The 2018 FIFA World Cup held in Russia has a total of 11 cities available in the western half of the country to host all 64 matches. Host cities vary significantly, ranging from the Russian capital Moscow to beautiful St. Petersburg and the glorious beaches of Samara. Other host cities are Ekaterinburg, Saransk, Volgograd, Sochi, Rostov-on-Don, Nizhny Novgorod, Kazan, and Kaliningrad.
Let’s take a look at some of the top cities fans will visit while watching this epic event:
Moscow
Moscow is the largest city in Russia with a population of more than 16 million people. This city has an attractive combination of modern and ancient architecture. The most visited tourist attraction is Red Square, but there are many other things to see in this sprawling city. While many will think of Moscow as a cold and icy destination, the actual weather is relatively warm, but not excessive, making it ideal for watching a game or sightseeing.
Sochi
Sochi is a well-known tourist city located on the Black Sea. This city has a previous history of successfully hosting sporting events, such as the 2014 Winter Olympics. As in the main holiday destination, this city has a lot to offer tourists, such as restaurants, museums, nightlife and wildlife expeditions. Additionally, the local area is ideal for adventurers with excellent hiking opportunities including landscapes such as waterfalls.
Samara
Samara is quite a unique Russian city with its long beach that runs the length of the city and one of the biggest attractions in the region. This is a great place to visit in the warm summer months. However, for visitors who do not want to spend time on the beach, there are many other attractions, including the Institute of Aviation and many buildings displaying Soviet architecture from the past.
St. Petersburg
A visit to St. Petersburg allows you to explore Russia’s second-largest city, which has inspired many artists, writers, and poets over the years. It is the location of some of the country’s finest historical treasures, including several famous cathedrals, the Winter Palace complex, and the Hermitage Museum. Saint Petersburg is a very cosmopolitan city that is lined with baroque buildings and rivers and canals that run through the region and are easily crossed by one of the many picturesque bridges.
Overall, there are plenty of attractions to see in Russia’s many host cities to make the World Cup experience that much more enjoyable.