Rostov-na-donu Travel Guide, Russia

Rostov-na-donu, Travel guide – Location

Rostov on Don is beautifully located in south eastern Russia and like the name suggests, on the banks of Don River. Rostov-na-donu travel guide provides useful information regarding the city and its surroundings.

Rostov-na-donu, Travel guide – Geography

Rostov on Don is set in a plain area, part of the larger East European Plains, with several lower areas located near the banks of Don River and its delta. The city offers a great landscape where the classic old town images blend with the modern industrial ones from the port and with the picturesque banks of the river.

Climate here is continental with slightly more humidity than in the nearby areas determined by the vicinity of the sea. Winters are mild while summers bring high temperatures with little rainfalls. The average temperature here is of 9ºC with -4ºC in winter and 25ºC in summer, a perfect place for visiting all year round.

The hydrograph network plays a crucial role, the city being set on the Don River and near the river’s delta. The Azov Sea shore is also just a few minutes away from the city. The city is close to Volgograd and Samara.

Rostov-na-donu, Travel guide – Flora and Fauna

The local native flora is characteristic to the plains and is represented by numerous grass species and small groups of trees and bushes like the oaks, locust trees and on the river banks and wetlands poplars, alders, willows and so on. However, within the city few of these species can still be found, most of the green areas being populated with decorative plant species. The best places to go for admiring different beautiful plant species are the public gardens and parks as well as the Rostov State University Botanic Garden. The latter one, with a history of over 80 years is one of the most beautiful in Russia, and houses different coniferous species, shrubs, Crataegus and Rosa species as well as other native and exotic flora on over 161 hectares of land.

Fauna is just as diverse and is represented by few terrestrial species like rodents, hares, foxes, pheasants and numerous aquatic species located mainly in the waters of the Don River.

Rostov-na-donu, Travel guide – Transport

Rostov on Don has always been an important commercial and cultural spot mainly due to its strategic location on a large river and near Europe. The city always has been and still is crossed by main transport routes from roads, railroads, airways and waterways.

Besides the nationally important motorways and railways which cross the city, Rostov on Don also has an international airport, the Rostov-na-donu International Airport connecting the city with the rest of the world.

Because it is a large city, spread on over 349km2, tourists will surely use the numerous buses, trolleys and taxis in order to visit the city or just for getting from one side of the town to another.

Rostov-na-donu, Travel guide – Population and Economy

The city houses a large number of people, about one million at the last census, among which 85% are Russians and the rest are Ukrainians, Armenians and Byelorussians. As a result of the city’s long and rich history, besides these nationalities another hundred more live here in good understanding with the Russians blending their cultures and traditions and offering a unique flavor to these places. The city has a young population with a high percent of working people among which the majority has a high educational level.

Local economy is based on industry and services, the local port playing an important role in almost every economic activity developed within the city.

Rostov-na-donu, Travel guide – Cuisine

Cuisine in present day Rostov on Don is the result of the combination between the Russian traditional cuisine with the Turkish, Greek and other influences. Main ingredients for the local delicacies are the local vegetables, chicken, pork and beef meat, game, cereals, different spices and herbs.

Russians appreciate the soups thus a wide variety can be found here, many of them based on meat or fish, vegetables and borsch, which is obtained from a combination of fermented off-corn and water. Some of the most popular dishes in Rostov are the zharkoye, which is baked chicken, pelmeni, which is traditional dough filled with meat or mushrooms, kotlety, which are similar to meatballs and more.