10 of the Popular Tourist Attractions in Russia for Excellent Sightseeing Tour

Russia is the largest country in the world and offers an array of travel experiences. Right from treks up to the slopes of glacier-capped mountains to strolls along the shores of the oldest lake on Earth, this country is amazing in every way. You may find various historical sites and cultural activities in the great cities of this country. Whether you wish to stroll through the steppes of Mongolia or explore the grounds of Moscow’s Kremlin, a visit to Russia is truly an adventure. If you are visiting Russia soon and wondering which places to visit, then read on to know more about popular tourist attractions in Russia.

St Sophia Cathedral

Named after Hagia Sofia (Holy Wisdom) Temple (currently a mosque) in Istanbul, St Sophia Cathedral is a cathedral church. This 38-metre-high, five-domed, stone cathedral was constructed by Vladimir of Novgorod between 1045 and 1050 to substitute an oaken cathedral erected by Bishop Joachim the Korsunian in the late 10th century.

Suzdal Kremlin

Located in the oldest part of Suzdal, Suzdal Kremlin is an amazing architectural complex surrounded by well-preserved 11th century earthen walls. The heart of the Kremlin is the Nativity of the Virgin Cathedral, which is positioned right in the center of the ensemble. The cathedral is supposed to be the oldest preserved structure in Suzdal, which was actually built in 1222-1225 at the site of an earlier erected church.

Saint Basil’s Cathedral

Constructed between the year 1554 and 1561, Saint Basil’s Cathedral is situated right at the heart of Moscow. This cathedral is among the top tourist attractions in Russia. The interior artifacts not only attract visitors, but also its distinctive architecture that allures travelers to come here from around the world. It is designed to resemble the shape of a bonfire in full flame; this cathedral has unique kind of architecture in the world. You won’t find any other structure on earth like St. Basil’s Cathedral.

Hermitage Museum

Established in the year 1764 by Catherine the Great, the Hermitage Museum is situated in Saint Petersburg, Russia. It is a massive museum of art and culture displaying the highlights of a fine collection of more than 3 million items sprawling the globe. The collections occupy a large complex of six historic buildings which includes the Winter Palace, which was a former residence of Russian emperors. This museum is a must visit place for art lovers.

Mount Elbrus

Mount Elbrus is the highest mountain of Russia as well as entire Europe and considered to be 10th most prominent peak in the world. Elbrus has two summits and each of these have dormant volcanic domes. The taller west summit is 5,642 meters high while height of the east summit is 5,621 meters. Elbrus may not be that rocky of a mountain, but its surrounding peaks are not like that. The normal route to Elbrus is long and tiring but precisely not difficult. The biggest danger is the weather that can be mostly nasty on this mountain.

Moscow Kremlin

It is a must-see tourist attraction for anyone travelling in Moscow. It is home to the nation’s top governmental offices. However, Moscow Kremlin has walled enclosure houses four cathedrals which were constructed in the 15th and 16th century as well as several notable museums. This 250-acre ground includes the Armory, filled with royal treasures (of the past), and the Diamond Fund Exhibition, a collection of jewelry which includes a 190-carat diamond given to Catherine the Great.

Kolomenskoye Park

Kolomenskoye is a previous royal estate located in the southeast of the city center of Moscow. The 390 hectare picturesque area enjoys the views of the steep banks of the Moskva River. It is located at a small metro ride from the center, close to one of the city’s most industrialized areas, the park and its awe-inspiring buildings are so steeped in history that not even the Kremlin itself can quite so well evoke the Russia of old. Arriving at Kolomenskoe along a street of drab Soviet tower blocks, you are first confronted by a rather gaudy collection of “medieval” sideshows and souvenir booths, and part of the magic of the experience is the way that this display of touristy tackiness fades from your memory the further you get into the tranquil, rugged beauty of the park proper.

Kizhi Island

Located in Karelia, an area in Northwestern Russia that borders Finland and the White Sea, Kizhi Island is renowned for its incredible open-air museum. The museum’s collection has the 120-foot high Church of the Transfiguration of Our Savior (a structure made popular by its 22 domes). This islands other tourist attractions are dozens of wooden houses, chapels and barns, windmills etc. In the museum the peasant culture is signified with folk ensembles and craft demonstrations.

Valley of Geysers

Located on the Kamchatka Peninsula in the Russian Far East, the Valley of Geysers is renowned to be world’s second largest geyser field. The Valley of Geysers was founded in the year 1941 by local scientist Tatyana Ustinova. Since then, it became a famous tourist attraction in Kamchatka and attracts a lot of interest from tourists and scientists.

Red Square

Red Square is a city square (plaza) in Moscow, which separates the Kremlin from a historic merchant quarter known as Kitai-gorod. It is often considered the central square of Moscow since major streets of the city, which connect to Russia’s key highways, beginning from the square. The rich history of Red Square reflects in several paintings by Vasily Surikov, Konstantin Yuon and others. It was used to serve as the main marketplace of Moscow. It also was the site of diverse public ceremonies and proclamations. The square has been steadily built up since that point and has been used for official ceremonies by all Russian governments since its foundation.