Introduction to Moscow and City's Highlights

Moscow, being the capital of one-sixth of the world with about 10 million inhabitants is supposed to be something impressive and it is. One of the first impressions Moscow gives is the one of a chaotic city with large busy Kuznetsky Most, Moscow center avenues, jammed traffic, speedy life, glintering ads. At the same time you see calm grey residential areas, hidden little churches with golden domes and church music in the centrum, monumental Stalin's buildings. Unlikely contrasts are everywhere: fancy shops on Tverskaya street neighbour nearly falling apart concrete buildings of run-down Soviet hotels and government buildings; hip crowds wearing the latest design clothes sipping cocktails in a state-of-the-art cafes and rugged tired people with solemn and unhappy faces carrying the burden of existence in this new 'democratic' world, where everybody depends on oneself (what a change from the Soviet times). As everywhere in Russia it's like a mix of two worlds: Europe and Asia, democracy and communism, joy and grief, prosperity and poverty. Moscow could be just another capital, but it isn't. Rather, the city is an exaggerated version of everything you can get in Russia, as if conforming the quality of Russian character to take everything to extremes.

Moscow Specialities:
Here's a list of just some of the things you can do in Moscow and enjoy them:
- Walking around the city in the evening, especially while it's snowing, hearing and feeling the snow cracking under your feet. You can see the discriptions of central areas here.
- Seeing the Kremlin. Even though it's a postcard, the Kremlin is where it all started.
- Passing by St.Basils cathedral. A chaotic, colorful and beautiful cathedral.
- Visiting Tretyakov's Gallery to see the greatest collection of Russian art.
- Visiting contemporary art and photo galleries to experience the nowadays reality through the works and installations of Russian artists and photographers.
- Going inside any small local church (better if it's hidden somewhere), smelling the incenses and listening to the prayers.
- Seeing the church of Christ the Saviour, built in the late 90s it's the biggest cathedral in Russia, and the most expensive one. The symbol of union between Moscow government and the church.
- Walking around Kropotkinskaya and Arbat areas to get the feel of residential Moscow.
- Going out. There are various places for different people: calm, groovy, sexy, cool, dirty, crazy, weird. To help you make a choice: What'On in Moscow.
- The next day you might feel like refreshing yourself. So you can go to one of Moscow's parks and forests, or involve in some activity: ice-skating, snowboarding, yoga, going to a gym - whatever.
- When you need to figure out how to move around the city, try our Transportation section.