Top 10 places you must visit in Russia in 2022

Russia, once the largest and most powerful member of the former USSR, still remains a fascinating country to visit. It is a land of contrasts, from great subtropical beaches to cold regions in the north. The East may have fewer people, but its lovely cities are among the most popular places to visit in Russia and can hold their own against the West.

 

Russia is at once breathtaking and baffling. Winston Churchill's much-quoted line that represents the world's largest nation "an enigma wrapped in a mystery within an enigma" is as true today as it was back then.

 

The west of the country attracts the most visitor attention thanks to the presence of two extraordinary cities. Petersburg and Moscow serve a dozen wide postcard destinations. Moscow is the rapidly beating heart of the "New Russia," where Asia and Europe combine to form a boisterous, enigmatic metropolis on a grand scale. St Petersburg, meanwhile, with its film-set of palaces, cathedrals and waterways, is the grandest and most European of Russia's cities, yet still retains a deeply complex character.

 

However, exploration beyond these two main centers is well advised. The Golden Ring, a collection of ancient cities northeast of Moscow, still has much period architecture and is easily accessible from the capital. Cruising along the mighty River Volga, it is meanwhile possible to travel south towards the Caspian Sea and see the country beyond its increasingly westernized veneer. And those heading east will find Siberia, a land of diverse, often sublime natural beauty.

 

From Lake Baikal to the old imperial city of Arkutsk, and the mountains of Altai and the shamans of Tuva, Siberia holds many mysteries. A combination of the above is attracting an increasing number of tourists to the Russian Federation – that it remains obscure and mysterious as is part of all the attractions. As the poet Fyodor Tyutchev once said: "Russia cannot be understood."

 

From vicious battles to great classical music and literature, Russia is steeped in history everywhere. And almost everywhere visitors can see examples of splendid art not only in museums but also in its churches.

 

1. Moscow || Tourist places in Russia in 2022

 

As the capital of Russia, Moscow is the most important city in Russia, but not only for political reasons. The city of over 12 million is also known for its artistic endeavors, which include ballet, symphony, and art. Onion-shaped domes of historic churches fill the skyline.

 

The stately Kremlin and the impressive Red Square, one of the largest squares in the world, are places not to be missed, as are statues of controversial 20th-century leaders Lenin and Stalin. Further evidence can be seen in the Gulag and Cold War museums that Moscow's past was not always clean.

 

2. Saint Petersburg || Tourist places in Russia in 2022

 

Russia's second largest city may be known as Leningrad, but most people refer to it by its birth name, St. Petersburg. Founded by Tsar Peter the Great in 1703, St. Petersburg was once the imperial capital of Russia; In 1924 its name was changed to Leningrad.

 

Due to its location on the Neva River, which joins the Gulf of Finland and then into the Baltic Sea, the city is a popular northern cruise destination and one of the most popular places to visit in Russia.

 

Known as the cultural capital of Russia, the city Hermitage houses one of the world's finest art collections, with churches adding to the city's splendid art. Nevsky Prospekt is the city's famous shopping and dining street.

 

3. Golden Ring || Tourist places in Russia in 2022

 

The Golden Ring links many cities outside Moscow together in a way that fills the senses with awe. The picturesque countryside filled with cherry orchards, quaint cottages, onion-shaped domes and iconic churches containing the country's oldest art make this area a special place to visit.

 

One of the oldest regions of Russia, today it is very popular with Russian tourists who wish to experience a bygone era. The traditional way of looking at cities and towns forms a counter-clockwise loop that starts and ends in Moscow: Vladimir, Suzdal, Kostroma, Yaroslavl, Rostov Veliky, Pereslavl-Zalessky and Sergiev Posad. White stone churches, monasteries and forts are some of the places to visit.

 

4. Kazan || Tourist places in Russia in 2022

 

Kazan is sometimes referred to as the Istanbul of the Volga because it is a city where European and Asian cultures meet. The capital of Tatarstan is a lovely city with church towers and minarets filling the skyline.

 

Also known as the third capital of Russia after Moscow and St Petersburg, Kazan residents enjoy one of the highest standards of living in Russia. To see include the remains of the Kazan Kremlin that was destroyed by Ivan the Terrible; Kul-Sharif Mosque, named after a man who defended Kazan from Ivan; and Bauman Street, a pedestrian shopping street.

 

5. Irkutsk || Tourist places in Russia in 2022

 

The de facto 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 only 45 km away, the city is the best base from which to explore the western shoreline of the lake.

 

Travelers traveling to historic Irkutsk may be pleasantly surprised by what they find. Decorated wooden houses stand next to standard Soviet block apartments, as well as wide boulevards with not much traffic for a city with over 500,000 souls. Irkutsk was the site of many bloody conflicts between Russian factions in various revolutions.

 

It also served as a place of exile for intellectuals, artists, and others, which is why the city has five universities. Several churches call Irkutsk home, including the Ascension Church, and geology and history museums.

6. Nizhny Novgorod || Tourist places in Russia in 2022

 

The fifth largest city in Russia is located at the confluence of the Volga and Oka rivers. The city began as a fort in the 13th century; It was once known as Gorky after Maxim Gorky, who was born here.

 

The old town is walled, although only the Archangel Cathedral stood after the city was ravaged by the Bolsheviks. Nizhny Novgorod is a good place to immerse yourself in Russian art and architecture, with over 600 monuments and sculptures and at least 200 art museums, concert halls, and the like.

 

7. Vladivostok || Tourist places in Russia in 2022

 

Vladivostok is surrounded by mountains and bays, making it an amazingly beautiful city in the east of Russia. The last stop of the Trans-Siberian Railway, Vladivostok is the country's largest port on the Pacific Ocean; It's just a leap, leap and a leap from North Korea and China.

 

The city offers many cultural attractions, from theaters to museums to concerts; Actor Yul Brynner was born here in 1920. Travelers will want to stroll through some of the city's lovely parks, including Minnie Gorodok, which was once a military base. The main square of the city is the Admiralsky Skver, which has a museum dedicated to a submarine.

 

8. Veliky Novgorod || Tourist places in Russia in 2022

 

Founded in the 10th century, Veliky Novgorod is one of the oldest cities in Russia's far north. Veliky claims Novgorod to be the birthplace of Russia because its early inhabitants invited the Scandinavian prince Rurik to rule Russia, creating a ruling dynasty lasting 750 years.

 

Top landmarks include St. Sophia's Cathedral and the Bell Tower, the oldest in Russia; Hanseatic Fountain, asked to return 1,000 rubles for each thrown into it; and several museums, including museums on iron, porcelain and history. Located on Lake Ilmen, Veliky Novgorod is a good place to eat borscht and buy bio-honey.

 

9. Sochi || Tourist places in Russia in 2022

 

Sochi on the Black Sea is a great winter sports destination and, in fact, hosted the 2014 Winter Olympics. Ski aside, Sochi also hosts the Russian Formula 1 Grand Prix and will be a host city for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Despite the winter snow, Sochi offers a subtropical climate and great beaches, making it an important part of the Russian Riviera.

 

The resort town makes a great summer (and winter) getaway for Russians. A walk only on the pedestrian-only sea embankment is a pleasant experience. Eco-conscious travelers may want to visit the Caucasus Biosphere Reserve. Sochi is also home to the region's northernmost tea gardens.

 

10. Yekaterinburg || Tourist places in Russia in 2022

 

Yekaterinburg is an industrial city in the Ural Mountains with many things going for it. However, it is largely remembered as the place where Nicholas, the last Tsar of Russia, and his family were executed during the Russian Revolution in 1918.

 

Today's Yekaterinburg has a vibrant cultural scene, home to numerous libraries, theaters and playwrights, and dance companies as well as popular Russian rock bands. Russia's fourth largest city also has more than 30 museums, including the world's oldest wooden sculpture in the Shigir collection; another museum has more than 300 Nevyansk icons.