Did you know that Russia is is the largest country in the world by area, covering more than one-eighth of the Earth’s inhabited land?!

Hence, Russia offers a unique travelling experience.  From treks up the slopes of glacier-capped mountains to strolls along the shoreline of Earth’s oldest lake, Russia is rich with historical and cultural sites and activities.

And since we know a lot of you are flying there to support our national football team, we have brought you 5 Russian cities to visit that also will host the World Cup matches:

Moscow:

Moscow is the capital and most populous city of Russia, with 12.2 million residents in the city and 17.1 million within the urban area. Moscow is known for its tremendous history, art and culture; it also has the world’s largest community of billionaire. Moscow is known to be a hub for the creatives and intellectuals. Moscow is the city that has it all. You don’t want to miss the best museums, galleries and cultural institution like the Tretyakov Gallery and Pushkin Fine Arts Museum. And whether or not you are into the Russian literature, you need to check Pushkin Memorial Museum, the Tolstoy House Museum, the Dostoevsky House Museum, the Mayakovsky Museum and  Gogol Memorial Rooms. And of course, you will take a walk around Kremlin, Red Square and Saint Basil’s Cathedral The big city also has a variety of fashion stores, night clubs, bars and restaurant.

St. Petersburg:

With over 2,000 libraries, 220 museums, and 80 theaters, Saint Petersburg is regarded as  Russia’s most European and forward-looking city, it is as well listed as  a historic center by the UNESCO. St. Petersburg has a fascinating network of canals lined with eye-catching Baroque and Neoclassical architecture. Make sure to take a look at the world-famous Mariinsky Theatre, the Peter and Paul Fortress, and the Vasilyevsky Island. The former capital of Russia also is rich with museums like the Hermitage and the Russian Museum. Nevsky Prospekt is the city’s main avenue and its premier destination for shopping, dining, and nightlife.

Sochi:

located on the Black Sea coast, Sochi is Russia’s largest resort and makes a great holiday destination technically in any season. The city has a mix of sunny beaches, luxury hotels, world-class restaurants, vibrant nightlife, and countless cultural and natural attractions. Sochi hosted the 2014 Olympic and Paralympic games.

Kazan:

known as one of the beautiful cities in Russia by locals. Kazan has an outstanding diversity in culture and religions with beautiful mosques and cathedrals. The city hosted hosted numerous international tournaments, including fencing, hockey, and aquatics.

Samara:

The city is worldly known as the space and aviation capital of Russia. Besides the Aviation Institute, Samara offers beautiful beaches along the Volga and plenty of old charming buildings contrasted with Soviet monuments and architecture. the city also has Great Mosque of Samarra that you should totally pay a visit.