I do not like Moscow life. You live here not as you want to live, but as old women want you to.
Alexander Pushkin
Tourists find a lot to see and do in the land of the Tsars, the biggest country in the world. From Moscow's elaborately colourful St Basil's Cathedral to St Petersburg's Hermitage, even a one-city stay in Russia tantalises. But, there's much more to Russia than just those two famous cities. In this article, we're going to look at where you should go when travelling to Russia.
| 📍 City | 👥 Population | 🪆 Known for/as |
|---|---|---|
| Moscow | 13.1 million | Russia's capital city |
| St Petersburg | 5 582 000 | The Venice of the North |
| Kazan | 1 296 000 | One of Russia's oldest cities |
| Vladivostok | 587 022 | The easternmost terminal for the Trans-Siberian Railway. |
| Sochi | 444 989 | Resorts and outdoor sports |
| Suzdal | 11 254 | Being the smallest of Russia's Golden Ring cities. Being one of Russia's oldest cities. |
| Irkutsk | 647 000 | The Paris of Siberia |
| Murmansk | 266 681 | Being in the Arctic circle |
| Novosibirsk | 1 633 900 | Trans-Siberian Railroad crossway |
| Yekaterinburg | 1 536 183 | Cultural capital of Russia |
Moscow
The Russian capital is a mix of modern and historic, and it wasn’t always Russia's capital city. Regardless of its status, Moscow remains an important tourist destination, with many UNESCO World Heritage Sites to discover.
This is a dynamic city with some shops open 24 hours a day, and others closing between 9 and 10 in the evening. Bars and restaurants are open all night, because people are hungry after their nighttime cruises on the Moskva River. And still, Moscow has much to offer! Find out how to budget for visiting Russia, so you can see everything.
Moscow by numbers
- area: 2 561.5km2
- population: 13.1 million
- population density: 5 080/km2
Moscow attractions
- The Kremlin/Red Square
- Lenin’s Mausoleum
- The Ostankino Tower
- Cosmonautics Museum
Moscow monuments
- Lenin mausoleum
- Peter the Great statue
- Victory Park
- Unknown Soldier's tomb
Saint Petersburg
“Western, European, accessible" is how a lot of tourists see Russia’s second-largest city. It’s home to architectural and historic treasures such as the Peterhof Palace. When Peter the Great founded Saint Petersburg in 1703, European artists flocked to this city.
This city offers a historical and cultural view of Russia. It is a great place to visit if you love photography. If you’ve got time, you can also take the boat over the Helsinki in Finland.
You should have a look for the Chizhik Pyzhik statue that apparently brings good luck if you can land a coin on it without it falling into the water. Some of the most popular attractions include:
St Petersburg in numbers
- area: 1 439 km2
- population: 5 582 000
- population density: 3 992.81/km2
St Petersburg attractions
- The Hermitage
- Peter and Paul Fortress
- Saint Isaac’s Cathedral
- Catherine Palace
St Petersburg monuments
- the Bronze Horseman
- the Alexander Column
- Generalissimo Suvorov
- Narva Triumphal Gate
Kazan
Kazan is one of Russia’s oldest cities and was founded in 1005. The view from Kazan Kremlin is unmissable, and the Kul Sharif Mosque (pictured) is one of the city's oldest religious structures.
For all its history, the city is vibrant and active. It has hosted many international sporting competitions. Those include the 2014 World Fencing Championships, 2015 World Aquatic Championships, and 2018 World Cup matches.
Kazan is the capital of Tatarstan, a republic within the Russian Federation. It sits where the Kazanka and Volga rivers meet, and is the most populous city along the Volga.
Kazan in numbers
- area: 425.3 km2
- population: 1 296 000
- population density: 2 700/km2
Kazan attractions
- The Bolaq Canal
- Kazan Kremlin
- Kazansky Arbat
- Annunciation Cathedral
Kazan monuments
- Kazan Kremlin Builders
- Muse Dzhalilyu
- poet Musa Jalil
- Salix Säydäş
Vladivostok
Vladivostok is a city in the very east of Russia. It's one of the country’s biggest port cities and is near the borders with China and North Korea.
This is an essential place to visit if you want to enjoy Eastern surprises and Soviet heritage. The Kamchatka crab (red king crab) is one of the local delicacies, well worth trying.
As the terminus for the Trans-Siberian railway, Vladivostok welcomes train adventurers, after their weeks-long ride across all of Russia's 11 time zones. For many, that's the trip of a lifetime, so this city goes overboard in providing them the best in leisure, accommodation, and food.
Vladivostok in numbers
- area: 331.16 km2
- population: 587 022
- population density: 1 832/km2
Vladivostok attractions
- Korabelnaya Embankment
- The Egersheld Lighthouse
- Sportivnaya Market
- The Russky Island bridge
Vladivostok monuments
- to the seamen of the Merchant Navy
- to Sergey Lazo
- to Earl Muravyov-Amursky
Sochi
Sochi is far from just a winter sports resort. It’s just a few miles from Abkhazia, a partially-recognised republic on the eastern coast of the Black Sea. Sochi enjoys snowy mountains in the winter and warm beaches in the summer.
This city lies on the Sochi River, along the Black Sea coast. It's a hotbed of high-profile sports events, including the 2014 Winter Olympic Games, FIFA World Cup contests, and Formula 1 racing.
Sochi in numbers
- area: 176 77 km2
- population: 477 000
- population density: 1 900/km2
Sochi attractions
- Sochi Promenade
- Pushkin Avenue
- Sochi Art Museum
- The Caucasus Nature Reserve
Sochi monuments
- to Prometheus
- World War II Doctors
- Archangel Michael
- Peter the Great
Suzdal
Let’s dive into Russian history by visiting Suzdal. It sits in the Vladimir Oblast, on Russia's European side. Twenty-six kilometres north of Suzdal, we find Vladimir, a capital city of Medieval Russia. There, you'll find many Unesco World Heritage Sites.
But, don't rush there without taking in all that Suzdal has to offer! This town is the smallest of the Russian Golden Ring. It's one of the country's oldest cities, established in 1024. During the 12 Century, it became a regional capital, worthy of its own fortress.
Suzdal in numbers
- area: 15 km2
- population: 11 254
- population density: 700/km2
Suzdal attractions
- Our Saviour Monastery
- Kremlin ramparts
- Posadskiy Dom
- Bogolyubovo Castle
Suzdal monuments
- Writer Alexei Lebevu
- 'White monuments', a collection of significant and historical architecture.
Irkutsk
Irkutsk is an original place with old buildings made from Siberian wood. It’ll take you around an hour to get to all the sites of natural beauty and you’ll need between 3 and 4 days to fully appreciate all the different activities.
Besides being home to some of the most famous sights in the country, Irkutsk holds the record for the biggest fresh-water lake. Lake Baikal is the world's largest such lake (by volume). It's also the world's deepest body of water.
For those who are not fans of water, the city has a lot to offer. It is the Paris of Siberia, after all.
Irkutsk in numbers
- area: 277 km2
- population: 647 000
- population density: 2 100/km2
Irkutsk attractions
- Znamensky Monastery
- 130 Kvartal
- Angara Ice Breaker
- Taltsy Village
Irkutsk monuments
- Leonid Gaidai
- M.M. Speranskiy
- Founders of Irkutsk
- Tsar Alexander III
Murmansk
What about a walk around Russian arctic territory? The city isn’t very dynamic, notably due to its tumultuous history, particularly in the Second World War. It was the last city the Russian Empire founded before its end, in 1917.
Murmansk lies on Russia's European side, not far from its border with Norway. It is the largest city in the Arctic circle, roughly on the same parallel as the world's coldest city, Oymyakon (which is also in Russia).
Murmansk in numbers
- area: 168,14 km2
- population: 266 681
- population density: 1 559/km²
Murmansk Attractions
- Lenin icebreaker
- Northern Lights
- Lake Semyonovskoe
- Murmansk square
Murmansk Monuments
- World War 2 Memorial
- Alyosha Monument
- Sailors' Monument
- victims of the intervention
Novosibirsk
This is Russia's third-largest city, and the country's largest city on its Asian side. It sits on the banks of the Ob River, at the southern end of the Siberian Federal District.
This is a young city, founded in 1893, as a planned crossing point for the Trans-Siberian Railway. This New Siberia came into its own in 1926, after ravages of the Russian Civil War.
Novosibirsk in Numbers
- area: 502.7 km2
- population: 1 633 900
- population density: 2 900/km2
Novosibirsk attractions
- Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
- The Sphere
- Train Museum
- Botanical Garden
Novosibirsk monuments
- victims of radiation disasters
- the Laboratory Mouse
- Monument of Glory
- to the Electrician
Yekaterinburg
Yekaterinburg is Russia's fourth-largest city, and one of the country's main cultural centres. Its economy thrives, thanks to tourism and industry; it is one of Russia's busiest industrial centres.
Yekaterinburg lies on the Iset River, between Siberia and the Volger-Ural region. It was founded in 1723, to administer the thriving mine operations. In fact, this city served as the Russian Empire's mining capital.
Visitors needn't worry about dirty air from mine activity. As you can see from this picture, people here love outdoor activities.
Yekaterinburg in numbers
- area: 1 111 km2
- population: 1 536 183
- population density: 1 200/km2
Yeketerinburg attractions
- Lovers sculpture
- Michael Jackson statue
- Kirillov's House
- Iset River Dam
Yekaterinburg monuments
- Europe-Asia Obelisk
- Black Tulip Memorial
- Romanov Monument
- A. Pushkin Monument
Travel Advice for Russia
Don't forget that, if you want to travel to Russia, you'll need to sort out accommodations, and get a Russian visa (which involves booking somewhere to stay).
As you plan your trip, consider getting with a tour operator before your trip to Russia, and ensure your passport is still valid. Russia welcomes plenty of tourists every year, so make sure you've planned which regions you want to visit. Buy your rubles, learn basic courtesy words, and get ready for adventure!
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