Red Square is the heartbeat of Moscow, its buildings telling the story of Russia's past. The Kremlin stands along one side of the square. Inside, this ancient seat of the Tsars and now, President Medvedev, is studded with treasures. Here you'll find magnificent frosted churches, wedding-cake style, such as the Assumption Cathedral, Archangel’s and Annunciation Cathedrals. Russia's might is apparent on Ivan Square, where the Tsar Bell and Tsar Cannon stand and the Arsenal is on Senatskaya Square. The palaces - the Residence of Russian Tsars and Patriarchs and Grand Kremlin Palace - are suitably awe-inspiring.
Probably the most famous site in Red Square is St Basil's Cathedral with its ornate onion domes and swirling colours, which comprises nine separate chapels.
The GUM, the shopping mall, is where you'll find expression of the new Russia. There are more than 150 shops and stalls, big Western brands and huge prices. For more affordable souvenirs such as matrioshka dolls, get to the Old Arbat or Ismailovo Market.
Cheap flights to Moscow are plentiful, British Airways alone flies there at least twice a day.
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Peak Season:
July and August are the peak tourist season in Moscow. Those intending to visit during the summer months should search for cheap flights to Moscow far in advance.
Off Season:
Late spring and early autumn are good times to visit Moscow. The weather is typically mild, although still unpredictable. Late May and late August tend to be warm and sunny.
Winter has the fewest tourists. The snowscapes are breathtaking - so is the bitter cold.
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Taxis are available from outside both terminals; passengers should avoid the renegade taxi drivers and go to the official taxi counter. Rates are fixed. There is an express bus services, which leaves from outside Sheremetyevo 1 and 2 for the nearby metro stations that connect to the city centre. Minibuses are also available.
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Cheap and efficient, the Moscow metro (subway) is the easiest and most popular form of transport. Plus, the metro stations themselves are attractions with their sculptures and artwork. Metro tickets are purchased at the stations, and single- and multiple-trip tickets are available.
Buses and trams cover the areas not serviced by the metro. Tickets can be purchased from the driver but they are cheaper at kiosks and some metro stations. Validate the ticket when you board the bus.
Minibus shuttles, called marshrutka, travel the bus routes and can be flagged down.
Taxis are easily hailed for short trips. Many private car owners act as taxis, so make sure to agree on a fare before boarding. For longer treks, such as to the airport, call a taxi company to arrange transport.
If you drive in Moscow, note that honking is forbidden except in the case of emergency, and all cars must have seatbelts, a first aid kit, fire extinguisher, and an emergency triangle or red light. Avoid driving at night as driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, though illegal, is commonplace.
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- Cathedral Square is the centre of the Kremlin. There are three cathedrals: Cathedral of the Dormition where all the tsars were crowned, Cathedral of the Annunciation and Cathedral of the Archangel Michael where the Muscovite monarchs from 13th-17th century are interred. The Tsar Bell and Tsar Cannon are on Ivan Square, while the Grand Kremlin Palace, residence of the 19th-century Russian emperors, is on Palace Square.
- Red Square dates from the 15th century, “red” being an archaic word for beautiful, nothing to do with Communism. St Basil's Cathedral with its colourful onion domes is here and at the northern corner of the square stands the Kazan Cathedral. This fancy red-and-white building is a replica. It was rebuilt in 1993 to replace the original, which Stalin had destroyed in 1936 to clear Red Square for military parades. The Cathedral of Christ the Saviour is also a reconstruction. It was dynamited in 1931, but rebuilt in the 1990s.
- If only the Tube was like this … Mayakovskaya is one of the most lavish stations on the metro system, boasting marble and steel pillars and mosaics.
- Shop in GUM, the State Department Store, a gorgeous three-storey arcade built in the 1890s, which lines the eastern side of Red Square. Most of the usual Western suspects are here among its 150 shops, but there are Russian shops too selling local delicacies. For souvenirs such as matroishka dolls, fur hats, khokhloma (lacquered wood) and old propaganda posters, visit the Arbat or the Izmailovsky Flea Market.
- The Seven Sisters, seven towers to rival the skyscrapers in the US, were built during Stalin’s reign. They have a “wedding cake” style, which concentrates the eye to a central tower.
- No visit to Moscow is complete without a trip to Lenin’s mausoleum.
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