Visiting large sporting events is a great way to show support for a home team and can also be the perfect excuse to visit far flung and unusual destinations away from the tourist trail. Russia has so much to offer sports enthusiasts who have a passion for wanderlust; visit the 11 cities suggested below and stay in one of the 51,000 Airbnb homes for the perfect sporting break.
Saint Petersburg
Rightfully called Russia’s cultural capital, St. Pete has something to offer every traveler: whether it’s a rooftop walk, a tour of the glorious remains of the Russian Empire, barhopping on Rubinshtein street or hanging out in the city’s various art clusters. If you’re looking for a place to relax, try “New Holland”, an artificial island in the center of St. Petersburg, which is especially pleasant in the summer, when you can walk around the park and try local street food, admiring the facades of the surrounding historical buildings.
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Moscow
Explore Zaryadye, the newly opened park at the footsteps of Kremlin, or have a picnic in Gorky Park and top it off with a visit to the Garage Museum of Contemporary Art. If you’re looking for something authentic, try one of the many Airbnb Experiences where you can go behind the scenes of the legendary Bolshoi Theatre, learn how to cook borscht or explore Moscow’s local food scene.
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Kazan
Start your trip in Kazan, often referred to as Russia’s third capital. You can kick things off in the city’s Kremlin which houses a whole host of treasures including the Historical Museum, the Museum of Islam, the Hermitage-Kazan Gallery and the Mausoleum of Kazan khans and of course its crown jewel: the Qolşärif Mosque. In warm weather, the embankment of the Volga is the place to be: it buzzes with life and all kinds of activities from drawing lessons to dance master classes, poetry readings and fairs. If you want to explore more remote areas of the city, you can rent a bicycle and go on a mini trip.
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Volgograd
Volgograd is a city most known for the site of WWII’s Battle of Stalingrad, commemorated by a huge statue, The Motherland Calls, part of the hilltop Mamayev Kurgan memorial complex. The 85 meter tall statue is considered one of the highest sculptures in the world and is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records, ranking 11th. If you want to try the local cuisine – sample the sturgeon, traditional pastries and local vegetables.
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Yekaterinburg
Yekaterinburg is known as the industrial center of the Ural Mountains, but it’s also much loved for its rich music culture. It is also famed for its quirky monuments, commemorating Michael Jackson or even the keyboard. If you enjoy people watching, check out “Plotinka”, a public space that hosts the city’s biggest cultural events. Lovers of history and contemporary art should definitely visit “Yeltsin Center”, an interactive museum, dedicated to the first president of new Russia and its history. The center’s observation deck boasts an impressive bird’s-eye view of the city.
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Nizhny Novgorod
Nizhny Novgorod is a city famed for its hiking trails and breathtaking views. For almost 800 years, it was the largest trade center of Russia. The Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin is the perfect start to your city visit and is worth at least three hours of your time. Its two-kilometer wall was erected in the beginning of the 16th century and is reinforced with 13 towers, of which all but one has survived. Apart from the Kremlin, it’s worth checking out the city’s beautiful pre-revolutionary buildings and the Museum of Physics that hosts a very popular interactive science show.
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Samara
Although it is Russia’s sixth largest city, Samara boasts the longest river embankment in the country, the highest railway station in Europe and Europe’s largest city square. Russia’s oldest Drama Theater is a must for theater fans and if you’re feeling adventurous, try descending into Stalin’s bunker, an enormous underground man-made cavern, 37 meters deep.
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Saransk
Saransk was founded in 1641 as a military fortress and later became the capital of the Republic of Mordovia. The name originated from the word “sara” which means ‘wetland’. The majestic Cathedral of St. Feodor Ushakov is the main symbol of the city. Treat your inner child to a tour of Pushkin Park, where you can play in the fountains, go to the zoo, listen to live music and ride the ferris wheel.
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Kaliningrad
The amber capital, the westernmost region of Russia and the homeland of Immanuel Kant. Start your journey at the Brandenburg Gate, then go to the Central Square, admiring the sight of Koenigsberg Castle as you pass by. Go down the embankment and pass between the Lower and Upper Pond, which will lead you to the Amber Museum, a must visit. If you’re traveling with kids, take them to the Museum of the World Ocean, a cultural center that promises to surprise and delight anyone with an interest in marine life.
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Rostov-on-Don
Often called the “gateway to the Caucasus”, Rostov has a rich tapestry of parks, gardens, and meandering riverside embankments. Check out the Levberdon embankment if you enjoy music – it is famed for its lively performances. If you have time, go to the outskirts of the city to see the Liventsov fortress, which is often compared with the city of Troy. The ruins of the oldest settlements date back to the 18th century BC.
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Sochi
While Sochi is known worldwide as the host city for winter sports, Russians actually know it as the country’s most famous summer resort. Where else can you swim in the warm sea and ski down an alpine slope in just a matter of hours? The Olympic facilities in Sochi are another highlight. Climbing the spiral staircase to the observation deck of the Great Akhun Mountain, you will enjoy a panoramic view of the Caucasus landscape and the Black Sea. Cap off your trip with a visit to the Sochi Arboretum, where you will get up close with the flora of the region.
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*All homes in this post are intended purely to inspire and illustrate. Airbnb does not recommend or endorse these listings or any other homes on the platform.