Moscow

Russia · Europe

About Moscow

Moscow is the capital and largest city of Russia, standing on the Moskva River in Central Russia. It has a population estimated at over 13 million residents within the city limits, over 19.1 million residents in the urban area, and over 21.5 million residents in its metropolitan area. The city covers an area of 2,511 square kilometers (970 mi2), while the urban area covers 5,891 square kilometers (2,275 mi2), and the metropolitan area covers over 26,000 square kilometers (10,000 mi2). Moscow is among the world's largest cities, being the most populous city entirely in Europe, the largest urban and metropolitan area in Europe, and the largest city by land area on the European continent.

First documented in 1147, Moscow became the capital of the Grand Principality of Moscow, which led the unification of the Russian lands in the 15th century and became the center of a unified state. Following the proclamation of the Tsardom of Russia in 1547, Moscow remained the political and economic center for most of its history. During the reign of Peter the Great, the Russian capital was moved to the newly founded city of Saint Petersburg in 1712, leading to a decline in Moscow's importance throughout the imperial period. Following the Russian Revolution and the establishment of the Russian SFSR, the capital was moved back to Moscow in 1918. The city later became the political center of the Soviet Union and experienced significant population growth throughout the Soviet period. In the aftermath of the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Moscow remained the capital city of the newly reconstituted Russian Federation and has experienced continued growth.

The northernmost and coldest megacity in the world, Moscow is governed as a federal city, where it serves as the political, economic, cultural, and scientific center of Russia and Eastern Europe. Moscow has one of the world's largest urban economies. Moscow has the second-highest number of billionaires of any city (tied with Hong Kong). The Moscow International Business Center is one of the largest financial centers in the world and features the majority of Europe's tallest skyscrapers. Moscow was the host city of the 1980 Summer Olympics and one of the host cities of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

The city contains several UNESCO World Heritage Sites and is known for its display of Russian architecture, particularly in areas such as Red Square and buildings such as Saint Basil's Cathedral and the Moscow Kremlin, the latter of which is the seat of power of the Government of Russia. Moscow is home to Russian companies in different industries and is served by a comprehensive transit network, which includes four international airports, ten railway terminals, a tram system, a monorail system, and the Moscow Metro, which is the busiest metro system in Europe and one of the largest rapid transit systems in the world. The city has over 40 percent of its territory covered by greenery, making it one of the greenest cities in the world.

Moscow travel guide

Understand

Moscow is the financial and political centre of Russia and the countries formerly comprising the Soviet Union. It has a population of around 13 million and an area of 2,511 square kilometres (970 sq mi) after an expansion in 2012. Moscow is the second most populous city in Europe, after Istanbul, and has the most populous metropolitan area in Europe, with some 21 million residents, comprising roughly one-seventh of the population of Russia. Moscow is in the UTC+3 time zone; there is no daylight saving time. Many years since the break up of the Soviet Union, the economy has improved, and the modern era has brought upon a wide variety of construction projects, modern architecture and newer transport systems. The Moscow Metro, in particular, is the longest and busiest subway system in Europe. The city also features Europe's largest concentration of skyscrapers.

Geography

Moscow is a large metropolis on the Moskva River, which bends its way through the city. The historical center is on the northern bank of the river. The other major waterway is the Yauza River, which flows into the Moskva east of the Kremlin. Much of Moscow's geography is defined by the 3 'Ring Roads' that circle the city at various distances from the centre, roughly following the outline of the walls that used to surround Moscow. With Red Square and the Kremlin forming the very centre, the innermost ring road is the Boulevard Ring (Bulvarnoye Koltso), built in the 1820s where the 16th century walls used to be. It runs from the Christ the Savior Cathedral in south-west central Moscow, to the mouth of the Yauza in south-east central Moscow. The next ring road, the Garden Ring (Sadovoe Koltso), derives its name from the fact that landowners near the road in Tsarist times were obligated to maintain gardens to make the road attractive. In Soviet times, the road was widened, and there are now no gardens there. The Third Ring Road, completed in 2004, is not much use for tourists but is a heavily used motorway which absorbs a bit of Moscow's traffic. It roughly follows the outline of Kamer-Kollezhsky val, the customs boundary of Moscow in the 18th – early 20th century. The outer edge of Moscow is largely defined by the Moscow Ring Road (widely known by its abbreviation: MKAD-Moskovskaya kolcevaya avto doroga), a motorway which is 108 km (67 mi) long and encircles the entire city (similar to London's M25 and Paris' Périphérique).

Climate The climate of Moscow features warm summers and long, cold winters. Temperatures average below freezing for four months a year, between mid-November and m

Getting there

See Russia#Get in for visa requirements to Russia.

By plane Moscow (MOW IATA for all airports) has four commercial passenger airports. The ones foreign visitors are most likely to arrive in are Sheremetyevo and Domodedovo. 1 Sheremetyevo International Airport (SVO IATA) (32 km (20 mi) northwest of the centre of Moscow, in the city of Khimki), ☏ +7 495 232-65-65. The main hub of Russian flag carrier Aeroflot. There are multiple terminals - check your departure terminal before arriving at the airport. To travel between the airport and the city:

Aeroexpress is the only rail link to the airport. Trains operate between the airport and the Belorussky Railway Terminal in the northwest section of the city centre. It also makes additional stops at Okruznaya, Savelovsky train station and Begovaya, where you can connect to the metro. Trains stop every 30 or 60 minutes from 05:00 to 00:30. The journey takes 50 minutes and costs 525 руб; tickets can be purchased online. Keep your paper or mobile ticket for the entire Aeroexpress journey. From the Belorussky Railway Terminal, the journey to the city center takes an additional 20 minutes by metro. Bus #851 (57 руб for a 90-minute transfer ticket purchased from the driver) and Bus #949 (80 руб) operate service between the terminals and the Rechnoy Vokzal Metro Station of Metro Line 2 (dark green). If taking a cheaper regular bus #851 or #817 (see below), the driver hands you a red card, which you then have to validate at the scanner, or you can purchase a ticket or Troika transport card at the ticket machine right at the bus stop in front of Terminal D arrival hall's exit. The majority of drivers don't speak any English, so don't depend on them for assistance. Once you get off the bus, continue by foot a few steps in the direction the bus was going in, and you'll see the metro station on your right in the first opening between the buildings. When returning to the airport, after leaving the Rechnoy Vokzal metro station, cross the street, go around the fence on the other side of the street and look for the bus under the orange-colored shopping center. Bus #817 (61 руб for a 90-minute transfer ticket purchased from the driver) or Bus #948 (85 руб) operate service between the terminals and the Planernaya metro station, at the northwest terminus of Metro Line 7 (purple). The journey by bus to the metro stations takes approximately 40 minutes and the journey to the city centre by metro takes an additional 40 minutes. Buses operate from approximately 05:30 to 00:45. Bus #1195 (300 руб one-way or 500 руб round-trip), oper

Getting around

By public transport Yandex Maps is the best mobile app for planning journeys on public transport. The metro is comprehensive, boasts some great architecture, and is relatively cheap. City buses, trolleybuses, trams and metro operated under "Moskovskii transport" franchise by different operators but common fare system. The cheapest way to use the public transportation system is to purchase a plastic Troika re-loadable debit card. The card costs 50 руб and can be redeemed for cash at the end of your trip. You can "top up" your balance at any metro station. For each trip taken, 57 руб will be deducted from your card. If you make a change from the metro to a ground transport or other way around within the next 90 minutes of your trip, the next shoulder will cost you only 22 руб. The Troika card also can also be used via a mobile app. Troika cards can also be used to pay an Aeroexpress tickets, Velobike bike sharing, the entrance to the Moscow Zoo, the Tretyakov Gallery and the Lunarium Museum of the Moscow Planetarium. Alternatively, red paper cards can be purchased at metro stations at a cost of 70 руб per trip or 340 руб for 24-hours. Also there is unlimited tickets for 1, 3, 30, 90 or 365 days which is very useful, if you plan to use public transport a lot.

By metro

The Metro is open from 05:30-01:00. Station entrances are closed at 01:00, and at this time the last trains depart from all of the termini stations. After 01:00, many locals will enter the train station using the exits, which are still open. Service on the ring line runs until 01:30, although entrances are closed at 01:00. The down escalators are also shut off at 01:00. There is signage in the Metro stations in English and the Latin alphabet, but these signs are not everywhere. Each train carriage has a map in Latin script and there is one near the entrance to each station. Note the direction of the train before you alight. A map of the metro system in both Cyrillic and Latin letters is available online. All trains in the system have free WiFi onboard, but you will need to have a Russian phone number to get the authorization code to access the WiFi. Some of the older train cars are not climate controlled. 2 or 3 stations may be connected as transfer points but will each have a different name. There are 2 stations called Smolenskaya and 2 stations called Arbatskaya, but the station pairs are not connected to each other despite having the same name. Some of the stations are very deep underground, and transfer times between certain metro lines can take a lot of time. In the city centre, it

See

Individual listings can be found in Moscow's district articles Moscow's architecture is world-renowned. Moscow is the site of Saint Basil's Cathedral, with its elegant onion domes, as well as the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. and the Seven Sisters. Look out for the monumental Stalinist architecture, most famously the Seven Sisters. Also check out a preserved collection of monumental buildings centred within the historic areas of the Kremlin and Red Square. Moscow is a very green city: Gorky Park along the Moskva river contains estrades, children's attraction, dancing, tennis courts and other sports facilities. Moscow has many notable art museums. The Tretyakov Gallery houses works in the classic Russian tradition and the works of Soviet artists. The Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts has a cross-section of exhibits on world civilisations, and paintings from every major Western era; works by Claude Monet, Paul Cézanne, and Pablo Picasso are present in the museum's collection. The State Historical Museum of Russia has exhibitions that range from relics of the prehistoric tribes inhabiting present-day Russia, through priceless artworks acquired by members of the Romanov dynasty.

Do

Moscow has many attractions, but many of them are not friendly to a non-Russian-speaker. The Moscow Times is an English-language newspaper help to navigate towards English-language friendly attractions and services; however, it may be hard to access due to its political stance. Make sure you visit a Russian bathhouse (banya) while in Moscow, as it's an important Russian tradition and some Russians, especially those over 40 years old, go at least once a week. Have a hot steam, followed by a good whipping with birch branches. While it's not the most pleasant experience, the benefits you'll receive afterward will enable you to understand why Russians are loyal to their banya. The Great Moscow State Circus in Moscow's outskirts has 5 arenas (equestrian, water, illusionist, ice rink, and light-effect) 18 m below the floor. Moscow Nikulin Circus is in Moscow/Central-North. The Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow/Central-North is one of the most famous in the world, in the center of the city. Includes ballet, opera, and classical music performances. The Sun of Moscow in Moscow's outskirts is Europe's tallest Ferris wheel (140 m height). The Moscow Zoo, also in Moscow's outskirts, is the oldest zoo, dating to 1864, and the biggest zoo in Russia, has over 6,000 animals representing about 1000 species and covers an area of about 21.5 hectares. You can go ice skating in Moscow's outskirts at the Gorky Central Park of Culture and Leisure, and Luzhniki aka Kristall skating ring. Moscow has four football teams playing in the Premier League, the top tier of Russian football. Russian football clubs were suspended from FIFA and UEFA competitions due to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. This ban has been extended to the 2025-26 season. All four play in stadiums in Moscow's outskirts.

Buy

Currency exchange offices are plentiful in the city, but be sure to count your change and note that the advertised rates sometimes don't include an added commission or only apply to large exchanges. Be sure to break your 5,000 руб and 1,000 руб notes where you can since the smaller merchants, street vendors and even many metro clerks often refuse them. Large shopping malls are common near metro stations.

Eat

Dining establishments in Moscow range from food stalls near metro stations to quick canteen-style 'Stolovaya' eateries to American-style fast food chains to overpriced restaurants catering to tourists to high-end restaurants where you can spend 10,000 руб. Restaurants and cafes promising "European and Caucasus cuisine" generally cater to tourists and are usually bad; seek a restaurant that specializes in a single region instead (Georgian, Russian, Italian, French, etc.). Many small restaurants offer lunch specials costing 200-250 руб. These deals are valid from 12:00 to 15:00 and include a cup of soup or an appetizer, a small portion of the main dish of the day, bread and a non-alcoholic beverage. For information on tipping in restaurants, see Russia#Eat. Authentic ethnic food from countries of the nearby Caucasus (Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia) is common in Moscow. Japanese food, including sushi, rolls, tempura, and steakhouses are very popular in Moscow. Other Asian cuisines including Vietnamese, Thai, and Chinese are becoming increasingly more common.

Budget

Street food Free-standing kiosks serving sausages, meat pies, or kebobs are plentiful, although the origins of the meat served is questionable and the food has been known to occasionally make people sick. Muscovites are also fond of their ice cream, consumed in any weather, even in the dead of winter, cheap and usually of superior quality; kiosks can be found all over the center and near all Metro stations.

Fast food chains Burger King and Rostics have locations near almost every shopping mall. It is common to pay extra for condiments. Black Star Burger - Restaurant chain specializing in burgers with locations throughout Russia. Kroshka-Kartoshka – These green kiosks sell microwave-baked potatoes as well as toasted sandwiches and a few drinks. Hot and filling, but rather expensive for a potato. Riksha Ivan ("Ivan the Rickshaw") – Quick Chinese-like cuisine; fried rice with meat to go. Teremok – This chain started as a fast-food specialized on blinchiki, Russian crepes that come with a variety of fillings, with a somewhat national old-fashioned touch towards style and cuisine. Teremok is one of the cheapest chains offering a proper quality 3-course meals, including a soup, a main dish with a salad and a dessert. The drinks are overpriced, but not unreasonably so. Kruzhka – Serves cheap food and mugs of beer. 20 locations around Moscow. The menu is relatively simple, consisting mainly of types of kebab and shawarma, with fries. Sports events are on often shown on televisions or a big screen

Drink & nightlife

Individual listings can be found in Moscow's district articles

Clubs Nightlife in Moscow is bustling, intense and exciting. It starts quite late; it's common for the headliners to start at 02:00-02:00. Most noticeable are areas near Solyanka street and Krasniy Oktyabr' place. At summer time a lot of clubs opening open-air terraces called "verandas". Most of clubs in Moscow are very picky of who they let in, so make sure you have a positive attitude and dress up if you are going to a fancy club.

Cafes Moscow has several café chains with great coffee including Coffeemania and Coffee Bean. Moscow also has a good selection of tea saloons. High-quality infusion teas such as Newby, are widely available in cafes, both in packets and loose. Asking to add boiling water to the tea you ordered earlier is a practice that some cafes don't welcome, but normally it's acceptable.

Sleep