Tourism - Russia Beyond The Headlines

Pskov: Fortress city in the Russian Northwest

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 13:12:00 +0400

One of Russia's most ancient settlements, Pskov is also among the most picturesque of Russian cities

Once a prison, now a spiritual and tourist hub

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 10:53:00 +0400

Located in the White Sea in northwestern Russia, the Solovetsky Islands once housed one of Russia’s first gulags, but now its centuries-old monastery and the seascape’s stark beauty attracts thousands of tourists and the spiritually inclined

Moscow according to Guinness

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 12:34:00 +0400

Moscow boasts the world’s largest cannon as well as its most impressive subway system

Pushkin Hills: The great poet’s country retreat

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 23:42:00 +0400

Alexander Pushkin spent many happy moments in the estates of his family and friends near the northwest Russian city of Pskov

Tourism and fun for $100 million

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:45:00 +0400

The Expeditsya brand focuses on selling original outdoor and novelty products

Know your restaurants

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:49:00 +0400

People who visit Moscow on a regular basis know there are restaurants in the Russian capital to suit any taste and any budget. Yet finding truly original and authentic places is a real challenge

Vyatskoye: Telling the story of Russian village life

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 11:11:00 +0400

It seems illogical to leave Yaroslavl for Vyatskoye. Yaroslavl is a UNESCO world heritage site boasting monasteries and house-museums. Vyatskoye is just a village. But it looks like a museum complex of 18th and 19th century rural Russia

Chita: gateway to China

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 19:22:00 +0400

The architecture of the Siberian city of Chita developed as the harsh climate allowed

Russia expects high demand for social workers

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 18:30:00 +0400

Prince Charles recently awarded Tony Widmer for his service of co-operation between the UK and Russia in social work

Verkhoturye: Passage to Siberia

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 16:24:00 +0400

Verkhoturye, one of the earliest trading outposts connecting Europe and Eurasia, is slowly throwing off its backwater reputation after years of stagnation and disregard to become one of Russia’s more appealing destinations

Fast Food, Russian Style

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 13:03:00 +0400

The Soviet style fast food joints still exist in Moscow and look like the Soviet relic. Regardless of their lack of glamour and old-fashion design, they are popular among some Russians

Naryan-What?

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 12:24:00 +0400

The names of some Russia's cities sound weird and unfamiliar even for some native Russians. RBTH blogger Evy Hua describes her trip to Naryan-Mar, a unique Russian city which embodies traditional stereotypes

Ekaterinburg: Where quirky meets history

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 22:49:00 +0400

Ekaterinburg, 33 hours east of Moscow by train, beyond the Ural Mountains, is Russia’s first city in Asia

Gorokhovets: A place of fragile beauty

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 13:44:00 +0400

Almost against all odds, the tiny town of Gorokhovets has managed to preserve its architectural heritage of ancient churches and brick manor houses

One big happy family on the Trans-Siberian

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 17:43:00 +0400

Train travel in Russia is a little like to going to a desert island or up to the top of a mountain – you are completely cut off from the world, so it’s best to just sit back and enjoy the ride

Krasnoyarsk: Frontier outpost to industrial center

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 17:16:00 +0400

The Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk is the capital of one of Russia's largest administrative regions, stretching from the Republic of Tuva , which shares a border with Mongolia, all the way to the Kara and Laptev Seas in the Arctic Ocean

Grand hotel: the iconic Ukraina is reborn as an ‘oasis of elegant luxury’

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 18:11:00 +0400

It now has all the elements of a five-star hotel, but the old trimmings still remain

Vologda's Cathedral of Divine Wisdom: The last of its kind

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 17:15:00 +0400

The great cathedral of St. Sophia in Vologda was the jewel of Ivan the Terrible, but its frescoes depict a world view that was rapidly coming to an end

A decade of growth and transformation

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 15:12:00 +0400

Kazan's extensive modernization is seen a key factor in attracting foreigners

Walking Phoebe’s walk

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 20:31:00 +0400

Moscow is, feet-down, Phoebe Taplin’s favorite city to walk in

Phoebe Taplin discovered a sublime Moscow by foot

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 19:44:00 +0400

She has walked more than 5,000 miles in her explorations

Welcoming foreign capital

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 23:34:00 +0400

To date, 55 projects have been supported by the regional Ministry of Economic Development

Dancing the sirtaki in Gorky Park

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 15:52:00 +0400

Moscow has more to offer tourists than just Red Square

Ecotourism in Russia faces an uphill battle

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 14:11:00 +0400

But development of tourist infrastructure could help remote regions preserve their natural habitats

The Underground Museum

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 18:02:00 +0400

From 13 stations in 1935 to 182 in 2011, Metro also attracts thousands as an underground museum; plans to add another 120 km track by 2020

Omsk: Garrison city on the Irtysh

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 14:40:00 +0400

The Siberian city has been defined by conflict, but is rich in history

Tula: Loved by Tolstoy, hated by Lenin

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 19:44:00 +0400

The city known for weapons, samovars and gingerbread celebrates the 865th anniversary of its founding this year

Khabarovsk: a Baltic dream in Russia's Far East

Sun, 18 Sep 2011 09:59:00 +0400

This city on the Amur River mingles romance, history and fabulous forests, making it a magnet for tourists

Vladimir: Medieval Russian treasure

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 20:20:00 +0400

The city's power during the medieval period is reflected in the magnificent churches still standing throughout the area

Sleepboxes moving into Sheremetyevo

Wed, 07 Sep 2011 11:48:00 +0400

New capsules hope to provide a sanctuary for weary travelers

Vologda: Cultural center of the Russian North

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 19:11:00 +0400

Located just far enough from Moscow to develop its own identity, Vologda features a number of interesting monuments in a small space

The Kamchatka syndrome: chasing jackpots

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 12:09:00 +0400

Irina Daletskaya has been photographing Kamchatka’s exotic natural landscape for 25 years and has constructed a unique collection of images

Perm: Europe's easternmost city

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 18:33:00 +0400

Can this Siberian city reinvent itself as a cultural destination after years of being an industrial center?

Russian spending abroad back to pre-crisis levels

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 14:02:00 +0400

In the first half of 2011, spending outside of Russia has increased substantially over 2010

Usolye: Stroganov outpost in the Urals

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 09:49:00 +0400

The area along the Kama River boasts magnificent 18th and 19th century churches - built with the profits from the salt industry

A Disneyland in Kaliningrad?

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 12:49:00 +0400

Local officials announce plans to build a theme park in Russia's exclave

Where Asia meets Europe

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 21:48:00 +0400

The Ural Mountains: an exciting tourist destination.

Cathedral of St. Dmitry in Vladimir: witness to history

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 19:36:00 +0400

Take an in-depth look at one of the most representative buildings of Russian medieval architecture

Russia in London

Fri, 22 Jul 2011 15:51:00 +0400

From hooligan Tsars to Soviet heroes and beyond: a brief history of Russian London

Russia pushes development of tourism

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 18:31:00 +0400

The country no longer wants to remain a blank spot on the global tourism map and is taking a new approach to hosting foreign guests

Innocents abroad

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 17:33:00 +0400

Is traveling with children more trouble than it’s worth? It all depends on your perspective

Bogolyubovo: poetry in stone

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 19:41:00 +0400

Although much that was created in this medieval golden age has vanished, a glimpse of its power has survived in the white stone churches of Bogolyubovo

St. Basil’s: no need to invent mysteries

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 19:06:00 +0400

St. Basil's Cathedral is an architectural symbol of Moscow and Russia. The church, now a museum, is celebrating its 450th anniversary on July 12.

Dreams of my Russian summers

Fri, 08 Jul 2011 17:29:00 +0400

It wasn’t that long ago that Russians discovered the allure of Egypt and Turkey as vacation hotspots. This year many have rediscovered the “staycation,” a holiday near home

White Nights in the Urals

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 13:10:00 +0400

The city of Perm hopes its month-long festival will make it the cultural capital of Russia, if not Europe

Coming and going

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 12:29:00 +0400

Returning to Moscow leaves our blogger more able to appreciate the present than wish for the past

Visas: the biggest tourist trap of all

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 16:45:00 +0400

Delays in issuing visas  and poor promotion of Russia as a destination are blamed for disappointing tourist figures

Belozersk: Portal to Russia’s northern waterways

Sat, 25 Jun 2011 12:17:00 +0400

The kremlin and churches of Belozersk trace the early history of the eastern Slavs

Kirillov: Citadel of the Russian North

Tue, 14 Jun 2011 20:24:00 +0400

In all of Russia, there are few more impressive sights than the walls and massive towers of the St. Kirill-Belozersky Monastery

A poet's corner of paradise

Mon, 06 Jun 2011 16:59:00 +0400

Alexander Blok composed many of his verses at a lovely estate just outside of Moscow.