Discover the cities hosting 2018 FIFA World Cup games

Discover the cities hosting 2018 FIFA World Cup games - As the 2018 FIFA World Cup prepares to kick off in Russia, host cities around the country are preparing to greet soccer fans from around the globe.

There's plenty of sporting action to look forward in each city. But there's also lots of things to see and do before and after the whistle blows.

Browse the gallery for more about the destinations and ideas of how to plan your visit.

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Kaliningrad - Kaliningrad is located at the mouth of the River Pregolya, near the Baltic Sea.

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Kaliningrad - Kaliningrad was once the East Prussian provincial capital of Königsberg. After WWII, it became part of the Soviet Union.

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Kaliningrad - Top tourist attractions include Kaliningrad Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Friedland Gate, and Ploschchad Pobedy, the city's central square.

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St. Petersburg - The country's second largest city after Moscow, St. Petersburg is a port city on the Baltic Sea set in the country's northwestern region.

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St. Petersburg - Steeped in grandeur and history, this is Russia's cultural capital. The former imperial city still exudes a revolutionary spirit.

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St. Petersburg - The arm-long "Don't Miss" list includes the spectacular Winter Palace, the colorful Church of the Savior on Blood, and the world-class Hermitage Museum, founded in 1764.

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Kazan - The capital of the Republic of Tatarstan, Kazan lies at the confluence of the Volga and Kazanka Rivers.

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Kazan - Kazan is known as the Istanbul of the Volga for its curious mix of Asian and European culture.

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Kazan - Must-see visitor attractions include the magnificent blue-domed Kul Sharif Mosque, Kazan Cathedral, and the Kazan Kremlin, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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Moscow - The Russian capital sits along the Moskva River.

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Moscow - History books note 1147 as the year Moscow was founded, making it one of the oldest cities in Russia.

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Moscow - Standout landmarks include St. Basil's Cathedral with its swirling candy-colored onion domes, Lenin's Mausoleum, and the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts.

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Nizhny Novgorod - The Volga River divides this western Russian city, and greets the Oka River along the way.

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Nizhny Novgorod - The city was once called Gorky after the novelist Maxim Gorky, who was born here in 1868. It reverted back to its original name in 1990.

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Nizhny Novgorod - The city's impressive 16th-century Kremlin, the monumental Chkalov Stairs, and the cable car that offers a memorable 10-minute ride across the Volga are sightseeing highlights.

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Sochi - Sochi hugs the Black Sea coast along an area known as the Caucasian Riviera. The city's northeastern boundaries fall within the Caucasian Biosphere Reserve, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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Sochi - Regarded as the unofficial summer capital of Russia (Stalin's favorite dacha was located here), Sochi has remained a fashionable seaside resort. The nearby Caucasus Mountains provide ideal winter sports opportunities—the city hosted the 2014 Winter Olympics.

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Sochi - Clear skies present glorious views across the city from Mount Akhun. A dip in the Black Sea is a great way to escape the summer heat, or you could delve underground and visit the Vorontsovka Caves, one of the longest cave complexes in the country.

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Volgograd - Situated on the western bank of the Volga River, the city is an important industrial hub known for its steel manufacturing, shipbuilding, and oil refining facilities.

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Volgograd - As Stalingrad, the city became famous for the Battle of Stalingrad (1942-43), regarded as the largest and bloodiest battle in the recorded history of warfare. Stalingrad was renamed Volgograd in 1961.

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Volgograd - Naturally, the most important historic sites recognize the battle. Mamaev Kurgan, the hill above the city, is crowned by the extraordinarily evocative 72-m statue of Mother Russia. The Panorama Museum of the Battle of Stalingrad places much of the conflict in stark context. For some respite, stroll the attractive gardens near the five-domed All Saints Church.

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Yekaterinburg - Straddling the border that effectively divides Europe from Asia, this is Russia's fourth largest city and one known for its collection of skyscrapers.

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Yekaterinburg - Founded in 1723 and named for Russian Emperor Peter the Great's wife, Yekaterina, the city became a key stopping off point for anyone traveling to Siberia.

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Yekaterinburg - The imposing Church upon the Blood marks the site where Tsar Nicholas II, his wife, and children were murdered in 1918. For a less overwhelming visitor experience, head for the Vysotskiy Viewing Platform for splendid panoramic views of the city. Later, wander the pretty Istorichesky Skver landscaped park.

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Samara - This is another city that overlooks the Volga River, on a spot where it meets the river Samara, thus providing the destination with its name.

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Samara - Once off limits to most foreigners during the Soviet era, Samara is now an important social and political hub. It's also known for "Stalin's Bunker", built for the dictator but never used by him.

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Samara - The bunker is one of the city's more unusual tourist attractions, but visitors should also explore the Soyuz rocket monument, and the Samara Art Museum, a cultural highlight.

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Rostov-on-Don - A busy port city located in southern Russia, the destination is named for the River Don, which flows into the Sea of Azov.

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Rostov-on-Don - The central Russian city marks the geographical gateway to the North Caucasus.

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Rostov-on-Don - Worth exploring is the polished gold-domed Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin, the lively Embankment district with its bars and restaurants, and Ploshchad Sovetor—the vast 'Square of Soviets'.

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Saransk - Nestling in the Volga basin and straddling both banks of the Insar River, Saransk is the capital city of the Republic of Mordovia, which falls in the eastern region of Central Russia.

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Saransk - In February 2013, as a newly ensconced Russian citizen, French actor Gérard Depardieu became a resident of Saransk.

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Saransk - Tourism proper is yet to catch up with this corner of Russia, but notable places of interest include the magnificent city-center Cathedral of St. Fyodor Ushakov, and the fun-filled Pushkin Park of Culture and Recreation. The Mordovian Erzia Museum of Fine Arts is also worthy of exploration.

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