Your guide in visiting Moscow, Russia
How to get to Moscow?
Where to stay in Moscow?
What to do and see in Moscow?
Where to eat in Moscow?
The Red Square, The Kremlin and St. Basil Cathedral; these are the images that pops up in my mind when I think of Moscow. Moscow is the capital and most populous city of Russia with 12.5 million residents living in the city.
To be able to finally step foot on Red Square was a surreal moment. Moscow was everything that I have dream of and more. If I live close to Moscow, it will be a great weekend trip. It is easily navigable with a great Metro subway system.
Here are the main sights I’ve visited and should be in everyone’s list if they are visiting Moscow for the first time.
HOW TO GET TO MOSCOW
Moscow have 4 airports serving the city and 3 of which are where most international airlines will fly to. They are Domodedovo International Airport (DME), Sheremetyevo International Airport (SVO) and Vnukovo International Airport (VKO). The other less popular one is Zhukovsky International Airport (ZIA). Therefore, it is very important to know which airport you are flying into and especially leaving from so you will not go to the wrong airport. Also, if you are transiting at any of the airports, make sure you are transiting at the same airport.
I’ve flown Hong Kong Airlines from Hong Kong non-stop to Sheremetyevo Airport. This might be one of the most horrible airport I’ve flown into. I’ve flown into Terminal F and is the oldest of all the terminal and was never renovated since it’s opening in the 1980s. The immigration area is very small and packed with people from incoming flights. There doesn’t seem to be a line up and people are just cramming into a few immigration desks. If you are flying to a newer different terminal, your experience might be better than mine.
After the immigration, the other negative experience I’ve got in this trip was trying to get transportation from the airport to the city. There is an express train that runs from the airport to the city which links to the metro. It can be a good option if you do not have any luggage as the metro in Moscow do not have elevators. You will be doing a lot of carrying if you have more than one piece of luggage. Therefore, the other option is to get a taxi or some sort of pre-arranged transport from your hotel or other private transport company. I highly recommend re-arranging transportation beforehand which I did not. There is no official taxi stands and there are numerous people asking you if you are looking for transport to the city. They are all unofficial taxi and there to scam you. I was tired and was trying to make my dinner reservation so I got went with one of these drivers. At the end, the fee was 4 times of what a regular taxi would cost from the airport to the city. Send me a message if you want to know exactly how much I was scammed.
Another good option is to call Uber as Uber is quite popular in the city. Other than extensively using the metro in the city, I’ve called Uber a number of times and they all gone without any issues at all. Also, as there is a language barrier, Uber is perfect because you did not need to tell the driver where to go as you have already entered the address in the app.
WHERE TO STAY IN MOSCOW
There are numerous hotels to choose from in Moscow like in any major cities. The price range is vast depending on what you are looking for. I would suggest people to stay near Red Square if you are visiting Moscow for the first time. All the major sights are around Red Square so you can walk everywhere if the weather permits and physically capable. If not, the next best option is to stay near a Metro station.
As a World of Hyatt member, I’ve stayed at the Ararat Park Hyatt Moscow. It is right beside the Bolshoi Theater and a stone throw away from the Red Square and Kremlin. The rooms are recently renovated (I’ve stayed in the spring of 2018), modern and well appointed as in any Park Hyatt establishments in the world.
The other option a bit further from the Red Square is the StandArt Hotel. It is a new hotel which is close to the Pushkin Cafe. Is not within walking distance from the Red Square so you will have to take the metro. Initially I have booked to stay at this hotel months in advanced but a month before my trip, they emailed me and say the hotel will be closed down completely for renovation during the period that I have booked for. I find this a bit weird as how can a hotel only know they will need to shut down the whole hotel for renovation a month before? However, they have not charge any of my room fee in advanced and offer me a discount on any future booking with them in the next year.
WHAT TO DO & SEE IN MOSCOW
For a short trip and first time visitors, Moscow is a great city to explore. All the major sights are within walking distance from the Red Square.
In two days, you could easily visit the Red Square together with St. Basil Cathedral and the Kremlin. It will be a long day but well worth it. You can also spend time at the huge GUM department store with many international shops, restaurants as well as a great supermarket that sells every Russian good you can think so. It is great place to get bottles of vodka to bring home.
My suggested Route
(Day 1)
1.) The Kremlin
Start early to visit the Kremlin. The Kremlin basically means a fortress inside a city and it is indeed one. Inside the Kremlin, there are five palaces and four cathedrals which are all enclosed in the Kremlin Wall and Kremlin Towers. The Kremlin Palace was also the residence of the former tsar’s and now the official residence of the President of the Russian Federation. Of course, not all of which is opened to the public. Although, the cathedral, cathedral grounds and The Armoury Chamber which is part of the Kremlin palace and now one of the most famous museum in the world are all open to public.
The cathedral grounds is a huge complex inside the Kremlin which is where the Assumption cathedral, the Archangel and the Annunciation cathedrals, the Church of Laying Our Lady’s Holy Robe and the Patriarch’s Palace with the Twelve Apostles’ Church are all located. The Cathedral Grounds ticket cover the entry for all the these.
You can get your ticket online in advanced. The Armory Chamber museum ticket is separate from the Cathedral Grounds ticket. The Armory Chamber ticket are time entry tickets. You can also get a ticket to visit the Diamond Fund which is beside the Armory Chamber museum. It is operated by the State Precious Metals and Gems Repository and well worth a visit. You cannot get the Diamond Fund ticket online and must visit the ticket office.
Either way, you will need to visit the Ticket Office to collect the actual ticket even if you have purchased your ticket online. Although, the lineup to collect the online ticket is much shorter and faster than the lineup without an online ticket. I also do see automatic ticket dispenser in the ticket office but not sure which type of tickets it sells. Be sure to bring a photo ID as well to collect your online ticket. The name on the ticket must match the name you used to purchase online.
Once you collected your ticket, I do suggest you not enter via the main entrance at the Kutafya tower with the ramp. It is beside the ticket office but not to closest to the Armory Chamber or the Cathedral Grounds. It is also the busiest. From the ticket office, continue to walk along the Kremlin walls away from the Red Square towards the Moscow river through the Alexandrovsky gardens. You will reach the Borovitskaya Tower and the entrance is right below the tower. From this entrance, the Armory Chamber is just past the entrance. The Cathedral Grounds is also not too far away from the entrance.
Once you’ve finished seeing all the sights inside the Kremlin, exit via the Spasskaya Tower directly to the Red Square. The Spasskaya Tower is the tower with the big clock on top of it. You cannot enter from this tower or anywhere from the Red Square. This is only an exit.
2.) Red Square / St. Basil Cathedral / Lenin’s Mausoleum / State Historical Museum / GUM Department Store
Once you exit via the Spasskaya Tower from the Kremlin, you step straight into the Red Square with St. Basil Cathedral right in front of you.
It is also a good time for lunch before continuing your visit of Red Square. The GUM Department store have a number of restaurants inside one of which is Stolovaya 57. It seems to be quite popular as it mimics an old traditional Russian canteen. Nothing fancy but fast Russian comfort food.
You can roam around inside GUM for a change of scenery or head back out to the Red Square to visit St. Basil Cathedral and the Lenin’s Mausoleum. Is free to enter the mausoleum but take note of the opening days and time.
The State Historical Museum is also worth a visit but maybe too much to fit into the first day. If not, visit in Day 2 after the Bolshoi Theater tour.
The Red Square is also beautiful at night with all the lights lit up. Depending on how far your hotel is from the Red Square, it is a great leisurely stroll after dinner at the Red Square.
(Day 2)
1.) Bolshoi Theater
The Bolshoi Theater is world famous with its ballet academy. You can try to get ballet tickets online via its official website. If not, and you would still want to visit the theater, I highly suggest you go for the guided tour in the morning. The English morning tours are only available on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The number allowed in for the tour is limited to 20 people so be sure to lineup at the door at least an hour early during peak holiday seasons. It is well worth it. The main theater is spectacular.
2.) Cathedral of Christ the Savior
The Cathedral of Christ the Saviour is a Russian Orthodox cathedral and beside the Moscow River very close to the Kremlin. With a height of over 100 meters, it is the tallest Orthodox Christian church in the world. The original church was destroyed by Joseph Stalin in 1931. The current church was rebuilt between 1995 and 2000. It is a beautiful orthodox cathedral and remember to make a visit inside and down the basement as well.
3.) Moscow Metro
There are too many beautiful stations to visit and if you are pressed for time, I would suggest the following route to give you a glimpse of some of the most beautiful stations in the Moscow Metro.
I did this route and it took me no more than an hour including long photo stops at the 4 stations that is considered to be the most beautiful in Moscow.
The 4 stations that you will see on this route is “Ploschad Revolycii”, “Komsomolskaya”, “Prispeky Mira”, and “Mayakovskaya”.
You will start at “Ploschad Revolycii” which is very close to GUM Department Store.
After spending enough time at the station, get on the Number 3 BLUE Line and change to Number 5 BROWN Line at the next Station “Kurskaya”.
Now, at Kurskaya at the Number 5 BROWN Line, the next 2 stations are very impressive. Get off at the next station “Komsomolskaya” and “Prospeky Mira”. But remember to get back on the same direction and change to the GREEN Line 2 at Belorusskaya.
Once on Line 2, the next station “Mayakovskaya” will be the last station in this route that will amaze you.
Get back on Mayakovskaya and get off at Teatralnaya which will bring you back near the vicinity of the Red Square and Kremlin.
The Route:
Start: Ploschad Revolycii (Must See) (Number 3 BLUE Line)
Change to Line 5 BROWN at Kurskaya
Komsomolskaya (Must See)
Prospeky Mira (Must See)
Change to Line 2 GREEN at Belorusskaya
Mayakovskaya (Must See)
Get off at Teatralnaya (Near Kremlin/Red Square) or any station closest to your next destination.
WHERE TO EAT IN MOSCOW
Russian cuisine is not only about caviar, borscht soup, pelmeni or beef stroganoff. I am pleasantly surprised by the traditional Russian cuisine and the modern ones. If you are not into Russian food, Moscow like any major international city offer many different cuisines as well. I found that many restaurant were reluctant to accept foreign credit cards. I am not sure if this is a little bit of social profiling or the same for every tourist in Moscow. The best bet is to ask in advanced if they accept credit card during your reservation or bring cash. I highly suggest you go to their website to make a reservation online before you visit the restaurants.
There is a huge restaurant group called Ginza and they have many restaurants in Moscow. I do suggest you take a look at their website and their restaurant listings. Some of the restaurants I will mention below is also in their group.
Caviar Restaurants
This is a must do in Moscow if budget permits. I had two caviar meals when I was in Moscow.
Restaurant Beluga – Inside Hotel National across from the Kremlin and Four Seasons. Beautiful dining room with view of the Kremlin. Great choices of caviar and vodka. They were a bit reluctant to take my credit card at first but later accept it so I was wondering why they refused at first. Otherwise, the meal was great. The service was really good as well.
Beluga Caviar Bar – It is a small bar type cafe inside GUM beside the supermarket. I think it is operated by the vodka brand Beluga and the supermarket. It is a great place to stop for lunch. They refused to accept my credit card here.
Russian Cuisine
SAVVA (Highly recommended)
I had a great lamb tongue dish at SAVVA restaurant and love their ambiance, service and food there. Highly recommended. It used to be part of the Metropol Hotel but now the entrance is not from the hotel but from the street side at Teatralnaya Square.
A good selection of Russian cuisine if you want a place to try them all. The food is nothing out of this world. The library dinning room on the 2nd floor is impressive with a great ambiance. There was live harp music when I was there. This place is famous for tourists so if you plan to go, you must book ahead. I think they only accept table bookings if you dine before 20:00. If you arrive after, you just have to walk-in.
Famous for Russian Dumplings or aka Pelmeni.
A number of branches around the world. This one in Moscow is near the Patriarch Ponds.
Classic Russian Cuisine inside a historical building.
A canteen inside GUM serving traditional Russian home dishes.
Modern Russian Cuisine in a fine dining setting. Ground floor of Hotel National below Restaurant Beluga.
Classic Russian in a beautiful dining room.
Russian cuisine in a Venetian style dining room.
Farm to table concept by twin brothers Sergey and Ivan Berezutsky. 70% of the ingredients come from their farm in Kaluga Region while the other 30% are sourced from trusted fishermen in the Russian Far East
Siberian Cuisine
European Cuisine
European food on top of a high-rise with great view of Moscow.
Bistro from the White Rabbit Group.
Cafe and Restaurant with great food and ambiance.
Modern flare on the 84th floor of the OKO tower.
Modern cuisine with big Russian stove in the dining room.
Modern cuisine near the Patriarch Ponds.
Modern and hip at the Patriarch Ponds.
Beautiful restaurant at Zaryadye park, a new urban park next to the Red Square, opened by Alexander Rappoport. Alexander is famous in Moscow for his fabulous restaurants “Dr. Zhivago” and “Beluga”.
Georgian cuisine.
Bar Lounge
O2 Lounge at the Ritz Carlton.
Moskovsky Bar at the Four Seasons.
Conservatory Lounge & Bar at the Park Hyatt. – Summer time rootop terrace looking towards Red Square.
Strelka – Summer time rooftop terrace looking over the Moscow River and Kremlin.
