Russia has plenty of delicious traditional dishes to tantalise your taste buds, with many popular meals being heavily influenced by European, Asian and Middle Eastern cuisines. Berries, cereals, flour, vegetables, meat and fish feature prominently in many Russian recipes.

Buckwheat porridge is a much-loved breakfast offering in Russia, while Borscht is a flavoursome beetroot soup which is packed with meat and vegetables. Beef Stroganoff is a famous signature Russian dish comprising beef steak, onions, beef stock, fish sauce, mushrooms, sour cream and spices, while Shashlik is a Russian take on a kebab which dates back to the Caucasian mountain tribesmen in the 19th century. Pelmeni, a national dish, are dumplings stuffed with ground meat, onions and seasoning, served alone or in a soup broth and Plov is a tasty dish comprising rice cooked with oil, carrots and turkey, chicken or meat. Ptichye Moloko is a scrumptious dessert featuring custard between layers of sponge and topped with a ganache.

Vodka is a hugely popular drink in Russia which is often flavoured and coloured with herbs and spices, while Kvass is a traditional fermented Slavic and Baltic drink, usually made from dried rye bread.

A country as huge as Russia experiences many different types of weather, depending on where you are visiting. Broadly speaking, a great time to see Russia is during the summer months of June to August when the evenings are long and light, with pleasant temperatures of around 21°C to 25°C, with the mercury sometimes rising above 30°C. This time is also perfect for getting out and about to discover the many attractions in this amazing country.
Winters are long and visually spectacular in Russia, with snow typically starting in October and lasting until April. January is the coldest month with an average low temperature of minus 9.1°C. Visitors who want to avoid the crowds in the big cities opt to visit Russia in the shoulder seasons of late spring or early autumn, when the weather is still very pleasant and the queues at the major attractions are much smaller than they are during the peak summer months.

Russia is brimming with incredible things to see and do, from observing epic historical landmarks to taking part in some thrilling outdoor adventures. Jawdropping natural attractions include Lake Baikal, the Altai Mountains in Siberia, the Russian Tundra, Virgin Komi Forests, Mount Elbrus, Kamchatka Volcanoes and Olkhon Island which is home to one of the world's largest lake islands. Russia also has its fair share of superb sandy beaches including Khalaktyrsky Beach, Beach Laskovy, Repino Beach and Podrezovo Beach. A multitude of exciting adventures await, from skiing in the Red Valley, discovering psychedelic salt mines and Siberian tiger safaris in the pine forests of eastern Russia to riding the underground Metro in Moscow, watching a ballet at the Bolshoi Theatre and enjoying a canal boat tour in St Petersburg.
Major must-see city attractions include The Moscow Kremlin, Peterhof Palace, the Lenin Mausoleum, Red Square, the Winter Palace, State Hermitage Museum, St Basil’s Cathedral and the Bolshoi Theatre. Key attractions that ensure a feast of family fun include Moscow Zoo, Sochi amusement park, H20 Aquapark, Primorskiy Safari Park and Star City, a cosmonaut training centre where you can take part in a simulated rocket launch. Popular outdoor winter activities in Russia include cross-country skiing, ice fishing, snowboarding, Troika sleigh rides, ice hockey, sledging and ice-skating, while popular activities in the summer months include hiking, rafting, boating, sunbathing, cycling, paragliding, diving and fishing.