Moscow is the capital and biggest city in Russia. Let’s have a look at what to do in Moscow.
When To Go :
I have been in Moscow on August 26-30. Temperature was between 20-25 which is super suitable weather. But on the other hand many organisation in Red Square helds after 1st of September. While spring and autumn will be great to visit Moscow , summer and winter can also be preferred too.
Visa :
There is an online visa system in Russia. It is free and valid for 14 days. But due to the pandemic , e-visa was suspended and you will need to buy a visa.
How To Go :
There are direct flights to Moscow from all around the World. But i went by Sapsan Train from St. Petersburg in 4 hours. When you leave the train station , you can reach at metro station right next and you can go everywhere by metro. I bought a 3 days pass which was 455 Ruble. After my stay in Moscow , i used Vnukovo Airport. To reach at Vnukovo Airport ; you can catch airport Express train from Moscow Kiyevsky Railway Station ( Kievsky Vokzal ) , bus 911 from Salaryevo Metro Station on the metro line 1 , bus 32 from Borovskoye Schosse Metro Station on the metro line 8A .
Where To Stay :
There are many different options to stay in Moscow like hotels or apartments etc. I stayed at an apartment in Mosfilm Area which i found on Airbnb. It was a good neighbourhood and close to center , i paid around 30-35 Usd per night.
Things To Do :
1-) Red Square :
It is the most centeral and most visited area in Moscow. Most of the places to see located in Red Square or just nearby , also there are many exhibitions , concerts , army parade etc. helds in the square.
2-) Grand Kremlin Palace :
Grand Kremlin Palace is a complex from past till now which is a headquarter for Russia. There are many different types of building in the complex. These are Armoury Chamber , Ivan The Great Bell Tower and some cathedrals. You can buy seperate entrance tickets or one pass includes all places. But the most important place in the complex is Armoury Chamber , entrance ticket is 1000 Ruble. You shoul definitely see this place , others will be optional i think. Here you will see not only the imperial guns but also jewellery , many things jewel inlaid , some holy relics , dresses of czarinas and imperial carts.
3-) Saint Basil’s Cathedral :
St. Basil’s Cathedral is one of the symbols of Moscow , located in Red Square. It is used a museum and entrance fee is 1000 Ruble. Style of Cathedral seems like The Church Of The Savior On Spilled Blood in St. Petersburg.
4-) GUM :
GUM is the most famous shopping centre in Russia , located in Red Square. A luxury one but must see.
5-) Nikolskaya Street :
Despite Arbat is known as the most famous street in Moscow , especially in Russian classical nobels , i can say that Nikolskaya Street is the liveliest street with shops and street musicians. Street is located in Red Sqaure.
6-) Bolshoi Theatre :
It is located next to Red Sqaure and it is the 2nd most important theatre in Russia after Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg. Bolshoi means grand but it nevers translated in other languages and always called Bolshoi in other languages. You can find many displays after summer season.
7-) Arbat Street :
It is known as the most famous street in Moscow. It starts from Russian Foreign Ministery building on Smolenskaya Avenue till Arbat Square which is 1.2 km. This is also a lively street full of with famous shops and street musicians etc.
8-) State Tretyakov Gallery :
State Tretyakov Gallery is a huge gallery including around 130 thousands pieces of artwork. You can find artworks from Ivan Aivazovsky and Ilya Repin. Entrance fee for museum 500 Ruble. You can reach at gallery from Tretyakovskaya Metro Station on 6th and 8th metro line and from Novokuznetskaya Metro Station on metro line 2.
9-) Gorky Park :
It is known as the most important park in the center of Moscow. You can also visit New Tretyakov Gallery in the park. Gorky Park located only 1 station next to Tretyakov Gallery. If you would like to reach at the main gate of the park , you can get off at Oktyabrskaya Metro Station on metro line 6.
10-) Sparrow Hills :
You can have one of the best view in Moscow on Sparrow Hills. While enjoying the view , behind you will see Lomonosov Moscow State University which is one of Soviet Seven Sisters(Skyscrapers). To reach at Sparrow Hills , you can catch bus in front of Gorky Park or next to Kievsky Traşn Station.
11-) Tsaritsyno Museum Reserve :
Tsaritsyno Museum Reserve is a complex which Tsars stayed before. There are some Park , opers , palaces and lakes in area. Also there is a forest next to it where residents of Moscow visit especially at the weekend. If you catch metro line 2 , you can get off at Tsaritsyno Metro Station or Orekhovo Metro Station.
12-) Kolomenskoye :
Kolomenskoye is also a complex like Tsaitsyno Museum Reserve. There are many churches and palaces in area and residents in Moscow visit also this area to spend time in the parks. If you catch metro line 2 , you can reach at Kolomenskoye Metro Station.
13-) Moscow Metro :
Moscow Metro is both most beautiful and most useful metro in the World. Especially some of the station are like a museum and must see ;
- Metro Line 1 : Sportivnaya , Fruzenskaya , Park Kultury , Kropotinskaya , Biblioteka Imeni Lenina , Krasnye Vorota , Komskomolskaya Metro Stations.
- Metro Line 2 : Sokol , Aeroport , Dinamo , Belorusskaya , Mayakovskaya , Tverskaya , Treatralnaya , Novokuznetskaya , Paveletskaya Metro Station.
- Metro Line 3 : Partizanskaya , Elektrozavodskaya , Baumanskaya , Kurskaya , Ploschad Revolyutsii , Arbatskaya , Smolenskaya , Kievskaya , Slavyansky Boulevard Metro Station.
- Metro Line 5 : All Stations.
- Metro Line 7 : Barrikadnaya , Puşkinskaya Metro Station.
These seem to be enough to see.
FOOD
Russian Kitchen has nothing special for me. The only thing i find unique to Russian Kitchen should be Beef Stroganoff. It is really delicious and should be tried. Second option is Borscht. We accept it as an Ukranian originated soup but you can find in nearly every restaurant and it is nother good option to try. On the other hand St. Petersburg vodkas are famous too. For example Russian Standarts and Tsarskaya. You can buy 1 LT of these vodkas in super markets for only around 9-10 usd and beers cost around 1 usd. Here is the list of the restaurants which must be visited ;
1-) Pushkin Cafe :
Pushkin Cafe has the best atmosphere ever for me. It is on the top of my list. While you are booking , be aware of that you book in library hall. You can try beef stroganoff and halibut with tomato sauce was good too.
2-) Black Star Burger :
It is the best burger with many branches in Russia. Burgers are really delicious and portions are huge.
3-) Marketplace :
For me it was the best in St. Petersburg. They also have branches in Moscow and you can visit it.
4-) Vokrug Sveta :
It is like a complex which you can find restaurants and bars. It is located on Nikolskaya Street. Here you can have good time with listening to live music while having dinner.
5-) Stolavaya :
Stolavaya is the most common restaurant chain in all around Russia. It is quiet cheap and they have many brances everywhere.
6-) Evropeysky Mall :
This mall is located next to Kievsky Train Station and you can visit the food court of the mall.
SHOPPING
Moscow is an expensive city for shopping. But if you would like to shop , there are some places ;
1-) GUM :
GUM is the most famous shopping centre in Moscow , located in Red Square. It is a very high class mall.
2-) Evropeysky Mall :
This mall has good rates and especially in market part , you will see everything is cheaper than many other places.
Also you can find shops on Arbat Street and Nikolskaya Street.
BARS
Most of the bars are located in the area behind Bolshoi Theatre. In Moscow clubs are well known but not good as much as Serbia , Ukraine etc. They are much selective. You can visit Vokrug Sveta and spend good time. Or else randomly you can visit places behind Bolshoi Theatre area. In general i didn’t feel satisfied with clubs in Russia.
Bonus :
There are some skyscrapers from Soviet period which most of the people know already. These buildings called as Stalinist Architect. There are 7 of these and they called Seven Sisters. These buildings ;
- Lomonosov Moscow State University
- Ministery Of Foreign Affairs Building
- Kotelnicheskaya Embankment Building
- Red Gate Building
- Kudrinskaya Square Building
- Leningradskaya Hotel
Consequently we loved Moscow. It is a mega city and livable. They seem to solve the transportation issues around 70 years ago. Moscow is so clean and civilized city like St. Petersburg. But on the other hand people are more cheerful and friendly compare to St. Petersburg.Of course we can not compare the architect and art with St. Petersburg. You can add Moscow to one of the city must see.
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