This past year has made us develop an itch to travel! Literally, any country would do! Now that the vaccines are rolling out and border restrictions are easing around the world, countries are spreading their arms wide open for tourists and visitors. Out of the countries opening up, Russia is rising to the occasion by allowing tourists with hotel bookings to stay up to six months in their country.
Russian borders opening up to tourists
On the 26th of May 2021, Russian President Vladimir Putin eased the COVID travel permit by allowing tourists coming to Russia and allowing them to stay for up to 6 months. This opens the doors to a plethora of ideas and opportunities for us to COVID travel and hop on an airplane and visit places in Russia.
Now that we have you all excited, we also want you to know of some incredibly picturesque locations all over the country of Russia. So grab your passports and your bags to see these beautiful tourist attractions in Russia in person!
1. Moscow
The capital of Russia boasts a truckload of amazing landscapes and landmarks. Luscious greenery, breathtaking architecture, and rich history are just a few of the million things you need to look out for in this city. Iconic locations like the Kremlin, Red Square, and the mesmerizing St. Basil's Cathedral along with so many museums are located in the heart of the city. If these sights aren’t enough to fill your heart, dive into the streets to have some beautiful and authentic Russian food. Blini, Baked potato and Pirozhki are just a few of the lip-smacking delicacies you can find here! Shoutout to all the Shawarma fans because you are in for a treat when in Moscow!
2. Petersberg
Although St. Petersburg is in Russia, this city has a European flair to it. The immaculate architecture is spread all over the city for us to admire. And if you are one who loves the sea, look no further! You can hop on a luxury cruise that takes us around 300 kilometers of canals that cut through the imperial city in the ideal St Petersburg weather. Moika Palace is a famous destination not only for how beautiful it is but it is also for being the place where the infamous Russian peasant Rasputin was killed. This is a must on your list of Russia tourism places.
3. Sochi
If you are into extreme sports of the winter and fast pace, Sochi is godsent. Situated on the Black Sea, Sochi Russia is a dream destination for athletes. This city not only hosted the 2014 Winter Olympics but also hosted the Russian Formula 1 Grand Prix and the 2018 Fifa World Cup. Despite winter snow, Apart from this, if you want to visit a UNESCO World Heritage SIte and awe at an endangered species, the Persian leopard at the Caucasian State Nature Biosphere Reserve is the one for you.
4. Olkhon Island
This place is known for being one of the world’s largest lake islands. The landscape of Olkhon Island includes staggering mountains, green covers, and Taiga or snow forest. Located in the eastern portion of Siberia, these islands house a small population of local Buryats, a Mongolic indigenous group who believes the island to be a powerful spiritual place. The most notable feature of these islands is the rare phenomenon of “walking trees” that are caused by strong winds that expose tree roots on the beach which gives them the appearance of a standing person.
5. The Russian Tundra
Don’t worry guys, we saved the best for the last. If you have “Watch the Northern Lights” on your bucket list, look no further! Murmansk in the Kola Peninsula will fulfill all your dreamy dreams of gawking at the northern lights while chilling on the tundra. The temperature here drops down so low that it is not an optimum environment for trees to grow. Animals of the Russian tundra include polar bears sand seals. Talk about having the best of both worlds!
Now that you have your itinerary ready, get the Love for travel hamper to keep your passport safe in a passport cover embossed with your name along with luggage tags personalized with your name again! Now that you are ready here we’ll send you off with a good wish:
“Счастливого пути/Schastlivogo puti” [Have a good trip]
ps: While publishing this, we did see that the package offered by few Indian travel agencies stands withdrawn. However, this should help you to plan a trip to Russia, hopefully soon.