A Lifetime of Exploring Russia

Hello 2026! Wishing you all health and peace.

I'm writing my 400th review to talk about the country I've called home for the past 32 years. Born in Baku, Azerbaijan, we moved to Russia with my family in October 1993. It took me around 2005 to start getting familiar with the country. Over the past 20 years, I've visited over 30 cities. Some were just a few hours, while others were days or even weeks. I'll give you a quick rundown of each.

1. Atkarsk

Subject of the Russian Federation - Saratov Oblast

I visited this small town in the summer of 2025. What stuck with me was the architecture of the historical buildings on the central street and the beautiful roses blooming in the city park. But what really surprised me was the emptiness, which seemed almost eerie. 2. Balakovo

Subject of the Russian Federation - Saratov Oblast

In 2017, I visited this city, which is the third-largest in the region, with my husband and daughter for the annual Strawberry Festival. The events took place in the city center, and it was vibrant, fun, and delicious. What really stood out was the massive balloon launch on the Volga River embankment. 3. Vladimir

Subject of the Russian Federation - Vladimir Oblast

In 2023, I spent a memorable Christmas in this ancient Russian city during a bus tour in -30°C January weather. I saw the frescoes by Andrei Rublev and Daniil Chorny in the Uspensky Cathedral and visited the water tower, which now houses the excellent 'Old Vladimir' museum. 4. Volgograd

Subject of the Russian Federation - Volgograd Oblast

This city, which I first visited on May 9, 2005, marked the beginning of my love for traveling around Russia. My last visit was in the summer of 2018. In between, I visited twice more. The Mamayev Kurgan, the 'Stalingrad Battle' panorama museum, and the Volga River embankment are must-see sights. 5. Volsk

Subject of the Russian Federation - Volgograd Oblast

I visited this city with my husband and daughter in the summer of 2017 to check out the XXI century water park. We had a blast spending a few hours there. The next day, we relaxed on the beach, soaking up the sun and swimming in the Ahtub river. 6. Volsk

Subject of the Russian Federation - Saratov Oblast

Our weekend trip to this city in the summer of 2018 was centered around the annual Fish Festival. Unfortunately, we didn't get to try any of the fish. However, we did visit a wonderful city park and saw a unique natural-made attraction - the molar quarry of the former cement plant 'Red October'. 7. Voronezh

Subject of the Russian Federation - Voronezh Oblast

I visited this city with my girlfriends in the spring of 2007 and with my family in the summer of 2021. I remember the ship-museum 'Goto Predestina', the indoor amusement park in the 'Grad' shopping center, and a stroll through the 'Dynamo' park. We also managed to visit a couple of interesting estates outside the city. 8. Derbent

Subject of the Russian Federation - Republic of Dagestan

In one of the oldest cities in Russia, my husband, daughter, and our chihuahua spent a few summer days in 2023. I really enjoyed the promenade and was impressed by the 'Naryn-kala' fortress. Of course, we didn't miss out on swimming in the Caspian Sea. 9. Dmitrov

Subject of the Russian Federation - Moscow Oblast

I've been to this amazing ancient city three times. The last time was in the fall of 2012. My relatives live in the Dmitrov district, and when we visited them, they'd take us to the city center. Every time, I felt incredibly comfortable in this city. 10. Yeisk

Subject of the Russian Federation - Krasnodar Krai

This resort town on the Taman Bay, we used as a place for entertainment during our vacation in the Dzhagan village in the fall of 2014 and summer of 2016. The water park and aquarium didn't impress me much. However, I really enjoyed the park 'Under the Oak' and the Bird Island. 11. Zlatoust

Our trip to the Chelyabinsk region was a real adventure. We visited the southern Ural city of this place with the family back in 2025. The city's natural attractions are definitely worth checking out, but there's also a great park called Bajov Park and a high-altitude tram that's a must-ride.

12. Kazan

We visited the capital of Tatarstan, Kazan, with the family back in 2014, and it was definitely the toughest trip we've ever had. Unfortunately, we only managed to check out the Riviera water park and the Kazan Kremlin, and take a stroll around a few streets. The rest of the attractions just had to wait.

13. Marx

This town in the Saratov region is also known as Ekaterynenstadt, Baron, Ekaterynograd, Marxstadt, and even the former largest German colony in the Volga region. We love visiting our in-laws here and always have a great time.

14. Makhachkala

We visited the capital of Dagestan, Makhachkala, back in 2023. The city itself didn't really impress me, but it's a great base for exploring the Sulak Canyon and the Sary-Kum dunes.

15. Miass

Unfortunately, our trip to this town on the shores of Lake Turgoyak was a bit of a disaster. We didn't get to visit the town itself, but we did manage to take some great photos of the lake. The only highlight of our trip was a lunch at a roadside cafe called "Na Zaime". It's really popular with tourists, but we had to wait ages for our food, which was a shame because it was actually really good.

16. Moscow

Let's be real, I'm not exactly a fan of our capital city. I only go there every few years, and the last time I visited with my husband was in the spring of 2024 for the "Russia" exhibition at VDNH. I'm not exactly passionate about the city, but it's nice to have the option to visit at least for a day to mix things up or attend a major event. 17. Nizhny Novgorod

Subject of the Russian Federation - Nizhny Novgorod Oblast

Nizhny Novgorod, which I visited in the summer of 2022, left a lasting impression on me. I even thought about staying there for good. The city's attractions, like the Nizhny Novgorod Fair, the Kremlin, and the Sviyaga River, made me incredibly happy. 18. Penza

Subject of the Russian Federation - Penza Oblast

I've been to Penza three times. The last time was in the winter of 2024. I highly recommend taking a stroll along the Sura River, visiting the zoo, the aquarium, and, of course, the unique Museum of One Painting. 19. Samara

Subject of the Russian Federation - Samara Oblast

My husband and I first visited Samara right after our wedding in the summer of 2007. And 11 years later, we arrived by boat with our daughter. The first time, I didn't have enough time to fully get to know the city, and the second time, I didn't have enough time either. But I was able to get a glimpse of it. 20. Saransk

Subject of the Russian Federation - Republic of Mordovia

We visited Saransk with our family in the summer of 2018. We went to the Erzya Museum, the city park, and took a stroll along the nicely maintained streets. Unfortunately, my long-held dream of attending at least one World Cup match still hasn't come true. 21. Saratov

Subject of the Russian Federation - Saratov Oblast

I've written a detailed post about my hometown, Saratov, which I've lived in since 1993, here. 22. Sochi

Subject of the Russian Federation - Krasnodar Krai

Summer 2020 was the first time I visited Russia's Black Sea coast, and I took a cable car ride up the Caucasus mountains. The Sochi Dendrarium, Rosa Khutor, and Sochi Park are places that will stay with me forever. 23. Suzdal

Subject of the Russian Federation: Vladimir Oblast

I spent an unforgettable Christmas in this ancient Russian town with a thousand-year history, part of the Golden Ring of Russia, during a bus-walking tour in 2023. It was my first experience like that. 24. Syzran

Subject of the Russian Federation: Samara Oblast

We visited this charming town with my family in the summer of 2025. It really won me over with its old architecture, beautifully renovated embankment, and stunning river views. Plus, we had a great time at the Parus water park. 25. Tambov

Subject of the Russian Federation: Tambov Oblast

We visited this town with my family for just a couple of days in the summer of 2022, and I regretted not being able to stay longer. I was blown away by the beautiful embankment of the Tsna River. And the church architecture is just breathtaking! 26. Tolyatti

Subject of the Russian Federation: Samara Oblast

This city, which we visited in the summer of 2024, really left a strong impression on me. The Kuybyshev Reservoir, which looks like the sea, was mind-blowing in its power. And the Museum of the History of AvtoVAZ was amazing, with so many unique models of Russian cars that I'd never seen before. 27. Ulyanovsk

Subject of the Russian Federation: Ulyanovsk Oblast

We visited this city with our big family in the summer of 2021. Unfortunately, our towels were stolen at the Uljet water park. But we had a great time on the embankment of the Sviyaga River. 28. Uryupinsk

Subject of the Russian Federation: Volgograd Oblast

Getting out of the house for a weekend bus tour in this little town in spring 2021 was a form of therapy for me. We had some issues at home, and I decided to take a cue from an old joke - I left everything behind and headed to... And after just one day, I felt completely refreshed and my nerves were back under control. Too bad we never made it to Khopra. 29. Ufa

Subject of the Russian Federation - Republic of Bashkortostan

In the capital of Bashkortostan, we visited with our family in the summer of 2025. I had high hopes for this city, which is located on the River Belaya. Unfortunately, they didn't live up to my expectations. Besides the cable car and that's about it. 30. Khvalynsk

Subject of the Russian Federation - Saratov Oblast

We visited this town with our family three times. The last time was in the spring of 2021. There's just endless Volga, stunning nature, and a real ski resort. You can also relax in the year-round baths. 31. Elista

Subject of the Russian Federation - Republic of Kalmykia

We stopped in this city on our way to Dagestan in the summer of 2023 and on our way back. What struck me was the brief touch of Buddhism when we visited the Golden Temple of Buddha Shakyamuni. However, I also felt a sense of unease due to the unfamiliar emptiness of the city. 32. Engels

Subject of the Russian Federation - Saratov Oblast

This city, which lies on the opposite bank of the Volga, is connected to Saratov by an automobile-pedestrian bridge. This city played a life-changing role for me, as it was here that three significant events in my life took place: meeting my future husband, our wedding, and the birth of my daughter. I'll definitely write a separate review about it. I'll wrap it up here, I think. I plan to continue adding to this piece, as there are still many cities on my bucket list that I want to visit and share my opinions about.

Traveling across Russia is my passion. I love the endless expanses of our great and vast country, and I'll definitely continue to explore it in 2026.

You can read about other interesting places here and here.

Check out the rest of my reviews here.

Welcome back!