Russia

Travel to the Chechen Republic and to the north Caucasus region is not recommended. For further information visitors should seek official advice.

The Russian Federation covers almost twice the area of the United States of America, and reaches from Moscow in the west over the Urals and the vast Siberian plains to the Sea of Okhotsk in the east. The capital, Moscow, was founded in 1147. The focal point of the city is Red Square, on one side of which is the Kremlin surrounded by a thick red fortress wall containing 20 towers. The tsars were crowned here; Ivan the Terrible's throne is situated near the entrance. Those interested in Russia's achievements in the field of space travel should visit Star City, just outside Moscow, which is a cosmonaut training complex open to visitors. St Petersburg, northwest of Moscow, is known both as a cultural centre and for its elegant buildings. The city is spread over 42 islands in the delta of the River Neva. Wide boulevards, tranquil canals and bridges led to the city being known as the 'Venice of the North'. The Palace Square and the Winter Palace are among the most interesting sites for followers of Russian history. The Hermitage houses all the vast treasures of the former tsars. For those wishing to get a better idea of the huge variety of scenery in the Russian Federation, cruises can be taken along the mighty Volga River between Kazan, the cultural centre of the Tartars, to Rostov-on-Don, once an Armenian town and the gateway to the Caucasus. Russian cuisine is based on the staples of buckwheat (to make porridge or blini), borshch (beetroot soup) or shashlik (shish kebab). Whole roast suckling pig, roast goose stuffed with buckwheat, and roast duck stuffed with apples are served at parties and for special occasions.