Moscow
Travel Guide

Moscow, or Moskva in Russian, is Russia's capital. It's the most densely populated city in the country and also one of the largest cities in the world. Throughout its history, it has been the focal point of the country's progress and political changes, from the Grand Duchy of Moscow to the Soviet Union, and it's become an important political and economic center worldwide.
Located on the banks of the Moskva... River, Moscow has a strategic position, and though it doesn't have direct access to the sea, this has allowed it to become the great city it is now, with navigable access to the Volga River, the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea among others. Moscow is a city where people from different parts of Russia live and work along with people from neighboring countries like Ukraine, Belarus, Georgia or Azerbaijan.
In its streets you can still breathe its Soviet legacy. The city is filled with astounding buildings and monuments that will take you to the city's communist past. But nowadays, Moscow is a city full of life, museums, theaters and art galleries and its population is one of the most art loving in Europe. Its citizens are usually deep, nostalgic, generous, emotional and love their families. When Muscovites and Russians in general smile at you, you know they really mean it because, despite the sober face some of them always seem to have, they're rather friendly, with a close circle of friends they highly value.
Moscow is a cold and amazing city that has developed a model similar to Western life style and it's one of the cities in the world where wealthiest people live in. If you travel to Moscow you'll surely find it a welcoming city that's wide open to outsiders.

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Moscow Overview

Language

Russian is the official language and it's quite difficult to learn, if you're starting from scratch. But all the tourist information, restaurants, hotels information and even the signs in the metro are translated to English.

Weather

Moscow weather is continental with long, cold winters and short mild summers. Days are often cloudy in winter and the sun only shines at certain times of the day. Between October and April temperatures are around 0°C (32 °F), reaching such extreme temperatures as -20 ° C (-4 °F) on really cold days. The most common view in Moscow during cold months is the city covered in snow and the frozen Moskva River. But in May temperatures begin to rise reaching an average of 25 ºC (77 °F) during the hottest months, specially July and August. During this time storms are a pretty normal thing.

Money

The Ruble (RUB). Russia's official currency is the Ruble. In downtown Moscow there are many exchange offices and banks where you can exchange currency but do not forget you need your passport for any operation. Some tourist spots accept payment in Euros, Dollars and credit cards.

When to go

If you want to avoid the cold, the best time to visit is, no doubt, during summer. That's between June and early September. This time of the year the temperatures are pleasant, there are little rains and the days are longer. If you don't want to freeze in the middle of the Red Square it's best to save winter for warmer destinations.

Days

4 days. Moscow has many attractions, dozens of interesting museums and many subway stops so you would actually need a week to see them all. But four days will be enough to see the most beautiful and essential things.

Surroundings

Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius (monasteries)
Vladimir (city)
Sergiev Posad (city)
Suzdal (city)

Store Hours

Most shops in Moscow are open 12 hours a day, from 9 am to 9 pm, closing an hour at noon to eat. On Sundays, stores are usually closed. The same goes for banks, they're open until 9 pm.