Winter holidays by car. Where to go for the New Year by car. On the road: what to take with you

The long New Year holidays of recent years have become like an additional vacation for Russians. With all the consequences - visits to Milan or Paris, trips to Egypt or Thailand, or, in extreme cases, trips towards close and inexpensive Ukraine and Belarus. This year, the situation has changed radically: Europe has become too expensive, travel packages are also becoming more expensive, and tour operators are going bankrupt faster than tourists can return home. Ukraine is now not the most welcoming place for Russians, and in Belarus, due to the weakening of the ruble exchange rate, it is no longer so cheap. What remains is beautiful, endless Russia and

Where to go

Russia, however, is for New Year's holidays. If you aim towards the sea, then there is no point in expecting the same warm beach holiday as in Turkey on our coasts. In addition, post-Olympic Sochi is not affordable for every citizen, and on the way to Crimea you can get stuck. Surprising as it may seem at first glance, the best place for a January trip is... the Far North. And if so, you need to enjoy it to the maximum.

One of the most interesting destinations is Murmansk, the Kola and Rybachy Peninsulas. The landscapes are fabulous in their severity, there is the opportunity to see the magical northern lights in January (much cheaper than in neighboring Norway), and there is also a sea here, although it is white and cold.

Karelia, which with great happiness we managed to preserve, is amazingly beautiful at any time of the year. Especially in winter. The second alternative to the western and southern directions is the east. Of course, not for 10,000 kilometers, even 11 holiday days are not enough for this, but within 2000-2500 - this mileage includes the distance to the Ural Mountains. But if a very long road, especially in winter, is scary or the presence of children does not allow serious forced marches, the best solution is to take a ride to Veliky Ustyug. A distance of 1000 kilometers, especially if you plan stops for rest, “adult” children will endure calmly - just prepare for them. Near Veliky Ustyug there is the official patrimony of Father Frost with a whole fairy-tale town, where a lot of fun events and shows will take place during the New Year holidays.

Even closer to Ulyanovsk - less than 900 kilometers: this route portal

Winter travel by car in Russia is even more pleasant in some ways than summer trips, since the roads hidden by snow are softer and smoother than summer potholes, and you practically won’t find dirt in the northern directions. Owners of diesel cars just have to be careful - take into account the lack of quality fuel at distant gas stations and take diesel additives with them. And to everyone -

How to have fun

In northern and northeastern directions, snow and winter weather are guaranteed. This means that you can count on skis, including mountain skis (although Russian ski resorts are not yet as comfortable and well-equipped as foreign ones, but what if the crisis serves as a good incentive for development?), skates and sleds. The abundance of rivers and lakes will provide winter fishing and hunting. Where to sleep Due to constant “swings” with exchange rates, owners of hotels and recreation centers cannot decide what is more important to them - confident and calm guests or profit. Now, when booking a hotel, the price for a room can change - naturally, upward, and literally within a day. You need to be prepared for this. You may not book at your own risk.

Living in the Capital is not so easy for many people who love peace and quiet rather than rush and bustle. In Moscow, you are forced to live in the rhythm of the big city and be guided by its rules. If such rhythms do not suit you well, the best solution would be frequent weekend trips in your car away from the bustle of the city. Moscow is interesting because already outside the Moscow Ring Road a completely different life begins. You don't have to travel long to get great recreational opportunities and experience a completely different life. Around Moscow, within 150 km, you can find beautiful cities and amazing villages that contain a huge amount of historical interest. The architecture of some places will pleasantly surprise you and give you an unforgettable experience just from contemplation. So, where can you go by car for a weekend from Moscow and get great pleasure from the trip?

When choosing a destination, do not forget to check everything about the city on the Internet and book a hotel for the night. This will help you drive without the fear that you won't be able to stop. It is especially important to plan everything correctly when traveling with children. You can spend a weekend in an interesting place far from the noise inexpensively; you don’t have to spend a month saving money to go to one of the beautiful cities in the Moscow region. All you need to do is fill up your car, take some pocket money with you and pay for hotel accommodation. This will be the best solution for you and will allow you to enjoy a short vacation without unnecessary worries. And remember that a good vacation doesn't always involve a lot of planning. Spontaneous actions are often preferable to obtain enormous pleasure. However, plan a trip to one of the cities below.

Krasnogorsk

This is a city just 22 km from Moscow, and you can even get to it by bicycle. The trip by car will take only 15 minutes, you won't even spend a lot of fuel. The city itself has one big tourist destination. This is the Znamenskoye-Gubailovo estate, which is distinguished by its unique architecture and enormous size. You can spend most of your day off on a tour of the estate.

But the main advantage of your tour will be a visit to the only indoor ski resort in Russia. It is in Krasnogorsk that there is a complex that will allow you to plunge into the delights of winter sports any day of the year. The slide is safe, long enough and perfectly prepared for optimal descent.

Antsiferovo

The city is located 82 km from the Capital and does not have any amazing architectural sights. One of the main reasons for the active tourist flow here is the deer farm. Come to Antsiferovo in winter and ride a real reindeer sleigh. This entertainment is suitable for couples with children; it is the little ones who will get the most vivid impressions from this.

It doesn’t take long to travel to Antsiferovo; there is little infrastructure here, so there won’t be any problems with housing. But apart from the farm there is nothing to see here, so the trip can be planned for just 1 day.

Kolomna is the energy center of the Moscow region

Many consider the city of Kolomna one of the most beautiful in all of Russia. And there are explanations for this. It has its own Kremlin, which is not inferior in beauty to the Moscow one. Lakes, bridges and beautiful boulevards decorate almost all parts of the small city. And this gives the place its own comfort and coziness.

Among the interesting things to do in Kolomna you can find the following features:

contemplating the beauty of the city from the heights and simply wonderful photos against the backdrop of architectural masterpieces;
walks along new and old streets, each of which has its own rich history and legends;
the richness of the city with churches and monasteries is simply surprising; there are many interesting places to visit;
parks and squares are intertwined into a single system; you can walk for hours in beautiful nature, far from the noise of the city.

These are the types of entertainment unusual for Muscovites offered by Kolomna, which is located just 100 km from Moscow. You can get to the city in 1 hour 20 minutes, if you are not in a hurry. In the most populated area for tourists there are many hotels and cheaper ways to stay for a couple of days.

Kaluga

If you look a little wider, go beyond the Moscow region, you can find amazing places with beautiful landscapes and a rich history. Kaluga is located 188 km from Moscow. This is a city of churches and temples, as well as simply incredible nature. There is evidence that Kaluga shines at night, and this glow is visible from space for inexplicable reasons.

The place is full of lively energy, here you will feel at home and can enjoy the wonderful properties of untouched nature right next to the city streets. This is a reserve created by nature itself, and visiting it will take your breath away. If you have never been to Kaluga, be sure to plan a road trip here.

Tula

Another interesting city from the neighboring region is Tula. The distance from Moscow is 182 km, there is no doubt that you will get great pleasure not only from the visit, but also from the trip itself. The road to Tula has been perfectly repaired, so getting around will take a little time. Gingerbread and samovars are just some of the traditions of this area.

What else will you get in Tula? It is impossible to answer this question quickly:

amazing nature both in the city itself and in the surrounding area, which brings great pleasure to visitors;
incredible Russian architecture, many preserved old buildings that are protected from destruction;
a beautiful modern center, the city is looked after and invested in the development of tourism;
ancient temples and very beautiful suburban areas, many historical places around.

Visitors to the Tula region talk about the most interesting churches, wonderful hospitable hotels and simply unforgettable treats. This is a vacation that you will remember for a long time. You can go to Tula for a couple of days off, this is enough to enjoy the flavor of the area.

Rostov Veliky

The city in the Yaroslavl region, Rostov the Great, is located 207 km from Moscow and is also a very accessible place for a weekend getaway. The main attraction here is the Kremlin with its preserved façade and many legendary features.

From visiting Rostov the Great you will have only positive impressions. Ancient temples, magnificent nature and classical Russian architecture will remain in your memory as a pleasant memory and will add amazing family photos to your collection of tourist photographs.

Lake Senezh

About 70 km from Moscow is the great Lake Senezh. It is not difficult to get here by car, but lovers of fishing, spearfishing and diving will enjoy this holiday. There is everything you need to enjoy a holiday near a huge body of water. The infrastructure is not so developed, so you will have to bring your own equipment.

The lake itself is very beautiful and quite large. This spectacle will definitely please everyone who comes here. In summer, this is a great place to swim in clean and safe water. And in winter there is excellent ice fishing with huge trophies and a lot of fun.

Kimry

For one day you can go to the unusual town of Kimry. The 150 km route will not disappoint you with the results of your journey. It will be especially interesting here for people who appreciate beautiful architecture. In Kimry there are wooden buildings built in the Art Nouveau style. The amazing combination of ancient material and modern lines becomes a unique feature of the city.

Take a good camera with you, you will definitely find a lot of details to photograph here. Interestingly, the city itself is quite well-groomed and beautiful. There is always a great mood and an amazing atmosphere of real Russia.

Yaroslavl

From Moscow to Yaroslavl you will have to travel more than 260 km. But this path will pass unnoticed through quite beautiful settlements and a wonderful road. In the city itself, wonderful surprises await you that will delight you with their color and amazing appearance. Almost all of the city's architecture is being restored and maintained in excellent condition.

In Yaroslavl you can see the following features:

the city is quite large and developed, industry and social life are at a high level;
there are various opportunities for entertainment, you can find cultural recreation or go shopping;
temples and estates of famous people are one of the main categories of attractions in the area;
The embankment of the Volga River here is simply beautiful, you can endlessly walk along it and enjoy the beauty.

Despite large factories in the surrounding area, the air in Yaroslavl is quite clean. The nature here is wonderful, so a Moscow person will find another great advantage for himself. You can go to Yaroslavl just for the weekend, this time will be enough for you to explore the main attractions in the city.

Stupino

One of the most beautiful villages is located 112 km from Moscow. You can go here for several days at once and get ready for true surprises. It turns out that in Stupino there are several huge and powerful churches, monasteries, as well as old estates of famous figures of Russian culture and history.

Also, the church in Dubrovitsy will delight you with its unusual architecture, powerful energy and amazing aura, which is really felt by every person. It is worth visiting this village one of the first if you plan to travel by car from Moscow.

Let's sum it up

As you can see, there are a huge number of destinations for a wonderful holiday for several days. Once your car is in good working order and ready to go, it's time to pack your bag and go on a wonderful trip. Don't forget about safety factors along the way and leave as early as possible to avoid traffic jams. Also, an early departure will give you several hours of free time in cities or along the way. Be prepared for many pleasant surprises along the route. Chances are you won't be able to resist stopping and taking nice photos of some of the sights. Therefore, you can find many interesting solutions and get real pleasure from every kilometer of the journey.

It’s worth planning ahead with time. Firstly, this is a weekend trip, and you don’t want to rush anywhere. Secondly, we are talking about a car trip, which can bring various surprises. Plan your journey to account for minor delays and unscheduled stops. This way you can realistically assess the situation and arrive at your destination on time without much difficulty. Don't forget to set up your phone's navigator correctly so you don't end up in the wrong place. Where would you like to go by car from Moscow?

Winter autotourism, of course, has significant differences from summer.
This includes limited daylight hours, frosty weather, and the road surface makes itself felt.

At the same time, winter in the Urals is not a reason to sit at home waiting for summer to come.

Of course, we’ll wait until summer, but I don’t really want to sit at home on weekends.

In winter you can travel, for example, around Europe, where the climate is milder than ours. But, firstly, it is not always possible to travel outside the country in winter, and secondly, we also have many interesting places that you can see in winter.

So where can you go on a weekend in winter, and even for a couple of days?

Choosing a route for winter tourism

Let’s immediately make a reservation that we will not spend the night in the forest (in a tent or car), and we are not discussing winter extreme tourism (something like traveling to the far north in pursuit of the northern lights). We plan our trips so that we can either return home the same day or spend the night in a hotel.

First, let's define our interests. Winter is an opportunity to see natural sites that are inaccessible in summer.

For example, caves that can only be approached in winter on ice or in summer by boat, caves filled with water that freezes in the cold, and turn into fabulous labyrinths of amazing beauty. Or objects that form only in the winter season, for example, a freezing waterfall of a bizarre shape. And just a walk through the winter forest outside the city will bring a lot of pleasure - it’s both pleasing to the eyes and good for your health.

In winter, you can see cities, visit museums, historical places, and get acquainted with the history of your native land, which you don’t have time for in the summer, when you just want to relax by the lake or go to the country.

The Tobolsk Kremlin looks very beautiful against a white snowy background, and the views of golden-domed temples illuminated by the bright frosty sun are no less bewitching. And winter Baikal is an unforgettable experience for the rest of your life. Of course, if possible, you should travel in winter as much as possible!

Planning a winter road trip is practically no different from planning trips in the warm season, but has its own characteristics that must be taken into account when planning the route.

Our website has a selection of routes suitable for winter travel: Winter tourism.

Features of winter auto tourism

As mentioned above, this is a limitation of the daylight hours: it gets light later, gets dark earlier.
External weather conditions: snowfalls and blizzards, which not only impair visibility on the road, but also “sweep” roads, especially in open, windy areas.
Road surface: from completely unclean roads, on which only caterpillar tractors can drive, to open ice. Roads sprinkled with reagents cause no less problems, when the asphalt turns either into a wet slippery puddle or into thin ice that sparkles like glass...

Based on the above: travel time increases - the speed limit in winter is significantly reduced compared to summer, early twilight and often poor visibility do not provide the opportunity for long-term movement, ice and black ice aggravate the situation... Don't forget about this when planning a winter road trip!

Winter route planning

When calculating daily mileage and travel time, it is not advisable to plan multi-kilometer daily travel. That is, if in summer you drive 900–1000 kilometers a day, in winter you should limit yourself to 500–700 kilometers. If you have poor vision or high eye fatigue, the distance needs to be further reduced.

Adequate rest and nutrition are a must: the driver’s physical activity, even in ideal road conditions and absolute visibility, is quite high. The driver's physical load increases on busy roads (for example, when you overtake a convoy of trucks in heavy oncoming traffic), and increases significantly under unfavorable road conditions (snowfall, ice or strong crosswinds in open areas).

You should not risk your life and the lives of your loved ones, especially on the way to or from vacation.

Consider alternative options for an overnight stay on the road, if for some reason you cannot arrive on time at the booked hotel. Situations can be different: a breakdown on the road, a delay due to repairs (cleaning) of the road, which resulted in a large traffic jam on the highway, and a temporary closure of a water crossing (ferry).

It is better to foresee in advance (at home) possible options for overnight accommodation along the route (select the nearest settlements that have hotels, write them down and do not forget to take with you the telephone numbers and addresses of the hotels).

What should be in a car for winter motor tourism?

There are no special features for equipping a car for winter motor tourism. We are not talking now about active extreme winter trips, for which the car should have everything from Webasto to a hijack and full equipment for long-distance expeditions.

First. The machine must be, at a minimum, technically sound. Uncertainty in the car will not give you the opportunity to fully relax, especially in winter. It’s not pleasant to do repairs (even minor ones) in the cold.

Second. Always keep in the trunk of your car:

standard set: spare wheel, or at least a repair kit for repairing tires in road conditions, warning triangle, jack, keys for changing the wheel, cable for “lighting”;
oils and technical fluids: antifreeze, motor oil (especially if the engine begins to “eat” oil at high loads), antifreeze, etc.;
Anti-freeze liquid for glass is specially allocated in a separate item. This is especially true when driving around the city or on a highway treated with reagents, when dirt flies from the wheels of the car in front onto the windows of your car;
a towing rope, and not a tattered rope, but a normal rope, with the help of which the car can be towed home or to a repair site, or pulled out of a rut (snowdrift, roadside...);
snow shovel. An ordinary shovel for clearing snow has helped out many times. You can also take a small tourist hatchet - and you can make nicks on the ice, and chop twigs - for a fire or toss under the wheels.

Third. We take care of the health and safety of the driver and passengers in case of a long unforeseen stop:

Ideally, carry a set of spare warm clothes for each traveler. In practice this does not always work out. Form a hiking backpack, in which you put a pair of warm mittens, thick warm socks, hats, and also a small blanket, and let it always lie in the car;
a set of small things - a cell phone charger, matches (preferably hunting ones that are not afraid of moisture) or a lighter, a flashlight (can also be useful for repairs in the dark and running into the bushes) and a set of batteries for it, a pair of work gloves;
the minimum food set is tea, sugar, a couple of chocolates, a couple of bags of instant soup, a couple of mugs, a five-liter canister of water, a thermos with boiling water. The best thing is to buy a portable gas stove, several cylinders for it and a small saucepan (or teapot) - at any time you can boil water, drink hot tea...

Well, by the way, for winter autotourism, only your desire to travel is enough!

Tips for those who don’t know where to go on holiday in Russia in winter: from the north to the subtropics. A selection of interesting options.

How to travel cheaply?

We compare prices for air tickets. Use the most intelligent search engines for cheap tickets - Skyscanner and Aviasales (check prices in both).

Search for accommodation: It is convenient to search for hotels and hostels on Skyscanner Hotels - a popular hotel search engine.

Veliky Ustyug

The most obvious option where to go in Russia in the winter of 2018-2019 is Veliky Ustyug. Visiting the estate of Father Frost, even if you have not believed in him for a long time, is quite interesting, not only on New Year, but also in any other winter month. Veliky Ustyug has a rich history, and if the New Year's hype is not interesting, then go explore the ancient churches and monasteries of the city. Here you can also buy souvenirs and jewelry: the city was previously known for the fact that its craftsmen were engaged in blackening on silver and painting on birch bark.

It is not for nothing that Veliky Novgorod is called the father of Russian cities. This is one of the oldest Russian cities - and one of the most beautiful. This independent city with a turbulent and rich history has preserved monuments of ancient Russian architecture from the pre-Mongol period, which are protected by UNESCO.

Golden ring

Where else to go in winter 2018-2018 in Russia? We recommend the Golden Ring, which includes Sergiev Posad, Pereslavl-Zalessky, Rostov Veliky, Yaroslavl, Kostroma, Ivanovo, Suzdal and Vladimir. This is a route for at least a week: the number of architectural and cultural monuments in these ancient cities of Russia, which were once major centers of folk crafts, is off the charts. The Trinity-Sergius Lavra in Sergiev Posad, the Suzdal Kremlin, the Assumption Cathedral in Vladimir - in general, a separate article can be written about this. You can stay in one city and visit neighboring ones, or you can move from city to city.

Saint Petersburg

Kazan

Moscow

Another obvious answer to the question of where to go in Russia in the winter of 2018-2019 is Moscow. The capital, like St. Petersburg, boasts a huge number of attractions. In winter, there are also fewer tourists and great freedom for those who prefer to admire paintings, sculptures and other works of art and culture alone and without interference.

Useful articles about Moscow:

Where to eat deliciously in Moscow (and also inexpensively)?

Sochi

Karelia

Karelia in winter is simply charming. Picturesque nature, clean air, peace and tranquility... You can ride dog sleds and snowmobiles, visit Kizhi and other churches, and also see the Kivach waterfall. A great option is to rent a small house in Karelia and relax with your family from the bustle of the city.

Alexandra Savina

Most of us dream of going to warm countries in winter. and escape from the cold and snow - but it’s no less interesting to explore your native spaces. We have already talked about popular winter destinations such as good ski resorts in Russia and neighboring countries. Now we suggest not to be afraid of the cold and take a closer look at not the most obvious Russian cities and routes, where there are not only interesting sights, but also impressive nature.

Maykop

The capital of Adygea is a fairly young city, founded in the middle of the 19th century. There are few attractions in Maykop itself, but it is interesting to explore its picturesque surroundings; the easiest way to do this is by car. For example, it makes sense to look at the numerous waterfalls that freeze in winter (the most famous are on the Rufabgo stream) and the picturesque rocks - the Khadzhokh Pillars. Noteworthy is a small lake near Khadzhokh (Kamennomostsky village), formed on the site of an abandoned quarry, and a granite canyon stretching for four kilometers. It begins between the village of Khamyshki and the village of Dakhovskaya - in winter it looks no less impressive. If you have a little more time, you can visit the reserve named after Kh. G. Shaposhnikov - there are several beautiful tourist routes with which you can see Mount Fisht, the Black Sea and more.
Hot key
A big plus of a trip to Goryachy Klyuch is the price: you can relax quite inexpensively, and in winter it’s also not crowded. You can get to the city from Krasnodar by bus or train - the cost will be about the same, but the bus goes a little faster. Goryachy Klyuch is suitable for lovers of a relaxing holiday. There are few attractions here, but you can breathe in plenty of clean air and take a walk: walk along the Thousand Pines Alley (two kilometers of coniferous trees) leading to the Healing Park, climb the Salvation Rock (locals called it the Cockerel because it resembles a cock’s comb ) and appreciate the view of the Psekups River valley, greenish due to hydrogen sulfide. You can also see the main attraction of the city - Dante's Gorge: in the snow it is no less beautiful than in summer. However, in the cold season you should be careful: there may be ice and there is a risk of slipping. If you get bored with Hot Key, you can get to the cold Black Sea - the resort of Dzhubga is only fifty kilometers from here.
Essentuki
The resorts of Mineralnye Vody are becoming more and more popular - not least because of the course. Instead of Kislovodsk, beloved by tourists, you can choose Yessentuki: there are much fewer people here in winter, and besides, this is a good starting point - it’s convenient to go from here to explore neighboring cities (Kislovodsk, Pyatigorsk, Zheleznovodsk) - even by taxi (it will cost 300–500 rubles), even by train (within a hundred rubles per half hour journey), or even by rented car.
Local resorts are mainly associated with sanatorium treatment, but even if you are not a fan of mineral waters (and you don’t have to stay at a sanatorium to try them - you can visit the famous Essentuki mud baths), there is something to do here. Essentuki and nearby towns are good primarily for their nature, which looks no less impressive in snowy weather than in summer. It is also worth paying attention to cable cars (there are such, for example, in Pyatigorsk and Kislovodsk), which operate in winter and where, unlike long walks, it is more difficult to freeze. You can try to get to Dombay, Elbrus or Cheget, but you should leave early to catch daylight and take into account the weather conditions - they are not always conducive to travel. Due to the high humidity, the cold here is felt more strongly, so take care of warm clothes in advance.
Nizhny Novgorod
Nizhny Novgorod is a cozy ancient city. In addition to the obligatory tourist program (the Kremlin, the famous Strelka - the confluence of the Oka and Volga, monasteries that are easily reached along the embankment from the Kremlin), it makes sense to explore its surroundings. For example, ride three and a half kilometers, looking at the Volga, by cable car to Bor - one of the regional centers of the Nizhny Novgorod region. In winter, it works as usual, the only drawback is that you will have to wait in line in the cold, so count on your strength. Other small towns in the region are worth seeing: Gorodets with its ancient buildings, Arzamas with its ancient cathedrals (special attention should be paid to the impressive Voskresensky), the village of Troitskoye with a beautiful church and an excellent view of the Vetluga River.
Nizhny Baskunchak
Nizhny Baskunchak is a tiny village in which there would be nothing remarkable if not for the famous Bogdinsko-Baskunchaksky Nature Reserve. The easiest way to get to it is by train - trains to the station run from many cities, for example Moscow, St. Petersburg and Astrakhan. The reserve includes Mount Bolshoye Bogdo and part of the large salt lake Baskunchak. In summer there are many more tourists here (many purposefully come to sanatoriums), and going here in winter is not the most obvious solution - but no less interesting. You won't be able to swim in the lake in winter, but you can breathe the salty air and admire the scenery.
You need to prepare for the trip in advance: in order to get to the protected area, you need to get a pass - it is issued right on the spot (with the exception of tourist groups of 15 people or more, who need to contact the reserve at least a week in advance), but it is worth checking the opening hours in advance , especially on holidays. In addition, take into account the weather conditions - in severe sub-zero temperatures it will be difficult to enjoy the trip.
Elista
Elista is perhaps one of the most unusual destinations in the European part of Russia: the central square is home to the colorful Seven Days Pagoda, and the city's main attractions are Buddhist temples (Kalmyk temples are called khuruls), the most famous and impressive of which is the Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni. You should concentrate on them first - don’t miss the Old Khurul, located in the suburbs of Elista, and the unusual Arc de Triomphe.
In addition to Elista itself, it is worth looking at the famous ancient poplar standing in the middle of the steppe, not far from the village of Khar-Buluk - it is not only a local landmark, but also a shrine. Such a tree is rare for this area: it is more than a hundred years old, it reaches a height of 15, and a girth of 5 meters. Poplar is located on a hill with a beautiful view. When planning a trip in winter, take into account the peculiarities of the local climate - even small sub-zero temperatures here feel different due to strong winds. It is worth warming up with Kalmyk tea - spicy, with milk, butter and salt.
Krasnoyarsk
Krasnoyarsk is a city that is equally good to visit in both summer and winter, and it is worth exploring not only the sights, but also the nature - there are many beautiful landscapes in the city and its surroundings. The Yenisei, which does not freeze in winter, and the views that open onto it from observation platforms deserve special attention (one of the most popular is about twenty kilometers from the city, near the village of Sliznevo). If you are traveling by car, it is worth visiting neighboring Divnogorsk, located near the Sayan Mountains.
Another mandatory point of the Krasnoyarsk program is the Stolby Nature Reserve, one of the oldest in Russia, but well equipped and modern. It got its name because of several rocks of different heights - they are called “pillars”. In order to enter the reserve, you do not need a special permit, and you can get there by bus or taxi. There are several routes of varying difficulty levels that can take at least a whole day (especially in winter, when the daylight period is much shorter), and an excellent cable car that skiers and snowboarders love. In any case, count on your strength: Pillars have a large territory and you will have to walk a lot.
Altai
Altai is one of Russia's popular destinations, and for good reason: there is plenty to see and do both in summer and in harsher winter conditions. The best way to travel through it is by car, but it is important to be a confident driver. Many of the republic’s sights are more interesting to see in winter - for example, the reserve on the ice-free Lake Svetloye, where swans spend the winter every year: there are special observation platforms for bird watching. The Blue Lakes are also beautiful - three turquoise reservoirs appear only closer to autumn, when the level in the Katun River drops, and do not freeze throughout the winter, or Geyser Lake near the village of Aktash. There are also more “traditional” options for winter recreation - several ski resorts and camp sites.