BUNKERS, BEACHES, TATAR FOOD: 11 THINGS TO DO IN RUSSIA'S HOST CITIES

Moscow (dpa) - Eleven cities in western and central Russia will host the football World Cup in June and July, with the capital Moscow being the principal venue. Here are some recommendations for interesting places to visit in each host city.
- Moscow, visit the iconic Red Square
Moscow, which will host the opening match and final, is Russia's largest city, with all the attractions of a major metropolis. At the heart of the city is the Red Square, featuring the majestic St Basil's Cathedral in the middle, the Kremlin on one side and the luxurious GUM shopping mall on the other. Stroll down Old Arbat Street, which has several good souvenir stores and is frequented by street performers in the summer. The famed Gorky Park is another major attraction, as is the Alexander Garden, next to the Kremlin. For traditional food, visit the restaurant Taras Bulba.
- St Petersburg, tour the city by boat
St Petersburg, Russia's second largest city, was the capital in tsarist times. The city's historic centre is a UNESCO world heritage site, with its numerous pre-Soviet buildings, many of which are hundreds of years old. The former tsar's palace, the Hermitage, at the heart of the city is now a museum that hosts one of the world's largest art collections. On a nice day, take a boat trip through the many canals that criss-cross the city and connect with the Gulf of Finland.
- Nizhny Novgorod, explore this formerly secret Soviet city
Nizhny Novgorod, a major city in central Russia about 600 kilometres east of Moscow, was closed to foreigners during the Soviet era because of its military research and production facilities. Now the city is ready to boost its tourism industry with an influx of foreigners for the World Cup. Check out the city's own kremlin, a sprawling, late-medieval fortress. Try local cuisine with a rustic atmosphere at the Expeditsiya (Expedition) restaurant. Many bars and nightclubs line the nearby embankment.
- Yekaterinburg, stand on the border of Europe and Asia
Yekaterinburg, situated on the border between the European continent and Asia in the Ural Mountains, is the farthest east of the World Cup host cities. Visit the obelisk on the continental border, and stand with one leg in Europe and the other in Asia. Enjoy fine dining at the Panorama restaurant on the 50th floor of the Vysotsky skyscraper, with splendid views of the city.
- Kaliningrad, discover this unique city between Poland and Lithuania
Kaliningrad, the regional capital of a Russian exclave between Poland and Lithuania, is the farthest west of the World Cup host cities. Once part of East Prussia, the region was annexed by the Soviets at the end of the Second World War. Explore the wealth of history throughout the capital city. Visit the prided Amber Museum in the city centre, and stroll over to the Museum of the World Ocean on the Pregolya River, which bisects the city.
- Sochi, go to the beach one day and mountain-skiing the next
Sochi, the most southern of the World Cup cities, hosted the 2014 Winter Olympics and has plenty of amenities for active leisure. The area has a unique landscape, with popular beaches relatively near to snow-covered mountains, renowned for skiing. Check out the Mountain Beach waterpark on a hot summer day.
- Kazan, try traditional Tatar food
Kazan, believed to have been founded by the Tatars of the Golden Horde in the mid-15th century, presents a confluence of three major religions: Islam, Christianity and Judaism. Like many medieval Russian cities, Kazan features a kremlin at its centre. Stroll along the nearby embankment, popular in the summertime. Try traditional Tatar food at the Dom Tatarskoi Kulinarii (House of Tatar Cuisine). It's famous for smoked horse meat sausage.
- Saransk, rub the fox's nose and make a wish
Saransk, the smallest of the World Cup host cities, offers visitors the familiarity of a Russian town. Visitors can explore the city centre in a day, with a popular spot being the fox bridge, where you can rub the nose of the fox statue and make a wish. The fox is a symbol of the region. One of the most popular restaurants in town is the Big Pig, which specializes in pork and other meat dishes.
- Volgograd, see one of the world's largest statues at a decisive World War II battleground
Volgograd, a city in southern Russia, is best known for the World War II Battle of Stalingrad, which turned the tide of the war in Europe in favour of the Allies. Commemorating the Soviet victory, one of the world's tallest statues, the Motherland Calls, overlooks the city. The statue of a sword-wielding woman who represents the motherland is taller than the Statue of Liberty in New York. Stroll along the riverside. A popular restaurant in the city centre is Cafe Hungry, which offers a mix of Russian and other European cuisine.
- Samara, try the famous local beer
Samara, like Nizhny Novgorod, was a closed city during the Soviet era. The city, on the Samara and Volga rivers, has a sprawling embankment that is great for summer walks. Visit Stalin's bunker and Gagarin Park for a glimpse into the city's Soviet history. Try the local beer, Zhigulyovskoye, named after the nearby Zhiguli Mountains. It's considered one of the best brews in the country.
- Rostov-on-Don, watch the sun set over the Sea of Azov
Rostov-on-Don, a southern city on the Don River, features one of the country's most important ports, on the Sea of Azov, which expands out to the Black Sea. Stroll along the central Pushkinskaya Street while exploring the city, and be sure to visit the embankment at sunset.