Best 10 Russian places to visit

Russia will never cease to inspire travelers. Getting to know this country, you want to return again and again. The amount of interesting places cannot be limited to one hundred! Let’s try to focus on the biggest thing to visit! This brief overview will introduce the sights of this huge country and will help to plan a trip.

1. Baikal (Eastern Siberia, the border of the Irkutsk region and Republic of Buryatia)

In 1997 this “glorious sea” is inscribed in the world heritage List of UNESCO. Lake Baikal is almost 30 million years. Its depth is over 1600 meters, which makes Baikal the deepest lake of our planet. Still there is a lot of fresh water suitable for drinking. Baikal is 1/5 part of all fresh water, and again throughout the world. The most popular place is the island of Olkhon which is the only inhabited island on the lake. It remains only to come to this lake of amazing beauty, just to see.

2. Altai

Altai is not only the most beautiful place of Russia, but also around the world. This is a land of endless mountain ranges, lakes, glaciers, mountain rivers and caves. There are all conditions for ski, water tourism and caving here. Among the attractions of Altai are the most famous and visited by tourists such as mount Belukha, the highest peak of Siberia and the Altai Mountains, Denisov’s cave, Golden Mountains of Altai. This area listed in the UNESCO world heritage site, which includes two preserves (the Altai and the Katun), and the Ukok plateau, Saylyugemskiy national Park, lake Teletskoe, relating to the 15 deepest lakes on the planet. City Belokurikha is the best resort of Russia during several years.

3. Karelia

Karelia is a place with amazing pristine nature. It’s the territory of more than 60 thousand lakes. The most famous are Onega and Lake Ladoga. A popular place to visit among tourists is the island of Valaam and Kizhi. Here tourists can see magnificent nature and learn more about the life of the small population of the island and Valaam monastery. Kizhi – is a complex of buildings under UNESCO protection. Tourists cruise on ships that travel from St. Petersburg to Karelia.

4. Kamchatka

Kamchatka is a place more for the extreme and active rest. Many travelers tend to get in this harsh land of more than 300 volcanoes. 36 volcanoes are active. The most famous among them, the highest active volcano on the mainland – is, of course, Klyuchevskaya Sopka. The volcanoes of Kamchatka are included into the world heritage of UNESCO. Kamchatka is also a land of geysers. In the area of 3 sq km is one of the most exciting places in the eyes of Russia –geyser field of the 200 thermal springs. Only in Kamchatka there are unique acidic lakes in the craters of volcanoes.

5. The Republic Of Komi

Not everyone dares to travel in this harsh land. This vacation is not for everyone. Only people with the craving for the unknown can go here, seeking to test their strength and filled with the love of wandering and freedom. Travelers are willing to cross thousands of miles to see the mountain of Stone idols. These poles reach a height of 50 meters. Climbers are attracted to the Manaraga Mountain, having the shape of bear paws, by the difficulty of the conquest. It is in this area of Russia there is a mysterious and world – famous place- the Dyatlov Pass. Still it attracts those wishing to unravel the mystery of the death of climbers.

6. Crimea

Many people consider the climate of the Crimea perfect for relaxing. After joining the Peninsula to Russia, the flow of tourists has increased significantly. Beach vacation attracts tourists from May to October but in other months there are many interesting things to see there. All resorts are known as Sevastopol, Balaklava, Yevpatoriya, Yalta. Divers and surfers are eager to get to Cape Tarkhankut. Skiers and snowboarders are eager to get on the famous mount Ai-Petri, which is a symbol of the Peninsula. A must to visit are such monuments as the Swallow’s nest, Massandra Palace, Bakhchisaray Palace, the Museum-reserve “Chersonese”. The Peninsula will not leave anyone indifferent.

7. Krasnodar Region

It is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Russia. Here are the most visited resort towns: Sochi, Gelendzhik, Anapa, Adler. Nearby Abkhazia, known for its pristine nature, is the Ritsa Lake. Sochi is considered to be the most important, but also the most expensive resort in Krasnodar Region. The city has changed after the Olympics 2014. There is the largest aquarium in Russia in the city, tourists and locals love to visit the amusement Park “Riviera” and the amazing size of almost 50 hectares, the arboretum. Besides all this there are a huge number of waterfalls, caves, mountain rivers, dolmens. It should also be said here about Krasnaya Polyana. This is a wonderful ski resort which is only 40 km from the seacoast, and which is developing very actively in recent years and becoming a very popular place for year-round recreation.

8. The Golden ring of Russia

The Golden ring of Russia – this is not the place, it is the route that was created in Soviet times in order to familiarize foreigners with historical sites and architectural monuments of Central Russia. The direction has not lost its popularity, but on the contrary increases. The Golden ring consisted of a group of 8 cities, now the number has been increased. The route passes through five regions: Moscow, Yaroslavl, Kostroma, Ivanovo, Vladimir. The trip along the Golden ring is available year-round.

9. Kaliningrad Region

Kaliningrad is an amazing city because of the mixing of Russian and European culture. He is considered one of the most beautiful cities of Russia. Temples, museums, monuments – the city is just full of them. The most famous place is the Curonian Spit national Park. It is a sandy beach with a length of 98 km. Part belongs to Russia, part – Lithuania. A sandy spit on the Baltic Sea is a favorite place of German and Lithuanian tourists. A unique place here is the dancing forest. Trees grow in a most peculiar way. The trunks begin to squirm right at the base. The solution of this phenomenon still not found.

10. Adygeya, Kabardino-Balkariya, Karachayevo-Cherkesiya

These countries included Russia, are an ideal place for people loving active rest. Most of the territory of the countries is occupied by mountain ranges. Not surprisingly, this region is the centre of Russian mountaineering. Mount Elbrus attracts thousands who want to conquer its peak. And the mountain Cheget is one of the most difficult areas to mountaineers. The country is famous for the large number of caves and mountain lakes. The most popular is the Blue Lake, waterfall “Royal crown”, the lake Tambukan, Honey falls, Devil’s gate pass, Guam gorge and many others.

This list can be continued still very long. Because Russia has so many amazing and wonderful places that everybody just need to see with his own eyes.