2. 2
A TRAVELLER'S GUIDE TO MOSCOW
With rich historical origins and grand architecture at every turn,
Moscow is a city with a bustling city culture enough for even the most
experienced traveller to get lost in. Well renowned as one of the most
influential centres of cultural, commercial, political and artistic life in
Europe, Moscow isn’t far behind St. Petersburg as the most popular
tourist destination in Russia. With its candy-striped cathedral domes,
imposing old world architecture and lavish landmarks of modern day
excess, Moscow is one of the world’s biggest mega-cities, with a
population of around 11.5 million people.
Travelling to Moscow takes some careful planning, as the vast number
of sights and activities can be overwhelming for travelers, coupled with
the sheer intensity of Russia’s urban lifestyle and an unfamiliar
language and alphabet. This guide aims to give a brief introduction to
first time travellers to Moscow to help them navigate the city’s many
features - including when to go, what to see, and how to get around
Moscow with relative ease.
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4. 4
MOSCOW FOR BEGINNERS
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5. 5
WHEN TO VISIT MOSCOW
Moscow is famous for its bitterly cold winters, so it’s unsurprising that most visitors tend to favour
summer. The peak season is June through to August, when the city is warm and bustling with
travellers from all over the world. However, if you want to avoid the higher prices that come with
booking accommodation in the summer, you might try the shoulder seasons of spring and early
autumn. Late spring (April and May) provide more sunshine and less rainfall, while in autumn, the
city’s parks are filled with flowering trees and colourful leaves. The depths of mid-winter are
undoubtedly cold, but a winter visit is an adventure that will give you a true insight into Moscow
life – both its hardships and its great beauty. Furs and vodka keep the locals warm and the snow-
filled streets are postcard picturesque. The Christmas lights, traditional winter markets and News
Years celebrations offer sights and sounds to be savoured.
of
winter
activities
are
available
on
the
lake
and
its
surrounds,
including
ice
skating,
cross-‐
country
skiing,
dog
sledding
and
ice
fishing.
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6. 6
HIGHLIGHTES OF MOSCOW
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7. 7
THE KREMLIN
No place better represents the triumphs and turmoil
of Russia’s past than the Kremlin. Built between the
14th
and 17th
centuries, it was the Imperial
Residence as well as an important religious centre.
Within the imposing walls of the Kremlin are a
plethora of classic buildings, each as stunning as
the next. Wander past the modern glass and
concrete Kremlin Palace, the neoclassical Senate
Building, the 40 tonne Tsar Cannon and the 200
tonne Tsar Bell, the Armoury (now a fascinating
museum of Imperial treasures and weaponry), the
magnificent Cathedral Square and many more
monuments to the power and might of the Russian
Tsars.
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8. 8
THE RED SQUARE
Along the eastern side of the Kremlin Wall is the
vast cobblestoned expanse of the Red Square.
Although it’s been the scene of countless displays of
military might, parades and protests since the 15th
century, it’s traditionally been a place of trade and
social gatherings, and today thousands flock to the
square to celebrate official state events, be
photographed in front of famous monuments or
simply soak up its historic splendour.
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9. 9
ST BASIL'S CATHEDRAL
Located in the Red Square is one of Russia’s most
iconic buildings, with its vibrant multi-coloured onion
shaped domes. The cathedral was commissioned by
Ivan the Terrible in 1552 to mark the capture of
Kazan from the Mongol forces.
According to legend, Ivan was so enamoured by
architect Postnik Yakovlev’s design that he had him
blinded so that he would never be able to design
anything as fantastical again! If the cathedral is open,
it’s possible to visit the interior. Although the maze-
like interconnected chapels are surprisingly small,
they’re richly decorated and well worth an explore.
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10. 10
ARBAT STREET
In the heart of downtown Moscow, Arbat Street is
Moscow’s oldest pedestrian street. The
cobblestone roads and classical statues are
reminders of its elegant past, but today the area
caters mostly for the tourist crowd, with rows of
souvenir shops and restaurants and cafes of
varying quality. Still, it’s a must-visit attraction with
a lively atmosphere. Street performers and
musicians ply the street day and night, and you
can often see traditional Russian craftspeople at
work.
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11. 11
THE MOSCOW METRO
Apart from being one of the largest and oldest
underground railway systems in the world, and a
fantastic, cheap way to get around Moscow, the
metro is a tourist attraction in its own right, thanks
to its spectacularly decorated underground
stations, designed by the most skilled architects of
the Soviet Union.
The stations have been described as underground
art museums, home to fantastic sculpture and
murals and striking architectural elements. From
stained glass panels to mosaic marble floors.
Mayakovskaya, Elektrozavodskaya, Prospekt
Mira, Arbatskaya, Kievskaya and
Novoslobodskaya stations are among the most
beautiful.
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12. 12
BOLSHOI THEATRE
A historic theatre in the centre of Moscow,
renowned for its world-class ballet and opera
performances. An evening at the Bolshoi Theatre
is one of Moscow’s most romantic after-hours
options and the theatre offers a range of Russian
and foreign works throughout the week. Equally as
spectacular as the theatre’s performances is the
rich, lavish interior of the six-level auditorium.
Tickets to these performances can be reserved
over the phone or on the theatre website
depending on availability.
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13. 13
GORKY PARK
An amusement park in Moscow named after
Maxim Gorky, inaugurated in 1928, was
redesigned and remodelled in 2011 to much
acclaim and popularity. Since its opening in
1930s, the park became a leader in Avant-garde
architecture. Today it is an eco-friendly
recreational area with sports facilities, an open-air
cinema and cafe. The park is one of the most
popular spots in the city and stretches along the
banks of the Moscow River. While it’s an
incredibly popular spot in Summer, each winter
the park hosts an 18,000 square meter ice rink,
with areas for children to play, as well as
designated hockey, dancing, and skating areas.
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14. 14
MOSCOW STATE
UNIVERSITY
Also known as the Lomonosov Moscow State
University, this educational institution is worth
visiting for its architectural grandeur and the
breathtaking views from its windows. It is also a
short walk from the Sparrow Hill viewing point for
an even more impressing outlook of the city.
Moscow State University is one of Moscow’s
Seven Sisters, the group of seven Moscow
skyscrapers designed in Stalinist style each with
sweeping views of the city.
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15. 15
TSARITSYNO PALACE
Located in far east Moscow, Tsaritsyno palace
was founded in 1984 in the park of the same
name. The palace is a modern-day continuation of
the exotic summer home which Catherine Great
began construction of in 1775 but never finished.
The government finally decided to continue the
project and finished the two-storey square
structure in 2005. With red brick walls and white
stone decorations, the palace museum now
houses many exhibitions including a collection of
decorative and applied arts.
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16. 16
MOSCOW RIVER
CRUISE
A river cruise is a fantastic way to see Moscow
and its many attractions and a perfect alternative
to a city tour by car or bus. River cruises are an
affordable way to see Moscow whilst avoiding the
crowded streets and busy city roads. River cruises
in Moscow treat travelers to an unimpeded view of
many of the citys most famous landmarks
including The Kremlin, The Peter the Great statue
and The Red Square, among the many other fine
examples of contemporary architecture and
traditionally constructed Churches and
monuments.
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17. 17
GETTING IN AND AROUND MOSCOW
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18. 18
METRO
Moscow is a huge metropolis with a well-developed
public transport system. The city is famous for its
metro system, whose beautiful underground stations
are tourist attractions in themselves. The Moscow
Metro network is extensive, comfortable, cheap and
efficient. It can get quite crowded at peak times
however – up to nine million people per day ride the
metro! However, during rush hours (8am to 11am
and 5pm to 8pm) it’s a much better option than
tackling Moscow’s infamous above-ground traffic
jams. The metro service begins at 6am and the last
trains of the night depart at around 1am. The layout
and colour-coded Moscow Metro system is intuitive
and easy to navigate. No signs are in English
though, so bring an English map along with you.
Magnetic tickets are sold at ticket booths at every
station. Buying a multiple-ride ticket saves you the
hassle of queuing up every time.
BUSES, TROLLEYBUSES
AND TRAMS
Almost every street in Moscow is serviced by a bus
or tram route. Some streets have overhead wires to
accommodate electric trolleybuses, while others are
fitted with tram tracks. One trip costs 28R ($1USD)
making buses, trolleys and trams a super
inexpensive way to see the city. The #7 trolleybus
route is the most convenient to explore the major
sites of Moscow. It runs from the Victory Park (Park
Pobedy) to the Stone Bridge (Kamennyï Most) near
the Kremlin, following the riverbank and up to
Sparrow Hills (Vorobyovy Gory).
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Even if you’re on an organised tour, you’ll have time
to yourself to explore the city on foot, or by public
transport. The Metro in particular is a great,
inexpensive way to get around the city and
experience a part of daily life for Moscow’s locals.
19. 19
TAXIS
Many unofficial cabs, known as ‘gypsy taxis’ cruise around looking for fares, but we recommend
sticking to the official taxis, recognisable by their chequerboard logo on the side and/or a small
green light in the windscreen. Moscow taxi drivers almost never use metres (even if they have
them fitted) so you’ll have to negotiate a fare first. Bargaining is a must, and even then, taxi rides
tend to be on the expensive side, best reserved for when public transport isn’t a convenient
option.
MARSHRUTKA
These mini-buses are found in both Moscow and St Petersburg. They travel along fixed routes
but passengers can wave them down anywhere, like taxis. You pay immediately (usually around
30R) once you get inside. Tell the driver ‘stop’, or to be more polite, ‘ostano`vite po`zhaluista’
(stop please) as you approach your stop. Marshrutkas aren’t generally favoured by tourists, as
it’s not easy to work out where they’re headed, unless you can ask in Russian.
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20. 20
DINING AND NIGHTLIFE IN MOSCOW
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21. 21
DINING IN MOSCOW
As one of the world’s largest and most vibrant metropolises, Moscow’s nightlife has come into its
own. In fact, some would say the city truly comes alive at night. Russians love to eat, drink and
party, and for Muscovites, the night time is the right time – Moscow positively buzzes all night
long with a multitude of drinking, drinking and entertainment options. In a single neighbourhood
you can find it all: traditional Russian meal followed by a night of boisterous folk dance, top notch
international cuisine, an ultra-chic bar or an edgy underground music club – Moscow has it all.
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22. 22
Muscovites love eating out, and many
restaurants are open 24 hours. Dining
options range from hole-in-the-wall cafés,
kiosks and food stalls that serve authentic
and well-priced homestyle Russian food
through to international fast food chains
to high-end fine dining restaurants with
prices to match.
Moscow’s increasing wealth has really
raised the bar for restaurants over the
past decade. Diners have a great choice
of cuisines from every corner of the world.
Moscow’s upmarket restaurants charge
top dollar, but the food, service and
surroundings are generally excellent.
You’ll still find plenty of casual options,
and there’s also been a recent revival in
street food culture, with stalls selling hot,
fast and fresh snacks around popular
parks and squares.
As a visitor, you’ll probably want to try
some traditional Russian food. Here are a
few suggestions:
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23. 23
ELKI-PALKI
A chain of around 35 inexpensive Russian
restaurants started by Arkdy Novikov, a
legendary Moscow restaurateur. Each
Restaurant is designed to look like a
traditional rustic village hut. Try the pelmeni
(meat dumplings), borchst and the kvas, a
non-alcoholic traditional drink. Expect to pay
around 300 rubles for a meal with beer.
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KALINA BAR
Cocktail bar and restaurant located 21 floors
up on top of the swish Lotte Plaza Shopping
Centre, Kalina Bar is a jet set choice. The
birds eye view over the city is stunning,
especially as the sun sets and the city lights
flicker. The expert cocktails and fine wine
selection all help the view go down even
better and once the night sets in so does the
house music as the beautiful crowd turn up
for their aperitifs. If you want one of the
prime window seats book in advance,
especially at the weekend.
PUSHKIN
The café, which is really a five-star
restaurant, is situated in a building that was
renovated to look exactly like a Russian
aristocrat's home circa 1825. The staff
speaks a beautiful, pre-Sovietized Russian
(and English) and serves some of the best
fare in town. You'll want to get
the blinchiki (Russian pancakes) with black
caviar, borscht and pelmeni (dumplings),
before moving on to the famous Tsar's
Sturgeon and, of course, one of Pushkin's
many, many desserts. Make sure your meal
includes a spot or two or three of vodka.
24. 24
NIGHTLIFE IN MOSCOW
Let it be known, Russians love to party, and
Moscow is undoubtedly the party capital of
Russia. The capital city has an incredible array
of nightlife options a scene for everyone –
whether you’re keen to catch a live Russian
rock band, slink into a smoky jazz club, go
clubbing til the break of dawn or just lounge
around with a beer and an endless array of fine
Russian vodkas for the tasting.
One thing visitors notice is that many nightlife
venues also double up as restaurants, and
sometimes will even have an adjoining bowling
alley, billiards club, karaoke joint, concert
venue, casino or even book shop. Perhaps
because Moscow taxi fares a quite expensive,
and roaming Moscow’s streets in the dead of
winter isn’t all that fun, bar owners often want
their venue to be a ‘one-stop-shop’ for dining,
drinking and other night time activities.
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25. 25
Clubs tend to be on the pricey side, and Moscow’s bouncers can be notoriously fickle. While
foreigners are sometimes given a little more leeway, the best advice is to dress to impress if you
intend to hit up Moscow’s more glamorous night spots. For a budget alternative, simply join the
throngs of locals hanging out to the street, ordering drinks from scruffy kiosks. Recently though,
the local government has cracked down on these venues, although they still appear in more
youthful corners of the city, particularly around universities.
The epicentre of Moscow’s nightlife is to the north of Beliy Gorod. Around the Pushkinskya metro
stop and around the Tversakaya Ulitsa are plenty of places ranging from hipster hangouts to
relaxed student dive bars. Other more casual options for bar-hopping can be found in the
Khamovniki district. Southwest of the city, prices are often cheaper than the centre and the area
heaves with youngsters having a good time on weekends.
A night out in Moscow can be intense, overwhelming and exhilarating. Russians tend not to do
things in halves, and partying is no exception. The best thing to do is do as the locals do – cast
your inhibitions aside, let yourself be swept along by the excitement and an outrageously good
time is almost guaranteed.
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26. 26
SHOPPING IN MOSCOW
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27. 27
Moscow is a shopper’s paradise. Young and old
flock to the brand new mega-malls and well- heeled
locals head to gleaming department stores and
designer boutiques for the latest fashions. Food
markets are a long standing Moscow tradition and
remain as lively and colourful as ever.
For a huge range of souvenirs, local and
international clothing, head for the city centre’s two
major shopping centres, the glamorous GUM (a
haven for designer brands) and the partially
underground Okhotny Ryad, which attracts a
broader range of shoppers. Both are found just off
the Red Square.
Just north of the Red Square, Tverskaya Street is
lined with a wide variety of boutique stores and is
an interesting stroll in its own right. There are some
fantastic speciality food shops here – keep an eye
out for Eliseyevsky Gastronom, a modern version of
an elite 19th
century food emporium, famous for
offering Russia’s most expensive chocolates, as
well as premium vodkas and other traditional fare.
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28. 28
TOURS OF MOSCOW
As the capital of Russia and most populous city in Europe, Moscow is a world renowned bustling
city hub with an incredible variety of sights on display. Navigating through the city and its
incredible infrastructure can be an overwhelming task for visitors, and seeing the city’s many
attractions through a private expedition or small group tour is recommended. With a huge range
of dining options, entertainment and leisure activities, museums and cultural sights to navigate,
Moscow can be challenging to cover, even for the most seasoned traveller. Whether it’s the rich
history and imperial past of the city which interest you, or immersive art, contemporary culture
and architecture, premier tour company 56th Parallel offers a choice of fully escorted tours and
private charters to cater to your specific needs. Visit www.56thparallel.com to see a full list of
seasonal tours in Moscow.
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