1. Witness Impressive Artworks at Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts: If you are an artlover, visiting the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts is one of the best things to do in Moscow at night for you. Considered as the city’s largest art museum, this place exhibits brilliant artworks from ancient civilizations like the Dutch Golden Age and the Italian Renaissance.
2. Watch a Show at Bolshoi Theatre: Enjoying a marvellous show at the famous Bolshoi Theatre is one of the best things to do in Moscow at night for your entertainment. Established back in 1856, this theatre has 2 stages, that host opera as well as ballet performances.
3. Spend Time at VDNKh All-Russian Exhibition Centre: If you are wondering what to do in Moscow for your total evening entertainment, head to VDNKh without a second thought. Started back in 1935, this place is home to a classic fountain, open-air museums, bustling eateries, elegant shopping pavilions, a horse-riding rink, a zip-line, and a huge oceanarium.
4. Experience Fine Dining at Bon: Relishing a wholesome dinner at Bon is one of the best things to do in Moscow at night for every traveler. Bon is a unique black-themed restaurant with an elegant decor, showcasing black walls, Kalashnikov rifles-like lampshades, and dripping candles.
1. Enjoy Luxury Shopping at GUM: Shopping for high-end fashion brands at GUM is one of the most-loved things to do in Moscow among shopaholic couples.
2. Seek Blessings at St. Basil’s Cathedral: One of the most spiritually romantic things to do in Moscow is visiting St. Basil’s Cathedral with your soulmate and seeking blessings for the well-being of your relationship.
3. Spend an Action-Packed Time at Arbat Street: Visit Arbat Street together and spend time sharing some coffee in a cozy cafe, watching live caricaturists and music performers, and getting your body tattooed.
4. Experience Skating at VDNKh All-Russian Exhibition Centre: If you’re visiting Moscow in winters, go skate together at VDNKh, which shelters Europe’s largest skating rink.
1. Learn History at State Historical Museum: One of the best things to do in Moscow for families with kids is to visit the neo-Russian style State Historical Museum to see relics of prehistoric Russian tribes and 6th-century artworks and manuscripts.
2. Spend Some Time at Gorky Park: If you are wondering what to do in Moscow with your fun-loving little ones, head to Gorky Park to enjoy dance sessions, ping-pong, boating, cycling, skateboarding, rollerblading, and open-air cinema.
3. Take Kids for Shopping at Central Children’s Store: Take your kids on a shopping spree to the entertainment and educational arena of Central Children’s Store.
4. Spend Some time at Moscow Aquarium: Visit the Moscow Aquarium with your kids and enjoy spotting over 80,000 sea creatures including jellyfish, manta rays, and piranhas.
1. Take a Stroll at Alexander Garden: Taking a leisurely walk through the breathtaking Alexander Garden is one of the most peaceful activities in Moscow that lets you see colourful flower beds and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
2. Marvel at the Lenin’s Mausoleum: Pay a visit to the most popular landmark of Moscow, Lenin’s Mausoleum that shelters a sarcophagus made of glass, which has the Russian legend Vladimir Lenin’s embalmed body.
3. Attend a Concert at Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory: Enjoy a free concert at Moscow Conservatory that hosts many concerts, ranging from chorale and symphony to chamber and organ concerts.
4. Participate in the Moscow Free Tour: Enjoy a cost-free city walking tour led by an intelligent local guide and cover the major attractions of Moscow.
1. Arbat Street: One of the budget-friendly activities in Moscow is shopping at the city’s oldest shopping destination, Arbat Street that offers you a plethora of elegant stores to buy your souvenirs from.
2. Falcon Design Factory: Sheltering high-end clothing shops, classic restaurants, trendy local stores, and entertaining fairs, Falcon Design Factory is open 24 hours to make shopping one of the most favourite things to do in Moscow for you.
3. European Mall: Spread across eight floors, the European Mall offers luxury shopping with world-famous brands like Mango, Zara, and Promod.
4. TsUM: Lying in Petrovka Street, TsUM boasts over 1,000 clothing, cosmetics, footwear, and accessories brands.
1. Novodevichy Convent: Founded back in 1524, Novodevichy Convent is known for its rich historical significance with four cathedrals featuring a revered cemetery.
This place once served as the residence of Eudoxia Lopukhina and Princess Sophia, who were imprisoned here by Peter the Great. While the former was his first wife, who restricted him from marrying Catherine I, the latter was his sister, who wanted the throne.
2. Kolomenskoye: Located 10 minutes metro ride away from Moscow city center, Kolomenskoye Museum-Reserve offers you an insight into how Medieval Moscow once looked like. This place is home to the Tsar Alexey Mikhailovich estate, the most ancient garden of Moscow, and a number of age-old churches.
3. Cathedral of Christ the Saviour: Constructed in the 1990s, the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour stands in the place where once a 19th-century shrine of the same name stood. Designed like the original church, this cathedral also has the classic “Christ Not Painted by Hand” by Sorokin that fortunately survived its predecessor’s demolition.
4. St. Basil’s Cathedral: Constructed in white, today St. Basil’s Cathedral stands as a magnificent vividly colored museum, admiring whose intricate designs is one of the most common activities in Moscow for architecture lovers.
1. Trekking to Poklonnaya Hill: Taking an exhilarating trekking tour to Poklonnaya Hill is one of the most adrenaline-fueled activities in Moscow to try. Literally translating to “Bow-down hill”, this hill is counted among the city’s highest points. Sheltering the Victory Park and a museum, Poklonnaya Hill offers enchanting views of the underlying vistas.
2. Cycling at Gorky Park: If you are an avid cyclist, head to Gorky Park and explore its premier lush green spaces riding a bicycle. Offering a plethora of thrilling things to do in Moscow for adventure fanatics, this park also lets you indulge in other adventure sports like skateboarding, rollerblading, and of course ice skating during the winters.
3. Cable Riding at Sparrow Hills: Go cable car riding at one of Moscow’s famous landmarks, Sparrow Hills. While you are here, you can also get to the observation deck and soak in the breathtaking panoramic views of the city. You can also spot the Moscow State University, the loftiest of all the Stalinist skyscrapers, from here.
4. Karting at Sokolniki Park: Go karting at the beautiful Sokolniki Park that once served as a dense forest and the falcon hunting destination for kings. Making for one of Europe’s oldest and largest parks, this also offers other activities like cycling and trampoline.
You can reach Moscow by flight, bus, and train.
- By Flight: Moscow is equipped with 3 primary international airports - Domodedovo Airport, Vnukovo International Airport, and Sheremetyevo International Airport. These airports connect the city to other international cities including London, Delhi, New York, Paris, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Athens, Beijing, Barcelona, Bangkok, and Berlin.
- By Train: Moscow is well-connected to a number of Russian and European cities through its efficient railway services. Some of the major international cities that have access to Moscow by train include Beijing, Budapest, Warsaw, Berlin, Belarus, Prague, Brest, Vienna, Warsaw, and Helsinki.
- By Bus: Moscow is connected by bus to various international cities, like Berlin, Prague, Warsaw, Riga, Tartu, Budapest, and Vilnius.
The most ideal time for visiting Moscow is during the spring months of March and April.
1. Peak Season (March and April): This is the Spring season in Moscow, during which the snow starts melting down and the city gets shrouded with a carpet of colourful flowers and lush greens. During this time, the city also celebrates a number of beautiful festivals, such as May Day, Orthodox Easter, Victory Day, and Moscow’s Museum Night.
2. Shoulder Season (September and October): This is the Autumn season in Moscow, during which the northern part experiences pleasant weather and the southern part has warm weather.
During this period, the city observes important celebrations like Annual Moscow Birthday, Moscow Gastronomic Festival, Circle of Light Moscow International Festival, and WorldFood Moscow. The nearby mountains also offer the right conditions for trekking during October.
3. Low Season (December to February): This is the Winter season in Moscow, during which the entire city receives heavy snowfall. During this time the price of hotels are cheap and the city celebrates Christmas and New Year.
Moscow is famous for not one but for a wide array of important things. Some of the well-known things that have got this flamboyant city its popularity include:
- Modern and historical artworks
- Magnificent monuments
- Bustling fashion boutiques
- Delicious local cuisine
- Ancient heritage buildings
- Lively nightlife culture
- Trekkable mountains
- Enthralling cruises
- Enchanting opera shows
- Breathtaking parks
- Beautiful churches
- Swanky elite restaurants.
Yes, Moscow is absolutely one of the safest places to travel to in the entire world. However, you should always be careful to take basic precautions, such as being cautious of your belongings and avoiding visiting dodgy areas.
The tourists will need at least 3 days to experience Moscow to the fullest. Here is what to do in Moscow on your 2 nights and 3 days tour to the city:
- Day 1: On the first day of your Moscow tour, you will head towards Moscow Center. Enroute you can pay a visit to Alexander's Gardens, Bolshoi Theatre, the former KGB building, Zaradje Park, and Varvarka street. On this day, you will also visit Red Square, where you will see St. Basil's Cathedral, Lenin's tomb, GUM, the monument to Minin and Pozharsky, and the Kremlin of Moscow.
- Day 2: On the second day, you will enjoy exploring Victory Park, the Lover's Bridge, Christ the Saviour Cathedral, Novodevichy Convent, Moscow State University, Tretyakov Gallery, and Sparrow Hills.
- Day 3: On the third day, you will pay a visit to the Trinity Museum before winding up your Moscow tour and returning back to your home country.
1. Russian Shawls: Known for their traditional design and visual appeal, Russian shawls are available in several names including Orenburg shawls and Pavloposadskie shawls.
2. Russian Chocolate: Russia has always been known for its rich chocolate making traditions. While you can find more than 2000 varieties of chocolates here, the favorite picks of most of the tourists are “Babaevsky” and “Alenka” chocolate bars.
3. Gzhel Ceramics: Produced in the suburbs of Moscow, the white and blue Gzhel ceramics depict a fairytale look with impressive floral designs.
4. Honey: With apiculture being quite popular here, Moscow shelters a plethora of local honey shops selling umpteen varieties of honey, such as raspberry, lime, and chestnut honey.
1. Hermitage Museum: Known as the world’s second-largest art museum, Hermitage Museum is home to beautiful Egyptian antiquities, Flemish and Ducth Baroque art, Renaissance art, and contemporary European fine art.
2. Ostankino TV Tower: Once considered as the world’s tallest free-standing structure, Ostankino TV Tower offers you mesmerizing 360 degree views of the entire Moscow from an altitude of around 337 meters.
3. St. Basil’s Cathedral: Commissioned by Ivan the Terrible in the 1500s, St. Basil’s Cathedral is known popularly for its glistening onion-shaped domes.
4. State Historical Museum: Founded by Ivan Zabelin back in 1872, State Historical Museum is known popularly for its largest coin collection in the entire Russia.
1. Moscow Showboat Dinner Cruise: This is a luxury cruising tour onboard a lavish double-deck Maestro boat that offers enchanting musical programmes, a scrumptious dinner, and enthralling views of the Vorobyovy Hills, the Moscow Kremlin, Gorky Park, the St. Basil’s Cathedral, and the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour.
2. Moscow Sightseeing River Cruise: This is a 2-hour cruise around Moscow center from Novospassky Bridge to Vorobyeva Gori and back, onboard a 2-deck boat serving snacks, hard liquor, and soft drinks to the guests throughout the tour.
3. Moscow Grand Cruise: This cruise lets you sail through the city center onboard the Kolesov boat and offers delectable dinner, dance and musical programmes, and breathtaking views of the important landmarks of Moscow.
1. Pilgrim’s Road: The 100-kilometer long Pilgrim’s Road starts from Moscow city center and passes through many towns, villages, and religious sites to finally end at the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, lying in Sergeyev Posad.
2. Fiztech: Suitable for beginners, Fiztech hiking trail connects Dolgoprudny and Mytishchi towns. This 19.8 kilometers long trail, passing via Belyaninov village, can be covered in 1-2 days.
3. Green Circle: Passing through green zones and parks, the 158 kilometers long Green Circle not only offers an amazing hiking scope, but also lets you enjoy mountain biking and winter skiing.
4. Serednikovo village: A short 6-hour hiking trail starts from Firsanovka station and goes to Serednikovo, passing through rivers, forests, and the Shepkino swamp.
1. Café Pushkin: Established in 1999, Cafe Pushkin is a vintage mansion spread across 3 floors. This 24 hours cafe serves flavoursome Russian and international delicacies, including dumplings and caviar.
2. Bar Strelka: Flaunting a relaxed ambiance and stylish interior, Bar Strelka specializes in super delicious seafood, noodles, grilled meat, and healthy salads. By evening, this place transforms into an amazing nightclub with live jazz and DJ.
3. Kvartira 44: Boasting a mid-20th century ambiance, Kvartira 44 is known for its rustic atmosphere, antique furniture, live piano music, and French-influenced homemade European delicacies.
4. Gallery Café: Established 8 years ago, Gallery Cafe offers the perfect amalgamation of music, art, and sizzling parties. While the cafe offers the best seafood and vodka, the terrace hosts many enthralling live performances and concerts.