26 days in Russia & Manchester Itinerary

Built on a desolate swamp as a showcase capital of Imperial Russia, this grand city has certainly lived up to the expectations of its founder, Tsar Peter the Great.

St. Petersburg is known for museums, historic sites, and sightseeing. Your trip includes some of its best attractions: explore the world behind art at The State Hermitage Museum, take in the architecture and atmosphere at Naval Cathedral of St. Nicholas, get engrossed in the history at Yusupov Palace, and browse the exhibits of Kazan Cathedral.

To find maps, reviews, where to stay, and more tourist information, read St. Petersburg road trip website.

Manchester, UK to St. Petersburg is an approximately 8.5-hour flight. You can also do a combination of car and train; or do a combination of train and bus. The time zone difference moving from Greenwich Mean Time to Moscow Standard Time is 3 hours. In January, St. Petersburg is cooler than Manchester - with highs of -5°C and lows of -10°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 20th (Fri) so you can catch the flight to Kostroma.

As part of Russia's Golden Ring of historical towns, the city of Kostroma is something of an open-air museum with ties to the Romanov dynasty.

You'll find plenty of places to visit near Kostroma: Yaroslavl (My Lovely Teddy Bear Private Museum & Yaroslavl Museum of Photography), Provincial ARTgallery-M (in Ples) and Museum of Gramophones and Phonorecords (in Veskovo). There's much more to do: examine the collection at Dom Gorodskogo Golovy Botnikova Museum, admire the striking features of The Resurrection Church on the Debra, explore the engaging exhibits at Sweets Museum Russkiye Slasti, and relax in the rural setting at Sumarokovskaya Elk Farm.

To see reviews, ratings, photos, and other tourist information, read Kostroma itinerary maker site.

Fly from St. Petersburg to Kostroma in 3 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a train. Traveling from St. Petersburg in January, expect Kostroma to be a bit cooler, temps between -9°C and -15°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 23rd (Mon) early enough to go by car to Vladimir.

The most visited destination in the Golden Ring circuit, the city of Vladimir is known for its remarkably preserved white-stone monuments, which have World Heritage status.

Start off your visit on the 24th (Tue): take in the architecture and atmosphere at Church of the Intercession of the Holy Virgin, take an in-depth tour of Museum of Non-Invented Stories, examine the collection at Borodins' Blacksmith Shop, then see the interesting displays at Holy Assumption Cathedral, and finally get to know the fascinating history of Bolshaya Moskovskaya Street.

To find ratings, where to stay, photos, and more tourist information, you can read our Vladimir road trip website.

You can drive from Kostroma to Vladimir in 3.5 hours. Other options are to take a bus; or take a train. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 24th (Tue) so you can catch the train to Nizhny Novgorod.

Founded eight centuries ago at the confluence of the Volga and the Oka rivers, Nizhny Novgorod boasts over 600 historical, cultural, and architectural monuments.

Start off your visit on the 25th (Wed): step into the grandiose world of The Kremlin, then take in the architecture and atmosphere at Church of Nativity of Most Holy Mother of God, and then pause for some serene contemplation at Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevskiy. Here are some ideas for day two: don't miss a visit to Bolshaia Pokrovskaia Street, engage your brain at Museum of Old Equipment and Tools, then get curious at Nizhniy Novgorod Radio Laboratory Museum of Science, and finally pause for some photo ops at Chkalov Monument.

To see reviews, other places to visit, ratings, and more tourist information, read Nizhny Novgorod trip itinerary builder website.

You can take a train from Vladimir to Nizhny Novgorod in 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus. In January in Nizhny Novgorod, expect temperatures between -8°C during the day and -15°C at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 26th (Thu) early enough to fly to Kazan.

The heart of Tatar culture, Kazan carries the epithet of the "Third Capital of Russia" because of its rich history and thriving economy.

Start off your visit on the 27th (Fri): wander the streets of Bauman Street (Kazansky Arbat), view the masterpieces at Gallery-Workshop of Zaitsev, take in the spiritual surroundings of Kul Sharif Mosque, then contemplate the long history of Kazan Kremlin, and finally contemplate the long history of Suyumbike Tower. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the 28th (Sat): see the interesting displays at Konstantin Vasiliev Museum, admire the striking features of Cathedral of the Apostles Peter and Paul, then take in the architecture and atmosphere at Annunciation Cathedral, and finally examine the collection at Museum "Tatarskaya Sloboda".

For ratings, where to stay, reviews, and other tourist information, read our Kazan trip itinerary builder site.

You can fly from Nizhny Novgorod to Kazan in 5.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a train. January in Kazan sees daily highs of -10°C and lows of -17°C at night. Finish your sightseeing early on the 28th (Sat) to allow enough time to fly to Moscow.

Russia's political, economic, and cultural center, Moscow remains the most populous inland city in the world, famed for its colorful history and rich architectural heritage.

Get out of town with these interesting Moscow side-trips: Ski Stadium Zorkiy (in Krasnogorsk) and Muzey tekhniki Vadima Zadorozhnogo (in Arkhangelskoye). Next up on the itinerary: contemplate the long history of Red Square, examine the collection at Bulgakov's House Museum-Theater, explore the galleries of Moscow Kremlin, and admire the masterpieces at Art Gallery of the European and American Countries of the XIX-XX centuries.

For more things to do, photos, traveler tips, and tourist information, you can read our Moscow trip itinerary planning website.

Getting from Kazan to Moscow by flight takes about 3.5 hours. Other options: take a train; or drive. Traveling from Kazan in January, expect a bit warmer with lows of -12°C in Moscow. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 1st (Wed) to allow time to fly to Kaliningrad.

A city of science and philosophy, cosmopolitan Kaliningrad once served as a cultural hub of Germany, Poland, and Lithuania.

Kick off your visit on the 2nd (Thu): explore the striking landscape of Kurshskaya Kosa. On your second day here, take a tour of Research vessel "Vityaz", then see the interesting displays at B-413 Submarine Museum, and then pause for some serene contemplation at Konigsberg Cathedral.

To see traveler tips and other tourist information, use the Kaliningrad road trip planning site.

You can fly from Moscow to Kaliningrad in 3.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a train. The time zone difference moving from Moscow Standard Time (MSK) to Eastern European Standard Time (EET) is minus 1 hour. In February, Kaliningrad is a bit warmer than Moscow - with highs of 2°C and lows of -3°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 3rd (Fri) early enough to travel to Manchester.

Unofficially dubbed the Capital of the North, Manchester is known for its influence on industry and music, as well as its world-renowned connection to sports.

Get out of town with these interesting Manchester side-trips: Liverpool (Walker Art Gallery, Ghost & Vampire Tours, &more), Spirit of Harrogate Ltd (in Harrogate) and York (National Railway Museum, York Shambles, &more). The adventure continues: see the interesting displays at The Vulcan Experience, get a sense of history and politics at Manchester Town Hall, have fun and explore at Science and Industry Museum, and get engrossed in the history at Imperial War Museum North.

To find ratings, photos, reviews, and more tourist information, read our Manchester online route planner.

You can do a combination of bus and flight from Kaliningrad to Manchester in 9.5 hours. Other options are to fly; or do a combination of car and train. The time zone changes from Eastern European Standard Time (EET) to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), which is usually a -2 hour difference. Traveling from Kaliningrad in February, things will get a bit warmer in Manchester: highs are around 8°C and lows about 1°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 10th (Fri) early enough to travel back home.