Places to travel in Russia

Why do tourists come to the Solovetsky Islands? It’s unclear. Solovki doesn’t have sandy beaches, warm seas, or sunny summers like the Maldives. There’s no Turkish “all-inclusive” package on Solovki, like in Turkey or Anapa. And yet, tourists come.

Perhaps they’re pilgrims visiting the Solovetsky Monastery? It doesn’t seem likely. The monastery refectory is always crowded, but the church services are sparse. So most tourists aren’t pilgrims.

So why do tourists come to Solovki? It’s hard to understand, but we went too and don’t regret it at all.

Many famous, prominent, and interesting people have visited the Solovetsky Islands over the years. Unfortunately, most of them came to Solovki as prisoners. How fortunate we are to be able to come here as tourists.

About the Solovetsky Islands

This is not a guide to Solovki. These are the personal impressions of two tourists who visited Solovki.

The Solovetsky Islands are located in northern Russia, in the White Sea. Administratively, the Solovetsky Islands belong to the Arkhangelsk Oblast.

Kem is the nearest town on the mainland. The distance from Kem to Solovki is approximately 50 kilometers.

The Solovetsky Islands are an archipelago (a group of islands) consisting of many islands. The Solovetsky Archipelago contains many islands, but tourists travel to Bolshoy Solovetsky Island. The island stretches approximately 24 kilometers from north to south and approximately 15 kilometers from west to east.

Bukhta Blagopoluchiya Bay is located in the southwestern part of the island. Approximately 170-200 meters from the seashore (from the bay) on the island is a lake – Svyatoye Ozero. Between them lies the island’s main attraction – the Solovetsky Monastery.

The village of Solovetsky is probably the only populated area on the island. It occupies the area surrounding the monastery.

The village has several hotels, a store, an airport, a tour desk, bicycle rentals, and numerous souvenir shops.

There are several piers on the island.

The Monastery Pier is the pier closest to the village center (the monastery). Cruise ships moor at the Tamarin Pier, approximately one kilometer from the Monastery Pier.

The airport is located approximately 650 meters northeast of the monastery.

The so-called Cape of Labyrinths is located approximately one kilometer south of the monastery.

Solovetsky Monastery

The Solovetsky Monastery is the island’s main landmark and the center of the village. It resembles a fortress, a very beautiful and imposing structure. Many towers are built from enormous boulders.

The tour of the monastery offers a rich and engaging account of the monastery and its history. I was left with the impression that the monastery was more of a special-purpose prison (for special prisoners) than a place for monks to live.

Tourists also make a point of visiting the monastery refectory. The monastery’s dishes (as in other monasteries) aren’t culinary masterpieces, but you have to eat somewhere. (It’s also quite expensive, like everything else on the island.)

More about the Monastery.

Information for tourists

Needless to say, the monastery is the island’s main attraction.

Tourists on the islands are also encouraged to visit other attractions and sites. Some might be interested in nature, others in the history of the Gulag. Some might want to see beluga whales.

A few observations.

There are several piers on the island. The Monastery Pier is closest to the center. The Monastery Pier has two entrances, so don’t confuse them.

There are no paved sidewalks on the island: sand, gravel, and cobblestones. It’ll be difficult to drag a suitcase with wheels. But there are taxis! (Perhaps this will change by the time you arrive.)

Since most of the roads are unpaved, the wind sometimes kicks up a lot of dust in dry weather. In rain, it might be muddy.

We haven’t seen anyone here wearing good shoes, boots, heels, etc.

Hiking boots and sturdy sneakers would be the most suitable footwear. What about the roads on Solovki during the rains? We don’t know.

Wind! Yes, wind is common here. Moreover, the weather changes quickly. Ship trips can be canceled in strong winds.

Is sunscreen necessary on Solovki? Some kind of protective face cream is a must. Many tourists have red, chapped faces and noses.

Rain. The weather forecast predicted rain, but it didn’t happen. The forecast can’t keep up with the changing weather.

Prices. Prices for most goods on Solovki are higher than on the mainland. Prices in the monastery refectory are higher than in cafeterias in Adler and St. Petersburg.

Mosquitoes. They say the mosquitoes on Solovki are particularly “vicious.” We hardly saw any mosquitoes. The wind must have driven them away.

Hotels are few and expensive. A good room with amenities (we would rate it as a good 3*) cost us 12 thousand per night. (The season is short, you need to have time to earn money.)

How to get there

The tourist season on Solovki is very short, roughly from June to September. This is the navigation period when ships sail to the islands. At other times, the Solovetsky Islands can be reached by plane or helicopter from Arkhangelsk.

Most tourists travel to Solovki via the town of Kem, a small town in northern Karelia. Tourists arrive in Kem by train (or by car). Ships and boats to the Solovetsky Islands depart from the village of Rabocheostrovsk, which is located on the seashore near Kem.

You can get to Rabocheostrovsk (the pier) from the Kem train station by bus or taxi.

Ships and boats depart from the piers in Rabocheostrovsk to the islands.

Moscow is the most famous city of Russia. A large number of people from different countries come in Russia every year. Approximately 70% of tourists are visiting Moscow while their travel in Russia.
The rus-tourist.ru site has a lot of information which could be helpful for planning a trip to Moscow people.

Group travel or independent travel? Both options are possible. I prefer independent travel. Moscow is easy to navigate as a solo traveler. You just need a little English and a little courage.

 Skip to: attractions, museums, theaters, places to visit, accommodation, guided tours and more information.

According to statistics, more than 12.33 million people officially live in Moscow. It can be assumed, that there are living much more people in Moscow actually. Citizens of some countries have the right to enter the territory of Russia without a visa. Preferential mode exists, for example, for the citizens of Belarus, Ukraine and Kazakhstan. They often come to Moscow on a business trip and can stay for a while without registration.

Tourism in Moscow

Most foreign tourists name Moscow as their primary travel destination in Russia. Tourists from various countries, including China, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Germany, and the United States, come to Moscow. Are you planning a trip to Moscow?
According to statistics, most of the comings to Moscow foreigners quote “tourism” as the purpose of his trip (about 40 percent). A large proportion of people are also arriving for business purposes to Moscow (“business tourism”, about 34% in 2013).

Places to visit in Moscow

What attracts tourists to Moscow? There is a lot of interesting in Moscow. Everyone can find something that interests him. Information about the most popular places of interest is available here. It may be useful to know while planning a trip in Moscow.

Attractions

There are many interesting places for tourists in Moscow. “The Red Square” and “The Moscow Kremlin” are the most visited by tourists places in Moscow. The most famous church of Russia, St. Basil’s Cathedral, also is located on Red Square. This is the most popular sights of Moscow. Being in the Moscow Metro, pay attention to the design of stations. Many metro stations are a kind of sights of Moscow.
Get more information about attractions in Moscow…

Museums

There are many interesting museums in Moscow. All coming to Moscow tourists would like to enter the territory of the Kremlin. Museum “Moscow Kremlin” is servicing tourists on the territory of the Kremlin. Largest historical museum of Russia is located on the Red Square. “The Tretyakov Gallery” and the Museum of Modern Art will be interesting for lovers of art. Polytechnic Museum (which is located not far from Red Square) will be interesting to see for those who are interested in technique and technology.
Get more information about the museums in Moscow.

Theatres

Moscow is famous for its theaters. Best actors of Russia acts in Moscow theaters. The most popular artists of the world often include Moscow in the program of their concert tours. “The Bolshoi Theatre” is known over the world. Theaters like “Taganka Theater” and “The Puppet Theatre” are known in all cities of Russia. Not only classical works, but also the creative experiments of modern authors can be seen in theaters in Moscow. Information about the most popular theaters in Moscow is available on the site.

Places to visit

What places to visit in Moscow? There are many places which would be interesting to visit in Moscow. Many interesting events occur in Gorky Park. VDNKh is also a place that pleases both tourists and residents. We recommend visiting Sparrow Hills. This is one of the most popular places to spend free time residents. New interesting places regularly appear on the map of Moscow. For example, one of the most popular among fans of creativity and contemporary art, Contemporary Art Centre “Winzavod”(Winery).

It may interest you: flights to Moscow – to buy a ticket at the best price.

Moscow is the starting point for travels throughout Russia

Moscow is interesting in itself, but Russia is vast, and the country has many interesting places and cities that foreign tourists will enjoy visiting. Moscow can be the starting point for your travels throughout Russia.

We recommend traveling a little further from these megacities to experience Russia’s hinterland. You can travel by train, bus, plane, or take a river cruise.

Learn more.

Accommodation

Where to stay in Moscow? In which part of the city is it best to book a hotel (hostel, apartment)? It all depends on the purpose of your trip.

Tourists prefer to choose hotels in the central part of the city. So that the main attractions (the Kremlin, Red Square, Arbat, Bolshoi Theater, etc.) could be reached on foot. So, it was possible to walk on interesting places at any time of city and not to spend time and money for transport.
Our review: hotels near the Kremlin and Red Square in Moscow.

There are many best hotels located in the central part of Moscow. But there are also cheap hotels and hostels too. Tourists with any budget can find an affordable place to stay in the center of Moscow for themselves. But if that they take care of this in advance only. The best places in hotels can be booked long before the peak of the tourist season.

It is quite convenient to choose a hotel and at a distance from the center, but next to the metro station. You can try to look for hotels near popular tourist places (VDNH, Gorky Park, Vorobyovy Gory, Moscow City etc.).

If you come to Moscow with a specific purpose (on a business trip, for study, for treatment), it is more likely to be more convenient to choose a hotel near the place of your main location. You will find information about the nearest hotels on the pages describing the metro stations.

Use any hotel reservation service to find accommodation in the right place. For example, the site bookingcom offers for booking not only rooms in hotels and hostels, but also apartments.

Moscow is a business center of Russia

Moscow is the most important trade, business and financial center of Russia. Russian Federation state government offices are located here. The Moscow Kremlin is the official residence of the President of the Russian Federation. There are main offices of many largest Russian companies, as well as representative offices of foreign companies operating in Russia located in the city. Moscow has enormous financial resources. The most important decisions affecting the country’s economy and the lives of millions of people are taken here. Main financial and trade flows of Russia pass through Moscow.
A large number of ambitious-minded young people, hoping to succeed, come to Moscow every year. Moscow is an opportunity to get rich and famous not only for Russians, but also for foreigners. But only a few achieve real success.

Transportation

Moscow is also a major transportation hub. The city is served by 6 airports, 9 railway stations, 3 river ports. The metro (underground) operates in the Moscow since 1935.
It is most convenient to get around the city by metro. The site has information about many stations of the Moscow Metro. Stations and subway lines location marked on the city map.

Moscow is the educational center

Moscow is one of the most important educational centers of Russia. The oldest and most famous university in Russia, Moscow State University, is located in Moscow. (The university was founded in 1755 on the initiative of well-known figures of the time Shuvalov and Lomonosov.) Currently, there are many universities, academies, institutes, schools in Moscow, which provide education for students from different cities of Russia and from other countries.

There are more than 200 universities, including 60 state universities in the city. The most popular universities among foreign students are: people’s friendship university, Moscow University, School of Economics, the first medical university of Moscow.

This site presents useful for tourists information about Moscow. The site will help to determine, what places to visit in Moscow, which should be seen in Moscow.

Yekaterinburg is the fourth largest city in Russia (after Moscow, St. Petersburg and Novosibirsk). It is the administrative center of the Ural region. From 1924 to 1991 the city was known as Sverdlovsk. The city is home to about 1.4 million people. In Russian city name spelled as “Екатеринбург”.

Yekaterinburg is located in the central part of the Eurasian continent, on the eastern slopes of the Ural Mountains, on the banks of the «Iset” river. Distance from Yekaterinburg to Moscow is about 1670 kilometers.
In the Middle Urals (where the Yekaterinburg is located) Ural Mountains have a small height, so the region is suitable for the construction of roads that cross the mountain range. For this reason, Ekaterinburg became a major transportation hub, through which the road connecting Central Russia and Siberia, the European and Asian parts of the country. Through Ekaterinburg passes the Trans-Siberian Railway. The time zone, in which the city is located, has an offset of 2 hours and is denoted in Russia as MSK +2.

The date of foundation of Yekaterinburg is November 7 1723. On this day began working plant, which was built on the orders of Emperor Peter I. The status of county town of the Perm province city received in 1781 by decree of Empress Catherine II. During the reign of Catherine II through Ekaterinburg was built the longest road of the Russian Empire – Great Siberian Route. Ekaterinburg was founded as an industrial center in the Ural region. Today Yekaterinburg is one of the largest financial, businesses, industrial, scientific and educational centers in Russia.
Ekaterinburg was founded by the decree of the first Russian Emperor – Peter the Great. In Yekaterinburg in July 1918, was shot last Russian Emperor Nicholas II and his family (at this point was built church “Church on the Spilled Blood”).

Yekaterinburg is located in a zone of moderate continental climate. The climate of the region is strongly influenced by the Ural Mountains. There may be sharp fluctuations in air temperature. Winter weather can change quickly from frost to thaw and rain, fluctuations from heat until frost is possible in the summer. The average January temperature is -12,6°C (minimum temperature of -46,7°C was recorded December 31, 1978), the average July temperature is +19°C (maximum temperature is +38,8°C was 1 July 1911).

Attractions & Places

Church on the Spilled Blood in Yekaterinburg

Church on the Spilled Blood (Church on Blood in Honor of All Saints Resplendent in the Russian Land) is the most famous church in Yekaterinburg. Church on the Spilled Blood was built in 2000 – 2003 years on the place of the “Ipatiev House” in Yekaterinburg, where Nicholas II (the last Emperor of Russia) and several members of his family and household were shot by the Bolsheviks during the Russian Civil War. The building has five domes, 14 bells, 2 levels. The altar of the main church is directly over the site of the Romanovs’ execution. On the territory of the lower church is located a museum dedicated to the last days of life of the Romanovs. The temple is a place of pilgrimage for the faithful. Address: Ekaterinburg, Tolmachev street 34A (Street of the Holy Quarter, 1). The nearest metro station is “Dinamo”.

The observation deck of business center “Vysotsky”

The observation deck is located on one of the tallest buildings in Yekaterinburg. The observation deck is located on the 52nd floor of the building, at an altitude of 187 meters. The cost of the site visit included radio guide. Children under 15 years only accompanied by adults. Visitors in a state alcoholic intoxication are not permitted. Address: Ekaterinburg, Malysheva street 51, business center “Vysotsky”. The nearest metro station: “Square of 1905 year”.

Weiner Street

Weiner Street is one of the most famous streets of Yekaterinburg. Part of the street (from Lenin Street to Radishcheva street) is a pedestrian zone. This is a favorite place for walking among residents and tourists. There are a large number of shops and cafes, as well as original sculptures on the street.

Square of 1905 year

“Square of year 1905” considered as the main square of the city of Yekaterinburg. Square is one of the popular places for walks and meetings. On the square regularly hosts public events (festivals, concerts).

The obelisk on the border between Europe and Asia

There are several obelisks set on the border between Europe and Asia in the Sverdlovsk region. One of the obelisks set on the 17th kilometer of the highway Yekaterinburg – Pervouralsk. At the base of the obelisk laid two stones, one of which was brought from the westernmost point of Europe Cabo da Roca (Cape Roca), the other from the most eastern part of Asia (Dezhneva Cape).

Yekaterinburg Arena

Central Stadium of Yekaterinburg (Ekaterinburg Arena) is located to the west of the city center, between the Repin street, Pirogov street and Tatishchev street. The nearest metro station (Ulitsa 1905 goda) is located about 1.6 kilometers from the stadium. The Central Stadium can be reached by bus, trolleybus, tram or taxi.
Address: Repin Street, 5. The main entrance to the stadium is on Repin Street.

Ekaterinburg-Expo

Ekaterinburg-Expo is one of the best centers for exhibitions and congresses in Russia. It is located approximately in the geographical center of Russia, which makes it convenient for holding all-Russian events. Ekaterinburg-Expo was put into operation in July 2011.

Transportation

Yekaterinburg is a major transportation hub in Russia. Through Yekaterinburg passes several federal highways and mainline railways. Yekaterinburg is a major international airport. The most important roads are federal highway M5 “Ural” and the Trans-Siberian railway. To get to Yekaterinburg is possible by car, by train or by plane.

The railway station

Yekaterinburg passenger railway station is one of the largest train stations in Russia. Station serves more than 115,000 passengers per day. Near the train station is located bus station. Nearest metro station: “Uralskaya”. From the railway station regularly go trains and buses to the airport.

Koltsovo Airport

The international airport in Yekaterinburg (Koltsovo Airport) is located in the south- eastern part of the city, approximately 20 kilometers away from the passenger station in the “Koltsovo” district of Yekaterinburg. The airport is in fifth place in terms of passenger traffic among airports in Russia (after Moscow and St. Petersburg airports). At the “Koltsovo” airport is also based military aircraft. You can get to the airport by an electric train from the railway station of Yekaterinburg (journey time approximately 40 minutes). The airport also has regular bus service from the railway station (route number 1).