Xceltrip

Krakow , Poland…this is a city that deserves to be on every traveler’s must-see list. It’s a lot like Prague, only with fewer tourists and cheaper prices. With its large market square, colorful streets, historic sites, and abundance of amazing, budget friendly restaurants, Krakow is a favorite stop for many people on their tour through Poland. Wieliczka Salt Mine Some 14km southeast of Kraków, the Wieliczka (vyeh-leech-kah) salt mine has been welcoming tourists since 1722 and today is one of Poland's most popular attractions. It's a subterranean labyrinth of tunnels and chambers – about 300km distributed over nine levels, the deepest being 327m underground – of which a small part is open to the public via two-hour guided tours.  Wawel Royal Castle As the political and cultural heart of Poland through the 16th century, Wawel Royal Castle is a potent symbol of national identity. It's now a museum containing five separate sections: Crown Treasury and Armo...

There are certain books that are always on lists of “books you must read” and the like, and these books are generally two things: old and complex. After all, this week’s hot new bestseller is often an easy read for the simple reason that it’s part of the current zeitgeist — you don’t have to work very hard to get the references and understand the relationships more or less intuitively. Even the most ambitious books on the store shelves right now are easy enough to "get" because there are familiar aspects to the style and ideas, the sort of subtle stuff that marks something as fresh and current. Here are 6 Russian Classics that you must read before your trip to Russia, they are sure to give you a feel for their culture, traditions and somewhere along the way they may impact your life, positively too. "The Brothers Karamazov," by Fyodor Dostoevsky The argument over which novel is Dostoevsky’s greatest can stretch out to insane lengths, but "The Broth...

The city of Rostov-on-Don lies all along the banks of the Don river. It is a beautiful place to wander around; there are many green spaces, and during the summertime, you can bask in the sun or go on a relaxing boat ride down the river, a glass of wine in hand. Walk along Pushkin Street Pushkin Street is the main promenade in the downtown city area. The street, named after Alexander Pushkin, is full of cafés, bars, restaurants and historical statues, along with beautiful flowers and trees; it’s an ideal place to spend a relaxing weekend. Don State Public Library, located in a unique modern building and one of the biggest libraries outside of Moscow, also sits on Pushkin Street. The embankment Take a walk on the embankment by the slow-flowing Don river. Street performers entertain and provide activities for the public during the summer months, and many people opt to take a boat ride on the water. You can even get on a disco boat here and dance the...

A seaside city in the Russian Southern Federal District, Sochi ’s popularity is increasing day by day. In recent years, a genuine economic, cultural, artistic and architectural revolution has taken place in this Olympic city. Stalin’s Villa (Dacha) Stalin’s big dacha is open to the public. He used to visit this place quite often and usually held meetings with political leaders of the period. An opportunity to rent a room is provided to visitors, so they can experience the true spirit of Russian communism of the past. Downstairs there’s a small museum displaying Stalin’s waxwork and personal belongings. Ritsa Lake This lake is simply huge and absolutely breathtaking. Ritsa is surrounded by green hills and beautiful plants. You will have an opportunity to pass through small waterfalls and walk along the banks to enjoy the scenic views. The lake is located around 950 metres above sea level and provides visitors the best spots for taking photos. The Singing Fountains ...

Volgograd is a significant tourist destination in southern Russia . Every year thousands of Russians and foreign guests come here to take a closer look at the city sights, the majority of which are intrinsically connected to World War II. Volgograd is a large industrial center in the Volga Region. Volgograd stretches 100 kilometers along the Volga’s right bank, and has a population of more than 1 million people. The city is constantly growing and developing, yet one thing remains unchanged – its astonishing places visited by thousands of tourists every year. Visit Mamayev Kurgan This is the most massive memorial complex in Russia, and is dedicated to World War II heroes. During the Battle of Stalingrad heavy fighting lasted here for 200 days. About 35 thousand warriors lie buried at Mamayev Kurgan. This monument’s architects wanted to show how enormous the significance of the Battle of Stalingrad is to Russian people. Here it is impossible not to be imbued wi...

After the world-famous St Petersburg and Moscow,  Novosibirsk is Russia‘s third most important city. Off limits to foreigners during Soviet times, this beautifully historic town is only just being discovered by outsiders and its unspoiled nature makes Novosibirsk the ideal place to gain a true and authentic taste of Russia. The State Art Museum Novosibirsk’s Art Museum is one of the most extensive art galleries in the whole of Siberia. This cultural capital of the Siberian region houses everything from sculpture, to ancient local crafts, to fine paintings, to exquisite Russian Orthodox icons, to the most cutting edge of Russia’s modern art, and with over 10,000 exhibits, there’ll be no end of masterpieces to explore. The immense, grey art deco building is one of the city’s most striking sights and a must-visit for any art buffs travelling the Siberian region. The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral Completed...

Located about 400km east of Moscow,  Nizhny Novgorod is one of the most important centres of cultural, economic, and political activity in European Russia. Widely considered, after St Petersburg and Moscow, to be Russia’s ‘third city’, Nizhny is fast becoming a hot-spot for Russian and global tourists alike, attracted by the city’s up-and-coming reputation and stunning landscape. Nizhny Novgorod’s cablecar Completed in 2012, taking a ride on Nizhny Novgorod’s cablecar has fast become a favorite activity of tourists. The trip offers unparalleled opportunities to view the city’s gorgeous natural landscape from this bird’s eye position. The 3660m long gondola lift connects Nizhny to the town of Bor and stretches across the Volga River for 900 panoramic meters. The gondola acts as both a convenient means of transportation and a fantastic sight-seeing expedition – come at sunset for a golden-bathed view of the river and surrounding landscape....

As a modern city seeped in historical significance,  Yekaterinburg in Russia has a feast of sights to discover. From ornate architecture through to monuments of respect and fandom, explore the best the city has to offer with our top twenty picks of unmissable buildings, statues and sights. Keyboard Monument Along the Iset River embankment is a piece of public art that pays tribute to technology and computers. Created in October 2005 by artist Anatoly Vyatkin, the Keyboard Monument consists of around 100 stone blocks, each weighing over 50kg each, positioned to look like an oversized QWERTY keyboard. Designed on a 30:1 scale, the sculpture stretches across 16 metres (53 feet). The locals say if you want to reboot your life step on Ctrl, Alt, Del. The Pelmeni Club The Pelmeni Club is a cheap and cheerful experience in Russian cuisine. The small and cozy restaurant offers a wide range of sweet and savoury Russian sty...

Kazan , a city deriving its name from the Tatar word for cooking pot, is true to its name. Over a hundred years older than Moscow, a genuine stew of both Tatar and Slavic cultures makes the capital of the Tatarstan Republic a treasure to explore. Here are 10 recommendations for what to do in Kazan that will ensure you get the most out of the city. Hermitage-Kazan Center Lesser-known than its sibling museum in St. Petersburg, the Hermitage Kazan is still a must-visit for art lovers. Many exhibitions comprehensively showcase both Russian and international art across artistic periods and mediums. Housed in a former Junker school, the building’s architecture dates back to the early 19th century and the elegant interiors are eye-catching works of art in themselves. Kazan Kremlin World Heritage-listed, the Kazan Kremlin is the only surviving Tatar fortress in Russia, parts of it dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries. Built at the request of...

St. Petersburg has a true wealth of attractions and experiences to offer travellers, from spectacular Imperial palaces to quirky and absorbing museums, from boat trips along the city's majestic rivers and canals to walks in the footsteps of St. Petersburg's literary and artistic greats.  In fact, there's more than enough to see and do in St. Petersburg to keep visitors entertained for weeks or even months. One of the biggest challenges for independent travellers is to work out what they will actually have time to fit in to their itinerary, particularly as St. Petersburg is one of Europe's largest cities, with the historical centre alone covering several square kilometres and some of the most famous attractions located far out in the suburbs. To help you get the most out of your time in St. Petersburg, our travel writers have drawn on their own expertise and years of feedback from travellers to compile this Top 20 list of attractions and experien...