Large cities of Russia are scattered throughout the vast territory of the country. Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan and a number of others are popular tourist destinations. Their sights cover different spheres and topics, so the most diverse travelers come here. The situation is more complicated with cities that do not have such a powerful tourism potential.
They are rescued by the point interest of guests who are ready to overcome great distances to see something specific. So Irkutsk attracts by its proximity to Baikal, and Yaroslavl with its architecture has become a key link in the Golden Ring. It relies on the three pillars and tourism of Tula: weapons, gingerbread and samovars. And each of the directions received a separate museum.
The largest cities in Russia
List, photo with the names and descriptions of the largest cities in terms of population.
Moscow
The city stands on the Moskva River. Red Square, the Kremlin, the Bolshoi Theater are known all over the world. Preserved and historical monuments of past centuries, such as the Tsar Cannon. The design of metro stations attracts tourists no less than architectural beauties, museums and sculptures. VDNKh is another significant place, which is adorned with the monumental composition "Worker and Collective Farm Woman".
Population - 12 692 466 people (2020)
Hotels on Booking.com: Moscow
St. Petersburg
In the past it was called Leningrad, and is also unofficially called "the city on the Neva". St. Petersburg is inextricably linked with the revolutionary movement, and its blockade during the Second World War - black pages of history. The most famous museums are the Hermitage and the Russian. The Bronze Horseman, Palace Square with the Winter Palace and the Peter and Paul Fortress are the most recognizable sights.
Population - 5 392 992 people (2020)
Novosibirsk
Cultural, educational and business center of Siberia. More than 10 studios and theaters have been created, the most famous of which is the Opera. Among the annual festivals, the Siberian Snow Sculpture Festival, held in winter, stands out. The zoo, 2 planetariums, the Museum of the Sun, the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the monument to Alexander III are the main attractions of the city.
Population - 1,618,039 people (2019)
Yekaterinburg
It is located on the banks of the Iset on the slope of the Middle Urals. Thanks to the holding of the 2018 FIFA World Cup matches here, the city's infrastructure was updated and a stadium was built. It is better for tourists not to ignore the Kharitonovsky Garden, the bell tower "Big Zlatoust", Sevastyanov's house, circus. The multifunctional Yeltsin Center plays a special role in the life of Yekaterinburg.
Population - 1 483 119 people (2019)
Nizhny Novgorod
Between 1932 and 1990 it was called Gorky. Founded at the confluence of the Volga and Oka. In terms of river tourism, Nizhny Novgorod is the most demanded destination. The historical part of the city is replete with monuments of architecture and history. The key object is the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin. The first private zoo in Russia "Limpopo" occupies almost 6 hectares and has about 1200 animals.
Population - 1 253 511 people (2019)
Kazan
The capital of Tatarstan. The local Kremlin is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. In connection with the celebration of the millennium of Kazan in 2005, the streets were decorated with monuments. The Aleksandrovsky Passage is a rare type of architecture for Russia. The majestic building of the Palace Square - the Palace of Landowners. Kazan is one of the top ten cities among the cities of the world that are rapidly developing in terms of tourism.
Population - 1 251 969 people (2019)
Hotels on Booking.com: Kazan
Chelyabinsk
Ural city, whose history began with the construction of a fortress in the first half of the 18th century. Now Chelyabinsk is one of the main industrial centers of the country. The pedestrian street Kirovka is rich in sights. There are "Zero Mile" and a monument to volunteer tankers. The Ferris wheel allows you to get acquainted with the city from a bird's eye view.
Population - 1 195 446 people (2020)
Omsk
It was formed at the confluence of the Om and Irtysh rivers. Most of the architectural monuments are in the historical part, and the left-bank territories are being formed only now. River transport is the oldest in the city. Several passenger routes are still relevant today. The central square and Lenin street are places for recreation and holding large events. Omsk is considered the theatrical city of Siberia.
Population - 1 164 815 people (2019)
Hotels on Booking.com: Omsk
Samara
Until 1991, the city was called Kuibyshev. The longest embankment in the country is located in Samara. And the building of the local railway station is the tallest in Europe. Religious objects related to 7 confessions have been built. The exterior of the streets is characterized by a mixture of architectural styles. There is a ski resort "Krasnaya Glinka" in the district.
Population - 1 156 644 people (2019)
Hotels on Booking.com: Samara
Rostov-on-Don
Founded by order of Empress Elizabeth, 46 km from the confluence of the Don into the Sea of Azov. The city has many popular names - "Gates of the Caucasus", "Rostov-papa", "Azov Liverpool". It is also called the port of the five seas. Rostov has its own zoo, circus and dolphinarium. The city's architectural monuments include apartment buildings, the Surb Khach church, Voroshilovsky bridge.
Population - 1 133 307 people (2019)
Ufa
The capital of Bashkortostan. The city stretches along the coast of the Belaya River. The oldest building is the 18th century house where Suvorov stayed. The symbol of the city is the monument to Salavat Yulaev, which is visible from different points of the area. There are more than 20 fountains in Ufa, some of them are decorated with sculptural compositions like "Seven Girls". Islam and Orthodoxy are represented by dozens of religious sites.
Population - 1 124 226 people (2019)
Hotels on Booking.com: Ufa
Krasnoyarsk
Divided by the Yenisei into two parts. The left bank is Western Siberia, the right bank is Eastern. The population is about a million people. Views of Krasnoyarsk - the chapel of Paraskeva Pyatnitsa - fell on a ten-ruble bill. The Stolby Reserve is in line to be included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The city received additional amenities and sports facilities as the venue for the Winter Universiade 2019.
Population - 1 095 286 people (2019)
Voronezh
The history of the city is connected with the creation of the navy by Peter I. The population is about a million people. There are both classical and unusual museums, including the ship-museum “Goto Predestination”, as well as 8 theaters, including the art project “Theater of Equals”. Main monuments: Peter I, Kitten from Lizyukov Street, White Bim. In the center of the city there is Admiralteyskaya Square, where concerts and festive events are held.
Population - 1 054 111 people (2019)
Hotels on Booking.com: Voronezh
Permian
Leader of the region in terms of industry, culture and trade. The population is one million people. It was in Perm that the first university in the Urals appeared. There are 13 museums, including PERMM, which displays objects of contemporary art, and a diorama museum - part of the memorial complex on Vyshka Mountain. Architectural monuments represent different styles: Gribushin's house is modern, Meshkov's house is Russian classicism.
Population - 1 053 938 people (2019)
Hotels on Booking.com: Perm
Volgograd
Previously it was named Tsaritsyn and Stalingrad. The population is over a million people. The city began to develop thanks to the Volga Sea Route, and is primarily associated with the main battle of the Great Patriotic War. Monument "Motherland Calls!" and Mamaev Kurgan are also known outside of Russia. The sights of the past, including the embankment and the Barmaley fountain, have been reconstructed and recreated.
Population - 1,013,468 people (2019)
Krasnodar
The capital of the main resort region of the country.The city stands on the Kuban River at almost equal distance from the Azov and Black Seas and on the "life line" - between the equator and the North Pole. Population - 899.5 thousand people. Around the stadium of the Krasnodar football club, a park has been created, impressive in size and beauty. Modern monuments are found everywhere: "Walking Dogs", "Guest", "Purse".
Population - 918 145 people (2019)
Saratov
It was founded as a security fortress on the borders of the state. The population is more than 844 thousand people. Tourists will enjoy an extensive cultural program during the visit: performances in theaters, concerts in the Philharmonic, excursions to the memorial museums of writers, walks along the streets among the architectural monuments of the 18th-early 20th centuries. And the Saratov-Engels bridge is a strategic object and a full-fledged landmark.
Population - 841 902 people (2019)
Hotels on Booking.com: Saratov
Tyumen
The first of the Russian cities founded in Siberia. The production of petroleum products is the main income item of the Tyumen budget. Architectural monuments - the People's House and the house of the merchant Ushakov. One of the most touching sculptures in the city is called Mama. The zoo has been operating since 2013, and since 2018 - the largest water park in the country. Its area is 130 thousand square meters.
Population - 788 667 people (2019)
Hotels on Booking.com: Tyumen
Tolyatti
Until 1964 it was called Stavropol. The largest city of those that are not the center of the subject of the Russian Federation. The city-forming enterprise is AvtoVAZ. On the opposite bank of the Volga, the Zhiguli Mountains are spread. Among the museums, the Technical Museum stands out, occupying an area of 38 hectares. The exposition includes real weapons of the First and Second World Warriors.
Population - 707 408 people (2018)
Izhevsk
The capital of Udmurtia is famous for its defense industry. There are about 10 theaters and theater studios, a philharmonic society, a circus. The arsenal room of the arms factory was converted into the National Museum of the Republic. The oldest park is the Summer Garden, named after Maxim Gorky. There are annual festivals and other major musical events associated with Tchaikovsky, who was born in Udmurtia.
Population - 648 944 people (2019)
Hotels on Booking.com: Izhevsk
Ulyanovsk
It was originally a fortress called Sinbirsk. The most famous native of the city is Vladimir Lenin. An extensive museum-reserve and a memorial museum in honor of the leader of the world proletariat have been created in Ulyanovsk. There are dozens of Orthodox churches and mosques, and other confessions are also represented. Unusual monuments - "Oblomov's Divan", monuments to the letter "E" and the stone simbircite.
Population - 627 870 people (2019)
Irkutsk
One of the oldest cities in Siberia. The proximity of Lake Baikal attracts tourists. The peak of visits to the area is summer-early autumn. There are only 6 cities in Russia with cultural and historical heritage comparable to Irkutsk. Some areas are not allowed to change. The total number of architectural and sculptural monuments is over 600.
Population - 623 479 people (2019)
Hotels on Booking.com: Irkutsk
Khabarovsk
The history of the city began on the Amur cliff, where pioneers set up a camp. Local ponds, which were once ravines, and now have become a picturesque resting place, will tell the best about the improvement of the urban environment. Since 2005, the Amur Fish Museum-Aquarium has been operating. An excursion through its halls is informative and entertaining. The Khabarovsk Bridge, part of the Trans-Siberian Railway, was built across the Amur.
Population - 617 473 people (2019)
Yaroslavl
One of the oldest Russian cities is an important part of the Golden Ring. The historic center of the city is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The river port is actively used. The architecture of the city - over 800 objects - is the main reason for tourists to come. "The Word about Igor's Regiment" was found in the local Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery.
Population - 609 828 people (2019)
Makhachkala
The capital of Dagestan. Has potential for development as a seaside and balneological resort. Main attractions: Juma Mosque, National Museum, monument to the "Russian Teacher", Tarki-Tau Upland. Dune Sarykum can be found a few kilometers from the city. This is a desert island miraculously appeared in a mountainous area.
Population - 601,286 people (2019)
Tomsk
It was founded by order of Boris Godunov. The population is almost 523 thousand people. Tomsk is known for its universities, research institutes and the development of innovative sites. Industry had a negative impact on the ecology of the area. 10 theaters, a philharmonic society and museums, including local history, art and wooden architecture, are responsible for the cultural program of the city. Interesting monuments - Happiness, Ruble, Slippers.
Population - 575 352 people (2019)
Hotels on Booking.com: Tomsk
Orenburg
For almost 20 years, until 1957, it was named Chkalov. The first association with the city is the Orenburg downy shawl. The best examples are on display at the gallery of the same name. A pedestrian bridge has been built across the Ural River. A sign was installed on it - a conditional border between Europe and Asia. Other beauties of the city: caravanserai, water tower, grand hotel, Nikolsky Cathedral.
Population - 571 449 people (2019)
Kemerovo
Part of Kuzbass, located on the banks of the Iskitimka and Tom. Coal industry enterprises are the basis for the development of the city. The Cosmonautics Museum is named after Alexei Leonov, a native of the region. The natural complex Sosnovy Bor is a corner of a wild forest in the immediate vicinity of residential buildings. Notable religious sites: the Munira Mosque and the Cathedral of the Sign Cathedral.
Population - 558 662 people (2019)
Novokuznetsk
The largest city of Kuzbass by area. Metallurgy and coal mining are the backbone of the economy. The specificity of production makes the ecological situation in the region deplorable. Cultural heritage sites of federal significance include the house where Fyodor Dostoevsky lived, the Kuznetsk Fortress museum, the pantheon-grave of Mikhail Kurako, some buildings and structures of the KMK complex.
Population - 552 105 people (2019)
Ryazan
A tourist cluster was created on the basis of the city. It includes recreation centers, more than 103 hectares of specially protected natural areas, the reconstructed Ryazan Kremlin, yacht clubs on the outskirts. The city has several museums that are rare on the subject: the history of the airborne troops, gingerbread, Ryazan candy. Not far from Ryazan there is the Sergei Yesenin Museum-Reserve.
Population - 540,069 people (2019)
Hotels on Booking.com: Ryazan
Naberezhnye Chelny
The Tatar city is located on the coast of the Nizhnekamsk reservoir. The rapid growth of Naberezhnye Chelny was associated with the construction of a factory complex for the production of KamAZ. There is a port, motor ships ply. Orientation in the city is noteworthy: the names of the streets are not important here. The territory is divided into complexes with serial numbers assigned to them.
Population - 533 907 people (2019)
Penza
Located in a hilly area. Several rivers flow through the city. The biggest is Sura. Among the 5 theaters of the city, there was a place for a puppet show. In 1939, the Philharmonic opened its doors to the audience. Since Meyerhold was born in Penza, a museum and a theater arts center were created in honor of the theater director. A children's railway has been operating since 1985.
Population - 522 317 people (2019)
Hotels on Booking.com: Penza
Kirov
It stands on the Vyatka River and bore a similar name in the past. There are 35 federal monuments in the city. Under Kotelnich, they continue to find unique archaeological exhibits - dinosaur bones. In the Trifonov Monastery, the longest regular religious procession in Russia begins and ends. Tourists are attracted by local crafts - Dymkovo toy and Vyatka lace.
Population - 512 954 people (2019)
Hotels on Booking.com: Kirov
Lipetsk
It is considered a city of metallurgists in the Black Earth Region. The main square of the city is Cathedral. It is surrounded by architectural and historical sights: the House of Soviets, the Nativity of Christ Cathedral, a monument to Lenin, a parish school. The exposition of the Plekhanov Museum is located in the house where the theoretician of Marxism lived. Several parks have been laid out, including Nizhny - the largest in Lipetsk and Bykhanov garden.
Population - 509 420 people (2019)
Hotels on Booking.com: Lipetsk
Tula
A city with rich tourism potential. Associated with weapons, gingerbread and samovars. Each of these directions received a museum. 14 km from Tula there is "Yasnaya Polyana" - Leo Tolstoy's noble nest, which has become a memorial and natural reserve. Another iconic landmark, Kulikovo Pole, where a museum of the battle has been created, is located about 2 hours away.
Population - 482 873 people (2018)
Hotels on Booking.com: Tula
