10 most ROMANTIC places in Russia (PHOTOS)
In these places, you can not only celebrate Valentine’s Day, but also enjoy the perfect date every day.
1. St. Petersburg – Venice of the North
This is, without exaggeration, Russia’s most romantic city. Its vast city center feels like a movie set for a love story. The sheer number of magnificent palaces, bridges and courtyards can hardly be found anywhere else outside of Venice. And, during the White Nights, when it stays light until morning, you can stroll all night long and listen to street musicians along the banks of its many rivers and canals.
2. Moscow – Luxurious romance
In this city, you can plan a grand date. Dine at an upscale restaurant (check our list of the best), enjoy an evening at the Bolshoi Theater with champagne or pop the question atop one of the skyscrapers in the Moscow City business district.
3. Nizhny Novgorod – Perfect sunsets
This city is known as the ‘sunset capital’. With a view of the confluence of the Volga and Oka rivers, you can watch the sun go down while savoring gourmet delights on the restaurant-lined Rozhdestvenskaya Street or the Verkhnevolzhskaya Embankment (And it’s just 3.5 hours by train from Moscow!).
4. Kazan – A fairytale with an oriental flavor
In this city, you can spend a magical evening with an Eastern flair. Stroll along the Kremlin Embankment, dine on the pedestrian Bauman Street, with its wide array of eateries, or even get married at the luxurious Kazan Family Center – foreigners are welcome (Just remember to apply a month in advance)!
5. Suzdal – Cozy retro charm
This ‘gingerbread’ town has long been a tourist hotspot, but it hasn’t lost its cozy charm. You can escape prying eyes while wandering its narrow lanes or take a horse-drawn carriage ride, just like in the old days!
6. Plyos – A burst of fall colors
Like Suzdal, this town is part of Russia’s famous ‘Golden Ring’ and captivates visitors with its natural beauty. It’s no wonder many artists have flocked there to paint its stunning landscapes. It’s beautiful year-round, but especially in fall. In Plyos, you should wander and admire the views of hills and the Volga River and pop into its cozy churches, cafes and museums!
7. Sochi – A combo of mountains & sea
If you want to surprise your special one, this is the right place! You can wake up with a sea view and have lunch or dinner overlooking the mountains or vice versa. Or, for an adrenaline rush that’ll bring you closer, head to the ‘Sky-Park’ and try bungee jumping over a cliff!
8. Kaliningrad – Get lost in the dancing forest
This city and its suburbs are perfect for leisurely walks and exploring Catholic cathedrals and old Prussian streets. Afterward, head to the Curonian Spit, an incredible natural area dotted with uniquely twisted pine trees.
9. Crimea – Run through fields of flowers
The picturesque peninsula boasts palaces, gardens, parks, wild beaches and luxury hotels. To trace ancient history and wander among Greek columns, visit Chersonesus; for contemporary land art, check out the ‘Tavrida’ art cluster in Sudak. And, in summer, the lavender fields bloom, offering unforgettable photo shoots against vibrant purple backdrops!
10. Long-distance train trip – The romance of the journey
Watching the landscape shift and the Russian forests roll by to the rhythm of the train wheels… Now, that’s romantic! Book a two-person sleeper cabin and just the two of you can travel for a night, a day… or even seven days from Moscow to Vladivostok!
