10 Best Places to Visit in Moscow for Those Planning a Vacation to this Flamboyant City in 2019

The city of Moscow is one of the largest and most expensive capital cities in the world, and there are many spectacular places to visit here. Moscow, with its population and popularity is not a place you should come to and just stay in your hotel room. There are numerous fun activities to experience and many eye-catching places to visit and create memories. Are you planning to come to Moscow this season? Then the following places will certainly make your journey an enjoyable one.

This is one of the best views that is extended over Moscow. It features the prestigious Moscow State University, considered as a sister to Stalin’s Seven. Not only does Sparrow Hills give awesome city views but is also a favorite hangout for students. Sparrow Hills has attracting beloved parks where you can have quality recreation.

Check out www.tripadvisor.in to know more about Sparrow Hills.

Not going to Red Square despite the cold in Moscow makes your visit incomplete. The “red” in Red Square has nothing to do with color but has everything to do with beauty. Red Square has a long and great history and many events such as rock concerts and military parades have been hosted here. People show off their skating abilities and skills when rink goes up during winter in this place. It is fun to watch and a definitely place worth visiting.

Don't forget to visit www.visit-plus.com for more on Red Square.

Saint Basil’s Cathedral is located at the Red Square. The cathedral that was erected in the 16th century has the shape of a big cake. History has it that Ivan had the two architects blinded so that there will never be a duplicate. This fairy-tale Cathedral is made up of 9 side churches that are arranged closely to the tenth church of Intercession. The surprising narrow galleries that consist of icons, murals and frescoes is something you will love to see. This is one of the places every visitor loves coming to.

Check out www.russiable.in for more.

Krasny Oktyabr signifies Red October which was once a big Soviet chocolate factory well-known for “Alyonka” (chocolate bar). It is presently the hottest hub in Moscow. You will certainly get warm even when the temperature is very cold. Krasny Oktyabir is occupied with many people who are either working, eating or spending time with loved ones. Visiting here is something you must do to see galleries, boxing clubs, design firms, yoga studios, nightclubs and more. This is a worthy adventure to take to keep your soul refreshed and creative.

Visit www.tripadviser.in to find out more about Krasny Oktyabr.

You will likely be dumbfounded when you see this convent because of its stunning beauty. The beautiful five-headed Smolensk Cathedral, features 16th-century frescoes that are said to be the finest in the city The nunnery which is still functioning today was founded in the year 1524. Since then it has stayed intact and in the year 2014, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has been home to ladies from different royal families who retired there either due to falling from favor or willingly.

Check out www.tripadviser.in for reviews, images and more.

The Cathedral of Christ the Saviour resembles an ice castle especially when its giant golden dome is wrapped up in snow during winter season. It took 40 years for the cathedral to be built. The purpose for building it was to express gratitude for rescuing Russia from Napoleon. It was demolished in 1931 to create enough space for the Soviets Palace which unfortunately was never built. In the year 1990, a decision was taken to rebuild the cathedral with modern technology. The construction lasted for just 3 years and the beauty is second to none.

Chwck out more photos and reviews on www.inyourpocket.com

Soviet park, many years ago was occupied with roller coasters with questionable safety standards, kiosks with bad kufta and fun driven people. This is no longer the case, all thanks to the government of Moscow. Both the roller coaster and kiosks have been demolished and nice restaurants and cafes have been built. You can visit here to spend a quality time and eat. Many dance lessons, running clubs and Ping-Pong and European winter ice rick have been hosted here.

Check out more on parkgorkogo.com

You can go to the Garage Museum to keep warm if you are not feeling it after the ice-skating in Gorky Park. The Garage museum is situated inside the Gorky park and was very popular in the 1960s. It is the most advanced museum in Moscow based on technology. The wall panels glide freely and a large space is separately reserved for performances. With the addition of 5 new exhibition halls, an educational centre and a media space, you will have a cultural adventure to benefit from.

Visit garagemca.org to know more.

If there is any place or anything you have to see in Moscow, then it is the Hermitage Garden. Despite the small size of the park, it is home to a few great sights. There are three theaters and a few cafes you will see where you can comfortably stay and drink. Hermitage Garden also has a good playground for children and a stage for concerts.

So if you visit Moscow with your children, this is one of the places you should consider visiting. It is also good to know that Hermitage Garden regularly hosts many kinds of music, food and children’s festivals. It is fun to use skating rink here during the winter season. No matter the population of children and lovers of music coming to this garden, it will never be overcrowded and you will always enjoy the intimate atmosphere.

Visit www.tripadvisor.in for more photos, reviews etc.

Ending your sightseeing day in Sanduny Banya is something worth doing. Banya serves many goals to the citizens and visitors. People visit Banya in Russia for many reasons like removing toxins from their body, curing themselves of colds, strengthening their immune system and talking or gossiping about businesses. Among all the Banyas in the city, the Sanduny Banya is the most popular and largest. It is a perfect place for relaxation.

Top Russian singers, actors, politicians and other notables visit here regularly. This Banya is a place you need to visit to have a good bath session. You can also drink vodka at the restaurant adjacent to this 200 years old institution.

Check out www.tripadviser.in to know more about Sanduny Banya.

Pickpockets are always on the lookout for visitors who appear or are careless with their belongings. Pickpockets in Moscow can also use their nimble skills to swipe your wallets and credit cards or cash from you. You need to be on high alert especially when you are in tourist locations like the Arbat Street and other crowded areas like the metro. To avoid unnecessary stress, buy a money belt so you can keep it very close to your body and protect your cash and credit card.

Because of the prevalence of pickpockets, going out with your passport should be avoided. Nevertheless, to prevent the police from stopping and questioning you for whatever reasons, always carry a photocopy of your passport. It is also important to photocopy travelling visa page and other documents that prove your legal stay in Moscow.

When visiting areas like the Lenin’s Tomb, it is of paramount importance to pay maximum respect. Security is very strict for this novel attraction. You should keep in mind that there will certainly be long queues, so prepare yourself for not fidgeting or making jokes. If you can’t keep quiet avoid visiting such a place where quietness and respect are highly valued.

Any traveller in a single location for 3 or more days will have to register. This is essential so that the government can be updated on locations their guests or visitors are at all times. Hotels will handle the registration form for you and this requires you to hand over your visa and passport to them. Have no fear as both the visa and passport will be given back to you with necessary registration documents. You may be charged a fee for this service, so keep that in mind. Large hotels usually charge a lesser amount, while smaller hotels charge more.

All foreign visitors are warned and advised from drinking tap water. However, water used for showering is safe and using the amount of water you require for brushing your teeth is also not harmful. People usually drink mineral water at different restaurants. If you don’t drink carbonated mineral water, always ask them for water without gas which is known in Moscow as “voda byez gas”.

Buying antiques or art is something you may love to do. However, make sure you are buying it from a dealer that will give you all the forms that help you taking them out of Moscow. Keep the necessary forms together with receipt of your purchase safe as you will certainly need to show it to customs agents before leaving the country. It is of paramount importance to note that you can’t leave the country with any item that is more than 100 years old.

To avoid getting your electronic devices drained of power, you need to have a converter of 220v and two-pronged adapters with you. Charging your electronic devices is usually the first thing people do when they check into their hotel as their battery power is usually drained during their journey. Buying one of the converters before travelling is advisable as you may not see them when you arrive in Moscow.

Be very careful about military security building, official, government looking buildings or photographing stations when it comes to taking photos. If you are not sure of where you are or the buildings around you, don’t be tempted to snap. A lonely planet author and many visitors have been arrested for this innocent behavior.

Right across Russia, long-distance trains timetables are written based on Moscow time. The only exceptions to these are timetables of suburban services that are based on local time. However, this is not always true, so it is good you double check the train timetable. Most station clocks in different places are based on Moscow time. Bear in mind that both St. Petersburg and Moscow make use of the same time zone.

As earlier stated in the article, have a copy of your passport, registration papers and visa always with you. Don’t go out with the original ones to avoid the activities of pickpockets. Always present these documents to any officer demanding them. At some cases, the authorities of Russia might ask for an unofficial payment to accelerate their service, so ask them for an official receipt.

Although working churches are made open for all, you as a visitor must be careful not to either offend sensibilities or cause a devotional disturbance. If you are a lady, endeavour to have your head and bare shoulders covered. Most churches in Moscow requires ladies to wear a skirt before entering. Wrappers are always made available at the entrance to adhere to this rule. If you are a man, you are not expected to come into the church wearing a short or a hat.