What should a tourist do if he doesn’t get to the beaches of Turkey and Egypt, and doesn’t attract to Russian resorts? Take advantage of one of the most popular tourist destinations of 2016. They were chosen by the Skyscanner website, designed to search for cheap flights, based on a study of recent statistics.
Here are 10 countries where an influx of Russian tourists is expected in 2016. Countries where you can go instead of Turkey and Egypt.
10. Georgia
A land of medieval architecture and stunning scenery. The capital of Tbilisi is a mixture of old and new architecture, where the Zion Cathedral and Narikala fortress are adjacent to modern hotels, khinkalny and cafes. An air ticket from Moscow to Tbilisi (one way) will cost 6,149 rubles.
9. Moldova
Not far from Chisinau are the famous Cricova wine cellars, which store 30 million liters of wine. A tour of them usually ends with a tasting of 3-5 types of red and white wine. Moldova is also known for its beautiful 10-meter waterfall - near the village of Saharna and the Monastery of the Holy Trinity. Airfare to Chisinau - from 2 922 rubles.
8. Belgium
There is a chocolate museum in Brussels where you can watch how the sweet mass turns into famous chocolate shells. There is also entertainment for beer lovers - a tour of the Brewery De Halve Maan Brewing Museum. Tasting is included in the ticket price! Flight from Moscow to Brussels will cost 8,027 rubles.
7. Japan
This country may be the seventh number in the tourist rating of 2016, but it is always number one for travelers who are looking for unusual sensations. For lovers of Japanese comics, there is a direct road to the Manga Museum in Kyoto, art lovers to the Tokyo Kabuki-dza Theater, and those who prefer to explore new scientific innovations to the interactive “Museum of the Future” Miraikan in Tokyo. The price of a ticket from Moscow to Tokyo is from 26,870 rubles.
6. Canada
For those who enjoy active entertainment, the Graus Mountain Resort in Vancouver awaits. Spend your holidays skiing, paragliding or snowboarding. An air ticket from Moscow to Vancouver costs from 28 599 rubles.
5. Lithuania
Those who love impressive sights should visit the castle of Gediminas - the founding father of Vilnius. The museum, located in the castle tower, hosts an exhibition that includes reconstructed models from the 14-16th centuries. And tourists with children will enjoy visiting the zoo in Kaunas, where you can see rare species of monkeys, as well as predators, mammals, exotic birds and even snakes. A ticket from Moscow to Vilnius costs from 5 858 rubles.
4. Cambodia
The country is known for its many ancient temples and the stunning beauty of the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh. In the same city is the National Museum, which contains more than 14,000 ancient exhibits and samples of folk life. Ticket price from Moscow to Phnom Penh - from 30 412 rubles.
3. Romania
The vast and varied landscapes of Romania, with a large number of castles and churches, will not disappoint lovers of a measured and relaxing holiday. And if you get tired of wandering around Dracula's Castle in Transylvania, you can go down to the underground sanatorium located in the salt mine in Turda or visit the Bucharest Botanical Garden. The price of a ticket to Bucharest from Moscow is 10 897 rubles.
2. Slovenia
Three sights of Slovenia are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. These are the Shkotsyan Caves - a system of caves with natural bridges, windows and various forms of stalagmites, prehistoric pile settlements in the Alps (surprisingly, the wood used for their construction was preserved in extremely good condition) and the former mercury mine in Idria (one of the largest in the world) . Air travel to Slovenia will cost from 13,798 rubles.
1. Iran
A country emerging from international isolation is preparing for the “tsunami” of foreign tourists. Their attention will undoubtedly be drawn to attractions such as palaces and mosques in Isfahan. For example, the Imam Mosque has unique acoustics: in one corner you can hear what a person is whispering in another corner. The palace of forty columns Chehel Sotun, built in the 17th century, is richly decorated with frescoes depicting the palace life and the battles in which Shah Abbas II participated. A flight to the most popular tourist destination in Isfahan from Moscow costs from 17,737 rubles.