Di Duca - Insight guides. Russia 2016

How To Use This E-Book

Getting around the e-book

This Insight Guide e-book is designed to give you inspiration for your visit to Russia, as well as comprehensive planning advice to make sure you have the best travel experience. The guide begins with our selection of Top Attractions, as well as our Editors Choice categories of activities and experiences. Detailed features on history, people and culture paint a vivid portrait of contemporary life in Russia. The extensive Places chapters give a complete guide to all the sights and areas worth visiting. The Travel Tips provide full information on getting around, activities from culture to shopping to sport, plus a wealth of practical information to help you plan your trip.

In the Table of Contents and throughout this e-book you will see hyperlinked references. Just tap a hyperlink once to skip to the section you would like to read. Practical information and listings are also hyperlinked, so as long as you have an external connection to the internet, you can tap a link to go directly to the website for more information.

Maps

All key attractions and sights in Russia are numbered and cross-referenced to high-quality maps. Wherever you see the reference [map] just tap this to go straight to the related map. You can also double-tap any map for a zoom view.

Images

Youll find hundreds of beautiful high-resolution images that capture the essence of Russia. Simply double-tap on an image to see it full-screen.

About Insight Guides

Insight Guides have more than 40 years experience of publishing high-quality, visual travel guides. We produce 400 full-colour titles, in both print and digital form, covering more than 200 destinations across the globe, in a variety of formats to meet your different needs.

Insight Guides are written by local authors, whose expertise is evident in the extensive historical and cultural background features. Each destination is carefully researched by regional experts to ensure our guides provide the very latest information. All the reviews in Insight Guides are independent; we strive to maintain an impartial view. Our reviews are carefully selected to guide you to the best places to eat, go out and shop, so you can be confident that when we say a place is special, we really mean it.

2016 Apa Digital (CH) AG and Apa Publications (UK) Ltd

Russias Top 10 Attractions

From St Petersburg to Moscow, capitals past and present, to the vast and mysterious Siberia on board the mythical Trans-Siberian Railway, here, at a glance, are Russias highlights.

Top Attraction 1

Red Square, Moscow . This vast cobbled space is Russias epicentre, a witness to medieval executions, May 1st parades of ballistic missile launchers and a million Russian wedding photographs. For more information, .

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Top Attraction 2

The Hermitage, St Petersburg . The Hermitages bamboozling collections of Old Masters, sculptures, antiquities and archaeology is a powerful symbol of Russias imperial past. Youd need several weeks to see it all. For more information, .

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Top Attraction 3

The Kremlin, Moscow . Once the original Moscow, this fortress became the seat of religious power, tsarist rule and then Soviet might, and is still the centre of power of todays Russian Federation. For more information, .

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Top Attraction 4

Lake Baikal . The worlds deepest lake is so remote and isolated it has evolved its own eco-system, with hundreds of species unique to its waters. Its also the most interesting stop on the Trans-Siberian railway. For more information, .

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Top Attraction 5

Palace Square, St Petersburg . Behind the Winter Palace is a key landmark in St Petersburgs turbulent history: Palace Square has witnessed murder, conspiracy and the coup that ousted the last tsar. For more information, .

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Top Attraction 6

Trans-Siberian Railway . A ride on the Trans-Siberian Railway across the steppe from Moscow to the Pacific is one of the worlds classic rail journeys. For more information, .

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Top Attraction 7

Siberia . There are few places left on earth as untamed as Siberia, a huge adventure playground. However, its not all blank spaces on the map Siberias cities have fascinating tales to tell. For more information, .

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Top Attraction 8

Golden Ring . Long before Moscow became Russias top dog, merous principalities surrounded and rivalled the city. The kremlins of Vladimir and Suzdal have survived to this day and form the highlights of a Golden Ring tour. For more information, .

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Top Attraction 9

St Basils, Moscow . No one will believe youve been to Moscow without a picture with this psychedelic church on Moscows Red Square in the background. For more information, .

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Top Attraction 10

Kizhis churches . Situated in Russias undervisited north, these elaborate wooden churches on Kizhi Island were assembled without nails or modern tools in the 17th century. For more information, .

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Editors Choice

From unique attractions such as a leaders mausoleum, Lake Baikal and the Hermitage to excursions through tsarist retreats and sacred resurrected churches, Russia is fascinatingly diverse. Here at a glance are our recommendations, plus some tips and tricks even the locals wont always know about.