AROUND MOSCOW
Moscow region is a size of an average European country, but it is relatively small compare to many other regions of Russia. Although it's centre is a bustling megalopolis with skyscrapers and 24h traffic jams, towns outside Moscow live a quiet rural life that hasn't changed much over the past decades. Travelling around the region, you can find many hidden gems, former countryside estates or Russian nobility, medieval churches and monasteries, many of them in ruins. Some towns turned a new page of their history after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Sergiev Posad once again became the centre of Russian Orthodox Church and join UNESCO World Heritage List. Kolomna discovered its potential as a tourist destination by bringing back to life its culinary achievements of the past. Zvenigorod managed to attract tourists by its restored medieval monasteries and museums. Most of these places can now be easily reached by express trains from Moscow railway stations. Whether you just want to escape from overcrowded Moscow for a day or two, or spend a week discovering the rich heritage of this region, Tumbleweed Guide made a list of where we recommend you to go.