Russia is one of the most extraordinary countries in the world, with an unparalleled wealth of culture and history, but also because of its unique landscapes famous all over the world. Many people consider Russia to be difficult to access and sometimes even inaccessible. However, those who have taken the plunge and visited this beautiful country, come back with wonderful memories.
Your main priority before traveling to Russia is to apply for a Russian visa. You need to know what type of visa you should obtain prior to your travel. The most common one is the tourist visa, but if you need to stay for a longer period of time or for a specific purpose such as affairs, you might consider getting a business visa. Obtaining the visa is not as hard as it sounds, you can get all the required documents online, including the invitation letter (read more) and the application can also be done online. Once you made sure to follow up all the visa requirements, you are ready to enjoy your upcoming trip in the Russian Federation. For those who still have doubts, here is a list of 12 main reasons why you should visit Russia this year!
1. Religious monuments
The Russian Orthodox Church has always played a very important role in terms of power and prestige in Russia, especially during the tsarist era. The Russian tsars ruled the country for nearly 350 years. Whether you are a believer or not, you cannot remain indifferent to the sublime cathedrals that can be found all over the country. Like the Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg or the magnificent Cathedral St. Basil the Blessed in Moscow but also the multitude of churches in the city of Souzdal, all listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
2. Russian winter
Don’t be afraid of Russian winters! Yes, it is cold, but take some warm winter clothes with you and you will be ready to face the snow and discover the splendid icy landscapes that are really worth seeing. You will be able to explore a world that seems to have come straight out of a fairy tale. You can experience one of the essential factors of all Russian history, its weather. If you are bold enough and push your journey to the northernmost regions of the country you can even see the Northern Lights!
3. Geography
Russia is the largest country in the world that extends over eight time zones and spreads over an area of 17 million square kilometres ! This size allows to have an immense variety of landscapes, and water spots. Its wide and complex range of landscapes has created a diverse mix of 40 national parks and 40 UNESCO biosphere reserves. Here you can find the oldest mountains in the world, the Urals, and the deepest lake in the world, the Baikal.
4. Culture
Russia has always occupied a prominent place on the world stage. The Bolshoi Theatre and the Pushkin Art Gallery in Moscow, the Mariinsky Theatre and the Hermitage in St. Petersburg are considered to be among the best artistic institutions in the world. In the city of St. Petersburg alone, there are more than 2,000 libraries, 221 museums, 80 theatres, 100 concert halls, 45 art galleries, 62 cinemas and 80 disco, and more than 100 concert and performance halls and festivals organized each year.
5. Palaces
See how tsars lived in the Catherine Palace or the Peterhof Palace. The great Peterhof Palace was rebuilt after the Second World War and is now protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a magnificent complex of buildings, gardens and fountains and one of the most popular attractions for visitors in St. Petersburg.
6. History
It extends over more than 1,150 years. Russia has been involved in more than 100 wars and conflicts, led by more than 120 leaders, built the longest railway in the world and was the first country to send someone into space.
7. Literary history
Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky, Pushkin, Chekhov, Nabokov, Bulgakov, Gogol; all these great authors and more have lived and worked in Russia. During your visit, you will be able to visit their homes, favorite places and inspiring sites of their work to deepen the understanding and perspective of Russian literature. Many of these sites have been transformed into museums.
8. Art museums
The art collection of the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg is enough to keep you busy for days. It is only a small part of all the art you can see in Russia. Almost every city has at least one art museum with amazing works. The Moscow Museum of Modern Art is the first Russian state museum dedicated to 20th and 21st century art. It houses the largest collection of modern and contemporary Russian art in the country. Also in Moscow, the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts has one of the most important collections of Russian and foreign art, from ancient to modern times. The Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts consists six buildings located in central Moscow.
9. Food
You must try traditional Russian food at least once in your life. Borscht is a beet soup, accompanied by a spoonful of cream, originating from Ukraine, but it was quickly adopted as a Russian specialty. Pelmeni are Russia’s national dish. These are a kind of ravioli usually filled with minced meat. They can be served alone, covered with butter and sour cream or in a broth. The Pelmeni are definitely my favourite in Russia.
10. Moscow metro
Get off the subway to enjoy the timeless beauty of the stations. Take the train to discover Russia from the rails, you can even let yourself be tempted by a trip on the Trans-Siberian Railway.
11. Nature
Russia is, of course, a gigantic country, and the main advantage of this expanse is that there are still huge areas where nature remains unspoilt and which await to be discovered by travellers who love untamed views. You will find some of the most fantastic landscapes in the world all over Russia – including the Caucasus mountains and the Lake Baikal region of Siberia, protected by UNESCO.
12. Entertainment
If you like to have fun and entertain yourself, Russia will offer you everything you can dream of. Attend a performance of the famous Russian ballet dancers or listen to classical music written by Russian composers and performed by world-renowned Russian musicians. Russia is also known for its nightlife, which is among the craziest in the world, with nightclubs and bars where you can listen to music until the end of the night.
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