Russia “The land of the Tsars," is a land of many contrasts. Russia's rich historical and cultural legacy. The diverse natural beauty includes vast swathes of plains intersected with thousands of rivers, lakes, and dramatic mountain ranges along the southern borders. Arctic tundra, taiga, mixed forests, steppe, and desert-like areas successively carpet the land from the north to the south. Perfectly preserved ancient towns surrounded by mighty kremlins with colourful onion-domed churches attract tourists just as much as the nation's biggest metropolises, Moscow and Saint Petersburg.
Things to know before visit Russia
Russia is a large country hence, the weather is a lot dependent on the region. Mostly, the country has two distinct seasons- summers and winters. Winters are extremely cold and last from November to April. The temperatures reach as low as -50 degrees C. Summers on the other hand are pleasant.
The best way to describe this lively town is art, history and culture. People flock to this UNESCO World Heritage Site to see the varied monuments, museums and galleries that make it so special. Not to miss places include- the Winter Palace that is home to the Hermitage Museum with a collection of over three million items collected from across the globe, the world-famous Mariinsky Theatre, the Vasilyevsky Island and the Peter and Paul Fortress. Whilst here take some time out to watch an opera and ballet show and spend some time at the Nevsky Prospekt – St. Petersburg’s main avenue- a great place to shop, eat and experience Russian
The capital city of Russia, Moscow is a great way to experience Russian lifestyle and culture. This bustling mega metropolis is world renowned for its art galleries and cultural institutions. Make sure not to miss the Bolshoi Theater’s world-class performances, Pushkin Fine Arts Museum- one of the best galleries for European art and the Tretyakov Gallery- a celebration of Russian fine art. Also, spend some time at the iconic landmarks of the capital- the grand Red Square, the Kremlin exhibiting power through its red-brick towers and the St Basil's Cathedral,
Located in the middle of Lake Onega, Kizhi Island is known for its monuments and galleries. The most famous attractions here are the Church of the Resurrection of Lazarus ( which is the oldest wooden church in Russia), the Kizhi Pogost site and its 22-dome Transfiguration Church. It also has an open-air museum, one-of-a-kind with many artifacts of cultural and historical relevance. Some of its wooden structures are part of the UNESCO World Heritage list
The historical city of Pskov is located about 30km from Estonia with its fortified riverside Kremlin and the Trinity Cathedral. This ancient town dates back to 903, as old as the country itself and has retained most of its medieval walls in the outskirts of the city. It has fine examples of Byzantine architecture seen in the small, picturesque churches. A short drive form Pskov lies the small town of Pechory, popular for its monastery founded in 1473. It is the best way to experience the lives of the ancient monks.
Vladimir was the Russian capital for about two centuries till Moscow took over. This town forms the part of the Golden Ring of ancient cities and dates back to 1108. It has great architectural, historic and religious significance that comes through beautifully through three of its iconic monuments - the Assumption Cathedral, the Golden Gates and St Dmitry Cathedral.
Travel Advisory:For the latest information and advice on safety and entry requirements please consult your travel agent well in advance of your departure and visit the following government website:
Department of Foreign affairs and trade www.dfat.gov.au
Smart Traveler website www.smartraveler.gov.au
Electricity: While traveling to Russia it is advisable to carry an international power plug adapter with multiple plug configurations. The standard voltage is at 220V. The standard sockets are two-pronged ones like used in Europe.