While some are thinking what products to buy for the New Year's table and are studying rating of the best wines in Russiaothers are planning where to go for the New Year... After all, a change of scenery helps to get rid of stress, and celebrating the New Year in another city is an adventure, albeit a small one.
And so that this adventure does not cost you a pretty penny, we have prepared a rating of the most budgetary New Year's destinations. It is based on data from the Biletix flight booking service. Its experts have calculated the cost of air travel abroad with a departure on December 29 and return on January 10.
10. Istanbul
The cost of a round-trip flight from Moscow is 15 thousand rubles
On New Year's Eve, the largest city in Turkey is filled with tourists no worse than during the holiday season. And although you should not expect violent festivities, experienced travelers recommend booking a table at one of the fish restaurants on the Galata Bridge in order to fully enjoy the fireworks over the Bosphorus.
Young people who are accustomed to a dynamic and vibrant holiday will surely enjoy one of the nightclubs in the Taksim area or on Istiklal Street. But a place there on New Year's Eve must be booked in advance.
If you are planning to fly to Istanbul with children, we recommend staying at the five-star Marti Istanbul hotel, which has a children's menu.
From the unpleasant moments: prices for everything in hotels will be raised. But in shopping centers you can buy souvenirs for yourself and your family with good discounts.
9. Debrecen
The cost of a round-trip flight from Moscow is 14.2 thousand rubles
Sylvester - this is the name of New Year's Eve in Hungary, because December 31 corresponds to St. Sylvester's Day - is celebrated in a big way, noisy and fun. And Debrecen is no exception. On New Year's Eve, most of the townspeople gather in the square near the Great Reformed Church and watch a beautiful, albeit rather short, fireworks display.
If you like less noisy entertainment, you can book a New Year's tour of the Hortobágy National Park, located near the city. There are exhibitions of folk crafts and the Shepherds Museum. And after the excursion, you can drop by the Nagychard restaurant and enjoy delicious Hungarian cuisine.
8. Sochi
The cost of a round-trip flight from Moscow is 13.1 thousand rubles
Let's digress from the cheapest foreign destinations for the New Year and take a look at what Mother Russia is ready to offer us.
One of the most budgetary domestic New Year's destinations is the warm city of Sochi, where Grandfather Frost is greeted with festive illumination and mandatory fireworks.
If the body and soul require warmth even in December frosts, choose a hotel that offers its guests pools with heated sea water. These include, in particular: the five-star Pullman, Rodina Grand Hotel and Spa and the four-star Avangard and Oktyabrsky.
If you want to celebrate the New Year in an unusual and dynamic way, then the road lies to Krasnaya Polyana - one of the the most popular ski resorts in Russia... There you can have a good time both on the track and in one of the cozy hotels, discussing the benefits of active sports with friends.
7. Elista
The cost of a round-trip flight from Moscow is 12.7 thousand rubles
It is better to book a bus excursion to the capital of Kalmykia, since according to tourists' reviews, buses from nearby cities run irregularly, and it will be better if you are comfortably taken to all sights.
And there is something to see in Elista. The pearl of this city and its dominant feature is the Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni - a huge temple with four entrances, each to one of the cardinal points. 17 pagodas with statues of famous Buddhist teachers from Nalanda monastery were built around the khurul. And inside the temple there is a 12-meter statue of Buddha covered with gold leaf.
Another pride of Elista is City Chess - the City of Chess, built in honor of the 1998 chess tournament. This complex consists of the cottages where the chess players lived during the tournament and the main building where the competition was held.
And if you want to achieve peace of mind on New Year's Eve, then go straight to the Stupa of Enlightenment - an 11-meter snow-white structure located near the City of Chess. According to Buddhist teachings, such Stupas help people to cleanse themselves from vices, become wiser, and fulfill desires aimed at good.
6. Gyumri
The cost of a round-trip flight from Moscow is 11 thousand rubles
The 1988 earthquake destroyed most of the ancient Armenian city. But despite this tragedy, the city has something to please tourists. In the old city quarters (peasant, Greek, Catholic, Russian and Turkish) old houses have been preserved, and one of them has even been turned into a local history museum.
In the center of the city there is the Church of the Savior, in the courtyard of which there is a monument to the victims of the earthquake. And next to the church, several copies of khachkars - "cross stones", decorated with intricate and beautiful carvings were built.
And also in Gyumri there is a monument to the famous city dweller - the Soviet actor Frunzik Mkrtchyan ("Mimino", "Prisoner of the Caucasus", "Thirty three", etc.). The sculptor depicted Frunzik with two faces: cheerful and sad.
5. Pskov
The cost of a round-trip flight from Moscow is 8.4 thousand rubles
And again we will be transported to Russia, or rather to one of its most beautiful cities - ancient Pskov. There are many options to celebrate a festive night in this city - from establishments in the very center (VeryWellCafe, KINZA, "Usadba", "Swedish Gorka", etc.) to country recreation centers ("Far-away Kingdom", "Alol", "Podosye", etc.) ... Just take care of booking a table before the trip.
And lovers of cultural leisure can visit the museum-reserve of Alexander Pushkin "Mikhailovskoye" or arrange a vacation at the scrapbook. In the center of Pskov there is a skopar manor, where the peasant life of the 19th and early 20th centuries is carefully recreated. There you can see how a blacksmith works and even order a coin for yourself, enjoy Russian cuisine (cabbage soup and porridge, soaked lingonberries and, of course, homemade wines). And also take part in Christmas fortune-telling.
4. Samara
The cost of a round-trip flight from Moscow is 8.4 thousand rubles
To see the main New Year's fireworks in Samara, you need to go to Kuibyshev Square. There, near the decorated Christmas tree, the performances of the artists will take place, and the wooden hut of Santa Claus will open its doors nearby.
Those who no longer believe in Santa Claus can have fun in a different way, for example, take part in the New Year's disco (starts at 1 am), ride tubing down a large slide, or take a picture with one of the art objects that will be installed in many squares next to area.
3. Nazran
The cost of a round-trip flight from Moscow is 8.2 thousand rubles
The largest city of the Republic of Ingushetia, perhaps, will not amaze you with its architecture, but it boasts a large Museum of Local Lore named after Malgasov. It houses a unique collection of ancient artifacts that many collectors would love to put under their Christmas tree.
The Shadi factory is also a popular tourist destination. It was founded by Akhmed Shadiev, who sews all kinds of products from fish skin: from shoes and bags to jackets and even paintings.How can you not take such an unusual souvenir with you?
2. Riga
The cost of a round-trip flight from Moscow is 6.7 thousand rubles
This Baltic city may not boast the most beautiful Christmas tree in the world, but it is beautiful in itself. And he begins to prepare for the Christmas and New Year holidays in advance - from the end of November, filling with the aromas of mulled wine, fried almonds and cookies.
It should be noted that not all restaurants will be open in Riga on New Year's Eve. This is due to the fact that residents of Riga usually celebrate the holiday at home, with their family, or in one of the institutions of the Old Town. Therefore, it is worth booking a table at Zviedru varti, Milda, Neiburgs Restaurant or other local restaurant in advance.
1. Minsk
A round-trip ticket from Moscow costs 6.6 thousand rubles
The most budgetary foreign tourist destination for the New Year 2020 is the capital of Belarus.
Like Russians, Belarusians love the New Year and prepare for it very responsibly. New Year's Minsk shines with colorful lights, and the building of the National Library looks especially impressive and majestic.
Cozy cafes, museums and souvenir shops will open their doors to you in Troitsky Suburb - the historic district of the city. And if you want to see the architectural monuments included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, visit Mir and Nesvizh.
If on New Year's Eve you want silence, pacification and rustle of age-old trees, book an excursion to the Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve with its unique Museum of Nature with a rich palette of Belarusian flora and fauna.