Moscow is interesting in itself, but Russia is vast, and the country has many interesting places and cities that will be of interest to foreign tourists. Moscow can be a starting point for your travels around Russia.
In fact, Russian cities are quite diverse from one another and very different from Moscow. You should try to visit at least somewhere.
From Moscow, you can travel to any city and region in Russia. Foreign tourists most often visit only Moscow and St. Petersburg, but Russia is much more diverse. You should travel a little further from these megacities to see Russia’s hinterland. You can use different modes of transportation.
For short trips, buses and trains are the most convenient. Longer journeys by train can be tiring. For example, traveling between Moscow and St. Petersburg is more convenient by train. There are many cities that can be reached quickly by train. (For example: Yaroslavl, Vladimir, Nizhny Novgorod, Suzdal.)
There are four airports in the Moscow region. Air travel is the fastest and most convenient mode of transport for traveling to remote regions of Russia. You can fly to Sochi, Kazan, Vladivostok, and Murmansk. (Foreign tourists sometimes travel to northern Russia in winter, hoping to see the Northern Lights.)
River Cruises. River cruises are the most enjoyable way to travel western Russia. Cruise ships usually travel at night and stop at the most interesting cities for tourists.
Of course, the range of routes is limited, but at the same time very wide. In one trip, you can see cities you would never have visited by land.
From Moscow, you can take a cruise ship to the north and northwest of Russia – St. Petersburg, the Leningrad Region (Vyborg, Staraya Ladoga), Karelia (Sortavala, Valaam, Kizhi), and the White Sea (Solovetsky Islands).
From Moscow, you can take a cruise ship to the south and southeast – Nizhny Novgorod, Kazan, and the Volga River.
The main limitation for river cruises is that they generally operate only in the summer and early fall.
In my opinion, you won’t see the real Russia if you visit only Moscow and St. Petersburg. We recommend expanding your travels.