Vacation travel to Russia's beautiful capital city of Moscow is much more popular now than it was in the past, since the end of the "cold war." A visitor should never lack plenty of activities and things to see in this interesting and diverse city.
One of the first things most travelers will want to see is the Kremlin. This is much more than "only a building" like many folks may be thinking. The Kremlin is actually a city within a city with churches, government buildings, and palaces within its confines. The Kremlin consists of The Arsenal, the State Kremlin Palace, Tsar Cannon and Bell, and the Senate, which is now the residence of Russia's president.
Other things found in the Kremlin are Cathedral Square containing the Cathedral of the Assumption, Ivan the Great Bell Tower, The Cathedral of the Archangel Michael, The Church of the Deposition of the Robe, The Amory (now an extensive museum), The Patriarch's Palace, the Cathedral of the Twelve Apostles, and The Terem, Great Kremlin, and Terem Palaces.
Another place tourists will most likely want to visit in Moscow is Red Square. It is found beside the Kremlin and Red Square is where Lenin's mausoleum is located as well as the incredibly stunning St. Basil's Cathedral. This three story architectural wonder was built in the mid 1500s. Nearly one entire side of Red Square is covered by the GUM Department Store (Gosudarstvenny Universalny Magazin). There are more than 150 shops here and it offers designer outlets, souvenirs, and places to find a bite to eat. The Historical Museum is also located in this area of Red Square.
Another shopping spot located near Red Square is the Okhotny Ryad Shopping Center. This three story underground mall is open from 11:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. daily. Here the tourist will find many shops and restaurants as well as exchange offices for currency exchange. Other things here are the underground cinema, bowling lanes, an internet center, and a recreation center.
Located near the Kremlin is the State Tretyakov Gallery (The National Museum of Russian Fine Art). Only the art of Russian Artists is shown here, and the gallery houses over 130,000 works of art of every medium. This is just one of several impressive art galleries in the city. The sculpture garden near the museum is a great chance to see many sculputures while getting some exercise walking. This is located on the bank of the Moscow River.
If you wish to take in an unforgettable opera or ballet while in Moscow, plan a visit to the Bolshoi Theatre. Noteworthy about this place is that it was destroyed by fires in 1805, 1812, and 1853, rebuilt even better each time.
Nearly a thousand species of animal life and more than six and a half thousand specimens call the Moscow Zoo their home. The zoo covers nearly fifty acres and was opened to the public in 1864.
To get away from the busy part of the city, plan a visit to Gorky Park. The park is nearly two miles long and runs along the Moscow River. In addition to being a relaxing park, this is an amusement park of sorts with rides like roller coasters and places to find something to eat. The ponds in Gorky Park when frozen in winter make a great skating rink if you are visiting during the cold months.
If you want an activity in Moscow that is not readily found as an attraction in many world cities, try the Sandunovsky Banya (public bath/sauna). This banya has been in operation for more than one hundred years. Keep in mind that soap is not welcome here. Cleaning is accomplished with the steam. You will want to, however take or buy "veniki," birch twigs, to increase your circulation by beating yourself with the twigs. Male and female sections of the banya are separated. A manicure or massage is available here and might be a good activity for after a long day of sightseeing. The banya is open from 8:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m., but last time for entrance is 8:00 p.m. Expect to spend two hours here and you will most likely want to choose the deluxe class. As with any sauna, people with certain health concerns should not visit a sauna of any kind, and if lightheadedness happens while there, it is time to leave.
If you see what looks like a fairy tale castle made of stone, you may be looking at the Volkov – Yusupov Chambers. The building's construction was started in the 1500s. A few very notorious people lived in this structure at various time, including Ivan the Terrible, and stories of terror filled the halls of this house more than once throughout history.
For some lighthearted fun, try one of the Russian circuses. The Tsvetnoi Bulvar Circus at 13 Tsvetnoi Bulvar and the Circus on Sparrow Hills at 7 Prospect Vernadskogo will both offer circus acts to bring out the child in every spectator, as a circus should always do!
Another place to relax is Moscow's Victory Park. Hire a catamaran or boat here, go skating, hear a concert, or just enjoy the beauty of the park.
These are just a few of the many things to do while spending some time in Moscow. The city is filled with art, music, museums, culture, and history spanning many hundreds of years.
