Red Square
Moscow's famous central plaza, paved in cobblestones and bordered by the Kremlin wall, St. Basil's Cathedral, the historical museum and the GUM arcade. It is the natural starting point for a first visit.
Moscow
Red Square, the Kremlin and St Basil's Cathedral stand in this capital, which also has major theatres and museums, plus ornate metro stations.
Attractive locations
Moscow Kremlin
The walled fortress at the heart of the city, holding gold-domed cathedrals, palaces and the Armoury museum. Parts are used by the government, so only certain areas are open to visitors.
St. Basil's Cathedral
A 16th-century church on Red Square with brightly patterned onion domes, each topping a separate chapel. The interior is a maze of narrow passages and painted walls.
Cathedral of Christ the Saviour
A huge white and gold Orthodox cathedral on the Moskva River, rebuilt in the 1990s after its Soviet-era demolition. Its great hall and riverside setting draw both worshippers and sightseers.
Tretyakov Gallery
The leading museum of Russian art, with icons, 19th-century realist paintings and works from the early twentieth century. The collection traces the story of the country's artists.
Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts
A museum of European art in a columned building near the Kremlin, with classical sculpture, Old Masters and a notable group of French Impressionist and modern paintings.
Novodevichy Convent
A walled convent from the 16th century beside a quiet pond, with white-and-pink churches and golden domes. It is a World Heritage Site, and an old cemetery lies next door.
Gorky Park
A large riverside park with tree-lined paths, ponds, cycling routes, outdoor events and cafes. It is where many Muscovites go to relax and take a walk.
VDNKh
A vast exhibition park from the Soviet era, with ornate pavilions, fountains and wide avenues. Today it hosts museums, shops and events, and is easy to explore on foot.
Bolshoi Theatre
Russia's most famous opera and ballet house, fronted by a columned portico with a bronze chariot on the roof. Performances run through the season, and the building is worth seeing from the square.
State Historical Museum
A red-brick museum building at the northern end of Red Square, covering Russian history from prehistoric times. Its ornate interiors are as much a draw as the collections.
Zaryadye Park
A modern park beside Red Square with landscaped zones, a glass-roofed concert hall and a bridge that juts out over the Moskva river. The bridge gives views of the Kremlin and St Basil's.
Airports
Vnukovo International Airport VKO
It is about 28 km in a straight line from Moscow.
Sheremetyevo International Airport SVO
It is about 29 km in a straight line from Moscow.
Zhukovsky International Airport ZIA
It is about 40 km in a straight line from Moscow.
Domodedovo International Airport DME
It is about 42 km in a straight line from Moscow.
Getting around
From Sheremetyevo Airport
From Sheremetyevo, Aeroexpress trains reach Belorussky and Savyolovsky railway stations as well as stops on the Moscow Central Circle and the MCD-1 line, with the ride into the city taking about 35 minutes. Several of those stops connect to the metro. Express bus 1195 covers the route between the terminals and Khovrino metro station in about 20 minutes. UK and Canadian advice both advise against all travel to Russia, and say bank cards issued outside Russia do not work there.
- Source: Aeroexpress: Sheremetyevo Airport route (checked 4 Nov 2026)
- Source: UK FCDO travel advice: Russia, entry requirements (checked 4 Nov 2026)
- Source: Government of Canada travel advice: Russia (checked 4 Nov 2026)
Metro, circle line and surface transport
A 2017 guide from the City of Moscow describes the metro as the quickest way to get around. It also covers the Moscow Central Circle, a railway ring connected to the metro, and lists buses, trams and suburban commuter trains that leave from the main railway stations. The guide says most Muscovites use the Troika card. Since the guide is old, current lines and payment options are best checked on the official Moscow transport portal.
- Source: Moscow City Web Site: All you need to know about public transport in Moscow (2017) (checked 4 Nov 2026)
Troika card and tickets
Troika cards, with a refundable deposit, are sold at metro ticket offices and vending machines, MCC and MCD stations and Mosgortrans kiosks, says Moscow's city website. Stored on a card can be a Wallet balance for single trips, a bundle of trips or a time-based pass, and it can also record Unified and 90 Minutes tickets. UK advice says Mastercard and Visa cards issued outside Russia will not work at Russian shops or ATMs. UK and Canadian advice both advise against all travel to Russia.
- Source: Moscow city website: How the Moscow Metro works (checked 4 Nov 2026)
- Source: UK FCDO travel advice: Russia, entry requirements (checked 4 Nov 2026)
- Source: Government of Canada travel advice: Russia (checked 4 Nov 2026)
Scams and safe taxis
Licensed Moscow taxis
According to Moscow's road inspectorate, a Moscow-licensed taxi is a yellow car with an orange light on the roof and a chequered strip of contrasting squares along the body, while a car licensed in the Moscow region is white with yellow and grey stripes. UK advice also says to settle the fare, or check that the meter is working, before getting in, and not to hail a taxi in the street.
- Source: Moscow City Web Site: MADI on taxi identification marks (24 June 2022) (checked 4 Nov 2026)
- Source: UK FCDO travel advice: Russia, safety and security (checked 4 Nov 2026)
Passport care at Moscow airports
Passports belonging to British nationals have been stolen or lost in Moscow airports, UK advice reports. Keep yours secure, particularly in busy transport hubs, and be especially alert around baggage collection and outside the arrivals hall.
- Source: UK FCDO travel advice: Russia, safety and security (checked 4 Nov 2026)
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan-10.7 °C48 mm
- Feb-9.6 °C42 mm
- Mar-4.1 °C42 mm
- Apr4.2 °C49 mm
- May12.6 °C86 mm
- Jun16.0 °C86 mm
- Jul19.0 °C93 mm
- Aug17.2 °C75 mm
- Sep11.5 °C64 mm
- Oct4.2 °C69 mm
- Nov-2.2 °C58 mm
- Dec-7.7 °C52 mm
Driest months: Jan, Feb, Mar. Wettest months: May, Jun, Jul.
Costs
Prices here are about 35% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Festivals and events
culture
New Year holidays (1-8 January)
In Russia, the new-year holiday is a long one, and it is both busy and festive.
culture
New Year holidays (1-8 January)
In Russia, the new-year holiday is a long one, and it is both busy and festive.
Who can help
Emergency
112 for all emergencies. Police 102. Ambulance 103. Fire 101.
ngo
Russian Red Cross Society
Helps with: Russia's national Red Cross society. Its programmes include first aid training, restoring family links and tracing, disaster relief, and a migration desk. Reception is open Monday to Friday, 10:00 to 19:00.
Who qualifies: People in Russia who need its first aid, family tracing, disaster relief or migrant support services.
Phone: +7 (499) 126-75-71
Email: mail@redcross.ru
Address: Cheremushkinsky Proezd 5, Moscow
un agency
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Russia
Helps with: The UN migration agency. Its Moscow office has worked in Russia since 1992 on migration management, crisis response and cooperation with partners. Contact is through its office and online form.
Who qualifies: Migrants and migration partners in Russia. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.
Phone: +7 495 660 77 82
Address: 4 Stasovoy Street, 119071 Moscow
local government
Ministry of Civil Defence, Emergencies and Disaster Relief (EMERCOM)
Helps with: Russia's national ministry for emergencies and disaster response. Its site lists the fire and rescue number 101 and an information helpline, and offers psychological aid and registration of tourist groups.
Who qualifies: Anyone in Russia needing fire, rescue or disaster help; tourist groups can use its registration service.
Phone: 101
Address: 1 Vatutina Street, Fili-Davydkovo, Moscow 121357
local government
Single emergency number 112 (Moscow city portal)
Helps with: Russia's single emergency number, listed on the Moscow city portal. The page also lists separate numbers for fire 101, police 102, ambulance 103 and gas 104. Calls to 911 are forwarded to 112.
Who qualifies: Anyone in Russia, including from mobile phones; the page says it works without an inserted SIM card.
Phone: 112
embassy
Finding your embassy or consulate in Russia (Moscow city portal)
Helps with: For emergencies, lost passports or detention, contact your own country's embassy or consulate. This Moscow city portal page explains what they do and says the Foreign Ministry website lists the missions in Moscow.
Who qualifies: Citizens of each country, through their own embassy or consulate.
local government
Moscow Tourist Information Support Center
Helps with: Moscow city's tourist information hotline, described on the city portal as round-the-clock. Calls are billed at your operator's rate. Use it for visitor questions in Moscow.
Who qualifies: Visitors to Moscow who need help or information.
Phone: 8 (495) 122-01-11
local government
Tourist Police (listed by Discover Moscow)
Helps with: Police line for tourists in Moscow, listed on the Moscow tourism portal run by the city's tourism development office. The portal marks it as 24/7. Emergency number 112 is also listed there.
Who qualifies: Visitors to Moscow who need help or information.
Phone: +7 499 157-29-31