Presentation. 6th grade. Travel about Russia

Travel about Russia

Russia’s domestic tourism is continuously developing, although there are still problems with infrastructure, services and sometimes extremely expensive tickets, especially for long distance destinations. Some Russians have indeed never been abroad, but they have the world’s largest country at their disposal and usually arrange holidays on the Black Sea coast, in Caucasian mountains or save up to visit the two capitals, Moscow and

St. Petersburg. 

Moscow

We are used to saying that  Moscow is not Russia .

However, despite this, Moscow is still the center of everything, and the most popular destination of a domestic tourist.

Visiting the capital is a sort of a ‘must-do’ experience for Russians from the other regions. And despite the fact that a ticket to Moscow will cost a Far East resident more than a ticket to a neighboring Asian country, a trip to Moscow is almost a pilgrimage. 

Beyond the obvious selfie on the Red Square, domestic tourists adore the GUM department store, the new Zaryadye Park, the Tretyakov Gallery, and among the  must-visit places in Moscow  are a theater, a circus and the Zoo. 

According to the Russian Union of Tourism Industry, more than 22 million tourists from across the country visited Moscow in 2019, including traveling for sports events, as well as on business trips.

Krasnodar Territory

“ If there is a heaven on Earth, it’s the Krasnodar Territory.” This is a popular proverb in Russia, which was proved by about 16 million domestic tourists in 2019.

Indeed this region in the south is a great place for summer holidays - it’s situated on the coasts of two seas - the Black Sea and the Azov Sea - and has lots of resort cities (such as Anapa, Gelendzik, Novorossiysk, Eisk, etc.).

And the most popular destination is, of course,  Sochi and its suburbs . 

Many Russian kids go there for summer camps and return as adults - and there is accommodation for all budgets and  entertainment for all tastes . The climate there is mild, so even visiting in winter is a great idea - and a short train ride up its mountains will take you to  Sochi’s great ski resorts .

Saint Petersburg

This city is often compared with Venice, Amsterdam and other historical European cities.

And indeed, it was specifically built as a “window to Europe”, because Emperor Peter the Great wanted Russia to be more like a European country. 

About 9 million tourists from all around Russia visited the city in 2019.

There are  plenty of ways to get  to St. Petersburg from Moscow, so there are almost never problems with tickets (unless big international events such as the annual Economic Forum).  As a rule, St. Petersburg is a destination for two- or three-day school trips. It’s a perfect place for historical and cultural enrichment.

Crimea

Crimea has always been a favorite resort for Russians - Chekhov and Tolstoy liked coming here, and its nice climate is perfect for recovering from a range of illnesses.

Russian tsars had residences here, which were turned into  Soviet sanatoriums .

There is also the legendary  ’ Artek ’ pioneer camp,  which is still in operation.

And in 2019, about 7 million Russians visited Crimea.

The peninsula has a big number of resorts all around its perimeter, but one of the most popular cities is  Yalta , the ‘Russian Rivera’ and the main city of the southern coast. While in  Sevastopol , you can not only have a rest, but also explore ancient history, as there is a museum on ruins of the Greek colony Chersonesus. At the same time, Sevastopol is a city with navy and military glory, that was under siege many times and successfully fought and defended the peninsula. 

Besides the great sea resort, Crimea also has mountains and its peak, Ai-Petri, is a great place for climbing - check out our  video  about this sight.

Vladivostok

For a Moscow citizen, a ticket to Vladivostok can cost as much as an all inclusive package tour to Turkey

(and many Russians would actually choose Turkey), however, the idea of appearing on the other side of the world - and still be in Russia - is exciting. And it’s all about nature and the ocean there.

In 2019, more than 4 million Russian tourists visited Vladivostok, and the number of foreign tourists is rapidly increasing every year.

Another appealing thing about the Far East of Russia is the seafood - ordinary citizens of central Russia don’t usually get to try Kamchatka crab at home, but here, it’s absolutely affordable. And moreover, there are also lots of museums, art galleries and  many interesting sites to explore .

Caucasian Mineral Waters

Caucasian Mineral Waters is a group of resort cities in Stavropol Territory, among them are  Pyatigorsk, Zheleznovosdsk, Kislovodsk, Essentuki and Mineralnye Vody (most of the titles are somehow related to water).

It has to be said that prices there are not that cheap, however, these resorts offer a range of medical treatments and special  water drinking  programs.

These places have been popular destinations since the 19th century, that Russian writer Mikhail Lermontov famously described in his novel ‘Hero of Our Times’ - and, in fact,  Lermontov was killed in a duel in Pyatigorsk …

In 2019, around 2 million tourists visited the resorts.

Altai Mountains

This is one of the most beautiful places in Russia, though not that easy to reach and still with a poor infrastructure.

Going there, one should always take enough spare money and it’s best to arrange a car or hiking trip (here are some  other tips ).

Tourist agencies also offer exhilarating horse riding in the mountains. And all the lack of comfort and inconveniences will be forgotten after you follow along Altai’s Chuysky Trakt, one of the  most picturesque highways in Russia .

By the way, Altai is also a land of Buddhism and shamans, and while visiting, you can see  nomads  in yurts, listen to the  kaichi , local musical storytellers.

2 million Russians had the chance to do this

in 2019.

Golden Ring

This is a touristic route and a group of ancient cities about 200-300 km outside of Moscow. About 300-500 thousand Russians visit each of the nine cities annually. When a big city inhabitant wants to escape and feel the atmospheric and authentic Russia, they come here. Forts and monasteries built in the 11-12th centuries, golden dome churches, the Volga River or huge lakes, endless fields or dense wood can all be found along the Golden Ring. There is an experience for all tastes there. Read more in our short  guide to the Golden Ring cities .

Prices there are rather cheap and getting there is rather easy. To attract even more tourists, the local tourist boards recently set up a number of  glamping hotels , which will make you feel closer to nature, while not foregoing any luxury!

Unfortunately, booking a hotel in Suzdal can sometimes be problematic, especially during official holidays in Russia - there are too many tourists who want to stay in this gingerbread fairy tale paradise! 

Baikal

This place never gets onto any top tourist destination lists. But when you ask a Russian where they would like to go before they die, it’s very likely that they will say: “Baikal”. The unique lake and a holder of numerous records regarding water amount, deepness

and amount of animals and fish that one can encounter there… is a land of shamans and enormously beautiful nature. 

In summer, tickets there are rather expensive, but in winter, they are much more affordable.

Kamchatka

The remote peninsula in Russia’s Far East is a dream of all the extreme seekers and nature lovers. It’s a land of Geysers, volcanoes and a  wide range of activities . In summer, one can kayak, hike, fish,  surf , see  bears  and whales. In winter, it’s mountain skiing and snowboarding. Despite a lack of proper infrastructure and having to rent an expensive helicopter ride to reach the top, nothing can express the emotions that one can experience sliding down right to the ocean. 

However, visiting Kamchatka is very expensive! Plane tickets to get there and then renting helicopters, off-road vehicles, boats, as well as all the equipment will cost a small fortune, and moreover, prices for ordinary foods are, naturally, much higher there.

Time to start saving!

6 Facts About Russia

That Make It Worth Your Visit

Russia might not be high on everyone’s

list of holiday destinations –

but it should be.

It is one of the most extraordinary countries in the world, with an almost matchless depth of cultural and historical riches, and landscapes that have inspired artists and poets

for generations.

For so long, Russia was out of bounds under the Soviet system and many people still think of it as difficult and inaccessible. However, we are about to tell you otherwise. Russia has opened up tremendously, and those who have taken the plunge and traveled to the beautiful country come back with a wonderful treasure trove of memories - whether it is the glittering spires of

St. Petersburg, the fabulous palaces of the Tsars or simply the haunting and unique landscape of the steppes.

Below you will find the main reasons why the largest country in the world is

worth a visit.

Facts about Russian geography

The largest country in the world, Russia constitutes one-seventh of the world's landmass and spans eight time zones.

If relative values don't work for you, consider this: Pluto has a surface area of 16.6 million km 2 .

Russia has 17  million  km 2 ! This expansive area allows it to neighbor more countries than anywhere else on earth, as well as touch twenty-two bodies of water and hold twelve seas within its borders.

Its vast and complicated array of landscapes has created a diverse blend of forty national parks alongside its forty UNESCO Biosphere Reserves. Here you can find the oldest mountains in the world, the Urals, and the deepest lake in the world, Lake Baikal .

Facts about Russian culture

Russia's biggest cities have social lives comparable to New York's vibrant scene.

In regard to the arts, Russia has always occupied a prominent spot on the world scene.

The Bolshoi Theater and Pushkin Art Gallery in  Moscow ,

the Mariinsky Theater and the Hermitage in St. Petersburg – these are considered to be some of the best art institutions in the world.

Facts about Russian history

First thing's first, Russian history spans

for more than 1,150 years. Formed by the merging of Viking military leadership with the dreams and ambitions of a people who commanded the great trading routes of Eastern Europe, it is no great surprise that today it is the world’s largest country.

Quick historical numbers: Throughout its troubled history Russia was involved in 100+ wars and conflicts, was ruled by more than 120 leaders (grand princes, tsars, and other monarchs), built the world's longest railroad, and was the first country to send human into space.

Facts about Russian language

The official language in Russia is (shockingly) Russian. This language uses the Cyrillic alphabet instead of Latin and is one of the five most spoken languages in the world.

Many of the Cyrillic characters look backward or upside down and are seemingly switched around. What looks like a "р" is really the equivalent of a Latin "r". What looks like a "в" is really the equivalent of a Latin "v" and what looks like an "н" is really the equivalent of a Latin "n".

Facts about Russian people

Moscow alone claims twelve million citizens, standing as the largest city in Europe.

St. Petersburg   boasts less than half of that, with a mere five million residents.

1 out of 4 Russians is retired, with the average age being 30 years old and it's growing every year.

The normal Russian family consists

of three people.

Facts about Russian weather

Because of its size, Russia presents a drastically different atmosphere depending on your location. Most of the country has a continental climate with distinct periods of warm and cold weather that increases as you travel east. Temperatures for Moscow and St. Petersburg range from highs of 32°C in the summer to lows of -25°C in the winter. Sounds like the cold? Not for those living in Omyakon village where the world's lowest temperature of

-71.2°C was recorded. Southern regions like Sochi are popular resort destinations with a mild subtropical climate.