12 Best Places to Visit in Russia

3. St. Peterburg

Although smaller than Moscow, St. Petersburg actually has so much to offer, it’s often impossible to see it all in one day. Compared to Moscow, St. Petersburg feels more European—fine art and exquisite design details mixing in with history around every corner. You can explore it on foot to admire the architecture up close and personal, or hop on a cruise to explore part of the 300 kilometers of canals that cut through the imperial city.

For a stunning overdose of white and gold colors, visit Moika Palace (most famous for being the place where Rasputin was killed) and the Neoclassical, 19th-century St. Isaac’s Cathedral, which is actually a Russian Orthodox museum.

The Hermitage Museum, perhaps St. Petersburg’s most famous tourist attraction and the second largest art and culture museum in the world, has a collection of over three million items that cover everything from prehistoric art (including articles from the nomadic tribes in Altai) to Catherine the Great’s art collection.

About 25 kilometers outside of St. Petersburg, and more than worth the day trip, is Peterhof Palace. Built-in the early 1700s as a summer residence for Peter the Great, it greatly resembles the Palace of Versailles in France.