Originally Posted by
RedChili
The most "Russian" way to travel is by sleeper train, so I'd definitely recommend that, and I'd definitely include Moscow. The Red Square is a must for a visit to Russia.
I just returned and I have to say I'd recommend Moscow over Petersburg to anybody. Petersburg is just whatever- not really more impressive than other eastern European cities that are "the Paris of the east", which is something I've heard from Russian Americans about Petersburg, Romanians about Bucharest and Serbs about Belgrade. It's really quite run down and outside of the Winter Palace/Hermitage has little in impressive buildings/architecture. Even Peterhof and Catherine Palace outside the city are fairly unimpressive. To top it off the food was really quite terrible.
Thankfully, Moscow was a breath of fresh air. The center was really beautiful- and best of all pedestrian-only. Even the food was much better. Overall, I really liked Moscow and would recommend that most people skip Petersburg and just spend more time in Moscow.