Top 100 places worth visiting. Places to visit while you're alive. Patomsky crater. Irkutsk region
We were bombarded with questions. What about Baikal? Why is there no Russia? We haven't forgotten. Our country is simply so beautiful that it deserves a separate selection.
1. Curonian Spit, Kaliningrad region
Evgeniy Volkov/Flickr.comThe Curonian Spit is a long narrow strip of land with a unique landscape, flora and fauna. About 600 species of plants grow there and there are 296 species of animals, and the migration route of 150 species of birds also passes through. For its stunning nature, the Curonian Spit is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. You can enjoy its beauty by walking along any of the six walking routes of the national park of the same name.
2. Khibiny, Murmansk region
Aliona Boico/Flickr.com The Khibiny Mountains are mountains on the Kola Peninsula. They have a soft relief and are distinguished by stunning nature. Almost the entire Red Book grows and lives there. For most of the year, the mountain range remains snow-covered, which is why it attracts ski lovers. The main ski resorts are on the Aykuaivenchorr and Kukisvumchorr mountains. You can ride from November to June.
Not skiing? Go on a jeep safari around the peninsula, fish in emerald lakes or get acquainted with the life of Kola reindeer herders. Also from the minimum program in the Khibiny Mountains are the Polar-Alpine Botanical Garden and the “Snow Village”.
3. Kizhi, Karelia
John Menard/Flickr.com Kizhi is an architectural ensemble of two wooden churches and a bell tower of the 18th–19th centuries, built without nails. This is one of the main Russian attractions. It is located on an island in Lake Onega and is part of the Kizhi State Historical and Architectural Museum. This is a great place for study and crafts, as well as reflection on timeless topics.
4. Ruskeala, Karelia
Raita Futo/Flickr.com Ruskeala is a village with a unique nature and glorious history, near which there is a mountain park of the same name. It includes the Marble Canyon and the Ruskeala Gap. The canyon is surrounded by steep cliffs, grottoes and adits. It is filled with clean groundwater and is therefore absolutely transparent. And the Ruskeala Gap is unique in that the ice never melts in its distant parts. In the park you can ride a boat through the canyon, jump from its cliff, or swim through abandoned mines with scuba gear.
5. Peterhof, St. Petersburg
Andrey Ivanovich/Flickr.com Peterhof is a palace and park ensemble on the southern shore of the Gulf of Finland. Along with other architectural monuments, it is the hallmark of St. Petersburg and part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The appearance of the suburban imperial residence was formed over the course of the 18th-19th centuries; it was severely damaged during the Great Patriotic War, but was completely restored and ennobled. The best time to visit Peterhof is late spring and summer, when the fountains work. There are 147 of them - this is one of the largest fountain systems in the world.
6. Novgorod Detinets, Veliky Novgorod
Karambaros/Flickr.com On the banks of the Volkhov, in the heart of Veliky Novgorod, there is a fortress, the first chronicle mention of which dates back to 1044. XI century! Novgorod Detinets includes nine towers and four cathedrals. Including the famous snow-white St. Sophia Cathedral.
A visit to Detinets is an excellent opportunity to refresh your knowledge of Russian history and get acquainted with the culture of the Ancient Russian state.
7. Yasnaya Polyana, Tula region
tulagid71.ru Yasnaya Polyana is an estate 14 kilometers from Tula. It was founded in the 17th century and belonged to several noble families. On August 28, 1828, Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy was born in Yasnaya Polyana. There he wrote “Anna Karenina” and other works. He is buried there.
In Yasnaya Polyana you can plunge into the atmosphere of the Russian nobility and get closer to the character and life of the great writer. The best time to visit the estate is spring, when the apple orchards bloom. The house-museum of Lev Nikolayevich recreates the atmosphere of 1910, when Tolstoy left Yasnaya Polyana forever.
8. Sviyazhsk, Tatarstan
tonkosti.ru Sviyazhsk is a small village with a big history. In 1551–1552, the city of Sviyazhsk helped the troops of Ivan the Terrible take Kazan. The village is located in the Zelenodolsk region of Tatarstan. Separated from the mainland by the Kuibyshev Reservoir, a passenger ship runs to it in the summer.
There is no public, industrial or modern buildings on the island - only the picturesque nature of the Middle Volga and numerous architectural monuments. You can explore all the local attractions in a day, but fishing lovers will definitely want to linger.
9. Shikhany, Bashkortostan
frantic00/Depositphotos.com Shihans are fossilized reef massifs. Thousands of years ago there was a warm sea here. Therefore, inside the shihan there are deposits of rock salt and limestone.
Similar “mountains” remain only in Australia and in the Sterlitamak region of the Republic of Bashkiria. There are three shihans there: Toratau, Yuraktau and Kushtau. They form a narrow chain along the Belaya River.
Ski slopes, sanatoriums and recreation centers were built on the shihans. Lovers of geological relics and active pastime will appreciate this place.
10. Divnogorye, Voronezh region
infovoronezh.ru Divnogorye is a steppe plateau in the Liskinsky district of the Voronezh region. In different parts of the plateau, multi-meter chalk pillars rise - Divas. There are cave temples in Big and Small Divas. Both are part of the ensemble of the Divnogorsk Assumption Monastery.
Another attraction of the plateau is an archaeological monument of the 9th–10th centuries called the Mayatskoe ancient settlement. There you can see the life of the Don Alans.
11. Elton, Volgograd region
wikimedia.org Elton is a salt lake near the border with Kazakhstan. The largest mineral lake in area and one of the most mineralized in the world. The golden-pink reservoir is bordered by snow-white crystals, and around there are stunningly beautiful chamomile steppes.
Elton attracts tourists who want to improve their health. There is a sanatorium in the nearby village of the same name. You can also relax and receive treatment as “savages” by staying in a hotel or with local residents.
12. Mamayev Kurgan, Volgograd
Kolya Sanych/Flickr.com Fierce fighting took place on this hill on the right bank of the Volga in 1942–1943. In memory of the Battle of Stalingrad, Mamaev Kurgan was turned into a memorial complex, the heart of which is the sculpture “The Motherland Calls!” Its total height is 85 meters, and it is the tallest non-religious statue in the world.
Mamayev Kurgan is imbued with historical pain: over 35,000 defenders of Stalingrad are buried there. The best place to tell children about and show how beautiful the world is without her.
13. Sukko, Krasnodar region
fotki.yandex.ru Sukko is a village 12 km from Anapa, surrounded by the Lysaya and Soldatskaya mountains. A small cozy resort with pebble beaches, clear sea and amazing nature. You can go for walks in the mountains, ride horseback and quad bikes, go paragliding or diving, or you can just sunbathe on the beach all day long.
14. Bolshoi Tkhach, Adygea/Krasnodar region
livejournal.com Bolshoi Tkhach is a mountain 2368 m high in the Western Caucasus, on the watershed of the Malaya Laba and Belaya rivers. It is part of the natural park of the same name, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Translated from Adyghe “Thach” means “god”.
Mountain, hiking and cycling tourism are developed there. Tourists and speleologists also loved these places.
15. Elbrus, Kabardino-Balkaria
Kuster & Wildhaber Photography/Flickr.com Elbrus is the largest mountain in Russia and Europe. 5,642 meters above sea level! Elbrus is sung by poets and glorified by climbers. If climbing is too risky and difficult for you, come at least just to look at this giant.
In the Elbrus region you can inexpensively go skiing, drink Narzan mineral water and enjoy Caucasian hospitality with wines.
16. Egikal, Ingushetia
rossija.info Egikal is a well-preserved medieval tower complex in the Caucasus Mountains. This is an open-air museum, which is part of the Dzheirakh-Assinsky State Historical, Architectural and Natural Reserve. The main purpose of the trip there is to examine the ancient towers. They fit incredibly organically into the mountain landscape. And one of the battle towers, 27 meters high, has been preserved in almost perfect condition.
17. Kezenoyam, Chechnya/Dagestan
Alexxx Malev/Flickr.com Kezenoyam is a lake on the southern slope of the Andean mountain range. It is the largest (1.7 square kilometers) and deepest (up to 74 meters) natural reservoir in the North Caucasus. Kezenoyam amazes with its transparency - on good days you can see trout frolicking on the bottom.
A sports and tourist complex with hotels, a restaurant, sports grounds, a pier and a boat station has been created on the shore of the lake. In the warm season, the main entertainment there is fishing and walking. In winter you can go ice skating (the pond freezes) or skiing in the surrounding mountains.
18. Weathering pillars, Komi
wanderings.online Weathering pillars or Mansi bobbleheads are mountain outcrops from 30 to 42 meters high, which were formed due to strong winds blowing mountain peaks. They are located on the Manpupuner plateau, on the territory of the Pechora-Ilych Biosphere Reserve.
The weathering pillars are considered one of the seven wonders of Russia and one of the most mysterious places in the world. You can get to them on foot, on skis or by helicopter.
19. Kungur Cave, Perm region
wanderings.online Stalactites, stalagmites, huge grottoes with ice patterns and crystal clear lakes - all this is the Kungur Cave. It is located on the outskirts of the city of Kungur, which is a hundred kilometers from Perm. The age of the cave is about 10–12 thousand years, and the first written mentions of it date back to the 18th century. It is not surprising that during this time the cave became overgrown not only with stalactites, but also with legends.
One and a half kilometers of caves are available for visiting. You can get there every day from 9:00 to 16:00, and in the summer - until 18:00. A sightseeing tour costs 600-800 rubles, an individual tour costs 1,500 rubles.
20. Chusovaya, Chelyabinsk and Sverdlovsk regions/Perm region
gotoural.com Rafting down the legendary Chusovaya River, which flows in the Middle Urals and flows into the Kama, is the dream of any hiker. What could be more extreme and romantic than a multi-day journey along picturesque rocky shores?
Rafting along Chusovaya in spring and summer. There are several routes of varying length and difficulty. During stops, you can explore local attractions, for example, the Miracle Cave or the ruins of the Gulag.
21. Taganay, Chelyabinsk region
visitural.info Taganay National Park covers the territory from the ridges of the Southern Urals to the forest-steppes. The name is translated from Bashkir as “stand for the moon.” Mountain tundra, relict forests and moss swamps have been preserved there, untouched by human hands.
In the park you can go fishing on the Big Kialim. You can climb the Otkliknaya ridge and admire the Valley of Fairy Tales with its bizarre stone figures. Or just take a walk and take home gigabytes of amazing .
22. Kucherlinsky lakes, Altai
Tatiana Grozetskaya/depositphotos.com Kucherlinsky lakes are three reservoirs in the Ust-Koksinsky region of the Altai Republic. The largest and most picturesque of them is located at an altitude of 1,790 meters. The emerald waters of glacial lakes and pristine nature will take your breath away!
Kucherlinsky lakes are open to the public from May to September. Hiking enthusiasts can get there on their own, with tents and backpacks on their shoulders. Those who prefer a comfortable stay should book an overnight stay at one of the local camp sites. This usually includes transfers, excursions to lakes and all kinds of entertainment (sauna, horseback riding, etc.).
23. Putorana, Krasnoyarsk region
wanderings.online Putorana is a plateau in the north-west of the Central Siberian Plateau. It is part of the reserve of the same name and is recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
The Putorana plateau is huge - 250 thousand square kilometers. There are a huge number of waterfalls, cliffs, mountain lakes and rare endemics. This is one of the most beautiful and at the same time inaccessible places in Russia. It is almost impossible to get there on your own. It is safer to use a tourist transfer from Norilsk and book a place at a camp site located in the reserve itself.
24. Oymyakon, Yakutia
clamorworld.com Oymyakon is a village in the east of the Republic of Yakutia. This is one of the “cold poles” of the planet - the harshest place where people live. The temperature there in winter drops to minus 50–60 degrees. The absolute officially recorded minimum temperature in Oymyakon is –64.3 °C. But they say that in the winter of 1938 it was -77.8 °C in the village.
In summer in Oymyakon, on the contrary, it is very hot. The air warms up to +30, and from May 24 to July 21, you can see white nights in the village.
The weather is the main “attraction” of Oymyakon. There is a local history museum in the village, but the exhibition is modest. So it’s better to go there in March-April, when the annual Pole of Cold festival takes place, or during the white nights to get plenty of fishing on Indigirka.
25. Lena Pillars, Yakutia
ecoyear.ru The Lena Pillars are a forty-kilometer-long series of rocks on the banks of the Lena River. The height of some rock formations reaches 220 meters - about 400 thousand years. This is also the name of the local nature park.
Thousands of tourists from all over the world come here for rafting along the picturesque cliffs and extraordinary nature. You can look not only at this miracle of nature, but also take a walk around Tuculan, where scientists discovered the remains of a mammoth, an ancient bison and a rhinoceros.
26. Ivolginsky datsan, Buryatia
Lakur/depositphotos.com Ivolginsky datsan is a Buddhist monastery consisting of ten temples, five suburgan stupas and houses of monks. On its territory one of the main Buddhist shrines is kept - the incorrupt body of Lama Itigelov.
The Ivolginsky datsan deserves attention because it stands out from the range of typical Russian attractions. It's worth a visit even if you're not religious. You can admire Sino-Tibetan architecture and learn more about Buddhist culture.
27. Baikal, Buryatia/Irkutsk region
wonderfulnature.ru Among the Siberian hills and ancient forests, between Irkutsk and Ulan-Ude lies the most famous Russian lake. Baikal is unique - it is the deepest lake on the planet and the cleanest lake in the country. Here you can enjoy a huge number of endemic species and breathtaking landscapes.
The most favorable time to visit Baikal is from May to October. The main resorts: Listvyanka (“the gates of Baikal”), Slyudyanka, Olkhon (the most famous Baikal island - its heart), Bolshiye Koty and Peschanaya Bay (“Baikal Riviera”). In each of these places you will find a lot of entertainment: from swimming and diving to fishing and meetings with shamans.
28. Chara Sands, Trans-Baikal Territory
rulandinfo.ru The Chara sands are giant dunes and depressions stretching over 50 square kilometers in the foothills of the Kodar ridge. One of the seven wonders of Transbaikalia. The sandy massif in the middle of the deciduous taiga and swamps looks like a mirage, but it is more than real. Even more amazing is the fact that the sands are moving. They are gradually moving from southwest to northeast.
People come here to see and photograph the Transbaikal desert with their own eyes.
29. Tyatya, Sakhalin region
rossija.info Tyatya (translated from Japanese as “father mountain”) is an active volcano on the island of Kunashir. It is part of the Kuril Nature Reserve. Tyatya is considered one of the most beautiful volcanoes, after Fuji and Vesuvius. And he is one of the most active in the Kuril Islands. It has some amazing craters.
It is worth visiting to feel the power of nature. In the Kuril Nature Reserve you can enjoy the beauty of rare animals, as well as thermal springs.
30. Valley of Geysers, Kamchatka Territory
nat-geo.ru The Valley of Geysers is one of the world's largest fields with underground hot springs. 90 geysers and 110 thermal springs on four square kilometers. Every now and then, multi-meter hot fountains soar upward. An amazingly beautiful sight!
The Valley of Geysers is part of the Kronotsky State Biosphere Reserve. Its visit is limited (only as part of an organized tourist group), but it is worth it to get to Kamchatka and get permission.
The beauty of Russia does not end there. Continue our list in the comments. Write which places in our country you consider the most beautiful and why.
Orthodox churches and pagan gods in Pereslavl, Old Believers and Buddhist temples of Tuva, abandoned bunkers of the Japanese imperial army in the Kuril Islands, lunar landscapes of Putorana, a giant mother woman with a sword in Volgograd and shamans of Olkhon. Afisha found 25 serious reasons to spend your summer vacation in Russia.
Pereslavl-Zalessky
The country's main attraction of Russian provincial life
What is this: An ancient Russian town founded by Yuri Dolgoruky was once a center more important than Moscow. Here Alexander Nevsky hid from the offended Novgorodians, the future founder of the Moscow principality Daniil learned to read and write, and Peter the Great built his first amusing fleet.
Where to look: The city is stuffed with churches and monasteries, included in various textbooks on the history of Russian architecture. Here is the 12th-century Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral, one of the oldest surviving churches in Russia. The city stands on Lake Pleshcheyevo (see page 50), which, in addition to kiting and surfing, is well known for its museum relics like the Blue Stone - a deity thrown into the water during the Baptism of Rus'. In addition, private museums are growing like mushrooms in the city - irons, teapots, masks, the Berendey House. But the most fascinating museum spectacle is located a few kilometers from the city - not far from the boat of Peter I. This is the Steam Locomotive Museum. For 50 rubles you can ride a trolley, and for 300 dollars they promise to fire up a real steam locomotive.
Dangers: If you decide to have a barbecue, then it is better to visit the supermarket (the only one in the whole city) no later than 12 am. The local market runs out of meat even faster.
How to get there: From Moscow by car or by bus from the Shchelkovskaya metro station (150 rubles). Minibuses run from Sergiev Posad. From Yaroslavl, Vologda - bus.
Matua
One of the Kuril Islands with a system of underground corridors
What is this: After the 41st separate regiment of the Japanese imperialist army based on the island surrendered to several dozen Soviet border guards without a fight in August 1945, the island remains uninhabited, and its many secrets are guarded by the “spirit of Matua.” On the island there is an active Sarycheva volcano (height 1446 m). Covered with bushes and dwarf trees.
Where to look: The island is crammed with structures, much of which are underground. All ground defense points of the island, located along its outer contour, are connected to each other not only by a narrow-gauge railway for supplying ammunition, but also by underground corridors. Despite the fact that the Japanese, in preparation for the surrender of Matua, blew up and covered the entrances to the underground labyrinths, their network is quite subject to complete restoration. The main attraction of Matua is a hill of regular shape, because of which there were no questions about its artificial origin. What is inside this 130 m high hill is still unknown.
Dangers: You should only be afraid of bears and your own carelessness - most of the objects are located in hard-to-reach places, so visiting the island falls into the category of extreme tourism.
How to get there: It is possible from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky by helicopter or rented boat. There is no tourist infrastructure on the island.
Kizhi
A grand open-air museum
What is this: An island with banks overgrown with reeds and an 18th-century churchyard, where monuments of wooden architecture have been brought for the last fifty years. Far from being the most beautiful piece of land in Lake Onega, it has quietly become almost the most famous attraction of the Russian North.
Where to look: Twenty-two domes, covered with graying, silver-tinged shingles, are visible from the ship. The domes crown the stunning Church of the Transfiguration (1714), which has been closed for restoration for thirty years, but you can get into the nearby Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the bell tower of the Kizhi Pogost. Somewhat out of the way stands the Church of the Resurrection of Lazarus from the Murom Monastery, the oldest wooden church in the country. The cafe and post office are located near the pier, next to a souvenir shop selling puzzles with images of Kizhi and carved rowan figurines. After looking around the exhibition, it’s worth walking along the wooden boardwalks into the interior of the island, where two villages are hidden behind clover fields. Here you can take a break from the guides and buy the same scarves and figurines as in the store, only much cheaper and directly from the people who produce them.
Dangers: Mosquitoes, vipers, of which there are many on the island, and bustling international crowds can ruin your trip. To avoid the latter, it is better to find out in advance from the locals the schedule of tourist ships - hydrofoils should be called comets, and large cruise ships should be called f... dovos.
How to get there: Komets depart from the River Station in Petrozavodsk three times a day, but it is much more pleasant to hire a private boat from the pier.
Olkhon
Sacred island on Baikal
What is this: Baikal is generally quite a powerful place, but Olkhon Island is something outstanding even by local standards. The shamans and Buddhist lamas who lived here considered the island (as well as everything that grows and lives on the island) sacred, and as a result, the unprecedented beauties of Olkhon were preserved in their original form, they somehow managed not to be defaced even under Soviet rule. Plus, the Small Sea (the so-called strait separating Olkhon from the mainland) warms up more in summer than Baikal itself, and you don’t need to be a walrus to swim here in July-August. Shamans, by the way, still live here. And llamas too.
Where to look: The main postcard attraction is Cape Burkhan (aka Shamansky), the oldest shamanic point: two white marble rocks covered with red lichen. In the cave connecting the rocks, they first made sacrifices to the owner of the island, Ugute-noyon, then they built a Buddhist sanctuary, and for some time the icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker was kept here. All this is not without reason: if there is a moment of truth, there must also be a geographical point of truth, Cape Burkhan - something like that. In general, you need to look in all directions at once: literally everything on Olkhon - from sunsets and sandy bays to rare flowers under your feet - seems alive and real, like nowhere else.
Dangers: The Buryats inhabiting the island are not entirely hospitable (especially when they drink). Contrary to the assurances of travel agents, mosquitoes do exist. But there are no ticks.
How to get there: Regular bus Irkutsk-Khuzhir
Andrei Bukharin, music critic:
“The most incredible place I have ever seen in my life is Lake Baikal. We spent a week on a small boat, saw bears sailing near the shore, and met the guards of the reserves, for whom a bag of sweets, a loaf of bread and a bottle of vodka are a royal gift. The water, clear for many meters, is amazing. And an incredible separation from civilization - you can sail for 24 hours and not only not meet someone, but simply not find any evidence of a person.”
Putorana Plateau
Mountain plateau with lunar landscapes
What is this: These mesas, cut by deep canyons, attract those who have had their fill of rafting, kayaking, canyoning and mountaineering and are now looking to combine all their hobbies into one sport.
Where to look: The highest mountains of the plateau are Kotuyskaya (1528 m) and Kamen (1664 m), which are very noticeable heights for the Central Siberian Plateau. In the inaccessible eastern part of the plateau, where it abruptly breaks down to the plain, on the Kanda River, there is one of the highest waterfalls in Russia - 108 meters high. It’s not easy to navigate the terrain, except perhaps using GPS to find out the names of rivers and mountains, so you just need to look around: waterfalls falling down from canyon walls, moss-covered stones, ice floes floating along the rivers even in August - and just completely lunar deserted landscapes, which the sun paints in different colors. And of course, the fish here is excellently caught and eaten in the fresh air with great appetite.
Dangers: It is better to go to the plateau with good physical fitness, basic mountain and water tourism skills, and best of all, as part of a group of specialists.
How to get there: From Norilsk, using a helicopter, you can organize a transfer to the plateau, and also agree on the place and time of the meeting with the helicopter pilots - in a week or two. Or from Norilsk you need to get to the port in the city of Talnakh, and there you need to negotiate with the owners of the boats - they usually take you across Lake Ayan.
Suzdal
City-scale museum exhibition
What is this: The former capital of the Russian state with a population of only 15 thousand people. A town that has preserved its appearance from the end of the 19th century: construction above three floors is prohibited here, and the only attribute of the Soviet era is the local administration building.
Where to look: The whole city is perceived as a museum exhibition. Cars on the streets are clearly unnecessary. In general, it is strange that cabs, carts, wagons and carriages have not appeared here yet. Apart from the obligatory excursion program - like the Kremlin, the Intercession Monastery (famous for the fact that the Moscow Grand Dukes sent unwanted wives here) and the Museum of Wooden Architecture - there is not much entertainment here. Here is the tasting room, where girls in kokoshniks pour local mead - with mint, horseradish and radishes. Here is a pottery workshop built with Dymov’s money. But all this is not so important. In Suzdal, the main pleasure you get is from the city itself, from walks, from strange, amazing discoveries. Like a secondary school on the territory of a convent. Or delicious pies for 10 rubles apiece, which for some reason are sold in the courtyard of an ordinary village hut.
Dangers: The main thing is not to live in a hotel. To achieve the maximum effect of immersion in Russian provincial reality, you need to settle in a village house. Fortunately, there are plenty of them (with central heating, hot water and generally all the amenities) here.
How to get there: From Vladimir - 20 kilometers by bus or car.
Mamaev kurgan
The most psychedelic Russian monument
What is this: Sculpture “The Motherland Calls!” and the park and monuments surrounding it, the memorial complex on Mamayev Kurgan, which was a key position in the struggle for Stalingrad during the Great Patriotic War. The gigantic project, conceived almost immediately after the war, took a long time to implement - the complex of monuments to the defenders of Stalingrad was built only in 1967.
Where to look: The main thing here is not even the famous 200 steps leading to, as it is written on the official website, the “main monument”. Actually, it is not at all necessary to overcome them. It is enough, while walking or driving past, to raise your head and see how a female Jedi is soaring in the skies and how, on a cloudy day, her sword almost pierces the frowning sky. Usually, to notice magic in routine, you have to try hard - but in Volgograd it’s quite simple. A giant woman with a sword, rising above the gray city, is probably the most undisguised miracle in the world.
Dangers: During the cold season, Volgograd is quite gloomy (although the Motherland makes an even stronger impression during this period).
How to get there: By plane (Aeroflot, Volga-Aviaexpress) or by train.
Evgeny Bakaev, presenter of radio “Silver Rain”:
“This is something that needs to be seen. I was there already as an adult, I was there as a child too, but still a person must go there in a conscious state in order to understand how many forces and people were involved in it, with what idea it was built, omitting some moral aspects, understand how significant, monumental it is built. In general, tears well up in your eyes when you see him. From the point of view of architecture, the integrity of the entire complex, it is amazing, not just in gigantism, but in thought and rigidity.”
Tuva
The birthplace of throat singing
What is this: One of the main lost worlds in Russia, diverse landscapes, from sandy deserts (closer to Mongolia) to alpine meadows (in the foothills of the Sayan Mountains), the geographical center of Asia and - thanks to the numerous burial mounds of Scythian times - an archaeological Mecca.
Where to look: In Kyzyl, on the Yenisei embankment, there is a symbolic stele “Center of Asia”, behind it the blue Sayan Mountains merge with the sky, nearby there is a series of shamanic yurts belonging to various associations and schools. The main tourist routes start from Kyzyl: the closest one is to the village of Arzhaan, near which in 2000 a Hermitage expedition opened a Scythian tomb and discovered 20 kg of gold jewelry. There are also lakes in the Todzha Valley, the largest - Azas, slightly smaller than Baikal - along the banks covered with incredibly beautiful white water lilies; horseback riding trips to petroglyphs - rock paintings of the Neolithic era - and ancient stone idols, trips to the homeland of the Goloviki Khoomeyzhiler and to the Old Believer villages of Sizim and Erzhey, where schoolchildren are required to study Old Slavic. Any undertaking here is not complete without shamanic rituals at sunset and Tuvan tea shai, brewed over a fire with kumis and salt. Every year at the end of July, a live music festival of the same name is held on the ruins of the Ustuu-Khuree monastery with the aim of restoring the Buddhist shrine. Tuva's latest megaproject is the restoration of Por-Bazhyn, an 8th-century Uyghur fortress with a Buddhist temple in the middle, located on an island in Lake Tere-Khol in southeastern Tuva.
Dangers: Get lost. The population density in Tuva is less than two people per square kilometer, mobile phones only work in the capital, so it is best to travel as part of an organized group with a guide.
How to get there: There is no railway in Tuva, so, apart from cars, the main means of transportation are horses and tiny An-2 planes. The same An-2s fly to Kyzyl from Krasnoyarsk and Novosibirsk.
Optina Pustyn
The main monastery of the country
What is this: The monastery near the city of Kozelsk is not distinguished by either its particular antiquity or the strictness of its charter; nevertheless, it is Optina that is considered the hidden heart of the country. The reason for this is the elders: monks who, through spiritual exploits, have acquired the gift of prophecy, capable of seeing through a person. Dostoevsky wrote his Zosima from the Optina elder Ambrose; Tolstoy fled here before his death; Gogol was going to become a monk here.
Where to look: The main thing that is in Optina are things that you cannot see with your eyes, here you very keenly feel what the words “a place of prayer” mean, but you feel it rather with your skin. The most beautiful thing within the walls of the monastery is the Vvedensky Cathedral of the mid-18th century, the most beautiful thing outside the walls is a grove with centuries-old ship pines and Lake Love, which in the late 80s became an all-Union gathering place for hippies: Father Sergius, one of the first inhabitants of the revived monastery (formerly Moscow system specialist Gosha Terrorist), baptized them right in the lake.
Dangers: Like any place of power, Optina acts powerfully and unpredictably. For some, their mobile phones cannot be picked up or their GPS fails; for others, they lose sleep and experience severe, inexplicable withdrawal symptoms.
How to get there: Bus Kaluga-Kozelsk, then go east along the highway to Sosensky, after the bridge over the Zhizdra River, take the first left.
Lake Pleshcheyevo
A reservoir with historical surroundings on the line of the Golden Ring of Russia
What is this: A large oval lake of glacial origin, surrounded by man-made and natural monuments since ancient times - the shores began to be inhabited two thousand years ago. Nowadays, Pleshcheyka is chosen by the capital's kiters and windsurfers.
Where to look: Due to the number of attractions around the lake, you may not be able to get to it the first time: the Iron Museum, the Teapot Museum, the arboretum, museums of crafts and ancient operating steam locomotives with a piece of the railway in nearby Pereslavl (see page 47); monasteries (Nikitinsky, Nikolsky, Danilovsky, Fedorovsky and Goritsky - in the refectory of the latter there is a local history museum). As well as churches, a real holy spring and visible remains of ancient settlements and shrines. Right on the shore lies the object of pagan worship - the Blue Stone: several generations of priests tried to fight the belief in its miraculous power. According to legend, the buried and recessed stone itself climbed out of the holes and from the bottom of the lake - and now, of its own free will, it sinks underground. Among the estates, the most popular is “Peter’s Boat”: here in 1692, Peter I created the famous amusing flotilla - and the Russian fleet began with it.
The lake itself is the closest place to Moscow, suitable for surfing and kiting at almost any time of the year: firstly, a strong and uniform wind always blows here, secondly, the shore is shallow, and thirdly, due to the shallowness, the water in the lake is very It heats up - and seasonal swimmers, as a rule, do not come here. People skate here even in winter - on the ice, and when the ice begins to melt, they put on warm wetsuits. In addition to periodic competitions, you can watch every now and then slender kiters splashing into the coastal reeds or hovering above the water and their colored snakes laid out along the banks.
Dangers: Due to the peculiarities of the bottom, it happens that the wind accelerates a one and a half meter wave that can capsize fishermen’s boats (that’s why there are almost no fishermen here either). The wind can easily knock over an inexperienced kiter, and those riding sometimes knock over the swimmers. However, neither surfers, nor kiters, nor swimmers seem to be afraid of all this.
How to get there: One and a half to two hours by car, by bus to Pereslavl from the bus station at the Shchelkovskaya metro station or by train to Sergiev Posad, and from there also by bus.
Plyos
Russian Switzerland
What is this: A settlement on the Volga, which, despite its 600-year history and proud name - a city, has remained a small village with wooden huts. Formerly a customs outpost, built by Prince Vasily I to save him from the Tatar Khan. Nowadays it is a health resort, a place of tourism and pilgrimage, nicknamed Russian Switzerland.
Where to look: Mostly in Plyos there is 19th century architecture - churches with domes and several local history museums. In the “Russian House” museum-estate you can eat porridge from the stove with a wooden spoon, work on a grain grater, light a light, iron clothes with a ruble, chop wood with a medieval ax - in general, join the original Russian life. But excursions cannot be compared with natural entertainment. You need to take with you a volume about the life and work of Levitan in order to find and see these landscapes with your own eyes. For some reason, Levitan forgot to draw the main attractions - the tree of love (two pine trees with an fused branch) and the stone of love (in the form of a phallic symbol). Favorite local pastimes are fishing and boating. In general, you need to start your trip with a sightseeing tour along the river, for example, on the Teplotekhnik boat.
Dangers: In the summer, various religious and political organizations hold their rallies in Plyos.
How to get there: From Ivanovo or Kostroma-Novaya station by taxi or bus.
Yasnaya Polyana
Estate of Leo Tolstoy
What is this: Thanks to Lenin’s words about the mirror of the Russian revolution, Yasnaya Polyana remained almost the only noble estate in Russia, where everything is as under the old owners. Thanks to the fact that the Volkonskys and Tolstoys were the owners, now here is one of the best museums in Russia. And all this is amidst stunning natural beauty.
Where to look: A house-museum, where everything is as it was in grandfather’s time. Tolstoy's grave is a turf-lined mound on the edge of a ravine. A regular park (with ponds and geometrically regular alleys) near the main house, but the main thing is the fantastically beautiful meadows and forests behind the estate, towards the Voronka River.
Dangers: An attempt to have a picnic in fantastically beautiful forests and meadows (which just begs to be) will inevitably end in a meeting with an evil forester.
How to get there: From Tula - by buses No. 114, 115, 117, 216 from the stop "Ulitsa Mosina". From Moscow - by excursion train "Yasnaya Polyana" from Kursky Station.
Balaam
Rocky northern island where monks grow watermelons
What is this: An island on Lake Ladoga, where one of the most important monasteries of the Russian Orthodox Church is located.
Where to look: Rocks, pine trees, rivers, Lake Ladoga, horses, churches, monks. Only here can you see such an idealistic landscape. The main thing is not to sit too long on the shore, but to go deep into the island as quickly as possible. There is less noise and tourists and more silence and monks. As a last resort, you can ride around the island in a peasant cart or in a carriage with a driver.
Dangers: see "How to get there"
How to get there: Despite the fact that several ships a day go there during the summer months, getting to the island is not easy. If you find yourself on Ladoga without a tourist group, you will have to look for a long time for a free place on the ship. All ships are pre-booked by travel companies, pilgrims and Finns who love these places for cheap vodka, gasoline and prostitutes. At the same time, almost all regular flights from Sortavala to Valaam have been canceled, since after the collapse of the USSR, Rechflot ships were stolen.
Vasily Utkin, football commentator:
“I was on Valaam quite a long time ago, when I was still a fifteen-year-old teenager. On an excursion. At that time there was no functioning monastery there, but there was evidence of those times when, after the Second World War, disabled people, cripples, people without arms, without legs, stumps of essentially a human body lived there, who they decided to collect there so that they would not spoil the picture of a happy socialist life countries. I also remember the guide’s story about how the great writer Alexander Dumas, when he came to Valaam and saw Russian churches and temples on Valaam, said that the architect Gornostaev was the best in Russia. I remember how the domes of churches loomed out of the fog. I want to visit there now that the monastery has been restored.”
Mountain Altai
Four in one: forests, mountains, meadows and steppes
What is this: An amazing wildlife reserve, where, as in a geography textbook, deciduous forests give way to coniferous ones, and then give way to alpine meadows and high-mountain steppes. The birthplace of amazing light honey. One of the main places for water tourists.
Where to look: The main peak of the Altai Mountains, and therefore the center of this small universe, is Belukha surrounded by clouds and legends. To explore, you will have to climb 1500 m on foot to the base camp on the shore of Lake Akkem. Magnificent views of another Altai treasure - the Chulyshman valley - open from the Katu-Yaryk pass.
Dangers: Reports of robbery attacks on tourists are a thing of the past - local residents realized that they could earn much more by opening a recreation center, cafe or souvenir shop. Now the main risk is to find, on the site of a wonderful clearing, where last year there was only your tent, a freshly built shed and a parking lot.
How to get there: The nearest airport is in Barnaul. Regular buses run from Barnaul and from Biysk, where the nearest railway station is located, to Gorno-Altaisk.
Solovki
The monastery that became a symbol of the Gulag for a long time
What is this: The Solovetsky Archipelago, or Solovki, is located in the western part of the White Sea, near the Arctic Circle, and consists of six large and many small islands. The main island, Bolshoi Solovetsky, is approximately 25 kilometers long and 16 kilometers wide.
Where to look: The main attraction of Solovki is the monastery itself. You can also climb Golgotha - the highest mountain of the Solovetsky archipelago, climb to the top of the stone church of Anzer Island, which offers an incredible view of the entire archipelago, and swim in the Holy Lake. The tourist season on Solovki lasts from June to October. The weather in summer is clear and sunny - from 18 to 30 degrees.
Dangers: Most excursions around the islands are on foot, and there is practically no transport.
How to get there: You can get to Solovki by plane from Arkhangelsk. He flies twice a week. There is also a waterway - from the port of the village of Rabocheostrovsk near the city of Kem, boats and barges sail to Solovki every morning.
Natalya Kulagina, writer:
“I remember the road to the North from the music in the player. "Civil Defense" and Diamanda Galas. The main law of the North is to obey strangers. They may turn out to be wanderers or signalmen sent especially for you. When I arrived at the pier, all the boats had already sailed away. It was nice to sleep on the seashore. A disgusting smell woke me up. Something was smelling right under my nose. A seal carcass bleached by the sun. Further events developed according to the plans of the mad screenwriter. I collected signs, weeded out strangers, drank vodka, joked with grown men. The North played strange games with me. At the end of the journey, I became free, fell in love, wrote books.”
Seliger
Lake District on the Valdai Hills
What is this: A large system of lakes between Moscow and St. Petersburg, surrounded by forests, on the Valdai Hills, with plenty of places to pitch a tent and a bunch of holiday homes.
Where to look: Motor ships with excursions ply along the lake - during the day you can look at the shores in search of the most successful and unoccupied beach, and in the evening there are discos and a restaurant on board. The most interesting thing on Seliger are the islands, there are 169 of them in total. On Stolbny Island there is Nilova Pustyn, an active monastery founded in the 16th century. It housed a camp for Polish prisoners of war in the 40s, and now restoration is in full swing. You can climb the bell tower - very touristy, but a wonderful view. The largest island is Khachin, it has several fascinating inland forest lakes with marvelous names like Beloe-Severnoe, Chernoe, Shchuchye, Plotvichye, Ostryuchye; There are similar inland lakes on the islands of Gorodomlya and Klichen. There is also a small island of God's Delo with the ruins of a defunct monastery called Novosolovetskaya Hermitage. But Seliger is most famous for its smoked eel - along the road it is best to look for signs with the inscription “Smoked fish”.
Dangers: On the islands there are swamps with a huge amount of strawberries - and, alas, vipers. In addition, at the height of summer there are a lot of noisy companies, children's camps and - not only that - the Nashi camp.
How to get there: From Moscow by car along the Leningradskoye or Volokolamsk highway; from Tushino by bus in 7 hours; from Leningradsky station by train. From St. Petersburg from Moskovsky station by train St. Petersburg - Velikiye Luki.
Elena Yatsura, producer:
“I like not just Lake Seliger itself, but the entire route to it. Because on the road there is the ancient city of Torzhok with buildings of the 17th-18th centuries, the golden times of Russian architecture, temples. And the landmark, one might say, is the capital of Seliger - the city of Ostashkov. I was there in the spring - wonderful smells of lilac, geranium and violet in the ancient shutters. In general, he gives the impression of rigor and freshness. An additional option is the Nilov Hermitage Monastery. This is in the Ostashkov area. One of the richest monasteries in pre-revolutionary times. Excellent view both from the bell tower and onto it.”
Novgorod
The ancient capital of Russian democracy
What is this: Patriarchal regional center with an off-scale number of antiquities and attractions per square meter beyond all norms.
Where to look: St. Sophia Cathedral is the most ancient temple in the Russian North; its western gate, completely covered with tiny bronze figures, was taken by Karelians from the first Swedish capital of Sigtuna in 1187. Monument to the 1000th anniversary of Russia - a bronze guide to Russian history. Historical Museum with a set of birch bark documents. Yuryev Monastery with St. George's Cathedral of the 12th century. The Vitoslavlitsy Museum of Wooden Architecture is a huge park with buildings without a single nail, brought from all over the area. The beach is right under the walls of the Kremlin, with a giant man-horse hanging over it, installed for the 40th anniversary of the Victory.
Dangers: Products of the local Alkon plant, not sold outside Novgorod, are “Marfa Posadnitsa” tincture, “Novgorodskoe Veche” vodka, “Old Russian” balm.
How to get there: By train from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kaliningrad, Murmansk, Pskov.
Until warm spring arrives with green grass and birdsong, while it’s raining outside and slush slushes under your feet, it’s best to sit at home in the evening with a gazetteer and draw up maps of your travels for the near future. After all, there are places in this world that you must visit during your life. Turist.ru offers its top ten places, without visiting which, one can consider life lived in vain...
1.Egyptian pyramids and Great Sphinx
You don’t need to go to Egypt to spend your entire vacation lying in the sun and without leaving your hotel. Being near one of the Seven Wonders of the World and not visiting it is bad manners for any self-respecting tourist. Therefore, put your feet up and go ahead – admire the stone “lion man”. It is not necessary to visit each of the tombs of the pharaohs, but visiting three of them is a must.
The complex of buildings, included in the list of the most famous attractions of the ancient world, is located on the outskirts of Cairo, in the city of Giza. It includes the great pyramids of Pharaoh Khafre, his son Cheops and great-grandson Mikerin and, of course, the mysterious Great Sphinx. Previously it was believed that it was carved from one huge stone. The Arabic name of the sphinx – Abul-Gol – means “Father of Terror”.
2.Volcanic island of Santorini, Greece 
The southernmost island of the Cycland ridge of the Aegean Sea is essentially the remnant of a volcano. Many continue to believe that this is Atlantis itself, or rather, the wreckage of an island that sank under the water. Santorini is a group of five islands: the largest and main one is Thira and the small ones are Therasia, Old Kameni and New Kameni. The group also includes the uninhabited Aspronisi, with an area of only 0.1 square meters. km.
Over the past 20 years, the rocky island has become one of the main tourist centers in Greece. The dream of many tourists to this day remains to take a walk through the villages of Santorini, lined with dazzling white houses and churches, and then relax on the colorful beaches of the pearl of the Aegean Sea: red, black and even white. Where else can you see such natural wonders? In addition, they say that Santorini has the most beautiful sunset in the world...
3.Stonehenge, England
Stonehenge is a world famous stone monument located on Salisbury Plain in England. In total, the circular structure includes 30 stone blocks, weighing 25 tons each, 5 huge so-called trilithons, fifty-ton stones, as well as 82 five-ton megaliths. Scientists suggest that all these trilithons and megaliths were built by those who lived in the British Isles in 3100 BC. e. tribes to observe two planets: the Sun and the Moon. However, Stonehenge performed not only the functions of the current telescope, but also served as a burial place, as evidenced by numerous burial grounds.
Stonehenge still remains an unsolvable mystery, although many facts are already known to us as a result of many years of research. Thus, it was established that the material for the construction of the complex was delivered from quarries located more than 300 meters from the construction site. All that remains is to find out just a little: why did ancient people need to make so much effort to build the long-lived Stonehenge?
4.Italy 
You can talk about Italy for hours. This modern country with deep Roman Catholic roots attracts tourists in any weather and at any time of the year. In the north, near the Alps and the plains of the Po River, there are industrial cities. Milan is known not only as the capital of Lombardy, but also as the shopping center of Italy, and also as the center of high fashion in the world. The historic city of Bergamo, divided into two districts, is located 50 km from the capital. Bergamo Basso and Bergamo Alto (as the two parts of the city are called) are located opposite each other and are separated by a fortress wall. Unlike the modern district of Basso, Bergamo Alto has retained the intact spirit of the old city.
Venice and Verona have long been considered the pride of northeastern Italy. These are some of the most romantic places on the planet. Lovers of good wine should definitely drop by one of the most famous regions of Italy - Piedmont, which gained fame thanks to the rich noble Barolo and Barbaresco made from the Nebbiolo grape variety. There are numerous excursions in Turin that will satisfy any wine gourmet. With countless contemporary art museums, bookstores and music fairs, Turin has established itself as one of Italy's leading cultural cities. The coastal region of Liguria is another topic for another discussion.
Riviera del Palm is in no way inferior to its azure French copy. The coastal areas, countryside, mild climate and old cities like Genoa are so captivating that it is simply impossible not to visit this wonderful place. Lunigiana, Albenga and Ceriale deserve special attention. True gourmets will appreciate the culinary capital of Italy, Emilia-Romagna. In the homeland of Giuseppe Verdi, you can taste balsamic sauce, Parma ham, hand-rolled pasta, salami, truffles, honey from the slopes of the Apennines and other works of art that can conquer even the most demanding gourmets.
Located between the valleys of the Reno and Savena rivers, Bologna, “La Grassa”, as the Italians call it, along with Ravenna, is of value to tourists for its wealth of monuments of early Christian and Byzantine architecture, and above all monumental and decorative painting. Also, do not forget about the resort town of Rimini, located on the Adriatic coast. And if all of Italy resembles the outline of a boot, then Tuscany should become its pearl buckle. The Tuscan regions are considered to be some of the most fascinating in all of Italy.
It seems that a lifetime will not be enough to go around all the side streets with historical architecture of the eternal city of Rome. The capital of Italy is decorated with numerous buildings, palaces and churches from the Renaissance, various staircases and fountains scattered throughout the city. And lovers of active leisure activities will definitely enjoy a trip to the Dolomites, stretching from Austria through northern Italy all the way to Lake Garda.
5. Loch Ness, Scotland
The long-suffering lake is home to many legends, and all of them are about a certain monster Nessie, who has chosen this place. There is even a Loch Ness Monster museum built on the shore of the lake. Therefore, there is no limit to those who want to see the mythical creature. Although there are also true connoisseurs of beauty who come to the lake for aesthetic pleasure.
A large and deep freshwater lake stretches 37 km from Fort William to Inverness and connects the west coast of Scotland with the east. Loch Ness occupies a leading position among other lakes in terms of volume, and its depth reaches 230 meters. In a word, peace and quiet, after all, the monster’s lip is not stupid...
6. Pyramids of the Sun and Moon, Teotihuacan 
Despite the fact that they are not included in the list of the seven wonders of the world, the pyramids of Teotihuacan are the greatest structure on the entire American continent and deserve special attention. Once upon a time, this small city in the valley was full of life, but in 750 AD. e. due to drought it became empty. And the city, once found by the wandering Aztecs, was called Teotihuacan - the place where people become gods. And the true history of the city with its founders, civilization and language has sunk into the mists of time.
The Pyramid of the Sun has a height of 64.5 meters, which is two times lower than the Great Egyptian Pyramid, and is the key structure of the complex. More recently, in 1971, archaeologists discovered a staircase leading to a cave directly under the pyramid itself. It turned out that the staircase leading to the top is mirrored by the staircase going deep underground into a 103-meter tunnel.
7. Ruins of Incan – Machu Picchu, Peru
The lost city, floating in the kingdom of clouds, rises in the Andes at an altitude of 2280 meters on a steep slope above the valley of the “River of the Sun” Urubamba. Literally translated, “old peak” is also called the “lost city of the Incas,” who built it and abandoned it less than a century later. Over many years of loneliness, the city disappeared into the jungle, and only in 1911 did Hiram Bingham decide on an expedition to the Peruvian Andes. In the Urubamba River valley he met a farmer who led him to the ruins of Incan, the only area of Machu Picchu that had not been looted and destroyed during the previous four centuries.
Why the Incas decided to settle in such an inaccessible place high above the ground is unknown. One of scientists’ hypotheses in this regard is the comparative proximity to the sun. In the town, designed for approximately a thousand people, a large number of religious buildings remained, including the so-called Temple of the Sun. Built on the rocks, it somewhat resembles a condor's nest. From here the Incas carried out precise observations of the location of the sun, which was very important for conducting mystical rituals. The semicircular wall of the temple hides behind it a huge altar with many potholes, quite consistent with the place of sacrifice.
Another small cave served as an observatory for the Incas, and ritual religious bathing, according to scientists, was carried out in one of the 16 baths of the waterfall, from which sacred water may have flowed for the tribe. But, despite such an abundance of architecture, the holy of holies of Machu Picchu - the highest point of the city, Intihuatan - is “the place favored by the sun.” Its heart is a ritual stone, reminiscent of a sundial, with the help of which the priests determined the time of day, calculated the months and years. Although no one knows for sure how exactly the stone helped them with this.
To visit such an inaccessible place is an honor for any tourist. After all, in the past it was almost impossible to get to the Inca city. A narrow paved road led to it, running along terrifying abysses and cliffs. On one side of the village there was a drawbridge over the abyss, and on the other, south-eastern, not protected by steep cliffs, walls five meters high and a meter thick were built. And all the surrounding hills were equipped with watchtowers.
8. Golden Pavilion, Japan 
It is impossible not to notice the pavilion: it is completely covered in gold. Shining in the sunlight, the Golden Pavilion, or Kinkakuji, resembles a beautiful box made of precious stone. It was built in 1397 at the behest of Shogun Yoshimitsu, and here he spent the last years of his life, having lost all interest in the political life of the country.
But after the death of the shogun, in accordance with his wishes, his villa was converted into a temple. Each of the three floors is built in a different architectural style and is designed for different activities. The first (Hosuyin) is made in the Japanese Shinden-zukuri style, which was used mainly in the construction of palaces and houses of aristocrats. For the second floor (Chōonkaku), the architect chose the buke-zukuri (samurai style) style. And the upper, third, (Kukyocho) was built according to the harsh canons of Zen architecture. Thus, the shogun used the rooms on the lower floor as a reception hall for business negotiations. On the second floor, whose interior decor had a distinctly Chinese character, musical evenings and tea ceremonies were held. And the third floor of the pavilion, which consisted of only one room with sliding doors and bell-shaped windows, served as the shogun’s personal prayer room with the obligatory statues of Buddha and the bodhisattvas accompanying him for such rooms. The roof ridge of the pavilion was decorated with a gilded bronze phoenix.
But fate decreed that the Pavilion could not survive to this day: in 1950, a distraught monk set it on fire. True, five years later an exact copy of the Golden Pavilion was recreated at the site of the fire. In addition to the copy, tourists will be interested in looking at other originals for which Kyoto is famous: the Silver Pavilion, Kiyomizu Temples, the rock garden at Ryoanji Temple, the shogun's Nijo Castle or the old Gosho Imperial Palace.
9. Bimini: road to Atlantis
For many years, no one has been haunted by an unknown stone structure located right in the depths of the sea near the Bahamas. The famous American psychic Edgar Cayce predicted that the lost continent of Atlantis would make its presence known and appear in the Bahamas around 1968-1969. Indeed, in 1968, pilots managed to photograph amazing stone structures underwater near the Bahamas. Some claim to have even seen pyramids on the seabed, but one thing is certain - the semi-mystical structure exists and even has the name Bimini Road. It consists of two parallel tracks paved with stone slabs. The Bimini road is located at a depth of three to nine meters, but thanks to the perfectly clear water it is perfectly visible from the surface of the sea. The stone path is about 500 meters long and about 90 meters wide.
If romantics fully support the opinion of psychics, then skeptics are inclined to believe that Bimini is nothing more than the result of natural activity to create a bizarre image from the located rocks and reefs. Perhaps you should take a look for yourself at the mythical road that connects the real world with fiction?
10. Iceland 
Iceland was settled in the 9th century by Norwegian Vikings. The first city to be populated was Reykjavik, which to this day contains the largest part of the island's population. Reykjavik has a bustling nightlife, and during the day it captivates tourists with its architectural monuments and excursions to nearby rural areas: Thingvellir, Gullfoss, etc. For nature lovers, Iceland is a real find. People go there to see smoking volcanoes, geysers and waterfalls, colorful lava fields and glaciers, touch icebergs and see whales. Every word here echoes multiple times, and everywhere there is blue sky, water and ice, and in spring and summer there is an unimaginable amount of greenery and flowers. The only thing Iceland lacks is forests, which disappeared from the island after Norwegian deforestation and volcanic eruptions.
Tourism in Iceland thrives mainly in the summer, but there is plenty to see in winter too. Iceland, neighboring the island of Greenland, covers an area of 103 thousand square meters. km., 11.8 thousand sq. km. of which are covered by glaciers. Therefore, even in winter, a tourist will certainly find an interesting and useful activity on the island. For example, you can stay in Hofn, a town convenient for exploring the largest glacier in Iceland. But it would still be preferable to look into distant Hoffell, which is located directly at the very beginning of the glacier.
The stars are reflected and this place is made for romance. That’s right - here you need to enjoy each other, however, the glow is explained by the bioluminescence of plankton - chemical processes in its body, during which the released energy is released in the form of light. Luminous single-celled organisms trigger their illumination from movement in the water column.
2. Colored rocks of Zhangye Danxia in Gansu, China
There are only such beautiful rocks. Rock formations represent a unique type of petrographic geomorphology. In fact, colored rocks are nothing more than red sandstones and conglomerates of the Cretaceous period. The study shows that approximately 100 million years ago there was a huge inland basin. The water carried silt here. As a result of global high temperatures, the basin dried out and under these arid conditions the sediment oxidized and took on a rust color.
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3. End of the World swing in Banos, Ecuador
Deep in the wilds of Ecuador lies a seismic monitoring station. Its goal is to monitor the activity of the Tungurahua volcano, which awoke on August 19, 1999. Since then, climbing it has been prohibited, and it itself is under close scrutiny. The station is a small tree house. Which can already be considered a landmark, since it is located on the edge of a rather deep cliff. But of much greater interest are the swings that hang from the branches of the tree.
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4. Great Blue Hole in Belize, USA
The Great Blue Hole in Belize is a large blue hole located in the center of Lighthouse Reef, an atoll within the Belize Barrier Reef. It is a round karst sinkhole with a diameter of 305 m and a depth of 120 m. This geological formation was originally a system of limestone caves formed during the last ice age.
Based on the votes and ratings of readers of the prestigious magazine Condé Nast Traveler, a rating of the most attractive countries for tourism was compiled. Almost 130 thousand people took part in the survey, which is simply incredibly large. And the opinions of so many travelers can actually be trusted. So it's time to find out which countries you should travel to first.
Morocco
Morocco is a treasure trove full of spice markets, surreal landscapes, incredible mosques and world-class surfing spots. The local cuisine is unlike any other in the world, as it combines elements of Arab, African, Persian and French schools.
Canada
The country offers travelers a variety of experiences, from connecting with wildlife on Vancouver Island to staying overnight at the oldest Ritz-Carlton hotel in North America in Montreal. And sledding in Quebec is something everyone should try in the winter.
Japan
Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka are just the most interesting of the many places you should visit in Japan. This year, Kyoto, home to more than two thousand ancient temples, was voted the best city in the world.
Ireland
You can enjoy many different aspects of Ireland - from hotels set in former castles to bustling, world-famous Irish pubs. It is also recommended to rent a car and take the world's longest road trip along the Wild Atlantic Route.
Portugal
A small but respectable country neighboring Spain, it has its own distinct culture, cuisine and language. In summer, head towards the western village of Comporta to visit world-famous Ibiza. And, of course, no trip to Portugal would be complete without a glass of wine from the Douro subregion.
Mexico
Mexican cuisine has recently entered the ring with such giants as Spain and Italy. Over the past year, three restaurants located in Mexico City have been ranked among the top fifty in the world.
Netherlands
Travel to Amsterdam, Rotterdam and other impressive cities to visit incredible museums, taste incomparable coffee, and admire awe-inspiring scenery.
Sri Lanka
If you feel lost, this is the place that will help you find yourself again. Buy a ticket and board an old but sweet train that will take you into the unknown. Admire the scenery and buy pancakes and curry from the train vendors, but don't forget to get off for a closer look at the main attractions.
Vietnam
Celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain said his trip to Vietnam changed his life. He said that Vietnam was like a completely different planet that sucked him in and never let go. You can sip Vietnamese coffee and enjoy pho noodles all day long, or you can go down into the world's deepest cave.
South Africa
Cape Town was ranked sixth on this year's list of best cities. People are most drawn to Table Mountain and the local hotel resorts, but the rich vineyards and safaris are also worth a look.
India
The world's second most populous country has a huge variety of places to visit - from the sandy beaches of Goa to the ancient Buddhist caves of Ajanta. Northern Kashmir is often called the Switzerland of India - time slows down there and the winter resorts are simply magnificent.
Türkiye
Travel to Turkey to see magnificent mosques, magical castles, and natural wonders such as Pamukkale (cotton castle), made up of a series of travertines filled with mineral-rich water.
Thailand
Thailand will tempt you with incredible culture, exotic cuisine and utopian resorts, whether you decide to simply enjoy unfamiliar and outlandish cuisine, travel from island to island, or choose another way to relax. Recently, there has been a rise in the number of holistic health resorts where you can relax and get rid of illnesses.
New Zealand
This is the best place for adventure seekers. You can live in harsh conditions in a hut without electricity, soak in the healing waters of Maruya Springs, or hike through the volcanic lands of Tongariro National Park.
Australia
Melbourne was named the city with the highest standard of living this year, so taking a trip there is also a good idea. There you can find the Mornington Peninsula, with vineyards, beaches and its own food scene.
Greece
Athens is a city that also made it onto the list of top places you should see in 2015. In the midst of the financial crisis, museums, hotels and shops are thriving, fueling the capital's cultural renaissance. And the turquoise waters and salty wind of Mykonos will always attract travelers.
USA
Travelers to the United States are drawn to glittering cities, family-friendly theme parks and natural beauty.
Spain
Spain has been the epicenter of the world's cutting-edge cuisine for quite some time. It would be a good idea to plan your trip here, including visits to the most vibrant and famous restaurants. The best time to visit Spain is in April.
France
The country that gave people cabarets, champagne and hundreds of varieties of cheese is also one of the most romantic places on Earth. In the spring, traveling around this country will be simply exciting.
Italy
Who can resist the call of pasta and beautiful people? For five years in a row, Italy has been named the best country for tourism. And here you can have a great rest - drink wine, make friends with sociable locals, or swim in the sun on the beach.