Rusia is the host country for the 2018 World Cup, from the 14th of June to the 15th of July. Eleven cities have been chosen to host the 64 matches that are being played: Yekaterinburg, Kaliningrad, Kazan, Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, Rostov-on-Don, St. Petersburg, Samara, Saransk, Sochi and Volgograd.
Apart from the stadiums and watching football, there are many other things to do in Russia.That is why, at Fit 2 Trip we have prepared a mini guide about Russia so you can make the most of your trip.
Moscow
Moscow is the capital of Russia and one of the most culturally rich cities. In Moscow you can visit the Kremlin, the Red Square or the Cathedral of St. Basil. There are also many museums such as the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, the State History Museum or even the Vodka Museum. The Bolshoi Theater or GUM, the largest and most luxurious shopping center in the country are other places you can visit in the capital, as well as the Moscow metro, where each station has its own style, being Komsomolskaya and Slavyansky among the nicest ones.
St. Petersburg
It is the second most important city in Russia and was founded by Peter the Great, where its name come from, with the aim of making the competition to the best European capitals. Here you can visit the Hermitage Museum; the colorful Church of the Savior on the Blood; the Peterhof Palace, often compared to the Palace of Versailles in France; or the Kazan Cathedral, easily recognizable by its 96 columns.
Sochi
It is one of the vacation spots preferred by Russians, due to its large size. It is surrounded by the Caucasus Mountains and stretches for 147 km along the Black Sea coast. In Sochi you can walk along the extensive beaches, visit the Drendari Park and the Riviera Park, or take a healing bath in the mineral lagoons.
Yekaterinburg
Yekaterinburg is a relatively young city, where the murder of Tsar Nicholas II and his family took place, thus ending the era of the tsars and giving rise to the following years of communism. Some interesting points to visit here are the Cathedral of the Spilled Blood; the City Hall; the Church of Alexander Nevski and the Church of the Ascension; or the 1905 square, one of the most central and atmospheric points of the city.
Kazan
Kazan is a quiet and relaxed city that rests on the banks of the Volga River. It stands out for its multi-ethnic and multi-religious environment. Here you can visit the Kremlin of Kazan, the Kul Sharif mosque or the Stepped Tower Siuyumbike. You can also walk along Baumana Street, through the Bolaq Canal and the Teatro Square, or visit the Cathedral of the Epiphany.
Kaliningrad
It is a separate territory of the country, which borders Lithuania and Poland and has privileged access to the Baltic Sea. The old Lutheran cathedral and its surroundings have been refurbished and are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Finally, you can not leave Russia without trying some of the most typical dishes of the country: Pelmeni, a roll of meat or chicken and hard-boiled egg; Shashlyk, a dish prepared with meat and onions; Kotleta po–kievski or “Chicken Kiev“; or one of the most typical soups, for example, Borsch, Uja or Shchi. For dessert, Tulski prianik or Ptichie moloko are good options.
Remeber that at Fit 2 Trip we offer travel insurance for different types of trips and groups of people: families, couples, individual travelers and people with pre-existing medical conditions such as asthma, cancer, heart disease and others. You can choose between single health insurance policies or multi-risk policies, in addition to the basic, standard or premium coverage level.