gk holiday homework

Holiday Homework Solutions

Holiday Homework Solutions for class 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 & 12 (During Summer Vacations) facility for the academic session 2022–2023 is being maintained to help the students and parents to do the holiday homework comfortably in Summer 2024-25. You are requested to upload your holiday homework in PDF format based on Latest CBSE Curriculum 2024-25 and get the solutions with in a week. You can also ask your Maths or science problems through Discussion Forum. If the problems are related to NCERT or NCERT Exemplar Problems please refer to NCERT Solutions page to get this. The solutions of holiday homework should be uploaded along with the school name at the end of this page. Notification of completion of homework will not be given by the website, you have to check yourself after a week for the solutions.

Download NCERT Solutions for all classes. Students of the upper primary level (Class 6, 7 and 8) are already well informed and are keen to find and learn more. According to CBSE, while assigning and preparing homework for the students, it is important to note they are able to develop the skills like relating, thinking, concluding, inferring. Homework should be such that the student neither feel it burdensome nor they lose interest in the subject matter. Moreover it is useful in providing them a happy experience. Homework therefore needs to be thought about and worked upon differently. Emphasis should be given on Vedic mathematics, designing quality homework rather than its quantity. Download NCERT Books and apps based on latest CBSE Syllabus.

Encompassing the aforesaid ideas, the CBSE has brought forth a Manual, “Alternatives to Holiday Homework” for classes VI to VIII. It is collection of ideas transformed into suggestive activities that are creative, interesting, meaningful and interactive, enhancing various skills, directly or indirectly related to subject matter providing students to enhance their learning and gaining knowledge based on NCERT Books following the latest CBSE Syllabus.

Suggestive Holiday Homework for Class 6

• Holiday Homework for Class 6 Hindi
• Holiday Homework for Class 6 English
• Holiday Homework for Class 6 Mathemaitcs
• Holiday Homework for Class 6 Science
• Holiday Homework for Class 6 Social Science

Suggestive Holiday Homework for Class 7

• Holiday Homework for Class 7 Hindi
• Holiday Homework for Class 7 English
• Holiday Homework for Class 7 Mathematics
• Holiday Homework for Class 7 Science
• Holiday Homework for Class 7 Social Science

Suggestive Holiday Homework for Class 8

• Holiday Homework for Class 8 Hindi
• Holiday Homework for Class 8 English
• Holiday Homework for Class 8 Mathematics
• Holiday Homework for Class 8 Science
• Holiday Homework for Class 8 Social Science

A well rounded development of individual knowledge happens not only from textbooks and formal education but more from the learner’s personal experiences, individual inquisitive nature and social surroundings. Homework is an area of importance and to make it more relevant for the NCERT Books classes 6th, 7th and 8th, appropriate strategies and meaningful activities may be suggested to the schools that give more time to child to explore the environment to develop creative thinking.

These activities (like OTBA for class 9 & 11 ) would be so framed that they keep the child interested in subjects and therefore would also help in enhancing the learning power. Homework is one of the areas that need urgent attention. As the students of class VI, VII and VIII develop a certain learning style and want to know and find more and more. Efforts should be made to make homework more creative and interesting so that the students do not feel burdensome while doing the same and the ultimate purpose of providing homework is served.

A survey was conducted through questionnaire prepared by CBSE to collect feedback from parents, teachers, students and other educationists on “Alternatives to Homework at Upper Primary Level” for Class Sixth, Seventh and Eighth so that appropriate strategies and meaningful activities can be designed and suggested to schools. The questions were directed to know the ideal quantity and purpose of the homework, whether homework should be assigned in all the subjects, internet usage should be a part of the homework or not, how homework helps in teaching.

Keeping in view emerging issues, there is a need to think about giving quality homework emphasizing on acquiring applied learning skills. Few points can be kept in mind while designing a quality homework by teachers: 1, Provide students capacity building activities which are followed up and acknowledged like drawing, creative writing, making puzzles, stories, plays, online games, reading online books and craft.

2. Provide them assignment sheets which improve their reading & writing abilities. Homework must enable the student to practice a skill independently. 3. A possible discussion can be held with different children on what they would like to do at home to improve in which ever area they deem necessary. Homework must be designed in a way that maximizes the chances of its completion by the students.

4. Parents should be able to understand the child’s needs and schools suggestions on how to learn mathematics, logical reasoning, etc. by doing puzzles, writing letters, reading to elders from the newspapers, making household lists, recipe making and cooking. 5. Learners who have dyslexia or number difficulty should have practice assignments overcoming their problems.

The child in middle school have a keenness to discover more and prepare for the examination. Learning is about developing new faculties, which become useful as an adult. The years 12 to 15 are years when rules become important, and doing well, excelling are given importance both at home and in the class. As the child grows chronically his/her emotional maturity also grows and there are interests which are beyond just what lessons can give.

The homework assigned should: 1. enhance study habits and practice skills (which learners are able to perform independently) 2. reinforce necessary skills both scholastic and co-scholastic among the learners. 3. enable learners to become independent learners and thinkers and develop among them 21st century skills so that they can participate in Make in India in future. 4. lead to the improvement in the academic achievement of the learner.

5. expand on the existing knowledge of the learners and be a part of the already acquired competencies in the classroom. 6. not put unneeded pressure or stress by including new learning material or difficult material to be worked upon by learners themselves. 7. be CBSE Syllabus based and as per developmental needs of the learners. 8. not require specific resources or technology which is not accessible to all learners. 9. have clearly defined, purposeful, creative and engaging activities.

It is also advised that teachers can refer to Life Skills Manuals, Health Manuals and Environmental Education Manuals which contain age appropriate and interesting activities which can be taken up by the learners individually. These activities can be assigned to learners so as to enhance their life skills, values and make them health conscious.

Homework is needed, and necessary for a teacher to be able to follow up with each child. The correction and feedback on homework is an important input that helps both parents and children to follow up and improve in areas which are needed. The recourse extra classes, can be reduced if the homework is used for learning improvement and acquisition of diverse skills. We are providing a handful help to solve or helping in solving the holiday homework.

What are concepts of the Holiday Homework for Class 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5?

The Holiday Homework 2024-25 for class 1 and Class 2 should be totally creative work only. We should prepare the homework in such a way that student enjoy the work like play. The holiday assignment for class 3, 4 and Class 5 should be totally creative work.

What are the Holiday Homework suggestions for Class 6, 7 and 8?

The ideas for Holiday Homework 2024-25 for class 6, 7 and 8 Maths, Science, English, Hindi and Social Science are given on Tiwari Academy. We should also include the interesting facts related to daily life with the topic of NCERT Books.

How to prepare the Holiday Homework 2024-25 for class 9 and 10?

The collection of Important Questions from NCERT Textbook, From board Papers, CBSE Sample papers and NCERT Exemplar Books may be the good holiday homework practice material for High School students.

What would be good the Holiday Homework for class 11 and 12?

The Holiday Homework for class 11 and 12 are generally selected as the NCERT Textbook topics. The NCERT Books back exercises and related questions which are asked in CBSE Board Examination may be a good assignment for intermediate students.

Copyright 2024 by Tiwari Academy | A step towards Free Education

GK Class 3 Holiday Homework Worksheet 2

Vaishnavi Reddy

Revision Worksheet

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• School Education /

Holiday Homework for Class 4 All Subjects 

• Updated on  
• Jun 12, 2024

Holidays are a time for fun and relaxation, but we also have some exciting learning adventures planned for you! This holiday homework for Class 4 covers all the important subjects like English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Environmental Studies, General Knowledge, and Computer Science. So, gather your pencils, pens, crayons, and curiosity, and get ready to explore, solve, and create while having a blast. Let’s make this holiday both enjoyable and educational!

Table of Contents

• 1.1 1. Subject: English (Grammar & Writing)
• 1.2 2. Subject: Mathematics (Numbers & Operations)
• 1.3 3. Subject: Science (Living Things & their surroundings)
• 1.4 4. Subject: Social Studies (History & Geography)
• 1.5 5. Environmental Studies (Environmental Awareness & Health)
• 1.6 6. General Knowledge 
• 1.7 7. Computer Science (Basic Concepts & Applications)

Creative Holiday Homework for Class 4: All Subjects

Check out the engaging and fun holiday homework for class 4 all subjects below and make learning a continuous process for young brains.

1. Subject: English (Grammar & Writing)

Also Read: Computer Holiday Homework For Classes 5 to 8

2. Subject: Mathematics (Numbers & Operations)

3. subject: science (living things & their surroundings).

4. Subject: Social Studies (History & Geography)

Also Read: Exciting Class 2 Holiday Homework Ideas: Sparking Creativity and Adventure

5. Environmental Studies (Environmental Awareness & Health)

6. General Knowledge 

7. computer science (basic concepts & applications).

Explore Art Therapy Courses ! 

Ans: Students benefit from having holiday assignments because it helps them build self-discipline and encourages them to take responsibility for their learning.

Ans: Plan your schedule well in advance. Keep your study place neat and organised your study materials handy.

Ans: One of the best ways to make homework more manageable (and even fun) is to set tiny goals. Instead of thinking of homework as one big, looming task, break it down into chunks. Give yourself a short break after every few problems or pages, and reward yourself with something you enjoy after you’ve completed your goal.

Explore interesting ideas for school children here : 

To refer to interesting ideas related to children’s school education and Holiday Homework activities, follow Leverage Edu now!! 

Aayushi Vardhan

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Understanding Russian Culture: Holidays and Traditions

• English as a Second Language
• M.F.A., Creative Writing, Manchester Metropolitan University
• Diploma in Translation (IoLet Level 7, Russian), Chartered Institute of Linguists

Discover Russian culture by learning about its holidays and traditions, both new and old.

Some holidays celebrated in modern Russia originated back in the times of the ancient Slavs, who practiced Pagan customs. With the adoption of Christianity , many Pagan traditions merged with the new Christian customs. After the Russian Revolution , Christian holidays were abolished, but many Russians continued to celebrate in secret.

Nowadays, Russians enjoy their own combinations of these holidays and traditions, often exchanging gifts or performing pranks according to each holiday's customs.

Did You Know?

When Christmas was forbidden during Russia's Soviet era, many Russians began practicing Christmas customs on New Year's instead.

The best Russian festivals and celebrations

The best of Russia’s festivals celebrate the rich Russian culture, religion, and history, alongside a vibrant mix of music, film, theatre, food, and snow festivals.

By Expatica

Updated 13-8-2024

Important notice from the Editor in Chief

Maintaining our Russian site is a delicate matter during the war. We have chosen to keep its content online to help our readers, but we cannot ensure that it is accurate and up to date. Our team endeavors to strike the right balance between giving information to those who need it, and respecting the gravity of the situation.

Traditional Russian festivals celebrate religious occasions such as Easter and Christmas plus historical and political events. Sprinkled in are summer music festivals and events celebrating food, film and theater – and, of course, snow and ice. Here’s an interesting mix of some of the best festivals and celebrations in Russia.

7 January: Russian Orthodox Christmas

25 january: tatyana’s day, january: international festival of snow and ice sculpture, krasnoyarsk, february: maslenitsa festival, 8 march: international women’s day, april: moscow international film festival, march/april: golden mask theater festival, moscow, may-july: white nights festival, st petersburg, 9 may: victory day, june: scarlet sails, st petersburg, june: ivan kupala night, june: taste of moscow, june: wild mint folk festival, july: nashestvie, moscow, august: afisha picnic, moscow, early november: day of accord and reconciliation, moscow, mid-december to mid-january: russian winter festival, december/january: new year, throughout the year: chekhov international theater festival, moscow and beyond.

Along with other religious celebrations, Christmas was banned in Russia after the 1917 Revolution. Russians could only openly observe Christmas in 1992. The Russian Orthodox church – and almost all Russians – celebrate Christmas (the birth of Jesus) on 7 January. It’s mainly a religious occasion, when families gather together to attend church services on Christmas Eve (6 January). They then go home to feast on a special holy supper, which includes  kutia , a porridge with raisins. Some people attend all-night vigils at church; others just go on Christmas morning.

Tatyana’s Day is Russian Students Day. When Elizabeth, Empress of Russia signed a decree to establish Moscow State University on 25 January 1755 – the saint’s day of third-century Christian martyr St Tatyana – St Tatyana became the patron saint of students. Most university towns have St Tatyana celebrations, holding balls and choosing the best Tatyana from the students.

The Magic Ice of Siberia is an international competition on the banks of the Yenisei River in Krasnoyarsk. Teams of sculptors, architects, and artists create massive frozen artworks to compete in two categories: snow and ice.

Seven weeks before Easter are the week-long Maslenitsa festivities – Russia’s pancake week. They combine the pagan tradition of marking the transition from winter to spring with the Christian tradition of feasting before Lent. Each day there are different activities: making  Maslenitsa  dolls from straw and old clothes, making and eating lots of pancakes ( blini s), sledging, playing on seesaws, singing, fistfights, visiting the in-laws, exchanging gifts, feasting, and drinking tea or vodka. The  Maslenitsa dolls burn on the final day, and people jump over bonfires.

Celebrations start the night before Easter Sunday. Churches fill with lights and, at dawn, the bells ring out to announce the arrival of Easter. Everyone paints boiled eggs in bright colors and has a traditional feast. Typical Easter foods are round sweet bread as well as Easter cake served with sweetened curds, butter and raisins.

Symbolizing women’s equality, most people in Russia refer to International Women’s Day just as the eighth of March. It’s a day for celebrating women’s achievements. People have time off work, workplaces organize celebrations, and everyone gives gifts to the important women in their lives.

The best places to visit in Moscow

The very first Moscow International Film Festival (MIFF) was in 1935 when the jury was headed up by world-renowned film-maker Sergei Eisenstein (of  Battleship Potemkin fame). It became a regular event on the cultural calendar in 1959. More than 200 films from 50 different countries are screened, with the best picture winning the Golden George.

The Golden Mask Theater Festival is an all-Russian theater festival and competition. It covers all genres from drama to modern dance and puppet theater. The Golden Mask festivals takes place in Moscow.

Due to St Petersburg’s northerly location, the sun never fully sets in St Petersburg between May and mid-June. You can talk a walk at midnight and still see the sun on the horizon. This provides the romantic backdrop for the annual White Nights Festival, an arts festival with music and dance by Russian and international stars. The Mariinsky Theatre has a program of more than 175 operas, ballets, and classical concerts – and locals snap up tickets pretty quickly. There are carnivals, also, the best being in the suburb of Peterhof where actors dress up in historical costume from the time of Peter the Great and re-enact historical events.

Victory Day celebrates the end of World War II with parades, spectacular fireworks and displays of military strength. The most impressive event is in Moscow ‘s Red Square, where soldiers, tanks, missiles, and other military equipment are on display on the ground while military planes fly overhead. Military memorials all over Russia are spruced up, and there are displays in museums.

The White Nights Festival culminates with Scarlet Sails , the largest annual public gathering in Russia with more than a million people watching a mock pirate battle on the River Neva, a firework show, and a tall ship with sails the color of blood. The event celebrates the end of the school year.

This is a summer solstice celebration related to John the Baptist (Ivan means John and  kupala is related to a Slavic word for bathing) and 23–24 June in the Julian calendar is used by the Orthodox church. Girls wear flower or herb wreaths on their heads, and in the evening the wreaths are decorated with burning candles and set afloat; the girl whose wreath travels the farthest will have the happiest year ahead, and the candle that burns the longest means a long life. People light bonfires and jump over them for good luck. Some seek a special flowering fern said to direct the finder towards treasure. There are fireworks, of course.

Each year a selection of Moscow’s top restaurants opens their doors for three days of masterclasses and tasting sessions, open to all the family (there’s usually a special entertainment zone with a children’s menu). There are also zones for different types of food, drink, and music to create a party atmosphere. Around 200 different masterclasses are on offer, for both Russian and international foods.

This large, open-air world folk music festival takes place in the Ethnomir complex in Moscow every summer. Over several days, Russian and international musicians perform a variety of folk-based genres – afro-beat, ethno-jazz, raga, Russian folk – and there are also food stalls, markets, and body and soul workshops.

This big, open-air rock festival focuses on Russian rock bands. Nashestvie is organized by Russian rock station Nashe Radio (the station responsible for Russia’s major rock music chart, Chart Dozen). The festival’s name means invasion in Russian but many people call the festival the Russian Woodstock. It’s a good place to see both established and up-and-coming musicians from around Russia and neighboring states.

This may just be a one-day event but it’s one of the oldest and best-known music festivals in Russia. It’s held in the grounds of Kolomenskoye, a former Tsar’s estate on the banks of the Moscow River. It attracts big Russian and international names such as the Kaiser Chiefs, Courtney Love, Jamiroquai and Madness.

There’s a big parade in Red Square and many other events, usually around the Kremlin, to celebrate the communist revolution in 1917/1918.

All Russian cities have Winter Festivals celebrating the best of Russian culture, but the biggest and best is in Moscow. This is a huge annual event with activities all around the city, which is decked with thousands of fairy lights. In Izmailovo Park you can also watch performances of folk songs and dances, ice skate, sled or take a ride in one of the three-horse sleighs called  troikas . Gorky Park is famous for its magnificent ice sculptures. In Revolution Square you can buy crafts, eat warm pancakes or bagels spread with jam or honey, listen to a balalaika concert or watch a fashion show.

As Christmas was banned for many years in Russia, many of the Christmas traditions were diverted to the New Year celebrations on New Year’s Eve on 31 December. People now decorate New Year trees instead of Christmas trees and  Ded Moroz  (Father Frost), accompanied by his granddaughter  Snegurochka  (Snow Maiden), delivers presents instead of Father Christmas. Families enjoy feasts, listen to the President’s New Year Speech and the Kremlin clock strikes midnight. Many Russians also celebrate a second New Year on 13–14 January or Old New Year, a tradition dating back to the old Julian calendar. Concerts, carnivals and street fairs – and a large ice rink in Red Square – are part of the fun.

Established in 1992 and named in honor of Russia’s most famous playwright and author, Anton Chekhov, the annual Chekhov International Theater Festival brings together theater companies from all over the world as well as Russia. There are also joint productions. Performances are primarily in Moscow but there are sometimes shows that tour other major cities such as St Petersburg and into the regions.

About the author

Originally from Vancouver, Adam has lived in Belgium and Hong Kong and is currently residing in the Netherlands.

His interests range a wide spectrum of topics, from digital nomads and modern conflict to sports and local craft beer.

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What to do in Moscow

Ballet at the bolshoy, cathedral of christ the saviour, drinking & nightlife, entertainment, house-museums, the museum of modern history, the new tretyakov gallery, novodevichiy convent, patriarch’s ponds, the pushkin museum of fine arts, sandunovsky baths, the tretyakov gallery.

Travel in Moscow is easier than you might think: the city’s general layout is a series of concentric circles and radial lines emanating from Red Square and the Kremlin, and the centre is compact enough to explore on foot. Moscow’s sights can also be mapped as strata of its history: the old Muscovy that Russians are eager to show; the now retro-chic Soviet-era sites such as VDNK and Lenin’s Mausoleum; and the exclusive restaurants and shopping malls that mark out the new Russia. A CityPass is a good bet if you plan on seeing several of the city's heavyweight attractions.

Despite its size, Moscow's concentric layout is easier to grasp than you'd imagine, and the city's famous metro ensures that almost everywhere of interest is within fifteen minutes' walk of a station. Red Square and the Kremlin are the historic nucleus of the city, a magnificent stage for political drama, signifying a great sweep of history that includes Ivan the Terrible, Peter the Great, Stalin and Gorbachev. Here you'll find Lenin's Mausoleum and St Basil's Cathedral, the famous GUM department store, and the Kremlin itself, whose splendid cathedrals and Armoury Museum head the list of attractions. Immediately east of Red Square lies the Kitay-gorod, traditionally the commercial district, and originally fortified like the Kremlin. Stretches of the ramparts remain behind the Metropol and Rossiya hotels, and the medieval churches of Zaryade and the shops along Nikolskaya ulitsa may tempt you further into the quarter, where you'll find the former headquarters of the Communist Party. Take a private Kremlin tour to skip the lines for the Kremlin grounds and cathedrals.

The Kremlin and Kitay-gorod are surrounded by two quarters defined by rings of boulevards built over the original ramparts of medieval times, when Moscow's residential areas were divided into the "White Town" or Beliy Gorod, and the humbler "Earth Town" or Zemlyanoy Gorod. Situated within the leafy Boulevard Ring that encloses the Beliy Gorod are such landmarks as the Bolshoy Theatre and the Lubyanka headquarters of the secret police – with its "KGB Museum" – while the Zemlyanoy Gorod that extends to the eight-lane Garden Ring is enlivened by the trendy old and new Arbat streets, with three Stalin skyscrapers dominating the Ring itself.

Beyond this historic core Moscow is too sprawling to explore on foot. Krasnaya Presnya, Fili and the southwest describes a swathe which includes the former Russian Parliament building (known as the White House); Tolstoy's house and the Novodeviche Convent and Cemetery; Victory Park, with its war memorials and Jewish museum; and Moscow State University in the Sparrow Hills – the largest of the Stalin skyscrapers.

Across the river from the Kremlin, Zamoskvorechye and the south are the site of the old and new Tretyakov Gallery's superlative collection of Russian art. Private guided tours are recommended for art enthusiasts. Here too you'll find Gorky Park, the Donskoy and Danilov monasteries that once stood guard against the Tartars, and the romantic ex-royal estates of Tsaritsyno and Kolomenskoe – the latter known for staging folklore festivals and historical pageants.

Taganka and Zayauze, east of the centre, likewise harbour fortified monasteries – the Andronikov, Novospasskiy and Simonov – and the erstwhile noble estates of Kuskovo and Kuzminki, but the main lure for tourists is the Izmaylovo art market. Inside the Izmaylovo Kremlin, a cultural centre, there are also a range of attractions, from the Bread Museum and the Vodka History Museum to the fascinating Museum of Russian Toys.

Moscow's Northern Suburbs cover a vast area with a sprinkling of sights. Foremost is the Memorial and Museum of Cosmonautics and VDNK. For anyone interested in the glory days of the space race, and its monumental landmarks and propaganda, a visit is a must, like on this guided tour . In the vicinity are the Ostankino Palace, Moscow's Botanical Gardens and TV Tower. West from here, the Museum of Soviet Arcade Machines will appeal to visitors with an interest in Soviet social history, too.

Outside Moscow there's scope for day-excursions to the Trinity Monastery of St Sergei, the Abramtsevo artists' colony, Tchaikovsky's house in Kiln, Lenin's estate at Gorki Leninskie, and the battlefield of Borodino, where the battle is re-enacted every September. You can also head out to the village of Aksakovo for a beautiful two-hour troika ride. Further afield, the historic towns of Vladimir and Suzdal are graced by splendid cathedrals and monasteries attesting that they were the seat of a principality when Moscow was merely an encampment. Suzdal is one of the loveliest towns in Russia, and definitely merits an overnight stay. It's also possible to visit the Aviation Museum at Monino air base, en route to Vladimir, if you take the trouble to get permission ahead of time.

This article includes affiliate links; all recommendations are editorially independent.

Top image: Komsomolskaya metro station © Gubin Yury/Shutterstock

While Moscow's Bolshoy Ballet (also spelt "Bolshoi") is going through uncertain times, plagued by infighting and rivalries (not least the recent acid attack on Artistic Director Sergei Filin), few would deny themselves the chance to see this legendary company. During the season, evening performances start at 7pm, and Saturday and Sunday matinees at noon; there are no shows on Monday.

You can see what’s on currently and for a few months ahead on the Bolshoy’s website – although the English version sometimes lags behind the Russian one. The ballet company is usually abroad over summer and sometimes also in the autumn, leaving the junior corps de ballet to entertain visitors – although star dancers are certain to be in Moscow for the opening of the new season in September. For more on Russian ballet visit www.for-ballet-lovers-only.com . For those not interested in ballet but more in the historical aspect of the Bolshoy theatre, take a guided historic tour of the grounds.

If you're more interest in Folk Dances, visit the Kostroma Folk Dance show , the most authentic one in Moscow.

Built as a symbol of gratitude to divinity for having aided the Russians’ defeat of Napoleon in 1812, the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour (daily 10am–6pm), opposite the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts at Volkhonka ul. 15, was demolished in 1931 in favour of a monument to socialism. The project was soon abandoned and years later, under Krushev’s rule, the site was turned into the world’s largest public swimming pool. In 1994 the Cathedral was rebuilt and is now a symbol of Moscow’s (and Russia’s) post-Communist religious revival.

Moscow isn’t a city that goes to bed early. Many venues act as a café by day, restaurant in the early evening, and both bar and club at night. This can cover anything from an arthouse café with a spot of live music to a dance warehouse, or a fancy nightclub with a restaurant and casino. Most cater to a certain crowd, whether it’s creative professionals, students, shell-suited "flatheads" or designer-draped models. While formal dress codes are rare, face control (feys kontrol) is widespread. Russians distinguish between “democratic” face control (aimed at keeping out hooligans and bandits), and the kind that favours the rich (never mind how they behave). It’s unwise to rile club security staff, however rude they might be.

There are scores of trendy bars and clubs on Krasny Oktyabr, a former chocolate factory building located across the river from Kropotkinskaya and now home to some of Moscow’s hippest nightlife.

Learn how to walk, talk, drink and party like a Russian on a small group with Russian spirits.

Moscow's gastronomic scene has improved enormously over the last five years, with hundreds of new cafés and restaurants offering all kinds of cuisine and surroundings, aimed at anyone with a disposable income – from mega-rich New Russians and expense-account expatriates to fashion-conscious wealthy teenagers.

For cheap eats head to a canteen, where you can compile a tray of dishes smorgasbord-style. Take advantage of the great-value business lunches offered by cafés and restaurants during the week between noon and 4pm.

For well over a century, Moscow has been one of the world’s great centres of classical music, opera and ballet, most famously represented by the Bolshoy Theatre but also by its orchestras and choirs. Theatre can be tricky for non-Russian speakers though circus and puppetry surpass the language barrier. Moscow’s film industry and annual international film festival dwarf St Petersburg’s, but at other times most cinemas screen Hollywood blockbusters.

All this can be surprisingly good value, provided you ask for the cheapest ticket available ( samiy deshoviy bilyet ).

Gorky Park on ul. Krymskiy Val 9 (R100; Park Kultury) is a large park occupying an area of over 700 acres along the river. In the winter the frozen-over paths become one of the city’s largest ice rinks, while in the summer Muscovites stroll the area savouring an ice cream.

Admirers of Bulgakov, Chekhov, Gorky and Tolstoy will find their former homes preserved as museums. Anton Chekhov lived at Sadovaya-Kudrinskaya ul. 6, in what is now the Chekhov House-Museum (Tues, Thurs & Sat 11am–6pm, Wed & Fri 2–8pm; R100, student R60; Barrikadnaya), containing humble personal effects, while the Gorky House-Museum (Wed–Sun 11am–6pm, closed last Thurs of the month; free; Arbatskaya) on the corner of Povarskaya ulitsa and ulitsa Spiridonovka is worth seeing purely for its raspberry-pink Art Nouveau decor. Leo Tolstoy admirers should head to the wonderfully preserved Tolstoy Memorial Estate on ul. Lva Tolstogo 21 (Tues, Wed & Fri 10am–6pm, Thurs 1–9pm, Sat & Sun 11am–6pm; R200, student R60; Park Kultury) where the Tolstoy family lived after moving to Moscow from their country estate in 1881, and where the novelist wrote War and Peace . The Bulgakov Museum at Bolshaya Sadovaya ul. 10 (Sun–Thurs 1–11pm, Fri & Sat until 1am; free; t 495/970-0619; Mayakovskaya), is the house where the novelist lived from 1921 to 1924. There are nightly tours (1–6am; R550; phone a week in advance for tour in English).

The Museum of Modern History at Tverskaya ul. 21 (Tues, Wed, Fri 10am–6pm, Thurs & Sat 11am–7pm, Sun 10am–5pm, closed last Fri of the month; R100; Tverskaya) brings the Communist past alive with striking displays of Soviet propaganda posters, photographs and state gifts, although there’s a frustrating lack of English translation.

Opposite the entrance to Gorky Park at Krymskiy Val 10, the New Tretyakov Gallery (Tues–Sun 10am–7.30pm; R360, student R220; Park Kultury) takes a breakneck gallop through twentieth-century Russian art, from the avant-garde of the 1910–1920s to contemporary artists. Full and illuminating commentary in English is a bonus.

A cluster of shining domes above a fortified rampart belongs to the lovely Novodevichiy Convent (daily 10am–5pm; closed Tues & last Mon of month; R150; Sportivnaya), founded by Ivan the Terrible in 1524. At its heart stands the white Cathedral of the Virgin of Smolensk. In its cemetery lie numerous famous writers, musicians and artists, including Gogol, Chekhov, Stanislavsky, Bulgakov and Shostakovich.

One of Moscow’s most exclusive neighbourhoods, Patriarch’s Ponds is a pleasant spot (there’s actually just one pond) for a summer stroll or an ice-skate on its frozen waters in the depths of winter. The area is also known for being the location of the opening scene of Mikhail Bulgakov’s magical realist novel The Master and Margarita .

Founded in 1898 in honour of the famous Russian poet, the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts at Volkhonka ul. 12 (Tues–Sun 10am–7pm; R150–300, separate fee for Impressionist wing; Kropotkinskaya) holds a hefty collection of European paintings , from Italian High Renaissance works to Rembrandt, and an outstanding display of Impressionist works.

Get the city grit out of your skin at the exquisitely elaborate Sandunovsky baths (Neglinnaya ul. 14 bldg 3–7 w www.sanduny.ru ; Teatralnaya), patronized by Muscovites since 1896. Join Russian businessmen and socialites in the banya , a wooden hut heated with a furnace, where you are invited to sweat out impurities, get beaten energetically with birch twigs, and finally plunge into ice-cold water. Men’s and women’s baths are separate, with the women’s section more like a modern spa. A three-hour session costs R1000. Daily 8am–10pm.

Founded in 1892 by the financier Pavel Tretyakov, the Tretyakov Gallery at Lavrushinskiy per. 10 (Tues–Sun 10am–7.30pm; R360, student R220; Tretyakovskaya) displays an outstanding collection of pre-Revolutionary Russian art. Russian icons are magnificently displayed, and the exhibition continues through to the late nineteenth century, with the politically charged canvases of the iconic realist Ilya Repin and the Impressionist portraits of Valentin Serov, including The Girl with Peaches , one of the gallery’s masterpieces.

To see Soviet triumphalism at its most prolific, visit the Exhibition of Economic Achievements, or VDNKh (Prospekt Mira; VDNK/Prospekt Mira), with its statue upon statue of ordinary workers in heroic poses. Adding to the scene is the permanent trade-fair-cum-shopping-centre housed in the grandiose Stalinist architecture of the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition of 1939, and the People’s Friendship Fountain, flanked by Soviet maidens, each symbolizing a Soviet republic. One of the most hubristic Soviet monuments ever built is the Space Obelisk , which bears witness to Soviet designs on the stratosphere. Unveiled in 1964 – three years after Gagarin orbited the earth – it’s a sculpture of a rocket blasting nearly 100m into the sky on a plume of energy clad in shining titanium. Moscow’s giant Ferris wheel, small amusement park and numerous food vendors help to create a fairground-like atmosphere. For a fantastic view over the VDNK, take the lift to the 25th floor of Hotel Cosmos across Prospekt Mira.

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18 UNMISSABLE Things to Do in Moscow, Russia (from a Local!)

( UPDATE: October 2019)

As a Russian who has lived in Moscow  for many years, I have finally decided to write a blog post about it – incredible! 🙂

The list below is for people who have the time and/or the desire to see some attractions and tourism places in Moscow.

If you are traveling to Russia in the near future, just scroll down the list of 18 sights below and you will find recommendations for pubs, visa info, average prices for things and many practical tips.

For those who have some time to discover the capital of Moscow – great, you will certainly have some fun!

I know the list is long and you probably won’t have the time to see everything. But that’s ok, you should scroll down the list and just choose what you like the most. Make sure to book IN ADVANCE, as things can get crowded during the high season.

1. Red Square

3. cathedral of christ the saviour, 4. zaryadye park, 5. bolshoi theatre, 6. gorky park, 7. sparrow hills and msu, 8. moscow metro, 9. tretyakovskaya gallery, 11. moscow river cruise, 12. old arbat and new arbat streets, 13. moskva city skyscrapers, 14. izmailovo kremlin, 15. patriarshiye ponds, 16. kolomenskoye estate, 17. ostankinskaya tv tower, 18. tsaritsyno museum reserve, unusual things to do in moscow, where to eat in moscow and what to try, the best night clubs in moscow, where to stay in moscow, useful things to know before your trip to moscow – visa, prices etc., conclusion:.

Red Square is the heart and soul of Russia! The most famous landmark of Moscow and the whole country, must absolutely be on your Moscow bucket list!

The square is always full of people and has a special festive atmosphere! If you get lost, you can always ask locals for directions – “Krasnya ploshad”.

Here are the must see places inside the square:

Saint Basil’s Cathedral

Admire Saint Basil’s Cathedral (the famous church with the colorful onion domes), and take a full circle around it as it is beautiful from all sides of the square. The cathedral was commissioned by Ivan the Terrible in the 16 th century and the legend says that the eyes of the architect were cut out after he built this cathedral.

Why? So that he could not build one more beautiful than this cathedral, duh!

Oh, the barbaric traditions back in time… He was called Ivan the Terrible for a reason, right?

You can enter the church, the price is 350 rub, but it is not that spectacular inside.

Check out the stunning building on the left of the church, it is GUM – the main department store of the country and the most beautiful one, too! Nowadays, they do an AMAZING job decorating the place and I am sure it will also look fantastic during your visit! Go inside to check it out!

Lenin’s Mausoleum

This place serves as the resting place of the leader of the communist movement, Vladimir Lenin. Preserving the body with different reagents is a high secret.

It’s really bizarre, if you ask me, to display a mummy of a person in the heart of the city but it has been there for almost a century. But hey, you can visit it!

Visiting the Mausoleum is free of charge but it’s only open on Tuesday through Thursday and Saturday from 10:00 to 13:00; more details on it here . Keep in mind that no photos and even no loud talking is allowed inside the Mausoleum. The entrance is from the Aleksandrovskiy Garden side.

Eternal Flame

There is an Eternal Flame in honor of an unknown soldier on the left side of Red Square right after the exit. Changing of the guards is worth seeing, it happens every hour.

TIP: You can take a Free walking tour to get to know about all of the above attractions with an English-speaking guide.

If you would like a private guide, here is an inexpensive option .

The Kremlin is the official residence of the President of the Russian Federation. You can see it from the outside – the red walls that surround the Red Square – or you can take an excursion to one of the museums located inside.

Read more about the Kremlin and the museums inside it in the next paragraph.

Metro: “Okhotny Ryad”, “Teatral’naya”, “Ploshad’ Revolutsii”.

Keep in mind that you cannot go inside the Kremlin walls unless you are visiting a museum or you are part of a tourist group.

There are a couple of museums you can visit inside:

Armoury Chamber

Kremlin Armoury (Оружейная палата) houses the famous Faberge eggs collection. It also holds houses unique collections of weapons, jewelry and various household articles of the tsars.

ATTENTION: Entrance is only granted at designated times. You can buy tickets online in advance for a specific time or get one at the ticket office. The queues are very long so I suggest you buy tickets in advance online!

The museum is open daily except Thursdays. The available time slots are 10, 12, 14:30, or 16:30. The ticket is 1000 RUB, visitors under 16 years old go free of charge (but you will need to stand in the queue to get it. I know, it is silly). Get an audio guide too!

P.S. If you would like to take a private guided tour with all the tickets included in the price, here’s a great option .

Cathedral Square

You will see four cathedrals inside the Kremlin as well as ongoing exhibitions and the museums’ permanent expositions. The price is 700 RUB and the procedure is the same – you can buy it at the ticket office, but the line will be long, so I recommend taking care of it in advance online .

The Great Bell Tower of Ivan the Terrible

You will hear about the history and architecture of the bell tower and the Kremlin, see the authentic fragments of the white stone decor of the ancient Kremlin buildings, and admire the beautiful views of the Kremlin and the surrounding area.

Sessions to visit start at 10:15, 11:15, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00 and 17:00. The tour is 45 minutes long.

The price is 350 RUB and you can buy the tickets only in the ticket booth 45 minutes before the tour.

If you would like to visit the Kremlin and the surroundings with a guide and don’t want to figure out ticketing options, get this tour , where everything is already included in the price.

ATTENTION: Kids under 14 years old are not permitted to enter.

The cathedral is located just a few hundred meters away from the Kremlin. It is the largest Orthodox church in the world and the most important church in the country (hint – not the colorful one that is located in Red Square!).

Christ the Saviour is not as old as you might think. The original cathedral was demolished by Stalin’s order in 1931 and the new one was only rebuilt recently – in 2000. Even though it is not that old, it looks magnificent nevertheless.

Only Russians could destroy a magnificent church during communism and then build the tallest (Orthodox) church in the world in its place after the collapse of the regime.

The church is also known for the infamous Pussy Riot protest against Putin back in 2012.

The entrance is free.

Metro: “Kropotkinskaya”.

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Zaryadye is a newly opened, landscaped urban park. It is so new you will not find it in the tour guides of 6 months ago. The park is also located in proximity to Red Square in a large area of 78,000 m2.

The entire territory of the park is divided into four climatic zones: forest, steppe, tundra, and floodplains, which is supposed to depict the variety of climate zones in Russia.

Enjoy breathtaking views to the Moscow Kremlin from the floating bridge, visit the Ice Cave, get in a 4D attraction called “Flight over Russia” and try some local food from the different regions of Russia!

Metro: “Kitay-Gorod”.

Bolshoi Theatre (translated as The Big Theatre in Russian) is an iconic building that hosts both ballet and opera performances.

The standards of Russian ballet are known as one of the highest in the world!

It is worth paying a visit to the theatre even if you are not a big fan of the performances –  you are guaranteed to be fascinated by the neo-classical building from the inside!

TIP: If you go to an opera performance, check if they have English subtitles in advance on the website .

It’s quite hard to get an inexpensive ticket. If you are reading this article 3-4 months before going to Moscow, try buying the tickets on the official web site.

If you buy tickets last minute, the minimum price most likely will be around 222 euros per person.

If this is out of your budget, but you still really want to go, you might risk it and try buying tickets at the entrance from a reseller.

MONEY SAVER TIP: Arrive about an hour before and you will see men walking around the entrance and asking people something. These are the resellers. Just approach them and ask them how much a ticket would cost for tonight’s performance. They should speak enough English to negotiate the price. I entered Bolshoi once like this and everything was fine.

Metro: “Teatral’naya”, “Okhotny Ryad”

I follow the Moskva down the Gorky park…

Sound familiar? Gorky Park (Park Gor’kogo in Russian) is the biggest and the most famous park in Moscow.

The park has recently been renovated and it now has a fresh, vibrant appearance!

It is the locals’ favorite place to hang out on a warm summer evening and you should enjoy it too!  You can find entertainment for any taste there: live dancing sessions and free yoga lessons to bicycles, an outdoor movie theater, skateboards, ping-pong, beach volleyball and much, much more!

It could also be a good idea to rent a bike and ride it all the way to another Park – Neskuchnyi park (literally translated as “Not a boring park”). At the end of that park you will reach Sparrow Hill (“Vorobyevy Gory” in Russian), which has a great view of the entire city.

You can take a boat cruise from Gorky park! (more on the cruise and the hill below).

There is also Muzeon Art Park, a dynamic contemporary space with a younger vibe. It is perfectly landscaped for a comfortable stay. Muzeon has a unique collection of 700 sculptures, so do not miss it when you’re in the park! It is located right in front of Gorky Park. Both are amazing!

Metro: “Park Kultury”, “Oktyabrskaya”

Sparrow Hills are the hills on the right side of the Moskva River. It is elevated at 220 meters, giving a great panoramic view of the city, one of the highest points in Moscow.

Just a 15-minute walk from the lookout (you will see it right away nevertheless), is the tallest of seven Stalinist skyscrapers – the Moscow State University .

We are proud of the University, and the level of the education there. My brother has studied there.

Metro: “Vorobyevy gory” (it is still quite a walk from there, around 20 minutes. Type “smotrovaya ploshadka” in Google for directions). MSU metro is “Universitet.” You can visit the university first and then the lookout.

I have been all around the world, but Moscow metro is still the most beautiful and the most efficient I have ever seen!

Even if you are only planning to travel by taxi, you should go underground to see some of the stations. I am sure you will be fascinated! Plus, it is almost always much faster to get somewhere by metro than by car.

Most of the stations truly look like museums! Every station has its own unique decoration, a theme and a fascinating story behind it.

I recommend touring the stations somewhere between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. This way you will be able to properly see it without the crowds.

I recommend taking this tour with a knowledgeable guide who will tell you stories of forgotten stations and how the history of the country interconnected with the metro development.

If you go by yourself, these are the stations I definitely recommend checking out:  Mayakovskaya, Ploshad Revolutsii, Kievskaya, Kropotkinskaya, Kurskaya, Komsomolskaya the ring side and Novoslobodskaya etc.

Afraid you will get lost in the enormous Moscow metro?

Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered! There is a whole section dedicated to transportation in Moscow below in this article.

UPDATE: And here’s my new post where you can read Everything You Should Know About Moscow Metro !

Tretyakovskaya Art Gallery has the world-famous collection of Russian painters’ works of art.

Originally, it belonged to the Tretyakov brothers, very rich 19th-century philanthropists. They gave away all of their private collection to the government after their deaths.

If there is just one museum you visit in Moscow, I recommend this one!

The ticket is 500 RUB and here is the official website where you can buy tickets online. Closed on Mondays.

Here is my recommendation for a half-day private tour with an English guide.

Metro: “Tretyakovskaya”

VDNKh is short for All Russian Exhibition center (in Russian). It was created during the USSR time when there were many other countries (Georgia, Armenia, Kazakhstan etc) as part of Russia. The idea of the park was to showcase different cultures and their agrarian methods in one place.

VDNKh now serves as an open-air (free) museum. The park complex is home to a number of shopping pavilions, museums and places to ride a bicycle as well as the largest skate park in Europe and many nice restaurants etc.

Here are other cool places to see in the area:

Museum of Cosmonautics

Did you know that a Russian man named Yuri Gagarin was the first man to go into space? We Russians are very proud of it and we even celebrate a Cosmonautics Day on the 12 th of April.

It is no surprise we also have a big museum fully dedicated to cosmonautics and the Russian history of space exploration. You will see the history of the evolution of cosmonautics in the museum – the original space suit, first sputniks, full size rockets and so on.

If you are interested in this topic, I highly recommend taking a guide . My guide was Russian and I remember he was extremely interesting. I would not appreciate the museum the as much without his explanation!

You cannot miss the museum – there is a huge titanium pillar with a rocket on top of it located right in front of the museum’s entrance.

The price is 250 RUB, more details here .

Check out Moskvarium (an Oceanarium) if you are traveling with kids; it is located right inside the VDNkh complex. The variety of underwater life is impressive! You can see fur seals, guitarfish, crocodiles, crabs, hermit crabs, sea urchins, starfish, shrimp, sharks and hundreds of types of fish. I have heard many great things about it!

The adult price is 1000 RUB and 800 RUB for kids.

Metro: “VDNKh”

Take a river cruise and enjoy all the famous landmarks from another angle. There are no tourist crowds and with a nice summer breeze in your face, what could be better?

There are little nameless old boats that do the cruise, but I recommend taking a new awesome Radisson boat. These are a little more expensive, but you will feel comfortable. The Raddison Royal cruise is a very easy way to see the best of Moscow by sitting at a restaurant table with some good food and a glass of wine.

I took my cruise during sunset, and it was wonderful!

TIP: Don’t be late, the boat won’t wait!

The price is 1.300 RUB for adults and 950 RUB for kids for a 2.5-hours cruise. You can see the times and book your ticket here .

Metro: “Oktyabrskaya”, “Park Kultury” for Gorky Park Pier

One of the oldest streets in the city is Arbat Street, a pedestrian street about one kilometer long in the historical center of Moscow.

New Arbat Street is great for souvenirs, people watching and sightseeing. You can meet all kinds of people there – brightly dressed teenagers, street musicians, caricaturists, souvenirs sellers, tourists etc. It is very touristy, and makes me think of La Rambla in Barcelona (except that it is just for pedestrians), but I think it is still worth it to stroll around once.

Metro: “Arbatskaya”

Go to the Moscow International Business Center (also knowns as Moskva City) to see the city’s beautiful landscape. Moscow city’s complex of skyscrapers is beautiful by itself, but you can also go up one of the towers for a great overview of the city. For example, the 58 th floor of the Imperia Tower has a really nice view.

Metro: “Vystavochnaya”, “Mejdunarodnaya”

Kremlin actually means fortress and there are many kremlins in the city, but please do not confuse it with the main Kremlin at the Red Square.

Izmailovo is a cultural complex modeled after Old Russia where Russian history and a fairytale intertwined with today’s world.

In my humble opinion, Kremlin in Izmailovo is the second most beautiful building (after the Cathedral on Red Square) made in the Old Russian fairy-tale-like style. Just look at the picture, isn’t it pretty?

You can take a couple of creative workshops there, visit the Vodka Museum, take a horse carriage ride and many more fun things!

Izmailovo is also well known for its flea market called “Vernisaj.” The market is a great place to buy all your souvenirs, and it is much cheaper than the one on Arbat Street that I mentioned earlier!

You will find everything from matreshkas and magnets to ancient Russian artifacts or other more creative gift ideas for your loved ones. Remember – if there is no price tag, you can always try to bargain a bit!

The entrance to the park is free, but as usual, all activities like taking a workshop are subject to a fee. Here is the official website with all the information in English.

You can get a private tour (with hotel pick-up) of Izmailovo together with the Vodka museum for a very good price here .

Metro: 5 mins walk from “Partizanskaya” station

Patriarshie Ponds, or “Patriki”, as the locals like to call it, is a quiet district that traditionally was home for poets and artists.

Have you read “Master and Margarita” by Russian poet Bulgakov? The writer chose the ponds for the opening scene in the book.

Nowadays, Patriarshiy Ponds (Patriarshie Prydy in Russian) is a nice place to stroll around and have a delicious lunch or a coffee break.

It is heaven for foodies – you can find all kinds of places here – starting with hipsters’ cafes and finishing with Uruguayan steak houses.

Metro: “Pushkinskaya”

Kolomenskoe is a cultural complex of cultural monuments with Russian medieval architecture. If you want to see what Russia looked like about 200 years ago, you should absolutely stop by! The 390-hectare scenic area overlooks the banks of the Moskva River.

Things not to miss – Church of the Ascension and the wonderful fairy-tale-like wooden palace of Tsar Alexis I or just have a calm picnic on the grass. Also ask locals about Golosov Ovrag, which is a very mystical place; they say it can be a portal to another world!

Entrance to the park is free, but if you want to enter the palace it is 400 RUB per person.

Again, if you would like to take a private tour, here is the link .

Metro: “Kolomenskoye”

Ostankinskaya TV tower is the 8 th tallest building in the world and the highest building in Europe!

See the view from an open observation deck and take amazing pictures from 340 metres high while standing on a glass floor!

ATTENTION: You need to book your ticket in advance; entrance is based on specific ticket times.

E-tickets can easily be purchased on the website in advance. I recommend doing so because the capacity is limited and only a certain number of tourists are allowed per day.

You can also visit a revolving restaurant inside the tower which turns on its axis twice every 40 minutes so diners get the full panoramic view of Moscow. You can dine there only with a prior purchased entrance ticket.

The TV tower is open every day from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The price varies depending on which deck you want to visit (open or closed), the time of the visit and your age. It will generally be between 600 RUB to 1500 RUB.

Keep in mind that due to safety regulations, people in wheelchairs and kids younger than 7 years old are not allowed to enter the building.

IMPORTANT: Do not forget your passport, you will need it to pass through the security control. No sharp objects are allowed, just like in airports.

Metro: it is not near a metro but you can walk for 25 minutes from VDNKh station, or catch a trolleybus 36 or 73 from VDNKh.

This is probably my favorite park in the entire city!

Tsaritsyno was a residence for Catherine the Great more than two centuries ago. This probably explains why the park is so huge; its territory covers more than 400 hectares!

Enjoy some peace at the royal palace with its dramatic archways, musical fountains, greenhouses and, of course, the palace itself.

There is also a little open air bus that does a circuit of the park for a small fee.

The entrance to the park is free, but if you want to visit the palace, it is 350 RUB. An updated schedule of the museum working hours is here .

If you would like to get a glimpse of the main landmarks, together with a private tour of Tsaritsyno, I recommend this tour .

Metro: “Tsaritsyno” (you will need to walk a bit through a tunnel)

There is much more to see in Moscow than just the Kremlin!

In case you are staying in Moscow longer, or you are not that much into the classical stuff, I have some suggestions for you.

Moscow is huge and it has plenty of interesting places to visit. Here are just some of the off-the-beaten path attractions in Moscow:

Vodka Museum

What kind of visit to Russia would it be if you missed the Vodka Museum?

Explore the history of the most famous drink in the country with an English-speaking guide. The best part? You get to sample various brands of vodka in the museum’s restaurant!

The museum is located in Izmailovo Park (above in the list). You can visit the two places in one go. The ticket is 200 RUB and you can buy it online here .

Museum of Soviet Arcade Games

Release your inner child by playing 60 arcade machines from the Soviet era!

I bet you have never even seen some of them! It is a great way to spend a couple of hours if you are tired of visiting museums and Russian palaces. The staff speaks excellent English, so they will be happy to explain how some of the games work.

At the entrance, you will be given a box of coins (Soviet kopeicas) to use to play the ganes. The entrance fee is 450 RUB. Official website.

Metro: “Kuznetskiy most”, “Lubyanka”

Stalinist Skyscraper tour

Stalinist Skyscrapers, also known as the Seven Sisters, are a bunch of skyscrapers in the center of Moscow built in the very unique Stalinist style. I recommend taking a guided tour to hear all the mystical stories about how and why each was built. Extremely interesting!

Not only can you get to know all the information from an English-speaking guide, but you can actually climb one of the buildings now! This tour is completely safe and the views are fantastic! (Please use Google translator to read the description, the actual tour is going to be in English).

Moscow Rooftop tour

Craving something unusual?

Take a 1-hour private roof top tour with an experienced roofer!

I bet none of your friends can brag they have a picture like that, can they?

I took one in Saint Petersburg and it was unforgettable!

All the locations are completely safe to climb, however, for your comfort, I recommend wearing comfortable shoes. You can discuss your preferences for the time and views with the guide as he has a couple of locations to offer!

Take your camera, there are some amazing photo opportunities out there!

(Do not worry that the description is in Russian, the guide is fluent in English; they just did not translate part of the text on the website).

The price is very reasonable so for an amazing tour like that, book the tour here .

Detskiy Mir rooftop viewpoint

There have been many lookout suggestions in this post already, so I decided to include this one as another option.

It doesn’t have the view of the whole city, only the city center, but it is cool nevertheless. Plus, it is free and you get to access it through the first (and the biggest) kids store in the country!

Central Department Store for Children (Detrskiy Mir) is a very cool store; your kids (and you!) will love the experience! Once you are done with the toys, search for Observatory signs. You will go out on a big balcony and enjoy the view!

Here is a list of the local dishes you need to try (I included the Russian name too in case you end up in a restaurant with no English menu):

• Blini (блины) – Russian pancakes, can be eaten both as a dessert with jam or with meat filling.
• Borsch (борщ) – red beetroot soup with sour cream.
• Pelmeni (пельмени) – Russian dumplings.
• Solyanka (Солянка) – a little bit of everything in the soup – pickles, lemons, olives, sausages. It is a bit sour, but very good!
• Russian salad (Салат Оливье) – very popular salad in Russia, typically consists of boiled potatoes, carrots, eggs, peas, ham and mayonnaise.
• Pirogi (пироги) – a pie with different fillings.
• Golubtsy (голубцы) – stuffed cabbage leaves, usually with meat.
• Plov (плов) – the dish is actually not originally Russian, it is Uzbekh, but we’ve cooked it for so long it became ours too.
• Ikra (икра) – caviar.

NOTE: Tipping is expected in Russian restaurants (in places where you have servers, not the fast food ones). We usually tip about 10% of the bill.

Cheap (but good) chain restaurands include:

• Му-Му (Moo-Moo)
• Грабли (Grabli)
• Вареничная (Varenichnaya)
• Столовая 57 (Stolovaya 57) – on the last floor of GUM, you can try all the real Russian food there
• Братья Караваевы (Bratya karavaevy)
• ОбедБуфет (ObedBufet)
• Ёлки-Палки (Yolki-Palki)

Some of the places I’ve included here are so called “stolovayas.” They generally have ready to eat food on display which you can put on your tray and then pay for it at the cash register.

Obviously, there are tons of places, and I could start a separate site just about restaurants in Moscow. Here, I’m giving suggestions for not pricey (about 500 RUB per meal) traditional food places. You are welcome to use TripAdvisor to choose something according to your preferences and budget.

UPDATE: I have recently been to a really fun restaurant run by a guy I know, it is called Kusochki and it is a lot of fun for people searching for an unusual restaurant! There are 3 different zones in the restaurant – Hospital, Prison and Flat where you are going to be served by a Doctor, Convict or a Housewife, respectively. The waiters are great actors and they are playing their roles wonderfully (a housewife for example can wear a face mask with cucumbers and share some with you). The decor of each area is well though out and you are going to be given overalls to feel like you actually are in prison or the hospital! The way they serve food is also pretty unique; I think it is best described in a Youtube video my friend Janet made about it. Cick here to see it

Known as a city that never sleeps, Moscow offers a great variety of high class night clubs.

• Denis Simachev
• Strelka Bar
• Crazy Daisy

Warning – beware that the face control system is much stricter than in most of the European cities. Be sure to dress with no sneakers if you go to one of the fancy night clubs.

TIP: If you are a young party animal, a good choice for you might be the Moscow pub crawls. Take an organized pub crawl by locals with travelers like you here .

As Moscow is a very popular destination among travelers, the accommodations sell out fast, that’s why I recommend booking yours as soon as possible!

Before you read this part, you should know that there is a whole post dedicated specifically to accommodations in Moscow, all sorted by area (in the city center, near railway stations and airports), all hand-picked with great reviews and sorted by price for your convenience. Here it is – Where to stay in Moscow .

You can stay in the city center if you want to visit the city, as it will be much more convenient for you.

Whatever you choose, my recommendation is to always be located near the metro – you will not regret it. The Metro works fantastic in Moscow!

Here are some hand-picked accommodations all located in the center, close to the metro and with fabulous reviews. Booking.com works best in Russia, so I recommend using it when you visit.

Luxury (US$170 and up) – Hotel De Paris – perfect choice for those who want to stay in the city center, be surrounded by elegant décor and be treated nicely by the staff. Tchaikovsky Hotel – named after the famous Russian composer, this hotel is located in the historical building in the city center. It is spotlessly clean and has really friendly staff.

Middle price (US$110 to US$170) – Hotel Maroseyka 2/15 – Very centrally located, the Red Square is just 700 m. away, it has simple, but very clean and light rooms and fabulous reviews! Ahouse Hotel provides an airport shuttle, and, of course, has really good reviews!

Budget (US$110 and less ) – Hostel Kremlin Lights – a pretty cool hostel in the city center, ~US$40 for a bunk bed, very clean and cozy. Check if it is still available! Dream Place Hostel – more or less the same price for a bed in a dorm room, it is a 10-minute walk to a metro station on the ring, rooms are bright and the staff are hospitable.

NOTE: By the regulations of Russia (very useless and outdated in my opinion), you will need to register yourself the first day you arrive in Russia. If you are staying in a hotel, they will take care of your registration. No worries about that, you will just pass your immigration form to your hotel and they will take care of the rest. If you are staying in an AirBnb, in most cases, it will be your responsibility to go and register. I can only imagine what a nightmare it will be when thousands of people flood to city hall to stand there in endless lines. If your AirBnb host will not deal with your registration, I highly recommend saving your time and nerves by staying in a hotel.

What happens if you fail to register? I do not know – you might be in trouble or you might be just fine, you never know. You need to know that this is a rule and you might be required to show your registration paper when you leave the country.

Here is the practical information you all have been waiting for – how to get around, visa, sim card etc. Read below for more info:

Visa for Russia

Usually, the procedure to get a Russian visa is quite long and costly – you need an official invitation from your hotel, insurance etc. Before applying for your visa, you should check your country requirements.

You must have travel insurance before entering Russia. You can buy one online here .

If you need to apply for a visa and you haven’t yet there are two choices:

• You can do it by yourself, but there is going to be a lot of paperwork involved, including providing an official invitation from your hotel. The invitation is just a formality, but it can be quite time consuming to find a hotel who would make you that invitation or find a company who will provide a fake one for you (as I said it is just a useless formality).
• You can ask a specialized company to process your visa application for an extra fee (they usually charge about $100 on top of the visa consulate fee). The cool thing about them is that you do not need to go anywhere, just give them your passport and they will do the rest for you. Search for a reputable agency in your country.  Here are the companies I can recommend –   https://www.visahq.com/ (for those in the US). If you are from Canada, Europe, Brazil, Singapore and a couple more countries, check this link – visacentral.co.uk or Realrussia.co.uk

Trains in Russia

Oh, I know a lot about transportation in Russia, trains and Trans Siberian in particular. Writing a detailed post that would help you guys plan your journey has been on my to-do list for forever.

Before I publish it, how about you ask me questions in the comments section below this post? I promise to reply!

For now, I can say that this is the official site for Russian trains, but the interface is quite poor and sometimes it doesn’t accept foreign cards.

If you have troubles, there is a great friendly website that accepts foreign cards, PayPal, sends you SMS with train updates and is user-friendly but the price is 5% higher on average. I think it is worth it because you won’t need to spend hours trying to understand how the official one works. And one more cool thing – if you need to cancel or change the ticket, you can do it online!

If you want to go for a short trip, you can also try buses. Here is a good site for buying bus tickets online .

Update:  Here is the article about The Ultimate Guide To Russian Trains , you will find everything you need to know there!

How to get from the airport to Moscow

Moscow has three International airports and you get from/to each of them by taxi, fast train or public transport.

If you do not want to figure out how the transportation works upon your arrival, or drag your luggage in the metro, you can always take a taxi.

You can take an UBER, Gett or Yandex Taxi by ordering it in the app. The approximate price is 800 -2000 Rub (it really depends where you are going and which airport you’re at). Using the apps is awesome, but consider that you may have trouble meeting the driver as he probably won’t speak English.

Do not use the service of the guys who are standing in front of the arrival hall (just say “Net, spasibo” and walk away). They do not have the best reputation, chances are they will try to trick you because you are a foreigner.

If you prefer a pre-booked taxi with a person greeting you in the airport with a sign, it is just 50 Eur per car from any of the three airports. Book your private transfer here .

Fast trains (Aeroexpress)

Aeroexpress is the most convenient option. I always use this one when I go to Moscow. I recommend taking a fast speed train that will get you to the city center in 35 to 45 minutes depending on the airport. The price is 420 RUB.

The valid period of the ticket is three days from the date it was issued. So, don’t worry if your flight was late, you have plenty of time!

This is the official website to check the prices and to buy your tickets. You can also install the Aeroexpress app on your phone and buy tickets directly from there. You then will be able to just scan your QR code from the phone, yay to paperless tickets! You can also buy it at the ticket counter or ticket machines if you wish to.

The only downside? You will still need to either take a metro or taxi when you exit the Aeroexpress. For taxi, use an app I mentioned earlier, or make sure to agree about the price before you get in.

Public transport

Each of the Airports has a bus that goes from the airport to the nearest metro station.  It is a very cheap way to travel (the price of a public bus fare – max 100 rub), but I do NOT recommend taking it unless you are on a tight budget. Why? It can take you a couple of hours to get to the closest metro and chances are you will need to stand on the bus with all your luggage.

This is especially important ON the way to the airport because you simply might miss your flight by waiting in traffic!

Transportation in Moscow

As I said above, the metro in Moscow is fascinating – it works perfectly and it looks fantastic! Look for a big red “M” sign for a metro entrance.

All the signs are translated into English (though in smaller fonts). All lines are color-coded.  Here are some tips so you won’t get lost in the Moscow metro system:

Get Yandex.Metro app ! This is by far the best app for a metro I have seen (also in English). It calculates the fastest route in the metro and even tells you where exactly to board the train to get to your connection train faster.

Metro prices:

There is no difference in price – if you ride 1 stop or 30 stops, it will be the same price.

A single ticket is 55 RUB , but no one ever pays that! Let me teach you how to lower the cost almost twice:

Get a Troika card and top it up at any ticket stand inside the metro. The card is free, you just need to pay a 50 RUB deposit for issuing the card. You can get your money back when you leave or take the card home with you as a memory.

With a Troika card, the price of your metro ride is just 32 RUB , and you can use it for buses as well.

The best part? You won’t need to stay in long lines to get single tickets each time! 😉

Taxis are also relatively inexpensive. 1 km is approximately 8 RUB (13 cents) in Uber.

We always use apps, we no longer call for a taxi anymore in Russia.

Use Uber, Yandex Taxi or Gett Taxi for your rides.

I recommend installing all of them and checking the price in each one, sometimes the difference is quite significant.

UPDATE: Uber was recently bought by Yandex Taxi recently and now your Uber app will automatically redirect you to Yandex app which you will need to download. No worries, it is a good app, in some ways even more user intuitive than Uber and the prices are the same.

The only things I’d recommend – do not get the economy option – the standards of hiring taxi drivers decreased with merging the 2 companies, and sometimes you can get a pretty rough or unpolite driver in economy now. From this year on, I go for Standard.

Sim card with Internet connection in Moscow

Many public places will have free Wi-Fi in Moscow. However, a recent law requires you to first receive a code by SMS to your phone number. (Big brother is watching you!) In some cases, it only works with Russian Sim cards.

I always get a Sim card in a foreign country, it is much easier to have mobile internet, be able to check information on the go, use Yandex Taxi etc.

This is how to get a Russian Sim card:

If you arrive during working hours in the airport, you can get a Sim card with internet right there.

UPDATE:  I have recently been to Moscow and I have recorded a short video for you from the airport that shows which stores you can buy a sim card at as well as the prices, too. You can find the tips for Moscow on my Instagram in the Highlights section. Do not forget to follow me too! 😉

Any mobile operator tariffs are pretty cheap. The average price that I looked up right now is 5GB for 400 RUB a month.

The companies are – Beeline (the one that I use), Megafon , Tele2 , MTS (written МТС). To buy a Simcard, just search for these names plus Связной and Евросеть, the last two are resellers and they usually have a couple of options between different operators.

You could research all these sites in advance (Google translate them) to understand which one currently has the best promotions, but you can also just stop by any of those offices with your passport and get a Sim card – the price difference is really not that significant!

NOTE: if you are going to travel to other Russian cities, make sure your internet works in all regions, not only in the Moscow region.

Buying alcohol

Recently, the rules for buying alcohol in supermarkets became very strict and there is no way you can buy alcohol anywhere after 11 p.m.

Having said that, there is of course no problem drinking anything in bars, clubs or restaurants all night long.

Prices in Moscow

You are in luck, traveler! It has never been so cheap to visit Russia!

Our currency, the Ruble, dropped twice in the last year due to the economic situation with oil and some political issues.

What does it mean for you? It is twice as cheap now to travel in Russia!

Here are the list of approximate prices in Moscow (other cities will be significantly cheaper):

Russian alphabet

Though all the metro and street signs are now in English, it is advisable to invest 30 minutes of your time to learn the Russian alphabet. It is not as hard as it seems, I promise! Plus, how cool would it be to impress your friends with some Russian reading skills?

Here is a video that can help you get started:

Also, the Duoligo App is a great help!

How safe is Moscow?

While racism might be an issue in some of the cities in Russia, it is definitely not in Moscow. Long gone are the days when seeing a black person on the street was unusual.

If you are a member of the LGBT community, it is advisable to be careful with public displays of affection.

Use common sense, do not leave your valuables unattended, watch your bag in crowded public transport and you will be fine. This might sound surprising to you, but Moscow is a pretty safe place to be.

Other cities to visit:

If you visit only one more city… make it Saint Petersburg!

It is incredibly beautiful and it is one of my favorite cities in the whole world! You may be lucky enough to be just in time for the “white nights”! I have a detailed post on Top things to do in St. Pete, Russia here .

This has been the longest post on my blog so far, but I guess it is just natural that I want to share so much information with you about the city where I have lived for so long, where my family lives and that I love so much.

Usually the image of Russia is one of a 3rd world country, but I hope you will see that Moscow is one of the most developed and urbanized cities in the world. It is vibrant, cool and changing all the time! I am truly proud of our capital and I am always happy to come back!

If you want to see some of the things mentioned above, I recommend staying for more than 3 days in the city.

Hope it was helpful!

Have fun in Moscow and do not hesitate to comment below if you have any more questions!

UPDATE: I know this is a huuuge post (the longest on my site in fact) and by popular demand, I have created a printable PDF version of this post (I added the Russian alphabet and the metro map to it). You can print it or download it on your phone so it’s available offline when you are in Russia.  You can support my work by purchasing the guide here if you wish to, the price is only $2.99 USD. All the information will remain free forever on the site 🙂

• Where To Stay In Moscow, Russia – Best Hotels
• Top 11 Things To Do In Saint Petersburg, Russia (Updated)
• Where To Stay In Saint Petersburg, Russia – Best Hotels
• The Ultima Guide To Russian Trains
• 6 Amazing Neighborhoods Where to Stay in Bucharest

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About The Author

Yulia is traveling the world for over 14 years now and she LOVES to share her tips from around the world with the others! Her blog MissTourist.com is created with the purpose to inspire people to travel more and to share her advice of how to travel "smart".

by Yulia Saf

111 comments

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111 Comments

I am a new arrival here and expecting a long stay in Russia. So I am hoping to explore the best of your country as much as possible. I know this blog is going to help me a lot for that. So in advance may I say Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Awesome, enjoy Moscow, I am sure you will love it! I have some insta stories in my hightlights (@misstourist), check it out too, maybe it will be helpful! 🙂

Informative post. What all places can one cover in 10 days visit. Can Lake Baikal be covered as well? KIndly let me know.

Hi! You could do Moscow and St pete with no rush, or you could also try to squeeze in Baikal, it is doable, and you will obviously need to fly 🙂

Thank you for such a great list! This is incredibly helpful, and I’m using it to help plan my trip to Moscow in a few weeks. One question, I am a vegetarian and wondering if you had any suggestions when visiting Moscow? Thanks again for all your time putting this together!

Thank you, I’m really happy that you’ll get to visit Moscow!

There are plenty of vegetarian dishes in Russia, since it’s common for people to fast. There are lots of pastry and baked products, meatless soups (or “borsch”, as the Russian sour soup is called), and many dishes with vegetables.

You can take a lookt at Tripadvisor and check their selection of vegeterian restaurants, you’ll find some great options there!

A Very detailed and comprehensive report. wanted to check if Diamond fund is something worth visiting.

Yep, I can tell you it is! Russian tsars knew a thing or two about luxury 😉

Great post – we are looking to come to Moscow & St. Petersburg next year for a week and was wondering how many days in each. Some of the key things we want to do are below.

Main sights in both cities (Kremlin, Lenins Tomb, Red Square, St Basils, Winter Palace etc) Bolshoi Ballet show Vodka museum/restaurants Red Arrow train (either way – 1st VIP)

We were thinking of tying our visit with the 9th May Victory Day celebrations but were wondering if most of the sights will be closed at this time?

Would you suggest avoiding the Victory Day period or not?

We are totally flexible as to what time of year to come.

Hello Gareth,

Thank you! If you have a week, I would recommend spending 4 days in Moscow and 3 in St. Petersburg, that way you’ll have enough time to visit the main attractions!

Some of the attractions are indeed closed on the 9th of May and some even a few days before. But if you also wish to see the Victory Day celebrations maybe you can make 9th your first or second day in your itinerary so that you still have time afterwards to visit. Most importantly, make sure you check the schedule of every attraction you wish to visit beforehand and that you book tickets in advance!

Have a wonderful holiday, Yulia

Hi from the UK – what a fantastic blog!! I’m currently planning mine and my husband’s trip to Moscow and St Petersburg for next year – the information you give is brilliant and so detailed making life much easier! A big thank you and we can’t wait to visit!

Great blog you have got here.. It’s hard to find high quality writing like yours nowadays. I really appreciate people like you! Take care!!|

Very awesome post, there are so many things to do in Moscow, so it’s really helpful to find out the best options!

Nice post, If anyone like to visit these places so this is very helpful for them, and i plan to visit so this is very helpful for me. Thanks for sharing.

Dear Yulia, I am very happy that I have found your, very usefull, information about Moscow. I am going to visit Moscow this September for Moscow marathon. I will be 3 days and I want to visit at least 10 things from your list. Good advice about SIM cards, taxi, cheap eating, on line tickets, trojka card. Tnx. I want to spent my time very efficient so I need a little help with organiseing myself. What are your suggestion for 1 (old town, centre, Kremlin, Armoury), 2 , 3 day? What is better to spend morning or afternoon in museum or galletries? Best regards from Croatia

Hi Mirela! I might write an itinerary post about it at some point, so far I d say – yes Day 1 kremlin and everything around the Red Square, a museum if you feel like it Day 2 – for parks, maybe a walking tour Day 3 – Moscow city, Sparrow Hills, TV tower maybe It is a bit hard to suggest a plan for someone you dont know anything about, but this would be a very rough classic suggestion i think 🙂

Have fun in Moscow!

Wow… One of the most amazing & helpful blogs I have come across

Ciao Yulia,

Thank you for your blog post I found it really useful and provided very good detail.

Thank you, I’m so glad I could help! 🙂

Just a heads up for the Radisson Cruise, it is now 1200₽ adult and 900₽ children

Hi, Sam! Thank you for your comment, I have updated the info in the article! 🙂

hiii yulia..

wanted to request if you would know of any good tour guide in moscow for 2 days. my Wife and me would be visiting moscow from 5th to 9th july. so needed the guide for the 6th and 7th July.

thanx and cheers

Hello! First of all, congrats on going to Moscow, it is an amazing city! Sure, I can recommend some great tours of Moscow that you can take. First of all, I can recommend this 2-day private tour of Moscow , which sounds exactly like what you need! You can create your personalized itinerary and your guide will pick you up from the hotel and will take you to see the best sights in Moscow!

In case you want something else, the tours I will recommend below are fit for one day or a couple of hours, but you can book 2 or 3 of them in case you want to see more and do one or two tours per day, depending on what you would like to see in the city!

– Private 4-Hour Walking Tour in the Red Square – This 8-hour tour that will take you to the highlights of the city – A very nice night tour of the city – Or this tour which will take you to the underground to see Moscow’s Metro

I definitely recommend taking the 2-days tour or combining your favorite shorter ones in those 2 days for the best experience! Have a great vacation in Moscow, I’m sure you will love this city! 🙂

Fantastic insights. Truly appreciate your hard work educating us with Moscow.. Cheers

Happy to help! It s the capital of my home country after all, so I tried my best! Check the one about St Petersburg too if you are going there as well!

Very useful post! love it and thanks for your help! 🙂

Welcome, enjoy Moscow! 🙂

Hello Yulia,

First of all, congratulations for the fantastic blog on Russia. Just wanted to let you know that me and my wife had gone through your blog for Singapore and followed it completely and everything was perfect (including the show timings and direction) and it was a memorable trip. Now,we are planning to visit Moscow and St. Petersburg this summer and I am sure that this blog will be of great help. We are planning for six days each in Moscow and St. Petersburg. Do you think that it will be sufficient to tick off all the must-see places mentioned by you for Moscow and St. Petersburg?

Looking forward to your reply.

Regards, Preetam

Hi Preetam, I am happy it is useful! Yes, I think 6 days is more than enough to see all must-does places with no rush Have an amazing time there!

Thank you so much 🙂 Looking forward to it!

Thank you! still want to go very much!

Hello Yulia! Your blog is simply amazing. I wanted to ask you a couple of questions. 1. Do you think that Moscow is a good place to travel by yourself? 2. If so, is the metro the best way to get to the places you mentioned in the post? 3. Do you know any local tours for small groups and individuals? Thank you so much. ❤❤❤

hello Andre, happy you found it useful! here are the answers to you questions: 1. yes 2. yes 3. I recommend this tour and there are more small group tours (and private ones too) on the website

Great ! very minute details. I got an idea of Moscow life

Hello Yulia! What an excellent guide and so much detail!! I can’t wait to visit Moscow and see all these wonderful places! Actually, I want to visit Moscow in May. I would like to keep in touch with you, to organise my trip. Do you mind?

Sorry, i don’t offer private trip consultation, that is the reason I have written so much about it here in fact. Hope you have an amazing trip!

I loved it! I will be in Moscow in next January. I’m so excited! This city is stunning!

thanks for tips!

kisses from Brazil

Oh, it will be so beautiful in the first half of January when all the Christmas decorations are still on, hope you ll catch it! 🙂

This is the best blog I’ve seen for Moscow and St. Petersburg even in your other post. Literally, the best! I have 10 nights is Russia and was thinking of spending 4 nights in Moscow and 6 nights in St. Petersburg. 1. Apart from your recommendations of what to do in the two respective cities, are there any day trips off the city to see a different side/off-beaten side all together, that you could suggest? Any recommended tours or routes? I am an English speaking native. 2. What train to take from Moscow to St. Petersberg and back?

Thanks and eagerly looking forward to your reply! Trisha

Hi Trisha! I am happy you like my posts, I am Russian after all, so I know some insider’s info! 😉 1. From Moscow, I recommend visiting Yaroslavl, Sergiev Posad, Vladimir, Suzdal. If you don’t want to organize the transportation yoursefl, there are many modestly priced tours here As for St Petersburg, please check my post one more time – https://misstourist.com/top-11-things-to-do-saint-petersburg-russia/ , there is a section called Day trips outside St. Pete 2. You can buy your ticket here , the train is called Sapsan, and it will take you from Moscow to St Pete in little less than 4 hours!

Hope this helps, have an amazing time in Russia! P.S. You might consider Kazan as well, you have enough days and it is a very pretty city that is 12 hours away by train (can be done as a night trip). The trains are new and comfortable

Thank you so much for such a prompt response. Super super helpful!

Will check out the day trips from St. Petersburg on your site. A few more questions:

1. Since you recommended to visit Kazan, is it possible to head to there from St Petersburg and then I have to fly back from Moscow. So planning my journey accordingly. Or how best would you suggest to fit that in? Wouldn’t mind it to be an overnight train.

2. Thank you for recommending the Sapsan train. How about the 2nd class sleeper train during the day time which is 9 hour Long from Moscow to St. Petersburg? Since it’s cheaper and the view could be seen better as well? Wouldn’t mind wasting one whole day then but is that a comfortable/recommended journey as well since it’s not the Sapsan train?

Looking forward to your reply!

Thanks! Trisha

Cool stuff you have and you keep overhaul every one of us

many thanks Yulia.

Very useful article! Thank you for taking time and compiling all the information for us 🙂

Many thanks for the detailed information.

I will be at Moscow from 11 – 17 July and fly to Kazakhstan on 17 July via SVO airport. I will fly back to Moscow on 19 July via SVO around 0800 hours and go to DME airport to catch my flight around 1800 hours.. Do I need to register myself again? thanks much and hope to meet you in Moscow.

I think once you exist the country, you need to reregister again. When you are in Russia for the first time, I would double check that on the front desk just in case, but this is what I would say.

Ive read many blog posts for Moscow and Russia in general, and i’m travelling on 23rd (day after). But after reading your blog, I feel much more aware of what I’d be doing in Mosocw! Thanks, and keep blogging and travelling!

have an amazing trip!

Fuuuu…. this is the ONLY blog i can finished. I never felt long or bored. Feeling euphoric this make me continue read. Yulia u are amazing and wonderful!!! Thank You so soo soooo much.

Hey Derrick, you are welcome, I am happy i managed to not make it boring! 🙂

Hi Yulia, we are visiting Moscow and St. Peters between 15-22nd June during World Cup….We have planned our entire trip based on your recommendations……only 1 thing we still could not manage is ticket to Armoury Chambers as all the online bookings are unavailable…..can you help us here??

hello! Happy you used my blog so much! About the Armoury Champers – try this link . I just checked and everything seem to work there 🙂

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

Your guide is awesome! Can’t wait to be at Moscow!

Best regards from Argentina

Hello from greece. Thank you for the usufull imformation about moscow. I will be there from 8/8 till 14/8. I want to see ballet and hear a concert but as i see bolsoi theatre is closed this month. Please can you tell me some places where are open at august; And something else in my plans is to visit sergeve posand is it easy to go there by train;

Hey Vicky! Funnily enough, I have just come back from Greece:) You are right, Bolshoi seems to be closed in August, what a pity! There is Maly theatre, but the dont seem to have many things happaening in August as well, check it out here . Here is also a list of the most popular theaters in Moscow (please google translate it, it also links to the website of each theater), so you can choose something depending on your preferences. As for Sergiev POsad, you can get there by train, sure! You could also take a day tour with a guide in English if you wish to, here is more info .

this is AWESOME!! Thank you so much for putting this complete guide together!! Really, thank you!!

We hope to enjoy our visit to Russia next week.

Cheers! Rafael

Have a great time!

Hi, Yulia! Your blog is great! Congratulations!!! I have one doubt, about the registration: I’ve read that if the tourist is going to stay for less than 7 days in a russian city it’s not necessary to register. Is it?

I’m going to stay for 4 days in Moscow and another 4 in St. Peter.

Thanks in advance!

Not sure where you heard it, but this is not true – you need to register and you need to do it in 24 hours after your arrival unless it is a weekend. As i mentioned above, the easiest way to do it is through a hotel

WOW!!! I’ve spent the last three months researching travel blogs with tips for my Russia trip, and yours is the best by far!!! Thanks for this detailed post! I’m from Brazil and will arrive in July. I know Moscow will be crowded, but I chose not to miss this opportunity.

You are welcome, enjoy Russia!

OMG how useful, thanks for everything I will be in Moscow at the end of the month 😛

Enjoy your time there! 🙂

Dear Yulia,

Your 18 things to do in Moscow is simply amazing! It’s the best piece of travel writing I’ve ever seen.

1. I am arriving with a friend in Moscow to start my trip. But will be taking an overnight train on the same day to Kazan. And only returning to Moscow 4 days later. Where should I register myself? I have an accommodation hostel booked in Kazan.

2. We wanted to visit Red Square (St Basil’s Cathedral; GUM; Lenin’s Mausoleum) and Kremlin – Should we just book the tickets online? Does Moscow 1 Day Pass include entry to all tours?

3. Bolshoi Theatre – do they accept shirt and jeans for outfit?

4. We wanted to do a dinner cruise on 20th or 22nd evening? Any recommended dinner cruise in Moscow? Radisson Blu cruise seems full.

5. For Bunker-42, should we book our tickets online? Which tour option is most recommended? http://bunker42.com/eng/ – Should we call to book the tickets?

6. Any recommendations on Markets? Are izmailovsky market and arbat street similar? which one is better?

7. Is Uber the best mode of transport? Any other alternatives? 🙂

Cheers, Sanket

Hi Sanket, thank you so much for your words, I am so happy to receive such positive responses from my readers!

Now, to answer your questions: 1) You have to register in the first 24 hours after arrival, so in your case that would be in Kazan

2) all the things mentioned above are free of charge and can’t be booked in advanced (you can just walk around in the square, GUM is a department store and Mausoleum might have a very long line during the period of the World Cup, but this one can’t be avoided, there are no skip-the line tours, at least that I know of, there are pretty strict over there.)

3) While they would appreciate you being dressed elegantly, you can also come in flip flops aand shorts if you have a ticket. But a shirt and jeans would be fine, no worries! Are you going to buy your ticket at the door or did you book it in advance?

4) Here are other cruises recommendations all different by price and duration, choose the best one for you – here , here , here or here

5) You usually definitely do not need to book in advance, but it might be busy during the world cup time, who knows. You can try calling them from your hotel in Kazan and booking it over the phone just in case? Ask your front desk, I am sure they will be happy to help!

6) Arbat is more commercial and it is open till late, so you could actually visit both if you want to. In my opinion Izmailovo is nice also because it has this ginger-bread type house, but my taste might be different from yours 🙂

7) Uber is the best in my opinion, that is what I always use. You can also download Yandex Taxi and Gett and use those ones when all foreigners will use Uber and get high surcharges 😉

Hope that helps, have an amazing time in Russia! 🙂

WOW YULIA! your post was excellent!!! So glad i was able to read it before my travel! going for the world cup! suer excited!!!

Hi Sheyla, I am so happy you guys find it useful and all my work was done for something! 🙂 Update, I have just made the post available in PDF (I added alphabet and the metro map as well), you can support my work by purchasing the PDF for 2,99 USD here if you wish to 😉

This post was brilliant. Other sites were simply either lacking or overwhelming. Yours had the perfect amount of information in a very useful format!

It will be saved on my phone as my go-to “travel guide” when I head there next month.

Thank you so much!

Hi Zaki, thanks for your comment! You know, you actually gave me an idea! I have just created the PDF printable version of this post (added the alphabet and the metro map and deleted some unnecessary info), so you can print it or download it to your phone available off line. You can purchase it for 2,99 USD here and support my work if you wish to do so! Have a great time in Russia!

Thanks for such an insightful post! This will be really helpful when we head over next month 🙂

Have a great trip! 🙂

Wow..!! Thanks a lot… I always admire people like you.. As you know information is wealth … Kudos for all the time you have spent in writing this blog and helping so many people out here..

I have to mention that the kind of comfort this post gives to a first time anxious traveler cant be explained in words..!!

Thanks for your nice words Yunus! <3 Enjoy Russia!

Do you have any idea what would be an issue with the website ticket.transport2018.com. From the past 2weeks iam unable to book my free train from Moscow to St. Petersburg n back.

Much appreciate if you can assist.

Thank you so much Yulia for such a detailed and informative blog. It is very well written and it is extremely helpful for all of us visiting Moscow.

I shall be there in Russia next month for the world cup and I will be referring to it plenty of the times, during next one and half month. I thought the public transport such as metro rides would be free for the fan ID holders, do you know anything about that? Also, would you have any tips about Nizhny Novgorod?

Cheers Yulia, have a wonderful weekend.

I am from Colombia and I will be in Moscow during the 2018 World Cup.Thanks a lot for your wonderful suggestions and recommendations.Your site is the best ,and the most generous in information, for tourists visiting Moscow during the 2018 World Cup.Thanks again.

You are most welcome! 🙂

Wow, with these post I was forced to write a comment about it. Thank you for such a wonderful, easy and detailed. After reading it I have the confidence now that (I KNOW) Everything, travelling for the first time. Have a wonderful day.

Aww, thanks a lot for your comment! I am glad as I tried my best to make it super useful! Enjoy your time in Russia!

Wow honestly this is the best, most detailed blogpost I’ve ever read. There were many questions I had but after reading this in entirety, I can’t think of a single question left unanswered. Thank you for this blogpost, you’re an absolute lifesaver, Yulia!

❤️ You are welcome, so happy it was useful for so many people!

THIS IS A GOLDMINE!!! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU

Aww, thanks! these kind of comments make my days! Enjoy Russia!

MY GOODNESS! I’ve never read such a thorough blog! Thank you so much for including so much detail! Really do appreciate it! 😀

I am happy you like it Jessika, enjoy your time in Moscow! 🙂

Great blog Yulia! Quite helpfull.

Just decided to visit Moscow between June 27 and 29th. Your tips of places to go are simply great!

I’ll do everything by myself, and using my good skills in english. As noticed from your comments, i guess no big deal right:

Finally, as Portuguese, do i need to apply for a visa in advance, or i simply need my valid passport at the airport:

Yes, of course, as most of the EU country citizen you will need to obtain a visa in advance in order to enter Russia. In case you have an official ticket for one of the games, I suggest you apply for the Fan ID, in this case you can enter without the visa. Do not forget that you will need to register yourself in a local immigration office in any way, does not matter if you entered with the visa or without. I have more information about it in the article above.

Have a great time in Moscow!

Hi Yulia. My name is Felipe, I live in Brazil and I follow you on Instagram. I found you after you wrote that post about the 18 best things to do in Moscow during World Cup.

I’ll travel to Russia with my parents for the World Cup. Our schedule is: 3 days – Moscow 2 days – Saint Petersburg 2 days – Sochi 2 days – Volgograd 1 more day – Moscow

I would like to ask you for a few tips regarding the following subjects:

i) Guide: while me and my father will be most of the time watching the matches, my mother will be mostly visiting touristic places alone. She speaks and average english. Do you think she needs a personal guide. She is a very energic 64 years old lady. If you think she needs one, would you have someone to recomend? How much does it cost per day?

ii) Money: what is the best option? Taking Euros and exchange them in Moscow or taking US Dolares and exchange them in Moscow? Where do you suggest as best place for exchanging money in Moscow? My flight has a stopover in Amsterdam. Is it possible/a good idea buy Rublos in Amsterdam?

iii) I’ll spend three days in Volgograd. I would like to take a tour through the site where the battles of WWII happened. Do you know any travel agency to recomend?

iv) I need to buy a train ticket from Moscow to Saint Petersburg. What is the official/most reliable website?

Well, that’s it. Sorry if it’s too much. lol. I look forward to hear all your tips. If you’re in any of the cities I’ll be during the World Cup you’re me and my family guest for a lunch or a dinner.

Best Regards, Felipe

Hello, Felipe and thank you for reaching out to me for suggestions. First of all, I’m really glad you’ll get to spend the World Cup with your parents. I hope you’ll have a lot of fun while in Russia!

Now, regarding your concerns, let’s take them one by one: 1. Even though she could visit some of the main attractions by herself, I tend to recommend taking private or group tours because this way you’ll be sure she won’t miss on any important/interesting information. The best way for her would be to get some private tours that will help her make the best of those days, especially because she will be by herself. For example, for Moscow I can recommend this one: Prime Tour of Moscow . It’s awesome because you can add the attractions you want to visit to the itinerary and they will make a custom tour for your mother. Even though this will only take between 4 to 9 hours, she can always go back the next days in those places if she wants to walk/visit some more. You can even choose the language for this tour (besides English, they also have Spanish, French, German, Italian and Russian). Another option could be Moscow: 1-Day Panoramic Tour (this one will take her with a private car). But, overall, I think these tours are some good ways to tick the highlights of Moscow. There are just two examples, you can find more private tours on GetYourGuide.co.uk and you can choose whatever you think it’s best for her. For Saint Petersburg you can look into Saint-Petersburg: Private Tour with a Local which is also available in multiple languages and the benefit is that a local will arrange this tour for your mother. I don’t know if you can find a guide that will assist you during all those days and create different activities and visits, but you can search on the same website as above. I hope your mother will have a blast in Russia and will get to see a lot of beautiful landmarks!

2. You can change your money either from euros or dollars (it doesn’t matter) in Moscow. I don’t recommend you change them in the airport, though. The best rates are at the ATMs.

3. For Volgograd you can take the Volgograd City Tour which will show you all the history you need to know about the WWII and the Battle of Stalingrad in only 3 hours. Another cool option is to visit Rossoshka Memorial in Volgograd – you will basically see a famous cemetery where lots of soldiers were buried after the Battle of Stalingrad.

4. For this one I recommend you read my article – The Ultimate Guide To Russian Trains . You’ll find there all the information you need, including what is the best way to buy tickets and what are the best websites you can access.

I think that’s it! Hope my tips will help you have the best time in Russia together with your parents. Unfortunately, I won’t be in the country during World Cup – I would’ve loved to have lunch or dinner with your family! Maybe you’ll come visit again and we’ll cross paths some other time.

Have fun, Yulia

Great post!

I am planning to visit Moscow in July/august and would like to explore as much as possible so very useful tips! 🙂 I’ve seen in a comment above you have recommended 4 days fo Moscow, I’m planning my trip and I would like to spend around 8-10 days in Russia (flight to and from Moscow). Could you recommend any day trips from Moscow? Or any cities (relatively) close to Moscow, I could visit for a couple of days and then esaily get back to Moscow? Thanks!!!

Hi Petra, Suzdal and Vladimir are very beautiful and historically important, I have been there and I like it a lot! Sergiev Pasad is nice as well. And the best part? You will get to see real Russia without the crowds of football fans! 😉 P.S. If you are going to St Pete (which I highly recommend), there is an article on Top 11 Things to do in Saint Petersburg

Thank you for this wonderful, helpful guide! I would love to see a post advising us gals on what to wear and pack 😉

You are welcome Karen! Umm, i didnt write a packing list post because I am not sure how it is different from Paris or any other big city. The only cultural thing would be I guess no flip-flops in restaurants and clubs – if you want to go to fancy places you need to dress up a bit more than in other countries, we have strict face control system at the entrance. Is there anything is particular you would like me to cover?

This truly is a wonderful post. Ever since I have been allotted the WC 2018 tickets I am excited but am not sure on what to expect. Explains everything perfectly and will surely be a major part of my itinerary. Thank you very much for taking the effort.

Also, I was recently searching online about airport pickups and came across a taxi company named welcome taxi. It offers cabs with English speaking drivers. Would be great if you could provide some information on this company?

Hi! Never heard about this company, sorry! I usually use Uber – you do not even need to communicate with the driver as the address is already set

Thank you so much for such a long, honest and advisable post! I am looking forward to visit moscow on behalf of all your recommendations 🙂

Thanks what a great review.

Wow, what a great list! Me, my husband and few friends are going to the Moscow World Cup and this list comes just at the right time – thank you! While our husbands will be experiencing the great sports, we, ladies, will be enjoying the city! For few days we have decided to take a local to also hear some insights about the culture and country from person living there daily. Have you heard about this service? https://www.showaround.com/locals/russia/moscow I have also found similar ones like https://www.likealocalguide.com/ and https://www.withlocals.com/ , but my traveler friends had very good experience with the Showaround one. So we will give it a go. Hopefully successfully. See you in the Moscow streets!

Hello Ilze, sorry for the long reply! I have heard about likealocal for sure, but never used it, so cannot vouch for it, but I am sure it will be an interesting experience!

I always use public transport going from airport to the city. If the traffic is OK then it’s pretty fast.

I used to use public transport, but I found it take way to long and it is very unpredictable with the traffic. Taxis are usually a bit more that 10 eur which in my opinion is better for foreigners who do not speak or read russian.

Simply perfect! I was in St Peter last year during the Confederations Cup and hopefully I’ll make it to Moscow this year!

Thank you for the effort and greetings from Brazil

Awesome! Hope you will make it this time as well, it promises to be the event of the year! 😉

super helpful post. thanx for your time.

Excellent guide and so much detail!! I can’t wait to visit Moscow and see all these wonderful places one day!

You should do it when you have a chance!

WOW! Now that’s what I call an useful travel blog post! I was in Moscow for 2 days this summer on my way to Elbrus and I wish I had known about the Vodka museum, haha! Anyway, two days is obviously not enough for the city as great as Moscow but with a good planning you’ll see a lot. And for the art fans I would recommend Garage Museum of Contemporary Art (it’s in Gorky Park, 6th in the list).

Also a good tip for all the students, feel free to use your ISIC card. You might get free entry or a proper discount to the museums etc.

Hello and thanks for the comment! Yes, two days is definitely not enough, i would say 4 days to see the main things. Thanks for the ISIC tip!

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