Russia has extensive Arctic Ocean and North Pacific Ocean coastlines, as well as smaller coastlines on the Baltic, Black and Caspian Seas. Russia is bordered by Norway and Finland to the northwest, Estonia, Latvia, Belarus and Ukraine to the west, Georgia and Azerbaijan to the southwest, Kazakhstan, China and Mongolia to the south, and China and North Korea to the southeast. European Russia stretches from the borders of the states of Belarus and Ukraine to the Ural Mountains, over 600 miles east of Moscow; even without the rest of the Russian Federation, it constitutes by far the largest country in Europe. It was also, for many years, one of the hardest to visit. Today Russia is far more accessible, and although accommodation often has to be booked in advance, independent travel is increasingly an option. Nonetheless, Moscow and St Petersburg remain the easiest places to visit. Russia is a land of snow and deadly winters, but also of rivers that meander across meadows and a midsummer sun that never sets. Its people, in the words of a Russian proverb, 'love to suffer', yet they also love to party and can be disarmingly generous and hospitable
Transportation in Russia
By Car: Traveling in Russia by car is difficult, and the roads are often unmarked
There is no doubt that car travel is the best way to see the country, but it is a risky enterprise which is recommended only for the brave and capable
By Bus: Most Russian cities have bus links to cities as far as 5-6 hours away or further. Though generally less comfortable than the train, busses sometimes are a better option time wise and are worth looking into if the train timetables don't suit you. A small number of cities, notably Suzdal, are not served by train, and thus bus is the only option besides a car.
By Rail: Russia has an extensive rail network linking nearly every city and town. For intercity travel, the train is generally the most convenient option for trips that can be covered overnight. The train is an option for longer trips but mainly if you appreciate the nuances and experience of train travel in Russia.
By Ferry: Ferry services connect Saint Petersburg with Tallinn in Estonia.
By Air: Aeroflot is the main Russian airline for local Russian flights. Moscow and St. Petersburg are served by direct flights to and from most European capitals, and Moscow also has direct flights to many cities in East Asia, South Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and North America.
Russia has rich cultural heritage, embodied in the cities of Moscow with Tretyakov Gallery, Bolshoi Theatre or the Kremlin's collections, and Saint Petersburg on river Neva, close to the Baltic Sea, with its famous "white nights", the art collections of the Hermitage Museum and the Russian Museum. In the countryside there are many little towns with old cloisters and castles. There are cities with their own rich tradition like Kaliningrad (formerly Königsberg) on the Baltic Sea coast, Novgorod on Lake Ilmen, Tver, Vologda, Nizhni Novgorod, Kirov, Ekaterinburg or Rostov. Famous for tourists are trips on the big rivers like Volga, Lena or Yenisei as well as trips on the famous Trans-Siberian railway to Vladivostok on the Pacific Ocean. Russia is not only cold: The coasts of Black Sea and Caspian Sea offer a climate like the Mediterranean Sea. A famous city for vacations on the beach is Sochi. The Crimea is also a favourite holiday spot for tourist; even though this autonomous region is in Ukraine, many people associate it with Russia because of its long historical connection to Russia. Yalta is the best known holiday centre, though Sevastopol is also well known. Russia is famous for vodka and for various foods, including caviar, borscht, shashlik and potato pancakes (although this is actually a Jewish dish not only found in Russia).
Main Attractions
Red Square and the Kremlin(Moscow)
The historic nucleus of the city and a magnificent stage for political drama signifying a great sweep of history that encompasses Ivan the Terrible, Peter the Great, Stalin and Gorbachev. Here you'll find Lenin's Mausoleum and St Basil's Cathedral, the famous GUM department store, and the Kremlin itself.
Lake Baikal
Situated in south-east Siberia in southern Russia, Lake Baikal is the oldest freshwater lake in the world dating back an estimated 25 million years. Lake Baikal is ringed by stunning mountain scenery and forests that are home to bears, elk, lynx, and sables.
Winter Palace (St Petersburg)
Located at the westernmost end of Nevskiy prospekt on the Neva embankment is the finest example of Russian Baroque in St Petersburg, the largest, most opulent palace within the city.
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