44 days in Russia Itinerary

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

Your cultural itinerary includes sights like A.A.S. Tree Plastique Art Gallery and House-Museum of Yuriy Novikov. Get in touch with nature at Rosa Khutor Ski Resort and Gornaya Karusel Sport-Tourist Complex. There's lots more to do: ski along the peaceful trails at Krasnaya Polyana Mountain Cluster, hit the slopes at "Laura" Cross-country Ski & Biathlon Center, head outdoors with Gazprom Mountain-Tourist Centre, and hike along Bzerpinskiy Karniz.

To see maps and more tourist information, read our Sochi online trip itinerary planner.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to Sochi is an approximately 10.5-hour flight. Expect cooler temperatures when traveling from Riyadh in February; daily highs in Sochi reach 13°C and lows reach 4°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 18th (Sat) early enough to catch the flight to Irkutsk.

The most popular stop on the Trans-Siberian railway, Irkutsk gained fame as the cultural center of Decembrist exiles.

Head to Gallery of V. Bronshteyn and Dorenbergfor some retail therapy. Your inner history buff will appreciate Russian Watches and Holy Cross Cathedral. Step out of Irkutsk to go to Listvyanka and see Stone Cherskogo, which is approximately 1h 20 min away. Next up on the itinerary: contemplate the waterfront views at Lake Baikal, glide through natural beauty at Dinamo Ski Lodge, browse the different shops at Mall Versal, and examine the collection at Museum of Medicinal Herbs and Minerals.

To find other places to visit, ratings, traveler tips, and other tourist information, go to the Irkutsk online day trip planner.

Traveling by flight from Sochi to Irkutsk takes 8 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a train. The time zone difference when traveling from Sochi to Irkutsk is 5 hours. Plan for cooler temperatures traveling from Sochi in February, with highs in Irkutsk at -9°C and lows at -25°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 22nd (Wed) early enough to catch the flight to Krasnoyarsk.

Famed for its scenic location, Krasnoyarsk so impressed author Anton Chekhov that he considered it Siberia's most appealing city, describing it as a "picturesque, cultured town." A convenient pit stop for passengers making the trans-Siberian journey, the city serves as the country's major railway junction halfway between Moscow and Vladivostok.

Give yourself a bit of retail therapy at Kamenka Cultural Space and Romanovs' Art-Gallery. Take a break from the city and head to Stolby National Park and Enisey River. There's much more to do: catch a live event at Vetluzhanka, stop by Diana Art Salon, take your sightseeing to a higher altitude at Gora Chernaya Sopka, and ski along the peaceful trails at Berezka Ski Lodge.

To see more things to do, where to stay, other places to visit, and tourist information, you can read our Krasnoyarsk sightseeing planner.

Getting from Irkutsk to Krasnoyarsk by flight takes about 3 hours. Other options: drive; or take a train. The time zone difference moving from Irkutsk Standard Time to Krasnoyarsk Standard Time is minus 1 hour. Finish your sightseeing early on the 25th (Sat) so you can fly to Yekaterinburg.

Located at the meeting point of two continents, Yekaterinburg serves as the cultural capital of the Urals region.

Museum-lovers will get to explore Art Bird Gallery and Sinara Art Gallery. Visiting Ekaterinburg Guide Center and Nizhneisetskaya Ski Lodge will get you outdoors. There's lots more to do: get a taste of the local shopping with Art Gallery of Church on Blood, look for gifts at Vinoteka Solovyova, view the masterpieces at Metenkov's House, and learn about all things military at The UMMC Museum complex.

To see ratings, reviews, photos, and other tourist information, use the Yekaterinburg online trip builder.

Fly from Krasnoyarsk to Yekaterinburg in 4.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a train. Due to the time zone difference, you'll gain 2 hours traveling from Krasnoyarsk to Yekaterinburg. In February, plan for daily highs up to -5°C, and evening lows to -17°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 28th (Tue) to allow enough time 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.

Get some cultural insight at Gallery-Workshop of Zaitsev and Kazan Kremlin. Museum Gallery Dom Art and Kazan Art Gallery will appeal to museum buffs. There's lots more to do: take a stroll through Bauman Street (Kazansky Arbat), pause for some serene contemplation at Annunciation Cathedral, ski along the peaceful trails at Tramplin Ski Complex, and see the interesting displays at Konstantin Vasiliev Museum.

Use Klarna Trips's suggestions to plan your Kazan trip and find the best activities and attractions for your vacation.

You can fly from Yekaterinburg to Kazan in 3 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a train. You'll gain 2 hours traveling from Yekaterinburg to Kazan due to the time zone difference. In February, plan for daily highs up to -5°C, and evening lows to -14°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 4th (Sat) to allow enough time to fly 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.

Church of Nativity of Most Holy Mother of God and The Kremlin will appeal to history buffs. Do your shopping at Yurkovka Art Gallery and Veshch v Sebe Art Gallery. Next up on the itinerary: take in the exciting artwork at Khrupkiye Mechty Gallery, get a taste of the local shopping with Kovcheg Gallery, look for gifts at Russkiye Suveniry, and admire the masterpieces at FUTURO Gallery.

For photos, other places to visit, ratings, and other tourist information, refer to the Nizhny Novgorod trip planning website.

You can fly from Kazan to Nizhny Novgorod in 5.5 hours. Other options are to drive; or take a train. In March, daytime highs in Nizhny Novgorod are 2°C, while nighttime lows are -7°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 8th (Wed) early enough to take a train 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 9th (Thu): get a taste of the local shopping with Vladimir Art gallery, see the interesting displays at Spoon Museum, then see the interesting displays at Ogni Vladimira Museum, then take a stroll around Fligel Center for Contemporary Culture, and finally get engrossed in the history at Museum of Non-Invented Stories. Here are some ideas for day two: examine the collection at Borodins' Blacksmith Shop, examine the collection at Chambers Cultural and Educational Center, and then pause for some serene contemplation at Church of the Intercession of the Holy Virgin.

To find more things to do, maps, photos, and more tourist information, use the Vladimir route planning app.

You can take a train from Nizhny Novgorod to Vladimir in 2.5 hours. Other options are to drive; or take a bus. Finish your sightseeing early on the 10th (Fri) so you can drive to Ples.

Kick off your visit on the 11th (Sat): take in the exciting artwork at Souvenir Shop Furlyalyai and then take in the exciting artwork at Provincial ARTgallery-M.

For reviews, maps, photos, and tourist information, go to the Ples trip planner.

Traveling by car from Vladimir to Ples takes 3 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of train and taxi; or take a bus. On the 11th (Sat), wrap the sightseeing up by early afternoon so you can drive 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 12th (Sun), stop by Tselebnaya Sila Lna, then examine the collection at Dom Gorodskogo Golovy Botnikova Museum, then see the interesting displays at Bread Museum, and finally shop like a local with Alina Exhibition Hall. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the next day: take in the exciting artwork at Old City Art Gallery, see the interesting displays at Museum of Wooden Architecture, then pause for some serene contemplation at The Resurrection Church on the Debra, and finally see the interesting displays at Snegurochka Fashion Museum.

For traveler tips, reviews, other places to visit, and tourist information, read Kostroma travel route tool.

Traveling by car from Ples to Kostroma takes 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus. In March, daily temperatures in Kostroma can reach 4°C, while at night they dip to -3°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 13th (Mon) early enough to fly 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.

Deepen your sense of the past at sights like Saint Isaac's Cathedral and Palace Square. Museum-lovers will appreciate The State Hermitage Museum and Photogallery Rachmaninov Garden. There's lots more to do: take in the architecture and atmosphere at Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, look for gifts at Magazin Kuptsov Yeliseyevykh, examine the collection at The Anna Akhmatova Museum, and take an in-depth tour of Yusupov Palace.

To find other places to visit, more things to do, traveler tips, and more tourist information, read our St. Petersburg day trip app.

You can fly from Kostroma to St. Petersburg in 3 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a train. Expect a daytime high around 2°C in March, and nighttime lows around -5°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 19th (Sun) so you can catch the flight to Kaliningrad.

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

Head to Museum of inclusions, jewelry and amber products "50 million years" and Art Gallery Gatesfor some retail therapy. Do some cultural sightseeing at Kurshskaya Kosa and Apartment-gallery "House with a gargoyle". There's much more to do: stop by Homlins Workshop, pause for some serene contemplation at Konigsberg Cathedral, and see the interesting displays at B-413 Submarine Museum.

To find traveler tips, maps, where to stay, and tourist information, refer to the Kaliningrad trip planner.

Getting from St. Petersburg to Kaliningrad by flight takes about 3 hours. Other options: drive; or take a bus. The time zone changes from Moscow Standard Time to Eastern European Standard Time, which is usually a -1 hour difference. Expect somewhat warmer temperatures when traveling from St. Petersburg in March; daily highs in Kaliningrad reach 7°C and lows reach -1°C. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 22nd (Wed) to allow time for travel to Tula.

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

Start off your visit on the 23rd (Thu): admire the masterpieces at Tula Museum of Fine Arts, view the masterpieces at IllyuziON, then get to know the fascinating history of Museum Quarter, and finally contemplate the long history of Tula State Museum of Weapons.

For more things to do, photos, traveler tips, and other tourist information, go to the Tula visit app.

Getting from Kaliningrad to Tula by combination of flight and train takes about 7.5 hours. Other options: drive; or take a train. Traveling from Kaliningrad to Tula, you'll lose 1 hour due to the time zone difference. Finish your sightseeing early on the 23rd (Thu) to allow enough 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.

Visit Red Square and Kuznetsky Most Street for their historical value. Shop till you drop at Zurab Tseretelli's Art Gallery and ARTSTORY gallery. You'll find plenty of places to visit near Moscow: Ski Stadium Zorkiy (in Krasnogorsk), Khimki Art Gallery (in Khimki) and Kournikova Gallery (in Borki). Next up on the itinerary: explore the world behind art at State Tretyakov Gallery, view the masterpieces at Art Gallery Na Kashirke, shop like a local with The Engineering Building, and stop by Lumiere Gallery.

To find where to stay, photos, and more tourist information, read Moscow trip planner.

Traveling by car from Tula to Moscow takes 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or take a bus. In March, daytime highs in Moscow are 2°C, while nighttime lows are -5°C. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 30th (Thu) to allow time for the flight back home.