Russia

There is a lot to explore and see in Russia, one of the most visited countries in Europe. The Saint Basil’s Cathedral looks as if it has gotten straight out of a fairytale. The Hermitage Museum and Kremlin also look like fairytales. Buildings from Imperial Russia such as the Bolshoi Theatre, the Kazan Cathedral, and the Singer House are stunning as well. There are a lot of natural wonders, such as Lake Baikal, Kizhi Island, the Valley of Geysers, and Mount Elbrus. Russian ski resorts are in particular famous among Europeans.

It’s no surprise a country as vast as Russia has a lot of top-of-the-bucket-list travel destinations. Truly, this is a country of immense natural splendor. From ancient mountain ranges to ocean-sized lakes, from remote rugged wilderness to picturesque countryside, here are some of the most beautiful spots to visit in the world’s largest nation. From the lavishly decorated The Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood to the magnificent Winter Palace, St Petersburg - a port next to the Baltic Sea - is a magical-looking city, with architecture that looks fresh out of a fairytale. In addition, in the middle of Lake Baikal sits the remote Olkhon Island, the perfect idyll to escape and get back in touch with nature. Considered one of five global poles of shamanic energy by the Buryat people, the largest indigenous group in Siberia, this is an otherworldly destination.

• International tourist arrivals: 24.5 million visitors/year in 2020