History & hipsters in Moscow
Explore the Kremlin, catch some ballet at the Bolshoi and hang with the cool kids in Gorky Park.
During any season, at any hour of the day, Moscow thrills visitors with its artistry, history and majesty.
Kremlin & Red Square
The very founding site of the city (and arguably, the country), the Kremlin and Red Square are still at the heart of Moscow – historically, geographically and spiritually. Feel the weight of this significance as you wander within the walls of the ancient fortress, marvel at the mindboggling magnificence of St Basil’s Cathedral and pay your respects to the revered leader of a now defunct state. Moscow will move you.
Communist History
The remains of the Soviet state are scattered all around the city. Monuments remember fallen heroes and victorious battles and museums attempt to analyse and synthesise the past. See Lenin and Stalin – off their pedestals – at the whimsical Art Muzeon. Step into the socialist-realist fantasy at VDNKh. Descend into the depths of the Soviet system at Bunker-42 Cold War Museum. Ride the museum-like metro and remember the millions who suffered at the Gulag History Museum.
Performing Arts
What is more thrilling than watching a ballerina defy gravity, leaping across the stage at the glittering Bolshoi Theatre? Or feeling the force of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, just a few blocks away from where it premiered more than a century ago? Or oohing and aahing as circus performers soar under the big tent? The classical performing arts in Moscow are still among the best in the world. Whether you appreciate the classics or prefer the contemporary, the capital’s performing arts will impress.
Orthodoxy & Architecture
At nearly every turn, golden domes peek out over rooftops and church bells peal through the streets, which are dotted with some 600 churches. There are colourful hidden gems, historic fortresses and gargantuan cathedrals. The exteriors are adorned with stone carvings and glittering domes; interiors are packed with ancient icons, swirling incense and faithful worshippers. For more than a millennium, Orthodoxy has helped to define the Russian nation, a significance that is palpable in these atmospheric spiritual places.
Moscow’s Top 10
1. Kremlin This ancient fortress is the founding site of Moscow and the ultimate symbol of political power in Russia. Admire the artistry of Russia’s greatest icon painters, shed a tear for Russia’s great and tragic rulers, peer down the barrel of the gargantuan Tsar Cannon and gawk at the treasure trove that fuelled a revolution.
2. Red Square Stepping onto Red Square never ceases to inspire, with the tall towers and imposing walls of the Kremlin, the playful jumble of patterns and colours adorning St Basil’s Cathedral, the majestic red bricks of the State History Museum and the elaborate edifice of GUM, all encircling a vast stretch of cobblestones. Individually they are impressive, but all together, the ensemble is electrifying.
3. Ballet at the Bolshoi An evening at the Bolshoi Theatre is the ultimate ‘‘special occasion’’. Since its opening in 1856, the neoclassical theatre has offered a magical setting for a spectacle. The main stage still sparkles brightly, with the theatre space draped in rich red velour and glittering with gilded mouldings, but it has also been updated with the latest technologies.
4. Gorky Park Back in the day, Gorky Park was famous as a setting for a spy novel, but nowadays it is Moscow’s hippest, most happening hotspot. From morning (when runners ply the riverside path) to night (when dancers move to sultry music), the hipsters have taken over. In fact, the whole length of the Krymskaya nab – from Red October to Vorobyovy Gory – has been redesigned into a chain of sparkling fountains, sport courts, outdoor art exhibits and summer cafes.
5. Factories To Art Centres Nothing exemplifies postindustrial cool as the art complexes and design centres that have proliferated in the capital’s former factories and warehouses. Winzavod, a former wine-bottling factory started the trend and now houses cutting-edge art galleries. Many other factories have followed suit. Flakon was a crystal production plant, but now it’s a centre for design and architecture. A former bread factory, Khlebozavod 9 bustles with boutiques and trendy cafes.
6. Moscow Metro The Moscow metro is a history lesson and an art museum (as well as a pretty efficient form of transportation). Construction started in the 1930s and it continues today. The design of the stations and the direction of the expansion tell a story about Moscow in the 20th and 21st centuries. Even more intriguing is the amazing artwork and architectural design that characterises the stations, many of which are constructed from granite and marble, and are adorned with mosaics, bas-reliefs and other detailing.
7. State Tretyakov Gallery The memorable Russian Revival building is Moscow’s largest art museum and the world’s premier collection of Russian art, covering ancient icons to avant-garde. The Tretyakov is famed for its impressive collection of wonderful realist paintings by the Peredvizhniki, but the museum also contains show-stopping examples of Russian Revival and art nouveau works.
8. Banya at Sanduny Baths The banya is a uniquely Russian experience that will leave you feeling clean, refreshed and relaxed. In winter, the tension of constant cold is released by the hot, steamy bath, while a beating with birch branches helps to improve circulation. But even in warmer temperatures, the Russian bathhouse experience is refreshing and reinvigorating. Sanduny is Moscow’s oldest bathhouse – a luxurious setting in which to indulge in this national pastime.
9. Moscow River Boat Tours Avoid traffic jams, feel the breeze on your face and get a new perspective on the city’s most famous sights when you see them from one of the ferry boats that ply the Moscow River. The tours provide a wonderful overview of the city, cruising past Novodevichy Convent, Gorky Park, the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, the Kremlin and Novospassky Monastery.
10. Russian Cuisine Moscow may not be an obvious choice for culinary travel but nowadays, the capital delights visitors with opportunities to sample a rich, diverse and delectable cuisine that’s truly come into its own. The temptations are many: oldfashioned haute-russe delicacies enjoyed by oligarchs of old; satisfying retro dishes at nostalgic Soviet-themed restaurants such as fish pie, and many fresh, modern approaches by innovative chefs emphasising local ingredients. Moscow is also a prime spot to sample the tantalising fare from Central Asia and the Caucasus.
Reproduced with permission from the 7th edition of Lonely Planet’s Moscow guidebook, 2018.