Asia
Imperial cities, vast taiga and the deepest lake on earth.
Russia is the world's largest country, stretching from the Baltic to the Pacific. Moscow's Red Square, the Kremlin and St Basil's Cathedral are among its best-known sights, while St Petersburg's canals and the Hermitage reflect imperial ambitions. Old towns of the Golden Ring, such as Suzdal, preserve onion-domed churches, and further east lie Lake Baikal, the Altai mountains and the volcanoes of Kamchatka.
Travellers should check their government's current travel advice before planning, as many governments currently advise against all travel. The country has a deep tradition of literature, ballet and hearty food, from borscht to pelmeni. The Trans-Siberian Railway remains the classic long-distance journey. June to August is warm, with white nights in St Petersburg; winters are long and severe.
June, July, August.