When is the best time to fly to Moscow?
Peak Season
July and August makes up the peak tourist season in Moscow. Those intending to visit during the summer months should book their flights to Moscow and reserve hotel rooms well in advance, in order to get the best deal.
Off Season
Cheap flights to Moscow are more readily available during the off season; however, airfares and room rates may increase slightly during events.
Late spring and early fall are good times to book a flight to Moscow. Travellers who visit during the first weekend in September will be able to experience Den’ Gorda (Moscow City Day), a celebration of the birth of the Russian Capital. Locals and tourists can enjoy fun fairs, street entertainment, live music, vibrant processions and taste some delicious local food and drinks.
The weather in late spring and early autumn is typically mild, although still unpredictable. Late May and late August tend to be warm and sunny.
Winter is another off peak period, as although the snowscapes are breathtaking, so is the bitter cold. It is advised to bring plenty of warm clothing if planning a visit to the city between late November and February.
Visitors planning flights to Moscow during winter will enjoy the Russian Winter Festival, held every year from 25th December until the 5th January. The area in and around Izmailovo Park is transformed into a winter wonderland, where visitors can experience traditional folk music, dancers and performers and enjoy signature delicacies such as pancakes and caviar. The bitterly cold temperature is made a little more bearable through the heart-warming vodka on offer. If you’re planning on visiting during the Moscow Winter Festival then organising a sleigh ride through the winter forest is a must.
Moscow overview
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.