Travel guides to Russia
Practical guides to Russian cities, nature and sights: what to see, when to go and how to get there. Translated from the Russian edition of InnTravel.
- St Petersburg
St Petersburg for New Year: where to stay, what to do, and how to choose accommodation
St Petersburg for New Year is good for more than postcard views with a tree on Palace Square. In winter the city is especially expressive: the short daylight hours highlight the facades, museums offer shelter from the wind off the Neva, and walks are best planned in short combinations - the centre, the islands, the suburbs. Below is an itinerary for winter holidays in St Petersburg, with places that really are worth visiting in frost, snow, or a thaw.
12 min read
- Nizhny Novgorod
Nizhny Novgorod in summer: when to go, what to do, and where to stay
<p><strong>Nizhny Novgorod in summer</strong> is appealing because the city opens up not only through its museums and Kremlin walls, but also through long walks along the upper bank of the Volga, descents to the Oka, and evening views from the Strelka. If you are planning a summer holiday in Nizhny Novgorod, it is better to allow for more than one day: the city has a different rhythm in the morning, during the day, and at sunset, and the strongest impressions here are often connected precisely with panoramic views and walking routes.</p><p>Below is when to go to Nizhny Novgorod, what to see in July and August, where to go in the heat, and what to take with you so that walks around this city on high riverbanks do not turn into a forced march up and down staircases.</p>
14 min read
- Nizhny Novgorod
What to see in Nizhny Novgorod: the main sights and a 1-2 day itinerary
If you are deciding what to see in Nizhny Novgorod on a short trip, build your itinerary around two things: the high riverbank with panoramas of the Volga and Oka and the old city with its merchant streets. In 1-2 days you can walk through the Kremlin, go down to the water, see the Strelka, ride the cable car, and understand why Nizhny is perceived not as a set of postcards but as a city with a very varied rhythm.
13 min read
- Moscow
Hotels in central Moscow: where to look for accommodation near the main sights
Hotels in central Moscow are convenient not just for a prestigious address, but above all for the route itself: in the morning you can walk out to Red Square, in the afternoon head over to the Tretyakov Gallery, and in the evening stroll along the embankments without long journeys. Within the centre, it is better to choose not an abstract "very centre", but an area that matches your plans — boulevard walks, museums, theatres or business meetings.
13 min read
- Samara
What to see in Samara: main attractions and where to stay nearby
If you are wondering what to see in Samara over a weekend or over several days, start with the Volga and the old centre: this is where the city reveals itself best on a walking route. Samara is remembered for its long embankment, Art Nouveau blocks, viewpoints over the river and the proximity of the Zhiguli Mountains, which are easy to reach on a day trip.
13 min read
- Kislovodsk
What to see in Kislovodsk: the park, Narzan Gallery and the best places
If you are deciding what to see in Kislovodsk, start not with a checklist but with a walking route: from Kurortny Boulevard to the Narzan Gallery, then through the Colonnade into the park and on to the viewpoints. This city has its own rhythm - long walks, drinking pavilions, dry air, pines on the slopes and short trips to the rocks and gorges nearby.
12 min read
- Krasnaya Polyana
Krasnaya Polyana in Winter: When to Go, What to Do, and Where to Stay
Krasnaya Polyana in winter is not only about skiing, but also about the entire Mzymta Valley with its different elevations, villages, cable cars, viewpoints, and short winter routes. If you are planning a winter holiday in Krasnaya Polyana, the most convenient approach is to alternate ski days with walks around Esto-Sadok, trips up to higher elevations, and relaxed routes down below, where there is less wind and acclimatization is easier.
12 min read
- Pyatigorsk
What to see in Pyatigorsk: the main sights and routes around the city
If you are deciding what to see in Pyatigorsk, start not with a long list but with a clear route: the resort part of the city is compact, and many places can easily be covered on foot in a day. Pyatigorsk stands at the foot of Mount Mashuk, and this is where the mix of resort architecture, Lermontov-related places, old parks and viewpoints is felt especially strongly.
12 min read
- Zelenogradsk
What to see in Zelenogradsk: main sights and a 1-2 day itinerary
The sights of Zelenogradsk are easy to explore on foot: the town stands on the Baltic Sea, at the base of the Curonian Spit, and almost the whole route fits into an unhurried walk at a relaxed pace. If you are deciding what to see in Zelenogradsk over a weekend, start with the old streets and the promenade, and leave the sea, the park, and a trip to the spit for the second day.
12 min read
- Novosibirsk
Tolmachevo Airport (OVB): how to get to central Novosibirsk and where to stay
Tolmachevo Airport in Novosibirsk is the city's main air gateway, and the first question after landing is usually the same: how to get to the centre without unnecessary hassle. Here are the convenient ways to travel from Novosibirsk Airport, and also which districts and places are worth keeping in mind if you are coming not only for business, but also want to see the city on the Ob.
11 min read
- Moscow
Where to stay in Moscow: how a tourist can choose an area without wasting time getting around
The question of where to stay in Moscow is better decided not by a district's big name, but by your route for the day: walking in the centre, museums, embankments, parks or business meetings. Moscow is large, radial, stands on the Moskva River, and a good choice of area here is often more important than a few extra minutes to the next metro station.
13 min read
- Kazan
Where to Stay in Kazan: the Best Areas for Tourists and How to Choose Accommodation
The question of where to stay in Kazan is easier to answer not by the metro map or by a beautiful view from the window, but by your plan for the day. The city has a compact centre by the Kazan Kremlin, walking areas along the Kazanka and the Volga, quiet quarters near Sukonnaya Sloboda, and modern districts on the opposite bank — and each travel scenario has its own advantages.
13 min read
- Yekaterinburg
Where to stay in Yekaterinburg: districts, the centre and convenient locations for tourists
If you are deciding where to stay in Yekaterinburg, first choose not a hotel but a trip scenario. For a first weekend in the city, the centre by the Iset River and Plotinka is the most convenient; for walks with children, quieter quarters near parks; and for trips around the surrounding area, the south and east of the city with quick access to the highways.
15 min read
- Nizhny Novgorod
Where to stay in Nizhny Novgorod: the best areas for tourists and how to choose accommodation
The question of where to stay in Nizhny Novgorod is best decided not by the formal address, but by how you plan to walk around. The city stands on the high banks of the Volga and the Oka, so the same trip can be about Kremlin walls, museums and embankments, or about the fair district, the confluence point and long walks with views of two rivers.
14 min read
- Krasnaya Polyana
What to see in Krasnaya Polyana: the main sights and beautiful places
If you are wondering what to see in Krasnaya Polyana, it is better not to collect random points on the map, but to move along the Mzymta Valley from the village to the resorts and nature trails. Here it is interesting to alternate cable cars, viewing platforms, short hikes to waterfalls, and walks through old settlements - then the sights of Krasnaya Polyana come together as a clear route rather than a set of locations.
13 min read
- Sochi Urban Okrug
Sochi Sea Port: the cultural and transport heart of the resort city
3 min read
- Abrau-Dyurso
Abrau-Durso: a jewel of Russian winemaking and history
4 min read
- Sochi Urban Okrug
Mount Akhun, a scenic symbol of Sochi and a popular tourist destination
3 min read
- Bolshoy Utrish
Utrish National Park: a natural paradise on the Black Sea coast
3 min read
- Greater Sochi
Rosa Khutor Ski Resort: Alpine Peaks in the Very Heart of Russia
3 min read
- Greater Sochi
Discover the beauty of Krasnaya Polyana in summer: adventure and relaxation in the mountains
3 min read