Tours by train and bus to Europe. Secrets of budget travel in Europe by train. Option "Capital of Europe"

2-seater - hotel accommodation in a double room, 1-seater - hotel accommodation in a single room.

Railway tours - what is it?

In tourism, it is customary to divide sightseeing tours into bus and rail. Rarely use the name "walking tours", usually they say "walking tours". "Air Tours" talks about tours abroad. Yes, even tours with such long journeys as to Baikal and Kamchatka, but in Russia, are usually called railway tours.

If you need to travel by train to participate in the tour, the tour will be by train. Even if after the train you change to a bus, the tour will still be a train tour. There are tours where one way you go by bus, and return back by train, the tour is also a railway one. In short, if you buy at least one train ticket, the tour will be a train ticket.

The advantage of rail tours

On train tours, we can go much longer than on a bus.
During the trip, you can get up, walk, stretch your legs. It is strictly forbidden to walk on the bus while driving.
There is more space in the carriage, whether it is seated or with sleeping places, you can lie down, drink tea, eat something on the way.
Traveling on a train with a night crossing is more comfortable than on a bus, if, of course, you take a ticket in a carriage with sleeping places.

And there are no traffic jams for the train!

When is the best time to buy train tours?

The earlier the better. There are 2 limiting factors: the seats on the tour and the availability of train tickets. Tickets start selling 60 days before the travel date. But by this time the places on the tour may run out. Therefore, it is better to buy a tour first, and then wait until the ticket sale opens.

How do I buy a train ticket for a tour?

It is best to buy a train ticket on the official website of Russian Railways
www.rzd.ru

There are no extra charges for tickets, and you can choose a seat in the carriage.

Or buy it at the railway station (it doesn't matter which one). Only at train stations will train tickets be free of charge. In all ticket offices of the city and companies, tickets will be already with a surcharge.

What if there are no train tickets?

This usually happens when you buy a tour for peak dates a short time before the start of the tour.

There is an exit.

• If you have time, you can book an extra day before or after the tour. That is, tickets for the day after the holidays or the day before the holidays are always easier to get.
• Many cities can be reached by regular buses.

Railway tours: from the past to the future

The modern world is so fast and noisy. We are forced to live, observing the conditions that he dictates to us. We are constantly in a hurry somewhere, all the time thinking about something that we cannot even afford to relax during our rest and breathe in the fresh air of absolute freedom.

Often, going on a trip, we rush to the airport to buy plane tickets, because this is the fastest way to get to our destination in order to quickly plunge into the warm sea or visit interesting places abroad. Thus, we simply isolate ourselves from the beauty of a huge space, rich in charming places and interesting things. We hide all this from ourselves under the thick clouds of the boundless sky, not trying to simply dissolve in time, forget about it and plunge into serenity.

Have you tried at least once just to forget about the rush, problems, hectic and go on a leisurely journey to the sound of the train wheels? Just imagine: you are lying on the top shelf of a reserved seat carriage, listening to the world around you, looking out the window, behind which are familiar and unfamiliar landscapes floating. First, a picture of small villages and settlements opens before your eyes, followed by endless golden or snow-covered fields, then powerful cities flickering with bright lights, which are replaced by extraordinary colorful rural landscapes. All this unforgettable view from the window, picturesque landscapes, the aromas of mown grass, the lulling swaying of the carriage, your favorite book, delicious hot tea and the rhythmic sound of the train wheels evoke romantic feelings, create some kind of extraordinary harmony of serenity and an amazing feeling that an incredible contemplative a journey that will give a lot of positive emotions and precious memories.

Going on a sightseeing tour by train, we have time to reflect on our life, soul and emotions. The hope is reborn that we are about to enjoy a pleasant and exciting journey that will turn into a real unforgettable fairy tale. It is hard to disagree that all this cannot be felt while sitting in an airplane seat, looking out the small window of the porthole.

High-flown words, of course, are designed for incorrigible romantics who like to relax not only in body, but also in soul. But those who are pragmatists by their nature, can also easily identify for themselves all the positive aspects of train sightseeing tours:

• This is an opportunity to significantly save money, because train tickets are several times cheaper than plane tickets. And if you plan your trip in advance, then its cost will be reduced by another half - you will have a benefit equal to almost 50% - the rate of early sales of train tickets.
• Railway sightseeing tours are comfortable and very convenient. Modern trains are equipped with everything necessary for a person to feel good and comfortable. They provide not only various amenities and courteous service of the conductors, they even have the Internet and television, there are air conditioners, heaters - you can go on a trip in any weather and at any time of the year.

It should be noted that train sightseeing tours are fashionable and modern. Already in many advanced European countries, people have long preferred rail travel instead of water or air travel. After all, resting in a compartment of a modern carriage is no less comfortable than in the cabin of a liner.

If you look at railway voyages through the eyes of an inveterate pragmatist who appreciates every minute of his time, then the train will lose to the plane in all respects. Traveling by train will not save you time, and you will have to devote most of the trip to passive observation through the window and reading. But there are, of course, pleasant moments: thanks to railway tours, horizons will expand for you and unprecedented secrets of nature will open for you, you will experience the most beautiful corners of the planet and get acquainted with life in large cities and tiny villages.

In recent years, sightseeing tours by train have become incredibly popular, and there are more and more people who want to master the geographic space of our planet using railways. This is partly due to the variety of proposals. Rail tours cover a variety of directions: travels in Russia and the CIS countries, European voyages and Baltic programs, and even exotic routes - China and Mongolia.

Railway tours in Russia

Depending on the time you have, you can go on short two-three-day train tours or choose a program for 10-14 days. Tours around the cities of the Golden Ring on a retro train are very popular, in which you will visit Vladimir and Suzdal in 2 days, and then have time to walk around Kostroma and Yaroslavl.

An excellent opportunity to get to know our vast country is given to tourists by a cruise on the Golden Eagle train: in two weeks on the way, you will change 10 time zones and cover more than 9 thousand km! The train departs from Moscow, passes through Murom, Arzamas, Ufa, Chelyabinsk, Omsk and ends its "marathon" in Vladivostok.

Traveling by train, you can enjoy the beauty of the cities of the Volga region, Kazan, Pskov, Veliky Novgorod, St. Petersburg and many other Russian cities.

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European routes

The main feature of European railway tours is the ability to visit several countries at once in one trip: trains from Russia to Europe usually pass through the territory of transit countries. Some programs involve stopping in these countries for one or two days (you will be offered sightseeing tours or free time), in others you can see unfamiliar cities only from the train window.

The Old World has a well-developed railway connection, thanks to which almost all European countries are open to you. Several direct trains run from Russia to Europe, for example, train number 23 "Moscow - Berlin", train number 21 "Moscow - Prague", train number 17/18 "Moscow - Nice". In addition, there are many combined sightseeing tours with a transfer in Brest by bus (tourists get to Brest by train).

Going on a train tour of Europe, get ready for the fact that there will be no time to get bored: usually such programs are very rich and include sightseeing walking and bus tours, visits to museums and art galleries, trips to famous castles and walks in exquisite parks.

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By train to exotic countries

Railroad tours to the East are a real boon for sophisticated tourists. You can try to comprehend the soul of Asia by going by rail to China. There are as many as three direct trains from Russia to the Middle Kingdom, which reach the terminal station in 130-145 hours. Tour operators offer several excursion routes, which include the sights of Beijing, Harbin, Udalyanchi and other cities.

In addition, such tours have been developed, during which you also travel around China by train.

Top destinations for train travel

All articles about railway tours on "Subtleties"

• In Russia: from Moscow and from St. Petersburg, to the Northern capital, to Anapa, to Kazan, to the Black Sea
• Austria Vienna

Closest tour date: On request for organized groups.

The excursion will acquaint schoolchildren with the main stages of the great battle - the Patriotic War of 1812. Young participants of the tour will visit the Borodino field, an exposition where the personal belongings of soldiers and Kutuzov are presented, and also get acquainted with the peasant life of the military-historical settlement of Doronino.

A unique tour that involves 2 types of transport: rail and water. The first part of the excursion will be devoted to the Finland Station, which saved many lives during the siege of Leningrad. The second will introduce you to the history of the ancient fortress Oreshek, which can only be reached by water, on a high-speed boat, from which wonderful views of Lake Ladoga and Walnut Island open.

One day tour. Travel on a real steam locomotive along the first Russian railway from the platform of the Vitebsk railway station to the station "Tsarskoe Selo" with a visit to all known Pushkin places, namely the Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum and Kitaev's dacha.

Russia is a country in two parts of the world, a state whose territory covers the sandy Baltic Spit and the rocky islands of Chukotka, stretching from the northern arctic latitudes to the subtropics. Russia has an unimaginable wealth - cultural and historical heritage, protected forests and untouched spaces. Elegant streets of St. Petersburg and architectural monuments of Kaliningrad compete with the architecture of ancient cities - multi-domed churches and merchant houses, and the beaches of the Black Sea coast compete with the northern forests of Karelia and the ridges of the Ural Mountains.

Geography

Russia is the largest country on the planet in terms of area, occupying 17.1 million square kilometers. The state is located in Eurasia and covers both parts of the continent. About a third of Russia's territory is located in Eastern Europe, and the rest of it belongs to northern Asia. The Russian coast is washed by the waters of 12 seas belonging to the basins of the Arctic, Atlantic and Pacific oceans, by the waters of the endless Caspian Sea.

Russia lies on large platforms, so its relief is predominantly flat. In the west of the country stretched the undulating Central Russian plain, separated by the ridge of the Ural mountains from the Siberian plateau. In the south of Russia there are the Caucasus mountain systems with the highest point of the country - Mount Elbrus, Sayan and Altai. In the Far East, the peaks of extinct and active volcanoes rush upward.

There are about 2.5 million rivers and 3 million lakes in Russia. Most of the rivers have a flat character, but in Russia there are also rough mountain rivers with rocky rapids. The largest rivers in the country are the Ob, Lena, Irtysh, Yenisei and Volga. Lake District of Russia - Karelia, here are the largest lakes in Europe - Ladoga and Onega, in Eastern Siberia is the deepest lake on the planet - Baikal.

The flora of Russia is velvet mosses and lichens in the taiga tundra, coniferous forests encircling glacial lakes in Karelia, oak forests and birch groves, feather grass and fescue steppes, broad-leaved Far Eastern forests, subtropical flora on the Black Sea coast. In Russia, nature protection zones have been created, 42 national parks and 71 nature reserves operate.

Climate

The territory of Russia covers several climatic zones: arctic and subarctic on the shores of the Arctic Ocean and in the northern regions, temperate, subtropical on the Black Sea coast. However, most of the country is characterized by a temperate climate: continental, temperate continental, sharply continental and monsoon in the Far East.

In general, Russia has a long, snowy and cold winter. Depending on the region, the average January temperatures range from 6 to -50 ° C. Summer in most of Russia is moderately warm with an average temperature of 1 ° C in the northern regions to 25 ° C on the Black Sea coast.

Time

The territory of Russia covers 11 time zones:

Kaliningrad Time - MSK − 1 (UTC + 2)
Moscow time - MSK (UTC + 3)
Samara Time - MSK + 1 (UTC + 4)
Yekaterinburg Time - MSK + 2 (UTC + 5)
Omsk time - MSK + 3 (UTC + 6)
Krasnoyarsk time - MSK + 4 (UTC + 7)
Irkutsk Time - MSK + 5 (UTC + 8)
Yakutsk Time - MSK + 6 (UTC + 9)
Vladivostok Time - MSK + 7 (UTC + 10)
Srednekolymskoe time - MSK + 8 (UTC + 11)
Kamchatka time - MSK + 9 (UTC + 12)

Language

Official language of Russia: Russian. The subjects of the Russian Federation have the right to establish state and official languages \u200b\u200bused on an equal basis with Russian. The most common foreign languages \u200b\u200bin Russia are Ukrainian, Belarusian and German. English is widely spoken in the field of business and tourism, as a means of interethnic communication, mainly in large cities.

Population

The population of Russia is 142 million. About 80% of the population is Russian. In total, representatives of more than 200 nationalities and ethnic groups live in the country.

Currency

Official currency: ruble (RUB).

Customs regulations

Undeclared import and export of currency is limited to an amount equivalent to 10000USD. The duty-free import of goods for personal consumption is limited - alcohol and cigarettes: liters of alcohol, up to 50 cigars or cigarillos, or 200 cigarettes, or 250 grams of tobacco, as well as goods and personal items: clothes, toiletries, jewelry, photographic and film equipment ...

Jewelry, artistic and cultural values, works of art, psychotropic and potent medicinal substances, ammunition and weapons are subject to mandatory declaration.

Communication

In Russia, more than a hundred operators provide cellular services, the largest of which is the so-called "Big Three" - mobile operators MTS, Megafon and Beeline. The rest of the companies have a significantly smaller number of clients and provide services in certain regions. SIM cards of the "Big Three" operators can be purchased everywhere - in shops, cell phone stores, post offices.

The telephone code of Russia is +7.

To call Russia by mobile phone, dial + 7-subscriber's number ***

Mains voltage

The mains voltage is 220 volts.

Tourism

In Russia there are opportunities for any kind of tourism. The rich historical heritage has served to create excursion routes and educational tours, the long Black Sea coast is a traditional region of beach and active recreation, the ski resorts of Russia are rapidly developing. One of the main types of tourism in the country is health tourism. Over the centuries, a system of resort treatment has developed in Russia - sanatoriums and spa hotels operate at the sources of mineral waters, therapeutic mud, in places with a favorable climate.

Tradition / features... In Russia, many customs and traditions have survived, rooted in the depths of centuries. Every spring, in large cities and very small settlements, they see off the winter on a grand scale - they bake pancakes and burn a straw effigy of Shrovetide, in the summer the villages celebrate Ivan Kupala's Day, and the main winter holiday is New Year.

One of the main features of the Russian people was and remains hospitality, which is most evident in the feast. A traditional Russian meal includes the first, second and third courses - soups and stews, baked poultry or meat, all kinds of pastries - pies and pies. Dishes of national cuisine are presented in all their richness in restaurants. Daily cabbage soup, stew, sbitni and liqueurs are served in the best establishments.

Security

The safety of tourists in Russia is ensured by law enforcement. Since June 2014, tourist police units have begun to work in a number of regions, patrolling busy pedestrian streets, squares and parks.

In general, Russia is a safe country for tourists. However, to prevent unpleasant incidents, you should adhere to standard safety rules - do not leave personal belongings unattended, do not carry a wallet in the back pocket of your trousers or in an easily accessible place, beware of deserted and unlit places in the dark, do not use the services of unofficial taxi drivers, do not change the currency at individuals.

Documents

The list of documents required during the vacation includes:

• russian passport
• travel package or voucher
• health insurance policy
• if you plan to rent a car, you must have a driver's license

If a tourist is going to have a rest in a sanatorium-resort institution with receiving medical procedures, then a sanatorium-resort book is required, which can be obtained from a therapist.

Children accompanied by adults must have a birth certificate or passport, medical certificate.

Important phones

Emergency telephone numbers in Russia:

• Fire Department - 01
• Police - 02
• Ambulance - 03
• Unified round-the-clock assistance service when calling from a mobile phone - 112

Tourism

The choice of tourist destinations in Russia is as wide as nowhere else. The peculiarities of the geographical position and historical development have made it possible to form resort regions in the country, which are characterized by this or that type of recreation.

Beach vacation... There are many resorts in Russia offering a comfortable stay on the seaside. The traditional region of beach tourism in our country is the Krasnodar Territory. It is here that the summer capital of Russia - Sochi, the famous resorts of Anapa, Gelendzhik, Tuapse, Adler, the Yeisk resort located on the coast of the Azov Sea are located.

The resorts of Crimea offer beach rest. Sanatoriums, resort hotels, private and city beaches stretch along the entire coast of the peninsula. The main directions are Alushta, Evpatoria, Kerch, Koktebel, Saki, Sevastopol, Sudak, Feodosia, Yalta, the villages of Kurortnoye, Nikolaevka, Sandy and Shelkino.

Sanatorium treatmentcarried out in almost all regions of Russia. At the springs of mineral waters, therapeutic mud, in places with favorable climatic conditions there are sanatoriums, resort and medical centers. The most famous balneological resorts of the country are Essentuki, Zheleznovodsk, Kislovodsk and Pyatigorsk.

Rich traditions of the use of natural factors have been formed in Crimea, especially in Saki and Yevpatoria, where the first mud-cure resorts were opened. Sanatorium treatment is carried out on the coast of the Krasnodar Territory, in the Moscow, Ryazan, Kostroma, Ivanovo, Tver and Tula regions, in the Urals. In the northern and north-western regions of the country, there are medical resorts Marcial Waters, Sestroretsk, Svetlogorsk and Zelenogradsk, the largest resort in Siberia is Belokurikha.

Excursion tours around Moscow, the Golden Ring of Russia, Pskov, Uglich, Veliky Novgorod, Vologda and Nizhny Novgorod allow travelers to get acquainted with the historical heritage of ancient Russian cities - ancient temples with gilded domes, ancient fortresses and castles, city mansions and merchant houses. Dozens of excursion routes run through the territory of Kazan, St. Petersburg and its environs - Peterhof, Lomonosov and Kronstadt. Cognitive tourism in Crimea involves visiting the royal palaces, nature reserves and cave cities.

Ski tourism in Russia is experiencing a rapid rise. There are large mountain systems and modern ski resorts in the country. In the Krasnodar Territory, on the slopes of the Main Caucasian ridge, the resort Krasnaya Polyana is located. The level of service and modern infrastructure of Krasnaya Polyana during the days of the Winter Olympic Games were appreciated by tourists and athletes from all over the world. The resort has the most modern equipment, trails of various levels with a total length of 72 km, ski villages with comfortable hotels.

Among the high-altitude resorts of Russia, ski holidays are offered by the complexes of Dombai and Elbrus, Abzakovo-Bannoe in the Urals. Each of the resorts has the necessary infrastructure, comfortable accommodation conditions.

Weekend Tours... The most popular destinations for a weekend getaway are the cities of the Moscow region, the outskirts of large cities in different regions of the country. Short-stay programs are offered by tourist centers, resorts, spa hotels and hotels.

Children's rest.Traditionally, summer health camps for children are located on the Black Sea coast of the Krasnodar Territory - in Anapa, Gelendzhik, Tuapse and Sochi, in the Crimea - in the resorts of Evpatoria and Yalta, in the village of Peschanoe. Children's sanatoriums and camps are located in different regions of the country - Moscow, Kaluga, Leningrad and Rostov regions.

Leisure... There are many places in Russia where you can indulge in sports and active pastime, extreme tourism. Baikal attracts not only by its natural beauty, but also by the possibility of hiking, scuba diving, hunting and fishing, quad biking, cycling and horseback riding.

In the warm season, trekking, horseback riding, rafting on mountain rivers for tourists are organized at the resorts of Altai, Dombai and Krasnaya Polyana. In Crimea, there are opportunities for mountaineering and hang-gliding, mountain climbing, trekking, horseback riding, diving, sea fishing. Active leisure activities in the north are sleigh rides, dog sledding or reindeer sledding. Conditions for active pursuits - hunting, fishing, hiking, cycling and horseback riding - are available in Central Russia.

Visa

To visit the Russian Federation, citizens of most states require a national visa. Visa-free entry for a period not exceeding 90 days is allowed for citizens of the CIS countries (except Turkmenistan), Abkhazia and South Ossetia, a number of South American countries, and a number of Balkan countries.

The basis for obtaining a Russian visa for foreign tourists is an invitation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation or from a travel company, which is included in the Federal Register of Tour Operators, which gives it the right to provide visa support to foreigners.

The most famous landmarks

• The Moscow Kremlin is the oldest territory of the capital, with an area of \u200b\u200b27.5 hectares. In 1367. The Kremlin was surrounded by a brick wall. On the territory are located - Arkhangelsk, Blagoveshensky, Assumption Cathedrals, the Faceted Chamber, the Senate, the Terem Palace, the Tsar Bell, the Tsar Cannon.
• The Tretyakov Gallery was founded in 1856. This is the largest museum in the world, which contains unique canvases by masters of the 10-20 centuries.

• The Hermitage is the largest museum in the world, founded by Catherine the Great in the 18th century. The exhibition includes a museum of paintings by world-famous artists. In total, more than 3 million values \u200b\u200bare exhibited on the territory of the museum.
• St. Isaac's Cathedral was built in the 19th century by O. Montferrand - an outstanding monument of St. Petersburg. Its exterior architecture and interior decoration are also impressive, in which all types of art are presented - mosaic, painting, sculpture. The main iconostasis is decorated with lapis lazuli and malachite columns.
• Tsarskoe Selo - a nature reserve in Pushkino, includes a large park and architectural ensemble of the 18-19th centuries, a country residence of the emperors. The museum is located on 107 hectares, consists of the Catherine Park, the Old Garden, the English Park, the Catherine Palace, the Memorial Museum, the Hermitage Pavilion, etc.
• Peter and Paul Fortress - located on Hare Island, the oldest monument in St. Petersburg. Within the limits of the museum there is the Commandant's House, the Museum of the City, the Grand Ducal Tomb, Botny, Engineering House, prison buildings, bastions, Peter and Paul Cathedral.
• The Russian Museum was opened in 1895 by Nicholas II. Within the walls of the building, there is a rich exposition of art treasures, a restoration center.
• The Yusupov Palace is the most beautiful architectural monument of the 18-19th century. The guests of the palace were Queen Elizabeth II of England, King of Greece, Queen of Norway and other dignitaries. The building was built by I. Monighetti, J.B. Valaine-Delamonte, the Shuvalovs, Branitskys, Yusupovs lived in it.
• The palace and park ensemble of Peterhof is a beautiful monument located not far from St. Petersburg, founded in the 18th century. The territory houses the Lower and Upper parks, the Grand Palace, the largest system of fountains, water cascades, graceful sculptural compositions, and bas-reliefs.

• Pshadsky waterfall is a unique natural structure. Located on the river. Pshada and consists of a whole cascade of small waterfalls.
• The ruins of the old city of Gorgipia show the ancient ruins of the 4th century BC. The most ancient foundations and cobbled streets have been preserved here. On the territory there is a large archaeological museum, where you can see the crypt of Hercules, the monuments of Mother Mary, the "Russian Gate" - the remains of a Turkish fortress.
• The local history museum of the city is located in the Schetnev gymnasium. Visitors are offered an interesting exposition about the fauna and flora of Anapa, the history of the Bosporus kingdom.

• The Arboretum is the largest botanical park, a kind of open-air museum. The park presents unique specimens of the flora of the Western Caucasus, as well as many southern states closer to the equator.
• Vorontsov Caves is the largest underground agglomeration with a vertical drop of 240 m. Some cavities are filled with water, and narrow passages sometimes make it difficult to move. In some sections of the caves there are ancient sites of primitive people.
• The Sochi Art Museum is a large art center. The building exhibits canvases by Polenov, Aivazovsky, Shishkin, exhibitions of contemporary masters are regularly held.

• Swallow's Nest is a famous monument of history, architecture, located on the Aurora rock, towering 40 meters above the sea. The building is made in the style of a medieval knight's palace. The palace acquired its present appearance thanks to Baron Steingel.
• The Vorontsov Palace is located in Alupka, built from diabase; there is a beautiful park in the adjacent territory. The style of the palace combines English, neo-Moutrian styles.
• Livadia Palace is an imperial residence. The castle was built in the Italian light style in the 19th century. It is considered the most luxurious palace in Crimea, and is the venue for the Yalta conference.
• Mount Ai-Petri is located on a plateau, has a flat top. The height is 1234 m. The mountain is considered a symbol of the southern coast of Crimea.
• Nikitsky Botanical Garden is a research institution working in the field of botany and fruit growing. There are several parks here - Montedor, Primorsky, Upper, which have the richest collection of plants brought from all over the world. This is the oldest botanical park in the world, which has interesting architectural structures.
• The Masandra Palace is a beautiful architectural structure that served as the residence of Alexander the Third. The building was rebuilt in the 19th century in the style of French medieval castles. There is a magnificent park in the adjacent territory, which presents more than 250 species of shrubs and trees.
• House A.P. Chekhov is a memorial museum opened in honor of the writer in Yalta. All the furnishings of those times have been preserved in the house; Chekhov's readings are often held here with the participation of foreign guests, and excursions are held.

Gurzuf

• House of Richelieu - erected in 1811 by the Duke of Resilier in the form of a two-story stone building in European style. The Duke rarely visited here on vacation, and more often provided the estate to his acquaintances. Pushkin, Raevsky and other well-known personalities were here.
• Korovin's dacha is the home of an outstanding painter who worked for a long time in Gurzuf. A beautiful building with clear geometric proportions in the constructivist style.
• The watchtower is located on the Suuk-Su cape and existed in the 6th century, when Byzantine legionaries came to the land. The monument is often called the Tower of Geria or the Eagle's Nest.

• Admiralty Cathedral in honor of St. Vladimir is located on the Central Hill, it is considered the greatest Orthodox monument of the 19th century. The building has one massive dome, highlighting the Byzantine architecture of the 9-11th centuries. Instead of icons, marble slabs are located in the inner halls.
• Malakhov Kurgan is a grandiose monument, where the 19th century Defensive Tower, the Museum of the Heroic Defense and Liberation of the City, memorial plates made of cast iron, cannons, and a beautiful park are located.
• Chersonesos is the oldest monument of Sevastopol, the ruins of an ancient Greek town of the ancient era, in which Vladimir Kievsky adopted Christianity.
• The Military History Museum in honor of the Black Sea Fleet is considered the oldest of similar museums in the world. Opened in 1869, it is located in a beautiful building, it presents a valuable exposition dedicated to the customs and life of the Russian fleet from the tsarist era to the present day.
• The Genoese fortress with the interesting name Chembalo is located at a height above the Balaklava bay. Founded in 1357, it has defensive walls.

• Mangup is a cave town of medieval Crimea. There are numerous caves carved into the rock along the entire perimeter of the plateau.
• The temple to the three horsemen is carved into a huge block. In the inner hall there is a fresco painting that has been preserved since antiquity.
• The Bakhchisarai Palace is a beautiful architectural structure, formerly the residence of the Crimean khans. The building is considered the only surviving monument of the Crimean Tatar architecture. The Palace houses a museum of culture and history, an exhibition of weapons.

• The Arboretum is a unique natural reserve located on stony-clay soil. Here is a rich collection of plants, shrubs, many of which are rare on the planet.
• Saki Resort Park was founded in 1890 by P.S. Melnichenko. On the territory there are beautiful fountains, three lakes, diverse vegetation.
• The Belyaus settlement was discovered in the 20th century, existed in the 4th-2nd centuries. BC. The monument is located on the Tarkhankun Peninsula.
• The excavations of Kerkinis, opened in 1964, prove the existence of Greek colonists on the site of the modern city. 30 burials were found on the territory.
• Kizyars are the most ancient underground passages located under the old city. The tunnels carved into the yellow shell rock are considered an important value in Yevpatoria.

• The Genoese Fortress is the oldest monument in the city with beautiful austere medieval architecture. Today you can see the Watchtower, the mosque, the residence of the Genoese consul, the gate of the fortress.
• Church of the Intercession The Mother of God is the first architectural monument of the Russian era, which began after the annexation of Crimea. The building was built in the style of Russian classicism, the laying took place in 1819 on September 20, as stated on the memorial plaque.

New World

• The Golitsyn trail begins at the green bay on the northern side of Khoba-Kai, leads to a natural grotto formed by sea waves in massive rocks.
• Chaliapin's grotto is a small concert hall with excellent acoustics. The grotto reaches a height of 30 meters, in its depth there is a stage for musicians, and behind it is a small compartment for Golitsin wines with preserved stone arches.

Suzdal

• The Kremlin is the oldest part of the city. On the territory there are the Christmas Cathedral, Bell Tower, Nikolskaya, Assumption Churches, Bishops' Chambers. In the 11th century, the Kremlin was surrounded by an earthen rampart, finished with clay.
• The Museum of Architecture is located on the site of the 11th century Dmitrievsky Monastery. In the collection of the museum there are farm buildings, household items of Russian peasants.

• The horse yard is located in an 18th century building in the city center. The exposition consists of handicrafts - embroidery, carving, wood painting, clothing.
• The Chernigov Skete is a cave monastery that emerged in 1844. Today it is a functioning complex, where you can go on excursions to the caves.
• Sergiev Posad Lavra is the largest monastery founded by S. Radonezhsky in 1337. A place revered by the Orthodox, a spiritual center with a rich library of ancient books.

• Detinets or the Kremlin was founded by Yaroslavl. The first mentions in 1044 in the annalistic books. The highest tower of Detintsa Kokuy, built in the 18th century.
• Hagia Sophia is a grandiose construction of the century. The cathedral was built by Yaroslav the Wise as a temple for the entire city. The great bishops, princes, mayors of the city found peace in its galleries.

• The Assumption Cathedral is the most important church in the city, included in all excursions around Vladimir. The cathedral was founded in the 12th century by Bogolyubsky Andrey, to later become the main temple of the state.
• The Golden Gate was built in the 12th century. The building is richly decorated and was previously used for ceremonial entrances to the city.
• Vladimirsky Central is a famous prison, built by order of Catherine II. At one time it contained Frunze, Powers, Zoya Fedorova. Since 1996, it has been a museum open to visitors.

• Museum of the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery Complex. The architectural ensemble was built in the 12th century and is considered the largest of similar buildings. In the 16th century, the state treasury was located here, in 1612 the Headquarters of Pozharsky and Minin were located in the monastery.
• The Church of Prok Ilya was founded in the 17th century on the site of wooden temples at the expense of the Skripins merchants. The building is decorated with five green onion domes, covered galleries, a bell tower, the Rizpolozhensky limit.

Uglich

• Kremlin - founded in the 15th century by Andrey Bolshoy. The structure was surrounded by a high wall with two driveways and nine blank defensive towers. Today, you can see the chambers that belonged to Tsarevich Dmitry.
• The Church of Demetrius on the Blood was erected in 1692 on the site where the Tsarevich died. The building is painted with red paint, the domes are blue with white ornaments, the interior has rich paintings from the 18th century.

Pereslavl-Zalessky

• Goritsky Monastery is a large architectural and historical museum. The exposition includes furniture, church utensils, a collection of ancient icons, canvases by Shishkin, Benois, a valuable library of old books and a collection of wooden sculptures.
• Museum "Boat of Peter the Great" is the oldest building. The museum is notable for the fact that Peter the Great built a funny flotilla here on Pleshcheyevo Lake. Today you can see the monument to the tsar, the Botny house, the gatehouse, the Triumphal Gate, the White Palace.

Rostov

• The Borisoglebsk monastery complex was built on a hill surrounded by the Ustye river bed in 1363 during the reign of Dmitry Donskoy with the blessing of S. Radonezhsky. It was he who indicated the place where the temple should stand.
• The Kremlin is the main attraction of the city with the Assumption Cathedral, five churches, and powerful walls. Previously, the Kremlin was the bishop's residence.

Kostroma

• The Ipatiev Monastery is the greatest monument of Orthodox culture, erected in the 13th century. At the construction site, Mikhail Romanov was elected to reign, so he is often called the cradle of the Romanov family.
• The fire tower is the most beautiful monument of Russian classicism, located on Susaninskaya Square. The building looks like a temple of ancient times, complemented by a portico of columns and a pediment.

• The Vvedensky monastery complex was founded in the 19th century at the expense of Derbenev according to the original project of Begen P. Patriarch Tikhon served in the church. In its halls are the relics of Blessed Alexy Elnatsky, St. Vasily of Kineshemsky and 168 saints.
• Museum of the Bubnovs. The house was erected in 1860 for a merchant family, located on the site of a city estate. The building has survived to this day, and is open for excursions.

• Lermontov places are Pyatigorsky Boulevard, Lermontov Baths, Lermontov's House, Elizavetinsky Spring in Pyatigorsk, Mountain Ring and other places associated with the poet's life in the Caucasus.
• The Castle of Deceit and Love is located in Kislovodsk - a natural monument of rocks, in the outlines of which sorrowful faces are guessed. The castle is located at the gorge of the river. Alikonovka.

• The Wrangel Tower is a grandiose historical structure, the thickness of the walls, the floors of which is three meters. In the 20th century, the building was no longer used as a fortification; today there are warehouses and wholesale shops.
• The Brandenburg Gate is a beautiful historical monument and the only city gate that is still used for its intended purpose. The building was erected in 1657.
• The Cathedral is the most beautiful architectural monument, the symbol of the city. Built in the style of Baltic Gothic and is one of the rare examples of the Gothic style in Russia.

• The Buryat village is located in Olkhon. This is a picturesque open-air museum, where you can get acquainted with the life and culture of the Buryats.
• The pillars of Khuukhein-Khada is a particularly sacred place located in the Shumak valley. According to legend, you can see your future here.
• Ivolginsky Datsan is an important Buddhist monument. The imperishable body of Khambo Lama Itigelov, who went to nirvana in 1927, rests in a beautiful, colorful temple.

• The Valley of Geysers is the largest natural monument discovered in the 20th century. There are 22 geysers and numerous pulsating springs, mud pots, colorful lakes with boiling water.
• The Klyuchevsky volcano group united 12 volcanoes located on an area of \u200b\u200b7 thousand square meters. Here is the largest and highest volcano on the mainland, Klyuchevskaya Sopka.

Transport component

The transport system of Russia includes air, rail, sea and road communications.

Air transport. There are 236 airports in Russia, more than 70 of them have international status. The largest airports in the country are Domodedovo, Sheremetyevo and Vnukovo in Moscow, Pulkovo airport in St. Petersburg, Koltsovo in Yekaterinburg and Adler in Sochi. Moscow airports are connected with the capital by high-speed Aeroexpress trains. Russian air carriers operate domestic and international flights.

Russian railways serve over 124,000 km of track. There are passenger stations in large cities, and railway stations in small settlements. Long-distance trains run between cities, and suburban electric trains also operate. A railway branch of the Trans-Siberian Railway, connecting Moscow and Vladivostok, runs through the whole country. You can familiarize yourself with the timetable of long-distance trains and commuter trains; you can buy a ticket on the Russian Railways website http://pass.rzd.ru

The total length of Russian highways is 1,000,000 km.

By sea transport intercity and international passenger transportation is carried out. Sea terminals operate in Sochi, St. Petersburg, Murmansk and Nakhodka.

Navigation is carried out on rivers and canals. The length of the river routes is 200,000 km.

Metro available in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Kazan, Samara, Yekaterinburg and Novosibirsk. In each of the above cities, the metro has its own characteristics - for example, the capital has the most developed metro network, and the Novosibirsk metro has only 12 stations.

Ground transport in Russian cities - these are buses, trolleybuses, tram lines and route taxis. The most convenient and accessible way to get around the cities is by buses and minibuses. In every relatively large city, there are bus stations or bus stations connected by direct flights to regional centers.

Taxi and car rental... Official and unofficial taxi drivers work in the cities of Russia, it is not recommended to use the services of the latter due to the high risk of being deceived or paying at an inflated rate. Dispatch counters of official taxi companies are usually located in the arrivals halls of airports, train stations and bus stations.

If you have a driver's license and at least one year of driving experience, you can rent a car. This service is offered by both large international companies "Sixt", "AVIS" and "Europcar", and small private companies. In most companies, the rental service with a return in another city is limited to a small number of settlements, or is not provided at all.

Insurance program "OPTIMA" (insurance coverage 50,000 euros *)
Age of the insured	Insurance type	Insurance coverage, rub.	Policy cost per day, rub.	Insurance period
Age of the insured	Insurance type	Insurance coverage, euros *	Policy cost per day, EUR *	Insurance period
from 65 to 79 years old	Medical insurance "OPTIMA"
	Medical insurance "OPTIMA"

* payment in rubles at the exchange rate of the Central Bank (+ 2%) on the day of booking

Information about the conclusion and termination of the insurance contract, the amount of insurance obligations, the actions of the parties upon the occurrence of an insured event, the procedure for paying insurance compensation and other necessary information for the insured tourist are indicated in the insurance rules.

If you conduct a survey among Russians on the topic "What kind of transport do you prefer to use when going on a trip abroad?", Then the plane will definitely lead. It allows you to quickly get to anywhere in the world, and in recent years, airfare prices have become more than affordable. But, unfortunately, not all people tolerate even short-term air travel well, for example, to Europe. This may be due to medical conditions, phobias, or simply a dislike for this type of travel. What to do when you want to go on vacation and the plane is not available? In this case, you should consider traveling to Europe by train. Our article is devoted to all the features of such a trip.

Russian Railways: trains to Europe

Residents of Moscow and St. Petersburg are in a more advantageous position than Russians living in other regions of the country. After all, it will be much more difficult for the latter to get to Europe, but Muscovites can easily do it by train. Such routes have always existed, but in recent years they have been in high demand, and in the summer season Russians are often faced with a lack of tickets to the desired country.

You can travel by train to Europe alone, with your family or with a big noisy company. In any case, you will be provided with comfort and convenience, because there is some special charm in quiet observation of the landscapes passing by under the uniform sound of wheels. This is how many people imagine the ideal vacation.

From Moscow and St. Petersburg by train to Europe, you can get to many countries. Of course, not all routes involve a direct route from one point to another, but seasoned travelers consider this a minor inconvenience. In addition, they travel by train to Europe in completely different ways. Russians can go unorganized, that is, independently, or they can purchase a tour at an agency. Since rail travel abroad is still something unfamiliar to most of our compatriots, we decided to consider these options in more detail.

Traveling with travel agencies

Almost all Russian agencies sell package tours to Europe. Over the years, various programs have been developed that can satisfy even the most demanding taste. Moreover, almost all routes are in stable demand. Travel agents praise such trips in every way, listing their advantages. Among them:

• maximum safety;
• low cost;
• the opportunity to get acquainted with different cities in a short period of time;
• ease of movement between countries.

At the moment, tours to Europe are represented by four main programs: summer and winter holidays, combined and excursion.

Beach vacation

Every year, with the onset of warmth, more and more of our compatriots are sent to Europe by train to the sea. Such tours allow you to get acquainted with the intermediate settlements along the route and, ultimately, relax for several days at a popular European resort. Sometimes the travel program also includes an excursion program. Most often, Russians go by sea to the following countries:

• Italy.
• Bulgaria.
• France.

The cost of such a tour ranges from one and a half thousand euros in twelve days (it should be borne in mind that you will spend about a day on the road to Europe).

Winter travelers to Europe

With the onset of the first frost, Russians rush to European ski resorts. More than sixty percent of the total number of extreme sports fans travel to Europe by train. And these are pretty good indicators for Russian Railways. Most of our compatriots go to Poland, Finland and Norway. Some experienced connecting tourists go to France or Spain.

The cost of such a tour starts from six hundred euros, which is quite inexpensive for an active and comfortable stay.

Combined tourist tours

This is a rather difficult type of travel. Usually tourists take a train to Brest, and then from there they pass several European cities by bus. At the end point of the trip, the Russians will have a rest for five to seven days. Only experienced tourists who are ready to spend a long time on the road can take such a tour.

Excursion package tours

Such a vacation is usually in demand in early spring and late autumn, when there is a certain decline in tourist activity in the main areas. In some cases, tourists take the train directly to their destination. Then they can see only one. Another variant of such a tour resembles a combined one and has the same scheme with it, the difference is that its price includes excursions in all cities of destination. A similar pleasure costs 700 euros.

Independent travel to Europe by train: general characteristics

If you are not afraid to plan your trips on your own, then going to Europe by train is definitely your option. You can visit almost any European country, because here the railway system is very well developed. It should be noted that crossing the border, you find yourself in a special world, where the most common mode of transport is the train. For a European, such travel is the most convenient, so you will enjoy comfortable and clean cars, polite conductors and a well-developed infrastructure of railway stations.

Train tickets to Europe are mainly bought at the box office, many of them are not sold via the Internet. But on the official website of Russian Railways, you can always see all possible trains in the "International Routes" section, but you will have to pay for the ticket at the station.

In Europe, the situation with train tickets is similar: some of them are sold only through ticket offices, and payment by card will raise the cost by five to twenty percent. Inexperienced travelers often learn this fact from their own sad experience.

I would like to add that both Russian and European trains are very comfortable. You will not have to shake for a day in a crowded wagon with an unpleasant smell. By deciding on a rail trip to Europe, you will discover a completely different world.

How to get to Europe?

If you have never traveled abroad by train, then before buying tickets you need to find out a few nuances, without knowing which it will be difficult to plan your trip.

Types of wagons

The carriages of international trains are made according to European standards. They are divided into first and second grade. The difference between the two is the number of passengers. In addition, the first class is somewhat more spacious than the second. Also, the difference may lie in the seating comfort. Therefore, it is important not to confuse the class of carriages when buying train tickets at the box office.

Moscow: where can you go by train?

Finland, France, Czech Republic, Holland - these and many other countries you can visit if you choose the railway option and buy a train ticket to Europe from Moscow. Prices, by the way, do not always depend on the distance traveled. For example, you can get from Moscow to Paris for 500 euros, and a trip to Helsinki will cost 100 euros.

Many Muscovites go straight to Helsinki, and then continue their journey across Europe by ferry or other train. This significantly reduces the cost of travel, especially if you take care of the ticket. With its help, you can travel all over Europe in a few days and save at least 200 euros on these movements.

SPb: where do the trains go?

The choice of train from St. Petersburg to Europe is rather limited. Now residents of the northern capital can get to Finland, the Czech Republic and Tallinn. The fare starts from 250 euros.

You can get to Tallinn in a seated carriage, this innovation appeared about a year ago. Of course, this method of travel is not the most comfortable, but the price can completely change your opinion about such trips - 1300 rubles. Many students use this great opportunity to get to Europe for symbolic money.

Rail Trip Planning: Highlights

So you've decided to travel to Europe by train. Where to start preparing for the trip? What to look for and how to save on tickets? Let's take a closer look at these questions.

First of all, you need to work out the travel route itself. Your main goal will be to choose a location in Europe to which you will travel by train. It will be much easier to move further.

Keep in mind that Russian Railways allows tickets to be purchased 60-90 days in advance. At this point, you can purchase the cheapest tickets. In the future, they will be more expensive. Before buying, pay attention to the possible discounts, they are seasonal or targeted. On some routes, the Russian Railways service allows booking a ticket via the Internet, followed by a twelve-hour redemption at the box office.

Once in Europe, calculate how often you plan to travel by train. If there are a sufficient number of such trips, then purchase a single ticket, which is sold at any ticket office or on the website. It is of three types:

• for one country;
• for all European countries;
• for a certain number of days.

Keep in mind that there is no single service for buying train tickets in Europe. Each country has its own website.

You can buy a ticket not only via the Internet, but also at ticket offices, shops and special machines. Whenever possible, pay in cash - this significantly reduces its cost.

When buying a ticket, carefully look at the train designation - it can be high-speed and local. The first can travel half of Europe in a matter of hours and almost without stopping, but the second will slow down at every station.

And in conclusion, I would like to tell you one small, but very important secret regarding European trains: the doors to the carriage do not open automatically, for this there is a special button inside and outside. Keep this in mind or you will not get on the train and your journey through Europe will never begin.