Around the world, people celebrate the arrival of the New Year in almost the same way - with spectacular fireworks, street parties, music and dancing, as well as chic feasts and drinks. However, each country has something special and different from others. Of all the places represented, from Times Square in New York to an amazing dance party in South Africa, you will definitely find the city that suits you for an unforgettable New Year's celebration.
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Paris, France
There's nothing more romantic than watching the incredible light show and fireworks at the famous Eiffel Tower in Paris on New Year's Eve, or taking one of the river cruises along the Seine if a more intimate place with more privacy suits you.
No matter how you imagine the perfect New Year's Eve, the streets of the City of Light really come alive tonight with thousands of people celebrating the New Year with lots of champagne and dancing the night away. In addition to the big show, you can legally sell small fireworks in Paris, which means an abundance of sound and color on the streets all New Year's Eve until the morning.
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London, Great Britain
London's big New Year's celebration includes an elaborate light show accompanied by the chimes of Big Ben, which draws over 250,000 visitors lining the banks of the River Thames, along with a range of parties and clubs to choose from.
About 10,000 performers take part in the city's three-hour extravaganza to sing the New Year's song "Auld Lang Syne" to you. The party continues all night and smoothly transitions into January 1, when a parade of marching ensembles passes through the city, colorful carnival floats carry dancers in costumes and the Queen's horses prancing. The best places on earth to watch New Year's shows are on the Victoria Embankment, Waterloo or Westminster Bridge - and on the water you can enjoy a cruise on the Thames.
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Sydney, Australia
Sydney is one of the first cities on the planet to celebrate the New Year, so it's no surprise that this city has such big variety celebration options.
At Sydney Harbor, you can join the boats filled with revelers to watch the fireworks display over your head at midnight. Or book a table at one of the many waterfront restaurants on the Sydney Harbor Bridge side. You can also try smoking ceremonies, aerial flights, mini-light shows and a parade of torched boats. There is also a big dance party at Bondi Beach.
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New York, New York
For more than a century, a huge glittering ball has descended on Times Square on New Year's Eve. At 11:59 p.m. on December 31, the time balloon begins its 23-meter descent as thousands of confetti explode in the city sky for one of the largest New Year's Eve parties on the planet. As a rule, more than a million people come here to watch big music shows, as well as leave their wishes and write down plans for the coming year on a special wall.
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More than half a million people come to Melbourne for a fascinating New Year's Eve celebration. There are two official fireworks displays here, including the opening evening gala at Yarra Park. At midnight, a stunning light show illuminates the entire city with colorful rockets launched from the rooftops around the central square, as well as from Victoria Harbor.
Throughout the city, there are numerous live performances by local folk musicians, a procession of Brazilian samba dancers in Federation Square, performances by street performers and celebrities along the coastline. Visitors are waiting for carnival rides and all kinds of sporting events.
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New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
New Orleans is a very popular place to celebrate the New Year. Great parties are held here, and here you can see one of the best
New Year's Eve fireworks in the US with an incredible kaleidoscope of colors cascading across the Mississippi. The 15-minute show is the main event of the gala evening, which includes the famous Fleur-de-Lys fall, which is reminiscent of the fall of the ball in Times Square. The festivities continue until dawn, with live music in all the bars and clubs of the French Quarter.
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Bangkok is an amazing international city that is well known for its festivities and parties. And this is one of the best places in Asia to celebrate the New Year. December 31 in Bangkok is a holiday everywhere, every bar and nightclub is filled with vacationers. But the biggest event is held at Central World Square, where several hundred thousand people gather to watch an impressive light show and live concert.
A number of restaurants hold their gala dinners on the roof, you can sip champagne and watch the magnificent fireworks, or you can stay in one of the barren beer gardens outside. Those who travel to Bangkok with the family can also find a great place for New Year's Eve at Asiatique, a night market for all ages, which is considered one of the most popular places to count down to the New Year.
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The city of Valparaiso, the cultural capital of Chile, is located in the hills along the Pacific Ocean. Here you can spend an extravagant New Year's Eve. Valparaiso hosts a three-day festival, which attracts about a million visitors. People come here to see with their own eyes the famous fireworks - the largest in Latin America.
In order for the next year to bring good luck, locals wear yellow underwear, eat a dozen grapes at midnight, and put a 1000-peso bill in their shoes. Fireworks are set off from 17 different points along the coast between Valparaiso and Viña del Mar. New Year's Eve also begins a dance party that lasts until dawn, and sometimes continues all the next day.
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The beautiful Scottish city of Edinburgh is famous for its annual Hoganay Hoopla, which means "celebration on the last day of the year." It lasts for four days and includes a torchlight procession throughout the city, concerts, and a huge street party on Princess Street. It is difficult to find a city where the New Year is celebrated with the same enthusiasm.
The words of Robert Burns in the song "Auld Lang Syne" take on a special meaning when they are sung in the streets of Edinburgh. At midnight, one of the world's largest fireworks displays take place here, with the magnificent Edinburgh Castle as the backdrop. New Year's parties continue even after dawn. Events on January 1 include the Royal Mile running, diving into the icy waters of the Fors River, dog sled competitions and more.
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Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona is the party capital of Spain, and on the last day of the year, you can see the best of it all. A few hours before midnight, mass street festivities begin in Plaza Catalunya, Las Ramblas and Reyal Square, huge crowds, singing and sipping champagne, count down the minutes and seconds until the New Year.
Restaurants, bars and nightclubs hold special events to celebrate the New Year, and fireworks light up the sky at the far end of Barceloneta Beach. You just need to find a place near the harbor for better view and stay here for the entire first week of the New Year to see the Parade of the Three Kings with its brightly colored chariots and torchlight procession.
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Reykjavik, Iceland
Reykjavik may be one of the coldest places to celebrate the New Year, but the capital of Iceland will give you the hottest New Year's Eve on the planet. Locals leave the citywide celebration that starts at 6 p.m. to attend Mass at Reykjavik Cathedral or listen to it on the radio and then share New Year's Eve dinner with family and friends. Then they go outside to stand near the lit bonfires, which are meant to symbolize the burning of the problems of the past year.
Thousands of fireworks light up the sky from every corner of the city. For gatherings near the fires, a lot of food and drinks are prepared; folk songs, and people are dressed up in costumes of elves and trolls. Sometimes Northern Lights complements the effects of pyrotechnics. At 5 o'clock in the morning, locals line up for hot dogs and strong drinks and then continue to have fun.
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Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
The cultural capital of Brazil is better known for its colorful and noisy carnival, but New Year's celebrations are also celebrated on a grand scale. A number of events are held on the famous city beach of Copacabana. For parties, giant stages are set up along the coastline, music is played, people dress up in extravagant carnival-style costumes.
Here you can see traditional dance performances and attractions that visitors can enjoy throughout the evening. More than two million people fill the beach in white. This color is believed to bring good luck in the coming year. They drink champagne, dance samba and send handfuls of flowers into the ocean as a gift to the goddess of the seas. During the countdown to the New Year, the ocean is lit up by thousands of dazzling fireworks from boats.
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Hong Kong has some of the best fireworks on earth, an amazing pyrotechnic show that lasts eight minutes, flooding Victoria Harbor with light and music, and a Times Square countdown with a replica balloon falling at midnight.
If you want to get a good seat to watch this show, be sure to arrive at least eight hours before the New Year for the official opening. The best views will delight viewers from a boat on the water, but if you're on land, then check out the Avenue of Stars in Tsim Sha Tsui in Kowloon or the bars in Lan Kwai Fong, these are also great places to celebrate the New Year.
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Bratislava, Slovakia
In the capital of Slovakia - Bratislava, in the medieval Old Town, more than 10,000 people gather on New Year's Eve for open-air concerts, dance parties and fireworks shows on the Danube River. Several stages are scattered throughout the area, where the best local bands, dance groups and various performers perform.
The entertainment goes on all night long. Old city divided into a "concert" zone - for those who want to enjoy music and a "party zone" - for those people who want to communicate. On huge screens, the New Year celebration is broadcast in other capital cities around the world.
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Dubai, UAE
New Year's Eve 2014 in Dubai holds the Guinness World Record for hosting the largest fireworks display of all time, with 479,651 projectiles fired in six minutes from 400 locations along Dubai's coastline.
On New Year's Eve, you can get unforgettable impressions from the performances of the world's superstars and noisy and crowded, but amazing parties, which, as you know, are very different from all the parties in the world in terms of luxury and grandeur. The best place with the best views is the luxurious Burj Al Arab hotel.
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Vienna, Austria
If you feel like a cultural celebration on New Year's Eve, Vienna on New Year's Eve offers classical music concerts with performances of the best symphonies in the world. Although, in this city you can find more entertainment than just concerts. The center organizes festivities that start at 2 pm and last well after midnight. A lot of hot mulled wine, caramel and apples delight the guests of the holiday. And when the bells of the tower of St. Stephen's Cathedral strike, a fireworks show begins over the Prater Park.
You can take a cruise along the Danube, so you can see a beautiful panorama of New Year's Vienna. This is a good holiday option if you want to save energy on January 1st when a giant crowd gathers in front of City Hall to watch the famous New Year's concert of the Vienna Philharmonic on a huge TV screen.
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Saint-Petersburg, Russia
The magnificent boulevards and bridges of St. Petersburg are even more stunning when covered in white snow and illuminated by holiday lights. The Hermitage is especially beautiful on New Year's Eve, when it is surrounded by a crowd waiting for the fireworks show over the Neva. During the countdown, people send hundreds of paper lanterns into the night sky with a glass of New Year's champagne.
As you know, in Russia they celebrate Catholic Christmas on December 25, then the New Year itself, and later Orthodox Christmas on January 7, which means that this time is considered the tourist "high" season. Pay attention also to the streets of the city, Nevsky Prospekt is decorated with dazzling lights and all kinds of Santa Clauses.
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Hawaii, USA
If you want to celebrate the New Year later than everyone else on Earth, then the Hawaiian Islands are a great place to wait for it. Enjoy the tropical climate and dazzling beach fireworks.
There are light shows that illuminate coastline almost all islands. Bars and clubs host themed parties and open-air music concerts. A wide range of river cruises will allow you to find your own fun way to celebrate the New Year.
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Cape Town, South Africa
In Cape Town, you have the chance to celebrate the New Year on top of one of the world's most impressive natural wonders. You can celebrate on top of Table Mountain until 12:30 the next day, enjoying panoramic fireworks views on the V&A Waterfront. Or join those who preferred a musical concert.
Carnival train, live music and many other entertainments, including DJs in the Cape quarter, all this awaits you on New Year's Eve in this city. On the first day of the New Year and the day after, there is a parade with 10,000 participants singing and dancing in the streets.
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Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Las Vegas is one big party all the time, but on New Year's Eve, over 300,000 visitors come here. From 6 pm on December 31, the famous Strip Street is closed to traffic and is open to those who would like to celebrate the New Year here, walking, drinking champagne and watching the many fireworks that are launched from the nearby rooftops.
Live performances of musical groups, pyrotechnic and laser shows, the transformation of the main square into a giant street party - such a set of events will not let you get bored. Most hotels, clubs and bars also prepare their own special shows and special New Year's events.
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Berlin, Germany
The German capital has a well-deserved reputation as a party city, having been celebrating non-stop since the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. On New Year's Eve, more than one million people come to the "Mile party" that extends beyond the Brandenburg Gate. Not surprisingly, Berlin is one of the best cities to celebrate the New Year.
There are plenty of music venues, food and drink stalls where you can sip mulled wine or beer, and try local German specialties like Currywurst, curried pork sausage with ketchup. At midnight, revelers can enjoy fireworks and then head to any of the dance clubs, where parties can last over 12 hours.
New Year's Eve continues! A fabulous atmosphere reigns everywhere, and, of course, cannot be ignored. A member of the club prepared a series of pictures of New Year's Moscow. What does your city look like on holidays? Share your photos on album in our group« In contact with» . We accept until January 20!
“This winter pleases because it is similar to the winter from my childhood, when it has already been snowing since November,” says Natalya. - Largely due to this, I had a pre-New Year mood and a desire to enjoy the beauty of pre-holiday Moscow: the festival "Christmas Light" and elegant Christmas fairs.
The most concentrated New Year's atmosphere was at the fair on Red Square. A two-story carousel with lights, fair houses, an outdoor grill, the smell of sausages, mulled wine, coffee and live Christmas trees, funny performances by artists. Until very late in the evening there were a lot of people, all positive and open.
I went on a photo hunt at night, when there were almost no people. I thought it would be scary alone. But, as you know, Moscow never sleeps, and there were people on the streets, and the lights around soothed and tuned in to good things. In general, I love Moscow at night, and Moscow at night with New Year's decor in winter is indescribable. I included in myself the “perception of a tourist” - I tried to look at the city with a clear look, notice the details, enjoy the beauty. Judging by the responses to my photos, the tactic worked.”
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Veronica Melan
Mac parked the dark car outside the supermarket, turned off the engine, and removed the keys from the ignition. He got out of the car, slammed the door and breathed in the frosty air, filled with the aromas of sugar-fried peanuts, which were sold nearby from the stall.
A tall, rosy-cheeked hawker in a thick sheepskin coat and a red cap with a fluffy white tassel at the end merrily and sonorously called out to passers-by:
Try it, hot, sweet! Just a copper coin for two bags! Straight from the brazier!
It smelled really good. It wasn't that Mac liked peanuts, it was the atmosphere itself that was mesmerizing.
Six in the evening - completely dark.
Multi-colored light bulbs attached around the perimeter of the trailer threw multi-colored spots on the snow: sometimes blue and yellow, sometimes red, sometimes greenish mixed with purple. Frost pinched his cheeks and ears, but did not bite, teasing more: "Look, they say, winter is around! It's great, after all."
People were in a hurry to go shopping, and from the shops to their homes. Cheerful, cheerful, in high spirits and with smiles on their faces. Voices rang, packages rustled, music played. Everyone was grateful to winter for having mercy, hiding prickly fingers in soft mittens and replacing the frost with soft fluffy snow falling from the dark sky.
For a while Chaser simply stood looking up into the darkness, from where fluffy needle flakes silently and slowly fell, and when his dark hair was covered with a white skullcap, he shook his head - snowflakes scattered over his shoulders.
The liquor store was on the corner; the snow crunched under his boots.
My heart was light and pleasant, as it should be on a holiday. Drake said no urgent business, you can relax and unwind; the big party at Wren's house was scheduled for eight, with nearly two more hours to go.
The shop windows shone and shimmered - on this night, many shops will work until morning. There were quite a few people who wanted to run away for the addition of alcohol on other days, and today even more so. Plus, gifts that someone remembered at the last moment; wrap it all up, pack it, wrap it up and decorate it with ribbons so that it shines brightly and pleases the eye.
The snow creaked peacefully underfoot, the cold had not yet had time to get under the jacket - the very moment when you want to stay outside longer for no reason. Walk around, admire the people and houses around. In six hours, the sky will be painted with multi-colored noisy fireworks, firecrackers will explode, fireworks will bloom, voices will greet you, celebrating the New Year, and glasses will rise up. In the meantime, a little agitated around, but still calm and peaceful.
A flock of young girls turned towards Mack unexpectedly, as if they had appeared out of thin air. Elegant, ringing, excited - only five girlfriends, and judging by the friendly laughter and jokes, a little tipsy.
Allerton, out of professional habit, quickly visually scanned faces and figures, set aside what he saw in memory (God forbid it would be needed) and stepped to the right, closer to the road, to skip the girl's company.
But as it turned out, it wasn't there. The company, peering intently at him with five pairs of eyes and pulling each other's sleeves, synchronously stepped in the same direction, provoking an imminent collision. Mac stepped to the left - the company immediately flowed towards him. There was whispering and laughter. And then the completely unexpected. Once closer, the girls clung to him from all sides, not allowing passage, and squealed with each other:
Mister ... young and handsome, you don't have a ring on your finger, do you?
Please don't let us down...
And we're having an argument!
Yes, yes ... we argued ...
Yes, yes, and Katy lost! And whoever loses must kiss the first man they meet! Well, without the ring, of course... You don't have it, do you?
First, I had to forcibly calm the alarm signal that arose in the trained body, then lower my eyebrows that flew up, and then try not to laugh out loud. Mac coped with the first, and with the second, and with the third. Although, to be honest, it was not easy, especially when so many female faces are carefully examining your fingers for an indicator of the presence of a second half in life.
Not! - the bachelorette party exclaimed almost in unison, after which he pushed a richly reddened pretty girl in the direction of a tall stranger. From under a knitted fur-trimmed cap peeked out wide sparkling eyes, a snub-nosed nose, and lips bitten with embarrassment.
Here, Cathy, this is your first comer! Keep your promise! Kiss!
The flock hummed, giggled, whispered and watched with bated breath as Kathy's reddened forest of ketchup did not dare to step towards the dark-haired guy with attentive greenish-brown eyes, reminiscent of a warrior, despite the modern cut of the jacket.
She thought with bated breath that the old man would be better! Or what a squishy one to kiss, get rid of the promise and run on to walk with the girls, but no, I managed to stumble upon such a tall, broad-shouldered and ... beautiful. Such as this, Katie has not yet met, and therefore she instantly became shy, and her knees became cottony.
At their group - a man covered with girls - frozen at the window of a gift shop, passers-by looked askance with interest. Chaser mentally chuckled, looking at the girl with the bowl eyes, who had forgotten how to move, pushed forward by her comrades-in-arms. The comrades-in-arms themselves gathered a step behind her back, huddled together, hungry for nerve-wracking events, the spectators in the amphitheatre. And this one, in red mittens, like a lamb that lost its will, given to the wolf to be slaughtered, now stood with its head lifted up with a mixture of sacred horror and anticipation in its eyes.
Mac was having fun. Here are the freaks!
Guessing that the mountain in front of him would not reach Magomed by the next year, Chaser himself took a step forward - the spectators gasped in unison; Cathy, trying to appear brave, managed to courageously stand on the spot. A second later, a man's hand reached out to her face, a thumb carefully walked along the lower lip, lightly pressed on her chin, and as soon as her lips parted, they were immediately covered by men.
The Russian holiday rental booking service Tvil.ru has revealed the most popular cities in Russia to celebrate the New Year
According to Tvil.ru, tourists book trips during the New Year holidays for a period of 2 to 5 nights and spend on renting accommodation in Russian cities from 1.6 to 16.3 thousand rubles per day.
The cheapest New Year holidays 2019-2020 will cost in Kaliningrad (1.6 thousand rubles on average), the most expensive in Petrozavodsk (16.3 thousand rubles on average).
Below we will talk about the 10 most popular cities in Russia for a New Year's holiday. 1. St. Petersburg - 3310 rubles / 5 nights
St. Petersburg is an important economic, scientific and cultural center of Russia, a major transport hub. The city's historic center and associated monument complexes are on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
It is one of the most important tourism centers in the country. Among the most significant cultural and tourist sites are the Hermitage, the Kunstkamera, the Mariinsky Theatre, the National Library of Russia, the Russian Museum, the Peter and Paul Fortress, St. Isaac's Cathedral, Nevsky Prospekt. 2. Moscow - 6410 rubles / 3.3 nights
Moscow is the most popular tourist center in Russia. The Kremlin, Red Square, Novodevichy Convent and the Church of the Ascension in Kolomenskoye are included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Moscow is a major cultural and tourist center of Europe and the world, the Moscow region has one of the richest historical and cultural potentials in Russia.
There are many interesting places in Moscow - these are both various historical, cultural and architectural monuments, as well as a modern entertainment infrastructure. 3. Kazan - 3817 rubles / 3.4 nights
Kazan is one of the largest cultural centers in Russia, preserving classical achievements, and also contributing to the development of modern, avant-garde trends in many areas of culture.
The capital of Tatarstan is traditionally called multicultural, implying mutually beneficial enrichment of peacefully coexisting Russian and Tatar cultures.
With the support of UNESCO, the world's first Institute for the Culture of Peace was established in Kazan. 4. Petrozavodsk - 16262.6 rubles / 5 nights
Petrozavodsk is an ancient city in the northwest of Russia. In the city and its environs, you can see many monuments of history and culture. This land of lakes and forests has always attracted travelers.
Over the past decades, Petrozavodsk has gained fame as the largest tourist center of Karelia, claiming a worthy place among the centers of international tourism.
From Petrozavodsk, trips to the numerous islands of Onega and Ladoga, to the famous ancient Karelian monasteries and hermitages, tours to national reserves begin. 5. Suzdal - 12300 rubles / 3.3 nights
Suzdal is a city-reserve in the Vladimir region of Russia. Suzdal has preserved a large number of architectural monuments.
The village has preserved a monument of pre-Mongolian architecture - the Borisoglebskaya Church.
On the territory of Suzdal there are museum objects of the Vladimir-Suzdal Historical, Artistic and Architectural Museum-Reserve. 6. Yaroslavl - 8500 rubles / 3 nights
Yaroslavl is one of the oldest Russian cities, founded in the 11th century. and having reached its heyday in the 17th century, in 2010 the city celebrated its millennium.
The historic center of the city, located at the confluence of the Volga and Kotorosl rivers, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Tourism is an important area of the city's economy. Yaroslavl is traditionally included in the famous tourist route "Golden Ring of Russia".
A serious impetus to the development of tourism in the city was given by the inclusion in 2005 of the historical center of the city in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. 7. Veliky Ustyug - 6000 rubles / 4 nights
The city has a tourist project "Veliky Ustyug - the birthplace of Father Frost".
Tourist trains from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Vologda, Kazan go to Veliky Ustyug, specialized bus trips have been developed.
The Veliky Ustyug cultural and leisure center operates in the city, which includes the House of Culture, the city park of culture and recreation and the Center for Traditional Folk Culture "Lad". 8. Yekaterinburg - 2132 rubles / 3 nights
Yekaterinburg is a major tourist center.
Behind last years a lot of work has been done to create a positive image of Yekaterinburg as a center of international congress tourism.
Most of the tourists associate the trip with the history of the last Russian emperor and his family.
In addition, new tourist destinations are developing: the Bazhov theme, the geological and mineralogical theme, industrial tourism, and the event calendar. 9. Tver - 10030 rubles / 2 nights
Tver is large cultural center; according to the city administration, there are 3 professional theaters, an academic philharmonic society, 5 museums, 24 houses and palaces of culture, 4 cinemas in the city.
The city has several memorials and obelisks, as well as numerous monuments, most of of which are concentrated in the central part of the city. 10. Kaliningrad - 1610 rubles / 3 nights
Museums are located in Kaliningrad (Amber Museum, Museum of History and Art, World Ocean Museum, Art Gallery, Fortification Museum, etc.), theaters, large libraries (in particular, fragments of a medieval book collection - the Wallenrodt Library), a zoo, a botanical garden.
In the center of the city is a cathedral in the brick Gothic style.
Where to go in a crisis: the best selection of budget itineraries for a holiday trip
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On the most magical night of the year, most Russians have long been bored with blowing up firecrackers in the courtyard of a panel high-rise building and while away the time, destroying a wide gastronomic assortment of the festive table. Behind Lately New Year's tourism has developed so rapidly that the choice from year to year is only getting wider. True, just before the holidays, the falling ruble disrupted the plans of many people who dreamed of spending New Year's Eve on an interesting journey. And if vacations under the hot Egyptian sun or a luxurious vacation in the mountains of Switzerland and France have now been postponed for some people for an indefinite time, then an exciting trip through the expanses of their native country is still available to everyone. In the midst of the crisis, we propose to go on a tour of Russia and finally visit one of its amazing regions, which the hands (and feet) did not reach before. We present you a selection of New Year's mini-routes from Localway, a project that will allow you to celebrate the New Year in a fun and educational way.
1. Moscow
With the onset of the New Year holidays, Moscow turns into one of the largest Christmas and New Year venues in Europe - bright and radiant, and there are many options for celebrating the holiday in the capital in an original and magical way, both for city guests and local residents. Most of the capital's parks will host New Year's entertainment programs with chimes and the President's speech at big screen. In Gorky Park, Sokolniki and VDNKh, you can meet the main night of the year and the morning of a new day at speed: the skating rinks are open, great dance music sounds, and somewhere you can even taste champagne.
You will need very warm clothes and shoes for the celebration on Red Square. To listen to the chimes in the place of their direct battle, you need to overcome many difficulties. And first of all, go through several police cordons with searches for security purposes (you can’t bring drinks and food, crackers, fireworks). Therefore, you need to come well-fed and well in advance: the passage to Mokhovaya and Tverskaya streets closes already at the beginning of the twelfth. However, all this will not spoil the truly magical moment of celebrating the New Year in the very heart of the capital and the incredible beauty of the main fireworks of the country.
During the New Year holidays in Bitsa, Losiny Ostrov, Pokrovsky-Streshnevo, snow and ice slides are arranged, equipment rental points and picnic areas with barbecue facilities are opened. In some parks, ski tracks are laid, and in Tsaritsyno and Kolomenskoye even ordinary hiking is fascinating. On the territory of the Kuzminsky forest park is the Moscow residence of Ded Moroz, which will certainly be of interest to both children and adults.
In all other respects, the capital is generally the most generous and hospitable hostess: even if you discover something new every day, you still won’t have time to see everything in 10 days! For example, theaters and museums promise discounts and special Christmas exhibitions during the holidays. In the city center, at the main metro stations (such as Revolution Square, Teatralnaya, Kuznetsky Most) and on pedestrian streets, New Year's fairs and bazaars will work.
Theaters and music halls with amazing circus, film and ice performances open their doors for children. The most famous Kremlin tree is still popular, so it is better to buy tickets in advance. A visit here can be combined with a visit to churches on the territory of the Kremlin or a walk to the Cathedral of Christ the Savior: solemn services are held in Moscow churches throughout the Christmas week.
Fans in every city looking for local gastronomic specifics will have to be disappointed - there are practically no colorful and original Moscow dishes in the capital. Although it is not difficult to find restaurants with Old Moscow and Russian cuisines. There you will be offered Moscow kalach, Moscow-style sturgeon, pies with mushrooms and rice, Moscow gingerbread. Better yet, take tea with thyme in a thermos for a walk and enjoy pastries and sweets from city fairs.
2. St. Petersburg
You can’t think of a better place to spend your holidays - except that the climate can scare you a little, but a warm hat and cotton pants will make you forget about such trifles, because it will be so much fun in St. Petersburg! In the city of Petra, which once instilled in Russians the culture of celebrating the New Year, before and after the chiming clock, the brightest fireworks and noisy celebrations will be almost everywhere: large-scale festivities on Arts Square, Nevsky Prospekt and the Spit of Vasilyevsky Island, illumination and dancing on the coast of the Gulf of Finland. The biggest Christmas tree and the main fun on New Year's Eve will, of course, be on Palace Square. Getting here is still easier than on Red Square in Moscow, but no less emotions! There are also completely unbanal routes: an interesting tradition is the celebration of the New Year on the old St. Petersburg roofs!
What to do after 2015 has come is a very serious question. Because it is incredibly difficult to choose a travel route in St. Petersburg. There are many walking options for exploring stunning architectural and cultural attractions, Christmas markets, markets and fairs will light up everywhere (the largest one will take place on Pionerskaya Square in front of the A.A. Bryantsev Youth Theater). Visit a large flea market near the Udelnaya metro station and be sure to set aside a day for a trip to the unique palace and park complexes of Peterhof, Pushkin, Pavlovsk. The fountains do not work, but the scale and beauty of the buildings are no less impressive than in the warm season. In addition, winter photographs from these places look much more original. The delight of many tourists causes Vyborg and Gatchina. By the way, in many museums there will be discounts for visitors on holidays (as well as in some theaters). A rich cultural program can be diluted with an ordinary walk along the embankments, parks and squares, look into the notorious St. Petersburg "wells", bask in cozy coffee houses. At the Peter and Paul Fortress there will be an Ice Exhibition - almost like under Elizabeth. And who knows, maybe you will be able to get to one of the magnificent New Year's balls in the royal palaces?
Between so many places and events, don't forget to enjoy donuts at the legendary "Pyshechnaya" near the LDT on Bolshaya Konyushennaya. Buy a "Leningrad" cake for your hotel or hostel room. Or do you prefer Vasileostrovskoe beer?
3. Kazan
Of course, the "third capital of Russia", as a place of tourist pilgrimage, is beautiful at any time of the year. Why is this city good for the New Year holidays? And the fact that the local infrastructure allows you to combine an active winter holiday with a rich sightseeing trip. Rent a cottage in the Kazan ski resort and celebrate in a cozy circle of family and friends. In early January, you can safely go to the slopes (for both beginners and more experienced skiers) and try the whole range of winter activities: snowboarding, sledding and cheesecakes, outdoor walks. If you get cold, don't forget to soak in the waters of Russia's largest water park "Riviera".
When you get tired of the rides, the rich history and culture of Kazan awaits you: admire the beauty and grandeur of the Kul-Sharif mosque, explore the secrets of the Kazan Kremlin, admire the incredible Millennium cable-stayed bridge with pylons in the form of a huge letter "M". Here, at every step, must-see places have been preserved: the Marjani Mosque, the Temple of All Religions, the Syuyumbike Tower, the Palace of Farmers, the Zilant Monastery, the Old Tatar Sloboda, the Gostiny Dvor, the Chernoyarovsky and Aleksandrovsky passages. You will surely be delighted and captivated by this mixture of peoples and religions, the interweaving of history and modernity. Meet the morning on the "Kazan Arbat" - Bauman Street and spend the evening on the picturesque embankment of the Kazanka River. By the way, there is also a Santa Claus - Kysh Bai. He, along with his granddaughter Kar Kyzy, lives in a residence open to the public in the village of Yana Kyrlay.
You can slowly start your acquaintance with the national Tatar cuisine from the Bekhtele store, which sells real local dishes and sweets. And then there will be, as they say, “where to turn around”: gubadia is a national holiday cake, the main filling of which is rice, eggs, raisins and red curd “kort”; real Tatar chak-chak; horse sausage. Compare Russian pirozhki with echpochmak, a triangular pie stuffed with potatoes, or elesh, a round pastry stuffed with meat (often chicken) stuffing. The latter is often served with hot meat broth. On the cold days of the New Year - what could be more pleasant! You can drink yogurt from baked milk called katyk. But that's not all: don't leave without tasting kystybay - a delicious combination of mashed potatoes, millet porridge and unleavened dough. And for dessert - "bird's nests" Talkysh keleve: small cones made of burnt sugar and honey.
4. Veliky Ustyug
The fact that the district center in the north of the Vologda region is the birthplace of the All-Russian Santa Claus is known to almost every inhabitant of our country. Have you ever heard that this ancient city(the first settlement was founded by the Rostov-Suzdal princes back in the 12th century) 28 churches of the 17th-18th centuries and several dozen architectural buildings of the 19th century have been preserved. Ustyug is not only a popular family tourism center, especially in demand for holidays with children, but also an original historical center of the Russian north.
The city with a fabulous atmosphere welcomes a lot of guests during the holidays. On the main night of the year, Santa Claus walks along the streets of Veliky Ustyug, surrounded by his retinue, folk festivals, round dances around the central Christmas tree are organized. You can stroll along the illuminated embankment with a long line of temples, tall bell towers and old mansions built along the banks of the Sukhona River. At the intersection of Sovetsky Prospekt and Krasnoarmeyskaya Street, there is the city "apartment" of Father Frost, and nearby, in a wooden tower, there is a magical post office. This is where letters with wishes come from hundreds of thousands of children. Moroz himself lives in a residence 12 kilometers from Veliky Ustyug between the villages of Lopatnikovo and Syvorotkino. In the last days of December, however, he leaves home and goes on a trip to Russia (this year, first of all, he will go to Vladimir, the New Year's capital of 2015).
During the holidays, be sure to go to the residence of Santa Claus, which delights not only children, but also adults. Visitors are invited to see the Terem of Father Frost, take a walk along the Trail of fairy tales. Wolves, elks, foxes, rabbits, lynxes, squirrels live in the menagerie of the master of winter. The Winter Garden flaunts nearby.
In the residence you can ride a Russian stove, horses, skis, snowmobiles and sleighs. Children and adults love to be photographed with the reindeer. Another New Year's route leads to the Cathedral Court - the heart and main temple ensemble of the city. Even in Ustyug, there is an interesting Museum of New Year and Christmas toys, the Usov House and the Dymkovskaya Sloboda church ensemble are open to the public. Traditional winter fun is organized in the city: riding from hills and horseback riding, souvenir fairs are open, and, of course, there are cafes and restaurants where you will be offered dishes of Russian national cuisine: pancakes with caviar, pies, pies and kulebyaki.
5. Krasnaya Polyana
A mountain village on the banks of the fast Mzymta River, inhabited since ancient times, today has become a prestigious resort with a developed infrastructure. Surrounded on all sides by snowy slopes, the triangle of the village of Krasnaya Polyana today can easily compete with its "big brother" Sochi: in winter and summer, lovers of all kinds of skiing come here. After the 2014 Winter Olympics, ultra-modern tracks, ski lifts, a cable car, hotels, and restaurants appeared here. In terms of comfort, our southern winter resort will approach Courchevel, and in terms of prices it will not go far from the health resorts of the Krasnodar Territory.
Krasnaya Polyana as a meeting place for the New Year is perfect for active and funny people who love extreme sports and at the same time appreciate comfort. No wonder the main Santa Claus of the country chose this place as his southern residence. The combination of sea and mountain air is incredibly beneficial for health, especially during sports activities. And for these purposes Polyana is heaven on earth. 16 pistes of different difficulty levels, 10 lifts in the Rosa Khutor cluster, 15 pistes and 6 Gazprom lifts, as well as the Mountain Carousel of 15 pistes and several cable cars. Along with the Olympic village, here, in the magnificent conditions of untouched nature, a whole village has grown up from new modern hotels and luxurious restaurants, thanks to which the Sochi sports and tourist center was nicknamed "Russian Switzerland".
New Year's holidays here will surely be remembered for a long time. On the square of the mountain park "Rosa Khutor" they promise a city New Year's festivities. Leading hotels offer excellent holiday programs with a banquet and a rich entertainment menu. Every day here you can spend in different ways: first of all, go skiing, snowboarding, sledding. After - visit the spa, stroll through the picturesque surroundings, have a barbecue in the fresh air. Tourists are interested in the apiary "Mountain Garden" in the village of Esto-Sadok, where they produce stunning mountain honey "Krasnopolyansky", Akhshtyrsky caves, the Tsar's house, dolmens, the Museum of Flora, Fauna and Mineralogy of the Western Caucasus. Hiking trips to the mountains are worked out in detail - enough impressions for a year ahead. Helicopter excursions are also very popular, opening, at a glance, the panoramas of the Black Sea and the Caucasus Mountains.
Local cuisine is a mixture of Caucasian, Armenian and Greek culinary delights. Enjoy matsoni and hominy with suluguni. Try the unleavened cake stuffed with honey and nuts - churek. Here they make delicious adjika and smoke the freshest trout grown in the local fish farm.
6. Karelia
Unique in the unique - this is how you can define Karelia as a place of tourist pilgrimage, and the New Year holidays are a wonderful time to explore such a vast and interesting travel area. A million hectares of this region are protected natural areas: national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, nature reserves. There are more than 61 thousand lakes here, including the largest in Europe, Onega and Ladoga, and almost 30 thousand rivers. More than 30 waterfalls (up to 30 meters high!), more than three thousand ancient rock paintings - petroglyphs have been discovered.
You can stay in one of the many hotels in Petrozavodsk, where you will be offered tours with excursions in various directions and a festive banquet. But it is much more interesting to rent a cottage on the territory of a camp site with a whole company and even a hunting lodge among the ringingly clean air in a pine forest. The birthplace of the world-famous Karelian-Finnish epic - the territory of the Kalevalsky National Park, the city of Kostomuksha, the villages of Voknavolok and Kalevala - allows you to combine spiritual relaxation in a wooden hut with a stove with amazing walks. In addition, performances are held in the parks on holidays, including with the participation of the local Santa Claus, or rather "Frost" - a cheerful red-haired peasant Pakkaine. In his honor, the city of Olonets even hosts annual Santa Claus games.
Opportunities to meet the first minutes of the New Year during a trip to Karelia are, perhaps, endless. But the most attractive and romantic ones are still "forest": imagine a picnic with fish soup cooked on a fire and mulled wine, round dances with downy shawls and felt boots. You can take a steam bath from the heart with an oak broom in a real Russian bath or sit comfortably on a fleecy carpet by the fireplace and make wishes. Among the main Karelian entertainments are a visit to a husky kennel and an extreme “safari” on dog and reindeer sleds, horseback riding through a snowy forest, skiing, snowmobiling, cheesecakes, ice pods, visits to the famous Kizhi Museum-Reserve, ancient Karelian villages, an island Valaam, Kivach waterfall, Ruskeala marble canyon, Church of the Assumption of the Virgin, zoo complex "Three Bears".
After an eventful walk, be sure to enjoy a variety of local dishes from fresh fish, mushrooms and berries picked in the summer: blueberries, lingonberries, cranberries. Traditional small pies made of rye unleavened dough with various fillings "kalitki" can be taken with you on excursions. There you will also be offered to taste the Karelian fish soup Kalaruokki and a flour product stuffed with porridge - skantsy. Do not forget to try the favorite berry of Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin - "northern raspberry" cloudberry.
7. Kaliningrad
Have you always dreamed of visiting the westernmost city of our vast state and getting in touch with Europe without leaving its borders? Why not bring plans to life right this New Year. To begin with, pay attention to the features of the road: moving to the Kaliningrad region passes through the territory of Lithuania, which is part of the European Union. Citizens of Russia for travel require a passport and a Lithuanian visa. To travel to Kaliningrad and the region by plane or ferry, no special documents are required, a passport and a ticket are enough.
Then think over the vacation program. Meeting the New Year, perhaps, here will not differ from the usual urban version: a Christmas tree on Victory Square, fireworks, theatrical performances. But, who knows, maybe in this city they celebrate somehow in a special way? If only because Kaliningrad is the last in Russia to celebrate the New Year. In any case, a change of place, a very warm and at the same time snowy winter, and, after all, once a truly European city (and on the eve of the main night, fairs are lit with lights and entertainment is arranged at every step) - I will certainly contribute to a great mood.
During the holidays, it is worth visiting the beaches of the "Russian Baltic" in Svetlogorsk or Zelenogradsk, which are located about an hour from the city. The Curonian Spit National Park is also a must-see. This unique white-yellow strip, created by nature, is 98 kilometers long and is part of the Baltic sandbar complex, which has no analogues in the world. Flora, fauna, the highest sand dunes in the world - do not miss the chance to get in touch with something literally unearthly, "cosmic". In the city, you need to see the Amber Museum and the Museum of the World Ocean, unique for Russia. The ancient Cathedral and the Sagrada Familia make up an interesting architectural and religious route. Visit the seven surviving city gates and the Fishing Village area to say with confidence: I saw Kaliningrad. While walking, do not forget to feast on all kinds of fish. Baltic Sea. The most famous delicacy is perhaps smoked eel. Tourists also praise Königsberg bedbugs - a meat dish similar to meatballs. In various establishments on the old cobbled streets, you will certainly taste something unusual, so that later you can advise everyone who goes to celebrate the New Year in Kaliningrad.
8. Vladimir
Vladimir is declared the New Year's capital of Russia-2015. If you want to know how the New Year and Christmas were celebrated 300 years ago, then you need to go here. On December 31, the main Russian Santa Claus from Veliky Ustyug will arrive in the city. The magician is no stranger to folk art: on Spassky Hill, Father Frost, together with the inhabitants of the city, will draw a picture "Vladimir - the New Year's capital of Russia." And from 10:00 pm to 4:00 am, a festive concert will be held on Cathedral Square with his participation and invited pop stars.
A large Christmas fair has already opened in the city on Cathedral Square, special souvenir and culinary shops have begun their work on Pushkin Boulevard, Victory Square, at the Northern Trading Rows, at the RusKino entertainment complex: holiday trade, attractions, competitions, horseback riding , folk festivals. Don't forget to visit the picturesque skating rink in Lipki park. Large, however, artificial ice will also be available at the Polaris Ice Palace.
Vladimir is one of the most famous and close to the hearts of tourists in our country, cities included in the routes of the Golden Ring. The New Year holidays here promise to be full of various leisure activities. The dream of many is to see the Assumption Cathedral with priceless fragments of frescoes by Andrei Rublev, the Dmitrovsky Cathedral, the Golden Gate. On a frosty sunny morning, take a walk along Bolshaya Moskovskaya Street - the main thoroughfare of the Old City. To enjoy truly Russian nature, take a trip to the Vladimir-Suzdal Reserve. From active recreation to choose from: New Year's festivities in the Country Park, TsPKiO, Druzhba Park - with mummers, concerts of folk groups and skiing from the hills - or a visit to the Krasnaya Gorka sports and entertainment ski complex in the village of Melikhovo. In principle, you can stay here - the hotel works. After all, the choice of winter entertainment is very large and everything will take time.
There are many authentic restaurants in Vladimir where they cook wonderful pies and pot roasts. And you can try pancakes and mead right on the street, in the midst of fair festivities. Dishes of Russian national cuisine are not only delicious, but also very satisfying - they won't let you freeze, that's for sure!
9. Kostroma
Founded in the 12th century, the city - the capital of a specific principality, the cradle of the Romanov and Godunov dynasties - Kostroma attracts tourists at the same time with its historical significance, preserved architectural masterpieces, natural beauties and fabulous traditions. The city, the most remote from Moscow among the objects of the Golden Ring, is a magical place for spending holidays with the whole family or with friends: everyone will find entertainment to their liking.
Meet the chiming clock as our ancestors did in the times of Peter the Great: on Susaninskaya Square, an elegant Christmas tree sparkles with lanterns and invites people of all ages to plunge a little into childhood and have fun from the heart. Sledding and ice towns, launching fireworks, round dances with mummers, pancakes full of heat with caviar, hot sbiten and ice-cold vodka - national flavor in all its splendor!
And this is just the beginning of a fabulous vacation. Ahead of the program is so extensive that a week may not be enough for everything. To get started, arrange a fertile route through the old Russian churches: the famous cradle of the Romanov dynasty - the Ipatiev Monastery, the Epiphany-Anastasin Monastery, the Church of the Resurrection on Debre, the Church of the Holy Apostle John the Theologian, the Church of the Savior, the Church of Saints Alexander and Antonina in Selishche, the Church of St. John Chrysostom and St. Anisia. The Museum of Wooden Architecture, Gostiny Dvor, Fire tower, Ostrovsky's gazebo are other architectural and historical masterpieces of these places.
Visit the city-museum under the open sky Nerekhta. 40 km from Kostroma - and every street is a postcard, in every house there lives a master of his craft, a keeper of ancient crafts. Do not forget to bring home a linen doll-amulet. Zavrazhye is the birthplace of Pavel Florensky, Andrei and Arseniy Tarkovsky.
The village of Krasnoye, the Russian center of jewelry art, will surely interest all women. Men, meanwhile, can take a steam bath in a Russian bath. And then - all together at the feast: kulebyaki, pies, sweet and hearty pies from different types of dough, pickles: cucumbers, pickled mushrooms.
The cutest creatures are waiting for you at the Sumarokov moose farm: getting to know and spending time with these representatives of the fauna is truly an original tourism. From outdoor activities, horseback riding through the endless fields along the Volga banks energizes for the whole year. Relatively recently, they won - and now firmly hold the first place in the popularity rating among tourists - dog sled races. Huskies are affectionate to children, cheerful with adults. Children will also enjoy the large park "On Nikitskaya" with rides and a skating rink. If the All-Russian Santa Claus lives in Veliky Ustyug, then the residence of his granddaughter is located in Kostroma. The Snegurochka Tower with an ice room is perhaps the most New Year's place in the city.
10. Elbrus region
We are sure that the two-headed and "gray-haired" Elbrus, which the Kabardians call "Oshkhamakho" ("Mountain of Happiness") will bring you an incredible amount of joyful moments this New Year. A good tourist infrastructure has been deployed here: there is a boarding house, a number of small hotels, cottages for rent. Just imagine how in a small private hut by the stove you look at the flames, and outside the window snow is falling, decorating centuries-old trees with white hats ... Regulars advise stopping at the Azau or Cheget glades. But if you prefer a noisy and cheerful company, choose hotel tours and programs with the celebration of the main night of the year in a large banquet hall.
An extinct volcano with a height of 5642 meters above sea level (the highest point in Europe) provides tourists with an unlimited choice of extreme types of mountain recreation. Its slopes, varying in steepness and relief, are perfect for beginners and lovers of skiing. And on the neighboring Cheget
During the holidays, it is incredibly interesting to explore a new area for yourself in another region. Kabardino-Balkaria will introduce you to the amazing gorges of the Central Caucasus: Baskan, Adyr-Su, Aushegir, the famous Narzanov valley. At an altitude of 1300 meters above sea level, there are 17 mineral water springs. The insanely beautiful Lower Blue Lake - Tserikkel - is one of the ten deepest lakes in our country. Elbrus is a national natural park. How many cherished corners of unexplored wildlife it hides!
First of all, go skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling. Swimming in thermal springs is a must. Discovering the mountainous expanses of the national park is a pleasure that you should never deny yourself. From entertainment also - paintball grounds in Tereskol. And you should definitely try all the dishes of the unusual Balkarian cuisine: the folk pie khychin (the most common filling is cheese with potatoes), pieces of lamb liver wrapped in thin leaves of internal fat and baked on coals - zhaubaur; Balkar sausages sokhta and zherme, dried frog meat; lakumy - donuts fried in dough! Yes, just natural homemade bread with homemade butter and cheese or brine - a spicy sauce based on herbs and ayran.
11. Baikal
The deepest lake in the world and its surroundings is a traveler's dream at any time of the year, and to arrange a magical New Year for yourself in the legendary "place of power" - isn't this a chance that you must definitely use?
The most famous tourist sites on Baikal are Olkhon Island, the villages of Slyudyanka and Listvyanka. The latter in Irkutsk is even called "Siberian Anapa". One of the oldest settlements in the region, Listvyanka is the main center of tourism on the western side of the sea-lake, the most convenient transit point. In winter, Baikal in Listvyanka becomes one huge skating rink. Near the beach there are numerous cafes decorated with garlands. It is almost always crowded here, tourists are offered a sufficient choice of accommodation options - from economy class to private houses and luxury hotel rooms.
The heart of Listvyanka is the source of the Angara River, which does not freeze even in the most severe cold. Experienced travelers say that it is even more interesting here in winter: the impressions of Baikal ice, transparent as crystal, will last a lifetime! But remember: those who go out to the lake on foot or on skates are strongly advised to take crampons or ice axes with them. new year's eve you can meet in a cozy family circle in a rented cottage, or you can dress warmly, go to the beach and, enjoying the incredible freshness of the air, freeze in front of this silent giant.
New Year holidays in Listvyanka will be full of events and information. Visit the local nerpinarium - the best in the entire Baikal region. Seals here sing, dance, play football and even play musical instruments! The most interesting Baikal Museum, the Taltsy ethnographic complex, the Chersky Stone observation deck and, of course, the Shaman Stone are always waiting for guests. Helicopter tours are available to wealthy tourists. In general, there are a lot of routes to Baikal attractions, you can explore them on your own (although it is not so easy), or you can join a group led by a guide.
We are sure that not every experienced extreme sportsman has ridden at least once on a hovercraft - a special hovercraft that first rushes across the ice of Lake Baikal, and then dives into the water of the never-freezing Angara! There are also the usual ATV, snowmobile and ski rentals. In the ski center "Eastland" there are 4 tracks of varying degrees of difficulty and a tube slide. You can ride a dog sled in the Siberian taiga. And also - go ice fishing in the winter. Professional instructors will help you make the right hole, organize a picnic on the ice and share the secrets of well-being in forty-degree frosts. You can also warm up with a visit to the local hot springs.
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