Your own or how to relax in Russia
We have compiled a rating of the most beautiful and amazing corners of our vast country, which will definitely not leave you indifferent, as well as a list of the best hotels where you can stay with maximum comfort. Some interesting places in Russia are quite easy to get to by car, while others can be seen using air or water transport. But no matter how much money and effort you spend, it will pay off with impressions and positive emotions.
Contents
Beautiful places in Russia
Top 5 most beautiful and popular places in Russia: 
The Lena Pillars (Bank of the Lena River, Republic of Sakha, Yakutia) are a monument of world significance and are considered one of the wonders of nature; they represent a solid stone wall made of limestone, formed under the influence of climatic conditions and formed a bizarre shape.
For some, the steep cliffs resemble a medieval castle, for others - frozen stone giants. For the indigenous people, the Lena Pillars are a symbol of love, loyalty and dedication. An ancient legend says that this is nothing more than a pair of lovers who were bewitched by an evil dragon.
On the territory of the reserve there are several other objects under the protection of the UNESCO World Fund, about 400 species of plants grow, many of them are listed in the Red Book, and also live unique animals, birds and reptiles. 
Lake Baikal, which extends in Eastern Siberia, on the border of Buryatia and the Irkutsk region, is undoubtedly known to all inhabitants of the globe, because it is the largest and deepest freshwater body of water.
The lake became famous not only due to its impressive size, but also due to its unique flora and fauna, which annually attract thousands of ordinary tourists, scientists and biologists.
The water in the lake has crystal clarity, purity and an unusual chemical composition - it contains a minimum of mineral impurities and dissolved substances.
Another feature of this place is seismic activity, which most often does not exceed two points, but every few decades serious earthquakes occur, they lead to the sinking of entire land areas under water. 
The Valley of Geysers is a famous nature reserve, the largest of all geyser fields in the world, located in Kamchatka near Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsk, surrounded by a wall of active and extinct volcanoes.
At the moment, the geyser complex has about 20 geysers with unusual names, for example, “Pechka” or “Pinocchio”.
The abundance of colors and richness of flora and fauna attracts many tourists, but do not forget about the dangers of a natural miracle - at any moment a fountain with scalding water can begin to erupt from underground, and outwardly these geysers do not give themselves away.
The Golden Mountains and Russian Tibet are the names given to the Altai mountain ranges, spread across two constituent entities of the Russian Federation, the Altai Territory and the Altai Republic. This highest place in Siberia is rightfully considered a pearl and will forever captivate you with the grandeur and original beauty of mountain rivers, crystal transparency of lakes, endless meadows and forests.
The Altai Mountains are ideal for visiting tourists who are attracted by sports. Everyone here will find something to their liking - rafting down raging, winding rivers, descending into mysterious caves or conquering mountain peaks. The region itself is famous for its extraordinary climate, abundance of medicinal herbs and reservoirs with delicious fish.
Agur Waterfalls is a national reserve park, a picturesque corner of nature in Sochi, a few kilometers from the sea coast, which is protected due to its uniqueness.
Among the rocks and lush vegetation, the Agura River flows from a deep gorge, at the mouth of which a cascade of three waterfalls called Agur waterfalls is formed. The lower waterfall is considered the most spectacular; it is divided into two cascades - 12 and 18 meters. On sunny days they are an amazing sight. At the moment of crossing, a lot of iridescent splashes are formed, falling into the lake below with crystal clear and cool water.
The best resorts in Russia
To have a good rest and relatively inexpensively, it is not at all necessary to go to foreign countries; it is enough to study the list of the most popular domestic resorts, where even the discerning traveler will be satisfied. The fertile Russian land is known for its health resorts, ski resorts, and sandy beaches with magnificent landscapes.
The resort town of Anapa, which stretches between Kuban and the Caucasus, is perhaps the most popular holiday destination among compatriots. Its coastline extends along the Black Sea for 80 km; Anapa's beaches are mostly pebble, but there are also sandy ones. The sea here is quite shallow, the climate is pleasant, and the coast is sunny, so thousands of families annually choose this resort for their vacation.
In addition to a beach holiday, in Anapa you can improve your health in numerous health resorts and boarding houses with therapeutic mud and mineral springs.
The city of Pyatigorsk, in the Stavropol Territory, is considered a resort and natural museum of mineral waters of Federal significance. Pyatigorsk is the first balneological resort Russia, back in the mid-19th century, a society was organized here and treatment was carried out in 40 sources of different composition and temperature. The favorable mountain climate and healing procedures give tangible results, which is why tourists from all over the country come here all year round.
In addition to relaxation and treatment, the organizers offer their guests an extensive excursion program to places where celebrities once visited. 
The Crimean Peninsula is washed by two seas and is deservedly considered an extraordinary historical monument, where there is literally everything - sandy beaches, mountain ranges, plains, rivers, lakes, rich flora and fauna. It’s like a separate country with its own traditions, cuisine, and wine culture. In recent years, Crimea has been included in the list of the most popular tourists resorts where you want to return again and again.
The most picturesque and famous resorts in Crimea are Alushta, Evpatoria, Sevastopol, Sudak, the Kerch Peninsula and Yalta. There is no point in arguing about which one is better. For some, a clean seashore or developed infrastructure is important, while others want to retire to the lap of nature, in a remote village or boarding house. In any case, it is worth visiting all kinds of excursions that will give you an idea of the history of this region. 
Sochi is the only region with a subtropical climate in Russia; today the city is considered one of the best seaside balneological health resorts in the world. There is such a rich flora and fauna here that no other subject of the Russian Federation can compare with Sochi. Stormy rivers, deep gorges, virgin forests and meadows, high-mountain lakes and cascading waterfalls - all these beauties of the Caucasian land are complemented by the Black Sea.
Sochi is home to about half a million residents, and another 5 million tourists visit the resort only in the summer. After the 2014 Winter Olympics, the city continues to develop - infrastructure, attractions, entertainment centers combined with healing sea air make rest unforgettable. 
Golden Ring of Russia
It is perhaps impossible to get even the slightest idea of the country without studying its culture, traditions, and without seeing with your own eyes how ancient cities were created by the hands of architects, builders, and artisans.
If you are serious about finding out your history, then the first thing you should do is take a ride along the famous Golden Ring of Russia.
A strict definition of the concept of the “Golden Ring” currently exists; it most often means a tourist route through the central part of the country, where the cities of Ancient Rus' are located, their attractions and examples of architecture, monasteries, temples, and picturesque corners of nature. The number of settlements may vary, but traditionally the small Golden Ring includes: Rostov, Kostroma, Yaroslavl, Pereslavl-Zalessky, Vladimir, Suzdal, Ivanovo.
A car is considered the most convenient means of transportation; it makes sense to set aside at least two weeks for a trip around the Golden Ring of Russia. The route and the time allotted for it can increase significantly if you add other objects and cities to it - Moscow, Uglich, Myshkin, Palekh and many other cities. 
Main attractions in Russia
It is not possible to list all the sights of Russia that were created by skilled craftsmen over many centuries. However, there are a number of unique places that are superior to others in terms of attendance among both compatriots and foreign tourists: 
The Cathedral of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary (St. Basil's Cathedral) is a unique monument of Orthodox architecture, included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Church of the Intercession was built in 1561 by order of Tsar Ivan the Terrible as a memory of the capture of Kazan. At the moment, historians support the version about the participation of a certain Italian architect in the construction, which is why the style of the building combines motifs of ancient Russian and European architecture. 
The Russian "Versailles", a baroque pearl created on a truly imperial scale, all this is Peterhof (opened in 1723) - a magnificent palace and park complex built in the suburbs of St. Petersburg and famous throughout the world. The Great Peterhof Palace was conceived as a summer residence of the Romanov dynasty; over the course of 50 years, different architects created the Upper and Lower Parks. Tourists are never left indifferent by the gilded main staircase, richly decorated halls and luxurious chambers of the Empress. The crown of the complex is considered to be the Grand Cascade, numerous fountains and sculptural compositions. 
The history of the world's largest artistic and cultural center, the Hermitage, is associated mainly with the state activities of Catherine II, because it was the private collection of the empress that made up the lion's share of exhibits when the museum opened in 1852. At the moment, the Hermitage is an architectural complex of 5 buildings located on the banks of the Neva River. The harsh revolutionary times miraculously bypassed the museum; “leaks” of exhibits began only in Soviet times and were minimal only thanks to the efforts of employees who, due to their dedication, were subjected to repression over the years. At the moment, the Hermitage collection amounts to about 3 million paintings, sculptures and other historical artifacts. 
Kizhi Island is a protected area located on Lake Onega in the Republic of Karelia. A unique UNESCO protected site, the peculiarity of which is its originality. The unique museum-reserve is deservedly considered the pearl of wooden architecture of the ancient Northern peoples. Once in Kizhi, tourists get the opportunity to see many historical monuments - wooden churches and residential buildings, mills, bell towers, and outbuildings. The main attraction of the reserve is the 22nd chapter of the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord, a very complex and unusual structure that still surprises and delights with its beauty and grandeur. 
In the very center of the capital, on Theater Square, there is another incomparable and majestic architectural monument - the Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theater, which in its importance is not inferior to the Italian La Scala. The building is made in a classical style and is decorated with 8 columns, crowned by the chariot of Apollo, the patron of art. Inside the theater there is a five-tier hall with gilded stucco molding and a huge sparkling chandelier. The greatest singers, directors and dancers, both domestic and foreign, performed on the stage of the Bolshoi Theater.
Best hotels in Russia
Rating of the 5 best hotels in the country, based on tourist reviews:
- 1st place in the ranking of the best hotels in Russia is occupied by the Hermitage Hotel 5* in the Northern capital. Guests are invited to plunge into the atmosphere of luxurious imperial chambers with a rich interior, marble floors, columns, frescoes and tapestries. The hotel is located in the very center of St. Petersburg within walking distance of the main attractions. In addition, tourists have the opportunity to visit the museum daily, which is included in the price of their stay.
- Hotel "Atlanta *3" is a pleasant stay in an ecological area of the Moscow region near Sheremetyevo Airport, where a pleasant feature of accommodation is payment not per day, as is usually the case, but 6 or 12 hours in advance, as well as free transfer to the hotel. The Crocus Expo exhibition center is a 20-minute drive away; special prices are available for guests arriving to visit it.
- Third place in the ranking of the best hotels in Russia, according to tourists, is occupied by the Azov *3 hotel in the Rostov region. The hotel was built on the central square of the historical part of the city of Azov, 40 km from the Azov seaside. Azov has 100 comfortable single and double rooms, which can simultaneously accommodate about 175 guests. Each room has a spacious loggia overlooking the Don River. You can relax and have a good time in the entertainment and sports complex in the hotel building.
- The three-star Greenwich Hotel in St. Petersburg is a mini-hotel with only 8 rooms, which are almost always occupied by guests. The design, decor and decoration of "Greenwich" completely replicates the unsurpassed style and chic of Victorian England. Most of the interior items were made to order and brought from England and Ireland, and these are: massive wooden furniture, heavy silk curtains, tapestry wallpaper. In addition, the room is equipped with all modern things necessary for a tourist.
- Double Tree by Hilton is a luxury hotel in the very center of the capital of the Urals, Yekaterinburg. Nearby is the historical museum of the city, the Church on the Blood and one of the most popular places for recreation - the embankment of the Iset River. Guests are offered comfortable rooms, state-of-the-art gyms, covered parking and many other services.
