Sviyazhsk: An island town on the Volga
A collection of churches, bell towers, and teetering homesteads is all that remains above ground in this historic town, which was once home to over 10,000 people
Six bicycle tours in different corners of Russia
The cycling season in Russia is mainly May to September. The most popular areas for this type of ecotourism are Altai, the Kola Peninsula, Lake Baikal, the Urals, the Golden Ring and Karelia
Top 6 Russian spots for an adrenaline rush
If you're looking for a real thrill, these isolated areas in different parts of the country will satiate your appetite
“Mountain of the Dead” turns into major tourist attraction
The story of the death of nine Soviet tourists in the Northern Urals prompts never-before-seen interest in the location where the fatal incident occurred
Kaliningrad Region: Plunging into Russia's smallest national park
The Curonian Spit may be Russia's smallest national park, but it has all of Russia in it
The new faces of Kazan
RIR helps travellers discover the fascinating "third capital" of Russia for themselves, from the ancient mosque and an imposing gothic building, to a Mayakovsky-themed restaurant and Lenin’s alma mater
The Antarctic: Russians make themselves at home at the south pole
In the southernmost continent on Earth, people get married, run marathons…and bless penguins.
Russian dozen: the best Russian ski resorts
Out of all the countries in the world, Russia boasts the largest number of mountain ranges – from the rounded hills of the Khibiny range, to the majestic peaks of the Caucasus and the volcanoes of Kamchatka
Living in the dark on the Kola Peninsula
The reindeer herders of Russia’s Kola Peninsula struggle in solitude against the Polar night, the wind and fatigue
There will be darkness: Polar nights in Murmansk
RIR’s correspondents reveal how the Arctic Circle’s most populous city survives when the sun goes down for months at a time
When windows start speaking
Ivan Khafizov’s project nalichniki.com is a collection of thousands of photographs of traditional hand-carved wooden window frames from all different parts of Russia
Russia's Golden Ring route turns 45
“The Golden Ring of Russia” is a tourist route that was drawn up during the Soviet era, with the idea of boosting the numbers of foreign tourists traveling to Russia. Today, it remains one of the most popular routes for both visiting foreigners and d
The bohemian theatre life, a la Moscow
In Moscow, doing what you enjoy for a living is not as simple as one might think. There are often dozens of obstacles to overcome, as well as hundreds of financial, moral and creative issues to resolve
Go on a treasure hunt in Russia
The Romanov family heirlooms, Napoleon's loot, Admiral Kolchak's gold, and other Russian treasures are waiting to be discovered
12 most inaccessible tourist destinations in Russia
The Chechen city of the dead, a prehistoric sea, shamanist pyramids and other amazing places – just getting to them is an achievement
Catching up with northern lights in Russia's Arctic Circle
Nature calls the tune in a land of harmony, history and adventure
Adygea is a haven for archaeologists, mountain sportspeople, stargazers and wildlife lovers as well as for its indigenous population
Summer festivals to take place across central Russia
The European tradition of summer festivals has taken off in Russia, and there is something for everyone.
The honor of wearing the crimson beret
The Russian special forces must survive one of the world’s most difficult competitions to earn the right to wear the crimson beret, the symbol of their status
The way we were: Communism revisited
Statues, buildings and smaller mementoes of the recent past have been preserved as a reminder of Communist times