GOLDEN RING

The ring of cities to the north-east of Moscow known as the Golden Ring is probably Russia’s most popular tourist route. There are eight official principal cities of the Golden Ring (Ivanovo, Kostroma, Moscow, Pereslavl-Zalessky, Sergiev Posad, Suzdal, Vladimir and Yaroslavl) and a dozen or so other non-official secondary cities located in five subjects of the Russian Federation: the Ivanovo, Kostroma, Moscow, Vladimir and Yaroslavl Regions. The main attractions the Golden Ring cities have to offer tourists are their provincial tranquillity and the many examples of ancient church architecture. They are also rich in history having once been important cities in the Vladimir Grand Principality – the central mediaeval Russian state. It is easy to visit the cities from Moscow: the closest being just over an hour away while the furthest is just a night train away. Transport routes between the cities are also good meaning that instead of just a day trip from Moscow to a single city you can visit several over several days.