Russia
History
Oleg took Kyiv and made it the centre of Kievan Rus'.
Power shifted north to Vladimir-Suzdal as Kyiv declined.
Moscow became a separate principality under Daniel, son of Alexander Nevsky.
Ivan IV was crowned the first tsar.
Peter I took the title of emperor after victory over Sweden.
The monarchy was abolished, changing Russia's form of government.
The Soviet Union was formed, with Russia as its largest republic.
Declaration of State Sovereignty advanced the country's sovereignty.
Part ofEuropeMore countries, cities and routes.Short facts
RegionEastern Europe / Northern Asia
LanguageRussian
Time zoneMSK (UTC+3) to UTC+12
Drives onRight
Worth seeing
- Red Square Moscow: St. Basil's Cathedral, the Kremlin and Lenin's Mausoleum in one iconic view.
- Hermitage St. Petersburg: One of the world's largest art museums in a Baroque imperial palace.
- Trans-Siberian Railway: The world's longest railway crossing 9,289 km and 8 time zones.
Find a city in Russia
Showing all cities
MoscowPlanning questions
What is Russia known for?Red Square Moscow, Hermitage St. Petersburg, Trans-Siberian Railway.
What is the capital?Moscow.
Which language is useful?Russian.
When is the national day?12 June.
Upcoming events
Russia Day12 Jun 2026 ยท RussiaUse Moscow as the first planning anchor for Russia, then compare the city, food and worth-seeing notes on this page.
Food & drink
Borscht
TeaKnown for
Red Square MoscowSt. Basil's Cathedralthe KremlinHermitage St. PetersburgTrans-Siberian Railway289 km8 time zones.
Music & Culture