Planning a trip to Russia? Here are the 6 best cities in Russia you have to add to your trip itinerary.
Russia is a true enigma. The current geopolitical situation portrays Russia as an enemy to everyone in the west. It seems like every movie we watch features bag guys from Russia. In contrast, some of the greatest people I know, and most successful people in America are in fact Russian.
I know tons of people that have visited Russia and say that it was one of their absolute favorite trips ever, I even have one friend that is getting ready to move there.
So what’s really going on with Russia?
Full disclosure, I have no idea but that doesn’t take away from the fact that I’m dying to visit. There are so many attractions that you can’t find anywhere else in the world. Russian culture is so unique and powerful; you can see aspects of Russian culture all across the globe.
Are you willing to go through the painful visa process and actually visit Russia? If yes, here are the Best cities in Russia that you want to include on your itinerary..
6 Best Cities in Russia
1. Sochi
You may be familiar with this southern Russian city as it previously hosted the 2014 Winter Olympics. Even though it hosted the winter olympics, it is famous as a beach resort city with a mild climate. It is the go-to-place for Russians to escape the brutal cold.
2. Moscow russia
Moscow is the capital of Russia. As such, it is a financial and political center of Russia (as well as the former Soviet Union).
You will find a ton of historic sites throughout this modern business city. The most famous site is Red Square, part of which houses the Kremlin (government citadel) and the world famous St. Basil’s Cathedral – i.e. the world’s most iconic onion domes.
3. Nizhny Novgorod
This city is almost always shortened to Nizhny. If you look at a map of Russia you may think it is close to Moscow, but given how truly massive Russia really is, you will soon realize that it is still 300 miles east. The city has become a large industrial hub including the manufacture of automobiles, which has earned it the nickname the “Detroit of Russia”.
4. St Petersburg, Russia
While Moscow is the actual capital of Russia, St Petersburg is often called the historical capital of Russia. It was previously named Petrograd and then Leningrad. There museums and antiquities here than almost anywhere else.
5. Kazan Russia
Kazan is a city in what many call southwest Russia, but would more accurately be described as south central Russia. The country is so big and so few people live in the eastern part that it likely gets called southwest because it is in the southwestern part of most of the Russian population.
The city is way more influential than one would expect, and has one of the highest standards of living amongst Russians.
The city’s most famous attraction is the Kazan Kremlin, which is a gigantic fortress looming over the city (FYI – kremlin can also mean citadel in Russian).
6. Rostov-on-Don
This city in southern Russia on the Black Sea and is home to over 1 million people. It is famous for previously being two different towns, one being Russian and one being Armenian. In 1928 they were merged together, but the two distinct cultures remain to this day.
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