Moscow

·         Keep the beggars at bay.

·         Do not get over friendly with the guide or the strangers here.

·         Make sure you dress in accordance with the local traditions and cultures.

·         Do not do anything that hurts the local sentiments.

·         Always be alert.

·         Do not leave your valuables in the hotel room.

·         Opt for a hotel that has a room safe.

·         Do not flaunt your valuables or jewelry in public places.

·         Make sure you have some idea of the local language before you visit the country.

·         Do not get involved in drugs of any form.

·         If you have a medical condition, carry all the needed medicines.

·         Always have with you a first aid kit.

·         Do not film without permission.

·         If you ever feel lost, take help from the locals here.

·         Whenever you interact with the locals, do ensure you are warm and polite.

·         Do not let anyone take advantage of you.

·         Whenever you are visiting any new destination, it is always a good idea to gather sufficient information about that place before you travel there.

·         Always travel in large groups.

·         Make sure you do not explore the unknown trails during the night hours.

·         Ensure that you have with you at least one identity proof.

The legal age for drinking in Moscow is 18 years. 

The Moscow Kremlin is one of the most beautiful looking complex of churches and palaces in the world. The place looks so beautiful that it has been depicted in many popular movies. You will also find museums as well as other buildings where art pieces are on showcase. It's right in the middle of the city and attracts a huge crowd on most days. You must be prepared to stand in long queues to enter the place as it is one of the biggest tourist attraction places in the city. But once you get inside, you will forget about everything and just gaze at the elegant and gorgeous Kremlin.

The St. Basil Cathedral is located right opposite of the famous Moscow Kremlin. Since both of them are so nearby, the vicinity is full of tourists and you will always find it crowded, bustling with people. However, the St. Basil Cathedral looks beautiful and is widely termed as one of the best looking Cathedrals in Russia. This cathedral should definitely be among your must visit places in Moscow. More than being a religious place, it has become a tourist attraction because the Cathedral is so picturesque.

The Red Square is the main square of the city and the major site of many popular attractions such as the Kremlin, St. Basil Cathedral and Lenin's Mausoleum. Since it is close to so many attractions, the place attracts a lot of tourists and even the local vendors take advantage of the massive crowd here. You can see the whole Kremlin space right by its side and it looks amazing from here. There is a river on the other side which adds up to the overall experience. You will see tourists clicking pictures of themselves all around as it looks so beautiful.

Russia is famous around the world for its Bolshoi Ballet and to witness it, you need to visit the Bolshoi Theatre. After seeing the theatre from the outside, tourists are in love with Russian style of architecture and how nice it looks. Even the ticket prices here are quite affordable so you can attend a ballet event while on your holiday. The ballet shows are held on a grand scale and it is an amazing experience to witness it live in front of you where some of the top ballet dancers perform.

This is one of the most modern museums you will see. Most of the work or piece of art that you will find here are of modern 21st century and made by modern artists. You will also find a socialist realism exhibit featuring completely different kind of work here. Art lovers will have a blissful time here among all the stunning work by some of the most renowned artists in the world. It is considered as a major highlight in the city and the gallery finds place in most of the people's must visit places lists. You will also learn a lot about Russian history through the work displayed here.

If you are looking to roam around gardens of the 17th century, this park is the perfect place to be at. There are many more things that you can do to have a good time here. You will find a boules café which is great for snacks and refreshments. The park also has an open movie theater which is pretty huge and a lot of people can watch the movie together. You can also skate on ice here as there is a winter ice rink right within the park itself. It is recommended that you visit the park in winter season to reap the most benefits out of it. 

Teremok is one of the most popular food chain in Russia with branches all over the country. It is famous for authentic Russian fast food which you can eat on the go. If you happen to spot a branch of the food chain while on your holiday, make sure to try it out, the food here will delight you. There are various options so you can choose the one you like. In case you are confused which one to try, check out Blini and Syrniki, these are the most popular dishes here.

There is no better way to explore the city and soak in the atmosphere than to take a walk around the most famous places here. The best place where you can take a walk here is the city center. The place is lined up with various monument and tourist attractions so you can view all of them while taking a walk. If you want to walk in peace and relax, there are various gardens in the city where you can go and walk in midst of the nature. You will spot some amazing works of architecture while you roam around Moscow.

Moscow City is a place inside Moscow where you can have a look at the biggest skyscrapers in the Europe. This is a huge tourist spot as well and you must check it out while you are on your holidays in Moscow. Although this not a monument but the collection of skyscrapers here are no less than a modern marvel. Certainly among the most picturesque location in the city, visit here to witness some of the biggest buildings in the whole continent.

Museums

There are various museums in the city ranging from space to modern art and everything in between. Those who like exploring museums will have an enjoyable time in the city as it is filled with many museums which are very popular for what they have in them. The Museum of Cosmonautics is completely dedicated to space related objects and as we all know Russia is one of the very few countries involved in space research. 

Website: Official Website

The monthly breakup to visit Moscow is as follows:-

•   April-May - This is the ideal time to visit Moscow. Temperature is optimal. Room rates might slightly shoot up as Spring season seeps in. Events to be experienced during this time are Spring Festival, Victory Day as well as Russian Fashion Week.
•   June-August - During this time of the year, you will get to experience Moscow's cultural attractions. Rates of accommodation during this time are quite high than usual. Events taking place during this time are Moscow International Film Festival as well as Usadba Jazz Festival.
•   September-October - This is the time when summers fade and winters fall in. A time when you can plan to make a quick visit. The event that you might get to attend during this time is Russian Fashion Week.
•   November-March - Winters in Moscow are long. There are days when the sun shows up only for a couple of hours. March might experience snowfall. It is difficult to cope up with the winters here. If you plan to take a tour during this time of the year then be prepared to face the fierce winter. Events that you would experience during this time are New Year's, Russian Fashion Week as well as Russian Orthodox New Year.

Moscow is easily accessible airplane. It conveniently accommodates three airports namely Sheremetyevo International Airport, Vnukovo International Airport as well as Domodedovo Airport.

To travel between the city and the airports various modes of transportation are available such as buses, commuter trains as well as taxis.

There are a number of things that a tourist can get involved into while exploring Moscow. Some of them are listed below:-

•   Watch live performances such as opera, ballet as well as classical music events at Bolshoi Theatre.
•   Take a hot steam bath at Russian bathhouses.
•   Go for ice skating in the winters at places like Bosco rink, Luzhnik, Izmaylovsky Park etc.
•   Take a hot air balloon ride of the Russian sky.
•   Take a tour of the adventurous Kva-Kva Water Park.
•   Visit parks and gardens including Victory Park, Park Sokolniki, Gorkiy Park, Kolomenskoye, Patriarshi ponds area, Japanese garden situated in Botanichesky Sad, Aptekarskiy ogorod etc.
•   Visit the Moscow Zoo.
•   Explore the Russian sky while skydiving and experience a helicopter excursion.

Moscow provides you a taste of perfect Russian cuisine. Following are the delicacies of Moscow and places serving them:-

•   Delicious Lepyoshka served at Bagrationovskaya Market
•   Borscht served at Mari Vanna
•   Mouth-watering blackcurrant pastry served at Wolkinsky/Volkonsky
•   Pelmeni served at Cafe Pushkin
•   Khachapuri served at Khachapuri Cafe
•   Syrniki with delicious homemade Jam
•   Blini served at Mari Vanna
•   Pelmeni at Pushkin Cafe

Moscow is best explored by walking but there are various other modes to travel around the city. Some of which are as follows:-

•   By Metro - Metro in Moscow operate from 5:30 am to 1:00 am. This mode of transportation is quick and convenient.
•   By Bus - The streets of Moscow are largely provided with bus and trolleybus routes. These routes operate during the daytime and some are even active during the nights.
•   By Tram - Although this mode of transportation is not very common still this mode can be used to travel around.
•   By Marshrutka - This is a jitney-like traveling mode quite similar to a shared taxi or a minibus. They share the routes followed by the buses of Moscow. This mode of transportation is faster than buses. Their drivers generally only speak Russian.
•   By Commuter Rails - Commuter rails operate between the suburbs of Moscow Oblast as well as Moscow train stations. These although are of less importance of to tourists.

The local language of Moscow is Russian. Majority population speaks the same language. English, on the other hand, is spoken the most in Moscow as compared to any other Russian city and is also the second language of the place. There are almost eighty percent citizens who are bilingual. Some of the translations are as follows:-

•   Hello - Zdravstvuyte
•   Good Morning - Dobraye ootro
•   My name is.. - Meenya zavoot..
•   That's okay - Nyezashta

Moscow offers various options for the purpose of shopping. Some of the various shopping places are as follows:

•   Vremena Goda - One of the most luxurious shopping places that offer showrooms of many high-end brands such as Porsche, Chanel etc. It also accommodates trendy cafes, restaurants as well as spas.
•   GUM - Another shopping mall offering various international brands and boutiques crafting unique products. Even if you desire not to shop you must visit the place to admire the architecture.
•   Okhotny Ryad - This is an underground mall with loads of international brands.
•   Aviapark - This largest shopping mall of Europe accommodates more than around five-hundred shops as well as a four-level aquarium with colorful tropical fishes
•   Izmaylovsky Market - You will find numerous vendors selling a number of products including fur hats, expensive jewelry, matryoshka dolls, lacquer boxes etc. The base level sells souvenirs. The best collection of products are to be found on weekends as some vendors turn up only on the weekends.
•   Detskiy Mir - This place is no less than a heaven for children. Shops here sell DVDs, toys, books etc. It also offers souvenirs. Even if one doesn't wish to make a purchase this place is a must visit.

Moscow has an outstanding array of nightlife choices for all. It offers the best options for all kinds of party animals such as alcohol lovers, clubbers as well as music lovers. Moscow party places are mostly the ones offering more than one feature. They blend nightclubs along with concert venues, casinos etc.

Moscow is a city that offers various historical sites to be explored and admired by the tourists. Some of them are listed below:

•   Red Square
•   State Historical Museum
•   The Kremlin
•   St. Basil’s Cathedral
•   Kitay Gorod neighborhood