35 days in Saudi Arabia & Russia Itinerary

The city of Mecca boasts the statues of the holiest site in Islam, and represents the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad and therefore the religion itself.

Explore the numerous day-trip ideas around Mecca: Jeddah (Nassif House Museum, Fakieh Aquarium, &more). There's much more to do: take in the awesome beauty at Jabal al-Nour, admire the striking features of Abraj Al-Bait Towers, take in the spiritual surroundings of Station of Ibrahim, and steep yourself in history at Mount Arafat.

For other places to visit, traveler tips, where to stay, and other tourist information, read our Mecca day trip planning site.

Riyadh to Mecca is an approximately 3.5-hour flight. You can also drive; or take a bus. When traveling from Riyadh in January, plan for warmer days and a bit warmer nights in Mecca: temperatures range from 38°C by day to 23°C at night. Cap off your sightseeing on the 28th (Sat) early enough to catch the flight to Medina.

Most tourism in Medina, the second-holiest city in Islam, comes from pilgrims who visit as part of the Hajj, an annual traditional journey that ends in Mecca.

Medina is known for historic sites, nature, and shopping. Your trip includes some of its best attractions: take in the spiritual surroundings of Al Masjid an Nabawi, make a trip to Masjid Al Ghamamah, examine the collection at Koran Museum, and steep yourself in history at Abu Bakar Masjed.

To see traveler tips, maps, other places to visit, and more tourist information, read our Medina trip itinerary builder site.

Getting from Mecca to Medina by flight takes about 3 hours. Other options: take a train; or drive. Traveling from Mecca in January, things will get little chillier in Medina: highs are around 28°C and lows about 15°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 1st (Wed) to allow time to travel to Tula.

Though Tula is best known for Leo Tolstoy's country estate, the city has plenty of additional cultural and historical intrigue.

Kick off your visit on the 2nd (Thu): pause for some photo ops at Memorial Complex to Defenders of Motherland Sky, then examine the collection at P. Krylov's Museum, then admire the striking features of Tula Kremlin Museum, and finally steep yourself in history at Tula State Museum of Weapons. Keep things going the next day: see the interesting displays at Yasnaya Polyana, see the interesting displays at Museum Moto Auto ART, then admire the masterpieces at Tula Museum of Fine Arts, then take in the architecture and atmosphere at Holy Assumption Cathedral, and finally see the interesting displays at Museum Garmoni Deda Filimona.

For reviews, ratings, more things to do, and tourist information, read Tula trip planner.

Use the Route module to find suitable travel options from Medina to Tula. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 3rd (Fri) to allow time to drive 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). And it doesn't end there: make a trip to Red Square, admire the masterpieces at Art Gallery of the European and American Countries of the XIX-XX centuries, explore the different monuments and memorials at Tserkov' Uspeniya Presvyatoy Bogoroditsy V Novodevich'yem Monastyre, and contemplate the long history of Moscow Kremlin.

For other places to visit, ratings, more things to do, and tourist information, read Moscow online road trip planner.

You can drive from Tula to Moscow in 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or take a bus. February in Moscow sees daily highs of -2°C and lows of -7°C at night. Finish your sightseeing early on the 7th (Tue) to allow enough time to fly to Kaliningrad.

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

On the 8th (Wed), explore the striking landscape of Kurshskaya Kosa. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the next day: step aboard Research vessel "Vityaz", see the interesting displays at B-413 Submarine Museum, and then take in the architecture and atmosphere at Konigsberg Cathedral.

For other places to visit, ratings, maps, and tourist information, go to the Kaliningrad trip itinerary planning website.

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 to Eastern European Standard Time is minus 1 hour. Expect a bit warmer temperatures when traveling from Moscow in February; daily highs in Kaliningrad reach 2°C and lows reach -3°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 9th (Thu) so you can travel to Veliky Novgorod.

An ancient city thriving as a modern tourist destination, Veliky Novgorod rightly bills itself as the birthplace of Russia.

On the 10th (Fri), admire the landmark architecture of Vazhnya, admire the striking features of Church of the Savior's Transfiguration on Ilin Street, then see the interesting displays at Center of Musical Antiquities, and finally examine the collection at Novgorodskiy Muzey-Zapovednik. Keep things going the next day: admire the landmark architecture of St. Sophia Cathedral, appreciate the history behind Millennium of Russia, then admire the landmark architecture of Granovitaya Palata, then appreciate the extensive heritage of Novgorod Kremlin (Detinets), and finally take a leisurely stroll along Monument to Painting Boy.

For maps, other places to visit, where to stay, and more tourist information, use the Veliky Novgorod trip planner.

Do a combination of flight and bus from Kaliningrad to Veliky Novgorod in 6 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus. You'll lose 1 hour traveling from Kaliningrad to Veliky Novgorod due to the time zone difference. Finish your sightseeing early on the 11th (Sat) to allow enough time to drive to St. Petersburg.

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, see the interesting displays at The Kunstkamera, take in the architecture and atmosphere at Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, and admire the landmark architecture of Peter and Paul Fortress.

To find other places to visit, ratings, where to stay, and tourist information, refer to the St. Petersburg planner.

You can drive from Veliky Novgorod to St. Petersburg in 2.5 hours. Other options are to take a train; or take a bus. In February, daytime highs in St. Petersburg are -1°C, while nighttime lows are -6°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 16th (Thu) 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.

On the 17th (Fri), examine the collection at Museum Istoricheskaya Syrovarnya, see the interesting displays at M. Malyshev's House Museum, then see the interesting displays at Peter Toy Museum, and finally see the interesting displays at Bread Museum. On your second day here, experience rural life at Sumarokovskaya Elk Farm, then take in the architecture and atmosphere at The Resurrection Church on the Debra, then examine the collection at Dom Gorodskogo Golovy Botnikova Museum, and finally explore the engaging exhibits at Sweets Museum Russkiye Slasti.

To see reviews, photos, ratings, and other tourist information, go to the Kostroma tour planner.

Traveling by flight from St. Petersburg to Kostroma takes 3 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a train. In February, plan for daily highs up to -1°C, and evening lows to -7°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 18th (Sat) 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.

Kick off your visit on the 19th (Sun): see the interesting displays at Holy Assumption Cathedral, examine the collection at Borodins' Blacksmith Shop, then appreciate the extensive heritage of Bolshaya Moskovskaya Street, and finally admire the masterpieces at Gzhel', Chastnyy Muzey Im. Velikogo Glada Valakesa. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the 20th (Mon): take in the architecture and atmosphere at Church of the Intercession of the Holy Virgin, examine the collection at Chambers Cultural and Educational Center, then get curious at Museum of Illusions and Sciences Da Vinci, then appreciate the history behind Fireman, and finally pause for some serene contemplation at Cathedral of Saint Demetrius.

To see reviews, where to stay, photos, and other tourist information, refer to the Vladimir trip planner.

Traveling by car from Kostroma to Vladimir takes 3.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus; or take a train. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 20th (Mon) 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.

Nizhny Novgorod is known for sightseeing, historic sites, and museums. Your trip includes some of its best attractions: step into the grandiose world of The Kremlin, engage your brain at Museum of Old Equipment and Tools, pause for some serene contemplation at Church of Nativity of Most Holy Mother of God, and pause for some photo ops at Chkalov Monument.

For where to stay, traveler tips, other places to visit, and other tourist information, read our Nizhny Novgorod trip maker website.

You can take a train from Vladimir to Nizhny Novgorod in 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus. Expect a daytime high around -2°C in February, and nighttime lows around -10°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 23rd (Thu) early enough to catch the flight 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.

Get out of town with these interesting Kazan side-trips: Raifa (Church in Honor of the Holy Fathers in Sinai and Raifa, Raifa Monastery, &more). The adventure continues: steep yourself in history at Kazan Kremlin, pause for some serene contemplation at Annunciation Cathedral, take in the spiritual surroundings of Cathedral of the Apostles Peter and Paul, and examine the collection at E. Boratynskiy's Museum.

To see more things to do, traveler tips, and tourist information, you can read our Kazan vacation builder app.

Traveling by flight from Nizhny Novgorod to Kazan takes 5.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a train. Traveling from Nizhny Novgorod in February, plan for little chillier nights in Kazan, with lows around -14°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 26th (Sun) so you can catch the flight to Sochi.

Called the "Summer Capital of Russia," the busy resort town of Sochi is best known as the host of the 2014 Winter Olympics.

On the 27th (Mon), head outdoors with Rosa Khutor Ski Resort.

To find traveler tips, ratings, reviews, and tourist information, use the Sochi sightseeing planning tool.

Traveling by flight from Kazan to Sochi takes 4 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a train. Traveling from Kazan in February, expect Sochi to be much hotter, temps between 13°C and 4°C. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 28th (Tue) to allow time for the flight back home.