Russian National Tourist Office wins prestigious World Travel Awards 2020 in two categories Russia’s Leading Travel Agency  Russia's Leading Travel Management Company...

7 November, 2020 The annual city light show “Wonder of Light” - will be held on November 7 and 8, 2020 on the territory of the Peter and Paul Fortress. The festival is organized by the...

Strolling down Nevsky Prospekt, there’s no shortage of amazing things to see and do. But surely one of the most eye-catching buildings you’ll see en route is the majestic Kazan Cathedral....

Butter Week, Crepe Week, Cheesefare Week … however you want to translate ‘Maslenitsa’, it’s an important date in the Russian calendar, and a great opportunity to join in the celebrations,...

Planning a trip to Russia? Not sure where to go first? Here are a few ideas to help you decide… For lots of us planning to visit a foreign country for the first time, the obvious choice is...

Andrey Rublev may be Russia’s most famous icon painter, yet relatively little is known about his life. For a start, we know only that he was born somewhere between 1360 and 1370, although...

Russia is full of incredible religious buildings. But surely one of the most breathtaking is the Novodevichy Convent.   One of Moscow's most beautiful cloisters, it’s nestled in the...

Flying into your travel destination is an exciting experience – but what about the transfer from the airport to your hotel? If you’re an independent traveller and you’ve never been to St...

The Bronze Horseman – an impressive monument to the founder of St Petersburg, Peter the Great – is one of St Petersburg’s most famous monuments. Standing on Senatskaia Ploshchad (Senate...

Travelling by motorbike is a great way to see new countries and meet the local people. And with so many great countries to visit, it can be difficult to know where to start. So can we make a...

Travelling to Russia on business? Then you’re going to need an official letter of invitation to obtain your Russian business visa. Why? Because this invitation is an essential document to...

There are so many reasons to visit St Petersburg. Some people come in search of culture, others seek inspiration from its literary associations. For some, it’s the architecture that’s top of...

Russia is a big place! With a total surface area about 70 times bigger than the UK, you could spend a lifetime exploring this fascinating land, and still only scratch the surface. But now...

Visiting Moscow with family, and looking for something to keep the kids entertained? Then here are a few suggestions…   Mosquarium The new, ocean-size aquarium at VDNKh, which opened...

There’s just over 500 days to go till the biggest event in the footballing calendar – the FIFA World Cup 2018. Hosted by Russia, it’s a great opportunity to showcase the very best of what...

Russia’s political history is a source of fascination for many of us in the West. That’s why so many visitors include the Museum of Political History in their list of ‘must sees’ when visiting...

Russia is home to 11 world chess champions! But how did chess become so popular in our country?   Archaeological finds in Novgorod confirm that chess came to Russia from the Middle...

There are so many reasons to visit St Petersburg. Some people come in search of culture, others seek inspiration from its literary associations. For some, it’s the architecture that’s top of...

Here in the West, Christmas is generally considered the most important Christian festival. But in Russia, it’s Easter that takes pride of place. Easter is a time when the faithful and...

Golf tourism is big business. People come from all over the world to play on the windswept links of St Andrews in Scotland, the carefully manicured fairways of the southern USA or the...

Peter the Great was passionate about his Summer Garden. Inspired by the imposing Palace of Versailles in Paris, the park was personally designed by Czar Peter in 1704, supposedly, with the...

Are you planning to attend the FIFA Confederations Cup this summer? This year’s event will be the 10th FIFA Confederations Cup, an international men's football tournament organised by FIFA...

Russia is a big place. The eight hours it takes by train from Moscow to St Petersburg is hardly a long journey by Russian standards … not when you consider that a trip on the famous...

Getting around St. Petersburg by public transport is generally pretty straightforward, and certainly won’t break the bank. But there are circumstances – airport transfers, for example, or...

Mention ‘Urals’ to most people, and they’ll probably think of the Ural Mountains – a range that runs from north to south through western Russia, from the coast of the Arctic Ocean to the Ural...

«© Alex Fedorov, Wikimedia Commons»   Have you ever wanted to walk in the footsteps of the Romanovs – the dynasty that ruled Russia until they were executed by the Bolsheviks in...

Fancy a bit of food shopping in St Petersburg? There’s no shortage of grocery markets in the city and, although they’ve largely been superseded in popularity by the ever-growing number of...

Russia has dominated many sports over the years, but surely some of its most famous sportsmen and women are the famous names who took world gymnastics to a new level in the latter decades of...

Planning to attend the Confederations Cup during the summer? Then you need to know about the Fan ID system. Under the system, the four host cities – Moscow, Kazan, St Petersburg and Sochi –...

St Petersburg is a city full of attractions and unforgettable experiences which everyone should visit at least once in their lifetime. But what about disabled visitors – how accessible is...

Have you ever wondered what the long peninsula is running north-south at the eastern end of Russia? This is the Kamchatka peninsula, over 104 000 square miles of largely unpopulated land,...

Russia is proud of its achievements in space … and justifiably so, as it achieved a large number of firsts, including… The successful test of the world’s first ballistic missile in August...

It’s strange to think that a Russian theatre company that started life as the dream of playwright and director Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko and theatre practitioner Konstantin Stanislavski...

Moscow hasn’t always been Russia’s capital city. In fact, in the 13th-15th centuries, it was Vladimir that held this prestigious title. The white stone churches of Vladimir are a reminder...

Russia offers so many different attractions for tourists to enjoy – amazing architecture, vibrant nightlife, and an endless range of cultural and historical attractions. But what’s it like to...

Today is an important day in the Russian calendar. Russia Day is a national day of celebrations which features plenty of flag hoisting, parades, fireworks, awards ceremonies, singing of...

Russia is justifiably proud of its many and varied scientific discoveries and achievements. From Medeleev’s periodic table to Russia’s many breakthrough achievements in space exploration, the...

Russian folklore is awash with stories of Baba Yaga, the fearsome witch with iron teeth. And because there are so many stories, over the years, Baba Yaga has acquired countless traits and...

Red Square is undoubtedly one of Moscow’s – and Russia’s – most iconic landmarks. Every day, thousands flock to see its most famous sites – Lenin’s mausoleum, St Basil’s Cathedral, the Kremlin...

Who’s the most famous Russian-born actor you can think of from the last century? Not a lot of people know this, but Yul Brynner was actually born Yuly Borisovich Briner on 11 July 1920 in...

Did you know that the tenth highest mountain in the world is in Russia? Mount Elbrus, in the Caucasus Mountains, rises to a height of 5642 m (18 510 ft) at its summit. This stratovolcano,...

Tourists come from all over the world to experience St Petersburg’s history and, in particular, its association with the tsars who ruled Russia for centuries. One of the tsars’ favourite...

Visiting Moscow? Wondering where to start? There are so many incredible things to see and do in Russia’s capital. Beyond the obvious Red Square, St Basil’s Cathedral and Kremlin, there’s...

There are so many reasons to visit St Petersburg. Some people come in search of culture, others seek inspiration from its literary associations. For some, it’s the architecture that’s top of...

Did you watch the final of the Confederations Cup at the weekend? This year’s event is the 10th time the FIFA Confederations Cup has been held. Hosted by Russia as a prelude to next year’s...

St Petersburg is hardly short of great hotels and hostels. From five-star luxury to cheap-and-cheerful backpackers’ accommodation, there something to suit all tastes and every budget. But...

Have you heard of the Seven Wonders of Russia? A project organised by the newspaper Izvestia, Radio Mayak and the television channel Russia set out to establish the seven most amazing...

Some of Russia’s most magnificent churches are found in St Petersburg. And among its most outstanding examples are the city’s Orthodox Cathedrals. Built at the height of the Russian...

Russia is full of places with links to one of the world’s most famous historical leaders, Vladimir Ilyich Lenin. But do you know where the man considered by some as the father of communism...

Fancy seeing the natural side of Russia, but don’t want to travel too far? Then maybe the Republic of Karelia is what you’re looking for. Karelia is an amazing ‘country of lakes’ in the...

    Please enjoy an article from one of our inspired clients: For most visitors to Russia, like ourselves, the first experience of the country is through her two great metropolises:...

There are so many reasons to visit St Petersburg. Some people come in search of culture, others seek inspiration from its literary associations. For some, it’s the architecture that’s top of...

Siberia is an amazing land of contrasts and makes up a huge portion of modern-day Russia. Here are a few facts by way of illustration… Siberia covers 9 734 000 square kilometres – that’s...

We all have our bad days, and sometimes it can be difficult to put our own problems into perspective. But there are always people worse off than ourselves, such as children with...

The FIFA World Cup is one of the biggest sporting events on the planet. So the fact that Russia is hosting the event is a great opportunity to demonstrate what a warm welcome people from around...

There are dozens of different types of seal right across the planet, but there’s one thing they have in common – they’re all essentially saltwater creatures … all, that is, except one. The...

Folk dance is an important part of Russian culture. Traditional Russian folk dance has its origins in various ethnic groups, including the Slavs and Tatars. Some of the first Russian folk...

Some of Russia’s most magnificent churches are found in St Petersburg. And among its most outstanding examples are the city’s Orthodox Cathedrals. Built at the height of the Russian...

In the 19th century, Germans made up over 10% of St Petersburg's population. Even the city's name was chosen for its Germanic ring. So what traces left by generations of industrious burghers –...

Photo: Yuri Molodkovts, State Hermitage   As the world’s largest country by far, it’s no surprise that there are endless fun and fascinating facts about Russia. Here are just a few of...

The rouble is the basic unit of Russian currency, like the euro or pound sterling. It consists of 100 copecks, and has done since 1704, making it the world’s first decimalised currency. Here...

  Photo: A.Savin, Wikimedia Commons Some of Russia’s most magnificent churches are found in St Petersburg. And among its most outstanding examples are the city’s Orthodox...

  Photo: Alex Florstein Fedorov, Wikimedia Commons   People from all round the world have left their mark in St Petersburg, be it in terms of its history, architecture or cultural...

There are few places in Russia which represent the repression of the Soviet era as much as Moscow’s Lubyanka Building. Lubyanka is the popular name for the headquarters of the former KGB...

Some of Russia’s most magnificent churches are found in St Petersburg. And among its most outstanding examples are the city’s Orthodox Cathedrals. Built at the height of the Russian...

You’ll often find references to an ‘iconostasis’ in our articles about Russia’s churches and cathedrals. But do you know what one of these actually is? In Eastern Christianity, an iconostasis...

As the world’s largest country by far, it’s no surprise that there are endless fun and fascinating facts about Russia. Here are just a few of them… Moscow's Fallen Monument Park contains a...

Where’s the best place to head for in Moscow if you’re looking to keep children entertained? One great idea is to head for the beautiful old royal estate of Kolomenskoe – one of the best...

There’s no denying it – Russian isn’t the easiest of languages to learn for people in the West, especially as there’s a whole new alphabet to go with it. But more than 260 million people speak it...

Fancy walking in the footsteps of some of Moscow’s cultural elite of the latter half of the 20th century? Then head for Peredelkino! Peredelkino is a dacha colony (summer cottages), surrounded...

You probably haven’t heard of Colonel Stanislav Petrov, who died earlier this year aged 77. But he could be one of the most important people to have lived in recent times. Because Colonel Petrov...

12. The Second World War and the Siege of Leningrad (1941-1945) There are so many reasons to visit St Petersburg. Some people come in search of culture, others seek inspiration from its...

Russia is ready to host the most amazing World Cup ever – are you going to be there? If this year’s Confederations Cup is anything to go by, next year’s big event is going to be fantastic! The...

Some of Russia’s most magnificent churches are found in St Petersburg. And among its most outstanding examples are the city’s Orthodox Cathedrals. Built at the height of the Russian Empire's...

We’re all familiar with Chinese, Indian and Italian food. But what are the traditional dishes you can look forward to on your next visit to Russia? Here are a few typical examples of Russian...

You’ve probably heard of Italy’s famous Leaning Tower of Pisa. But what about Russia’s Leaning Tower of Nevyansk? The tower – unsurprisingly – stands (or rather, leans) in the town of Nevyansk...

Heading for Moscow but not sure where to go first? Then here are some of the ‘must-sees’ – which ones will you visit? The Moscow Kremlin is a self-contained city packed full of...

Russia is world-famous for its ballets and operas, music and theatre. But they’re mainly the preserve of adults – so where do you take your children for a bit of high-brow cultural...

As the capital of the Russian Federation, it’s hardly surprising that Moscow is one of the country’s most popular destinations for foreign visitors. Whether you’re a tourist or a business person,...

There’s a lot more to Russia than just Moscow and St Petersburg! The vast majority of foreign tourists who visit Russia confine themselves to the country’s two biggest cities. And while you...

Russia is proud of its achievements in the field of space exploration, and rightly so. With a string of records and ‘firsts’ under its belt, Russia – especially in the days of the ‘space race’...

13.Leningrad under Stalin: Post-war recovery and reconstruction (1945-1953) There are so many reasons to visit St Petersburg. Some people come in search of culture, others seek inspiration...

Tickets are now on sale for next year’s FIFA World Cup. And while Moscow and St Petersburg are sure to be popular destinations with foreign supporters, there are plenty of other cities around...

Some of Russia’s most magnificent churches are found in St Petersburg. And among its most outstanding examples are the city’s Orthodox Cathedrals. Built at the height of the Russian...

As one of the most important historical and cultural centres of southern Russia and the northern Caucasus region, Krasnodar is more ethnically diverse than Northern Russia. The renovated...

We’ve all heard of Lenin and Stalin and how they played a central role in the history of Russia and the USSR for a large part of the last century. But what about Nikita Khrushchev – how much do...

After Moscow and St Petersburg, one of Russia’s most popular tourist cities is Nizhny Novgorod. Often shortened to just Nizhny, it’s Russia's fifth-largest city after Moscow, St Petersburg,...

his year marks a century since the October Revolution finally brought the reign of Russia’s Czars (the Romanovs) to an end, and saw the birth of communism, which would lead to the establishment of...

There are plenty of ‘Revolution Squares’ in cities all over the world. But the one in Moscow has got to be among the most famous. Located in the centre of the capital, in Tverskoy District,...

There’s a lot more to Russia than just Moscow and St Petersburg! The vast majority of foreign tourists who visit Russia confine themselves to the country’s two biggest cities. And while you...

Leningrad under Khrushchev: The Thaw and the housing boom (1953-1964) There are so many reasons to visit St Petersburg. Some people come in search of culture, others seek inspiration...

The ‘Sport Capital of Russia’ – now that’s a good title for a World Cup host city to have! And as Russia’s self-proclaimed ‘third capital’ after Moscow and St Petersburg, you’re guaranteed a...

If you’re travelling to Moscow to watch the World Cup, perhaps your biggest problem is knowing where to start your exploration of this fascinating city with its bewildering mix of attractions both...

Some of the cities hosting this year’s World Cup may be unfamiliar to you. But who hasn’t heard of Sochi? Sochi has always been considered Russia’s principal resort, but hosting the Winter...

Saint Petersburg is one of Russia’s most picturesque cities. Home to the country’s iconic FC Zenit football team, it’s a city full of history and wonder. Known at different times as both...

If the World Cup had been held in Russia just 28 years ago, none of the games would have been held in Nizhny Novgorod for two important reasons: Nizhny Novgorod didn’t exist then – the...

You probably won’t be surprised to hear that Volgograd stands on the mighty Volga River. Formerly called Stalingrad – the fortress that played a pivotal role in World War II – you might have seen...

Kaliningrad – a Russian enclave on the Baltic coast between Poland and Lithuania – is the most westerly of all this year’s World Cup host cities. Standing on the mouth of the Pregolya River, the...

If Volgograd is on the Volga, then it makes sense that Rostov-on-Don is … on the Don. Twenty miles to the east of the Sea of Azov, which in turn forms a northern offshoot of the Black Sea,...

Yekaterinburg is the fourth largest city in Russia and the capital of the Ural region. The city was founded by the first Russian Emperor, and marks the place where the last Russian Emperor and his...

We’ve all heard of Moscow, St Petersburg and Sochi, but what about Saransk – is that a name you’re familiar with? Saransk is the capital city of the Republic of Mordovia. The city stands in...

Samara is the sixth largest city in Russia. It’s located in the south-eastern part of European Russia, at the confluence of the Volga and Samara Rivers, not far from the border with Kazakhstan. To...