Moscow- Contrary to the stereotype that has prevailed for decades, Russia is one of the best destinations for tourism of all types and purposes, which is confirmed by data from the World Tourism Organization, which indicates that this country occupies one of the leading places in the field of international tourism.
Although Russia opened up to the world after the collapse of the Soviet Union, at the same time it did not fall under the negative influence of globalization and maintained its authenticity and uniqueness.
Russia is the largest country in the world in terms of area, and it has many unique natural and historical landmarks that are worth seeing. It has sandy beaches, warm seas, high mountains, permafrost, wide and small rivers, and various meadows.
This country, which is characterized by its enormous national and cultural diversity, ranks third in the world in terms of the richness of cultural and historical monuments, spread throughout its regions. These elements give Russia the ability to provide all types of entertainment for tourists without exception, including family, environmental, exploratory, religious and therapeutic tourism.
Among a long list of features, Russia is distinguished by the fact that its tourism options suit all tastes and budgets. The huge and diverse number of tourist places, and the reasonable and even low prices in many cases, constitute an important attraction factor for visiting this country.
Another of its most important features is the order and cleanliness in various places, which can be easily noticed.
The climatic conditions in Russia allow for a wide range of recreational activities in all seasons of the year, in addition to medical and health tourism, and a full range of activities such as skiing and excursions, not to mention the uniqueness of Russian mineral water resorts, which can be visited all year round.
Time to visit
When choosing the time to travel to Russia, it is important for a tourist to take into account that the country is very large, so there are 4 climatic zones in it. For example, while freezing winds are blowing in St. Petersburg, the swimming season continues in the warm southern region of Russia.
If you are planning to visit Russia for the first time, and you have chosen the cities of the northwestern and European part of it, such as Moscow and St. Petersburg, it is useful to know that the climate here is generally moderate, but the best time to visit is the summer, which maintains warm temperatures with an average of between 18 and 28 degrees Celsius, starting from the end of May until the end of September.
If you have Russia on your travel list, we suggest these tourist destinations:
Moscow
Tourists can consider it the best starting point to explore Russia. A city surrounded by legends such as underground cities and secret metro lines that were built during World War II in anticipation of the city being occupied by the German army.
Walking through its center and main streets allows you to involuntarily immerse yourself in the vicissitudes of the city’s eventful history, which is clearly visible in Red Square, the Kremlin, the Bolshoi Theater, ancient palaces such as Tsaritsyno, and high-rise buildings of the Soviet period, such as the Seven Sisters, Lenin’s Mausoleum, and others.
Saint Petersburg
Away from the hustle and bustle of Moscow, give yourself the chance to enjoy the beauty and tranquility of St. Petersburg – the cultural capital of Russia – and one of the most beautiful and charming cities in the world, a city closer to a museum.
This city is beautiful in everything, from the palaces of the 18th century to the Hermitage Museum, Peterhof, the Mariinsky Theater, the Alexander Nevsky Lavra and the Pavlovsk Palace, all of which are considered the pinnacles of Russian culture. Even the shortest walk through the sights of St. Petersburg will remain in the mind of a tourist for a long time. Petersburg is famous for awakening a wave of creative energy even in ordinary people who are far from art.
Siberia
A trip to Siberia is an opportunity to see the Ural Mountains, the vast taiga and Lake Baikal, the oldest and deepest freshwater lake in the world, as well as to feel the enchanting power of the vast and wild nature.
The trip allows you to understand the life of Siberians and how they lived in harsh climatic conditions. Also, a visit to the historical cities of Tobolsk and Irkutsk introduces you to the places of exile and imprisonment of Russian revolutionaries during the Tsarist rule.
Kazan
Kazan is located on the banks of the Volga River, founded by the Bulgarians more than a thousand years ago, and the character of the city is Islamic and mixes many cultures: from inside the Kazan Kremlin (the word Kremlin in Russian means fortress) you can see the Kul Sharif Mosque (the second largest mosque in Europe) and from there you can walk to visit the Cathedral of the Annunciation located nearby.
In Kazan you can get acquainted with little-known pages of Russian history, learn about Russia’s relations with Asia and the Arab world, and immerse yourself in the unique culture and traditions of the city’s inhabitants.
Nizhny Novgorod
The large industrial city was closed to foreigners for a long time, and there was no way to see its unique cathedrals, which UNESCO listed as one of the world’s top 100 attractions.
It would be good for the visitor to go to Nizhny Novgorod on a cruise ship from Moscow, across the Volga River or by night train.
Medical tourism
In addition to all of the above, you can go for treatment in the famous mineral water resorts of the Caucasus, sanatoriums of Altai, the Urals, Western Siberia, Moscow Region, Central Russia, Crimea, Krasnodar Territory and Karelia.
These resorts/sanatoriums have modern medical facilities, provide high-quality treatment and have advanced infrastructure. Tourist accommodations also offer tours with treatment by qualified doctors and specialists and modern medical equipment.
The system of treatment in sanatoriums in Russia is superior to foreign counterparts, in many cases in terms of cost, and often in terms of efficiency. Russian resorts are famous for their therapeutic capabilities for almost all known diseases and the high level of training of doctors.
These resorts have unique natural factors that allow tourists not only to relax at sea, but also to improve the condition of their body and recover from a number of diseases.
Al Jazeera Documentary wishes you a happy day 📸 Anton Sokolov
“Bobor” is a mysterious creature on the territory of the Nikola Lenivets Art Park in the Kaluga region in western Russia. #Russia.
Some have described this wooden sculpture as resembling a giant octopus falling to the ground or a set of saxophones tied in a ring. pic.twitter.com/En0avfhL1y
— Al Jazeera Documentary (@AljazeeraDoc) March 6, 2022
Food
There are many halal restaurants and shops in Russia, various types of Russian and other international cuisines, and fast food restaurants.
Prices are classified globally as moderate to low. The average price of different meals ranges from 8 to 15 dollars.
Visa
A tourist visa to Russia for 30 days can be obtained from embassies, consulates and visa centers. The visa application form is filled out and its cost is known through the website of the consular section of the Russian Foreign Ministry:
Citizens of some Arab countries are exempt from visas to enter Russia or can obtain them upon arrival at airports. These are the six Gulf Cooperation Council countries: Qatar and the UAE (exemption), Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and the Sultanate of Oman (visa upon arrival).
