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RUSSIA
TRAVEL INFORMATION
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Russia Travel Guide:
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| Featured articles from
our blog: |
 A
journey of a lifetime on the Trans-Siberian Express
The
Trans-Siberian Railway is a network of railway lines which connect the
capital Moscow with the Russian Far East. Many describe going on a journey
on the Trans-Siberian Express as being the experience of a lifetime, but
what can travellers expect along the way? read
more |
 Take
a tour of the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, Russia
The
Bolshoi Theatre is world-renowned for both ballet and opera performances,
but also features a fascinating museum and gift shop. The theatre underwent
major renovations, which were completed in 2011 and after delays, reopened
in style with its gold leaf and plush red seating looking brand-new...read
more |
A
journey of a lifetime on the Trans-Siberian Express
The
Trans-Siberian Railway is a network of railway lines which connect the
capital Moscow with the Russian Far East. Many describe going on a journey
on the Trans-Siberian Express as being the experience of a lifetime, but
what can travellers expect along the way? read
more |
Get
Much More From Your Trip to Moscow
Moscow recently topped a poll
of the world’s most expensive cities. And, like Russia as a whole, it’s
undoubtedly seen a massive increase in the wealth of some of its inhabitants.
But not all Muscovites are filthy rich and the trick to visiting the city
on the cheap is to keep your eyes open for where your average man on the
street is going… And follow them!
See – on a budget
From the point of view of
the budget traveler, the best thing about Moscow is the remarkable architecture
that lines the city’s streets. Not many cities can boast such a collection
of imposing structures, and few are the places where the weight of history
sits so heavily. The result is a wonderfully evocative travel destination.
Everywhere you turn in this
city, rousing sights and iconic images abound: the Red Square, St Basil's
Cathedral and the Kremlin come together to contribute to one of the world’s
most dramatic skylines. And, of course, the great thing about wandering
the streets is that it’s free.
Moscow also has a couple
of attractive parks and gardens: Alexandrovsky Garden, Neskuchniy Garden
and Gorky Park (made famous by Martin Cruz Smith’s novel). These can be
particularly attractive in winter, when, covered in snow, they capture
the city’s stark beauty perfectly.
Sleep – on a budget
As for places to stay: Moscow
hostels are not necessarily quite as cheap as you might have imagined.
They are, however, of reassuringly good quality.
Nova Hostel, a short stroll
from the Red Square is one of the better regarded budget accommodation
options. Napoleon Hostel and Happy Home Hostel are also attractive options.
Eat – on a budget
Eating cheaply in Moscow
is not the easiest thing to do. Of course, the city now has all the chic,
international eateries that it was deprived of for so many years.
But they don’t come cheap,
and for the traveler on a budget, fast-food is probably the best option.
For something quick and wholesome
Moscow-style, head for the green Kroshka Kartoshka stalls that are dotted
around town. Here you can get a piping hot jacket potato stuffed with pretty
much whatever you can think of.
Another quick and cheap option
are the Teremok Pancake Stalls which serve up delicious blinchiki, (essentially
Russian crepes). For a sit-down meal of sorts, the cheapest place available
is probably Kruzhka, a down-to-earth beer and bar food sort of place that
has a number of premises across the city.
Moscow also has a couple
of other places to look out for, where it’s possible to eat well (for not
too much). These include Rostik’s (American-style cuisine), Russkoe Bistro
(cheap traditional fare) and the amusingly cow-themed and ever popular
self-service place, Moo-Moo, which has a branch on Stary Arbat.
Party – on a budget
In keeping with a city that
seems in a constant state of reinvention, Moscow’s nightlife is incredibly
unpredictable. When setting out for a night out, it’s hard to tell exactly
what’s going to happen. And that’s half the fun of it!
But along with eating out,
drinking is the one thing that’s going to really knock your budget out
of sink. Clubs in the city tend to be pretty expensive, and Moscow’s cocktail
bars seem to be competing with those of Paris or London for the prize for
‘Most Ludicrously Priced Drink’.
If avoiding the hangouts
of the super-rich in Moscow is half the battle, the other half is not getting
ripped off in a lap-dancing bar which are both popular, and difficult to
distinguish from the outside.
Should you manage to do this,
however, Moscow’s reputation as one of the world’s harder-drinking, harder-living
cities can unfold before your eyes in gloriously hazy Technicolor. The
Arbat is the city’s time-honored artsy, bohemian quarter. In recent years,
however, its narrow streets and charming old bars and cafés and
become more heavily touristed.
Much of the city’s nightlife
is to the north of the city center in the district of Pushkinskaya. Other
bars, (and even the odd club) that won't break the bank can be found in
the Khamovniki quarter, an area which, particularly on weekends, is rammed
with young revelers.
For an even cheaper alternative,
Moscow is a city that doesn’t mind standing out and drinking under the
stars… whatever the weather! Even in the dead of winter you can see crowds
of people, ordering strong drinks (to fight off the cold!) from shabby
looking kiosks, chatting and generally having a great time.
Top
About the Author: Ben Cooper
is a copywriter for HostelBookers.com. On his extensive travels, he’s traveled
Russia on a tight budget a couple of times, and stayed in a few Moscow
hostels. |
|
St.
Petersburg, Russia in brief by Tatyana Kogut
Top
St. Petersburg – the symbol
of European Russia, by right thought to be one of the most beautiful cities
in the world. Unlike the other Russian cities, with their common monosyllabic
names, the name “Sankt Piterburh” (how it sounds in Russian) consists of
two words, each with its own meaning. Sankt is the Latin for “Saint”, “Peter”
is the name of the apostle Saint Peter (which is, by the way, translated
from Greek as “the stone”), and “burgh” is the Dutch for “city”. This way,
the name of the former Russian capital unites the name of its tsar, its
saint patron and cultures of ancient Greece and Rome, Germany and Holland.
The city stands on the Neva
River, at the spot where it flows into the Gulf of Finland. The climate
is therefore damp – the winter is mild and the summer is rather cool. The
city’s northern location is also the reason for such a unique phenomenon
as “the white nights”, which can be observed May 25th – July 17th.
St. Petersburg is one of
the largest cities in the world, with a population of more than 5000 inhabitants.
It is also a large industrial, cultural and scientific centre, an important
traffic centre, sea- and airport. It is no wonder that one will find lots
of universities, theatres, museums, offices and factories here.
The former capital of Russia
(it played this part in 1712-28 and 1732-1918), it faced many important
political happenings like the February Revolution and the October Revolution.
During the Great Patriotic
War the city faced a 900-day siege and, thanks to its heroic resistance
to the enemy, was officially awarded with the title of the Hero City.
The city boasts of a great
amount of architectural ensembles and is therefore a true magnet for tourists.
The Peter and Paul Fortress, Alexander Nevsky Monastery, Smolny Cathedral,
Palace Square and the Winter Palace, the Alexander Column, The Bronze Horseman,
St Isaac's Cathedral, Kazan Cathedral, The Mariinsky Palace, The Church
of Savior on Spilled Blood, the Field of Mars, The Summer Garden and Summer
Palace of Peter the Great… the list of St. Petersburg attractions could
be continued. In 1960 there was a Piskariovskoye Memorial Cemetery sobering
monument built in the city. The suburban attractions are the fountains
of Peterhof, parks and palaces of Pushkin, Pavlovsk, Gatchina etc.
Whenever you come to St.
Petersburg, you will definitely enjoy it! The city will enchant you with
its northern beauty and traditional hospitality. Summer Petersburg is renowned
for its white nights, when the sun goes down for just a couple of hours
and the rest of night is as bright as a daytime. What a great chance to
extend your walks around the city streets! It is in summer that guests
like to watch bridges draw.
St. Petersburg is a fabulous
view in autumn! Yellow, red and dark-green leaves make this city not only
a photography model, but also a magnet for romantic personalities.
Autumn is the best time to
visit the city suburbs. Their parks and palaces look exceptionally elegant
and beautiful during the period.
Winter is good for a calm
visit to the city palaces, museums and theatres. The weather is chilly
and often slushy, but the number of tourists is smaller, so you are more
likely to find a proper hotel room. By the way, the choice of hotels is
extensive. Calm halls of local museums will tell you the story of the city,
its shows will impress you with a diversity of Russian traditions, Russian
character and soul. Hiding from winter in cosy cafes and restaurants is
a real pleasure.
Having arrived to St. Petersburg
in spring, you will feel all the pleasures of nature awakening, everything
breathes with freshness while the ice on the Neva river melts.
Go to St. Petersburg and
enjoy its beauty!
Top
About the Author: Hotels
in St.-Petersburg - Reservation of St.-Petersburg hotels. |
|
Holidays
in Russia - History with Splendor
top
Russia is without a doubt
a major holiday destination with its amazing historical background, rich
culture and diverse tourist attractions including majestic monuments, imposing
buildings, beautiful cathedrals, museums, stunning mountains, huge lakes,
magnificent cities and so much more.
Following are some the places
to visit and see for a delightful Russian vacation:
St. Petersburg
A popular tourist destination,
St. Petersburg is one of the most gorgeous European cities offering an
array of tourist attractions. Also known as 'Venice of the north', this
Russian city has a rich historical background. Tourists and visitors on
their Russian holiday must visit St. Petersburg for its remarkable attractions
like the Summer Palace, the Smolny Convent, cathedral of the Peter-Paul
Fortress, the Kazan and St. Isaacs Cathedrals, the Vorontsov and Strogonov
palaces. The Hermitage museum is another place worth visiting and was founded
in 1764. The museum displays works by prominent artists like Poussin, Picasso,
Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Rodin, Monet, Rafael, Titian, Cezanne,
Matisse, Watteau, Velazques, Rubens, Hals, Van Dyke, Velazques and many
more.
Moscow
This Russian city is also
the capital of the country and is the major tourist destination visited
by thousands of tourists and visitors every year. The most appealing thing
that draws attention of those holidaying in Moscow is the building designs.
Those in love with history and culture must not miss visiting the invaluable
museums spread all over the city. Other major tourist attractions that
are a must see for a memorable Russian holiday are the Red Square and the
Kremlin.
The Trans-Siberian Railway
This attraction is the ideal
way of enjoying a Russian holiday, as the Trans-Siberian Railway takes
tourists and visitors on an enticing eight days of exploration that covers
villages, and forests full of pine and birch. The major attraction of this
train journey is Lake Baikal, which is home to more than 2500 species of
animals. This 30 million year old lake is also home to migratory birds
and Siberian seals.
Novgorod
Situated on the Oka and Volka
rivers, this Russian city was founded by Grand Prince Yuri in 1221. Major
tourist attraction in this city to visit when holidaying in Russia is the
Novgrod Kremlin or Detinets. The fortress is a beautiful structure whose
14th century brick wall and wooden design attracts tourists and visitors
on their Russian holiday. This tourist destination is quite known for its
ancient structural beauty.
Altay Mountains
These mountains are gorgeous
tourist destination known for its magnificent lakes. The most popular tourist
attraction here is Lake Telefskoye. Tourists and visitors holidaying in
Russia must witness this scenic beauty.
Best time for a Russian
holiday
The ideal time for an amazing
Russian holiday is during the months from May to August, which is also
the peak holiday season with it being the summer months.
top
If you found this information
useful you can find out more at www.last-minute-holidays.me.uk. You will
be able to watch holiday videos as well as find out more about holiday
destinations and a Last Minute Holidays. Please feel free to republish
this article provided a working hyperlink remains to our site - Simon Johnson |
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