What is Russia Famous For? Places to Visit in Russia

If you desire to visit a country having natural beauty, sensational architecture, and a rich cultural heritage, then Russia must be one of your foremost choices. This country is one of the best tourist places globally and has 23 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Thus, if you want to spend time on a cruise at the Volga River or enjoy a thrilling ride on the Trans-Siberian Railway, then Russia is your foremost solution to all of these. Hence, if you plan to visit this beautiful country, check out what Russia is famous for.

Russia is a beautiful country, mainly known for its rich history and culture. However, it will help if you plan your expenses in terms of the Russian Ruble. Currently, as of November 2022, 1 Russian Ruble equals to INR 1.34.

Following is some of the major tourist attractions in Russia:

1. Lake Baikal

Nestled in the south-eastern part of Siberia, the mesmerising Lake Baikal is considered one of the most famous places in Russia. Furthermore, this is the world’s largest and deepest freshwater lake, with a depth of 1700 metres. In addition, the surrounding around Lake Baikal has been blessed with lush greenery, scenic beauty, and beautiful snow-capped mountains. Also, this lake is known to have a wide variety of flora and fauna.

2. Altay

Altay is known as one of the best traditional tourist spots in Russia, situated in the western part of Siberia, where people travel to enjoy the heritage of Russian culture. A large portion of the republic of Altay has been separated with biodiversity reserves created to protect various wildlife species, like snow leopards, Argali Mountain sheep, etc. Some other attractions of Atlay include Mt. Belukha and Lake Teletskoye.

3. Russian Tundra

The Russian Tundra covers more than ten percent of the entire country. It stretches across the narrow coastal belt, about 500 kilometres. This region is swampy with fewer numbers of trees. The Tundra region is popular for its wildlife. You will see Arctic bears, lemmings, snowy owls, reindeer, beavers, musk oxen, and so on.

4. Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky

If you want to enjoy the alluring beauty of Kamchatsky, you must spend some time in Petropavlovsk, the capital of the peninsula. The region is surrounded by Avacha Bay on one side and on the other by snow-covered mountains and huge volcanoes. The frontal zone of Petropavlovsk has several historic buildings that make it one of the famous places in Russia and one of the desired touring destinations among history lovers.

5. Limpopo Zoo

Another top attraction in Russia is the Limpopo Zoo, located in Ulitsa Yaroshenko. This incredible zoo features numerous mammals, birds, reptiles, and fish. You will find various animals here that comprise Amur tigers, leopards, and other species like kangaroos, apes, and stingrays. Furthermore, the zoo also has many fun-filled rides and play sections for children.

6. Olkhon Island

Lying across a huge area of 730 square kilometres, about 72 kilometres long and 21 kilometres wide, Olkhon Island is considered the third-largest lake island on the earth and one of the biggest islands on Lake Baikal. This island also comes under the list of famous places in Russia. Olkhon Island has been gifted with a mesmerising environment, scenic beauty, and spectacular views of lakes. In the east of this island lies Mt. Zhima.

7. Kenozersky National Park

Another top attraction in Russia is the Kenozersky National Park. It lies about 550 miles away from the capital city of Moscow. This national park has many small traditional villages, pristine lakes, ancient wooden chapels, and hills. The park is covered by large wetlands and the magnificent taiga forest. Furthermore, the Kenozersky National Park was acknowledged as a UNESCO biosphere reserve.

8. Red Square

Red Square is the most famous place in Russia and the home to various notable landmarks of the Russian capital, Moscow. Some of these landmarks include Lenin’s Tomb, St. Basil’s Cathedral, GUM, the State History Museum, Kremlin, etc. This Square is a central zone through which every important street of this city is connected with each other. The Red Square becomes more enchanting during the evening with colourful lights and a pleasant atmosphere.

9. St. Basil’s Cathedral

St. Basil’s Cathedral is also one of the most famous places in Russia. This cathedral is widely known as the "Pokrovsky Cathedral" or "The Cathedral of Intercession of the Virgin by the Moat". The cathedral is well-known for mystical spirituality and sensational architectural design. Peace seekers, architecture lovers, and religious people travel to this cathedral to indulge themselves in its majestic world.

10. Pushkin Museum

Another top attraction situated in Ulitsa Volkhonka, the Pushkin Museum is what Russia is famous for. The Pushkin Museum is the largest museum of European Art. The museum displays a wide range of European masterpieces collections from three distinctive historical periods. These are the Byzantine Art, Renaissance, and the Dutch Golden Age. Furthermore, the Pushkin Museum keeps a particular segment called the “Museum of Private Collections”.

11. GUM

Located in Red Square in Moscow, GUM is acknowledged as one of the globally renowned shopping malls. The entire shopping mall is bursting with the finest class of luxury stores, great restaurants, souvenir shops, and supermarkets. GUM is also known for organising various cultural events, art exhibitions, and recreational activities all year round, which can be a bonus for you during your trip.

12. River Moskva

Positioned 140 km west of the capital city of Moscow, River Moskva flows eastward through Smolensk, Moscow Oblasts and central Moscow. Besides Moscow, this long river runs by the popular towns of Russia like Zvenigorod, Mozhaysk, Voskresensk, Zhukovsky, Bronnitsy and so on. The charming beauty of the Moskva River, stretching more than 473 kilometres, makes it one of the popular tourist spots in Russia.

13. Krestovsky Stadium

Universally renowned as the St. Petersburg stadium, Krestovsky Stadium is one of Russia's most popular tourist destinations. This stadium became famous after Russia hosted the FIFA Confederations Cup, apart from the FIFA World Cup in 2018 in this huge stadium. It has the capacity to house 67,000 audiences at a time. As a result, this Stadium boasts of being one of the largest stadiums in the world.

14. Peterhof Palace

Nestled in Razvodna Ulitsa, St. Petersburg, the incredibly gorgeous Peterhof Palace represents a perfect blend of lavishness and magnificence. Tagged as ‘The Russian Versailles’, the Peterhof Palace features more than 24 huge rooms. Explore the palace's walls, furniture and fixtures, which are bejewelled with silk draperies.The top attractions of the Palace are its ballroom integrated with facades made of gold and the attractive White Dining Room with showy, strikingly beautiful chandeliers.

15. Sky Bridge

Inaugurated in 2014, Skybridge in Sochi is the largest permanent bungee bridge in Russia which boasts a height above 200 metres. Its central span is 439 metres, and is one of the longest footbridge suspensions worldwide. Despite its matchless design and length, its only support lies in the cables above the walkway.

16. St. Petersburg

Located beside the Baltic Sea, St. Petersburg is one of the most spirited cities in Russia. In 1703, Peter the Great founded this city which is known as the cultural centre of Russia. While on a trip, make sure to explore the Russian State Museum, Mariinsky Theatre, the Hermitage.

17. Kremlin

Among the most renowned Russian fortresses, one is the Kremlin. The iconic building was constructed in the hub of the city around AD 862 by the empire Rurikids. This iconic complex consists of five palaces and four cathedrals apart from the famous Kremlin towers and Kremlin Wall. The Kremlin is now the official residence of the Russian president.

18. Moscow

Founded in 1147, Moscow is the capital as well as the largest city in Russia. It boasts of being home to a range of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites. Make sure to explore the magnificent Russian architecture, the Red Square, the official residence of the president of Russia, the Moscow Kremlin and Saint Basil’s Cathedral.

19. The Volga River

With the longest river in Europe, the Volga, within its boundary, Russia is a dream country to explore by cruise. Choosing a cruise trip unveils to you the opportunity to navigate the Volga while exploring the distinguished sites, including Astrakhan, Volgograd, Kazan, the Chuvash Republic, Nizhny Novgorod Mosco and so on.

20. Hermitage Museum

The spectacular Hermitage Museum is considered one of the best museums in the world. The museum boasts a collection of more than three million artefacts that comprises ancient paintings, royal treasures, and so on. This museum is a prestigious emblem of not just St. Petersburg but also of the entire Russian country.

Apart from the tourist places, Russia is very popular for some other things, including foods, vodka, the metro, and so on:

21. Moscow’s Metro System

The metro system of Moscow is considered one of the most famous things in Russia and also in the world. This is not only celebrated due to its fascinating design but also because it is one of the largest metro systems in the world, comprising 14 lines and 229 railway stations. Furthermore, inside you will find plenty of attractive architecture from the Soviet era made by famous Soviet artists.

22. Matryoshka Dolls

The Russian nesting dolls or Matryoshka dolls are one of the most classic toys of Russia. They are a series of stackable wooden dolls painted in a way that looks like a babushka or Russian woman. This doll was first introduced by Sergey Malyutin towards the end of the 17th century, and it went on to win the bronze medal at the Paris World Fair. After this incident, this doll slowly gained fame not only throughout the country but also worldwide.

23. Literature

Literature is another thing that Russia is famous for. Nobody can forget the contribution of this country towards the world of literature. A few names of those legendary Russian novelists who have made the world proud in literature comprise Anton Chekhov, Leo Tolstoy, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Nikolai Gogol, and so on.

24. Vodka

No country can beat Russia in terms of vodka and the quality they produce. In Russia, the term ‘Voda’ means water. From this word, the term vodka has come. Undoubtedly, vodka is the main alcoholic drink in this country. Russia’s love for vodka is clearly seen from an estimation that almost 25 percent of people in this country die at a young age due to various health problems that are often induced by alcohol.

25. Food

In terms of food, Russia also is unbeatable. Plenty of lip-smacking dishes in this country attract numerous foodies from across the world in Russia. Some highly preferred delicacies of this country include Syrniki, Shashlik, Borscht, Kasha (Porridge), Pelmeni, Okroshka, Beef Stroganoff, Pirozhki, and so on.

So, from the above, you have understood what Russia is famous for. With so many historical artefacts, museums, cathedrals, and beautiful landscapes, this country invites countless people from around the world to visit Russia. Therefore, if you love to visit a historical place and at the same time want mesmerising natural beauty, get ready and head to the largest country in the world.