Russian river cruising

For the majority of the 20th century, when the contemporary Russian Federation was under Soviet rule, much of Eastern Europe—and Russia, in particular—was not a region of the world that ranked high in international tourism, in part because its borders were either too difficult or too imposing for foreign travelers to cross. Such is no longer the case. In 2011, almost 25 million people visited the country, which increased to 28.1 million in 2012 and almost 31 million in 2013. As a result, Russian river cruises are more popular than ever, and there is no sign of that trend slowing down.

Given that the country covers more than 6.5 million square miles, it’s no surprise that a Russian river cruise offers a variety of enticing destinations. In total, Russia is home to 23 World Heritage Sites, as well as numerous destinations that could be declared World Heritage Sites in the coming years. Learn more about these world heritage sites and those to come in our videos below.