Have you ever thought about visiting Russia? This country of continental dimensions and which hosted the 2018 World Cup.
Russia enchants its visitors in several aspects: either for its rich culture, or for its history, very present in the streets of the capital Moscow and in the population that lived a not so distant communist past, or even for its rigorous climate and its complex language.
visit to Russia it means getting lost in the grandeur of its palaces, museums, and territory.
I have separated below 5 attractions in Moscow and 5 in Saint Petersburg that cannot be missing from the itinerary of those visiting the country for the first time.
TOP 5 ATTRACTIONS IN MOSCOW
1. Red Square and its attractions
A Red Square concentrates most of the icon symbols of the Russia. Its name does not derive from any allusion to communism or the red bricks of some of its buildings, but rather because the Russian word красная (krasnaya) can mean either “red” or “beautiful”.
The Square concentrates several attractions that are worth a visit: St Basil's Church and the Kremlin are a must. The first is the famous Orthodox cathedral, symbol of the country and the second is a fortified building where the seat of the Russian government is located and houses several churches and museums, including the Arméria, a museum that brings together incredible pieces belonging to the treasures of the tsars. .
Other attractions are also concentrated around the square: The State Historical Museum, the largest historical museum in the country, the Lenin's Mausoleum, where you can enter and see Lenin's chemically preserved body #thingsfromRussia, and the Gum gallery, a gallery of luxury stores worth visiting for its beautiful architecture.
DISCOUNT TRAVEL INSURANCE!
5% ON COUPON FORTRAVELOVERS AND ANOTHER 5% ON THE BILL
do not leave the TRAVEL INSURANCE for the last minute! He is mandatory on trips to Europe and recommended for most trips abroad.
ECONOMIZE when comparing prices from the best insurers.
You can pay up to 12x on the card or have discount on ticket.
CLICK HERE TO REDEEM THE COUPON: FORTRAVELOVERS
2. The Moscow Metro
Riding the subway in Russia is an adventure in itself. In Moscow, the impression I had is that almost no one speaks English and this is quite evident in public transport, since practically all directions are written in Cyrillic, the Russian alphabet.
All I wanted was to find a kind soul who spoke English and could help me out with lines and directions. I didn't meet anyone, but that didn't turn out to be a problem: although Russians have a reputation for being cold and closed, everyone was very helpful in pointing out the right directions, even without speaking a word of any language other than Russian itself #languageofsigns . Problem overcome, I dedicated a few, or several, minutes to enjoy the beautiful subway stations of the city. Each one is more amazing than the next!
3. Go to a ballet show
One of the greatest symbols of Russian culture is ballet. The country has two of the best known ballet companies in the world, Kirov, which performs at the Mariinsky Theatre, in Saint Petersburg, and the Bolshoi, which performs at the theater of the same name in Moscow.
It's worth organizing in advance to try to buy tickets for the station's performances. For more information, check the websites: Bolshoi and Mariinsky Theater
4. Visite about Kolomenskoye
O Kolomenskoye is one of the oldest and most interesting parks in Moscow, where several monuments are gathered. Two of the most interesting are the Church of the Ascension, from 1532, declared a UNESCO heritage site, and the Wooden Palace of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, open for visitation. It looks like a dollhouse in palace dimensions!
It is worth setting aside an entire morning or afternoon to visit the Kolomesnkoye complex, especially if you are visiting the Russia na spring: the park is taken over by flowers on all sides.
5. The University of Moscow
A Moscow University sums up very well the architectural grandeur of the city. The size of the building is so impressive that the ideal is to get very close to it to get an exact idea of its size (and to feel tiny next to it!).
The University is located in an elevated area of Moscow, from where it is possible to have a panoramic view of the capital. It is also worth visiting the building at night, when it and the city are lit up.
Find Hotels on Sale in Moscow Russia
TOP 5 ATTRACTIONS IN SAINT PETERSBURG
1. Hermitage Museum
throughout the river neva The building complex is located Hermitage Museum, one of the largest in the world, with a collection of more than 3 million pieces from all periods of Russian and European culture and some oriental and African pieces.
The buildings of the complex, by themselves, are already true works of art. O winter palace is the best known of them, and it really is stunning.
2. Peterhof
A 20 km of Saint Petersburg and on the shores of the Baltic Sea, in the Gulf of Finland, is the Palace of Peter the Great, known as the Russian Versailles. The Palace, beautiful in its own right, is framed by a huge set of gardens filled with more than 120 water fountains.
The Palace was built between 1714 and 1725 and, like the historic center of St. Petersburg, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
3. Tsarskoye Selo, the Catherine Palace
This beautiful rococo-style palace, located 25 km from Saint Petersburg, was built in 1710 by Catherine, wife of Peter the Great.
One of the main points of interest when visiting the palace is the Amber Room, completely covered with panels of this material. The room was looted during the Nazi period and was later restored.
4. The Church on the Spilled Blood and St. Isaac's Cathedral
The Church on Spilled Blood, also known as Church of the Resurrection, is one of the postcards of Saint Petersburg. It was built in 1880, in memory of Alexander II, on the spot where he was assassinated. It is worth visiting from the inside, as it is entirely covered in mosaics.
Another icon of the city is the Saint Isaac's Cathedral, whose golden dome is easily identifiable from several points. The Church is a museum with numerous pieces from the XNUMXth century and it is possible to visit its dome by going up a long staircase. They say that the view of the city from up there is impressive!
5. Enjoy the “white nights”
In the months of June and July, the phenomenon known as white nights. I'll explain what it is: in these months the sun sets just below the horizon line and makes the dawns in the city bright and bright.
Russians take advantage of this period and the mild climate to stroll through the streets until the wee hours. The city has a very pleasant climate, there are several shows and events on the street and the bars and nightclubs are full.
It is worth walking to the shores of the river neva and observe the elevation of the bridges for the passage of larger boats, which happens every day around 1:30 in the morning (attention: it is better to arrive a little earlier to be sure!). It is also possible to schedule a boat trip and see the opening of the bridges of the river itself.
#stayadica: make sure your guide speaks English as many boat tours are only offered in Russian.
Did you like our tips? If you have any questions, leave them here in the comments and we'll help you with all the Travel Tips.
Find Hotels Deals in Saint Petersburg Russia
Why is it worth taking out travel insurance for Russia?
You don't want to risk any mishap that could spoil your entire trip planning! You can check out the stories of our columnists who tell why it is worth taking out travel insurance. In any case, the ideal in a Travel Insurance is REDUCING RISKS that can happen on a trip. The “extras” you can choose according to the insurance company's offer: which can cover even lost luggage, theft and theft and even the trip of a family in case of an emergency.
To find good travel insurance deals, we recommend the website Promo insurance. It compares the prices and coverage of the main insurance companies in the world, such as SulAmerica, Assist Card, GTA, Affinity, among others. There, you can check the policies that most have to do with your trip and hire the one you think is best.
As we really like this tool, we got a 5% discount on Seguros Promo for our readers! Just use the coupon FORTRAVELOVERS on the website by clicking here.
See more:
- International Health Insurance Tips for Tourists and Students
- Everything you need to know to organize a Backpack in Europe
