Moscow is a city speeding into the future, but with strong ties to its history, both cultural and political. With stunning buildings at every turn, Russia's most populous city is a sight to behold. With the Kremlin at its center, Moscow's roads are situated in rings radiating outward. With incredible art museums and galleries (both historic and modern), an impressive and efficient Metro system, clean streets and ample parks and gardens, this is definitely a city worth putting on your "must visit" list.
See:
• Novodevichy Convent (pictured above): Representing 17th century Russian Baroque architecture, the convent is a mere 7 minute walk from the Sportivnaya Metro stop. The buildings withing the monastic complex are stunning, but most interesting is the cemetery, where notable politicians, writers and poets (Anton Chekhov, Nikolai Gogol and Nikita Khrushchev among them) have been laid to rest.
• Red Square: This one is pretty obvious, but before visiting Moscow I had no idea how close the most famous sites were to one another. Saint Basil's Cathedral, with its gloriously colorful domes, Lenin's Mausoleum (he is embalmed and on display), which I passed on, the Kremlin, GUM department store and Kazan Cathedral are all close by.
• Art Strekla: Housed in the Krasny Oktyabr (Red October) building, a former chocolate factory, Strelka houses studios, a lecture hall, bar and rooftop terrace. On the same premises is also the Lumiere Brothers Center of Photography.
• Tretyakov Gallery: The largest collection of Russian art in the world, it encompasses several buildings and is an absolute treasure trove. From religious icons to modern art, the museum contains works from Kandinsky and Chagall and contains a huge portrait gallery, commissioned by its namesake, which includes the likes of Dostoyevsky and Tolstoy.
Tour:
• Moscow Free Tours: Only the central Moscow tour is free (though, you should certainly tip your guide after), but they are led by English speaking locals and are reasonably priced. I highly recommend the Metro tour of beautiful and stately Metro stations (pictured above).
• Moscow Private Day Tours: The Hidden Moscow Tour is highly recommended. It can quite be quite pricey at $207, but gives you 6–8 hours of a private tour, and kids up to 14 years of age are free.
• Radisson Royal Hotel, Moscow River Cruise: Sail aboard a luxury yacht and see all the best sights that Moscow has to offer without sitting in the city gridlock on a bus. Prices are around $27 per adult.
• Moscow Bike Tours: A four hour tour will cost you around $50, but you'll see the sights of the city up-close and in greater detail than by car or Metro. Just watch out for traffic. Drivers in Moscow drive notoriously fast!
Shop:
• Izmaylovo Market (pictured above): A wonderful flea market of Soviet-era memorabilia (and many contemporary knockoffs), handicrafts, clothing and art housed in little wooden stalls, this is the place for deals, souvenirs and that one-of-a-kind heirloom (matryoshka doll, anyone?). The vendors will often be happy to talk about their wares, if they speak English or you speak Russian. The most convenient Metro stop is Partisenskaya. Don't forget to haggle! If you don't have time to travel that far out, you can go to Old Arbat Street. It's more touristy and a bit pricier, but closer in to the city center (Metro stop: Arbatskaya), if you're pressed for time.
• GUM: Pronounced "goom", this posh shopping complex was once the State Department Store during the Soviet era. Even if you're not in the mood for designer goods, you can enjoy the plentiful natural light that shines through the glass roof (reminiscent of Kings Cross station in London).
• Gzhel Porcelain: This distinctive blue and while patterned porcelain has been produced since the 14th century. The shop is located about 30 miles outside of the city, but would be worth the trip if this is your cup of tea.
• Vologda Linen: The Vologda Region is known for its lace and linen making history. Bring home a lovely set of table linens or some fine sheets. Located in Gostiny Dvor, Ulitsa Ilynka 4. Tel. 7 495 232 9463.
Eat:
• Cafe Khachapuri: Khachapuri (pictured above) is a Georgian bread dish with cheese (and sometimes egg or meat) baked inside. Its namesake cafe serves some of the tastiest food in Moscow at an affordable price. Georgian food uses more spices than traditional Russian food, so if you're looking for some flavor, this is the place to go.
• Cafe Pushkin: This historic cafe will transport you back in time and provide you with a meal and service that is world-class. Also at a world-class price. Each floor has a different mood. For the budget conscious, stick with the dessert menu and coffee or tea.
• Cafe Margarita: Named after Mikhail Bulgakov's classic novel The Master and Margarita, the cafe boasts a large mural depicting a scene from the work. It also hosts nightly music by professionals and students and is located next to Patriarch's Pond.
Drink:
• Bar Strelka (pictured above): As mentioned before, this bar is part of Art Strelka. It's a hip place where the well-heeled mingle with the local artists and have a nice cocktail. It's also a great place to eat a light, fresh meal if you've indulged on too many pelmeni (dumplings).
• City Space Bar & Lounge: With a 360° view of Moscow, you can't find a better vantage point in the city. Located atop the Swisshotel, it was voted one of the "World's 50 Best Bars 2011" by Drinks International.
• Mayak Bar: A bar where the "intelligentsiya" mingle and let their hair down. It's a great value and serves French and Italian cuisine in a very homey and friendly atmosphere.
Stay:
• Golden Apple Boutique Hotel (pictured above): The Golden Apple is a sweet, well-priced hotel in central Moscow. I'd say it's along the lines of an Ace Hotel here in the States. Modern, stylish and bright, with all the mod cons (without breaking the bank).
• Godzillas Hostel: Godzillas is one of many hostels recently popping up in Moscow, but this is definitely the favorite of discerning backpackers (and those of us on a budget). You can get a double private room for around $75/night.
• Petrovka Loft: This is a mashup between an urban loft and a hostel. Private rooms with shared bath facilities start at around $75/night. A 10 minute walk to Red Square and other sights. One of the large hotel chains nearby could easily cost five times this much.
Please help us out and add to the guide in the comments — what are your recommendations for Moscow?
(Images: 1. Flickr user DrPleishner licensed for use by Creative Commons, 2. Michelle Chin, 3. Michelle Chin, 4. Flickr user RichardBowen licensed for use by Creative Commons, 5. Flickr user einalem licensed for use by Creative Commons, 6. Bar Strelka, 7. Golden Apple)
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There's a lovely modern art branch of the Tretyakov on Krymsky Val, upstairs are exhibits and downstairs is full of for sale art galleries and in the summer there's a bustling outdoor art market on the grounds. There's also an outdoor sculpture garden there. http://www.tretyakovgallery.ru/en/museum/branch/root55716141616/
I make a point to visit every time I'm in town, both for exhibits and for my own collection.
Well, it's no Baltimore.
JUST KIDDING, Baltimore.
Bad timing for me I just got back from Moscow a week ago!
A few suggestions for future Moscow travelers:
-Saint Basil's Cathedral is breathtaking on the outside but the inside (which costs a small fee to enter I think it was 500 rubbles/each) was by far the most disappointing religious building I've ever been in compared to the outside that is. Enjoy the view from the outside.
-Radisson Royal Hotel boat tour: was overall worthwhile. Nice boat, air conditioned on the lower level, drinks, food. The hotel itself is really beautiful on the inside (its a HUGE hotel) and a classic example of Stalinist architecture. Currently (and perhaps always?) there is a nice (free) exhibit of a model of Moscow that lights up and gives discriptions of the various important parts of the city. There is a "persian" restaurant called Farsi - DO NOT eat there. Worst persian food ever (and the women are dressed in really racist - non-perisan, harem outfits).
-GUM shopping center: Is worth a quick walk through.
-Georgian food is definately worth a try!! Yummy.
-
Do not for whatever reason fly AEROFLOT! OMG, I thought we area going to crash. Also be sure to check out the body scanners at the Russian airports: they are called "HOMOSCAN." Also traffic is a nightmare.
@BRUINTOO I had heard terrible things about Aeroflot, but I found my flight with them to Moscow to be much more comfortable and smooth than my flight from Beijing on Delta. I think I got lucky and was on one of Aeroflot's newest planes. Individual media player with integrated USB charger. And the vegetarian meals weren't bad.
But, since I was only arriving in Moscow, I didn't have to go through the "HOMOSCAN." I would have certainly taken a photo if I had seen it!
I was prepared for a terrible flight on Aeroflot but there were absolutely no problems. The plane seemed relatively new and everything went smoothly. That said I certainly wouldn't recommend flying Delta to Moscow if that can be avoided!
That's funny. I lived in Moscow and associate it with terrible interior design taste.
I just got back from Moscow a week ago, and we flew Aerolot. We didn't have any problems. The best part: each seat has a USB port so I could charge my iPhone while watching movies the whole way.
On a separate note, I would also recommend limiting the number of churches you see. I was on a planned trip with a lot of, ahem, older people. We saw probably 30 churches, all of which were incredibly similar. Stick to the two or three main churches. You're not missing much else beyond that.
The Pushkin Museum is not to be missed, some pretty terrific exhibitions happen there http://www.arts-museum.ru/index.php?lang=en
There are Art Lebedev's ventures which have designy tchotchkes (on the kitschy side, but popular) and boast home-like food and very good coffee http://store.artlebedev.com/offline/
There's Gorky Park (nice website, but only in Russian http://park-gorkogo.com/) - a recently lovelified hang-out spot with all sorts of entertainment on a regular basis, including yoga, sports, and stuff for kids (and the paths are turned into a skating rink in winter!).
By the same token, the Garage Contemporary Culture Center (located within Gorky Park) has interesting exhibitions and events: http://garageccc.com/en
Flacon Design Factory (website only in Russian too, I believe http://flacon.ru/) offers coworking space and is otherwise similare to Garage and Strelka. Another new coworking venture is called Clockface, they have several cosy locations, there's wi-fi, coffee etc., and you pay per minute: http://www.clockfacer.ru/ (needless to say, Russian website, Google Translate the heck out of it).
Everyone's raving about cosy Moomin Cafe http://mumicafe.ru/ ("creative cafe" offering workshops and activities for kids and adults alike), stylish Bontempi http://www.bontempirest.ru/ (manageable prices, nice atmosphere), John Donne pub http://www.john-donne.ru/.
My personal favorite is Ludi Kak Ludi (metro Solyanka) http://ludikakludi.ru/en/, and other places can be found by running placeplaceplace.ru through GTranslate... Among the grungier places where the young, the liberal, and the intellectual gather: Chinese Pilot Jao Da (http://msk.jao-da.ru/), Bilingua (http://www.bilinguaclub.ru/), Jan Jacques (http://jan-jak.com/). To be kosher in style, go to Tel Aviv (the one on Tsvetnoy Bulvar, not the one by the Mediterranean http://www.telavivbar.ru/)
Argh, there's just so much stuff:) Moscow can be atrocious in many ways, but the grand scale of the bad is no less grand with the good. Still - beware of policemen.
Here are a few more suggestions, most of these are an absolute treat for the "design" focused traveler :) THer ei sso much more, but this should provide a good "taste" of Moscow.
To Visit:
* Vinzavod (http://www.winzavod.ru/eng/) - hip gallery of the most happening art in Moscow
* Gorkiy Park (http://park-gorkogo.com/map, http://a-a-ah.com/beach-on-gorky-park) - Moscow's renovated park space; in the summer all the beautiful Muscovites hang out on the wood boardwalk 'beach' and in the winter there is a huge skating park fin for both adults and kids. Bonus: free wifi
* Bolshoi Theater (http://www.bolshoi.ru/en/)- Recently renovated to its stately glory, amazing architecture, breathtaking ballet. Make this a priority destination, it's a once in a life time kind of thing. Oh, don't forget to dress up and drink champagne and have a caviar sandwich during the intermission.
* Patriarch's Pond - located in a beautiful, affluent part of central Moscow, this pond was made famous by Bulgakov's Master and Margarita. There are lots of small design boutiques in this area (this is close to Mari Vanna, see below).
To eat:
* Bar Simachev - excellent cuisine downstairs, best in the summer time when you can sit on the outdoor veranda. The kitschy/funky decor is done by Russian designer Dennis Simachev. Don't miss the upstairs where you can purchase the designer's line. Warning - past 10 pm this place can turn into a wild dance party.
* Mari -Vanna - If you want the traditional, old school, turned-hip Soviet look come here! You will take pictures of everything, including the servers who are part of the act. The food is really, really good too! *there is one in NYC as well, but I would still go here too, by the virtue of being in Moscow, you'll get more of a cultural experience.
* Delicatessen - One of the myriad of the new, very-hip, you might think you--are--in--London--or--New York restaurants/ bars that opened in the last couple of years in Moscow
* Volkonsky Bakery - named after Count Volkonsky in Tolstoy's War and Peace, these cafes are all over Moscow and offer excellent tea, lattes, and pastries. The bakery is official rep for Maison Kayser of the Paris fame.
* Eliseevkiy Grocery Store - One of the oldest, and probably the most famous grocery store in Russia. This place is absolutely regal, chandeliers, gold, marble, statues. Despite the mark up, its absolutely worth a visit, and by no means you don't have to purchase anything. But it a good one stop shop for all the food delicacies if you do plan on stocking up.
To Experience:
Want a real deal, no holds barred Russian experience? Go to the banya - Russian bath house
*Sanduno Bath House - the most famous in Moscow, housed in the 19th century mansion like structure.
Please don't leave Moscow without going dancing! This is the "it" thing to do in Russia's capital.
* Consider Love Boat night at Solyanka night club located in an old Soviet flat. Before 10 pm Solyanaka is a restaurant, with very good food.
Thanks for adding to the list, @THEOBVIOUS and @VICTORIANINBLOOM!
Hi! Nowadays became more and more popular new way for free time spending - antikafe where the money is not paid for a meal, but for the time!
Great place М.Я.У. - bringing people and ideas!
Three rooms, coworking, open kitchen, where you can work, create, cook and relax with friends. Workshops, lectures, classes, exhibitions and evening screenings, freedom from shoes, free tea, coffee and sweets.
http://umnoemesto.ru/index.php?id=77
Enjoy it!