If you want to relax this summer in a hospitable country with a good climate and excellent local cuisine, take a closer look at our list. Some of its countries have long won the love of travelers, while others have a chance to show you their best sides.
When compiling the list, we took into account several criteria: firstly, flying from Moscow on a direct flight no longer than 4 hours. Secondly, these countries do not require a visa (the exception is Cyprus, where you can get a free pro-visa via the Internet). Well, thirdly, in all of the listed countries you can relax on a budget: not only flights and hotels are inexpensive, but also food and entertainment on site. And many local residents and tourism sector workers speak Russian.
Turkey
Where to fly: Bodrum, Alanya, Dalaman
One-way flight cost: from 5400 rubles
Cost of accommodation in a 3* hotel: from 1750 rubles per night
The leader of summer holidays among Russians, Türkiye is always welcome to us. There are many resorts for every taste and budget, excellent and inexpensive hotels with convenient all inclusive and a huge selection of recreation options. You can go to a beach resort in Alanya, Fethiye or Marmaris, go to Istanbul with an excursion program, go diving in Bodrum or Kusadasi, go paragliding in Oludeniz.
Azerbaijan
Where to fly: Baku, Gabala
One-way flight cost: from 7740 rubles
Cost of accommodation in a 3* hotel: from 1500 rubles per night
Never considered Azerbaijan for a vacation? In vain! There is also a wonderful beach holiday in Baku (warm sea, clean beaches, good hotels – everything we like), and “Azerbaijani Switzerland” in Gabala (mountain air, rivers, waterfalls and lakes). The excursion program is extensive: a couple of days is not enough to see the sights of the capital. Let us also note the excellent local cuisine and the still low prices for accommodation, flights and meals. In general, you need to go while the flow of tourists is not too large.
Moldova
Where to fly: Chisinau
One-way flight cost: from 7450 rubles
Cost of accommodation in a 3* hotel: from 1800 rubles per night
Moldova has every chance to become a new center of attraction for tourists: it has an excellent climate, picturesque landscapes, delicious cuisine and a lot of good inexpensive wine. Vacation prices are also extremely attractive for Russians. It’s worth coming not only for winery tours, but also for sightseeing: there are many well-preserved ancient monasteries, ancient and medieval fortresses, nature reserves and national parks. In the capital, Chisinau, in addition to museums, it is worth visiting one of the parks – there are more than twenty of them.
Armenia
Where to fly: Yerevan, Gyumri
One-way flight cost: from 8000 rubles
Cost of accommodation in a 3* hotel: from 1500 rubles per night
The popularity of Armenia among tourists is growing every year, and this is not surprising. An ancient country with the mysterious monuments of Urartu, delicious national cuisine (kebab! lavash! churchkhela!), beautiful precious carpets, rich history and friendly people cannot help but attract. They often come back here: it’s impossible to see and try everything in one visit; you can only identify points for future trips. I would like to go around Yerevan, and go to Lake Sevan, and get to ancient monasteries… In general, it’s time to buy tickets.
Uzbekistan
Where to fly: Bukhara, Samarkand, Tashkent
One-way flight cost: from 8300 rubles
Cost of accommodation in a 3* hotel: from 3500 rubles per night
Uzbekistan is full of ancient cities, beaches and mountains. This is a treasure country with the caravanserais of Bukhara, the mosques of Samarkand and daytime Khiva. You should come here to try real pilaf, eating it with fresh flatbread and drinking tea. Go around the eastern bazaars of Tashkent, swim in the Charvak reservoir, spend a night in the Kyzylkum desert – and you will definitely want to come back here again.
Kazakhstan
Where to fly: Nur-Sultan, Terez, Shymkent
One-way flight cost: from 9300 rubles
Cost of accommodation in a 3* hotel: from 1800 rubles per night
Kazakhstan can be called a country of contrasts: here are endless steppes, ancient mosques, the Baikonur Cosmodrome, and modern buildings of Nur-Sultan (formerly Astana). The amazing interweaving of Eastern traditions and Western modernity will not leave anyone indifferent. Fans of excursions will enjoy exploring Nur-Sultan and Shymkent, and extreme sports enthusiasts will enjoy hiking in the mountains with many trekking trails, some of which approach the famous Lake Issyk-Kul.
Tajikistan
Where to fly: Khujand, Dushanbe
One-way flight cost: from 9800 rubles
Cost of accommodation in a 3* hotel: from 1560 rubles per night
We bet that Tajikistan will surprise you. This is a beautiful, colorful country with ancient monuments of Zoroastrian civilization, fabulous cities of the Great Silk Road, high mountains (this is where the Pamir mountain region is located), clean lakes, thermal springs and real delicious pilaf. Why there aren’t crowds of tourists here yet? We ourselves can’t understand!
Serbia
Where to fly: Belgrade
One-way flight cost: from 10,100 rubles
Cost of accommodation in a 3* hotel: from 1450 rubles per night
Many people go to Serbia on health tours: local resorts are considered one of the best in Europe in terms of the combination of price and quality. But this is not the only advantage of the country: it is worth flying here for excursions, walks around welcoming Belgrade and trips to national natural parks. And in winter, take a closer look at the local ski resort: resorts are developing at warp speed, and prices for skiing are low. A separate plus is in transport links: regular flights fly to Belgrade from Moscow all year round.
Montenegro
Where to fly: Tivat
One-way flight cost: from 10,500 rubles
Cost of accommodation in a 3* hotel: from 2400 rubles per night
Travelers love Montenegro for the best beach holidays: last year, as many as 29 beaches in the country were awarded the Blue Flag (this award recognizes only the safest and cleanest). You can relax most comfortably and on a budget in Tivat: prices are relatively low here and there are not too many tourists. And there is incredible beauty all around: you want to endlessly walk around the city and its surroundings, photographing the sea, mountains and small fishing villages. The cuisine also deserves your attention: it is best to eat in small local cafes, where you can try real chorba (soup from different types of fish) and mixed meso (cold meat).
Cyprus
Where to fly: Paphos, Larnaca
One-way flight cost: from 10,900 rubles
Cost of accommodation in a 3* hotel: from 3670 rubles per night
Another favorite summer holiday was closer to the end of the list due to the fact that prices for flights and accommodation there are not too low. Nevertheless, you can relax here inexpensively, especially by European standards, and get excellent service for this price. In addition, there are many holiday options for every taste: young people will like Ayia Napa, and families and children will be more suitable for the resorts of Protaras, Limassol and Larnaca. Excursions on the island are also not bad: it’s worth visiting Nicosia, visiting the ruins of the ancient cities of Morion and Avagos, and going to the Troodos Nature Reserve.
Kyrgyzstan
Where to fly: Bishkek
One-way flight cost: from 10,900 rubles
Cost of accommodation in a 3* hotel: from 1900 rubles per night
Kyrgyzstan seems to Russians to be some kind of incomprehensible exotic: few have been here, few include it on their travel list. It’s time to fix this: the country is great for tourism. There are beautiful mountains, the beautiful Issyk-Kul lake, endless steppes, and enchanting ancient cities of the Great Silk Road. In Bishkek, be sure to check out the colorful Osh bazaar, and then go to Mount Boz-Peldek to take the perfect shot for Instagram.
* Prices for flights and accommodation are indicated at the time of writing. The cost indicated in the material and the final price may differ.
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