RU
Moscow
Red Square, golden domes and a palatial metro
Red Square, golden domes and a palatial metro
The vast cobbled heart of Moscow is framed by the candy-coloured domes of St Basil’s Cathedral, the red walls of the Kremlin, Lenin’s Mausoleum and the ornate GUM department store.
💡 Come at night when the square and cathedral are floodlit and quiet.
The historic walled citadel is the seat of Russian power, enclosing golden-domed cathedrals, palaces and the Armoury’s treasury of imperial regalia, crowns and Faberge eggs.
💡 Buy Armoury tickets ahead and allow half a day inside.
More an underground museum than a transit system, the metro’s palatial stations glitter with chandeliers, mosaics, marble and Soviet-era sculpture, a wonder for the price of a ticket.
💡 Ride to Komsomolskaya, Novoslobodskaya and Mayakovskaya for the grandest halls.
Moscow’s revamped riverside park is a hub of cafes, cycle paths, open-air art and winter ice rinks, a relaxed slice of contemporary city life beside the Moskva River.
💡 Rent a bike in summer or skate the huge rink in winter.
Home to the world’s greatest collection of Russian art, from medieval icons and Rublev’s Trinity to Repin’s epic canvases, an essential window into the Russian soul.
💡 The original building holds the classics; a newer branch shows modern art.
Moscow’s dining spans hearty Russian classics and a booming modern scene. Try borscht, blini with caviar or sour cream, pelmeni dumplings and beef stroganoff, alongside Georgian favourites like khachapuri and khinkali. The city has stylish cafes, food halls and fine dining, plus historic spots for afternoon tea. Wash it down with kvass, kompot or, of course, a shot of chilled vodka.
Explore Red Square, St Basil’s and GUM, then tour the Kremlin cathedrals and Armoury, ending with the floodlit square at night.
Admire the Tretyakov Gallery, then ride the metro’s grandest stations before relaxing in Gorky Park by the river.
Take in the views from Sparrow Hills, wander the old Arbat street, and catch a ballet or circus performance in the evening.
Visa, entry and payment conditions for Russia change often and cards from abroad may not work; verify the latest requirements before booking.
The metro is fast, cheap and gorgeous; a rechargeable Troika card makes travel easy, though signs are mostly Cyrillic.
Foreign cards are widely unusable; plan to bring and exchange cash, and keep rubles for daily spending.
May to September is mild and green; winters are beautiful but bitterly cold, so pack accordingly.
Download Russian offline to read Cyrillic signs and menus.
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Red Square Moscow, imperial Saint Petersburg, Tatar Kazan, Black Sea Sochi and the ice of Lake Baikal — the vast range of Russia.