4. Discover the Destinations to Visit Russia

Russia is the largest country in the world and you can feel it: there are destinations for every taste, from the imperial grandeur of the great cities to the Black Sea or the distant Pacific.

In this blog I cover the Russian destinations I consider essential if you’re visiting Russia for the first time: Moscow, St. Petersburg, the Trans-Siberian Railway and Sochi. If your plan is to visit Russia for the first time, the most common option is to combine Moscow and St. Petersburg (the two great imperial cities) in a single trip. The Trans-Siberian is for travelers with time and a sense of adventure. And Sochi is the ideal option if you’re looking for beach or skiing.

In each section you’ll find my practical guides on what to see, where to stay, how to get around and all the logistical details for preparing your visit. If you’re still unsure about your itinerary or dates, I recommend starting with the trip planning section.

What you’ll find on this page:

Moscow

  • Moscow is the capital of Russia and, without a doubt, the first destination I recommend to anyone visiting the country for the first time. A huge, vibrant and monumental city where the history of the tsars meets the dynamism of the 21st century.
  • The must-sees: Red Square, Saint Basil’s Cathedral, the Kremlin, Lenin’s Mausoleum, Arbat Street, the GUM department store, the Moscow City skyscraper district and, as a hidden gem, the spectacular metro stations.
  • For a first visit I recommend dedicating at least 4 full days to Moscow, although if you have more time you won’t get bored: there are museums for weeks (the Tretyakov Gallery, the Pushkin Museum, Bunker-42, Star City, etc.).
  • In this section you’ll find all my guides on what to visit, where to stay, how to get around and what to eat in the Russian capital.

Articles about Moscow

Moscow GUIDE →

St. Petersburg

  • St. Petersburg is the former imperial capital and, in my opinion, the most beautiful city in Russia. Founded by Peter the Great, it preserves the European, aristocratic atmosphere given to it by the Romanov dynasty.
  • The must-sees: the Hermitage Museum, Nevsky Prospect, the Peter and Paul Fortress, the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, the imperial palaces of Peterhof and Catherine (Pushkin), and a boat ride through its canals.
  • I recommend dedicating at least 3-4 days, but if you travel in summer during the White Nights (June-July), the city takes on a special magic that’s worth experiencing.
  • In this section you’ll find my guides covering everything you need to know to visit the former capital of the tsars.

Articles about St. Petersburg

St. Petersburg GUIDE →

Trans-Siberian Railway

  • The Trans-Siberian Railway is not just a train: it’s an experience. It covers 9,288 km between Moscow and Vladivostok, crosses 8 time zones and runs through 7 Russian regions. It’s one of the great train journeys in the world.
  • Several routes are possible: the classic Moscow-Vladivostok, the Trans-Mongolian (which branches off toward Ulaanbaatar and Beijing) or the Trans-Manchurian (which enters China via a different route). You can also do just a section: Moscow-Yekaterinburg, or Yekaterinburg-Irkutsk with a stop at Lake Baikal.
  • My recommendation is to dedicate at least 2 weeks if you want to stop in several cities along the route (Kazan, Yekaterinburg, Irkutsk-Baikal, Ulan-Ude). If you only want to experience the train without long stopovers, 7 days from Moscow to Vladivostok is enough.
  • Here you’ll find my guides on how to plan the route, buy tickets, what to bring and what to expect on board.

Articles about the Trans-Siberian Railway

Trans-Siberian GUIDE →

Sochi

  • Sochi is the least known of the major destinations, but also the most surprising. It sits on the Black Sea coast, has a subtropical climate, palm trees, tea plantations (the northernmost in the world) and, just 50 km away, the Caucasus Mountains with ski resorts.
  • It’s basically the “Russian Riviera”: in summer, beach and seaside promenade; in winter, skiing in Krasnaya Polyana (host of the 2014 Olympic Games). The Olympic Park, the singing fountains, the Fisht Stadium and Sochi Park (a Russian-themed amusement park) are its main attractions.
  • If you go in summer, dedicate 3-4 days combining beach, coast and an excursion to the mountains. If you go in winter, it depends on how many days you want to ski.
  • These are my guides on Sochi: how to get there, where to stay, what to visit and how to get around the city.

Articles about Sochi

Sochi GUIDE →

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