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La Cala Golf & Spa with Not Just Travel

Well done Illesh Amlani & Rinx Amlani for organising our trip away for twelve golfers. It all ran like clockwork, flights, transfers and a fabulous resort. Will definitely be going back, hopefully minus the rain.

Date of experience : 05 February 2024

Just returned from a fabulous drip to…

Just returned from a fabulous drip to Rome to watch the England Rugby match booked through Adrian Doyle - Not Just Travel nothing was too much trouble for Adrian and his attention to us during our trip was really appreciated right down to the welcome home card waiting for us. I would highly recommend Adrian for all your travel requirements.

Andrew Walker and Anthony Hyde from Not…

Andrew Walker and Anthony Hyde from Not Just Travel - Latitude Life organised a fantastic trip for our family of four to Lapland in Finland. Brilliant trip and their support was amazing, answering all our questions, reminding us of what to take and keeping in touch whilst we were there including helping us with flight updates when the plane was delayed. One of the best and most memorable trips we’ve been on. ❄️☃️🏂🌨️🏔️

Date of experience : 29 December 2023

Honeymoon booked with Gemma Standish

We booked our honeymoon with Gemma Standish and we had the most amazing time. Gemma is an expert on safaris so she was able to give us loads of information, tips and options to help us choose the perfect option for us. She helped us to choose 2 safari camps and then a week in Mauritius to chill out afterwards. She made sure that all transfers were sorted so everything ran completely smoothly and we could fully relax. Communication is always great and Gemma works really hard to make sure our holidays are perfect for us. This is our 3rd booking with Gemma and we are already looking at our 4th! Thank you Gemma for ensuring we had an unforgettable honeymoon!

Date of experience : 22 January 2024

Booked our holiday with Mike and Tine…

Booked our holiday with Mike and Tine and couldn’t have asked for a better service! We told them what we were looking for and they came back with something that fitted the bill perfectly with everything thought about and planned for us. Would highly recommend ☺️

Date of experience : 03 February 2024

Booking a holiday was a breeze with Gemma!

I contacted Gemma Standish for my honeymoon. I was unsure on where we wanted to go, Gemma gave me lots of brilliant options all within our budget. She has found us the perfect honeymoon and I am so excited to go. She made booking a honeymoon stress free and a lovely experience! Would highly recommend to anyone who is looking to book holidays

Ian and Liz Newell

Ian and Liz Newell, were fantastic. I booked a 5 day trip to Iceland for myself and my son this February. They sourced a great hotel, flights, airport transfers and two amazing trips for us. There was constant contact, delivered all the documentation to me by hand. Even checked on us while we away to see if we needed anything. They called me after the trip to get feedback and to make sure we enjoyed it and that everything went smoothy. (which it did) I throughly recommend them to anyone who wants the stress taken out of booking any holiday or city break. I will be using them for my next trip, just need to decide where I am going.

Date of experience : 14 February 2024

England vs Italy Rugby in Rome 2024

England vs Italy Rugby in Rome 2024 Another fantastic trip organised by Adrian Doyle of Not Just Travel. We took two flights to and from Rome, stayed in a four star hotel and had brilliant seats at the rugby match ..... and all this was for considerably less than direct return flights to Rome. We had a fantastic 4 night break and got to see lots of the wonderful sights as well as a fantastic win by England at the rugby. Adrian messaged us on the Sunday asking if we would like him to check all four of us in ready for our flights home and then emailed us all directly so we could save the boarding passes in our own wallets. He is always so thoughtful and puts together the best holidays ! We recommend him to everyone we know who is going anywhere... he is always worth a phone call and organises brilliant holidays Thank you once again, Adrian.

Date of experience : 01 February 2024

Amazing Trip to Far East

We have recently returned from a trip to the Far East - a stay cruise & stay. Absolutely fantastic holiday with amazing communication and support from start to finish from our agent Kay Maisey. Thoroughly recommend and have already booked with Kay again.

Date of experience : 23 January 2024

Contact Illesh at Not Just Travel for hassle free package holiday.

We would like to thank Illesh Amlani for all is help with booking our family holiday of 13 to Sharm el sheik Egypt in December 2023 from the flight to the amazing Rixos premium it was our first time at this all inclusive hotel which was perfect for the whole family from the rooms,food and entertainment. We will definitely be contacting Illesh for our next package holiday. Sital Kotecha

Date of experience : 07 February 2024

I've started using this company and…

I've started using this company and everything from start to finish is sorted to perfection. Illesh amlani does a wonderful job and you never have an issue whilst on your travels. He goes beyond your expectations. Looking forward to booking the next one

Date of experience : 14 December 2023

Great cruise experience with Elliot…

We booked a Marella cruise with Elliot Prendergast for 4 people that took us to Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam & Malaysia. We had a brilliant holiday arranged by Elliot. He sorted everything for us from answering our many many queries to checking us all in at the airport. I will be looking to book my next holiday with him again.

Date of experience : 11 January 2024

Italy (Rome)

Elliott made it an amazing experience booking this holiday with him. He found a great location just minutes away from the train station. Fabulous accommodation and nothing was too much of an ask. He got all of the paperwork sorted for me and even amended my booking when I decided to add on extra days. He even sorted my airport parking and hotel for the night before. Amazing service will definitely be using him again. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Date of experience : 12 January 2024

I have just spent 2 weeks travelling around India - all organised by Rachel Tredwell and Tredwell Travel. I had asked for a busy agenda with 6 different locations and internal flights - so a complicated booking. Rachel co-ordinated everything so the trip went smoothly. The hotels were amazing and the trip one of the best - I look forward to booking my next one with you. Many thanks and can highly recommend!

Date of experience : 17 January 2024

1000 out of 10!! 🤩

Words are not enough, to describe this amazing company! Katie Welch, who goes above and beyond any other travel agent there is!! The best deals out there, every time! Single trips, multiple trips, days, events, you name it she will make it happen, and will always understand your needs for any holiday or event you desire!! 5 star rating isn’t enough!! Perfect in every aspect 😍

Date of experience : 02 February 2024

Amazing Eastern Asia cruise

My friends and I booked our Eastern Asia cruise with Elliott Prendergast. Elliott listened to us and found us a great deal which we could afford. Cruising with Marellla Discovery 2 did not disappoint. We had a wonderful time visiting Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam. Elliott kept in touch with us while we were away and checking us in for the return journey. We really felt looked after and happy knowing he was easily contactable if needed. I highly recommend Elliott to organise a fantastic holiday for you.

Date of experience : 10 January 2024

Booked our special holiday to the beautiful Island of Madeira for hubby’s 60th birthday.

Booked our special holiday to the beautiful Island of Madeira with travel consultant Ray Munroe - who was always professional, efficient and did what he said he was going to do. The service we received from Ray was second to none, and we are happy to book with Ray again 👍 Thank you Ray Munroe for making our holiday experience to Madeira a happy and memorable one. We were able to get the holiday at a good price and a complimentary hotel room upgrade. Our boarding passes were prearranged and sent directly to our phones. We are so happy with the service we received. 😊 Once again a massive thank you. Confident we will be in touch soon 😊

This is our second trip booked with…

This is our second trip booked with Sharon Grove. We had a well organised trip last May to Malta. Sharon is thorough in checking what your requirements are and brings to your attention things you may not have thought of. We've just booked a River cruise with Sharon now for later in 2024 and we're looking forward to this new type of adventure.

Date of experience : 13 May 2023

Lynette - Journey of Dreams

I always go to Lynette from Journey of Dreams, when I’m thinking of booking a holiday, she is always super helpful and knowledgeable about destinations. She takes care of the things I wouldn’t even think of, can’t wait for my next holiday! Thank you Lynette!

Date of experience : 08 February 2024

DO NOT SIGN UP TO THIS COMPANY

If you're considering signing up to this company write down concerns and send them in writing. They will never reply. They will always use sneaky tactics to get you on a call or zoom meeting where before you start you'll be lied to in regards to 88% of holidays being cheaper. None are cheaper. You then want to cancel a couple of days after training and they just say you're in an 18 months contract. Also the reviews for this company would not be half as high if they didn't ask people to do AT THE END OF TRAINING - no one in these reviews is making any money they are filling in reviews at the companies request at the end of training having made nothing. Steer clear of these absolute scumbags.

Date of experience : 15 January 2024

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The Jugar Life Team

Dale sidebottom.

Dale Sidebottom is a full-time play consultant, and the founder of Energetic Education and JUGAR LIFE. He uses his 20+ years of experience in the education and fitness sectors to educate schools, clubs, families, and corporations on the relationship between daily play and enhanced mental health and wellbeing. Dale is the author of ‘All Work No Play, the host of the top rating ‘Energetic Radio’ podcast, and a popular TEDx speaker.

hello world

Dr. craig daly.

Craig Daly, Ph.D. is an educational consultant based in Shenzhen, China, and currently serves as the chair of the JUGAR|LIFE Educational Advisory Board. An educator for over 30 years, he uses his extensive experience gained as a teacher, school administrator, and lead university academic as a platform to advocate for increased institutional awareness of student and staff well-being initiatives.

Originally from the Gold Coast in Australia, Kris Daly is a globally renowned international school teacher and leader, who brings her extensive expertise and passion for student wellbeing to the JAG BAG team. Trained initially as a homeroom teacher with a specialisation in early childhood education, she has delivered positive outcomes for students and staff for over 3o years.

Laura Davies

Laura Davies is currently the Head of PE at a British International School in Thailand. She has a particular interest in inclusion and is pursuing a doctorate focusing on international school provision for students with SEND. Alongside her teaching role, Laura is a member of the PhysEquity (previously BAMEPE) collective, a social change movement with a vision of equitable physical education.

Rachel Ford

Rachel Ford is a Physical Education teacher from the UK, currently based in a bilingual school in Hangzhou, China. She has been teaching since 2015, and although early into her teaching journey, she has managed to deliver positive outcomes in middle management roles within the Physical Education department and the school's pastoral program. Rachel is also the founder of the 'Once Upon a PE Lesson' website, which focuses on using movement to promote a love and learning of language.

Rebecca Goode

Rebecca Goode is an accomplished Deputy Headteacher who is currently based at a Thai international school in Bangkok. She has extensive international experience and possesses excellent intercultural skills developed firstly in the Royal Navy Marines, and extended through her work as an Orchestra Manager. Rebecca's success as an educator stems from her genuine passion for creating an inclusive, nurturing environment and child-led learning environment that has holistic development at its core.

Stacey Griffiths

Stacey Griffiths is a Health & Physical Education teacher at Singapore American School (SAS), who is passionate about building health and wellness programs for students as they transition beyond the school network. Originally from Australia, Stacey has taught in Australia, the UK, and Japan before relocating to Singapore. Throughout her 10 years of experience, she has gained skills in simplifying planning documents used in a variety of curriculum frameworks and personalising learning from all her students. Stacey has presented her teaching and learning practices at international conferences, including PHASE and EARCOS.

Natasha Hale

Natasha Hale is an international educator who has previously worked in schools in the UK, Borneo, and Taiwan and is now currently based in Russia as an IB MYP coordinator. With over 11 years of experience in teaching and leadership in Physical education, Health, and Sports Science, she has a proven track record for increasing student engagement through outstanding teaching. This, coupled with her expertise in child protection and safeguarding, gives Natasha a wide variety of tools to promote holistic student wellbeing.

Dr. Sadie Hollins

Dr. Sadie Hollins is a Head of Sixth Form based at a British Curriculum International School in Thailand. She also is the creator of the WISEducation Wellbeing Blog and Podcast, and the Editor of the Wellbeing in International Schools Magazine.

Daniel Inman

Daniel Inman is an international educator currently based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he works as an elementary counselor. Daniel has worked with kids for over 20 years, and he loves the connections he is able to build with them. He has presented at conferences in the USA, Hong Kong, and Dubai, thereby building meaningful professional and personal connections with educators around the world. Daniel's background in movement, through an interest in athletics and physical education teaching, provides him with a range of strategies to build positive connections with his students.

Mathew (Mat) Jones is the Head of PE, based at an international school in the UK. Over the past 8 years, he has taught and led departments in the UK, Beijing, and Singapore. Curriculum development is a passion, and he draws from a variety of curricula to create the best fit for his students. Before teaching, Mat played professional/semi-professional Rugby union whilst coaching Rugby union and Track at an international school in London. In addition, Mat is also a qualified World Rugby Level 3 referee and has officiated as an assistant referee at World 7's, Super Rugby, and Rapid Rugby events.

Dani Klinge

Dani Klinge is a Physical and Health Educator who originally comes from New Zealand. After 15 years of teaching internationally, she currently works in Shenzhen China as Learning Leader for Physical and Health Education. She has a passion for mindfulness and movement, inspiring all learners to discover movement activities that cultivate joy, freedom and connections with others. Her teaching and learning is interwoven through mindfulness education, social and emotional learning, as well as physical and health education classes. She is currently working through her yoga teacher training to bring deeper mind and body connections to her teaching.

Caren Melanie Ouma has been an educator and coach for over 30 years, having worked in national and international schools in Kenya and Japan. Currently teaching at the International School of Kenya, Caren draws from her rich experience in, among others, teaching Physical and Health Education, playing, umpiring, and coaching club, national and international Field Hockey, as well as membership of church youth and singing groups. All these have reinforced her belief in finding joy and wellness through play, gratitude, and giving. She brings to the JUGAR/LIFE Educational Advisory Board her diverse background and experience, with a deliberate focus on mental health and well-being.

Greg Thurlow

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17 Exciting Things to do in Moscow

Written By: Linda Voltaire

Updated On: December 21, 2022

Visiting Russia? These are the top 17 things to do in Moscow to help you plan your trip.

If the western world has New York City , the first great metropolis on the eastern side of our planet is Moscow. A huge city with a complicated and impressive history, Moscow gets a bad rep over Russian politics – but that doesn’t make it any less impressive. Capital to the largest country in the world, Moscow takes the grandeur of its standing very seriously.

This is a place where luxury is king and where opulence takes a front seat in every aspect of life. The buildings are grand and imposing, the parks are luscious and enormous, and even the subway stations look different in Moscow than anywhere else in the world.

Table of Contents

Best Things to do in Moscow, Russia

Walking around Moscow is also going through the tumultuous history of the 20th century, which had Russia as one of its main protagonists. There are fascinating remains of these times everywhere in the former Soviet capital, from the gorgeous Seven Sisters skyscrapers to the Orthodox cathedrals that were closed for the better part of a century.  Still, Moscow is also a completely modern city, with a vibrant social and party scene, incredible restaurants, and some of the most luxurious hotels in the world.

After living in Russia’s capital as an ex-pat for four years, I got the privilege to experience not only the main attractions in Moscow but also the everyday life in this huge city and quickly found my sweat spots off the beaten tracks! So here is my list of my top 17 things to do in this exciting metropolis!

Attractions in Moscow

When visiting a famous city like this one, it’s a must to go through the most iconic landmarks first. Moscow has plenty of those, most of them in the center of the city, which is very well-planned for tourists.

1. The Red Square, Kremlin & Surrounding Area

No place tells the story of Moscow’s power in the past century the way the Red Square does. This is where the biggest political meetings in the USSR occurred for many decades, and you can feel the power on each step.

Here, you’ll also find the historic museum at the entrance, showcasing the decades of history behind this iconic landmark. The Lenin Mausoleum, perhaps the most famous resting place in the world and home to the remains of the former communist leader, is also here.

On one side of the Red Square you’ll find the Kremlin, the fortified complex that now hosts the presidential residence. This is also home to the most iconic of all Moscovite landmarks: St. Basil’s Cathedral, a 16th-century marvel of colors. This is the best spot to take a selfie and show the world you’ve reached the Russian capital!

• Get your Kremlin Skip the Line Tickets and Kremlin tour here.
• Free cancellation up to 24-hours in advance of the tour.

2. Bolshoi Theatre

You can easily spend a couple of days just exploring the Moscovite city centre, and the Bolshoi Theatre should be your second stop. Walk past the Red Square and then head to the nearby Bolshoi Theatre, one of the oldest and most renowned houses of opera and ballet on Earth.

Visit for the impressive early 19th-century architecture, but if you’re seeing a ballet performance, make sure you book between 3 and 6 months in advance! I can strongly recommend this as it is a truly unique experience!

• Book a private 2-hour tour of the legendary Bolshoi Theatre.
• See the presidential box reserved for tzars, watch a rehearsal and skip the lines through a separate entrance.
• Free Cancellation up to 24-hours in advance.

3. Luxury Shopping at GUM and TSUM

While many might think of Moscow as the sad place with the long bread queues from the USSR days, it’s been quite the capitalist haven for a while.

If you’re up for some shopping, you’ll find one of the biggest luxury malls in town, TSUM, right behind the Bolshoi and GUM, at the red square. GUM is the most famous department store in town, where you’ll find luxury everywhere and all high-end brand. 

All in an imposing late 19th-century building with lots of history, worth a visit just for the design, its bridges and the glass roof even though you are not up for shopping!

4. Christ the Savior Cathedral

A newer addition to the gorgeous Moscovite cathedrals and my grandeur neighbor during my years in the city Don’t let the young age of this building fool you. After the perestroika in the early 90s, the newly revived Russian Orthodox Church received permission to build a cathedral on this site. They did the location honors and built the largest temple of the Christian Orthodox Church.

The façade is as grand as you’d expect, but it’s the inside that will mesmerize you, with its domes as tall as the skies in bright gold and gorgeous paintings and decor! Bring a shawl to cover your hair to adjust to the local tradition.

Head to the back of the cathedral and you will find one of the most photographed bridges in Moscow, the Patriarshiy Most. This is the perfect spot to get a good view and photo of the cathedral but also to see the Kreml and Gorky Park from a distance. Or why not just enjoy a moment watching the river and its boats!  

• Get around Moscow with ease using the Hop On Hop Off boat and Bus ticket. 24, 48 or 72-hour tickets available.

5. Gorky Park

Cross the river and head to Gorky Park along the Moscow river. The most famous green area in town, similar to New York ’s Central Park and the weekend hangout for locals. There are many beautiful parks in the city, but if you’re only visiting for a few days, this is the unmissable one! 

With fair attractions to entertain children, beautiful artificial lakes and gardens, and lots of outdoor activities, it’s a lovely place to relax. A place of rest in the middle of the metropolis. The area in front of the New Tretyakov Gallery & the Muzeon Park of Arts is actually one of my favorite oasis as a bit more quiet and peaceful than Gorky itself.

Why not spend some time in the museum to get a great tour of Russia’s history through art or just enjoy the art exhibition outside where local artists spend their weekends. 

6. River Cruising

One of the best ways to experience Moscow is from the Moscow River. There are many stops for the boats and one is just next to Gorky Park. See the city from another perspective – and turn the ride into a romantic one by taking the evening cruise. Moscow is magic during the night.

If you’re looking for a truly luxurious experience, take the Radisson Blu cruise – or the Erwin for a delicious seafood dinner. Both stop at Gorky or at the luxury Radisson Royal Hotel, set in one of the Seven Sister’s skyscrapers.

• We use Get Your Guide when booking city tours and they offer a River Sightseeing Cruise seeing all the main tourist attractions in Moscow

7. Metro Hopping

First inaugurated in the 1930s, the Moscow subway system is one of the oldest in the world, and certainly the most beautiful. Started under Stalinist times, each metro station is dedicated to grandeur and oozing personality.

Visiting the subway stops is an attraction in and of itself, and Komsomolskaya, Mayakovskaya, Kropotkinskaya are my favorites. Those surrounding the Red Square are also mesmerizing – in general, these are kind of like underground palaces.

Most of the signs at the Moscow Metro now have Latin letters, so it’s very easy to get around!Unfortunately, the trains are not as beautiful and pleasant as the stations but still, this is a true Moscow experience.  Take a guided tour of the 9 most beautiful Metro Stations including the award-winning art deco station. See more details here.

8. Arbatskaya & Artsy Moscow

Novy Arbat Street is one of the most touristy areas in the city, with lots of shops and cafés directed at visitors. When you walk a little beyond, you’ll find a different part of town, where the hip scene thrives because so many artists live in the area. Just follow the small streets with fewer tourists!

9. Moscow State University View

In his effort to create a grander Moscow, Stalin had seven skyscrapers built in different parts of town; they’re called the Seven Sisters. The largest of these buildings hosts the main building of the Moscow State University, one of the most prestigious colleges in Russia – and the one with the best view.

Although this is a little outside the city centre, the sight from above is more than worth it, with the nearby fountains and park and then the whole of the city behind them.

10. Russian Market

If you love to visit markets wherever you go, Moscow has one of the most impressive ones in the world – the Izmailovsky. You can easily take the metro here and feel like you’ve been transported to another time.

This place was first built in the 16th century and retains the look of an old fairytale, with a lineup of colorful old castle. A lovely local experience beyond the confines of the bustling metropolis, where you can also try some delicious Russian barbecue.

Here, you’ll find beautiful souvenirs at great prices.

Off The Beaten Track Moscow

Once you’ve covered the most touristic spots, Moscow still has plenty to offer – and the places below will also be full of locals! Moscow is a city for hipsters, full of trendy and arty spots where you can literally feel the creativity oozing! So for some local vibes, I would strongly recommend my sweat spots below!

11. Patriarshiye Prudy

This is my favorite area in the entire city! While Moscow is generally a very noisy metropolis, Patriarch Ponds is far quieter, yet such a vibrant place. This is a very hip and trendy area making you think you are rather in Paris than in Moscow. Here the streets are narrow and full of chic eateries and clubs to see the local crowd.

A little bohemian and with an air of peace you won’t find anywhere in the city this is a great spot to spend an afternoon with your thoughts.

12. ArtPlay

Barely 15 minutes away from the city center you’ll find the artsiest Moscow district: ArtPlay. For decades, this block was a factory, but it was renovated to become a hub for the arts not too long ago.

Now, you’ll find it’s full of exhibitions, showrooms and art schools – and some of the most creative people in town. Writers, painters, and young hip people use ArtPlay as a rendezvous, and you can feel the creative energy here. The industrial design with modern interior decoration is also a feast for the eyes!

13. Shopping Local Designs

If you’re into design, both international and local, you’ll find lots of cute things at Patriarshiye Prudy. Department store Podium Market is also a great spot for shopping, as a department store everywhere in town, with lots of local and international brands. There’s one in the Four Seasons Hotel next to Red Square. My favorite Moscow mall is Tsvetnoy Central Market, a cool spot with great brands, lots of inspo, and even a cute café!

14. Moscow City

Like many other great capitals of the world, for the past few decades, Moscow has hosted a super modern area full of modern skyscrapers – Moscow City. With a completely different vibe than the rest of town, it’s like a mini Dubai, with lots of impressively tall glass buildings. Here, you’ll find the best rooftops in towns, such as Ruski and Sixty they are perfect spots for dining or enjoying a glass of wine with a view. There are also a relatively new shopping mall with lots of international brands called Affimall!

Wine, Dine, and Party in Moscow

Gone are the gloomy Moscow days – cold as it might be in the winter, Russia’s capital is a place for the senses. Great food and drinks abound – and the clubs are hot, too!

15. Where to Eat in Moscow

Moscow is a great metropolis where people love to dine out, and there are endless options for delicious food. The flavors are as diverse as you’d expect from a big city, with options of fine dining and little hipster eateries. 

• For traditional Russian flavors, I can’t recommend Café Pushkin, Dr. Zhivago, and Turnadot enough.
• When looking for international cuisines, Italian is always the way to go, and my local favorite is Probka.
• Fine dining is best done among the clouds at White Rabbit, with European flavors.
• As for the hip spots, you can spend a full day just eating around trendy places, from burgers to Asian fusion.

More Dining Options

• Patriarshiye Prudy offers a lot of small and classy spots with cool concepts, like breakfast restaurants I Love Cake and Fresh.
• For dinner, I love the NYC experience of Saxon & Parole, and the wonderful trendy Pins, with its delicious food and drinks.
• For delicious Asian food head to CutFish. 
• Lastly, there’s a recent revival of food markets in Moscow, offering lots of great choices of international flavors at affordable places.
• Don’t miss out the Vietnamese food stand at the Danilovsky market, and everything at Usachevsky!

16. Rooftopping

Big cities deserve to be seen from above, having a cocktail among the clouds. These are my recommendations for rooftop bars in Moscow.

• As I mentioned in the Moscow City section, Sixty & Ruski are two of my favorites, overlooking the newest part of town. 
• White Rabbit and its fine dining is also a lovely place for a fun dinner looking down on Moscow.
• O2, in the city center, has an advantage above all others: amazing views of the Red Square.
• Buono, above the Radisson Royal Hotel, might be the most romantic rooftop hotel in town, with its candlelit setting.
• Also on the Radisson stands the Mercedes. It’s a luxurious and posh experience with delicious cocktails.
• The Sky Lounge offers a peculiar experience, mixing an old Soviet building with futuristic additions.

17. Moscow by Night

Party the night away! The city is full of bars everywhere, but there are some areas where you’ll find more than others.

• Patriarshiye Prudy has lots of hip and small clubs and great bars, including the super fun private club Clava, which has a great vibe and people from all walks of life.
• For more hipster style bars, Red October is the place to go.
• Streak is a summer favorite, with a lovely terrace to catch a beautiful sunset – plus, their mozzarella bar is delicious.
• At night, Red October lights up with clubs everywhere, including the cool rooftop one Gipsy.
• Jagger is also a great spot during summer with a more relaxed vibe in garden setting. 
• For the traditional Russian luxury experience, go to SohoRooms, a whole other world including all-night go-go dancers.

There are so many things to do in Moscow at night and during the day, you definitely need several days to explore this exciting destination.

Moscow is a must-see city, a city like no other ! I hope you will enjoy this Russian metropolis as much as I did!

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Looking to book your next trip? Why not use these resources that are tried and tested by yours truly.

Flights: Start planning your trip by finding the best flight deals on Skyscanner

Book your Hotel: Find the best prices on hotels with these two providers. If you are located in Europe use Booking.com and if you are anywhere else use TripAdvisor

Find Apartment Rentals: You will find the cheapest prices on apartment rentals with VRBO . 

Travel Insurance: Don't leave home without it. Here is what we recommend:

• Allianz - Occasional Travelers.
• Medjet - Global air medical transport and travel security.

Need more help planning your trip? Make sure to check out our Resources Page where we highlight all the great companies that we trust when we are traveling.

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About Linda Voltaire

Linda Voltaire is the owner of Travel with a Silver Lining, home to reviews of gorgeous boutique & design hotels, hip & trendy eateries as well as authentic and personal travel experiences beyond the crowd. She started blogging after a life-changing trip across South America. Follow Linda at TravelWithASilverLining / Facebook / Instagram /

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10 thoughts on “17 Exciting Things to do in Moscow”

These places look so awesome! Moscow is truly a beautiful city

Very good article, you have explained so nicely. Russia has always been a part of history and its good to know about much more about architecture and other things, wish i could see the inside of façade

Thanks for sharing such a nice article.You have very beautifully explained everything that one need for a trip to Moscow.

Nice article. Love the hidden gems and graffiti art, would love to visit Artplay. Thanks for a comprehensive guide to Moscow!

Moscow is a city where the past and the future live side by side. Here we can find everything from medieval fortresses and Soviet monoliths to glass skyscrapers and innovation centers.

Your article is good and meaningful .

Thanks for sharing about ArtPlay district, we didn’t know about it and it looks amazing 🙂 Hopefully there’ll be a second time in Moscow, we visited last May and really liked the city!

Wonderful stuff! I’ve been to Moscow, but not properly – it’s a long story lol!

Anyhoo, my next thing is to fly from Berlin to Moscow and then travel from there to Beijing via the Trans-Mongolian / Trans-Siberian train. Now, if only I could just find the time …!

I hear Moscow is very beautiful at night. I hope to get out there one day. A friend of mine went to St. Petersburg and had a great experience. Despite all the tension we see on the news with Russia and other Countries like the U.S. I wonder what the sentiment is with Russians and foreigners visiting their country for tourism. Especially Americans.

that looks like quite a beautiful place. 🙂

2018 Primetime Emmy & James Beard Award Winner

In Transit: Notes from the Underground

Jun 06 2018.

Spend some time in one of Moscow’s finest museums.

Subterranean commuting might not be anyone’s idea of a good time, but even in a city packing the war-games treasures and priceless bejeweled eggs of the Kremlin Armoury and the colossal Soviet pavilions of the VDNKh , the Metro holds up as one of Moscow’s finest museums. Just avoid rush hour.

The Metro is stunning and provides an unrivaled insight into the city’s psyche, past and present, but it also happens to be the best way to get around. Moscow has Uber, and the Russian version called Yandex Taxi , but also some nasty traffic. Metro trains come around every 90 seconds or so, at a more than 99 percent on-time rate. It’s also reasonably priced, with a single ride at 55 cents (and cheaper in bulk). From history to tickets to rules — official and not — here’s what you need to know to get started.

A Brief Introduction Buying Tickets Know Before You Go (Down) Rules An Easy Tour

A Brief Introduction

Moscow’s Metro was a long time coming. Plans for rapid transit to relieve the city’s beleaguered tram system date back to the Imperial era, but a couple of wars and a revolution held up its development. Stalin revived it as part of his grand plan to modernize the Soviet Union in the 1920s and 30s. The first lines and tunnels were constructed with help from engineers from the London Underground, although Stalin’s secret police decided that they had learned too much about Moscow’s layout and had them arrested on espionage charges and deported.

The beauty of its stations (if not its trains) is well-documented, and certainly no accident. In its illustrious first phases and particularly after the Second World War, the greatest architects of Soviet era were recruited to create gleaming temples celebrating the Revolution, the USSR, and the war triumph. No two stations are exactly alike, and each of the classic showpieces has a theme. There are world-famous shrines to Futurist architecture, a celebration of electricity, tributes to individuals and regions of the former Soviet Union. Each marble slab, mosaic tile, or light fixture was placed with intent, all in service to a station’s aesthetic; each element, f rom the smallest brass ear of corn to a large blood-spattered sword on a World War II mural, is an essential part of the whole.

The Metro is a monument to the Soviet propaganda project it was intended to be when it opened in 1935 with the slogan “Building a Palace for the People”. It brought the grand interiors of Imperial Russia to ordinary Muscovites, celebrated the Soviet Union’s past achievements while promising its citizens a bright Soviet future, and of course, it was a show-piece for the world to witness the might and sophistication of life in the Soviet Union.

It may be a museum, but it’s no relic. U p to nine million people use it daily, more than the London Underground and New York Subway combined. (Along with, at one time, about 20 stray dogs that learned to commute on the Metro.)

In its 80+ year history, the Metro has expanded in phases and fits and starts, in step with the fortunes of Moscow and Russia. Now, partly in preparation for the World Cup 2018, it’s also modernizing. New trains allow passengers to walk the entire length of the train without having to change carriages. The system is becoming more visitor-friendly. (There are helpful stickers on the floor marking out the best selfie spots .) But there’s a price to modernity: it’s phasing out one of its beloved institutions, the escalator attendants. Often they are middle-aged or elderly women—“ escalator grandmas ” in news accounts—who have held the post for decades, sitting in their tiny kiosks, scolding commuters for bad escalator etiquette or even bad posture, or telling jokes . They are slated to be replaced, when at all, by members of the escalator maintenance staff.

For all its achievements, the Metro lags behind Moscow’s above-ground growth, as Russia’s capital sprawls ever outwards, generating some of the world’s worst traffic jams . But since 2011, the Metro has been in the middle of an ambitious and long-overdue enlargement; 60 new stations are opening by 2020. If all goes to plan, the 2011-2020 period will have brought 125 miles of new tracks and over 100 new stations — a 40 percent increase — the fastest and largest expansion phase in any period in the Metro’s history.

Facts: 14 lines Opening hours: 5 a.m-1 a.m. Rush hour(s): 8-10 a.m, 4-8 p.m. Single ride: 55₽ (about 85 cents) Wi-Fi network-wide

Buying Tickets

• Ticket machines have a button to switch to English.
• You can buy specific numbers of rides: 1, 2, 5, 11, 20, or 60. Hold up fingers to show how many rides you want to buy.
• There is also a 90-minute ticket , which gets you 1 trip on the metro plus an unlimited number of transfers on other transport (bus, tram, etc) within 90 minutes.
• Or, you can buy day tickets with unlimited rides: one day (218₽/ US$4), three days (415₽/US$7) or seven days (830₽/US$15). Check the rates here to stay up-to-date.
• If you’re going to be using the Metro regularly over a few days, it’s worth getting a Troika card , a contactless, refillable card you can use on all public transport. Using the Metro is cheaper with one of these: a single ride is 36₽, not 55₽. Buy them and refill them in the Metro stations, and they’re valid for 5 years, so you can keep it for next time. Or, if you have a lot of cash left on it when you leave, you can get it refunded at the Metro Service Centers at Ulitsa 1905 Goda, 25 or at Staraya Basmannaya 20, Building 1.
• You can also buy silicone bracelets and keychains with built-in transport chips that you can use as a Troika card. (A Moscow Metro Fitbit!) So far, you can only get these at the Pushkinskaya metro station Live Helpdesk and souvenir shops in the Mayakovskaya and Trubnaya metro stations. The fare is the same as for the Troika card.
• You can also use Apple Pay and Samsung Pay.

Rules, spoken and unspoken

No smoking, no drinking, no filming, no littering. Photography is allowed, although it used to be banned.

Stand to the right on the escalator. Break this rule and you risk the wrath of the legendary escalator attendants. (No shenanigans on the escalators in general.)

Get out of the way. Find an empty corner to hide in when you get off a train and need to stare at your phone. Watch out getting out of the train in general; when your train doors open, people tend to appear from nowhere or from behind ornate marble columns, walking full-speed.

Always offer your seat to elderly ladies (what are you, a monster?).

An Easy Tour

This is no Metro Marathon ( 199 stations in 20 hours ). It’s an easy tour, taking in most—though not all—of the notable stations, the bulk of it going clockwise along the Circle line, with a couple of short detours. These stations are within minutes of one another, and the whole tour should take about 1-2 hours.

Start at Mayakovskaya Metro station , at the corner of Tverskaya and Garden Ring,  Triumfalnaya Square, Moskva, Russia, 125047.

1. Mayakovskaya.  Named for Russian Futurist Movement poet Vladimir Mayakovsky and an attempt to bring to life the future he imagined in his poems. (The Futurist Movement, natch, was all about a rejecting the past and celebrating all things speed, industry, modern machines, youth, modernity.) The result: an Art Deco masterpiece that won the National Grand Prix for architecture at the New York World’s Fair in 1939. It’s all smooth, rounded shine and light, and gentle arches supported by columns of dark pink marble and stainless aircraft steel. Each of its 34 ceiling niches has a mosaic. During World War II, the station was used as an air-raid shelter and, at one point, a bunker for Stalin. He gave a subdued but rousing speech here in Nov. 6, 1941 as the Nazis bombed the city above.

Take the 3/Green line one station to:

2. Belorusskaya. Opened in 1952, named after the connected Belarussky Rail Terminal, which runs trains between Moscow and Belarus. This is a light marble affair with a white, cake-like ceiling, lined with Belorussian patterns and 12 Florentine ceiling mosaics depicting life in Belarussia when it was built.

Transfer onto the 1/Brown line. Then, one stop (clockwise) t o:

3. Novoslobodskaya.  This station was designed around the stained-glass panels, which were made in Latvia, because Alexey Dushkin, the Soviet starchitect who dreamed it up (and also designed Mayakovskaya station) couldn’t find the glass and craft locally. The stained glass is the same used for Riga’s Cathedral, and the panels feature plants, flowers, members of the Soviet intelligentsia (musician, artist, architect) and geometric shapes.

Go two stops east on the 1/Circle line to:

4. Komsomolskaya. Named after the Komsomol, or the Young Communist League, this might just be peak Stalin Metro style. Underneath the hub for three regional railways, it was intended to be a grand gateway to Moscow and is today its busiest station. It has chandeliers; a yellow ceiling with Baroque embellishments; and in the main hall, a colossal red star overlaid on golden, shimmering tiles. Designer Alexey Shchusev designed it as an homage to the speech Stalin gave at Red Square on Nov. 7, 1941, in which he invoked Russia’s illustrious military leaders as a pep talk to Soviet soldiers through the first catastrophic year of the war.   The station’s eight large mosaics are of the leaders referenced in the speech, such as Alexander Nevsky, a 13th-century prince and military commander who bested German and Swedish invading armies.

One more stop clockwise to Kurskaya station,  and change onto the 3/Blue  line, and go one stop to:

5. Baumanskaya.   Opened in 1944. Named for the Bolshevik Revolutionary Nikolai Bauman , whose monument and namesake district are aboveground here. Though he seemed like a nasty piece of work (he apparently once publicly mocked a woman he had impregnated, who later hung herself), he became a Revolutionary martyr when he was killed in 1905 in a skirmish with a monarchist, who hit him on the head with part of a steel pipe. The station is in Art Deco style with atmospherically dim lighting, and a series of bronze sculptures of soldiers and homefront heroes during the War. At one end, there is a large mosaic portrait of Lenin.

Stay on that train direction one more east to:

6. Elektrozavodskaya. As you may have guessed from the name, this station is the Metro’s tribute to all thing electrical, built in 1944 and named after a nearby lightbulb factory. It has marble bas-relief sculptures of important figures in electrical engineering, and others illustrating the Soviet Union’s war-time struggles at home. The ceiling’s recurring rows of circular lamps give the station’s main tunnel a comforting glow, and a pleasing visual effect.

Double back two stops to Kurskaya station , and change back to the 1/Circle line. Sit tight for six stations to:

7. Kiyevskaya. This was the last station on the Circle line to be built, in 1954, completed under Nikita Khrushchev’ s guidance, as a tribute to his homeland, Ukraine. Its three large station halls feature images celebrating Ukraine’s contributions to the Soviet Union and Russo-Ukrainian unity, depicting musicians, textile-working, soldiers, farmers. (One hall has frescoes, one mosaics, and the third murals.) Shortly after it was completed, Khrushchev condemned the architectural excesses and unnecessary luxury of the Stalin era, which ushered in an epoch of more austere Metro stations. According to the legend at least, he timed the policy in part to ensure no Metro station built after could outshine Kiyevskaya.

Change to the 3/Blue line and go one stop west.

8. Park Pobedy. This is the deepest station on the Metro, with one of the world’s longest escalators, at 413 feet. If you stand still, the escalator ride to the surface takes about three minutes .) Opened in 2003 at Victory Park, the station celebrates two of Russia’s great military victories. Each end has a mural by Georgian artist Zurab Tsereteli, who also designed the “ Good Defeats Evil ” statue at the UN headquarters in New York. One mural depicts the Russian generals’ victory over the French in 1812 and the other, the German surrender of 1945. The latter is particularly striking; equal parts dramatic, triumphant, and gruesome. To the side, Red Army soldiers trample Nazi flags, and if you look closely there’s some blood spatter among the detail. Still, the biggest impressions here are the marble shine of the chessboard floor pattern and the pleasingly geometric effect if you view from one end to the other.

Keep going one more stop west to:

9. Slavyansky Bulvar.  One of the Metro’s youngest stations, it opened in 2008. With far higher ceilings than many other stations—which tend to have covered central tunnels on the platforms—it has an “open-air” feel (or as close to it as you can get, one hundred feet under). It’s an homage to French architect Hector Guimard, he of the Art Nouveau entrances for the Paris M é tro, and that’s precisely what this looks like: A Moscow homage to the Paris M é tro, with an additional forest theme. A Cyrillic twist on Guimard’s Metro-style lettering over the benches, furnished with t rees and branch motifs, including creeping vines as towering lamp-posts.

Stay on the 3/Blue line and double back four stations to:

10. Arbatskaya. Its first iteration, Arbatskaya-Smolenskaya station, was damaged by German bombs in 1941. It was rebuilt in 1953, and designed to double as a bomb shelter in the event of nuclear war, although unusually for stations built in the post-war phase, this one doesn’t have a war theme. It may also be one of the system’s most elegant: Baroque, but toned down a little, with red marble floors and white ceilings with gilded bronze c handeliers.

Jump back on the 3/Blue line  in the same direction and take it one more stop:

11. Ploshchad Revolyutsii (Revolution Square). Opened in 1938, and serving Red Square and the Kremlin . Its renowned central hall has marble columns flanked by 76 bronze statues of Soviet heroes: soldiers, students, farmers, athletes, writers, parents. Some of these statues’ appendages have a yellow sheen from decades of Moscow’s commuters rubbing them for good luck. Among the most popular for a superstitious walk-by rub: the snout of a frontier guard’s dog, a soldier’s gun (where the touch of millions of human hands have tapered the gun barrel into a fine, pointy blade), a baby’s foot, and a woman’s knee. (A brass rooster also sports the telltale gold sheen, though I am told that rubbing the rooster is thought to bring bad luck. )

Now take the escalator up, and get some fresh air.

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