Top Things to do in Russia
What to do and see in Russia, Russia: The Best Hidden Gems Things to do
Discover the best top things to do in Russia, Russia including Kamchatka Peninsula, Gefsimansky Chernigovsky Skit (convent), Vologodskaya Oblast Architecture and Ethnography Museum, Vadim Zadorozhny's Museum of Equipment, Sea Museum of The Polar Odysseus Club, Voronezh State Nature Biosphere Sanctuary V.M. Peskova, St. John the Baptist Church, Vvedenskiy Tolga Convent, Datsan Rinpoche Bagsha, Ostrich Ranch.
Restaurants in Russia
1. Kamchatka Peninsula
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 171 reviews
Reviewed By agrant1942 - Los Angeles, United States
In August 2017 we visited Kamchatka, Russia for the first time. Two weeks should be considered minimal for a first visit there, certainly not enough, surely we will return for more. The place is amazing, in many aspects it is unique in comparison with other tourist destinations, and this is said after extended trips over the past 30 years to Australia, China, Japan, South East Asia (Singapore, Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia & Indonesia) to Europe and of course in the United States. Kamchatka is different, emphasis on different. Unless you are an extreme winter sports buff, the touring season in Kamchatka will limit your visit to the months of July – August, maybe from late June to Early September but that is already taking a risk with the weather. Not that in July or August you will sunbathe on a beach, no way, but at least there is a chance for relatively dry days and passable terrain, as most sites and sights in Kamchatka are accessible via rough gravel roads and by foot, some only by helicopter. So prepare for extensive walking. We arrived by flight from Anchorage. It is a weekly flight of Yakutia Airline which is available only 10 weeks each summer. Other options (certainly longer and perhaps cheaper) are via Beijing, Seoul, Tokyo, Moscow, and Vladivostok, Russia. But enough with the introduction, what we have seen and experienced is more important. Rafting and fishing on a river, climbing up volcanoes, viewing bears in the wild, walking by steaming Sulfur fumaroles and bubbling mud pools, with a native ethnic festival and a few museums to cap the visit, all this in two week – WOW !!! Our host was Martha Madsen (an American from Homer, Alaska living in Kamchatka for over 20 years and worthy of a story in her own right) who runs a lovely Bed and Breakfast place in Yelizovo, as well as the Explore Kamchatka (www.explorekamchatka.com / [email protected]) service. Martha organized the entire visit including tours, guides, translators, vehicles, helicopter flights, rafting, overnight stays, several visits to geo-thermal pools, in short – everything (!!!) in a most professional yet personal and friendly manner. We feel that we have gained a friend. For specifics and details, kindly see the following reviews: Mutnovsky Volcano Gorely Volcano Kurile Lake Kamchatka Museum of Local Lore Small Valley of Geysers T-34 Tank Monument The fact that during our two weeks in Kamchatka and with its reputation for erratic weather we did manage to see some 90% of the planned program is thanks to Martha’s skill and knowledge. As already stated by one far greater than myself (Gen. McArthur): “We Shall Return”.
2. Gefsimansky Chernigovsky Skit (convent)
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 237 reviews
Reviewed By Jedai79 - Singapore, Singapore
On 8 June 2018, nearing the end of our 19-day Russian trip (on a free & easy basis), my partner was really tired of seeing onion-structures, so we decided to book a cab to go to Tchaikovsky House Museum (it was a must for me!) and Sergiev Posad. Unlike the Croatian road trip we did end 2016 where we went to Plitvice Waterfall; drove past the mountainous terrain of Slovenia and some parts of Croatia; walked along the seaside promenade of Split; walked round the old city of Dubrovnik; went to the holy town of Medjugorje; walked to a castle along the seaside in Trieste (Italy); ventured up hilly cobblestone-paved roads to view the small town, Rovinj; went to lakes; Predjama Castle nestled in a cave; Postojna Cave; visited the mystical Mostar, for the 19 days in Russia, we visited almost the same kind of churches/palaces, we didn’t get a chance to see a variety of things. Not that Russia does not have the above that we mentioned for our Croatian road trip but those places were far from Moscow and St Petersburg and we can’t drive because we can’t remember the letters in Russian language. (Cyrillic, we think...) After referring to TA reviews, we decided on this place in Sergiev Posad. My partner wanted something SPECIAL and Gefsiansky Chernigovsky Skit did not disappoint him. Most tour groups would take tourists to Vladimir and Suzdal but we love Sergiev Posad. All the above are part of the Golden Ring. On 8 June 2018, it was a rainy day. The drive from Tchaikovsky’s House in Klin to Sergiev Posad plus a lunch stop was no more than 2.5 hours. Still had the onion-structure. After walking into the church, we could not find the entrance to the “caves”. We had to ask the lady who was selling candles for direction. She said 800 Rubbles, so we thought it was 800 Rubbles/pax and we were gonna pay 1600 Rubbles. She was so honest that she said it should be 800 Rubbles for two visitors. We could not see any signs there and she could have walked away with the extra money we had wanted to pay her. Thank you! She got one of the seminary student (he dressed like a friar from the Catholic religion) who was talking to her then to take us to the “caves” which were hidden by the Church. How this Church was built round the caves was something we didn’t understand. After walking into a fairly huge praying area, we thought that was the end of our tour. Then, the seminary student who was from Yugoslavia led us through another door, walked down some steps, walked through some dark narrow paths (most of them were fitted with lights, seminary student knew where all the switches were). There were small prayer rooms. Finally, he guided us to the stream. Stream water has been drawn into taps where we could get to drink the water. The religious paintings on the walls of the cave were done by seminary students quite recently. After the tour, we left church and were greeted by a nice pond with ducks swimming in it. Very peaceful and serene. If we have a chance to return to Russia, we’d like to see nature and not churches/palaces all the time.... Gefsimansky Cheenigovsky Skit was memorable. We did not have the time to visit other places of interest in Sergiev Posad. May be we should return to Sergiev Posad one day....
3. Vologodskaya Oblast Architecture and Ethnography Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 158 reviews
Vologda Open Air Museum of Architecture and Ethnography (Semenkovo) welcomes you to the world of northern Russian village of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Here you can get the first-hand experience of Russian traditions, attitudes and cultural background.
4. Vadim Zadorozhny's Museum of Equipment
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 381 reviews
5. Sea Museum of The Polar Odysseus Club
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 93 reviews
6. Voronezh State Nature Biosphere Sanctuary V.M. Peskova
7. St. John the Baptist Church
8. Vvedenskiy Tolga Convent
9. Datsan Rinpoche Bagsha
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 297 reviews
Reviewed By SiberianVoyager - New York City, United States
Thanks to our wonderful guide Natalia Gomboeva and Metropol'-Ekspress agency for making our visit to this beautiful Tibetan Datsan unforgettable. Everything about the place was interesting - the location, offering panoramic views of the city and surrounding mountains, the architecture - rather new-age but keeping traditional values, manipulate grounds with gorgeous flowers and trees, stunning Buddha statue inside, but most importantly, it was our guide’s knowledge of history, culture and Buddist religion that she kindly shared with us. If you are interested in finding a truly knowledge and gracious guide - ask the Metropol-express agency for Natalia Gomboeva!
10. Ostrich Ranch
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 84 reviews
