Russia is the largest country in the world, spanning from Europe all the way to Asia. Russia is known for its varied cultures, stunning cities and architecture, and fascinating history, from the Romanovs to the Soviet Union.
Russia quick facts
- Population: 144.5 million
- Language: Russian
- Currency: Russian Ruble (RUB)
- Capital city: Moscow
- Country size: 6.6 million square miles
- High season: May through October
Top 10 things to do in Russia
- See St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow’s Red Square
- Explore the famous Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg
- Take Moscow’s metro and admire the incredible underground stations
- See a ballet at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow
- Cross the country in seven days on the Trans-Siberian Railway
- Take a river cruise from Moscow to St. Petersburg
- Tour the Trinity-Sergius Monastery in Sergiev Posad
- Explore Russia’s historic Golden Ring cities like Yaroslavl
- Visit Kizhi Pogost (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) on Lake Onega
- Try Russian favorites like borscht (a soup) and blini (savory pancakes)
Getting around
As the largest country in the world, it takes a full week to cross Russia by train from Moscow to Vladivostok.
In the western part of the country, it’s easy to travel between Moscow, St. Petersburg, and the Golden Ring cities. A high-speed train connects Moscow and St. Peterburg in under four hours, and river cruises are a unique way to explore the country by boat.
Cities in Russia are known for their public transportation (which is fairly efficient), along with their terrible traffic. I would not recommend renting a car in any big Russian city.
