Russia Other Russian Communities
Travel to Other Russian Communities
Travel to Moscow
Moscow Accommodations - Hotels & Lodges
Travel to Moscow will unveil a chaotic and fascinating city where ancient monasteries and ultramodern skyscrapers jostle with each other.
In the heart of the city is the awe-inspiring Red Square. On one end is Lenin’s Tomb and on the other is the splendid GUM shopping center, which is to Moscow what Harrods is to London. South is the colorful multi-domed St Basil’s Cathedral, easily recognizable as the, familiar backdrop for TV newscasts from Moscow. To the north, the stunningly ornate State History Museum covers all of Russian history, starting from the Stone Age.
Nearby is the formidable Kremlin. Not only is it the seat of power, the citadel of red brick walls, towers and cathedrals houses extensive collections of tsarist treasures in the Armoury. This is one of the city’s oldest museums in which are imperia regalia, thrones and carriages and a large collection of Faberge eggs.
In the same building is the Diamond Fund which is a unique collection of gems, jewelry and unmounted diamonds owned by the tsars and empresses, one of the most remarkable being the 190-carat Orlov diamond given to Catherine The Great.
Prominent within the Kremlin is the white Cathedral of Assumption with five golden helmet-shaped domes and graceful arches. In this bright and spacious cathedral, there are striking frescoes and icons centuries old and a wooden throne made in 1551 for Ivan the Terrible.
On a Moscow vacation, sail down the Moskva River in a riverboat or kater to catch great views of the Kremlin, Peter the Great’s monument, the 15th century Novospassky Monastery, Gorky Park and Moscow University.
In Russia, do as the Russians do. Beat yourself with birch twigs in a banya or Russian spa, cold water swim in the river in winter, sample Georgian food at the Arbat’s restaurants or immerse yourself in 1200 years of Russian art at the Tretyakov Gallery.
The hotel boom has led to high end and business-oriented accommodations in Moscow. International 5 star chains, trendy and hip boutique hotels are available but mid-range lodgings tend to be scarce. In this rapidly changing city, they are probably not far behind.
Moscow Accommodations - Hotels & Lodges
St. Petersburg Accommodations - Hotels & Lodges
On your travel to St Petersburg, be prepared to be dazzled and delighted by its rich culture, opulent tsarist palaces, multi-domed churches, curving canals and elegant parks. However, this legendary city not only has countless museums, it is also home to cutting edge art galleries, a lively nightlife of underground clubs and experimental theater and world-class dining.
The peerless Hermitage Museum boasts glorious works by Picasso and Rembrandt and collections of pre-historic, Oriental and Classic Art so extensive that it would take a spectator 11 years to see every piece.
The Hermitage also houses the baroque Winter Palace, dwelling of the tsars and the primary residence of Peter the Great. Several rooms have been restored to its former grandeur with Dutch tiles and parquet floors and in its courtyard is Peter’s carriage and sledge.
The city’s oldest monastery, the sprawling Alexander Nevskiy Monastery, remains open to devout believers while tourists visit its cemetery in which are buried Dostoevsky and Tchaikovsky.
Start your St. Petersburg vacation by taking a stroll along the 3-mile Nevskiy Prospekt. Along this walk, glories of the tsars, including the Kazan Cathedral which houses a miracle icon, are juxtaposed with trendy boutiques and charming street cafes. Look out for the famous round ice cream bar sold by many street vendors.
Not to be missed is the Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood, which stands apart with its iconic onion domes. It boasts more than 7,000 sq m of mosaic walls made of marble and semi-precious stones and numerous intricately detailed icons. The Souvenir Market across the street is good for Soviet memorabilia.
In May, St Petersburg city kicks into revelry and celebration of its long summer days with its famed White Nights Festival, an international arts festival which lasts till July. At this time, accommodations in St Petersburg are at a premium and advance reservations are recommended.
The nicest hotels including the international chains are found around upper Nevskiy Prospekt. The new ‘mini-hotels” offer tourists an affordable and comfortable option. The monolithic Soviet style hotels, including the updated Azimut, are further away from the center.
