered bags, purses, scarves and pillows, linen home textiles, dishes made of birch bark and wicker.
Rybinsk
This city in the Yaroslavl region is jokingly called the dream of an urbanist. The reason is the signs in the historical center of Rybinsk, which are decorated in a single pre-revolutionary style and fit perfectly into the architecture of the area. But this is not the only thing the city is remarkable for. Here you can see one of the largest reservoirs in the world, look at unusual buildings of the 18th-19th centuries and take a leisurely walk along the Volga embankment.
How to get there: on the bus from Moscow.
Where to live: there are few hotels in Rybinsk, they will ask for a room in the central area 2 975 rubles. It is more profitable to rent an apartment, for example, there is a good option for 2 100 rubles.
Things to do in the city:
- Visit the museumNobels and the Nobel Movement” and the Rybinsk Museum-Reserve in the elegant building of the former grain exchange.
- See the Rybinsk tower, the Transfiguration Cathedral, the "Moorish Castle" and the neo-Gothic Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
- Walk along the Volga embankment and the Rybinsk bridge, take a boat ride along the Volga.
- Examine the signboards on Red Square, Krestovaya and Stoialaya streets.
- Visit the Rybinsk hydroelectric power station.
- Feed the swans in the Karyakinsky park.
What to bring from Rybinsk: smoked and dried fish, plates and boards in the form of fish, ceramic figurines and dishes.
Plyos
Plyos is a small and incredibly popular city on the banks of the Volga in the Ivanovo region. Lives here no more 2,000 peoplePopulation of the Russian Federation by municipalities / Federal State Statistics Service, but travelers in Plyos dozens of times moreNamed small towns, where one inhabitant accounts for the most tourists / RIA Novostithan local residents. People come here to enjoy the atmosphere of a quiet and cozy city, to see ancient Orthodox churches and elegant merchant shops and estates. And Plyos is also called the city of artists, Levitan, Repin, Savrasov, Vasilyev and others were inspired by its landscapes.
How to get there: first from Moscow to bus or train to Ivanovo, from there another hour and a half by bus.
Where to live: due to high demand, housing prices in Plyos are not encouraging, while the choice is definitely not impressive. For a day in a hotel you have to pay 6 500 rubles, for apartments with a fireplace — 7 500, and for a private house with a veranda and a view of the river - 12 500.
Things to do in the city:
- Take a boat ride along the Volga, swim and sunbathe on the Central Beach.
- Try local cafes ear from the Volga fish, kulebyaku and corners - small open pies.
- Look at the paintings in the House Museum of Isaac Levitan and the Museum of Landscape.
- Walk along the embankment and enjoy the view of the Volga from Mount Levitan.
- Take a walk along the Torgovaya Square and Kalashnaya Street and see the old buildings.
What to bring from Plyos: smoked and dried fish, paintings, linen tablecloths and towels, birch bark souvenirs, wooden utensils.
Kostroma
Kostroma is one of the cities of the Golden Ring, a major river port on the Volga, the center of the linen industry and the official homeland of the Snow Maiden. Here you can see dozens of architectural monuments: from ancient wooden churches to fabulous buildings in the neo-Russian style.
How to get there: by train or bus from Moscow.
Where to live: night in a four-star hotel with breakfast for two 4 750 rubles, apartments for four - 4 300, and the studio 2 500.
Things to do in the city:
- Visit Holy Trinity Ipatiev and Bogoyavlensko-Anastasia monasteries.
- Take a walk along Susaninskaya Square, look at the fire tower, shopping malls, the building of the guardhouse and the house of Borshov of the 19th century.
- Meet the sunset on the Volga embankment and enjoy the views from Ostrovsky's pavilion.
- Go to the Cheese Museum and the Romanov Museum.
- Look at the wooden temples and houses in the Kostroma Sloboda Museum-Reserve and go to the Berendeevka Park.
What to bring from Kostroma: Kostroma cheese, linen clothes and textiles, silver jewelry with Krasnoselsk filigree, felt boots, Petrovsky clay toys.
Samara
Samara is one of the largest cities in the Volga region, an industrial and scientific center, the birthplace of the button accordion and the famous Zhigulevskoye beer. The city surprises with its versatility: here you can relax on the beach and go skiing. And also see a real rocket, one of the most bigThe Largest City Squares In The World / WorldAtlas areas in Europe and even a small piece of Germany.
How to get there: by plane from Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Where to live: in Samara there are options for every taste and budget. For example, a night in a four-star hotel with a swimming pool and a king size bed costs 7 500 rubles, the hotel is more modest - 3 400, one-room apartment 2 950, and a double room in a hostel - 1 300.
Things to do in the city:
- Walk along the Volga embankment, look at the “Rook” stele, monuments to Comrade Sukhov, barge haulers and Prince Grigory Zasekin, relax on the city beach.
- Take a look at Samara from the Helicopter - an observation deck on the site of the former heliport.
- Take a walk along Revolution Square and the pedestrian Leningradskaya Street.
- See a neo-Gothic Polish church, a half-timbered house, a house with elephants and a Moorish-style choral synagogue.
- Look at the Soyuz rocket in the Space Samara Museum and Exhibition Complex.
- Go on a tour of the Zhiguli brewery and bunker Stalin.
What to bring from Samara: Zhiguli beer, Volga fish, sweets from the Samara Confectioner confectionery factory, astronaut food in tubes, Samara clay toys.
Ulyanovsk
Ulyanovsk, the aviation capital of Russia, is located north of Samara on the banks of the Volga. It is not as popular with tourists as neighboring Kazan, but it is also not bad: the city is very green, with preserved historical buildings in the center, unusual details and sights.
How to get there: by plane from Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Where to live: a day in a four-star hotel of a large chain costs 6 000 rubles, in a simple hotel with a good location - 2 300. There are many apartments for daily rent in the city, a two-room apartment costs 2 500.
Things to do in the city:
- To study the aircraft in the Museum of the History of Civil Aviation and go to the house-museum of V. AND. Lenin.
- Walk along Novy Venets Boulevard, look at the Volga, the Presidential and Imperial bridges, take pictures at the monument to the letter “Yo”.
- Consider wooden houses on Lenin and Leo Tolstoy streets.
- Take a ride on a Ferris wheel near the Aquamall shopping center and look at the Sviyaga River from a height, rent a catamaran or a boat.
What to bring from Ulyanovsk: jewelry and souvenirs from the Volga amber simbircite, Lenin's cap, aircraft models, gingerbread cookies.
Bulgarian
It may seem that this photo was taken somewhere in India, but in fact it is a city on the banks of the Volga, a couple of hours drive from Kazan. Bolgar has a rich history, once the capital of the Volga Bulgaria and the Golden Horde was located here, and the historical and archaeological complex of the city is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Bolgar is small, you can get around in a day, so include it in your travel itinerary around Tatarstan. It will be possible to get from Kazan to Bolgar by water, in the summer we advise you to choose this particular method.
How to get there: by plane from Moscow and St. Petersburg to Kazan, then 2 hours by Meteor or 3.5 hours by bus.
Where to live: most often people come to Bolgar for a day from Kazan, so there are only a couple of hotels in the city itself. A room in one of them will cost 2 500 rubles.
Things to do in the city:
- Admire the White Mosque, visit the mausoleums and chambers of the Bolgar settlement.
- Go on excursions to the bread museum, the Koran museum and craft workshops.
- Walk along the Volga embankment and look at the new building of the river station.
- Go to the Camel Kingdom farm to interact with the animals.
What to bring from Bulgaria: chak-chak, camel milk cosmetics, camel wool pillows and blankets, Tatar skullcaps, painted plates.
Yelabuga
We recommend making another stop during your trip around Tatarstan in Yelabuga. The city is located near Naberezhnye Chelny, on the high bank of the Kama. Historical buildings are well preserved in Yelabuga, and the fates of many famous people are also connected with the city. For example, the artist Ivan Shishkin was born here and the cavalry girl Nadezhda Durova lived here.
How to get there: by plane from Moscow and St. Petersburg to Kazan, then 3 hours by bus.
Where to live: There are very few options for travelers. There are a couple of hotels, a room will cost 2 800 rubles. Try to find an apartment, for example, a two-room apartment in the center costs 3 000.
Things to do in the city:
- Look at the remains of the ancient Bulgarian fortress in the Devil's settlement and enjoy the view of the Kama.
- Visit the Museum-Estate of Nadezhda Durova, the Ivan Shishkin House-Museum, the Marina Tsvetaeva Literary Museum, the Portomoynia Museum and the Vladimir Bekhterev Museum of District Medicine.
- arrange picnic at the Shishkinskiye Ponds.
- See the Cathedral of the Savior and the building of the Diocesan Women's School in the Vyatka Baroque style.
What to bring from Yelabuga: Yelabuga gingerbread with fruit filling, “Yelabuga fly” - a small glass on a thin stem, dolls in national costumes, baskets made of birch bark, works of craftsmen from the annual Spassky Fair - ceramics, down scarves, leather goods and vines.
Yoshkar-Ola
How to visit Amsterdam, Venice, Bruges and Moscow in one day? Come to Yoshkar-Ola, the capital of Mari El, where you can see copies of European buildings and meet Yoshka's cat.
How to get there: by plane from Moscow.
Where to live: there are a couple dozen budget hotels in the city, you can find a room with breakfast for 2 500 rubles per day. Separate flat in the center will cost about the same amount.
Things to do in the city:
- Look at the Patriarchal Square, the clock "12 Apostles" with moving sculptures, the fountain of Peter and Fevronia and the building of the puppet theater, stylized as the German Neuschwanstein castle.
- Photograph the view of the Bruges waterfront and appreciate the monument to Grace Kelly and the Prince of Monaco.
- Walk along Chavaina Boulevard and see a copy of the Spasskaya Tower.
- Go on an excursion to the National Art Gallery, made in the Venetian style, and rub Yoshka's cat sculpture for good luck.
- Come to the fair in the Tsarevokokshaysky Kremlin.
- Stroll through the square of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the botanical garden.
What to bring from Yoshkar-Ola: honey, herbal teas, farm cheeses, Fires of Mari El balm, aprons, tablecloths and napkins with Mari embroidery, Mari amulets, handmade dishes made of wood and birch bark.
Elista
Elista is the capital of Kalmykia, the only region in Europe where Buddhism is traditionally practiced. For this reason, the city has an unusual look for Russia: Soviet panels and Orthodox churches side by side with bright pagodas and Buddha statues. And Elista is the chess capital of Russia, there is even a separate mini-city dedicated to this game.
How to get there: while the airport is closed in the city, you can only get there by bus from Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Where to live: the choice of housing in Elista is modest, a hotel near the center will cost 3 714 rubles, bright apartments 2 200.
Things to do in the city:
- Visit the Seven Days Pagoda, the Old Khurul Syakyusn-Syume and the main Buddhist temple of Elista - the Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni.
- See the fountain "Three Lotus" on Lenin Square and pass under the Golden Gate.
- Go to the National Museum of the Republic of Kalmykia and the Museum of Oirat-Mongolian nomadic culture.
- Play a game on the giant chessboard in City Chess.
- Visit places of power - the Stupa of Enlightenment and the Lonely Poplar with a cascade of springs.
- Try Kalmyk tea with bortsok donuts.
- In spring, see the blooming Kalmyk steppe.
What to bring from Elista: camel hair products, chess, traditional Kalmyk jewelry, colored flags “Horse of the Wind”, Buddha figurines, incense and singing bowls.
Pyatigorsk
This small resort is located on the slopes of Mount Mashuk, in the Stavropol Territory. The city is cozy, quiet and green. It is worth coming here to breathe in the mountain air, enjoy the incredible Caucasian nature and improve your health with water from healing mineral springs.
How to get there: by plane from Moscow and St. Petersburg to Mineralnye Vody, then half an hour by bus or train.
Where to live: usually people come here to improve their health, and vacationers are accommodated in sanatoriums. But besides this, there are enough offers for tourists: there are several dozen hotels in the city, it is also easy to find a separate apartment. The hotel room can be rented for 3 784 rubles, and apartments in the center for 2 800.
Things to do in the city:
- Ride the cable car to the top of Mashuk and see the city from above.
- Look at the emerald water of the underground lake Proval.
- Walk in the park "Flower Garden" and look into the grottoes where M. YU. Lermontov.
- Buy sweets and fruits at the Upper Market.
- Take a dip in the Pushkin, Pirogov, Ermolovsky and "shameless" baths, try mineral water in the Central Drinking Gallery.
- Visit the museum-reserve M. YU. Lermontov and an insect museum.
- Watch the sunset at the Gate of Love.
What to bring from Pyatigorsk: mountain honey, herbal teas, Caucasian spices, drinking cups - mugs for mineral water with long spouts, cosmetics with Tambukan mud, figurines of an eagle - the symbol of the city, socks and other clothes from wool.
Kislovodsk
The largest resort of the Caucasian Mineral Waters is located in a green valley surrounded by mountains and gorges. Fyodor Chaliapin, Anton Chekhov, Leo Tolstoy, Maxim Gorky and Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov came here be treated with sulfide mud and narzan - carbonic water, in honor of which the city received its title.
How to get there: by plane from Moscow and St. Petersburg to Mineralnye Vody, then an hour and a half by bus or train.
Where to live: a room in a guest house with breakfast and excellent reviews is worth 4 275 rubles, two places in the hostel - 2 124, apartment with panoramic city view — 2 999.
Things to do in the city:
- Arrange a walk through the huge Kislovodsk National Park with an area of 965 hectares. See the "Valley of Roses" and the flower clock, relax in the pavilions and grottoes, drink water in the pump rooms and the "Narzan Gallery", look at the city and Elbrus from the observation platforms.
- Dine in one of the restaurants on Kurortny Boulevard.
- Ride the cable car.
- Look at Mount Ring and the rock formation "Castle of deceit and love."
- Visit the museum-estate of the artist N. BUT. Yaroshenko and Chaliapin's Dacha.
What to bring from Kislovodsk: mineral water, herbal teas, mountain honey, drinkers, dishes from the Kislovodsk Porcelain factory, cosmetics with therapeutic mud, juniper souvenirs, woolen scarves and socks.
Yeysk
Resorts on the Sea of Azov usually remain in the shadows Sochi, Anapa and Gelendzhik, but they have their own advantages. It is much quieter and calmer here, the sea is warmer, and there are fewer tourists. One of these underestimated places is Yeysk, located in the north of the Krasnodar Territory, off the coast of the Taganrog Bay. This small town with sandy beaches is good for both families and outdoor activities.
How to get there: by train from Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Where to live: there are no luxury hotels, as on the Black Sea coast, but the prices do not bite. A room in a guest house near the beach 2 250 rubles, a hotel room with a swimming pool - 5 577, house for five - 8 000.
Things to do in the city:
- Swim on the beach "Kamenka" and in the Yeysk estuary.
- Take windsurfing and kitesurfing lessons, sign up for a horseback ride.
- Walk through the park named after M. Gorky and Taganrog embankment.
- Go to the Long Spit and Khan Lake for therapeutic mud.
What to bring from Yeysk: dried fish, souvenirs and jewelry made of shells, cosmetics with therapeutic mud.
Hot key
Rest in the Krasnodar Territory does not have to be spent on the coast. If you don't like lying on the beach, go to Goryachiy Klyuch. It is a quiet and green city, an hour's drive from capitals of Kuban and one of the oldest resorts in the Caucasus. For treatment, several types of mineral waters from local sources are used here. After the procedures, you can explore the natural attractions of the city: rocks, caves, gorges and waterfalls.
How to get there: by train from Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Where to live: there are a couple of dozen hotels and guest houses in Goryachiy Klyuch, you can rent a room for 3 000, apartments near the park will cost 3 050 rubles.
Things to do in the city:
- Try the healing mineral water from the Drinking Gallery, the Iversky spring and the spring of Panteleimon the Healer.
- Climb the Cockerel rock, walk along the suspension bridge and look at the rapid flow of the Psekups River.
- Take a walk along the Alley of a Thousand Pine Trees and the health path (healing path) of the Gorny Park sanatorium, see the Dantovo Gorge and the Big Kaverzinsky Waterfall.
- Taste the lemonades of the Goryacheklyuchevsky mineral water plant.
What to bring from Goryachiy Klyuch: herbal preparations, mountain honey, pits, combs, figurines and utensils made from evergreen boxwood bushes.
Vladikavkaz
North Ossetia is a region with fantastically beautiful nature and ancient history. There are many gorges, glaciers, mountain lakes and other interesting places in the region. Before you go to study them, you can stay for a couple of days in the capital of the republic - the city of Vladikavkaz, located on the banks of the stormy Terek.
How to get there: by plane from Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Where to live: hotels in Vladikavkaz can be counted on the fingers. Double room in a four-star hotel with breakfast 8 500. If you don’t want to spend a lot, choose an apartment, they will ask you for a day in the apartment 2 900 rubles.
Things to do in the city:
- Walk along Prospekt Mira, see the old merchants' mansions and take a tram ride through the city center.
- Visit the park named after Kosta Khetagurov, look at the mansion of Baron Steingel and feed the squirrels.
- Go to the Art Museum named after M. FROM. Tuganov and the National Museum of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania.
- Look at the symbol of the city - the Sunni mosque.
- Arrange a walk along the Terek embankment and the Vladikavkaz arboretum.
- Taste Ossetian pies and buy fruits and farm cheeses at the central market.
What to bring from Vladikavkaz: adjika and Caucasian spices, a horn-shaped vessel, a handmade dagger, a hat, dolls in national costumes, wool clothes, and ceramic dishes.
Derbent
This ancient Dagestan city on the shores of the Caspian Sea is the southernmost in Russia. Derbent more 5,000 yearsDerbent / UNESCO Silk Road Program, he survived the change of more than one historical era. The Great Silk Road passed through the city, and the ancient Greeks mentioned its fortress in their works. historian Herodotus. Derbent will pleasantly surprise you not only with unique architectural and historical monuments, but also with breathtaking views of the Caucasus Mountains and the hospitality of local residents.
How to get there: by plane from Moscow and St. Petersburg to Makhachkala, from there 2–3 hours to bus or electric train.
Where to live: a hotel room by the sea with a pool 6 000 rubles, two-room apartment with a fresh renovation - 3 000, a room in an ethnohostel decorated in the Dagestan style — 1 294.
Things to do in the city:
- Explore the old part of Derbent, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List - the Derbent wall, the Naryn-Kala fortress, the oldest mosque in Russia, Juma, the city gates and the Khan's baths.
- Visit the Museum of Carpet and Decorative and Applied Arts, as well as the ethnodom "Kubachi".
- Walk along the embankment, relax on the city beach and look at the Derbent lighthouse.
- Take a tour of the Derbent Cognac Factory.
- Draw water from the sources "Sheikh-salah", "Bair-bulakh" and "Peynik-bulakh".
- Try Dagestan khinkal, chudu cakes, kurze dumplings and lamb shish kebab.
What to bring from Derbent: cognac and sparkling wine, dried fruits, spices, herbal tea and mountain honey, Dagestan handmade carpet, Kubachi jewelry and silverware, earthenware.
Svetlogorsk
If you find yourself in the Kaliningrad region, spend time not only in the capital of the region, but also in small towns on the coast of the Baltic Sea. For example, Svetlogorsk is a resort an hour's drive from Kaliningrad. Until the middle of the 20th century, the city belonged to Germany and was called Rauschen. For example, the writer Thomas Mann and composer Otto Nicholas. In Svetlogorsk, typical German half-timbered houses with contrasting beams on the facades have been preserved since those times.
How to get there: by plane from Moscow and St. Petersburg to Kaliningrad, then another hour by bus or train.
Where to live: The choice of accommodation in the city is not bad, but be prepared for high prices. Modest room with breakfast at the hotel 5 400 rubles, apartments near the sea — 8 000, Studio - 2 235.
Things to do in the city:
- Go down to the sea by cable car and walk along the embankment.
- Find German villas, see the water tower and the temple of Seraphim of Sarov.
- Ride a catamaran on Tikhoy Lake, feed ducks and swans.
- See the layout of the medieval Königsberg, the sundial and the Nymph sculpture.
- Listen to a concert in the Makarov Organ Hall.
- Try Koenigsberg bugs - hearty meatballs with sauce.
What to bring from Svetlogorsk: marzipan, smoked eel, amber jewelry and souvenirs, ceramic figurines, hand-painted candlesticks and plates.
Zelenogradsk
In half an hour you can get from Svetlogorsk to Zelenogradsk, a small town near the Curonian Spit. The first baths for vacationers were opened here at the beginning of the 19th century, and in 1844 Kranz, as the city was then called, was recognized as a German royal resort.
Zelenogradsk still remains a popular holiday destination. It attracts tourists not only for its beaches, but also for its unusual architecture. The resort also boasts the unusual status of a city of cats, these animals are very loved here, and even a separate specialist, a cat chef, looks after the homeless.
How to get there: by plane from Moscow and St. Petersburg to Kaliningrad, then another hour by bus or train.
Where to live: the price level here is about the same as in Svetlogorsk. A room in a four-star spa hotel 9 000, apartments in the hotel are simpler - 6 700, design studio 4 788.
Things to do in the city:
- Walk along the city promenade and Kurortny Avenue, drink mineral water in the Queen Louise pump room.
- Assess the monument to Zelenograd cats and buy souvenirs or antiques at the Barakholshchik store.
- Visit the Zelenograd Museum of Local Lore.
- Birdwatching at Fringilla Birdwatching Station.
- Swim on the beach and learn to surf.
- Visit the Church of St. Andrew the First-Called, the Transfiguration Cathedral, the former post office and the Kurhaus.
- Try šakotis, a Lithuanian cake baked over an open fire.
What to bring from Zelenogradsk: marzipan, smoked eel, jewelry and souvenirs made of amber, magnets and postcards with the image of cats.
Yekaterinburg
The unofficial capital of the Urals, street art and Russian rock surprises with its contrasts. Skyscrapers and Orthodox churches, Soviet constructivist buildings and merchant estates, and a monument to Michael Jackson stands next to the monument to Gene Bukin, the hero of the series "Happy together".
How to get there: by plane from Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Where to live: hotel apartments are 3 100 rubles, a five-star hotel room - 7 200, apartment with two bedrooms — 2 950, a place in the hostel - 900.
Things to do in the city:
- Climb to the observation deck of the Vysotsky business center.
- Take a walk along the Weiner pedestrian street, turn to the "dam" of the city pond, admire the house of N. AND. Sevastyanov and reach the monuments of the group Beatles and keyboard.
- Go to an exhibition or lecture at the Yeltsin Center.
- See the architectural monuments of the 19th century - the estate of the Rastorguevs - Kharitonovs, the estate of Tarasov, the Church of the Ascension of the Lord and the old railway station.
- Go around the constructivist buildings of Yekaterinburg - the White Tower, the House of Communications, the Chekist town, the snail house and the Dynamo sports complex.
- To visit the arboretum and on the embankment of Working Youth.
- Find unusual graffiti on the walls of buildings.
What to bring from Yekaterinburg: jewelry made from Ural gems, wooden and birch bark dishes, Sysert porcelain, Tavolga ceramics, merch of Russian rock bands.
Permian
Perm is located in the foothills of the Urals, on the banks of the Kama River. The city is a large industrial center, but at the same time it boasts unique architecture and rich cultural life. The Diaghilev Festival and the ballet competition "Arabesque", which are held here, are attended by the best artists from all over the world.
How to get there: by plane from Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Where to live: you can stay at the hostel 1 942 rubles, in a hotel with a good location for 3 150 or in a one-room apartment 2 000.
Things to do in the city:
- Take a picture with the sculpture “Permyak salty ears” and the art object “Happiness is not far off”.
- Get tickets to the Perm Academic Opera and Ballet Theater named after P. AND. Tchaikovsky and the theater "At the bridge".
- Go to the Museum of Perm Antiquities and the Perm Museum of Local Lore.
- Visit the stone park and look at the Perm Gate art object.
- Walk along the central streets and see architectural monuments - Gribushin's house, the building of the railway station and the former Mariinsky gymnasium.
- Look at the discharge of water at the Kama hydroelectric power station.
- Look into the shops and cafes of the Starokirpichny Pereulok space.
- Try posikunchiki - small fried pies.
What to bring from Perm: salt, honey, souvenirs with the inscription "Happiness is not far off", decorations and figurines in the Perm animal style, fossils, the book "Perm Dictionary".
Tyumen
Tyumen, founded in the XIV century, countsTyumen / Great Russian Encyclopedia the first Russian Siberian city. Previously, it was jokingly called the capital of villages, but now it is a major center for the oil and gas industry and oneSurgut and Tyumen turned out to be more comfortable / RBC one of the safest and most comfortable cities in Russia. It is worth coming here to feel the real Siberian winter, as well as to look at architectural monuments and successful examples of landscaping.
How to get there: by plane from Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Where to live: a room in a four-star hotel will cost 4 500 rubles, renting a one-room apartment will cost 2 500, and a place in a hostel with breakfast -1 632.
Things to do in the city:
- Go for a walk along Tsvetnoy Boulevard and the Tura embankment, cross the river along the pedestrian “Bridge of Lovers”.
- Visit the Znamensky Cathedral, Holy Trinity and Eliinsky monasteries.
- Look at the skeleton of a mammoth in the local history museum "City Duma".
- Take photos in the square Siberian cats.
- See the estate of Kolokolnikov, the houses of Masharov and Burkov.
- Try the whitefish stroganina and venison dishes.
- Go out of town and swim in thermal springs.
What to bring from Tyumen: cone jam, game delicacies, figurines and decorations made from mammoth tusks and bones, clothes and shoes made from reindeer skins, souvenirs with Siberian oil.
Tobolsk
3 hours drive from Tyumen, in the place where the Tobol flows into the Irtysh, is Tobolsk - an ancient Russian city, the former capital of Siberia and the birthplace of the scientist D. AND. Mendeleev. Dozens of monuments of stone and wooden architecture have been preserved in Tobolsk, so thousands of tourists come here every year.
How to get there: by plane from Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Where to live: The choice of housing in Tobolsk is small, but you can easily find several good options. For example, a hotel room with breakfast for 4 680 rubles or a studio for 2 000.
Things to do in the city:
- Visit the Tobolsk stone Kremlin, built in the 17th-18th centuries, see the Renterey (treasury chamber), the governor's palace, the Gostiny Dvor and the Sophia-Assumption Cathedral.
- See the water tower, a monument to wives Decembrists, Kornilov's house and a Polish church.
- Go to the Provincial Museum and make souvenirs with your own hands in the Museum of Siberian crafts "House of Masters".
- Take a look at the Church of the Seven Youths of Ephesus, the Church of the Archangel Michael and the Church of Peter and Paul.
- Swim in the hot springs of Vinokurov.
What to bring from Tobolsk: pine nuts, smoked fish, Tobolsk carved bone, serpentine jewelry.
Krasnoyarsk
This East Siberian city is located on both banks of the Yenisei, at the foot of the Sayan Mountains. Krasnoyarsk is an industrial and scientific center, the capital of winter sports, a city of fountains and a place with unique natural landscapes.
How to get there: by plane from Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Where to live: You can find housing in the city with any budget. Have a room in a 4 star hotel 4 300, double room in a hostel for 1 800, separate apartment with jacuzzi for 2 640.
Things to do in the city:
- Cross the Yenisei along the Kommunalny and Vinogradovsky bridges and ride a bike around Tatyshev Island.
- Go to the national park and see the famous Krasnoyarsk Pillars - ancient rocks of an unusual shape.
- Go skiing and snowboarding in the Beaver Log fun park.
- See the fountain "Rivers of Siberia", Big Ben in Krasnoyarsk and the chapel of Paraskeva Pyatnitsa.
- Visit the Krasnoyarsk Museum of Local Lore, the St. Nicholas Steamboat Museum and the Peace Square Center.
- Look at the stone merchant mansions and wooden estates on Mira Avenue and in the historical quarter.
What to bring from Krasnoyarsk: sweets from the Kraskon confectionery factory, herbal tea, honey, pine nuts, fur accessories and clothes, Christmas decorations from the Biryusinka factory.
Vladivostok
This far eastern port city It is called the Pacific Gateway to Russia, and because of its architecture and postcard views, it is often compared to San Francisco. Historic quarters with 19th-century buildings and futuristic cable-stayed bridges are located here against the background of amazing natural landscapes: green hills, the coast of the Sea of Japan and small islands.
How to get there: by plane from Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Where to live: the choice is large, but the prices in the city can hardly be called affordable. Boutique hotel room 7 800 rubles, double capsule in the hostel — 3 400, studio overlooking the bay — 5 000.
Things to do in the city:
- Drive along the Russian bridge to Russky Island and see the ship graveyard.
- Arrange a boat trip and look at the Vladivostok lighthouses.
- Take a ride on the funicular and climb the observation deck "Eagle's Nest" - the highest point in the historical district of Vladivostok.
- Walk along the Tsesarevich Embankment and Svetlanskaya Street.
- Visit the oceanarium, botanical garden and the Museum of the Pacific Fleet.
- Go shopping in Vladivostok GUM, look at the railway station building, the Triumphal Gates, the Lutheran Church of St. Paul and the Catholic Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
What to bring from Vladivostok: red caviar and seafood, chocolate with algae and sea salt, Ussuri Balsam, vests and daggers, Japanese and Chinese products and cosmetics.
Yakutsk
If you are a sophisticated traveler and it is difficult to surprise you with something, go to the Far North, to the capital of Yakutia and one5 of the coldest cities in the world / Accu Weather of the coldest cities in the world. Tourists come here to see how the city lives, where the temperature drops below 50 °C in winter. Although Yakutsk, founded in the 17th century, is remarkable not only for its extreme cold, but also for its unusual museums and historical architecture.
How to get there: by plane from Moscow.
Where to live: you can rent a room in a traditional Yakut style for 7 900 rubles, a hotel in the center with breakfast for 4 804 or settle in a separate apartment, a one-room apartment in the center costs 3 500 rubles.
Things to do in the city:
- Go to the Peasants' Market and try cloudberries, strawberries, venison and stroganina.
- Look at the ice sculptures in the Kingdom of Permafrost complex.
- Learn all about ancient animals at the Mammoth Museum.
- Look at Yakutsk from the highest hill of the city at the Chochur Muran observation deck.
- See rare gems and jewelry by local craftsmen at the Treasury of Yakutia exhibition.
- Take a walk through the historical quarter "Old Town" and look at copies of old shopping arcades and wooden merchant houses.
What to bring from Yakutsk: fur boots, traditional Yakut knives, souvenirs made of mammoth bones and tusks, the ancient musical instrument khomus.
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