Earlier in the cities history, originally being constructed by Tsar Peter the great as the capital of Russia. In an attempt to westernise Russia Peter wanted to build a Russian Navy and import western ideas to Russia. So he located his new capital on the Gulf of Finland and began to construct his navy, even working himself on the construction of the ships. Russia is typically perceived as a “forbidden” country since being closed off from the greater part of the past century. Apart from Russia’s political history, outsides still don’t have a grasp of the every day life in Russia. It is a country surrounded by rumours of rampant crime and prostitution, of relentless drug-trafficking, of long queues for nonexistent food and of a general end-of-the world aura.

But with countless historical and cultural riches having withstood the tribulations of history and economics, Russia remains as MUST-see destination. There is plenty to visit within this vast country from the west straight to the east. The most popular and well known of Russian cities are Moscow and St.Petersburg. Neither town will disappoint the virgin traveller or the most experienced. Besides being the capital of the Russian Federation, Moscow is it’s administrative, cultural and historical centre.

St. Petersburg, Russia’s most European city has been dubbed the North Venice due to its beauty, elegance and palace-lined waterways. A trip on the Trans-Siberian Railway is almost a mythic experience. It is the longest rail line on earth stretching for over one third of the globe. A great part of such trip is simply sitting back and watching the land go by. The route takes you past Siberia’s Lake Baikal, a waterway as Belgium and home to the world’s only freshwater seal, and multicultural Irkutsk, a most appealing city. Ulan-Ude is home to the country’s seat of Buddism. Once you have gotten into the rhythm of the stops and starts, you will rejoice at the opportunity to stop and see life in provincial Russian towns.

The main water way of the Russian heartland has always been the 3700 km long River Volga Europe’s longest, which slowly flows from Yaroslavl, north of Moscow, all the way down to Volgograd, from where a branch runs off to Caspian Sea. The towns on the way include Kazan, one of he oldest Tatar cities in Russia, which features a limestone Kremlin, and several mosques. Lenin’ s birth place Ulyanovsk , Volgo- grad (Stalingrad) is best known for the decisive and protracted battle fought here during second World War. The Kavkazus Mountains provide the backdrop for the resort town Sochi, Which lies along the Black Sea. With its subtropical climate, warm seas and adjoining trendy resort complex of Dagomys, the resort has long attracted heads of state, foreign tourists and Russians alike. Heading inland, there are waterfalls, hilltop views, spa towns and alpine vistas to enjoy. Off the Beaten Track are Vladivostok, Murmansk, Vyborg.
Vladivostok was a thriving multicultural commercial centre before Second World War, but from 1958 to 1990 it was entirely closed to foreigners. The town is often compared to San Francisco, because of sits picturesque hills and heaps of sea views. The city is surrounded by the far east Maritime Reserve boars, Ussuri tigers, the rear Amur leopard and hundreds of local and migratory birds. Murmansk can be found halfway between Moscow and the North Pole, 200km Arctic Circle. It is surrounded by tundra, pitch black for al of December and most of January, home to Russia’s nuclear-powered ice-breakers and surrounded by municipal housing blocks. The town coes alive when visitors from the northern islands flock in during the Festival of the North, held in last week of March and featuring reindeer races and a ski marathon. Finally, Viborg, a port on the gulf of Finland, and is the main Helsinki-St.Petersburg route.It’s one of the Europe’s oldest cities and has a striking medieval castle built on a rock in the bay. There are even some early 20th century Art Nouveau beauties. Viborg is most populated by fishermen , shipbuilders and timber- haulers. Besides the traditional historical sights of Russia to visit, there are endless activities to participate in while visiting. Among them are trekking or mountaineering in the Kola Peninsular; hiking or kayaking on Europe’s highest peak, Mt Elbrus, fishing at Kamchaka, or even a leisurely expedition to the North Pole.