Introduction
Russia world’s largest country with breathtaking scenes of geyser valley and admirable snow cover Mountain Elbrus, is one of the most extraordinary countries in the world, with almost matchless depth of cultural and historical riches. If ancient walled fortresses, glittering palaces swirly-spired churches and the beautiful landscapes that have inspired artists and poets for generations are what you’re after, focus on European Russia.
What to See and Do
Enjoy vast landscapes and nature
The largest country in the world, constitutes one-seventh of the world’s landmass and spans eight time zones. You will be amazed to find here the world’s oldest mountains, the Urals, and the deepest lake in the world the Lake Baikal.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Located in Southern Siberia the Golden Altai Mountains is home to endangered species like the snow leopard and the Altai Argali, the largest species of sheep in the world.
Moscow
Moscow and St. Petersburg are the must-see destinations, twin repositories of eye-boggling national treasures, political energies and contemporary creativity.
Visit the best art institutions in the world Moscow’s famous Bolshoi Theatre, The Red Square Home to St Basil Cathedral, UNESCO World Heritage Sight Sparrow hills.
Discover the opulent delights of Russia’s Golden Ring, comprises of 8 cities in northeast of Moscow and is famous for architectural icons, onion-shaped domes, local churches with Russia’s oldest religious art, kremlins and gingerbread cottages with cherry orchards. Within easy reach out of these cities are charming historical towns and villages Veliky Novgorod, Suzdal and Pskov.
St. Petersburg
Built from nothing by westward-looking Peter the Great, St Petersburg was from its inception to be a display of imperial Russia’s growing status in the world. You can spend days in the Hermitage, seeing everything from Egyptian mummies to Picassos, while the Russian Museum, is perhaps the best collection of Russian art in the world. Add to this world-class ballet and opera at the Mariinsky Theatre where you won’t be stuck for cultural nourishment.
Where to Stay and Eat
Its best to stay in the city center to avoid traffic jams and save money on transportation, mainly in heart of the city Red Square Moscow and City centre in St. Petersburg.
Ritz Carlton hotel Moscow is in the heart of city Red Square, which is right next door to the official residence of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The gilded interior captures the beauty of 19th-century Classicism. The hotel is perfectly situated and luxuriously outfitted with three restaurants, a rooftop lounge, a spa, meeting space and some of the largest accommodations in the city.
Four Seasons St. Petersburg: revels a restored luxury hotel treasure in the historic Admiralteysky District- just two blocks from the world’s largest museums Hermitage Museum and close to Nevsky Prospekt and Mariinsky Theatre.
Useful tip
Plan your trip to Moscow on the weekend to get better rates in the hotels with lesser traffic.
For best rates at St. Petersburg try to avoid International Economic forum and White nights period – middle of May to middle of July.
Restaurants only the locals would know
Tea, house with Uzbeck cusine- A good restaurant, cozy, quick & good service, friendly staff, delicious food!
Traditional Ukranian food at reasonable prices.
For Art Lovers enjoy food with the Nika’s Art Workshops 6.30-8.30 pm workshop on every Tuersday. What makes these workshops unique are you will be painting from life as the Gold Medalist Artist Nikolina Kovalenko will take each student on a personal journey, discovering his or her very own talent!
Self service Russian buffet – great value for money !
You'll find all the classics, from borscht and dumplings to chicken fillets, lamb shashlik and salads.
Total Recall Moment
- Take a private boat trip on Lake Baikal
Referred to as the ‘Pearl of Siberia’, Lake Baikal is a popular tourist attraction and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Situated in south-east Siberia, is the oldest (25 million years) and deepest (1,700 m) lake in the world so, large that it is often mistaken for a sea. Also known as the ‘Galapagos of Russia’, its age and isolation have produced one of the world’s richest and most unusual freshwater faunas, surrounded by the picturesque taiga and mountains, this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Two-thirds of its 1,700 species of plants and animals don’t exist anywhere else in the world. Enjoy the local seals called “nerpas”, one of the three freshwater seal populations on Earth.
The Golden Mountains of Altai in Southern Siberia, is one of the most jaw-dropping natural sights of Russia. Take a helicopter ride to see the highest point of the Arctic Ocean watershed, a vast area that includes the Altai and Katun Natural Reserves, Lake Teletskoye, Belukha Mountain and the Ukok Plateau.
- Take a trip along Tran Siberian rail road – world’s fastest and the longest in the world.
- Matroshka panting class – a way to discover Russian soul is to learn how to paint matroshka- wooden stacking doll – typical souvenir
Rookie Mistakes
Generally, all the major places in Russia are very safe and welcoming for tourists, only in large cities & crowded places be careful of pick pocketers.
Advisable to tour with English guides, as many descriptions and the street signs or Restaurant menus are in Cyrillic and not English especially in museum and roads.
For you Facebook Wall –
Lake Baikal – the deepest and the bluest in the world
Red Square and Kremlin ensemble
Peterhof park with fountains
Old medieval churches of the Golden ring
Perfect Souvenir
It’s hard to find a symbol of Russia more popular than the traditional Matryoshka or Russian Nesting doll or Babushka dolls. Step inside any souvenir store in Russia and there they are: rows and rows of gleaming bulbous stylized women, a rosy-cheeked, bright-eyed face surrounded by bright colors and traditional ornamentation. Twist off the top half of one of these wooden dolls and you will find an identical, smaller replica inside one, another.
Russian Laquer boxes and miniatures are among the most beautiful and distinctive art achievements. Features intricately hand-drawn miniature paintings based on a variety of themes, including fairy tales, poems, and old art masterpieces.
Khokhloma painting is the name of a Russian wood painting handicraft style and national ornament and the effect it has when applied to wooden tableware or furniture, making it look heavier and metal-like.
Zhostovo painting is an old Russian folk handicraft of painting on metal trays, still exists in a village of Zhostovo in the Moscow Oblast.
Valenki are traditional Russian winter footwear, essentially felt boots: are made of wool felt. Valenki were once the footwear of choice for many Russians and are not water-resistant.
