Russia

Most cities in Europe are relatively safe and violent crimes are pretty unusual. In fact, the largest cities in Europe are arguably safer than most large cities in the US. However, Eastern and Central Europe are still a bit different than the western part of the Old Continent. The rapid spike of tourism in these …

At times we all dream of getting away from it all. The hustle of the urban jungle, the stress, the noise, and pollution. In today’s globalized world that’s all about big cities and urbanization, we often forget how the world used to look like before the amazing technological advancement. Luckily, there are still some amazing, …

Yekaterinburg, the city that sits idly between Europe and Asia and a city where history and modernity dance a captivating ballet. This city holds a special place in my heart, probably because this was one instance where I discovered a gem in the place where I least expected. When it comes to finding the best …

Russia is a unique country with wooden churches defy architectural norms, ancient mountains play host to Europe’s highest peak, valleys that hide the world’s largest lakes, and one of the most scenic volcanoes in the world. But this isn’t even the top of the iceberg. Venturing into the world’s largest country offers a kaleidoscope of …

Seversk: a name that might not ring a bell unless you’re into cities with more secrets than a spy novel. Tucked away in the cold steeps of Siberia and born out of the Cold War’s cloak-and-dagger days, Seversk (formerly known as Tomsk-7) isn’t your typical hometown. If this sounds intriguing and you would like to …

Saint Petersburg is one of the most popular tourist cities in Russia. It is a beautiful destination throughout the year but there’s always something special about the winter in Saint Petersburg. During this time of the year, the city turns into a magical wonderland when the city puts its winter clothes on. In fact, if …

Although it likely was brought to the attention of most of the world by the 2014 Winter Olympics, there are a lot of exciting things to do in Sochi that make it a great place to visit. Spanning 145 kilometers across the coast of the Black Sea, Sochi is the second longest city in the …

The legendary Trans-Siberian line from Moscow to Vladivostok is the longest railway in the world in the world. It starts in Russia’s capital and ends a week later in the Far East of Russia in Vladivostok, a city that was closed to foreigners until 1990. The longest train ride in the world will take you …

In a country as large as Russia, there are a lot of things to see and do. In fact, once you have your Russian visa, touring around the country can take months. Winston Churchill once said that “Russia is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma”. This remains valid even to this day. …

During the socialist era, the Soviet Union had many closed cities that were hidden not only from the prying eyes of enemies but also from its own people. These cities weren’t even shown on the map until 1993 but there were thousands of people living in them which effectively didn’t exist. Most of these closed …