30 places in Russia worth seeing while living

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

These natural and architectural monuments will make you fall in love with our country.

When we talked about, we were bombarded with questions. But what about Baikal? Why is there no Russia? We haven't forgotten. It's just that our country is so beautiful that it deserves a separate collection.

1. Curonian Spit, Kaliningrad region

The Curonian Spit is a long, narrow strip of land with a unique landscape, flora and fauna. There are about 600 species of plants and 296 species of animals, and 150 species of birds also migrate there. For its stunning nature, the Curonian Spit is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. You can enjoy its beauty by walking along any of the six hiking trails of the national park of the same name.

2. Khibiny, Murmansk region

The Khibiny are mountains on the Kola Peninsula. They have a soft relief and are characterized by stunning nature. Almost the entire Red Book grows and lives there. For most of the year, the mountain range remains snowy, which attracts alpine skiing enthusiasts. The main ski resorts are on the Aikuayvenchorr and Kukisvumchorr mountains. You can ride from November to June.

Not skiing? Go on a jeep safari around the peninsula, fish in the emerald lakes or get acquainted with the life of the Kola reindeer herders. Also from the minimum program in the Khibiny - the Polar-Alpine Botanical Garden and the "Snow Village".

3. Kizhi, Karelia

Kizhi is an architectural ensemble of two wooden churches and a bell tower of the 18th – 19th centuries, built without nails. This is one of the main Russian attractions. It is located on an island in Lake Onega and is part of the Kizhi State Historical and Architectural Museum. It is a great place to learn about history and crafts, as well as reflect on timeless topics.

4. Ruskeala, Karelia

Ruskeala is a village with a unique nature and glorious history, near which there is a mountain park of the same name. It includes the Marble Canyon and Ruskeala Gap. The canyon is surrounded by sheer cliffs, grottoes and adits. It is filled with clean groundwater and is therefore completely transparent. And Ruskeala failure is unique in that ice never melts in its distant parts. In the park, you can ride a boat along the canyon, jump from its cliff or swim in the abandoned mines with scuba diving.

Learn the history of Ruskeala →

5. Peterhof, St. Petersburg

Peterhof is a palace and park ensemble on the southern coast of the Gulf of Finland. Along with other architectural monuments, it is the hallmark of St. Petersburg and part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The appearance of the suburban imperial residence was formed during the 18th-19th centuries, it was badly damaged during the Great Patriotic War, but it was completely restored and ennobled. The best time to visit Peterhof is late spring and summer, when the fountains work. There are 147 of them there - this is one of the largest fountain systems in the world.

6. Novgorod Detinets, Veliky Novgorod

On the bank of the Volkhov, in the heart of Veliky Novgorod, there is a fortress, the first mention of which in chronicles dates back to 1044. XI century! Novgorod Detinets includes nine towers and four cathedrals. Including the famous snow-white St. Sophia Cathedral.

A visit to Detinets is a great opportunity to refresh your knowledge of Russian history and get acquainted with the culture of the Ancient Russian state.

7. Yasnaya Polyana, Tula region

Yasnaya Polyana is a manor 14 kilometers from Tula. It was founded in the 17th century and belonged to several noble families. On August 28, 1828, Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy was born in Yasnaya Polyana. There he wrote War and Peace, Anna Karenina and other works. There he is buried.

In Yasnaya Polyana, you can plunge into the atmosphere of the Russian nobility and get to know more about the character and life of the great writer. The best time to visit the estate is in spring, when the apple orchards are in bloom. The house-museum of Lev Nikolaevich recreates the atmosphere of 1910, when Tolstoy left Yasnaya Polyana forever.

8. Sviyazhsk, Tatarstan

Sviyazhsk is a small village with a long history. In 1551-1552, the city of Sviyazhsk helped the troops of Ivan the Terrible to take Kazan. The village is located in the Zelenodolsk region of Tatarstan. Separated from the mainland by the Kuibyshev reservoir, in the summer a passenger motor ship runs to it.

There is no public transport, industry and modern buildings on the island - only the picturesque nature of the Middle Volga and numerous architectural monuments. You can see all the local sights in a day, but fishing enthusiasts will certainly want to stay.

What to do in Sviyazhsk →

9. Shikhany, Bashkortostan

Fossilized reef massifs are called Shikhans. Thousands of years ago there was a warm sea here. Therefore, inside the shihan there are deposits of rock salt and limestone.

Such "mountains" remained only in Australia and in the Sterlitamak region of the Republic of Bashkiria. There are three shikhans there: Toratau, Yuraktau and Kushtau. They form a narrow chain along the Belaya River.

Ski slopes, sanatoriums and recreation centers have been built on the shikhans. Lovers of geological relics and active pastime will appreciate this place.

10. Divnogorye, Voronezh region

Divnogorye is a steppe plateau in the Liskinsky district of the Voronezh region. In different parts of the plateau, there are many-meter chalk pillars - Divas. In Big and Small Divas there are cave temples. Both are part of the ensemble of the Divnogorsk Assumption Monastery.

Another attraction of the plateau is an archaeological site of the 9th-10th centuries called the Mayatskoye settlement. There you can see the life of the Don Alans.

What to do in Divnogorye →

11. Elton, Volgograd region

Elton is a salt lake near the border with Kazakhstan. The largest mineral lake in Europe and one of the most mineralized in the world. The golden-pink reservoir is bordered by snow-white crystals, and around - the stunning beauty of chamomile steppes.

Elton attracts tourists who want to improve their health. There is a sanatorium in the nearby village of the same name. You can also relax and be treated by "savages", staying in a hotel or with local residents.

12. Mamaev Kurgan, Volgograd

Fierce battles took place on this hill on the right bank of the Volga in 1942-1943. In memory of the Battle of Stalingrad, Mamayev Kurgan was turned into a memorial complex, the heart of which is the sculpture "The Motherland Calls!" Its total height is 85 meters, and it is the tallest non-religious statue in the world.

Mamayev Kurgan is steeped in historical pain: over 35,000 defenders of Stalingrad are buried there. The best place to tell children about the war and show how beautiful the world is without it.

13. Sukko, Krasnodar Territory

Sukko is a village 12 km from Anapa, surrounded by the Lysaya and Soldatskaya mountains. A small cozy resort with pebble beaches, clear sea and amazing nature. You can go for walks in the mountains, ride a horse and quad bikes, go paragliding or diving, or you can just sunbathe on the beach all day.

14. Bolshoi Txach, Adygea / Krasnodar Territory

Bolshoi Txach is a 2368 m high mountain in the Western Caucasus, on the watershed of the Malaya Laba and Belaya rivers. It is part of the natural park of the same name, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Translated from the Adyghe "Tkhach" means "god".

Mountain, hiking and cycling tourism is developed there. Speleologists have also chosen these places.

15. Elbrus, Kabardino-Balkaria

Elbrus is the largest mountain in Russia and Europe. 5 642 meters above sea level! Elbrus is praised by poets and glorified by climbers. If climbing is too risky and difficult for you, come at least just to look at this giant.

In the Elbrus region, you can inexpensively go skiing, drink Narzan mineral water and enjoy Caucasian hospitality with barbecue and wines.

Where to go skiing: 10 inexpensive destinations →

16. Egikal, Ingushetia

Egikal is a well-preserved medieval tower complex in the Caucasus Mountains. This is an open-air museum, which is part of the Dzheyrakh-Assinsky State Historical, Architectural and Natural Reserve. The main purpose of the trip there is to see the ancient towers. They fit incredibly well into the mountain landscape. And one of the battle towers, 27 meters high, has been preserved in almost perfect condition.

Learn the story of Egikal →

17. Kezenoyam, Chechnya / Dagestan

Kezenoyam is a lake on the southern slope of the Andean ridge. It is the largest (1, 7 square kilometers) and deepest (up to 74 meters) natural body of water in the North Caucasus. Kezenoyam is striking in its transparency - in good weather you can see trout frolicking at the bottom.

A sports and tourist complex with hotels, a restaurant, sports grounds, a pier and a boat station has been created on the shore of the lake. In the warm season, the main entertainment there is fishing and walking. In winter you can go ice skating (the reservoir freezes over) or skiing in the surrounding mountains.

18. Pillars of weathering, Komi

Weathering pillars or Mansiyskiy boobies are mountain outliers with a height of 30 to 42 meters, which were formed due to the blowing of mountain peaks by strong winds. They are located on the Manpupuner plateau, on the territory of the Pechora-Ilych biosphere reserve.

The weathering pillars are considered one of the seven wonders of Russia and one of the most mysterious places in the world. You can get to them on foot, by ski or by helicopter.

19. Kungurskaya cave, Perm region

Stalactites, stalagmites, huge grottoes with ice patterns and crystal clear lakes - all this is the Kungur Cave. It is located on the outskirts of the city of Kungur, which is a hundred kilometers from Perm. The age of the cave is about 10-12 thousand years, and the first written records of it are found in the 18th century. It is not surprising that during this time the cave was overgrown not only with stalactites, but also with legends.

One and a half kilometers of the cave are equipped for visiting. You can get there every day from 9:00 to 16:00, and in the summer - until 18:00. A sightseeing tour costs 600-800 rubles, an individual one - 1500 rubles.

20. Chusovaya, Chelyabinsk and Sverdlovsk Regions / Perm Territory

Rafting down the legendary Chusovaya River, which flows in the Middle Urals and flows into the Kama, is the dream of any hiker. What could be more extreme and romantic than a multi-day trip along the picturesque rocky shores.

Rafting along Chusovaya in spring and summer. There are several routes of varying length and difficulty. During stops, you can explore local sights, for example, the Miracle Cave or the ruins of the GULAG.

21. Taganay, Chelyabinsk region

The Taganay National Park covers the territory from the ranges of the Southern Urals to the forest-steppes. The name is translated from Bashkir as "support for the moon". Mountain tundra, relict forests and moss bogs have been preserved there.

In the park you can go fishing on Bolshoi Kialim. You can climb the Responsive Ridge and admire the Valley of Fairy Tales with its bizarre stone figures. Or just take a walk and take home gigabytes of stunning photos.

22. Kucherlinskie lakes, Altai

Kucherlinsky lakes are three reservoirs in the Ust-Koksinsky district of the Altai Republic. The largest and most picturesque of them is located at an altitude of 1,790 meters. The emerald waters of glacial lakes and virgin nature are breathtaking!

Kucherlinsky lakes are open to the public from May to September. Hikers can get there on their own, with tents and backpacks on their shoulders. Those who prefer a comfortable stay should book an overnight stay at one of the local hostels. Usually this includes transfers, excursions to the lakes and all kinds of entertainment (sauna, horseback riding, etc.).

How to get to Kucherlinsky lakes →

23. Putorana, Krasnoyarsk Territory

Putorana is a plateau in the northwest of the Central Siberian Plateau. It is part of the reserve of the same name and is recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

The Putorana plateau is huge - 250 thousand square kilometers. There are a huge number of waterfalls, cliffs, mountain lakes and rare endemics. This is one of the most beautiful and at the same time inaccessible places in Russia. It's almost impossible to get there on your own. It is safer to use a tourist transfer from Norilsk and book a place at a tourist center located in the reserve itself.

24. Oymyakon, Yakutia

Oymyakon is a village in the east of the Republic of Yakutia. This is one of the "cold poles" of the planet - the harshest place where people live. The temperature in winter drops there to minus 50-60 degrees. The absolute officially recorded minimum temperature in Oymyakon is -64.3 ° C. But, they say that in the winter of 1938 it was -77.8 ° С in the village.

In summer in Oymyakon, on the contrary, it is very hot. The air warms up to +30, and from May 24 to July 21 in the village you can contemplate the white nights.

Weather is the main "attraction" of Oymyakon. There is a local history museum in the village, but the exposition is modest. So it is better to go there in March-April, when the annual Pole of Cold festival takes place, or during the White Nights, to fish on Indigirka.

25. Lena Pillars, Yakutia

Lena Pillars is a 40-kilometer series of rocks on the banks of the Lena River. The height of some rock formations reaches 220 meters, their age is about 400 thousand years. The local natural park is also called.

For the sake of rafting along picturesque rocks and extraordinary nature, thousands of tourists from all over the world come here. You can look not only at this miracle of nature, but also walk around Tuculana, where scientists have discovered the remains of a mammoth, an ancient bison and a rhinoceros.

26. Ivolginsky Datsan, Buryatia

Ivolginsky Datsan is a Buddhist monastery consisting of ten temples, five stupas-suburgans and houses of monks. One of the main Buddhist shrines is kept on its territory - the incorruptible body of Lama Itigelov.

The Ivolginsky Datsan deserves attention, because it stands out from a number of typical Russian sights. It is worth visiting even if you are not religious. You can admire the Sino-Tibetan architecture and learn more about Buddhist culture.

What to see in the Ivolginsky Datsan →

27. Baikal, Buryatia / Irkutsk region

Among the Siberian hills and centuries-old forests, between Irkutsk and Ulan-Ude lies the most famous Russian lake. Baikal is unique - it is the deepest lake on the planet and the cleanest lake in the country. Here you can enjoy a huge number of endemics and dizzying landscapes.

The most favorable time to visit Baikal is from May to October. The main resorts are Listvyanka ("the gates of Baikal"), Slyudyanka, Olkhon (the most famous Baikal island is its heart), Bolshiye Koty and Peschanaya Bay ("Baikal Riviera"). In each of these places you will find a variety of activities: from swimming and diving to fishing and meeting with shamans.

28. Charskie Sands, Trans-Baikal Territory

Charsky sands are giant dunes and hollows, stretching for 50 square kilometers in the foothills of the Kodar ridge. One of the seven wonders of Transbaikalia. The sandy massif in the middle of deciduous taiga and swamps looks like a mirage, but it is more than real. Even more striking is the fact that the sands are mobile. They are gradually moving from the southwest to the northeast.

People come here to see and photograph the Trans-Baikal desert with their own eyes.

29. Tyatya, Sakhalin Region

Tyatya (translated from Japanese - "father-mountain") is an active volcano on the island of Kunashir. It is part of the Kuril Nature Reserve. Tyatya is considered one of the most beautiful volcanoes, after Mount Fuji and Vesuvius. And he is one of the most active in the Kuril Islands. It has some amazing craters.

It is worth a visit to experience the power of nature. Even in the Kuril Reserve, you can enjoy the beauty of rare plants and animals, as well as thermal springs.

30. Valley of Geysers, Kamchatka Territory

The Valley of Geysers is one of the world's largest underground hot spring fields. 90 geysers and 110 thermal springs on four square kilometers. Every now and then multi-meter hot fountains soar skyward. An amazingly beautiful sight!

The Valley of Geysers is part of the Kronotsky State Biosphere Reserve. Its visit is limited (only as part of an organized tourist group), but it is worth it to get to Kamchatka and get permission.

The beauty of Russia does not end there. Continue our list in the comments. Write what places in our country do you consider the most beautiful and why.