24 days in Central Russia Itinerary

A World Heritage Site boasting hundreds of architectural monuments, Yaroslavl sits on the confluence of the Volga and Kotorosl Rivers and is renowned for its historical town center.

Explore the numerous day-trip ideas around Yaroslavl: Mountain Levitan (in Ples), Kostroma (The Resurrection Church on the Debra, Monastery of st Ipaty, & more) and Rostov (Church of St. Gregory the Theologian & State Museum Preserve Rostov Kremlin). There's much more to do: get to know the fascinating history of Yaroslavl Embankment, take in the spiritual surroundings of Church of St. John Chrysostom, examine the collection at Einstein's Entertaining Sciences Museum, and get to know the resident critters at Yaroslavl Zoo.

For traveler tips, ratings, maps, and more tourist information, use the Yaroslavl online trip planner .

St. Petersburg to Yaroslavl is an approximately 5-hour flight. You can also take a train; or drive. When traveling from St. Petersburg in December, plan for little chillier days in Yaroslavl, with highs around -1°C, while nights are about the same with lows around -5°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 6th (Fri) so you can go by car 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.

You'll find plenty of places to visit near Vladimir: Suzdal (Spaso-Evfimiyev Monastery Museum Complex, Suzdal Kremlin, & more). There's still lots to do: pause for some serene contemplation at Holy Assumption Cathedral, have some family-friendly fun at Virtual Reality Club Golokron, test your team's savvy at popular escape rooms, and examine the collection at Gingerbread Museum.

To find maps, where to stay, reviews, and other tourist information, use the Vladimir planning website .

Drive from Yaroslavl to Vladimir in 3.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or take a train. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 9th (Mon) so you can catch the train 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.

Venture out of the city with trips to FREEZONE Aerodynamic Complex (in Sharapovo), Muzey tekhniki Vadima Zadorozhnogo (in Arkhangelskoye) and Ski Stadium Zorkiy (in Krasnogorsk). Next up on the itinerary: don't miss a visit to Red Square, see the interesting displays at Tsaritsyno Museum-Reserve, take in the architecture and atmosphere at St. Basil's Cathedral, and test your team's savvy at popular escape rooms.

To see other places to visit, more things to do, photos, and more tourist information, read Moscow road trip app .

Traveling by train from Vladimir to Moscow takes 2 hours. Alternatively, you can drive. December in Moscow sees daily highs of -1°C and lows of -5°C at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 14th (Sat) to allow time to travel to Voronezh.

Voronezh is a city and the administrative center of Voronezh Oblast, Russia, straddling the Voronezh River and located 12km from where it flows into the Don. Step out of Voronezh with an excursion to Forest Residence of Santa Claus in Nelzha--about 1h 05 min away. There's lots more to do: pause for some photo ops at Monument to White Bim Black Ear, test your team's savvy at popular escape rooms, get up close and personal with brilliant marine life at Voronezh Oceanarium, and stroll around Voronezh Central Park.

For traveler tips, where to stay, other places to visit, and tourist information, go to the Voronezh visit planner.

You can fly from Moscow to Voronezh in 4 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a train. Expect a daytime high around -1°C in December, and nighttime lows around -6°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 17th (Tue) so you can go by car to Tula.

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

Get out of town with these interesting Tula side-trips: Danki (Prioksko-Terrasny Nature Reserve & The Bison Breeding Centre). There's much more to do: steep yourself in history at Tula State Museum of Weapons, admire the masterpieces at IllyuziON, take in the architecture and atmosphere at Holy Assumption Cathedral, and have some family-friendly fun at Indoor Rope Park Treasure Island.

To see more things to do, where to stay, maps, and other tourist information, refer to the Tula trip app .

Getting from Voronezh to Tula by car takes about 4.5 hours. Other options: take a bus; or do a combination of flight and train. Cap off your sightseeing on the 20th (Fri) early enough to travel to Petrovo.

Kick off your visit on the 21st (Sat): examine the collection at K. Tsiolkovskiy's House Museum, make a trip to Holy Pafnutiev Borovsky Monastery, and then get in on the family fun at Etnomir Tourist Complex. On the next day, enjoy some diversion at Active Leisure Center Igrachi, then look for all kinds of wild species at Bird Park Vorobyi, then don't miss a visit to Borovsk Paintings, and finally pause for some serene contemplation at Church of Boris and Gleb.

To see other places to visit, where to stay, and more tourist information, go to the Petrovo tour planner.

Drive from Tula to Petrovo in 3 hours. In December, plan for daily highs up to -2°C, and evening lows to -7°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 22nd (Sun) to allow enough time to travel to Ostashkov.

Ostashkov is a town and the administrative center of Ostashkovsky District in Tver Oblast, Russia, located on a peninsula at the southern shore of Lake Seliger, 199km west of Tver, the administrative center of the oblast. Start off your visit on the 23rd (Mon): make a trip to Nilov Monastery, then explore the activities along Seliger Lake, then get engrossed in the history at Museum of Forgotten Things and not just, and finally contemplate in the serene atmosphere at Temple Complex Shirkov Churchyard. Keep things going the next day: don't miss a visit to Virgin Jiten convent, then contemplate in the serene atmosphere at Bell Tower of The Church of The Transfiguration, then head outdoors with Lake Peno, and finally see the interesting displays at Ostashkov Museum of Local Lore.

For photos, maps, and tourist information, refer to the Ostashkov online day trip planner .

Getting from Petrovo to Ostashkov by car takes about 5 hours. Finish your sightseeing early on the 24th (Tue) to allow enough time to travel back home.