My Top 10 Russian Destinations (That Actually Deliver)
1. Saint Petersburg (For Drama, Depth & Dreamy Canals)
Saint Petersburg is elegance with a dramatic flair. It’s a city of ballerinas and revolutionaries, tsarist palaces and basement jazz clubs.
Walk along Nevsky Prospekt, cross bridges over glimmering canals, and get lost in the Hermitage—one of the greatest art museums in the world (and also one of the largest, so pace yourself). For a quieter side, head to Vasilievsky Island or wander the courtyards of Petrogradsky District.
This is a place that rewards slow exploration, where beauty hides in stairwells and music seeps through every wall.
2. Moscow (For Power, Scale & Serious Style)
Moscow doesn’t whisper. It roars. From Red Square to Gorky Park, it’s bold, fast, and endlessly layered.
You’ll be dazzled by the metro stations (yes, ride it like it’s a museum tour), stunned by the golden domes of the Kremlin cathedrals, and surprised by how modern and chic the food and design scene is in places like Patriarch Ponds and Kitay-Gorod.
Don’t try to see it all. Just let the rhythm of the city carry you—one monumental moment at a time.
3. Kazan (Where Cultures Blend in Harmony)
Kazan is where East meets West—and the result is beautiful.
Here, Islamic minarets rise beside Orthodox churches, and the city’s skyline reflects its Tatar and Russian roots. The whitewashed Kazan Kremlin is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but the real charm is in the coexistence you feel on the streets.
Try Tatar cuisine, listen to the mix of languages, and stroll the pedestrian Bauman Street. It’s a city with its own pulse—and it’s proud of it.
4. Sochi (Seaside Sun Meets Snowy Peaks)
Yes, this is where the Winter Olympics happened—but Sochi has been a beloved getaway long before that.
It’s one of the few places in the world where you can swim in the Black Sea and ski in the mountains on the same day. The city has palm trees, beach promenades, art nouveau villas, and mountain resorts just an hour away.
It’s vibrant in summer and cozy in winter—perfect if you want nature with a cosmopolitan twist.
5. Suzdal (Tiny Town, Timeless Beauty)
Suzdal feels frozen in a more peaceful century. Onion domes, wooden cottages, and horse carts clatter down cobbled streets.
This village is part of the Golden Ring, a group of historic towns northeast of Moscow, and it’s pure magic. The skyline is filled with monasteries and white-stone churches, and the pace of life is blissfully slow.
Come for the silence, stay for the sunsets over the Kamenka River.
6. Lake Baikal (For Deep Water & Deep Thinking)
Lake Baikal isn’t just a lake. It’s the oldest, deepest, clearest body of freshwater on the planet—and it feels sacred.
In summer, hike through pine forests, kayak along turquoise shores, or camp on Olkhon Island. In winter, walk across sheets of frozen glass and listen to the lake crack and sing beneath your feet.
It’s nature on an epic scale. Raw, powerful, humbling.
7. Yekaterinburg (The Edge of Europe)
Straddling the border of Europe and Asia, Yekaterinburg is equal parts industrial, artistic, and symbolic.
Known for its rock music scene and political history, it’s also home to fascinating museums and hidden creative spaces. Explore the Romanov memorial sites, then discover the city’s modern personality in its cafes, galleries, and repurposed Soviet buildings.
It’s not trying to be anything it’s not—and that’s the appeal.
8. Veliky Novgorod (Where Russian History Began)
Before Moscow, there was Novgorod. It’s one of the oldest cities in the country, and walking through it feels like flipping pages of a medieval storybook.
You’ll find ancient kremlins, serene monasteries, and the fresco-covered St. Sophia Cathedral. The Volkhov River flows slowly through it all, and time seems to follow suit.
It’s quiet, dignified, and deeply atmospheric.
9. Vladivostok (Pacific Port with a Global Twist)
Vladivostok is as far east as you can go without leaving Russia—and it doesn’t feel like anywhere else in the country.
It’s a port city with hilly streets, sea views, and a unique cultural mix influenced by Japan, China, and Korea. Wander the harbor, take the funicular to viewpoints above Golden Horn Bay, and explore a food scene that’s full of ocean flavors and pan-Asian flair.
It feels like the edge of the world—in the best way.
10. Kamchatka (Volcanoes, Wilderness & Wow Moments)
Kamchatka is where you go when you want to feel very, very small in the face of something wild.
This peninsula is full of steaming volcanoes, hot springs, geysers, and untamed landscapes. It’s not easy to get to—and that’s part of the thrill. Join a small group for guided hikes or heli-tours if you want jaw-dropping aerial views.
It’s for the true adventurers. And totally worth it.
Practical Tips for Russia
When to Go: May–June and September offer great weather and fewer crowds. Winter can be stunning, but prepare for cold.
Getting Around: Trains are king—use the Trans-Siberian for epic journeys. Flights connect major cities. The metro systems (especially in Moscow and St. Petersburg) are efficient and beautiful.
Budget: Hostels: ₽800–1500, hotels: ₽3000–6000, meals: ₽400–1000, attractions: ₽300–800.
Safety: Big cities are safe for solo travelers. Learn a few basic Russian phrases, especially outside tourist zones.
What to Eat: Borscht, pelmeni (dumplings), blini (pancakes), pirozhki (savory pastries), and fresh seafood near the coasts. Local food is hearty, flavorful, and usually homemade with care.
Make It Your Own Adventure
Russia is vast—more like a continent than a country. It doesn’t open up quickly, but when it does, you’re in for moments that feel cinematic, emotional, and unforgettable.
So take the detour. Ride the long train. Sit next to someone who doesn’t speak your language but shares their dumplings anyway. Watch the snow fall over golden domes or paddle into a sunrise on Baikal.
