Nakhodka, Russia

Capital City

With a population of just 133,859, this port city on the Sea of Japan is a far cry from the glitz of Moscow. The economy here revolves around the port and related industries, which have struggled since the 1990s. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, and the climate is a mixed bag - bitterly cold winters but pleasant summers. Nakhodka may appeal to the hardy individual looking for an off-the-beaten-path Russian experience, but it's not for the faint of heart.