Northern European Russia
Close to the hydrofoil terminal is a jaunty statue of Peter the Great pointing to the spot where Petrozavodsk would be founded.
Northern European Russia
Close to the hydrofoil terminal is a jaunty statue of Peter the Great pointing to the spot where Petrozavodsk would be founded.
Western European Russia
Displays permanent exhibits on Peter the Great and the history of the region from before the Bronze Age up to the Soviet era.
Northern European Russia
This windswept take on Peter the Great and the unexotic River Terminal building both feature on Russia’s R500 banknotes.
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
Looming over the downtown area is wooded Mt Mishennaya (382m), an easy ascent with excellent views of town and Avacha Bay.
Western European Russia
With obvious Byzantine influences, this red-brick 12th-century chapel (1146) is the oldest in the city and a local icon.
St Petersburg
At the confluence of the Moyka and the Fontanka, this beauty features lamp posts bedecked with the double-headed eagle.
St Petersburg
The Green Bridge over the Moyka River dates from the early 19th century and was the first cast-iron span in the city.
Western European Russia
Not essential viewing but hosts some good temporary exhibitions and has displays on regional history and archaeology.
St Petersburg
An 18th-century building that's the residence of the patriarch of St Petersburg. It's generally closed to the public.
Western Siberia
The ornate Drama Theatre was built in the early 20th century and is one of Omsk's most attractive buildings.
Western European Russia
By the western fortress walls, this high earth rampart was built by the Poles who captured Smolensk in 1611.
Western European Russia
Ardent historians may want to check out this small but intensive museum dedicated to the local WWII effort.
St Petersburg
A crowdpleaser with the under-12 crowd, the planetarium has shows that explore the wonders of outer space.
Northern European Russia
One of the oldest factories in Russia, this strikingly grand building first opened for business in 1703.
Western Siberia
The 1759 Zachary & Elisabeth Church, with its soaring black-tipped spires, is extremely photogenic.
Russian Far East
An impressive mosaic devoted to the memory of the Soviet soldiers who died during the Second World War.
Western Siberia
This pleasant garden is guarded by two splendidly reverential statues of Soviet-era metalworkers.
Western Siberia
An offshoot of the Fine Arts Museum, this building is home to changing temporary exhibitions.
St Petersburg
Training centre for Russia's future spiritual leaders. It's generally closed to the public.
Monument to the Heroes of 1812
Western European Russia
This Smolensk monument pays tribute to those who fought against Napoleon's armies in 1812.
St Petersburg
This cast-iron bridge crossing the Moika River is painted red, hence its name in Russian.
Russian Far East
Just east of the river terminal is a beach, which is well attended on warm summer days.
Northern European Russia
Attractive wooden relic of bygone years. Can only be viewed from the outside, however.
St Petersburg
The Hermitage's excursion office is the place to contact to arrange a guided tour.
Western European Russia
The eternal flame memorial is located in the Lopatinsky Gardens.
Monument to the 1812 Defenders
Western European Russia
This 26m-high cast-iron monument sits in Lopatinsky Gardens.
Moscow
Use the Kremlin entrance at Borovitskaya Tower if you intend to skip the churches and visit only the Armoury or Diamond Fund.
St Petersburg
Catherine the Great built the big, classical Kamennoostrovsky Palace for her son. Today it's a government building that remains closed to the public.
Western Siberia
This bell tower was built in 1799 for the Uglich bell, which famously signalled a revolt against Tsar Boris Godunov. The revolt failed; in a mad fury,…
Western Siberia
Although the doomed writer never actually visited Novokuznetsk, he was so moved by the Soviet project to build a new city that he penned a poem starting…
Northern European Russia
If you don't have time to visit the mysterious concentric swirls of stones that cover Bolshoy Zayatsky Island, this accessible, reconstructed example is…
St Petersburg
Not to be confused with the Yusupov Palace on the Moyka River, this place is closed to the public and is used mainly for official receptions. It makes a…
Moscow
Just outside the New Jerusalem Monastery’s west wall, the Moscow region’s outdoor architectural museum is a collection of picturesque peasant cottages and…
Tobolsk Rayon Administration Building
Western Siberia
Less eye-catching than the Kornilov Mansion opposite, the Tobolsk Rayon Administration Building was the home-in-exile of the last tsar, before his fateful…