In July 2019, I visited Russia with a close friend from university. I was looking to expand my travel experiences and she had always wanted to visit Russia. Though at first I wasn’t convinced, as Russia had never been a country I desperately wanted to visit, I am so glad I decided to go because it ended up being one of my most intriguing and memorable trips. We visited for 5 days; flew into St Petersburg, before travelling on an overnight train to Moscow (look out for my upcoming post on overnight train travel in Russia).
Russia is definitely underrated as a travel destination, perhaps due to having a complex political history and renowned tricky visa process for visitors. However, if you get the chance to visit, I would highly recommend it. The architecture and culture are unlike anywhere else I’ve visited and it is truly unique and beautiful. Before I get into the top tourist hotspots in St Petersburg and Moscow, I have compiled a short list of things to consider before visiting Russia:
- Visa process (entering as a UK citizen)
The visa application is long and tricky to complete. Be prepared to recount any country you’ve visited in the past few years and provide details from your previous passports. You will also need to visit a Russian embassy in person to submit your application and provide fingerprints. Please note, there are only three centres in the UK (London, Manchester or Edinburgh). - Language
English is not widely spoken to tourists in Russia, so a lot of the people you engage with will primarily speak to you in Russian e.g. shop workers, train attendants etc. Although we didn’t speak any Russian, we managed to get around. As long as you are polite, people are more than willing to help you. - Currency
Russian Rubles are the currency of Russia. They are easily accessible to obtain before your trip and card payments were also widely accepted.
St Petersburg
The first city we visited was St Petersburg, which actually surprised me the most. I had high expectations for Moscow but didn’t know what to expect in St Petersburg and I ended up really loving the city.
I have chosen my three favourite places that I visited in St Petersburg which are some of the top tourist hot spots:
State Hermitage Museum
The State Hermitage Museum is one of the world’s largest museums, and as you can expect, was extremely grand. The building is huge and beautiful, and spans across a large open courtyard. Although we didn’t actually enter the museum, it holds a vast collection of art and cultural pieces.
Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood
The Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood was my favourite stop in St Petersburg. It is a magnificent Russian Orthodox church, built in the spot that Emperor Alexander II was assassinated in 1881 (hence the name ‘on spilled blood’). The church stands prominently next to one of the many canals in St Petersburg. The setting is truly impressive.
St Isaac’s cathedral
Another beautiful piece of architecture in St Petersburg is St Isaac’s cathedral. We climbed up the stairs to the top of the cathedral, where the views of the city are spectacular.
Moscow
I was very excited to visit Moscow and it did not disappoint! Although it was hard to choose my top three spots, I have managed to narrow it down to the key places that should not be missed on a trip to Moscow.
State Historical Museum
The Red Square is a must-see place in Moscow and houses two of my favourite sights. Firstly, at one end of the plaza, is the State Historical Museum, which is a museum of Russian history. The building is made of red brick and looks more like a cathedral than a museum.
St Basil’s Cathedral
At the other end of the Red Square stands St Basil’s Cathedral. Another Russian Orthodox church, not dissimilar to the Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood in St Petersburg, only brighter and more impactful. It really is an incredible sight; I have never seen a cathedral so intriguing and colourful. I would say it is the most beautiful building I have seen to date.
The Kremlin
You absolutely cannot visit Moscow without making a trip to the Kremlin, arguably the most culturally significant place to visit in Russia and home of the Russian president, Putin. The Kremlin is effectively a fortress and within its walls, there are several important buildings and ancient Orthodox churches.
In summary, Russia exceeded my expectations and is one of the trips I most often tell people about. Although Russia is not the most popular tourist destination, it holds a wealth of historical significance and is well worth a visit, at least once in your lifetime.