The industrial and cultural capital of the Urals
Considering its location, you'd be forgiven for expecting Yekaterinburg to be a total backwater. But Russia's 5th largest city packs a historical punch - not only is this where Tsar Nicholas II and his family were executed by Bolsheviks, it's also the birthplace of future president Boris Yeltsin. It then became an industrial powerhouse during WWII, when factories were moved here from war-affected areas such as Moscow. Once your inner history buff is satisfied, there's more - you can indulge in winter sports ranging from dog sledding to snowmobile trips.
