Best Places to Visit in Russia – 30 amazing cities, mountains and other tourist attractions

Best Places to Visit in Russia – 30 amazing cities, mountains, national parks and other attractions! Russia is a beautiful country with some truly amazing landscape. The sheer size of the country means that everyone can find a place that appeals to them. Here you will find some of the best art museums, striking monuments and breathtaking scenery in the entire world.

While Russia may not be the first place you think of for a vacation, it has definitely become a popular destination for many people. While getting a visa to visit this country can be challenging, it is well worth it when you consider everything there is to see and do here. Russia is also one of the most visited countries in the world!

Best Places to Visit in Russia

1. Saint Petersburg

Saint Petersburg is the second-largest city in Russia, and it has a lot to offer for those who love art and culture. There is the UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Winter Palace, which is where you will find the Hermitage Museum.

One of the great things about this city is that there is something for everyone, especially those who love history and value a city with an exciting nightlife.

Top 5 places to visit in Saint Petersburg

• State Hermitage Museum
• Grand Palace
• General Staff Building
• Lower Park of Peterhof
• Yusupov Palace

2. Moscow

Moscow is the capital of Russia and the largest city in the country. It has a number of historic buildings and sites that you can visit, as well as some very impressive monuments.

This city is home to the Kremlin, which is to Russia as the White House is to the United States. There are a lot of great bars and restaurants where you can get some very delicious food.

Top 5 places to visit in Moscow

• Moscow Kremlin
• Red Square and Cathedral of St. Basil
• Lenin’s mausoleum
• GUM
• Great Theater

3. Altai Mountains

Altai are some of the most beautiful mountains in the country, located in a remote area in southern Siberia. There are lots of incredible hiking opportunities for adventure seekers, as well as horseback riding and white water rafting.

There is nothing quite like the experience of horseback riding through these mountains. You can also take a group tour to discover the history behind this beautiful place.

Top 5 places to visit in Altai Mountains

• Sun Vibes Festival
• Rafting – Katun, Beluha
• Driving through Chuysky Trakt
• Camping & Making Fire
• Russian Banya

4. Anapa

Anapa is located on the northern coast of the Black Sea, and it is a resort town that draws in many people from all over the world each year. It has some of the most stunning beaches in the world, and it is highly recommended that you relax on the white sand while taking in the rays.

The Gorgippia Archaeological Museum and Town Theater are two places you should try to visit if you have a low of art and history.

Top 5 places to visit in Anapa

• Musical Fontains
• Anapa Dolphinarium (Nemo)
• Water Park Golden Beach
• Oceanarium RIF
• Sukko Valley

Musical Fontains, Anapa, Russia by Анатолий Таранцов / Wikimedia Commons

Anapa Dolphinarium (Nemo), Anapa, Russia by Andre Glechikoff / Flickr

Sukko Valley, Anapa, Russia by yurij-menkovich / Wikimedia Commons

5. Barnaul

Barnaul is a small town that was established back in the 18th century, and it is definitely worth exploring. It can be found about half an hour from the Altai Mountains, and it has a number of charming bars, restaurants and great hotels to stay in.

Izumrudnyy Park is a great place to go if you are travelling with a family, and the Museum of Military History has some truly fascinating exhibits.

Top 5 places to visit in Barnaul

• Mountain Pharmacy Museum
• Ostrich Ranch
• Nagorny Park
• Akvapark Water Park
• Lenin Avenue

Lenin Avenue, Barnaul, Russia by Vyacheslav Buharov / Flickr

Nagorny Park, Barnaul, Russia by Sue Fleckney / Flickr

Ostrich Ranch, Barnaul, Russia by lontee / Flickr

6. Yekaterinburg

Yekaterinburg can be close to the border of Europe and Asia, and it is the fourth largest city in all of Russia. This is one of the best places in the country to go for cross-country skiing, and Deer Streams National Park is a beautiful place to visit.

Ganina Yama is a wonderful monument dedicated to the Romanov family, and you don’t want to miss it if you come here.

Top 5 places to visit in Yekaterinburg

• Ganina Yama Monastery
• Visotsky Business Center Lookout
• President Center of Boris Eltsin
• V. Vysotskiy Museum
• Dendropark

Ganina Yama Monastery, Yekaterinburg, Russia by Evgisel / Wikimedia Commons

Visotsky Business Center Lookout, Yekaterinburg, Russia by Nyukalka / Wikimedia Commons

President Center of Boris Yeltsin, Yekaterinburg, Russia by Владислав Фальшивомонетчик / Wikimedia Commons

V. Vysotskiy Museum, Yekaterinburg, Russia by Vyacheslav Bukharov / Wikimedia Commons

7. Golden Ring

The Golden Ring is a series of small historic towns in a rural part of the country, located northeast of Moscow. This place is best known for their incredible food and charming little cottages that visitors can rent.

If you want to take a trip to the Russian countryside, this is definitely the place to go. It is one of the oldest towns in the country, and it’s a fascinating place to visit.

Best Towns to Visit in Golden Ring

• Suzdal & Vladimir the Great
• Sergiyev Posad
• Pereslavl-Zalesskiy
• Yaroslavl
• Rostov Velikiy

Suzdal & Vladimir the Great, Golden Ring, Russia by William / Flickr

Sergiyev Posad, Golden Ring, Russia by falco / Pixabay

Pereslavl-Zalesskiy, Golden Ring, Russia by Andrey Korchagin / Flickr

Yaroslavl, Golden Ring, Russia by World Wide Gifts / Wikimedia Commons

Rostov Velikiy, Golden Ring, Russia by falco / Pixabay

8. Irkutsk

Irkutsk was founded by the Cossacks back in the 1600s, and it is the Sayan Mountains that attract so many visitors each year. These mountains offer some incredible hiking and camping experiences, and you can go fishing on Baikal Lake.

There are also a number of art and history museums that you should try to visit while you are here. There is a lot of interesting history to learn about in this place.

Top 5 places to visit in Irkutsk

• Cathedral of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God
• Irkutsk Regional Memorial Decembrists Museum, Volkonsky House
• Cathedral of The Epiphany
• Landfill Museum
• Kirov’s Park

Irkutsk Regional Memorial Decembrists Museum, Volkonsky House, Russia by Mike W. / Flickr

Cathedral of The Epiphany, Irkutsk, Russia by jackmac34 / Pixabay

Kirov’s Park, Irkutsk, Russia by К.Артём.1 / Wikimedia Commons

9. Kaliningrad

Kaliningrad is overlooked by a lot of people who plan a trip to Russia, but it is worth visiting because of its numerous historic sites, monuments and museums.

Here you will be able to learn more about this city’s role during various wars, and the resort town of Svetlogorsk is nearby. This is a beautiful city with a lot to offer for those who are visiting from another country.

Top 5 places to visit in Kaliningrad

• Curonian Spit
• Konigsberg Cathedral
• Museum of the World Ocean
• B-413 Submarine Museum
• Fort XI Donhoff

Curonian Spit, Kaliningrad, Russia by Kyle Taylor / Flickr

Konigsberg Cathedral, Kaliningrad, Russia by Negrebets / Pixabay

Museum of the World Ocean, Kaliningrad, Russia by SIYAMA / Pixabay

B-413 Submarine Museum, Kaliningrad, Russia by Ttracy / Wikimedia Commons

10. Kamchatka

Kamchatka is one of the best beautiful places in Russia, and it is a peninsula that stretches 1,250 km in length. There is a lot of geological activity here, including numerous active volcanoes, geysers and hot springs that you can enjoy.

Anyone who loves spending time in nature will want to make a point of going to this place while in Russia.

Top 5 places to visit in Kamchatka

• Volcano Mutnovsky
• Kamchatka Peninsula
• Khalaktyrsky Beach
• Paratunskiye Hot Spring
• Valley of Geysers

Volcano Mutnovsky, Kamchatka, Russia by kuhnmi / Flickr

Kamchatka Peninsula, Kamchatka, Russia by Natalia_Kollegova / Pixabay

Khalaktyrsky Beach, Kamchatka, Russia by Sergey Yeliseev / Flickr

Valley of Geysers, Kamchatka, Russia by Malupasic / Wikimedia Commons

11. Kazan

Kazan turned 1000 years old back in 2005, and it is definitely a great place to visit in Russia for a number of reasons. Bauman Street is a popular place for tourists to go, as there are lots of excellent restaurants, cafes, bars, and shops to go around too.

There are also double-decker buses that you can go on to take a tour of the city to see everything it has to offer.

12. Krasnoyarsk

Krasnoyarsk has a lot of beautiful scenery, including Stolby National Park, which is just 20 minutes outside of the city. This is one of the best places for rock climbers to visit, and the hydroelectric dam is a great attraction to keep in mind.

If you want some outdoor adventure while visiting Russia, this is definitely one of the better cities to visit.

13. Lake Baikal

Lake Baikal is the largest lake in the entire world, and it is thought to be around 25 million years old. This is one of the most beautiful places that you can visit in all of Russia, and it completely freezes over in the winter months.

If you love skiing and sledging, this is the place to go in the winter. In the summer months, however, this lake is a great place for hiking, swimming and fishing.

14. Murmansk

Murmansk has a population of over 300,000 people, and it is the biggest Arctic city in the world. Founded back in 1916, this city doesn’t have quite as many older historic buildings as other parts of Russia.

There is an old wooden monastery and navy museum here though. There is also a museum that is housed in what used to be the icebreaker Lenin, which was a nuclear ship.

15. Nizhny Novgorod

This city, which is commonly known as Nizhny by the locals, is located right on the river and offers some truly incredible views. There is an impressive war monument as well as a church and art museum with some really beautiful pieces to see.

If you want a small-town experience in Russia with lots of fun things to see and do, Nizhny Novgorod is a good place to go.

16. Veliky Novgorod

Veliky Novgorod is located between Saint Petersburg and Moscow, and it is an ancient city that has a lot of historical importance dating back to 859. There are many amazing old historic buildings, including churches and other religious buildings that you will want to see while you are here.

There is a wonderful beach just outside the Kremlin, and it’s a very popular place for people to take boats up and down the river.

17. Novosibirsk

Novosibirsk is Russia’ third-largest city and is a very quiet place for those who want to get away from all of the noise of the bigger cities. There are a number of great monuments and museums here that you can visit.

Some of the more popular activities for those who visit this city include ice skating and going to the circus, which is great fun for the whole family.

18. Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky

Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky is the second-largest city in the entire world unreachable by traditional modes of transport. Those who want to go to this city have to travel over the water by boat.

There are a lot of great hotels you can stay in, and fantastic places to eat and drink. This is one of the more popular tourist areas in Russia, and it’s the perfect place to go skiing and hunting.

19. Samara

Samara is located on the banks of the Volga River, and it was closed to all visitors until the USSR was dismantled. You can get a guided tour of the city on Saturday afternoon, and it will provide you with the perfect opportunity to learn more about it.

You will be able to see Stalin’s bunker and a number of other fascinating things that will teach more about the history of this country.

20. Sochi

Sochi is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Russia, and it is packed with historical monuments and buildings as well as various types of museums.

There is also Sochi National Park, which will provide you with the perfect chance to explore waterfalls, caves, mountains and much more. If you love spending time in the great outdoors, this is an ideal place to visit in Russia.

21. Trans Siberian

Trans Siberian is still the longest railway in the entire world, stretching a total of 5,772 miles. Sleeper car tickets are available for longer journeys, and the train stops every few hours to allow passengers to get out and walk around as well as get something to eat.

This is definitely a unique trip and one that all visitors should try to take.

22. Ulan-Ude

Ulan-Ude is among the more fascinating places that you can visit along the Trans-Siberian Railway, and it has a Buddhist lama temple that will provide you with a fantastic view of the entire city.

This historic city has some truly amazing cuisine from numerous street stalls, as well as the Ethnographic Museum of the People of Transbaikalia Culture.

23. Vladivostok

Vladivostok is a city and a crucial commercial port and naval base, and it has a lot to offer for tourists who are visiting. The beautiful landscape of this place is worth seeing at least once while you are in Russia, and there are numerous trails that you can hike along.

The beaches are absolutely stunning scenery, and they are perfect for swimming.

24. Vologda

Vologda can be found in the northeastern corner of the country, and it is packed with many amazing places to eat. There is truly something for everyone here, including gorgeous historic monuments and fascinating museums where you can learn more about the history of the area.

Kremlyovskaya Square is one of the more popular areas in this city for tourists to visit.

25. Lena Pillars (Lenskiye Stolby) Nature Park – UNESCO

Lena Pillars is one of Russia’s most beautiful natural parks, and its elongated rocks go on for miles. This is a very popular destination for rock climbers, hikers and those who enjoy camping.

There are plenty of great photo opportunities to be found here, and just walking along the riverbanks is an incredible experience, to say the least.

26. Smolenskoye Poozerye National Park

35 lakes, fairytale pine forests, scenic birch groves and fantastic sunsets. This is what you can see in Smolenskoye Poozerye National Park. In the park, you can meet a bunch of different animals, from herons to bears.

Lakes are rich in fish. When visiting National Park, hiking and boat trips are most often combined. For the convenience of tourists, many accommodation centres, as well as campsites, have been created here.

27. Mount Elbrus

Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten to list this place here! Elbrus is with its elevation of 5,642 meters above sea level the highest mountain in Russia.

However, nowadays, geographers are inclined to the fact that the North Caucasus lies on the border of Europe and that is why Elbrus is also the highest mountain in Europe. Anyway, climbing to the top of this mountain is an adventure you cannot miss if you are a nature lover!

28. Ural Mountains

Have you ever heard about the natural borders between Europe and Asia? So it was made by the Ural mountains that cut Russia into two parts.

The Ural is the most significant Russian mountain range that stretches almost 2500 km from the north of Russia all the way to the south. Although the Ural is not a very high mountain range (the highest peak being Mount Narodnaya with an elevation of 1,895m), it is notable for its age, geological diversity, magical fauna and flora.

29. Ergaki Nature Park

Ergaki is a beautiful natural park located in the southern part of Krasnoyarsk territory. Tourists can find the Ergaki Tourist Center here.

Every year tens of thousands of tourists visit this park. There are many lakes with clear water and bizarre rocky peaks that are named for their unusual shapes as Dragon Tooth, Bird or Parabola.

30. Curonian Spit

Another wonderful and, at the same time, a very interesting and unique place is the Curonian Spit. It is a narrow strip of land which is 98 km long and 0.5 km to 3.8 km wide.

Curonian Spit is divided between Lithuania and Russia. It is made mainly of sandy soil, so it is also called “Baltic Sahara”. It is definitely an interesting place to visit!