Experience Russia

The Best Christmas Markets in Moscow in 2021-2022

Experience a magical Russian Christmas in Moscow. The festive atmosphere warms the snow-dusted city, thousands of lights are strung across the city’s wide boulevards, and Christmas attractions are set up on the historical squares. From traditional fairs with souvenirs and carousels, to unique festivals run by the Orthodox church, fairs of handmade goods, and markets selling products from France all the way to the Far East, anyone visiting Moscow during the festive season will be spoilt for choice.

What can you see on a St Petersburg to Moscow cruise?

There are many ways to travel between St Petersburg and Moscow – overnight train, high-speed Sapsan, or a quick hop on the plane. But the fastest option is not always the best, and there is so much that you can miss out on when speeding between the two capitals.

Best Places to Swim near St Petersburg

A summer trip to St Petersburg doesn’t just confine you to the historical center. The many lakes and picturesque beaches within an hour’s journey of the city are a fantastic way to spend a blazing hot day.

The Best Places to Visit on Lake Baikal

Known as the ‘Pearl of Siberia’, Lake Baikal is surely one of the most fascinating and otherworldly places on the planet. It is the largest, deepest, and most ancient lake in the world, and has its own unique ecosystem home to thousands of species of flora and fauna which can be found nowhere else. Baikal offers something for everyone in every season:whether you want to skate on its crystalline turquoise ice, swim and dive off its sandy beaches, or explore the fascinating Buryat culture of the region;whether you want to head to a popular resort village for beach barbecues or venture off the beaten track with a trek in the mountains and pine forests. Let your real Russian adventure begin here!

Russia Day

Russia day is the only public holiday Russians have in summer, taking place on June 12th. It is also the only national holiday that wasn’t celebrated in the USSR. Though its name sounds simple, it is the most misunderstood of all Russia’s holidays.

Travelling Down the Volga

With the world’s deepest lake and Europe’s longest river within its borders, Russia is the ideal country to be explored by cruise. The most famous of river cruise voyages within Russia is undoubtedly the Volga. When the Slavs emigrated from Kiev - marking the beginning of Russia as we know it - they chose the leafy forests around the Volga to settle in.

Victory Day, May 9th

When people think about Russia they think of New Year and snow. Most Russians, however, when reminiscing about their country think not of sleds and fireworks, but of the bright and cheery Victory Day celebrations and the dacha season which it heralds.

Traditional Russian Pies: History and Recipe

Soft as a pillow, caramelized on the edges and stuffed with rich fillings; Russian pirozhki are dangerously moreish. The secret to a mouth-watering pirozhok is in its filling. Though the dough for pirozhki is almost always a yeasty mixture of white flour, water and oil, there are about as many pirozhki fillings as there are vegetables in an Olivier salad.

Types of Russian Bear

Since the 16th century the bear has been the ultimate symbol of Russia. Representing both the good - strength, power and sheer might - and the bad - ferocity and club-footedness - it’s perhaps the only accurate likeness of the enigma that is Russia.

An American Family’s Experience of Travelling in Russia

Helen travelled to Russia with her husband and niece at the end of 2019 to experience a real Russian New Year. She kindly agreed to share her story as an American visiting Russia for the first time.

Fairytale Wedding in Russia

Rossiya—that word alone elicits images of opulent churches, resplendent palaces and breathtaking cathedrals. A more magical setting to say “I do” couldn’t have been dreamt up. Russia is the place where fairytales really can come true.

Borsch: A Definitive History and a Russian Recipe

Borsch - the ruby red soup, so emblematic of Mother Russia, has a history as rich as its broth. Though its origins have been lost in time, the name of the soup is thought to have come from the Slavic word for hogweed: "borshchevik". Originally, it was this weed, and not beetroot, which was relied upon to provide the tart bite that gives the soup its distinctive flavour.

International Women’s Day, March 8th

March 8th is marked in red, bold letters in Russian calendars. Weeks before the event, cities and towns are scrubbed and buffed to a shine. Though International Women’s Day, with all the flowers, perfume, chocolate and dates, may sound frivolous and unimportant, understanding this seemingly trivial holiday is key to understanding the Russian psyche.

The sights worth seeing in Novosibirsk

Siberia is a land of mystery and mind-blowing proportions. Within this one region of Russia there are over 100 cities, a swamp larger than Switzerland and the infinite depths of the taiga and, of course, the yet deeper depths of Lake Baikal. At its southern border with Kazakstan lies the unofficial heart of this immensity: Novosibirsk (new Siberia).

Russian Candy and Confectionary: Sumptuous Sweets and Divine Delicacies in Russia

It comes as a surprise to many, but the Russians have as much of a sweet-tooth as Americans, if not more so. The only reason why Russians have yet to suffer from the same obesity crisis as those in the West is because they’re addiction to sugar takes its form, not in whopper doughnuts and giant marshmallows, but in petite candies and fruit-based desserts.

Popular Russian Names

Russian names are fascinating and beautiful, imbued with layers of meaning, but can be quite puzzling to foreigners. You might find yourself wondering how a middle name and first name can be the same, or why every person has so many nicknames. If you’re visiting Russian friends, doing business in Russia, or just enjoy reading Russian literature, it can be useful to understand how Russian names work. Read on to find out the most popular names in Russia today, discover some of the weird and wonderful names that the Soviets gave their children, and learn how to decode the nicknames in Russian literature.