We have compiled a list of 10 cities in Russia where you can go on a weekend trip by train.
St. Petersburg
Photo: @lisa_sakva/polina_vegas_/Instagram.com
You can spend a truly unforgettable weekend in St. Petersburg. If this is your first time in the Northern capital, take a walk along Nevsky Prospekt, admire the ancient cathedrals and try the famous pyushki – that’s the name of the local donuts. Well, if you are a regular in St. Petersburg, then you might be surprised by a tour of abandoned mansions and palaces, a walk along the rooftops (this is dangerous, but very exciting) or kayaking along the city canals. And in the evening, don’t forget to take a gastronomic tour along Rubinstein Street.
Moscow — St. Petersburg June 21: from 1035 rub. for one*
Moscow
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Spring Moscow is beautiful! The capital is waiting for you to visit for the weekend: walk through the new Zaryadye Park not far from the Kremlin and along the renovated pedestrian streets in the center, eat the famous ice cream in GUM, ride bicycles in Gorky Park and view the city at night from the Moscow City observation deck on 54th floor. Of course, 2 days in Moscow is very little, but you will definitely remember this weekend for a long time!
St. Petersburg – Moscow June 21: from 1056 rub. for one*
Nizhny Novgorod – Moscow April 20: from 553 rub. for one*
Nizhny Novgorod
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The ancient merchant Nizhny Novgorod will captivate you with its narrow streets, beautiful Russian nature around and panoramas of the Volga. Be sure to take a ride on the cable car that connects Nizhny Novgorod with the neighboring satellite city: this is the only crossing over water in Europe, with a length of 3.6 kilometers. In a 15-minute trip you can have a bird’s eye view of the Volga and enjoy the views of the city.
Moscow — Nizhny Novgorod June 21: from 622 rub. for one*
Excursions from local residents in Nizhny Novgorod
Vladimir
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Vladimir is a city-monument of white stone architecture with a thousand-year history, in which all the streets are reminiscent of ancient times. The main attractions of the city are temples and cathedrals, many of which are more than five hundred years old. It is definitely worth spending a few hours on a trip to the village of Bogolyubovo, which is not far from Vladimir – there is the famous Church of the Intercession on the Nerl, which is more than 850 years old. It is built on a water meadow, so in the spring there is a unique chance to see the church surrounded on all sides by water.
Moscow — Vladimir June 21: from 455 rub. for one*
Kazan
Kazan is a city where East and West unite, vibrant monuments of different cultures and religions. Mosques here coexist with Orthodox churches, and Russian cuisine coexists with Tatar and Oriental cuisine. Kazan not only has a rich history, but is also actively developing in modern directions: large sports facilities have been built in the city to host various competitions, and Innopolis, a city of technology, which in the future should become the Russian Silicon Valley, was built not far from Kazan. After exploring the city, head to the water park – here it is one of the largest in the world! More than 50 water attractions, a spa and an outdoor pool await you here.
Moscow — Kazan June 21: from 1191 rub. for one*
Yaroslavl
Fphoto: @ariadnaloves/@maks_romanoff/Instagram .com
Yaroslavl is the capital of the Golden Ring, visited by thousands of tourists every year. In the city, which was founded by Yaroslav the Wise back in 1010, even today you can find a lot of interesting things. The Volzhskaya embankment and the Strelka of two rivers – the Volga and Kotorosl – are the most picturesque place for walks. Sports fans will be able to see live the home arena of the legendary Lokomotiv team here. Museums, ancient churches and craft shops will entertain any traveler.
Moscow — Yaroslavl June 21: from 626 r. for one*
Excursions from local residents in Yaroslavl
Ryazan
Photo: © www.sotsproekt-ryazan.ru (2017)
Ryazan is a city with a rich history, which survived the invasion of the Mongol-Tatar yoke, complete destruction and rebirth from the ashes. Ryazan is surrounded by beautiful Meshchera open spaces – the nature of these places was inspired by Sergei Yesenin and Konstantin Paustovsky. Until now, many artists come here to paint their best landscapes. The Ryazan Kremlin is one of the most beautiful fortresses in Russia. The first inhabitants began to settle near the Kremlin even before the founding of Rus’ in 882.
Moscow — Ryazan June 21: from 396 rub. for one*
Voronezh
Photo: @artyom_mirniy/Instagram.com
Voronezh is a cozy and friendly city, which is located between the Golden Ring and the Don expanses. Ancient estates in Voronezh harmoniously combine with modern buildings, and at every step there are unusual monuments – for example, a monument to the DNA molecule and White Beam from the famous story. It is no coincidence that DNA appeared on the city streets: Voronezh is a major intellectual center of Russia. More than one hundred thousand students study in seven state universities. Voronezh is an unusual option for an interesting weekend!
Moscow — Voronezh June 21: from 733 rub. for one*
Sergiev Posad
Photo: @a.krikunovaa/@melanykefirkina/Instagram.com
Sergiev Posad was founded by St. Sergius of Radonezh in the 14th century in the middle of dense forests near Moscow. The city’s main attraction is the Holy Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the largest monastery of the Russian Orthodox Church. For the 700th anniversary of the birth of Sergius of Radonezh in 2014, the monastery was completely renovated, and modern hotels and shopping arcades appeared around the Lavra. The best view of the monastery (the same view from postcards) opens from the Pancake Mountain observation deck. You can get from Moscow to Sergiev Posad in just 1 hour.
Moscow — Sergiev Posad June 7: from 415 rub. for one*
Saransk
Photo: @artyom_mirniy/Instagram.com
Saransk is the capital of Mordovia and the center of folk art. This is a small cozy city where you can immerse yourself in the history of local peoples. For this purpose, the ethnic centers Old Terizmorga and Ethno-Kudo have been created – here you can learn everything about the customs, beliefs and cuisine of the Mordovians and take part in master classes. Saransk is one of the cities where we will host the FIFA World Cup this summer. A stadium for 45 thousand people was built in the city especially for the championship. The end of April is the best time to walk along the embankment of the Saranka River, enjoy the warmth, look at the ancient buildings and cathedrals in the center and not rush anywhere.
Moscow — Saransk June 21: from 1056 rub. for one*
* Travel prices are indicated at the time of writing. The cost indicated in the material and the final price may vary depending on the season and time for which tickets are purchased.
Preview photo: Shutterstock.com
