Russia - Tourism, travel, and recreation

In September 1992, Russia lifted its travel restrictions on foreigners, opening the entire country to visitors and tourists. Moscow is a major tourist destination with many attractions including Red Square, the Kremlin, monasteries and churches, museums and other cultural attractions. The most famous of Moscow's parks and gardens is Gorky Park. St. Petersburg is a beautifully preserved Neoclassical city with palace-lined waterways. Attractions include the State Hermitage Museum, Peter and Paul Fortress, and the Nevsky Prospekt.

In 2000 Russia had 21,169,100 foreign visitors, nearly 90% from Europe. Tourism receipts from 1999 totaled $7.5 billion. There were 188,255 hotel rooms with 358,142 in 1999.

In 2001 the US government estimated the cost of staying in Moscow at $294 per day. Daily expenses in St. Petersburg were estimated at $307, and elsewhere expenses averaged $216 per day.