Travel Guides: All Countries / Europe / Russia
 |  | Destination Guide : Russia |
|
| | | A vast land |  | Why go on holiday to Russia?
Because you can! It's now possible to travel all over Russia and there's a lot to see. Russia stretches to the Arctic Ocean in the north, Turkey in the south and the Pacific Ocean in the east.
That's an enormous array of different landscapes and cultures. This is, after all, the land of the KGB, Anna Karenina, Siberia and vodka.
How much does it cost?
Prices vary but as a rough guide, costs start from £500 in January for a seven-day holiday to Moscow and St. Petersburg. In the summer months prices rise to around £600. This is for a basic tour, with train travel and breakfast in a two-star hotel. Intourist Travel on 020 7538 8600 will be able to organise your itinerary and visa.
A three-night city break staying in four or five star hotels in Moscow costs around £400 and in St Petersburg around £500. Three star hotel rooms in both Moscow and St Petersburg are from £35 a night.
When should I go?
July and August are the warmest months and the main holiday season. They're also the dampest, so if you want to avoid the crowds and rain, try May-June or September-October.
Spring is generally slushy, muddy and horrible. Winter is bitterly cold but the snow can be beautiful.
|
|
|
|
|
| | | Follow the Red-brick road |  | What should I do when I'm there?
The Kremlin dates back to 1150AD. Ivan the Terrible, Stalin and Napoleon have all shared the same views across the Moscow River from here.
It's open to visitors - apart from those wearing shorts - daily, except for Thursday. Once inside you can experience centuries of Russian art and history.
What about communist history?
Despite calls for its removal, Lenin's Tomb still stands at the foot of the Kremlin Wall and is free. Burial places of other Soviet luminaries include those of Stalin, cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin and Marshal Georgy Zhukov, who led the defeat of Hitler.
Just outside the Kremlin is Red Square - 400m by 150m of cobble stones where the Soviet rulers chose to show off their military might.
What is Russia's second city?
St Petersburg's elegant buildings and ornate bridges over the River Neva draw comparisons with Paris and Venice. At Dvortsovaya Ploschad is the stunning Winter Palace.
One of the world's greatest art galleries is The Hermitage; its enormous collection amounts to a veritable history of Western European art, with artists like Picasso, Rembrandt and Rubens on display.
A stroll down Nevsky Prospect will show you a modern side to Russia. This most famous of Russian streets is packed with restaurants, bars and fashionable shops.
How about a train journey?
Take a trip on the Trans-Siberian Railway. A six-day, 9,446km journey from Moscow to Vladivostok, on the Pacific coast, is the best way to see this massive country. The route passes Siberia's Lake Baikal - a body of water as big as Belgium.
What else should I see?
With the Caucasus mountains as a backdrop, the Black Sea resort of Sochi has a sub-tropical climate, warm seas and a trendy resort complex. Heading inland, there are waterfalls, hilltop views and spa towns to enjoy.
The Solovestsky Islands were the site of Stalin's infamous Gulag camps, and have been a place of imprisonment and exile since the Middle Ages.
|
|
|
|
|
| | | A night at the Bolshoi | | Where's good for nightlife?
Because of Russia's economic situation, clubs open and close down with bewildering frequency. It's best to check the Moscow Times on Friday for the latest details. Moscow offers everything from very shady Mafia-run nightclubs to jazz and raves.
The Hermitage Club in the Inner North attracts an artsy student crowd while Pilot at Inner North West draws out a more dance-based crowd.
If you'd rather watch others dance, a night of ballet at the Bolshoi is popular with tourists and locals alike.
What's the food like?
Most Russians eat at a stolovaya, a cheap and cheery eatery. For just 50p, fill yourself up with such delights as fish, meatballs, soup and boiled vegetables. You'll find these in markets or station areas; some are decent, some very grotty.
Modern Russia is not renowned for its cuisine, though Georgian cuisine is a notable exception to the rule. Fear not, however, as most large cities have international restaurants catering to all tastes - at international prices, of course.
Vodka is the life blood of the nation, but the quality can vary from excellent to lethal. Always buy screw top bottles and check they haven't been tampered with.
What should I buy?
Good Russian crafts can be bought at the Saturday and Sunday Market at Izmaylovsky Park in the Outer East of Moscow. Rugs from the Caucasus, attractive pottery and jewellery from Central Asia are good buys.
What is there for children to do?
Russia is famous for its circuses and all big cities will have one. They are normally mixtures of music, dance and cabaret, as well as animal and acrobatic shows.
Do be aware, however, that the use of animal performers can often disturb, rather than entertain, westerners in the audience.
Tourist office
There is no official tourist office in the UK. You should be able to get information from the Russian Travel Centre on 020 7224 4678.
|
|
|
|
|
| | Available rental properties in Russia |
|
|
|
|
