Moscow

Capital with Red Square, Kremlin, St. Basil's Cathedral

Saint Petersburg

"Venice of the North," Hermitage, palaces

Trans-Siberian Railway

Epic Moscow to Vladivostok journey

Golden Ring

Ancient cities near Moscow, historic culture

Lake Baikal

Deepest, oldest lake, clear waters, biodiversity

Kazan

Cultural blend, Kul Sharif Mosque, Kazan Kremlin

Sochi

Black Sea resort, beaches, 2014 Winter Olympics

Veliky Novgorod

Medieval architecture, rich history

Yekaterinburg:

Europe-Asia border, history, Church of the Blood

Vladivostok

Pacific port, Trans-Siberian start/end, diverse culture