3 Best Sights in Murmansk, Russia

Nearly totally destroyed in World War II while holding back the Nazi attack, Murmansk was given "hero city" status within the Soviet Union. In memorium to the brutal warfare and the soldiers, sailors, and airmen that fought, The Alyosha Monument, the country's second-largest statue, was erected in 1974. Standing guard from a hill north of city center, the 116-foot granite soldier faces west toward the scene of the fiercest fighting. In front of the statue burns an eternal flame and a few steps away, an elongated trianglular building mimics a flag at half mast.

The world's first atomic powered surface ship, the NS Lenin first took to the waters in 1957. Later, the 430-foot vessel was transformed into an ice breaker, which it did with gusto until decommissioned in 1989. Today, it sits permanently moored in the city harbor and serves as a museum, with more than 1,000 Soviet-era compartments to explore, including crew cabins, the canteen, sick bay, and command stations. Each also stands as a testament to the iconic minimalist design of the era. Everything is brought further to life when paired with stories told by guides about the ship's illustrious history and crew.

Established in 1975, the philharmonic serves as Murmank's main music space. Throughout the year, the calendar is filled with musical performances from baroque to contemporary by the theater's own orchestra or visiting musicians from other parts of Russia and abroad. Other types of music get regular attention as well, including flamenco, folk, and jazz. The hall itself, however, remains classically but charmingly Soviet in style, with light teal walls separated by white pilasters and simple cushioned-wood seats.