Login
Facebook
YouTube
WhatsApp
Twitter
In Russia, history stands in the open, carved into old fortress walls, painted on cathedral domes, and echoed in the footsteps worn into palace staircases. The historical places in Russia are part of everyday streets and distant landscapes. They are where tsars ruled, where churches survived invasions, and generations lived through change. They were built with purpose, rebuilt after destruction, and preserved not to impress but to remember. Each one holds a trace of Russia that was not a memory but a fact.
Top Historical Places In Russia
This is the list of historical places in Russia that reveal its long past rulers, defended by citizens, and tell real stories behind them.
1. Kremlin And Red Square, Moscow
Photo: Alvesgaspar / Wikimedia Commons
The Kremlin walls, which now define Moscow’s centre, were rebuilt in the 1400s when Ivan III brought in Italian architects to reshape the fortress in brick and stone. Within its walls stand ancient cathedrals, the Grand Kremlin Palace, and the Tsar Cannon, each tied to events that changed the country. Lenin’s Mausoleum still draws long lines, while the square was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1990. Few historical places in Russia carry such layered political, religious, and cultural weight in one location.
How To Reach: Take the metro to Okhotny Ryad or Biblioteka Lenina
Cost: ₽700 for the Armoury; ₽500 for Cathedral Square / ₹760 for Armoury, ₹540 for Cathedral Square
Timings: 10 AM – 5 PM (Closed on Thursdays)
Nearby Attractions: Saint Basil’s Cathedral, Lenin’s Mausoleum, GUM Department Store
2. Saint Basil’s Cathedral, Moscow
Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg / Wikimedia Commons
Saint Basil’s Cathedral, built in the mid-1500s under Ivan the Terrible to mark the capture of Kazan. Each of the nine chapels inside is dedicated to a different saint, and though the exterior grabs attention, the interior is where the architecture becomes deeply spiritual. Narrow corridors, icons from the 16th century, and dim candlelight pull you into the past. Among all historical places in Russia, Saint Basil’s stands apart both for its design and for the folklore around its creation. Some say the architect was blinded, so he could never build anything like it again.
How To Reach: Short walk from Ploshchad Revolyutsii Metro Station
Cost: ₽700 / ₹760
Timings: 10 AM – 6 PM
Nearby Attractions: Red Square, Kremlin Walls, State Historical Museum
3. Peterhof Palace, St. Petersburg
Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg / Wikimedia Commons
Peterhof was never meant to be modest. Commissioned by Peter the Great in the early 1700s after he visited Versailles, the estate was designed to revive the French palace. Facing the Gulf of Finland, the Grand Palace is surrounded by carefully planned gardens. Rooms are lined with gilded carvings, chandeliers, and portraits of the Romanovs. The most famous fountain, the Grand Cascade, features golden statues of Samson and lions, celebrating Russian victories. Visitors can explore the Upper Gardens, the Lower Park, and the smaller palaces across the grounds.
How To Reach: Hydrofoil from the city centre or suburban trains to Novy Peterhof
Cost: ₽1,200 for foreigners; ₽500 for citizens / ₹1300 for foreigners, ₹540 for citizens
Timings: 10 AM – 6 PM (Closed Mondays)
Nearby Attractions: Monplaisir Palace, Lower Park, Grand Cascade
4. Catherine Palace, Tsarskoye Selo
Photo: Florstein / Wikimedia Commons
Catherine Palace was built to display Russian identity under imperial rule. Located in Pushkin, it began as a summer residence for Empress Catherine. However, it was Empress Elizabeth who transformed it into the blue-and-gold Baroque masterpiece. Inside, the most striking room is the Amber Room, often called the Eighth Wonder of the World. Created in Prussia, it was gifted to Peter the Great and installed here, later looted during the Second World War and reconstructed painstakingly by Russian craftsmen. Few historical places in Russia reveal this balance between beauty and tragedy as clearly as Catherine Palace.
How To Reach: Suburban train to Pushkin or minibus from Moskovskaya Metro
Cost: –₽1,500 / ₹1620
Timings: 10 AM – 6 PM (Closed Tuesdays)
Nearby Attractions: Catherine Park, Alexander Palace, Lyceum Museum
5. Kazan Kremlin, Kazan
Photo: Alexxx1979 / Wikimedia Commons
The Kazan Kremlin stands at the meeting point of two different pasts: the Islamic heritage of the Tatars and the Orthodox rule that followed. Inside the Kremlin, the Kul Sharif Mosque rises with bright blue domes and white minarets. Nearby, the Annunciation Cathedral reminds visitors of Kazan’s Orthodox chapter. The Söyembikä Tower leans slightly to one side, linked to the legends of a Tatar princess. Among all historical places in Russia, the Kazan Kremlin holds a rare balance.
How To Reach: Metro to Kremlyovskaya station
Cost: Museums cost –₽300 / ₹325
Timings: 9 AM – 6 PM
Nearby Attractions: Kul Sharif Mosque, Syuyumbike Tower, Tatarstan Museum
6. Novodevichy Convent, Moscow
Photo: Anton Zelenov. / Wikimedia Commons
Novodevichy Convent was founded in 1524 to mark the recapture of Smolensk from Lithuania. It was a place where noblewomen were sent, sometimes by choice, sometimes not. Among them was Peter the Great’s sister, Sophia, who lived here under house arrest after her failed attempt to seize the throne. The convent’s red and white towers and gold-domed churches form one of the most recognisable silhouettes in Moscow. The Smolensky Cathedral, built in the 16th century, still holds original frescoes and icons. Its cemetery holds the graves of writers, generals, and Soviet leaders, adding another layer to its historical importance.
How To Reach: Metro to Sportivnaya and a 5-minute walk
Cost: ₽500 / ₹540
Timings: 9 AM – 5 PM (Closed Tuesdays)
Nearby Attractions: Novodevichy Cemetery, Luzhniki Stadium, Swan Lake
7. Veliky Novgorod Kremlin (Detinets)
Photo: EkaterinaKhomichenko / Wikimedia Commons
Veliky Novgorod is often called the birthplace of Russian statehood, and its Kremlin, known as Detinets, stands as proof of that legacy. It is a historical place in Russia, built in its earliest form in the 11th century and fortified with brick in the 14th century. At its heart is Saint Sophia Cathedral, completed in 1050, with massive walls and ancient frescoes that have endured wars and fires. Within the Kremlin, you’ll also find the Millennium of Russia Monument, erected in 1862 to mark a thousand years since the Varangians arrived.
How To Reach: Train or intercity bus from St. Petersburg
Cost: ₽300 for museum access / ₹325
Timings: 10 AM – 6 PM
Nearby Attractions: Saint Sophia Cathedral, Millennium Monument, Volkhov River
8. Rostov Kremlin, Rostov Veliky
Photo: Pierre André / Wikimedia Commons
Rostov Veliky is one of the historical places in Russia, and the Rostov Kremlin is its crown. The white stone walls, elegant towers, and onion-domed cathedrals rise beside Lake Nero, creating a visually striking ensemble in Russian architecture. The Cathedral of the Assumption dominates the complex, while the belfry next to it holds some of the country’s oldest bells, still rung during festivals. Visitors often overlook Rostov in favour of Moscow or St. Petersburg, yet few historical places in Russia allow for such an up-close experience with pre-Petrine architecture and ecclesiastical life.
How To Reach: Bus or local train from Yaroslavl
Cost: ₽150 / ₹160
Timings: 10 AM – 5 PM
Nearby Attractions: Nero Lake, Spaso-Yakovlevsky Monastery, Enamel Museum
9. Alexander Nevsky Lavra, St. Petersburg
Photo: Pavlikhin / Wikimedia Commons
The Alexander Nevsky Lavra was built to honour the prince who defeated the Swedes at the Battle of the Neva in 1240. This monastery complex became the spiritual centre of St. Petersburg and remains a historical place in Russia. It has multiple churches, monastic quarters, and the Tikhvin and Lazarev cemeteries, where people like Dostoevsky, Tchaikovsky, and Mussorgsky are buried. The Holy Trinity Cathedral, completed in the 1790s, features a five-domed structure and rich iconostasis. Among the many historical places in Russia, this one bridges religion, imperial ambition, and cultural memory in one space.
How To Reach: Metro to Ploshchad Alexandra Nevskogo
Cost: Museum and cemetery ₽400–₽500 / ₹430 – ₹540
Timings: 6 AM – 8 PM
Nearby Attractions: Neva River, Tikhvin Cemetery, Holy Trinity Cathedral
10. Derbent Fortress (Naryn-Kala), Dagestan
Photo: Ilya Perelude / Pexels / Image For Representation Only
Derbent Fortress is the oldest surviving stone fortification in Russia. The Naryn-Kala citadel, which crowns the city of Derbent, was reinforced by Persian rulers in the 6th century as part of the Sassanid Empire’s northern frontier. It was built to control the narrow pass between the Caspian Sea and the Caucasus Mountains, a strategic location often called the “Caspian Gates.” From the top, the view extends over the old town’s rooftops and the coastline beyond.
How To Reach: Flight to Makhachkala, then train or car to Derbent
Cost: ₽200–₽300 / ₹220 – ₹320
Timings: 9 AM – 7 PM
Nearby Attractions: Juma Mosque, Old City Walls, Derbent Archaeological Museum
11. Church Of The Transfiguration, Kizhi Island
Photo: Ladaherra / Wikimedia Commons
On a remote island in Lake Onega stands a church built without a single nail. The Church of the Transfiguration was completed in 1714 by local carpenters who used only axes, chisels and interlocking pine logs. It was never meant for grand ceremonies; it served villagers living through short summers and long winters, many of whom helped build it. Inside, a tall icon screen stretches across the front wall, covered with over 100 painted icons. The church is part of the Kizhi Pogost, now protected as a UNESCO site.
How To Reach: Train or flight to Petrozavodsk, then boat or hydrofoil
Cost: ₽600 / ₹650
Timings: 9 AM – 6 PM (May to October)
Nearby Attractions: Church of the Intercession, Kizhi Open-Air Museum, Lake Onega
12. Kolomenskoye Estate, Moscow
Photo: A.Savin / Wikimedia Commons
Kolomenskoye sits on the banks of the Moskva River, just a few metro stops from the centre of Moscow, yet it feels far removed from the city’s noise. Once the summer estate of grand princes and later tsars, it covers rolling hills, old orchards, and open fields. The main highlight is the Church of the Ascension, built in 1532 by the order of Vasily III to celebrate the birth of his son, the future Ivan the Terrible. The estate also holds wooden buildings moved here from across Russia, including Peter the Great’s cabin from Arkhangelsk.
How To Reach: Metro to Kolomenskaya, 10-minute walk
Cost: Estate museums ₽500 / ₹540
Timings: 10 AM – 6 PM (Closed Mondays)
Nearby Attractions: Church of the Ascension, Tsar’s Courtyard, Moskva River Trail
The past in Russia is built into towers that cast shadows, chapels that still smell of wax and incense, and wooden walls that held firm through cold and war. These historical places in Russia were shaped by more than buildings. From the strong stone of the Kremlin to the quiet, remote domes on Kizhi Island, each place carries faith, rule, craft, and time. Explore more packages offered by TripXL for unforgettable experiences.
Cover Photo: Diego Delso / Wikimedia Commons
