Activities in Russia
-
TOP SELLER
Kremlin Grounds, Cathedrals and Patriarch's Palace Tour from Moscow
by Viator
A great three hour tour exploring the Kremlin Grounds, Cathedrals and Patriarch's Palaces in Moscow!The small city in the center of Moscow, once the residence…
Not LP reviewed
from USD$57.41 - All activities
-
Dungur Shaman Centre
Visiting a shaman is fascinating if you have a translator and a tangible 'problem' to have examined. This might be a medical, mental or emotional purification or perhaps seeking 'luck' with your travels. Less authentic 'shaman shows' are organised for tourist groups.
Dungur Shaman Centre is one of several options.
reviewed
-
Petr Ishkin
Witty, widely travelled schoolteacher Petr Ishkin speaks great English and enjoys voluntarily helping foreign visitors find their feet during his free time. Two more email addresses for him are petr_great@hotmail.com and petroishkin@yahoo.com.
reviewed
-
A
Zhiguli Brewery
Head to the eastern side of the Zhiguli Brewery, built by Austrian aristocrat Alfred von Wakano in 1881, and fill your bottle with fresh local beer .
reviewed
-
Throat-Singing
Throat-singing is Tuva's great draw, yet finding performances is rather haphazard. Sometimes they're listed on www.tyvantranslator.com. If not, try asking at the National Theatre.
On the 1st floor of the sizable Cultural Centre, the Khöömei Centre can help arrange throat-singing lessons - to find it, walk between the cloakroom and snack bar and keep going. However, to simply hear a sample try going up to the 3rd floor from here (by the back rather than the main stairs) to a room where Tuvan musicians practise most afternoons around 14:00. Alternatively, contact Aylana Irguit or Aldar Tamdyn, who can usually arrange a short demonstration of the various styles. Around US$20…
reviewed
-
Blue Water Holidays
Murmansk is the starting point for July and August cruises to the North Pole and Arctic islands on Russian icebreakers, an exotic and expensive experience where passengers see dramatic seascapes and, with luck, Arctic wildlife (the voyages last around two weeks). You will need to book well in advance and many agencies include flights from Helsinki or Moscow to Murmansk in their packages.
Cruise to the North Pole in one of Russia's nuclear icebreakers, or take a trip to dramatic Franz Josef Land or Novaya Zemlya and Severnaya Zemlya in non-nuclear icebreakers. The ships are fitted out for passengers and some of the profits go towards the upkeep of Russia's icebreaker…
reviewed
-
Space Adventures
Do you have US$100 million to spare? If so, consider signing up for the first private lunar expedition, organised by US-based Space Adventures, the same outfit that in 2001 helped American billionaire Dennis Tito spend a week at the International Space Station as the first paying customer of the Russian Space Agency. Since then five other ‘spaceflight participants’ (the preferred term over space tourists) have handed over upwards of US$20m to join the civilian-in-space club, including Dr Charles Simonyi, the Hungarian-born computer programmer, who documented his first trip on www.charlesinspace.com and is now preparing for his second space adventure.
reviewed
-
B
Waterville Aquapark
Calling all kids! This huge complex at the Park Inn – Pribaltiyskaya features miles of water slides and rides, waterfalls, jet streams and wave pools. There is something for everyone here, as special pools for younger children have shallow waters and warmer temperatures, while a two-lane 25m pool is dedicated to water aerobics and lap-swimming (aka ‘adult swim’). Also on site: an international ‘sweating complex’ featuring Russian banya, Finnish sauna, Turkish hammam and Indian sauna. Prices quoted are for four hours of fun, but all-day admission is also available.
reviewed
-
C
Vorobyovy Gory Nature Preserve
Vorobyovy Gory, or Sparrow Hills, is the green hilly area south of the Moscow River, opposite the tip of the Khamovniki peninsula. This wooded hillside is a pleasant surprise, especially since it has been recently converted into an ecological park. Following the south shore of the Moscow River, the narrow strip of land contains a network of wooded trails and a sandy beach. An ecotrain runs along the bank of the river; otherwise you can rent bicycles or in-line skates at the southeastern entrance. From the river bank, the walking trails lead up to Universitetskaya pl, as does the ski lift.
reviewed
-
Kulikov Travel Department
Kulikov Travel Department is based at the Tula Antiquities Exhibition Centre. Tours cost R495 per person, including transport, guide and museum tickets, and usually require a minimum of 10 people, so you’ll be grouped with others. Note that some trips depart from Moscow, with the option of stopping off in Tula. If no group is available, the travel department may be able to arrange a car – but if you’re serious about making a trip here you’d be wise to contact the travel department ahead of time.
reviewed
-
Quark Expeditions
Murmansk is the starting point for July and August cruises to the North Pole and Arctic islands, an experience where passengers see dramatic seascapes and scenery and, with luck, a good deal of Arctic wildlife. Book well in advance (many agencies include flights from Helsinki or Moscow to Murmansk in their packages). Voyages last around two weeks to the North Pole itself or to Franz Josef Land or Novaya Zemlya and Severnaya Zemlya.
The ships are fitted out for passengers and some of the profits go towards the upkeep of Russia's icebreaker fleet.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
D
Kva-Kva Park
Calling all kids! This huge complex features seven long and winding water slides, a terrific tsunami water ride, waterfalls and wave pools. There is something for everyone here: special pools for younger children have shallow waters and warmer temperatures, while adults can relax and feel the soothing pulse of 150 hydromassage jets. Note: children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. From VDNKh metro station, take any outward-bound bus to Furazhnaya, which is about 1km past MKAD.
reviewed
-
Arcturus
Cruises to the North Pole and Arctic islands on Russian icebreakers are an expensive experience, but worth it, if it's your thing. You'll see dramatic seascapes and scenery and, with luck, Arctic wildlife. (Book well in advance). You'll either travel in one of Russia's nuclear icebreakers - to the North Pole itself; or in a non-nuclear icebreaker - to one of the Arctic islands. The ships are fitted out for passengers and some of the profits go to the upkeep of Russia's icebreaker fleet.
reviewed
-
Peter’s Walking Tours
In business for over 12 years, Peter Kozyrev and his brilliant band of guides can give you an insight into the city like no one else. The standard walking tour (R500) departs from the HI St Petersburg Hostel at 10.30am. Also on offer are lots of cool itineraries, around themes like Dostoevsky, Rasputin, the Great October Revolution and food, all in English, as well as a regular bike tour. Private tours kick off at R900 per hour for up to four people from May to November.
reviewed
-
E
Thai Massage
Thai massage is a body treatment that is carried out by massage and medical therapists to give greater immunity to illness and better health. Similar to acupuncturists, massagists concentrate their efforts on a localised part of the body in order to activate trigger points and stimulate blood flow to the specific site. Advocates claim that the benefits are immediate. A visit to this clinic is not your typical relaxing massage session, but it may remedy what ails you.
reviewed
-
F
Luzhniki Sports Palace
Moscow’s largest stadium seats up to 80,000 people and gleams from its recent reconstruction. Luzhniki is home to Torpedo and Spartak, both of which are teams in Russia’s premier football league. This stadium is part of a larger complex that was the main venue for the 1980 Olympics. Besides the giant stadium, Luzhniki includes a collection of swimming pools, ice-hockey rink, tennis courts and other facilities, which are used by casual and professional athletes alike.
reviewed
-
G
Eclectica
Booths outside Gostiny Dvor sell tickets for English-language tours around the city and to major sights outside the city such as Petrodvorets and Tsarskoe Selo. Their year-round City Bus tour (1½ hrs; departs noon daily) goes to St Issaac’s, Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood, the Cruiser Aurora, Peter and Paul Fortress and the Strelka. From 19 May to 19 August the same bus operates as a hop-on, hop-off all-day service for tours between 10am and 4pm.
reviewed
-
Poseidon
Murmansk is the starting point for July and August cruises to the North Pole and Arctic islands (Franz Josef Land, Novaya Zemlya, Severnaya Zemlya) on Russian icebreakers. The voyages last around two weeks and you'll see dramatic seascapes and Arctic wildlife. Book well in advance. The ships - either a nuclear icebreaker or non-nuclear ship - are fitted out for passengers and at least some of the profits go towards the upkeep of the fleet.
reviewed
-
Mig-25.Com
For flights in MiGs (starting at US$11,300), an L-39 Albatros (US$2650) or a Su-27 Flanker (US$14,550) out of Zhukovsky Airbase, an hour’s drive southeast of Moscow, contact the US-based firm MiG-25.com at least 16 days in advance of your ideal flight date so they can sort out security clearance. Flights on L-29, Yak-52, Yak-18T and TL-2000 aircraft out of St Petersburg can be arranged at much shorter notice.
reviewed
-
H
Ekaterinburg Guide Centre
An enthusiastic group that organises English-language tours of the city and trips into the countryside, including all destinations described in the Around Yekaterinburg section and the difficult-to-reach village of Verkhoturye (where Grigory Rasputin started his spiritual journey), as well as hiking and rafting expeditions. Day trips cost anything between R1900 and R5000, depending on the number of people in the group.
reviewed
-
I
Driver
Driver’s boats stop at three different docks: hop on board in front of the Peter & Paul Fortress (Petrogradskaya nab 32; Gorkov-skaya), in front of Kunstkamera (Universitetskaya nab 3; Vasileostrovskaya) or in front of the Admiralty (Admiralteyskaya nab 2; Nevsky Pr). Three different routes circle around the Neva, while the longest one (1½ hours) loops around the Fontanka and the Griboedov Canal.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
Central Sport Shooting Club
Think you’re a good shot? Hone your skills at the Central Sport Shooting Club. This shooting range offers an arsenal of five different kinds of revolvers and just as many rifles, all of which look pretty deadly to the untrained eye. Besides the standard 25m and 50m target practice, there is also an interactive computerised training complex (the proverbial ‘moving target’).
reviewed
-
J
Planet Fitness – Petrograd Side
The city’s biggest Planet Fitness outlet is on the Petrograd Side in the prestigious City Centre business centre. Its facilities include a big swimming pool, tennis courts and the requisite machines. Classes include standards such as yoga and spinning, as well as more exotic fare like kickboxing and karate. For relaxation, finish up with a massage or a visit to the sauna. Rates are cheaper before 5pm.
reviewed
-
K
Bowling City
This is the most central outlet of a network of bowling clubs, which provides countless entertainment options including bowling and billiards. Besides the 36 bowling lanes, there is karaoke, a sports bar and pool tables. Rates vary according to time, meaning that it’s more expensive to play in the evenings and on weekends. The website is also a vast repository for information about bowling in Russia.
reviewed
-
Kola Travel
The main reason to come to this prosperous nickel-smelting city is to engage the services of experienced, multilingual Kola Travel, a Russo-Dutch travel firm offering an inspiring selection of Kola adventures including hiking, biking, rock-hunting, snowmobile safaris. Their 4WD trips include one to a middle-of-nowhere village where you can sleep in a comfy but traditionally styled turf hut.
reviewed
-
L
Planet Fitness – Smolny
St Petersburg’s first and largest chain of fitness centres now has 11 locations around the city, but the first was in Smolny. Classes include aerobics and yoga, while weights machines and cardio equipment are also available. The cardio room overlooks the Neva River, offering a lovely view as you cycle or run. Afterwards, enjoy the sauna and hot tub, or a fresh fruit drink from the juice bar.
reviewed