Although Russia covers an area of 10.
5 million square miles, very little is actually known about the country.
What we know is all from text books and is are obsolete things like Czarist rules, Mongolian raids, bloody revolution and desolate Steppes.
However, the sheer size of Russia makes it one of the most diverse and versatile countries in the world.
You can visit the arctic or sub-tropical areas without actually leaving Russia! Most people usually head to western Russia which includes Moscow, St Petersburg, Volgograd, Black Sea and Caspian Sea.
This is the political and commercial hub of the country.
Initially, St Petersburg was the capital of Russia.
It was build by Peter the Great and is filled with haunting and enchanting leftovers of an era long over.
In fact, St Petersburg is one the best preserved cities in Europe and one cannot miss the stately architecture and regal cathedrals that scattered around the city.
Early in the 20th century, the capital of Russia was moved to Moscow and here you can see Kremlin, the famous Red Square and Lenin's Mausoleum with his embalmed body.
These are testaments of Russia's rocky and bloody history.
Volgograd is where the Russian Empire originated and it was fortified in the 1500s to protect czarist Russia from attacks by Cossacks and Vikings.
This city has a history of its own which is worth exploring.
However, nothing beats the train journey on the famous Trans-Siberian Railway.
It is the longest and continuous rail line in the world and will take you from Moscow to Vladivostok, Russia's main port at the Pacific Ocean.
The train journey is magical and will take through the steppes, Siberian taiga and ultimately stop at its destination.
You end up traveling through Europe and Asia on this six thousand mile epic journey.
A popular stop for tourists on their Trans-Siberian Railway journey is Lake Baikal.
This is the oldest lake in the world and is estimated to be 25 to 30 million years old.
Here you can truly enjoy the natural beauty of Russia.
The lake region is home to over 2,500 special of animals, including Siberian freshwater seals and thousands of migratory birds.
Many of the travel restrictions imposed on foreigners were lifted in the 1990s and Russia is now opening itself up to foreign tourism.
Visiting Russia as a tourist will help you appreciate the beauty of the country and there is no better time than now to travel to Russia.