30 THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN MOSCOW, THE CAPITAL OF RUSSIA

Moscow, simply by pronouncing his name the epic images, almost from another time, begin to splash our imagination. Military parades in the Red Square, secret archives in the Kremlin units, opera nights in luxury at the Bolshoi Theater, the heartbreaking screams of Tsar Ivan The Terrible in the early morning ... Moscow is, neither more nor less, than the capital of Russia. And if you think about it for a couple of seconds you will realize that this simple fact makes it one of the most interesting cities in the world. After spending a week and exploring it thoroughly, we can say that, not only is it interesting, but it is beautiful. In this article we will tell you the best 30 things to see and do in Moscow 🙂

They say that Moscow is like a matrioska: however much you think you know it, there will always be one more layer to discover. We visited it in August, with good weather (and many tourists), so now we have to return in the middle of winter to uncover that other face. Snow cover has to be magical (yes, with good coats, huh!).

And now, for you to plan your trip to the capital of Russia, here are the main 30 things to see and do in Moscow:

1. We have no doubts, as soon as you arrive, leave your luggage at the accommodation and exit towards the Red Square. It is the epicenter of the Moscow of the 21st century, although a few things were already cooked there several hundred years ago. In this legendary enclave is the St. Basil's Cathedral, with its famous colored domes, the GUM shopping center, the Kazan Cathedral, the Lenin Mausoleum ... Well, we almost leave you the article on what to do in the Red Square of Moscow and so you study it 😉

2. You don't have to go too far to get to the second place to visit in Moscow yes or yes: The Kremlin. In fact, it shares a wall with the Red Square, but if you don't have to queue to enter it, access to the Kremlin is a bit more congested. Unlike what people believe, the Kremlin is much more than the seat of the Government of Russia: it is a true fortified city, where there are cathedrals, museums, squares, gardens and, of course, administrative buildings. Although his two essential visits are the Cathedrals Square and the Armory Museum. Here are some tips to visit the Kremlin (and not screw it up) (pending).

3. But before entering, take a tour of the Alejandro's Gardens. It is a beautiful walk that runs parallel to the Kremlin wall, with some interesting visits, such as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the fountain of the dome-shaped Manezhnaya Square that functions as a world solar clock, the grotto next to the Torre del Arsenal (with its history that you can meet on the free tour), and at its southern end the imposing monument to Vladimir El Grande of almost 18 meters.

4. Did you know that there is more than one Kremlin in Moscow? We also visited the Izmaylovo Kremlin and it was a success ... Of course, it is more a tourist than historical place, since it was built in 2007! But is pretty. And full of colors. There is also another good reason to approach Izmaylovo: his famous jumble sale. Here you can find from trinkets to valuable antiques, and the best souvenirs in the city. There are everything, matrioskas, Putin cups, replicas of the Fabergé Eggs, the typical Russian caps or communist propaganda posters. The nearest subway is Partizanskaya. Tip: if you can see a Sunday, it is when there is more atmosphere.

5. In any city in the world, getting on the subway is a mere procedure to move from one place to another ... Not in Moscow. Here it is also an attraction! And is that the Moscow metro It has some of the most spectacular stations in the world, not for nothing has been called "the palace of the people." There are tours in Spanish that take you to know the most interesting. But if you prefer to do this tour for free, look at this post where we tell you which are the most beautiful metro stations in Moscow (pending).

6. The Museum of Cosmonautics It tells a part of the history of Russia that they are very proud of. There you can learn more about the Soviet space program (specifically about its achievements, which are a few) and see incredible objects from the space race and cosmonauts, treated as true heroes. It is located in the VDNKh exhibition center, and it will not cost you to find it: it is just below the impressive Monument to the Conquerors of Space. Admission is cheap: only 250 rubles are worth (about € 3.50). Curiosity: at the exit of the museum look for the cosmonaut alley, where there are statues of the most important Russian astronauts such as Yuri Gagarin (the first man to leave space), Vladimir Komarov or Mstislav Keldysh. More information about the museum.

7. In the VDNKh enclosure, with more than 2 million square meters, is the space where the city's most important temporary exhibitions and events take place. Although it is also interesting to shop around at any time. After crossing the huge arch of triumph there are parks, fountains, museums, monuments, and even a Russian fighter plane and rocket exposed in these avenues. Here you have more information.

8. If you like art, the Pushkin Museum You're going to love it. Here you can admire from paintings by Van Gogh, Renoir, Matisse or Rembrandt, to sculptures from Ancient Egypt. In addition it only costs 400 rubles, so it is an almost unmissable plan. More information.

9. And continuing with the museums, we cannot stop recommending the Tretyakov Gallery, with an impressive amount of works by Russian artists, from Andrei Rubliov to Kandinski or Chagall. Curiosity: it is named in honor of Pável Tretiakov, a philanthropist who started this extraordinary collection of more than 1,000 pieces. Some of the masterpieces to see are: the Virgin of Vladimir (one of the most revered icons in Russia), Composition VII by Vasil Kandinski e Ivan the Terrible and his Son from Ilya Repin, one of the most prominent artists of Russian realism. The ticket is worth 500 rubles. More information.

10. A good place to take memorable photos, with the Cathedral of San Basilio and the Red Square in the background, is the Zaryadye Park. It was built a few years ago where the great Rossiya Hotel used to be, which was the largest hotel in the world. The idea was very concrete: to decongest the Red Square, and it was achieved… Now all the tourists pass by here, to have one of the best panoramic views of Moscow. Finish the visit at its southern end, and travel the floating bridge Boomerang-shaped protruding above the Moskva River, one pass!

11. Another very beautiful and surprising panorama is the “Moscow City”, A group of skyscrapers that claim to earn the nickname“ the Manhattan of Europe ”. The buildings house hotels, shopping centers, offices and panoramic viewpoints. The most beautiful and striking is the Tower Evolution, which seems to coil itself, like a huge strand of DNA. There is a viewpoint (and a small park) just in front of the skyline, go without hesitation: the area is safe and you will know more than the heart of the city.

12. But if you want to climb to the highest viewpoint of the city (and the highest in Europe!), Cross across the Moskva River and enter the Federation Tower (Bashnya Federatsiya). There is a viewpoint on its 89th floor with stunning 360 views. Access costs 1,500 rubles, once you get free tea or coffee and ice cream. We do not climb, since we prefer to enjoy other views (and free ... as we will tell you later). More information.

13. The Bolshoi theater It is one of the most famous sites in Moscow. Here, since 1825, dancers such as Galina Sergeyevna Ulanova or Maya Plisétskaya dazzled spectators from every corner of the world. If you want to see an opera or ballet show ... be prepared to pay a good sum of money and make a reservation in advance (here you can find the program). Although throughout Moscow there are other theaters with local works that are much cheaper.

14. And speaking of Maya Plisétskaya, on Bolshaya Dmitrovka St 12/1 street you can admire a mural that the Brazilian artist Kobra dedicated to the great dancer. In addition the street is very pretty!

15. The Cathedral of Christ the Savior It is one of the best things to see in Moscow, and to think that we were almost unable to admire it! Stalin dynamited it in 1931, in his eagerness to eliminate everything that smelled like a church or the big families of Russian czars. Today, thanks to an incredible reconstruction work, we can contemplate its pristine white facade and its famous golden domes. Entering is free and, although we don't have photos to prove it to you (they can't be done), you have to believe us: it's one of the most beautiful churches you'll see in Russia. Tip: do not miss the ground floor, with many fewer tourists and almost as surprising.

16. A few minutes walk from there is a jetty from which they leave Moscova river cruises. We went at sunset and the views were unstoppable (but also ... it came out very cheap! We booked it here). There are actually several piers and different boats, ours was half shabby, but if you want a cheap cruise, it's the best 😉

17. The most famous street in Moscow is the Arbat street. It is considered one of the oldest in the city, and was the place chosen by many aristocrats to locate their humble abodes for centuries. Today it is one of the few pedestrian streets in Moscow, which is appreciated, and walking among beautiful buildings, shops, cafes and street performers cheering the night is a pleasure. In addition, if you are not going to the Izmailovo market, it is a good place to buy some souvenirs. Other streets that we loved were the Pokrovka street, the Chistoprudny Boulevard, wave Tverskaya Street (one of the main arteries of Moscow).

18. The Ostankino Telecommunications Tower It is nothing more and nothing less than the fourth tallest tower in the world (and the eighth tallest building in the world). We do not climb, but they say that from there the views of Moscow are brutal, although not too characteristic of the city. The Tower measures more than 500 meters, however the platform with the viewpoint is "only" 337 meters.

19. Where we went (and freaked out) went to Kolómenskoye Park, in which, among other things, is the famous wooden palace of Tsar Alexis Mikhailovich. It was built in 1660, and during his long life, great czars spent their summers there (or even part of his life), such as Peter the Great. Unfortunately, this palace that in its time was considered "the eighth wonder of the world", was destroyed. In 2010 the government rebuilt it and today we can see it as it was. The entrance to the palace costs 350 rubles, although we are content to see it from outside. In addition, the whole park is very interesting, it has churches, buildings typical of centuries ago and fields of apple trees (apples for everyone!). To arrive it is best to get off at the subway stop Kolomenskaya (line 2- green) or by bus (use Google Maps, lazy!).

20. And from one summer residence… to another: we talk about Tsaritsyno Palace, which arises where before was Bogorodskoe, a rural town that the Tsarina Catherine the Great bought at the end of 1,700 and that transformed into one of the most charming places in the whole city. If you have little time and want to visit both parks and palaces, this tour may interest you.

21. Did you know that in Moscow there is a monastery that seems taken from a story? Is he Novodevichy Monastery, right at the foot of the Sparrows Hill. It is baroque in style, full of peculiar buildings and charming corners. The visit costs 300 rubles, although at the time of our stay in Moscow it was under renovation, so find out before you go. Curiosity: it was here that Tsar Peter the Great locked his sister Sofia Aleksyevna, guilty of conspiring behind him to keep the throne.

22. There next is the Novodevichy cemetery, where Russian personalities such as Boris Yeltsin, Mikhail Bulgakov or Pável Beliáyev rest. If you don't mind walking through the cemeteries, don't hesitate to go: it looks almost like an open-air museum!

23. If you want to rest from the city traffic and relax surrounded by green, one of the best places to do it is the Gorky Park. In the summer months a sandy beach is also improvised, with sun loungers and everything.

24. A super curious and original site to visit in Moscow is an old shop located in an 18th-century palace. Seriously, while touring the counters, it will be like taking a trip back in time, what a luxury! Is named Eliseevsky and they say that this is where they bought the Russian nobles and dukes (and even the tsars ... although they sent their employees, of course). We found it super cute. It is located at number 14 on Tverskaya Street (you can't see anything from the outside, you have to go inside to find it). They have both gourmet products and other completely normal day to day.

25. Did you know that Stalin wanted to build 8 palaces to celebrate the VIII centenary of Moscow? He really failed to accomplish this feat, but he stayed very close: in Moscow there are 7 of these palaces, which the Russians know as “The 7 Sisters" They were built between 1940 and 1950 and are:

• Moscow State University
• Hotel Ukraine
• Apartment building in Kotélnicheskaya Náberezhnaya
• Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Kudrinskaya Square Building
• Leningrad Hotel
• Red Gate Square building
• The eighth, by the way, should initially be the Rossiya Hotel, which we talked about before 😉

26. In front of one of them, that of the State University, there is a panoramic terrace with excellent views over the entire city of Moscow. Is on the call Sparrows Hill, on the other side of one of the meanders of the Moscova River, and can be easily reached by bus. We climbed on the midsummer weekend and the biker atmosphere was brutal! So, if you like panoramic views, or motorbikes, point this place in red!

27. If you are one of those who enjoy local markets, in Moscow we recommend the Danilovsky Market. It is located inside a curious building that could look like a spaceship. It is a gourmet market, so prices are somewhat higher than usual, but the ingredients are top quality and it is also a good place to eat something (with options from several countries such as Georgia or Uzbekistan).

28. There are 2 good reasons to approach the Lubianka Square. The first is to know the former KGB building, you will recognize it since it is the only yellow and red in the square. And the second is to enter the Tsentral'nyy Detskiy Magazin shopping center, built in 1953 and since then entirely dedicated to children and adolescents. The interior is beautiful, with an impressive glazed gallery and a huge hanging clock. Oh, one piece of advice, don't leave without stopping by the Grabli restaurant, on the top floor, with great views of the surroundings. It is one of the restaurants where to eat in Moscow that we recommend.

29. We stayed at the Naumov apart-hotel, in the area of Boulevards Sretensky And if you fancy a relaxed and 100% local plan, you're sure to like it! You will know a more authentic Moscow, far from the tourist area (but only 20 minutes walking from the center). Also right next to it is one of the places we liked most in Moscow (and nothing touristy): Sretensky monastery, which we visited almost alone and it seemed like a masterpiece. The one we didn't go to, but we had signed up, went to the Novospassky Monastery.

→ Here we tell you what are the best areas to stay in Moscow

30. In Moscow you can visit a bunker 65 meters underground. Its about Bunker 42, an old refuge from the Cold War era that today is open to the public (and even has a restaurant with typical Soviet recipes). Eye, because to visit it you have to go down (and then go up) 18 floors of stairs. You can book your ticket and tour here.

30 + 1. If you have several days in Moscow, there is an excursion that may interest you: we talk about Sergey Posad, a beautiful city that in the so-called "Golden Ring". There you can visit the Orthodox monastery of the Trinity and San Sergio, a World Heritage Site. To get there you can go by train (find out about the departure station and timetables) or with a tour in Spanish. And if you have more time consider making a circuit through the well-known Golden Ring enterito.

Here you have a map with all the places you have to visit on your trip to Moscow:

These are, for us, the best 30 things to see and do in Moscow. Surely there are a lot more, but for that you will have to discover them for yourself. And if you want, tell us in a comment 😉

Video: 10 Best Places to Visit in Russia (April 2024).