Moscow, capital of Russia

Moscow Travel Wiki

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Travel to Moscow

Read about and get inspiration for a trip to the city, check for the cheapest flights and hotels in Moscow

Moscow has been making news as of late for all of the wrong reasons politically, but that doesn’t change the cultural impact that this city has. It is one of the largest cities in the world, is the largest inland city in the world, and as part of its uniqueness is also the city with the largest forested area within the city limits. From the Grand Duchy to the Kremlin, this city has a number of different monikers associated with it, including the “Third Rome.”

Although traveling into Moscow may be difficult for some population groups at the time of this writing, the journey to this beautifully unique city is well worth the efforts you may take. Here are just a few of the essentials to consider exploring during your time in this northern megacity.

Moscow Is Filled With Notable Art Museums

What do some of the wealthiest people in the world like to collect? Art. Moscow is home to the highest per capita population of billionaires in the world today, so it would only stand to reason that it would be home to some of the greatest art collections and museums in the world today. If you only get to stop at one, we highly recommend visiting the Tretyakov Gallery. It is split into two buildings and features very rare works by Rublev, a 15^th century iconographer.

If you have more time to explore, you’ll also want to make time to stroll through the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts. It has a very similar setup as the British Museum in London and you’ll find several copies of some famous ancient sculptures lining the walls of the museum. There are also several world famous paintings that are on permanent display, including Picasso, Cezanne, and Monet.

If you’re making your way down to Red Square to see the sights, then a stop at the State Historical Museum may be something to consider adding to your itinerary. The amount of artifacts within the museum tops several million and includes relics that have been found to be dated back to the prehistoric tribes that once settled the area.

How About Experiencing the Colorful Nightlife of the City?

There is a staggering amount of clubs, restaurants, and bars that you can enjoy during a trip to Moscow that there really isn’t a specific recommendation that can be made. Whatever your unique tastes happen to be, there will be something somewhere in Moscow that will be able to meet them for you. The Moscow City Center offers one of the best selections of nightlife within the city, while Rublevka offers more of a luxurious environment than other regions in Moscow. Some of the largest nightclubs in the world can be found here!

If you’re more of a shopping expert than a nightlife expert, then you’ll want to spend time in Tretyakovsky Proyezd for the many boutique stores that line the street. Many of the world’s top luxury brands can be found here for your browsing, window shopping, or purchasing enjoyment.

Are You Planning On a Visit the the Colorful Buildings of Moscow?

Saint Basil’s Cathedral might just be one of the most recognizable buildings in the entire world. Gracing many articles about the city, it was initially built by Ivan the Terrible to recognize the capture of Kazan from the Mongols. It took 8 years to build and that’s really all that is known about this landmark in Moscow. No one has any information about the builders, but a popular story has it that Ivan blinded the builders of the Cathedral to prevent them from creating something more beautiful than it. The painting scheme that can be seen today was added in 1860.

The remainder of Red Square also offers a number of unique sights that offer their own pleasures for visitors. The Kazan Cathedral was one of the first post-communism efforts that Russia took on to bring this beautiful building back to life. The Kremlin Wall and Lenin Mausoleum are reflective of the history of this city, while the Iberian Chapel and Resurrection Gate are often considered sacred sites. The statue of Pozharsky and Minin represents the heroes who protected Russia from a Polish invasion.

Why Not Experience Green Moscow Too?

With over 100 parks, Moscow prides itself as one of the greenest cities in the world. There are numerous gardens, squares, and boulevards to explore that offer a glimpse of this emphasis, but nothing compares to the historic parks that can be found within the city. The best is Izmailovsky Park, the place where Peter the Great spent much of his childhood when this area was an imperial village. There are about 20 ponds on the grounds and don’t miss out on a trip to Silver Island.

To see the Church of the Ascension, you’ll want to head over to Kolomenskoe Park, which also acts as an open-air museum for some of the wooden buildings that have been created throughout the country. For a unique church visit, there’s also the one that is dedicated to the beheading of John the Baptist, which was built by Ivan the Terrible to commemorate his coronation. It’s a popular Summer park, so be  aware that you’ll have plenty of company. A winter visit to this park, however, is a very memorable experience!

For an aristocratic experience, we recommend a visit to Uzkoe. For a family friendly environment, Lyublino Park offers rides and an arcade. Lefortovo Park is a large park that is right on the Yauza River and offers many exploration opportunities. If you want to experience the laid-back side of Moscow, enjoying these parks and others is a great way to do it!

Moscow is a beautiful city with many wondrous sights to behold. If you can make a visit to this city happen, then take advantage of those circumstances to take in these recommendations and the many other opportunities that Moscow has to offer. You won’t be disappointed!

Travel and vacation in Moscow, Russia

Here you can find information about travel and holiday trips to Russia. You will find travel deals as well as general travel information, guides, “good to know” and facts about Russia. We try to find the best travel video about the city and its surroundings and we write about the best sights, shopping and things to do. You will also find updated current weather and forecasts. The current exchange rates are also updated many times a day.

Best of Moscow

What to see and do in Moscow ?

St. Basil’s Cathedral

The famous St. Basil’s Cathedral was commissioned by Ivan the Terrible and built on the edge of Red Square between 1555 and 1561. Legend has it that on completion of the church the Tsar ordered the architect, Postnik Yakovlev, to be blinded to prevent him from ever creating anything to rival its beauty again.

(He did in fact go on to build another cathedral in Vladimir despite his ocular impediment!) The cathedral was built to commemorate Ivan the Terrible’s successful military campaign against the Tartar Mongols in 1552 in the besieged city of Kazan. Victory came on the feast day of the Intercession of the Virgin, so the Tsar chose to name his new church the Cathedral of the Intercession of the Virgin on the Moat, after the moat that ran beside the Kremlin. The church was given the nickname “St. Basil’s” after the “holy fool” Basil the Blessed (1468-1552), who was hugely popular at that time with the Muscovites masses and even with Ivan the Terrible himself.

In the small garden outside St. Basil’s stands an impressive bronze Statue to Minin and Pozharsky, who rallied Russia’s volunteer army during the Time of Troubles and drove out the invading Polish forces. They were an interesting duo – Dmitry Pozharsky was a prince, while Kuzma Minin was a butcher from Nizhny Novgorod. The statue was designed by the artist I. Martos and erected in 1818 as the city’s first monumental sculpture. It originally stood in the center of Red Square in front of what is now the GUM Department Store, with Minin symbolically indicating to Pozharsky that the Poles were occupying the Kremlin and calling for its liberation.

Arbat Quarter

The Arbat is a true symbol of old Moscow, and has recently celebrated its 500th anniversary. Its name is first mentioned in the city chronicles of 1493. In that year the whole city was engulfed in a terrible fire, sparked by a candle in the Church of St. Nicholas in Peski, which is situated on the Arbat. This disaster led to the well-known saying: ‘A penny candle razed Moscow to the ground.’ However, from the second half of 18th century the Arbat became the most aristocratic quarter of the city, just like Prechistenka.

It was often described as the St. Germain of Moscow, and the Muscovite intelligentsia settled in this area. The Arbat and Prechistenka have much in common in their history and character. There have never been any factories here, nor any workers’ huts, and there were no taverns or bazaars.