Your family 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. It is quite easy to get to some interesting places in Russia by car, 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.

Beautiful places of Russia

Top 5 most beautiful and popular places in Russia:

Lena Pillars (Bank of the Lena River, Republic of Sakha, Yakutia) are a monument of world importance and are considered one of the wonders of nature, they represent a solid stone wall of limestone, formed under the influence of climatic conditions and formed a bizarre shape.

To some, sheer cliffs remind a medieval castle, to others - frozen stone giants. For the indigenous people, 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 have been bewitched by an evil dragon.

On the territory of the reserve there are several more objects that are under the protection of the World Unesco Fund, about 400 species of plants grow, many of them are listed in the Red Book, and unique animals, birds and reptiles also live.

Lake Baikal, which stretches 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 has become famous not only for its impressive size, but also for its unique flora and fauna, which annually attract thousands of ordinary tourists, scientists and biologists.

The water in the lake has crystal clearness, purity and unusual chemical composition - it contains a minimum of mineral impurities and dissolved substances.

Another feature of this place is considered to be seismic activity, which most often does not exceed two points, but serious earthquakes also occur every few decades, they lead to the sinking of entire sections of land.

The Valley of Geysers is a famous 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 "Buratino".

The abundance of colors and the richness of the animal and plant world attracts many tourists, but do not forget about the dangers of a natural miracle - at any moment a fountain with scorching water can begin to beat from under the ground, and these geysers do not externally give themselves out.

The Golden Mountains and Russian Tibet - this is how the Altai mountain ranges are called, which are spread out in 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 forever conquers with the grandeur and original beauty of mountain rivers, crystal clear 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 the seething winding rivers, descending into mysterious caves or conquering mountain peaks. The region itself is famous for its extraordinary climate, an abundance of medicinal herbs and reservoirs with delicious fish.

Agursky Waterfalls - 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 whose mouth a cascade of three waterfalls, called Agurskie, is formed. The most spectacular is the lower waterfall, 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 located below with crystal clear and cool water.

The best resorts in Russia

To relax well and relatively inexpensively, it is not at all necessary to go to the far abroad, it is enough to study the list of the most popular domestic resorts, where even a 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 the Kuban and the Caucasus, is perhaps the most popular vacation spot among compatriots. Its coastline stretches along the Black Sea for 80 km, the beaches of Anapa are mostly pebbly, 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 recreation.

In addition to a beach holiday, in Anapa you can improve your health in numerous health resorts and boarding houses with curative mud and mineral springs.

The city of Pyatigorsk, in the Stavropol Territory, is considered a health resort and natural museum of federal mineral waters. Pyatigorsk is the first balneological resort Russia, back in the middle of the 19th century, a society was organized here and treatment was carried out in 40 sources of different composition and temperature. 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 recreation 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, the richest flora and fauna. It is like a separate country with its own traditions, cuisine, wine culture. In recent years, Crimea has entered the list of the most demanded tourists resorts where you want to return again and again.

The most picturesque and famous resorts of Crimea are recognized as Alushta, Evpatoria, Sevastopol, Sudak, the Kerch Peninsula and Yalta. It makes no sense to argue about which one is better. For some, a clean seaside or a well-developed infrastructure is important, while others want to retire in the bosom of nature, in a remote village or a boarding house. In any case, it is worth visiting all kinds of excursions that will give 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 resorts in the world. The flora and fauna are so rich here that no subject of the Russian Federation can compare with Sochi. Rough rivers, deep gorges, virgin forests and meadows, alpine 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, 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 the healing sea air, make relaxation unforgettable.

gold ring of Russia

Perhaps it is impossible to get even the slightest idea of ​​the country without studying its culture, traditions, without seeing with your own eyes how ancient cities were created by the hands of architects, builders, and artisans.

If you are serious about learning your history, then the first thing you should do is take a ride along the famous Golden Ring of Russia.

There is a strict definition of the concept of the "Golden Ring" at the moment; it most often means a tourist route through the central part of the country, where the cities of Ancient Russia, their sights and examples of architecture, monasteries, temples, picturesque corners of nature are located. The number of settlements may be different, but traditionally the small Golden Ring includes: Rostov, Kostroma, Yaroslavl, Pereslavl-Zalessky, Vladimir, Suzdal, Ivanovo.

The most convenient means of transportation is considered to be a car; it makes sense to set aside at least two weeks to travel along the Golden Ring of Russia. The route and the time allotted for it can significantly increase if you add other objects and cities to it - Moscow, Uglich, Myshkin, Palekh and many other cities.

The main attractions in Russia

It is not possible to list all the sights of Russia that have been created by skilled craftsmen over the course of many centuries. However, there are a number of unique places that surpass the rest in terms of attendance both among compatriots and foreign tourists:

The Cathedral of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos (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 in the construction of a certain Italian architect, which is why the style of the building combines the motives of Old Russian and European architecture.

Russian "Versailles", the pearl of the Baroque, created on a truly imperial scale, all this is Peterhof (opening took place in 1723) - a magnificent palace and park complex, built in the suburbs of St. Petersburg and famous all over the world. The Great Peterhof Palace was conceived as a summer residence of the Romanov dynasty; for 50 years, different architects created the Upper and Lower Parks. Tourists are never left indifferent by the gilded grand staircase, richly decorated halls and luxurious chambers of the Empress. The crown of the complex is 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 Empress's private collection that made up the lion's share of the exhibits when the museum was 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 time miraculously bypassed the museum, the "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 in different years. At the moment, the Hermitage fund is about 3 million paintings, sculptures and other historical artifacts.

Kizhi Island is a protected area, stretching on Lake Onega in the Republic of Karelia. A unique object of UNESCO protection, 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 have the opportunity to see many historical monuments - wooden churches and residential buildings, mills, bell towers, outbuildings. The most important attraction of the reserve is the 22nd head of the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord, a very complex and unusual structure that still surprises and delights in its beauty and grandeur.

In the very center of the capital, on Teatralnaya Square, there is another incomparable and stately architectural monument - the Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theater, which is not inferior in importance to the Italian La Scala. The building is made in classical style and is decorated with 8 columns, crowned with the chariot of Apollo - the patron saint of art. Inside the theater, there is a five-tiered hall with gilded stucco moldings and a huge sparkling chandelier. The greatest singers, directors and dancers, both domestic and foreign, performed on the stage of the Bolshoi Theater.

The best hotels in Russia

Rating of the 5 best hotels in the country, compiled on the basis of tourist reviews:

• The first place in the rating of the best hotels in Russia is occupied by the Hermitage Hotel 5 * in the Northern Capital. Guests are offered to plunge into the atmosphere of the 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 from the main attractions. In addition, tourists have the opportunity to visit the museum every day, which is included in the cost of living.
• 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 a 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.
• The third place in the rating 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 finishes of Greenwich fully echo the unsurpassed styles 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 and necessary things for a tourist.
• Double Tree by Hilton is a chic hotel in the heart of the capital of the Urals, Yekaterinburg. Nearby there is the historical museum of the city, the Church on the Blood and one of the most popular places for recreation - the Iset River embankment. It offers comfortable rooms, state-of-the-art gyms, covered parking and many other services.