Go Beyond The Usual In Russia With These Offbeat Spots

Beyond the touristy hotspots of Moscow and Saint Petersburg, Russia is a country that demands to be explored. Medieval abandoned city and secluded lakes await those seeking beyond the obvious.

Commonly known as the Paris of Siberia, Irkutsk is a beautiful but often forgotten city with a rich culture, marvelous churches, museums, theaters, and cosy Siberian-style wooden houses. Krasnodar Region is big on beaches, spas and gastronomic tourism. Volgograd is the place where the bloodiest battle in human history took place and arguably the turning point in World War II. Yekaterinburg is the fourth largest Russian city and where the last Russian Czar family was killed during the Bolshevik Revolution.Ulan Ude, located close to the Mongolian border is famous for its beautiful Buddhist temples. Vladivostok, closed for tourists until 1991, is today blossoming with modern architecture. Identical to a western metropolitan city, it is often used as a replica of western cities in a lot of Chinese movies.