So you’ve come to terms with the cold, you’ve had your fill of vodka, and you want more out of Moscow. Lucky for you, there’s a lot more to do than just drink and freeze. In fact, Moscow is known as a museum city with over 200 to check out. Just in case you don’t have time for all of them, here are a few can’t-miss places so you can get a head start. Although the city is immersed in classical art, it is also home to a new generation of artists, currently being raised and showing …More

Unless you are from Canada, Finland or another similarly snowy country you probably won’t know what -25 degrees feels like. It feels fine for the first five minutes: every breath in is simply accompanied by the hair inside your nostrils freezing and then thawing as you breathe out. After the first five minutes your cheeks start to burn and turn red and your hands become cold beneath their gloves. At -30 degrees you only go outside to buy the essentials. At -40 degrees you need two pairs of gloves and might …More

Moscow has enough bars to keep even the most discerning drinker happy; two of the best are fun, hip and in great locations—perfect for a post-sightseeing drink or to start your evening. Maki is a cool place to hang out. Situated right in the centre of the city it’s a great place to meet friends in for an evening drink with delicious but inexpensive food. Maki is trendy and modern but serves traditional Russian classics such as Kisel (sweetened juice thickened with starch) and more cosmopolitan drinks …More

Moscow has a great music scene and there are many jazz aficionados in the capital. A couple of the most interesting places are Dzhao-da, Fore and Le Club and are definitely worth checking out. Kitaiskii Letchik Dzhao-Da (Chinese Pilot Dzhao-Da) is not strictly a jazz club but boasts a great mix of music, including jazz, and a fab atmosphere—perfect for dancing the night away. Dzhao-Da describes itself channelling a mix of African beats, French love songs and British punk rock and plays host to some great …More

Moscow can be horrendously expensive, so instead of using up all your money on one overpriced latte, get the most bang for your buck at these more affordable cafes. Volkonsky is one of the few bakeries in Moscow that makes all their pastries by hand; get there in the morning for deliciously fresh croissants and steaming hot coffee. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are tasty, if a little expensive, but the atmosphere is relaxing and conjures up images of breakfasting in Paris not far from the Seine. Volkonsky has an …More

Moscow is one of the most interesting cities in the world with plenty of things to see and do. But while traveling to a new place, you need to make sure you experience what it is really like to live in Moscow. Food, of course, is a huge part of any culture. So when you travel to the city where the one and only Kremlin lives, make sure to check out these places to eat. Café Puskin A great place for authentic Russian cuisine you will see people doing business, out on a date, or even the Mayor of Moscow, …More

Russian opera has played a large part in the countries culture. In 1731, the Russian Empress Anna asked Poland’s King Saxony August II for his Italian opera troupe to perform at her crowning ceremony in Moscow. Afterword, composers from all around the world came to Russia and translated their operas into Russian so it can be performed for the people. Eventually Russian born-composers became more prominent and opera houses were built all over Moscow. The Bolshoi Theatre The theatre was built in 1776 by …More

Moscow recently opened its first private Jewish Museum which covers over 200 years of Jewish history in Russia. Most of the displays are from private collectors and there are over 4,000 exhibits that cover religious, cultural, and government relations. It is not surprising the museum is so large considering the role Jews played in the rise of communism and the laws and persecution that came afterword. Jews first immigrated to Russia in the early 13th century. They came from the Middle East, Greece, Babylonia and …More

A staple in the country, bathhouses in Russia (better known as banias) have been around for ages. Czars to peasants would use them at least three times a week. In 1946 there were 120 bathhouses in Moscow, but as baths have become more common in households the need for public ones declined. They have been used since medieval times and were located near villages but built closer to where there was water rather than where people lived. The houses were decorated with banniks (naked dwarfs or a little old man) along …More

For those who are interested in doing Moscow on a budget look no further than the Godzilla hostel. This hostel is packed with travellers and is a great place to meet people if you are travelling on your own. Situated near the centre of the city it’s a short walk from all the tourist hotspots and five minutes from several metro lines. They have a good selection of different types of rooms to cater to all classes of the budget traveller from singles to dorm rooms. Open since 2005, the hostel has experience …More

Moscow is Mecca to those interested in shopping. I’d like to say that it caters to all tastes but to really enjoy shopping here you need to be able to be flash with your cash. Stop one for anyone interested in shopping in Moscow is GUM on Red Square. This place is also worth a visit if you can only afford the prices in the Soviet stolovaya canteen (cheap self-serve bar) upstairs. During the USSR, GUM was broken up into lots of tiny shops, and before the revolution, there were about 1000 different ones …More

Moscow has enough museums to keep practically anybody interested so if endless paintings aren’t your thing—fear not! Here is a taste of two of the greatest museums to whet your appetite: One of Moscow’s most spectacular galleries is the State Tretyakov Gallery, a short walk from the Red Square. It takes its name from the Tretyakov brothers whose collection forms the basis of the current museum with Pavel Tretyakov supporting the Peredvizhniki in the 19th Century. The Peredvizhniki (The …More