There's no denying that Russia travel can be overwhelming. With a country so big, it can be difficult to decided exactly where to go and what to see. While the paring down your itinerary can be tough, you should make a point to visit St. Petersburg.
Even if you have your Europe or United States travel planned down to the second, sometimes you can't avoid having to kill time during an extended layover.
Islands offer some of the most unique travel opportunities in the world. Cut off from land, they often have a culture and mystique all their own, and it's easy to get swept up in the local atmosphere while you're there.