17 million square kilometres of beauty

With one-sixth the entire land mass of the world within its borders, and so many natural and man-made wonders to see, Russia is a land that truly impresses!

Russia covers more than 17 million square kilometres. It takes about a week to cross the country's ten time zones by train, and ten hours by air. Russia has the largest river in Europe, the Volga; the world's largest lake, the Caspian Sea; the world's deepest freshwater lake, the Baikal; and Europe's highest peak, Elbrus. Taking up an immense space, a home to different nationalities and cultures, it’s often called a bridge between the East and the West. 

History

Moscow is the focal point of the whole Russian state, and to understand how Russia grew, we have to understand the history of Moscow. The city is said to date back eight-and-a half-centuries, with the first references to it in chronicles from 1147. It was built by Suzdal's Prince Yuri Dolgorukiy on the sweeping curve of the Moskva River.

From its humble beginnings as a hunting village, it grew steadily into a fortress city to become later on the seat of Russia’s political power and a cosmopolitan capital. Russia's most intense human aspirations, be they artistic, religious or political, have found their most passionate expression in Moscow. 

Where to Go

With more than 17 million square kilometers to consider, planning a trip to Russia can be daunting, but you can start with the country’s top sites.

Moscow

Russia's capital is one of the largest cities in the world. In contrast to St Petersburg, Moscow is a city of wide avenues and massive Soviet buildings – from the Lenin Russian State Library which has 275 km. of shelves, to Stalin skyscrapers representing Stalin’s Empire style. All tourists, however, go to see the Kremlin and Red Square first. Here you can visit the Mausoleum, the Russian Historical Museum (which formerly housed the Lomonosov State University), and multi-coloured Saint Basil’s Cathedral, whose architect is said to have had his eyes poked out so that he could not recreate it!

St. Petersburg

St. Petersburg is the second largest city in Russia and one of the world's major cities. It has more to offer than just the Hermitage Museum and the Kirov Ballet. Almost all basic trends in the world and Russian architecture of the 18th-20th centuries are found in St Petersburg; the city has played a vital role in both Russian and European history. Founded by Peter the Great in 1703, it was the capital of the Russian Empire for two centuries.