List of Top 10 Visiting Places in Russia
Russia, the largest country in the former Soviet Union, remains a fascinating destination to visit. It spans from subtropical coastlines to icy northern towns, and its east and west boast distinct, equally compelling experiences. The east may have fewer people, but its exquisite cities stand among the most popular places to visit in Russia and can hold their own against the west.
Russia is saturated with history wherever a traveler goes, from dramatic battles to remarkable folk music and literature. Visitors can see examples of splendid art, in museums as well as in its churches. For inspiration on other Top 10 Visiting Places, read our Top 10 Visiting Places in Iran and Top 10 Visiting Places in France.
Here is the list of Visiting Places In Russia
1. Yekaterinburg
Yekaterinburg is an industrial city in the Ural Mountains with many sights to explore.
It is, however, best known as the place where Tsar Nicholas II and his family were executed in 1918 during the Russian Revolution.
Today Yekaterinburg has a vibrant cultural scene, with libraries, theaters, and orchestras as well as well-known Russian music groups.
Russia’s fourth-largest city also has more than 30 museums, including the oldest wooden sculpture in the world at the Shigir Collection; another gallery houses more than 300 Nevyansk symbols
2. Sochi
Sochi on the Black Sea is a premier winter-sports destination and hosted the 2014 Winter Olympics. It also hosted matches during the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Besides winter sports, it has a subtropical climate and beautiful beaches, making it a key part of the Russian Riviera. The resort city offers a great summer and winter escape for Russians. A stroll along the seafront promenade by the sea is a delightful experience.
Ecologically cognizant travelers might want to visit the Caucasus Biosphere Reserve. Sochi also is home to the region’s northernmost tea estates.
For a different European coastline experience, see our Top 10 Visiting Places in France.
3. Veliky Novgorod
Established in the tenth century, Veliky Novgorod is probably the most ancient city in Russia’s far north.
Veliky Novgorod professes to be the origin of Russia since its initial inhabitants welcomed the Scandinavian Prince Rurik to govern Russia, forging a tradition that endured 750 years.
Top sights include Saint Sophia Cathedral and Bell Tower, the oldest in Russia; the Hanseatic Fountain said to return 1,000 rubles for each coin tossed into it; and a wealth of museums, including ones for iron, porcelain, and history. Situated on Lake Ilmen, Veliky Novgorod is a good place to try borscht and buy bio-honey.
4. Vladivostok
Mountains and bays surround Vladivostok, making it a stunning eastern city in Russia. The final stop on the Trans-Siberian Railway, Vladivostok is the country’s largest port on the Pacific Ocean; it is only a hop, skip, and a jump away from North Korea and China.
The city offers many cultural attractions from theaters to museums to performances; actor Yul Brynner was born here in 1920.
Visitors might want to stroll around some of the city’s lovely parks, including Minny Gorodok, which was once a military installation.
The city’s main square is Admiralsky Skver, with a submarine museum nearby.
5. Nizhny Novgorod
Russia’s fifth-largest city sits at the confluence of the Volga and Oka rivers. The town started as a fortress in the thirteenth century; at one time it was known as Gorky, after Maxim Gorky who was born here.
The old town is a separate entity, however, the Archangel Cathedral was one of the few remaining structures after the Bolsheviks crushed the city. Nizhny Novgorod is a great place to immerse yourself in Russian art and architecture, with more than 600 landmarks and statues, and at least 200 art galleries, museums, and so forth.
6. Irkutsk
The historical capital of Eastern Siberia, Irkutsk is by far the most popular stop on the Trans-Siberian Railway between Moscow and the east.
With Lake Baikal just 45 km away, the city is the best base to explore the lake’s western shore.
Travelers who visit historic Irkutsk may be pleasantly surprised by what they find. Ornate wooden houses stand beside traditional Soviet apartment blocks, and broad streets carry surprisingly little traffic for a city of over half a million people. Irkutsk was the site of many fierce clashes between parties in successive upheavals.
It also served as a haven for scholars, professionals, and others, which may explain why the city has five universities. A few churches, including Ascension Church, and various geography and history museums call Irkutsk home.
7. Kazan
Kazan is sometimes referred to as the Istanbul of the Volga since it is where European and Asian cultures meet. The capital of Tatarstan is a beautiful city where church towers and minarets fill the skyline.
Also called the third capital of Russia, after Moscow and St. Petersburg, Kazan residents enjoy arguably the best quality of life in Russia.
Sights to see include the remnants of the Kazan Kremlin that were destroyed by Ivan the Terrible; the Kul-Sharif Mosque, named after a man who died defending Kazan from Ivan; and Bauman Street, a pedestrian shopping lane.
8. Golden Ring
The Golden Ring links several towns outside Moscow that fill the senses with wonder. Beautiful fields dotted with cherry orchards, quaint wooden houses, onion-domed churches, and Russia’s oldest churches and monasteries make this region a special place to visit.
One of the oldest areas in Russia, today it is popular with Russian tourists who want to experience a sense of the past. The traditional way to see the towns is a clockwise or counterclockwise loop beginning and ending in Moscow: Vladimir, Suzdal, Kostroma, Yaroslavl, Rostov Velikiy, Pereslavl-Zalessky, and Sergiev Posad. White-stone churches, cloisters, and forts are just some of the sights.
9. Saint Petersburg
Russia’s second-largest city, known to some as Leningrad, is commonly referred to by its original name, St. Petersburg. Founded in 1703 by Tsar Peter the Great, it was once the imperial capital of Russia, and its name was changed to Leningrad in 1924.
Because of its location on the Neva River, feeding into the Gulf of Finland and then the Baltic Sea, the city is a popular northern cruise destination and one of the most visited places in Russia.
Known as the cultural capital of Russia, the city houses one of the world’s finest art collections at the Hermitage, and Nevsky Prospekt is the city’s famous shopping and dining street.
10. Moscow
As the capital of Russia, Moscow is the country’s most significant city, not only politically but also for its artistic achievements, including ballet, orchestras, and visual arts.
Onion-domed churches dot the skyline. The iconic Kremlin and the famous Red Square, perhaps the largest square in the world, are must-see sights, as are statues of Lenin and Stalin, controversial leaders in the twentieth century. Additional evidence that Moscow’s past wasn’t always spotless can be found in the Gulag and Cold War museums.
Russia’s diverse regions offer countless more places to explore, and for more ideas, check out our Top 10 Visiting Places in Germany and our Top 10 Visiting Places in the USA.
