Pass The Passport

Places / Europe

Russia

Visited

At a glance

Region
Eastern Europe
Capital
Moscow
Population
143.5 million (2025)
Area
17,098,242 km²
Languages
Russian
Currency
Russian ruble (RUB)
Drives on the
right
Calling code
+7
Visited: Russia

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Before you go

Overview

The Russian Federation is a transcontinental country situated in Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the world’s largest country by area. It covers an eighth of the total inhabited land area on earth. It is bordered by 16 countries and goes across 11 time zones.

Russia recorded a population of 144.5 million in 2018 and covers an area of 17.1 million km2.

The capital city is Moscow. It is the political, educational, cultural, scientific and industrial centre and the most populated city in the country.

Its main landmark is Kremlin a facility where the president resides and preserves the tsarist treasures in the Armoury. Other major cities are Saint Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Kazan, Novosibirsk and Vladivostok.

The Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ (commonly known as the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood) is illuminated at night in St. Petersburg,

History

Its conflict with Austria in Balkans is the one that led to the outbreak of the First World War.

Russia became independent in 1991 after the fall of the Soviet Union.

It formed the Commonwealth Independent States with Ukraine and Belarus and later joined by other Soviet Union Republics.

Food & culture

The country’s culture has lasted over the centuries and is demonstrated through literature, philosophy, music and folk music.

The crops grown in the country are cereals, sunflower seeds, rye and potatoes.

The popular dishes are pelmeni, blini, beef stroganoff, pierogi, salad Olivier, plov and golubtsy.

Wildlife

The common wildlife animals include Eurasian lynx, Amur tigers, Amur leopards, Asiatic black bears, red deer and the Siberian tiger.

Festivals & events

The main celebrated events include the New Year, Orthodox Christmas, Maslenitsa Festival, Russian Orthodox Easter Week, Reindeer Herder’s Festival and Victory Day.

Things to see

People like visiting the Lenin’s Mausoleum is the state Historical Museum where the body of Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin is rested which the public are allowed to view.

There is also the St. Basil’s Cathedral, a Christian church located at the Red Square in Moscow, which is recognized as the symbol of Russia.

There is also the Red Square in Moscow that separates Kremlin from Kitai-gorod.

Other must-see places are State Hermitage Museum, Moscow Kremlin, Winter palace and Lake Baikal.

St. Petersburg

Interesting facts

It is the most populated country in Europe and the ninth most populated country in the world.

It is also known as one of the countries with the most beautiful women on earth.

It is amongst the Soviet countries which banned the Jehovah’s Witnesses since they refused to participate in military services.

The second-largest art museum in the world is the State Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg.

The official religion the Russian Orthodoxy.

City guides

Cities & towns I’ve visited

Run a marathon in Russia

Moscow Marathon

Moscow · usually September

Passes Red Square and the Kremlin. Check the Foreign Office advice before planning any trip.

Dates move from year to year, so check the race website before you book.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Russia

1 of 34 visited. See every site I've been to.

My photos from Russia

January 2009 Moscow

Moscow

Whole trip gallery
  • A yellow palace building inside the Moscow Kremlin.
  • The GUM department store decorated for winter on Red Square.
  • The red brick State Historical Museum on Red Square.
  • A man in a dark coat standing in Red Square in front of the colourful domes of St Basil's Cathedral.

Plan your trip to Russia

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Neighbours

Bucket List goals in Russia