1. 4
souvenir hunt
There are any number of places in Moscow to
pick up mementoes to take home. Street vendors
outside the Red Square (left) sell Russian dolls in all
shapes, sizes and colours, and even dolls with the faces of
Russian President Vladimir Putin, US President Barack
Obama and the late pop star Michael Jackson. The
Russian-style fur hats sold there are also bestsellers.
More shopping can be found at the pedestrianised
Arbat Street, filled with shops selling paintings, T-shirts
and Faberge-style eggs. Walking down the 1.25km-
long avenue thronged with tourists, you can also spot
international chains like Dunkin’ Donuts and Starbucks,
but look carefully as some of their names are in Cyrillic.
2
spectacular
subway
Moscow’s metro system
(engl.mosmetro.ru), opened
in 1935, is famous for its
ornate stations. Arbatskaya
– the deepest station at 41m
underground – has high vaulted
ceilings with intricate reliefs.
Another station worth seeing
is Novokuznetskaya. Its 32
stained glass windows with
backlighting give you the feel of
being in a church. Not only are
the metro stations beautiful, the
trains are efficient, and second
only to Tokyo, Japan, in terms of
ridership. It is inexpensive too,
at only 28 rubles (US$0.88) for
a single journey.
m o s cow
s i lv e r k r i s .c o m | 8584 | s i lv e r k r i s .c o m
1
high life
For a taste of high society in the city, head to The Ritz-Carlton Moscow’s Bar &
Lobby Lounge (ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/Moscow) where elite Muscovites, from
millionaires to television personalities, can be spotted. Choose from over 15 types of tea
including Moroccan mint and Asian jasmine – served with gold plated tea strainers – and
tuck into marmalade jelly sweets, macarons or the local delicacy orange caviar. The hotel
interior is pure elegance with walls of artwork, cases of vintage whisky and live classical
music. Continue your evening at the Bolshoi Theatre (bolshoi.ru/en). You can catch its
renowned ballet company in performances of classics such as Swan Lake and Nutcracker
(below right) from now until December.
photosgettyimages/corbis/damiryusupov/courtesybolshoitheatre
5
look back
Some people find
the idea of visiting
Lenin’s Mausoleum (Red
Square) a bit unnerving, but
it’s an experience not to be
missed. The embalmed body
of the Marxist revolutionary
has now lain in state for
almost 90 years. Entry to
the tomb is free but it is
open only between 10am
and 1pm, and the place
is closed on Monday and
Friday. Photography is not
allowed. Inside, the tomb is
almost pitch dark with only
a spotlight trained on the
leader lying in his glass case.
Visitors file past quickly
and out into a garden by the
walls of the Kremlin. Here,
some of Russia’s legendary
figures are buried, including
Yuri Gagarin, the first man to
journey to outer space. Head
next door to the Kremlin
(kreml.ru) for a look at the
walled complex of churches,
palaces, government
buildings and an armoury.
CURRENCY
Russian Ruble
US$1 = 32.2 RUB
VISA
Requirements vary.
Visit visatorussia.com
for details.
BEST TIME TO VISIT
Between March and
June. This is when
temperatures start to
get warmer but hotel
rates are also cheaper
than during the
summer months.
HOW TO GET THERE
Singapore Airlines flies
5 times weekly from
Singapore to Moscow.
MORE INFORMATION
russiatourism.ru/en
fastfacts
3
Scintillating
sights
Gum (gum.ru/en;
opposite page), a glass-roofed
shopping centre next to the
Red Square, has a beautiful
interior with fountains and
fairy lights. But after dark, it’s
the exterior that dazzles with
the thousands of lights on its
facade, making it a magnet for
camera-toting tourists. Down
the road, the whimsical St
Basil’s Cathedral (Red Square)
is also lit up, bringing the bright
colours of its domes to life. For
spectacular aerial views of the
city, visit the Ostankino TV
Tower (tvtower.ru), the fourth
tallest tower in the world with a
viewing platform at 337m. The
closed deck is open daily from
10am to 10pm.
By Sophie Williams
Must-dosmoscow
5the essential
quick guide
for discerning
travellers