Two capitals of Russia: Moscow and St.Petersburg

St. Petersburg and Moscow are the two capitals of Russia. The largest number of historical attractions is concentrated there, as well as two international airports, through which the majority of tourists from abroad come to Russia. For Russian tourists, these cities are also the main destinations.

Moscow was founded in 1147 and became the capital that united the scattered principalities around it in the era of feudal fragmentation. Tsar Peter I in 1703 founded a new city – St. Petersburg, which immediately made the new capital of the Russian Empire. In 1918, after the October Revolution, the Bolsheviks moved the capital back to Moscow.

Usually, the route through the two capitals of Russia starts in Moscow. On the first day, plan only to visit the historic center of the city, which was included in the UNESCO Cultural Heritage List in 1990. Start your tour from Red Square. After that, be sure to visit the Moscow Kremlin. On other days, you will plan to visit the Tretyakov Gallery and the Pushkin Museum. You need to plan about 2 more days for visiting other attractions.

The route through St. Petersburg should start from the historical center of the city in the area of the Russian Museum. Here you will see the Cathedral of the Savior on Spilled Blood, which is a masterpiece of Byzantine mosaic technique. Near the Russian Museum there is an Engineering Castle, a Marble palace, a Summer garden and many other attractions. The most interesting sights are located on the banks of the Neva River near the Palace Square: the Hermitage, the Admiralty, St. Isaac's Cathedral and many others.

It is very important to visit the imperial palaces, which are located in the southern suburbs of St. Petersburg. The minimum: Peterhof Palace, Catherine Palace in Tsarskoye Selo, Pavlovsk Palace. If you have time, you can also visit the Gatchina Palace, the Konstantinovsky Palace and the Oranienbaum