420 km from Moscow (5-6 hours drive) is located one of the smallest and most picturesque cities in Russia - the amazing city of Ples!

Interestingly, you can get here by two different, but the same mileage roads, each of which passes through other famous old cities. Therefore, if you decide to go on a trip for a long Weekend or a whole week, you can visit most of the beautiful cities of the Golden Ring in one go!

Itinerary 1 - passes through the cities of Vladimir and Suzdal (we have a description on our site).

Itinerary 2 - passes through Sergiev-Posad, Pereslavl-Zalessky, Rostov the Great, Yaroslavl and Kostroma (we have a description on our site)

We, nevertheless, would suggest dividing the visit to these 8 most beautiful cities of the Golden Ring in few trips, as we are sure that the beauty of the destination of the visit - the city of Ples - will inspire you so much that you would want to come back here again and again!

So, let's begin!

On weekdays and in the off-season, you can drive by car to the very center, and park in the central square, next to the old market place and the very beautiful Resurrection Church.

The rest of the time you will have to leave the car on a special parking lot at the entrance of the city. But this will not be a problem even for pedestrians (even less to cyclists), as you would reach the very center of Ples in 15-20 minutes.

Volga promenade with a length of 3 kilometers is an ideal place to start sightseeing. Here you can also take a break from the road in one of the many cafes on the riverside. Our favorite place is the Sofia Kuvshinnikova coffee house (in the very center - just to the right of the central square going to Volga), where you can taste deliciously-prepared coffee and various home-made pastries! We highly recommend this place!

Further we recommend you to ride along the second line from the riverside, downstream the Volga. Following a good asphalt road, you will cross the new bridge over the small river Shokhonka, which flows into the Volga, and you will end up in a sharp rise paved with cobblestones into the "mountain of Levitan". Here it is worth making a little effort and climb the mountain, which offers a picturesque view of the whole city of Ples, with a monument to Levitan in the background, as well as a view of the small wooden church - the Resurrection, which is also one of Ples symbol and a Post card picture.

After visiting the mountain of Levitan, we suggest you again go down to the bridge over Shokhonka, where - already on the other side of the bridge - straight - you will discover a new ascent - this time on the mountain of Liberty! And here again you will not regret at all the wasted efforts, since the view of Ples from the Mount of Freedom is probably the most beautiful and famous view of Ples. Ride along the numerous paths laid along the whole Mount of Liberty, go to the Assumption Cathedral, relax on logs or terrace benches that decorate Mount Liberty along the steep descents from the Volga. An ideal place to be alone with yourself, breathe the purest air of Ples and look down over the current of the largest river in Europe. If you are traveling around Ples between the end of March and the end of October, then you probably will be able to observe numerous steamers and cargo barges sailing down and upstream Ples.

It is time to eat. 5 minutes from Mount Svoboda (without going down) is located one of the best and most famous hotel-restaurants in Plyos - "Private Visit", which has been run for many years by Mrs. Manyennan. Here you can have a tasty meal and admire the gorgeous views of Ples, Volga and Shokhonka! We highly recommend to come here!

Then, again without going down, you can drive through the upper part of the city (occasionally glancing at the views of the Volga and Ples opening down) to Milovka, where the Milaya Gora winter ski resort is located, made in the old Russian-style Chugunok restaurant (open all year around), and gorgeous tiled walkways along the pine woods! It is very pleasant to walk or cycle here in a hot summer day, and, at any time of the year, enjoying the fragrant forest air!

Enough to ride through the woods - we recommend you make a small bike trip to the nearby village of Vygolovo, where Ms. Manyennan’s second restaurant is located - a restored piece of the Russian eco-village called “Noble Side”. There is an Entrance fee, but the Place is really beautiful and original! On the territory there is a farm where birds and rabbits are bred! You can eat here - apparently, products from the farm!

On the way back towards Ples - pay attention to the very claiming view on the left of the old Russian manor house surrounded by a high fence with video surveillance cameras - under the possession of Boyar Medvedev, among the people "Medvedev dacha" or "Dacha of the President"!

Having once again passed through the well-groomed paths of the pine forest behind Milovka, we return to Ples. You can go down to the Riverside along Ostrovsky Street, passing by one of the oldest churches in Ples, the Transfiguration. We get to the Riverside exactly opposite one of the most famous modern symbols of Plyos - the Monument of the "Mukha" Cat, looking at the sunset! And indeed, the sunset view from this point is one of the most beautiful in Ples! Enjoy!

See you again in our beloved city of Ples!