Moscow City Information
Everything to know about staying awhile

	Travel Articles From SRAS!
	Student Reviews: Food and Culture in Moscow!
	Vegetarian in Moscow
	SRAS Google Map of Moscow
	The Moscow Coffee Scene
	Off the Beaten Path  Part I: Art Part II: History
	Moscow's Seven Sisters
	Study Abroad in Moscow and Other Locations
	Student Life at the MGU Dorm
	Moscow's Dance Movements

Table of Contents (jump to)

1. Maps
   
2. The Weather
3. Restaurants
4. Groceries
5. Consumer Goods
6. Internet, Computers, Phones, Post
7. Banyas, Haircuts, Laundry, etc.
8. Health and Fitness
   
9. Theatre, Movies, and Music Concerts
10. Transport
11. Religious Services
12. Museums
         Must Sees!
         Quirky but Interesting
         Art
         History
         Literature, Theatre and Music
         Religious/Architectural 
         Science and Technology

1. Maps          (back to top)

1. SRAS Google Map of Moscow is marked with uni locations and lots of other stuff.
2. Bolshoi Gorod has a very cool map and guide (in Russian) to Moscow online.
3. Yandex Maps are basically Russia's answer to Google maps. Click "Панорамы" to explore Moscow from "street view" mode!

2. The Weather          (back to top)
Weather wise, Moscow is a city of extremes. Winters drop below zero and usually for a good long while, so pack warm. It also snows quite often, creating ice and dirty sludge, so you should bring a good pair of hiking boots with traction. Summers in Moscow reach the other extreme in temperature - averaging about 80 degrees in July. Summer can also be quite wet, as can fall and spring, so bring an umbrella. 

3. Restaurants         (back to top)

1. Cheap: SRAS has launched the Students Abroad Project to let you know which restaurants are specifically within a student budget. Check it out! Probably the cheapest place is town is Moo-Moo, where it's possible to get a full meal for under $5. Kruzhka is chain that caters to low-end student needs - and often offers sports on TV as well.
2. Traditional Gone Pop:  Yolki Palki, Moo-Moo (both Russian), Kish Mish (Uzbek), Shesh Besh (Azeri), and similar restaurants with funny names offer  inexpensive buffets and entrees. These are everywhere, just keep an eye out! For some amazing and amazingly cheap Russian pirozhki, we highly recommend the Stolle. There is one near MGU at 16 Malaya Pirogovskaya, near Metro Sportivnaya.
3. More Traditional Former USSR: Excellent Georgian food (friendly to both carnivores and vegetarians!) can be had quite inexpensively at Духанъ Алаверды, (Gruzinskyi Val, 23/25, a ten-minute walk from Belorusskaya metro station, circle line, exit towards the train station). For great Uzbek food, try Chaikhana, a great chain of comfy cafes. Ever wanted to actually try salo? We tried it at Korchma, a reasonably-priced chain of Ukrainian restaurants, and actually liked it! The Pushkin Café (Tverskoy Boulevard, #26a; M. Tverskaya) serves exquisite Russian food in an atmosphere recalling the glory of Czarist times. At ~$50 for dinner, this is a place to try once - if only once.
4. Urban Bohemian: For one of our all-around favorite places to eat, see Kulinarnaya Lavka Bratya Karavaevi, a new chain that offers hip surrounding and delicious, surprisingly cheap food. Project OGI (8/12 Potapovsky Per. - M. Chistiye Prudy – enter through the courtyard) is a stylish café-bar with fair-priced beer and decent snacks. Bookshops adjoin and sometimes they have live music.
5. For Music:  Art Garbage (aka Zapasnik - 5 Starosadsky Per., Building 6 - M. Kitai-Gorod) and Kitaisky Lyotchik (aka Dzhao Da - 25/12 Lubyansky Proyezd - M. Kitai-Gorod) are two of the genuinely hippest places in town currently and feature local and European bands. Drinks are decent and covers reasonable.
6. For the Homesick: Starlite Diner (16a Bolshaya Sadovaya Ul. - M. Mayakovskaya), open 24 hrs, is packed with American families and friendly Russian waitresses who understand a bit of English. They are not cheap, but do feature milkshakes in metal mixers and pancake stacks, etc. Moscow is also dotted with numerous TGI Friday's restaurants and other American chains. For a full meal expect to pay $5-10 more than you usually would in the states, but TGI, McDonalds, and many other places do provide free WiFi.
7. Mexican: Mexican is still tough to find in Moscow. While there is no Taco Bell, there is a long-standing tex-mex place on Tverskaya called La Cantina (5, Tverskya Ul. - M. Okhotnyi Ryad). The food is decent - but it can be hard to get a table and the food is expensive. There are also two chains now in Moscow that do build-a-burrito. Both currently have just one Moscow location, but are hoping to expand. The better of the two in our opinion is Muchachos (28, Komsomolsky Pr. - M. Fruzenskya), which is tastey and not too far from the university via metro. The other is Moe's, (13, Pyatnitskaya - M. Novokuznetskaya).  
8. Coffee: See this article for some of Moscow's plentiful coffee shops. 
9. Russian Microbrew: Pyaty Okean (20 Marksistskaya Ul., Building 1 - M. Marksistskaya) brews on-premises and pipes it directly to you. It flows from two taps (light and dark) at each table (how cool is that?). A meter measures your drink and subsequent bill – it’s not cheap, but not outrageous. Semi-formal nautical atmosphere, good food and classical piano are probably what keep this from turning into a beer brawl. Khamovniki (23 Leva Tolstova Ul., Building 3 - M. Park Kultury) is a bar on the premises of the Khamovniki beer factory. It is across from Kosmos bowling and offers good, cheap beer, Russian-style billiards, and a primarily Russian crowd. The outdoor seating is nice in summer.
10. Drinking Soviet Style: Zhiguli is a revived Soviet standby on the New Arbat. The have very reasonable prices and they play Soviet retro at night in the back hall (front hall that you see from the street is more of a cafeteria).
11. Vegetarian in Moscow: Jagannath (11 Kuznetskii Most and other locations) has an all-vegetarian and partly-vegan Indian and Asian menu, plus a shop that sells spices, soy products, rice flour, specialty teas, etc. Ganga Cafe is another vegetarian and vegan friendly place (37b Leningradsky Prospekt, Start shopping center, 3rd floor, M. Dinamo). Avocado (12/2 Chistoprudny Bulvar) also offers all vegetarian food with fresh ingredients in creative dishes. See also: Article on SRAS on maintaining a vegeterian diet in Moscow and this article from Moscow News on other dining choices.
12. Ethnic/Vegetarian Friendly: Maharajah (2/1 ul. Pokrovka - enter on Staroposdadkii Lane, across from a green church) offers fantastic, authentic Indian food with superb service, but it's pricey. If you're looking for spice, say so – the chefs tone it down for Russian palates but will jack it up for anyone who asks. Viet Café (3 Gazetny Lane) has tasty vegi-friendly Vietnamese fare. Bungalow Bar (6 Zemlianoi Val) has great Ethiopian food that is delicious and great for a small group. - East Buffet is a popular and enormous all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet. You might want to call early for reservations.
    
13. Kosher in Moscow: There are a handful of Kosher restaurants in Moscow. The cheapest is probably a Shokolodnitsa location that has gone completely kosher and now often hosts Jewish events. Shokolodnitsa is a coffee-shop chain and only the location at 32/1 Sadovo-Kudrinskaya is kosher. Tsuker (12/2 Bolshoi Kozikhinsky Per.), Tel Aviv (Tsvetnoi Bulvar, bldg. 1), Noodles (Cherkasskiy B. per 15-17), and Chagal (14/1, b. 2, Komsomolsky avenue) are also all kosher.  If you find another place that offers "kosher-type meals," you should inquire before eating; sometimes the establishment does not actually maintain a separate kosher kitchen. For the latest info, contact the International Jewish Community of Moscow, which usually has someone available who speaks English at tel: 783-8472. There are also two kosher cafes (one meat, one dairy) inside the Marina Roscha Synagogue and Jewish Community Center (2nd Vysheslavtsev pereulok, 5a). For more, check out KosherList.ru.
14. Foodie Food: Food Story is a blog run by a local Moscow foodie. While not generally "budget" selections they are generally some of more reasonably -priced hip spots to hit in Moscow if you are someone who really likes cuisine.

4. Groceries          (back to top)

1. Hard-to-Find Food Items: Most expats eventually crave things like peanut butter, maple syrup, Betty Crocker mixes, and other things which have largely not entered the Russian diet and are therefore rare finds in Russia. Stockman's, a large grocery store which specializes in these, however. They are located in each of Moscow's MEGA and Metropolis shopping centers and have a website in English. Of course, if you want import goods, expect to pay import prices...
   
2. Vegetarian Food Items: Perekrestok (Druzhba Shopping Center, Metro Novoslobodskaya, Novoslobodskay Ul., 4.) is a good spot to get tofu and ingredients for Chinese food. The entire complex is Chinese-owned, as is the very good restaurant (also called "Druzhba"), at the far end of the complex. Indian Spice Market (M. Sukharevskaya, Sretenka Ul., 36/2). It is hard to locate, but look for a sign that says "рыбалка" hanging on the shop next to it. It has spices needed for vegi-friendly eastern dishes. If you are feeling more adventurous than wealthy, try this page for a list of places to buy budget-friendly vegetarian groceries. Be warned that most of places listed are not easily accessed by metro. Eliseevskiy Supermarket (Metro Tverskaya, Tverskaya Ul., 14.) is one of Moscow's most prestigious and centrally located sources for certain vegetarian items like tofu (about $1 for a 2-3 ounce package).  
   
3. Kosher: There is a Kosher Supermarket at 45 Trifonofskaya St. (not far from Marina Roscha Synagogue and Jewish Community Center. 
4. Organic Produce: Lavka Lavka (5, Susalnyi Nizhnyi Per., Building 10) offers fresh, local, organic milk, meat, fish, and produce. They have several locations and a delivery service. Izbenka is a chain of stores specializing in organic dairy products. Bio Market (Metro Belorusskaya, Lesnaya Ul, 5; inside the Belaya Ploshad business center) was the first organic produce supermarket in Moscow. It features a wide variety of organic produce from all over the world and has a café. Bio Gourmet (Metro Park Kultury, Ostozhenka d.40/1) features a selection of organic produce from Europe, has an "eco-Café," and offers delivery.   
5. Anything you want for really cheap: Rinoks are your friend. Know them, love them; they are Russian and you will miss them when you go home. Find out more here.

5. Consumer Goods          (back to top)

1. Antiques and Souveniers: The best place to buy these is Vernisazh, located at Ismilovsky Park, at Ismilovskaya metro. Click here for a map. Go into the side entrance flanked by wooden spires. The place will be full of westerners and collectors looking for good deals.
2. Clothing: Red Square is now littered with high-end retail at GUM, which is worth a look, but the prices are prohibitive. Just outside Red Square, near Tversakaya St. you will find Oxotnyi Ryad, a three-story underground mall with more realistic pricing. For the bargain shopper, try Fashion Mart (ul. Liublinskaya, d. 126; M. Marino) for American/European brand-name clothing for low prices. The Familiya chain specializes in even cheaper clothing, usually from brands you won't recognize. You might also try Usachevskyi Rynok (23 Usacheva Ul. Metro Sportivnaya) which is particularly good for heavy coats and winter boots and has basically everything else from food to plumbing supplies as well. 
3. Books in Russian or English: Dom Knigi on (Novy Arbat, 8) and Biblio Globus (Myasnitskaya Ul., 6/3) are the main meccas for book worms in Moscow. Most large bookstores in Moscow also offer English-language sections, though it is often limited to classic literature and language-learning resources. For a list of stores, see RedTape.ru. You might also try The Moscow Book Swap Club, which meets about once a month. Also, Ozone.ru is Russia's version of Amazon, although if you are living in the dorms, you may have trouble arranging delivery.
4. IKEA and Shopping Malls: Moscow has several large western-style shopping centers. The largest of these are appropriately named MEGA and are run by IKEA, which has a location at each mall. These are some of the best places to go for cheap bedding, furniture, and kitchen needs. You'll also find everything from electronics (Media Markt), to everything you need for serious home improvement (OBI) among clothing stores and foodcourts. Go on a weekday to avoid the crowds. Other major malls include Metropolis and, near Moscow State University, is the Kapitolyi Shopping Center.
5. Anything you want for really cheap: Rinoks are your friend. Know them, love them; they are Russian and you will miss them when you go home. Find out more here.

6. Internet, Phones, Computers, Post        (back to top)
For more information on bringing and using electronics in Russia, please see our Packing Guide and our Post and Phones Guide.

1. Mobile Phones: SRAS students on regular SRAS programs in Moscow will be given a mobile phone for use during their time in Moscow. Anyone else can easily purchase a cheap phone and a pay-as-you-go SIM card in any Evroset store and get going for an investment of about $50.
   
   
2. Internet Cafes: As personal computing devices and free WiFi become more commonplace, Internet cafes are becoming rarer in Russia and especially in Moscow. However, a few are still to be found, even in the capital.
   
   Cafe Online is centrally located inside the Actor Gallery at Tverskaya St. 16. An hour of Internet will run you about $6.50. Open from 11am-10pm.
   
   Internet Club at Metropolis is located at Leningradskoe Shosse 16a, inside one of Moscow's best shopping malls. Head to Voikovskaya metro and follow the signs to TTs Metropolis. An hour online costs about $4.50. Open from 10am-11pm.
   
   Playground.ru is an Internet cafe, but is mostly frequented by gamers who come for the opportunity to play computer games against each other or to try out the latest releases. It's located inside the Tishina Shopping Mall at Tishinskaya Square, 1, near Metro Belaruskaya.
   
   

3. Study Abroad in Russia!

   Free WiFi: For WiFi users with thier own laptops or tablets, Moscow has more than 200 free locations - and the number is growing rapidly. The connection tends to vary from location to location and often there is a limit to how long you can stay logged on for at any one time. A few chains that offer WiFi in most locations include McDonald's Kofe Khaus, Shokolodnita, Il Patio, Starbucks, TGI Fridays, and Starlite. You can generally stay as long as you want in any of these places and use the Internet with no problems. Also, if you head someplace where there are multiple restaurants you can often pick up a free signal from one restaurant in any of them. City hotspots now include Gorky Park, Sokolniki Park, and the Circle Line on the Moscow Metro.
                                    
   
4. Pay Wifi:
   
   SkyLink is probably the best service going in terms of quality, but it is a bit more expensive than most. You buy a SkyLink modem at any Evroset location for $60-120 (depending on max speed) and then either pay about $33 per month for unlimited access inside the city limits, or pay three rubles per MB.
   
   Yota is a similarly priced and trendier option, but has weaker signals around the major dormitories.
   
   The major cell phone providers offer fairly cheap modems and 3G services. You'll need to buy a modem at any Evroset location for a minimum of about $30 and then can sign up for an unlimited package for about $25 per month. However, note that students have complained about the coverage around the dorms.
   
   
5. Repair Services: If you find you need laptop repair services while in Moscow, several of our Russian acquaintances have recommended SP-Service.ru for speed, quality, and cost. You'll need to speak Russian with them. Apple users can contact MacCentre for assistance. 
    
6. Post: The main post office (in the Tsentralnyi Telegraf building) is located on Tverskaya St., 7.  It's open from 8am to 10pm daily and offers stamps, envelopes, postcards, and other mailing services. For packages, etc. there is also a DHL office in this post office (tel: 956-1000). More on post services in Russia.

7. Banyas, Haircuts, Laundry, etc.          (back to top)

1. Banyas: During the summer, all Russian cities turn off the hot water (communally provided) for "pipe maintenance." It can be off for a couple of weeks, meaning that showering can be difficult, if not painful. As a good alternative, find a bathhouse and have a cleansing, cultural experience all at once. The most famous in Moscow is the Sandunovsky Baths (14 Neglinniy St, 3-7; Tel: (495) 625 4631). For WOMEN they have 2 rates for the public halls – 1,000 RUR (basic; two hours) and 1,500 RUR (VIP; three hours). For MEN they have 3 rates for public halls – 1,000 RUR (basic; two hours), 1,300 RUR (VIP; two hours), and 1,600 RUR (VIP; three hours). Bed-sheet rental (you wrap this around you while sitting in the bath) costs 150 RUR, plain towel is 30 and terry towel is 60 RUR. Go with a group for the best deal – the group rate for 12 people is 7,000 RUR per hour until 10pm, with a 20 percent increase thereafter. The smallest, least expensive private sauna is 3,000 RUR per hour.
2. Haircuts: Most students end up going a whole semester in Moscow without a haircut. If you really want a hairdresser that speaks English, go to Expat Salon, where they specialize in cuts for American and British CEOs and other affluent types. You can also try a more reasonably priced but still fairly expensive place like MONE (there is a location in the Ashan Kapitole Shopping Mall near MGU), which sometimes have a stylist or two that can speak English. Or, if you are looking to practice your Russian and hold onto your pocket book - try any building marked "салон красоты" or "парикмахерская."
3. Dry Cleaners: Diana is the largest chain of dry cleaners in Moscow. They've achieved this postion by being inexpensive (though not of the highest quality). See thier site for pick-up points (in Russian: Приемные пункты). You might also try Contrast Cleaners, which is more expensive, but offers an English-language website, dry cleaning and laundry, and a delivery service.
4. Charitable Giving: Giving is not as easy as in the US. The most convenient drop-off point in Moscow is the International Women's Club, who then distributes the items to charities. Check their site for operating hours (which are very limited). See our Google Map for instructions on how to get there. Miloserdie, run by the Russian Orthodox Church, is similar to the Salvation Army in America. However, they only offer one out-of-the-way drop-off location in Moscow and you will probably need speak Russian to go through the process to donate. 
5. Hobbies: Students looking for art supplies, crafting materials, specialty sporting equipment, or almost anything else should check out Gorod Khobbi (3, Shelkovskoe Shosse, Building 1, Metro Cherkizovskaya). For art enthsiasts, WinZavod (4th Syromytnicheskii Pereulok, 1, building 6), a wine-factory-turned-artistic-community-center has a well-stocked shop on site as well. For art lessons (in Russian) the Anna and Yuri Mirakov Master Gallery.
6. More Cool Stuff to Do: Check out The Moscow Times's Community Page for more groups and local events!

8. Health and Fitness          (back to top)

Study Abroad in Russia!

Find out more about general health, saftey, and insurance issues in Russia from our guide. 

1. The Water: You may drink the water in Moscow. However, the mineral content of the water is actually visible and most westerners remark that it tastes funny. Bottled water can be bought fairly cheaply in most stores.
2. Allergies: Sufferers of allergies should be aware that Moscow contains many poplar trees (apparently they were Stalin's favorites), creating "snowstorms" of little white cottony seeds (Russians call it "pukh") in spring. Bring hay fever medication if you think you will need it.
3. Doctors and Dentists:
   
   The American Medical Center offers doctors and nurses that speak English and they accept the insurance that SRAS students are issued. They are located at 26/6 Grokholsky per., and are open 24 hours a day. Click here for a map. Office visits: about 200 USD. Reach them by phone at 7 (495) 933 7700 or e-mail.
   
   The American Dental Clinic offers English-speaking, American board certified dentists in Moscow at 1st Tverskaya-Yamskaya St., 5. Reach them by phone at 7 (495) 730-4334 or by email.
   
   Unimed Laboratories are recommended for any blood tests you might need, including HIV, for your visa or other reasons. They are located at 4th Dobryninsky lane, 4 and can be reached by phone at 7 (495) 785-1025 or 931-9976.
   
   MosItalMed is Italian Run and does not speak English, but are considerably cheaper than those clinics they do speak English. An office visit costs around twenty dollars. Arbat Ul., 28/1, Str. 1.; Tel: 7 (495) 956-1767 (medical) 956-6095 (dental). You may reach them by email too. 
   
   European Medical Center offers doctors and dentists that speak a range of langagues (including English) at 2nd Tverskoi-Yamskoi Pereulok, 10. Reach them at 7 (495) 933-6655. A general practitioner office visit is around 170 Euro. They offer dental services at Konushkovskaya Ul., 34. Call 7 (495) 797-6767 for an appointment. A dentistry office visit is around 100 Euro and a cleaning around 300 Euros.
   
   MediClub Moscow is run by Canadians and located at Michurinski Prospekt, 56. Call 7 (495) 931-5018 or reach them by email. The Canadian family physician costs about $100 and it's $30-35 to see a Russian specialist.
                  
   
4. Chiropractor: Moscow Chiropractic is run by Dr. Charles Register, an American. His office is at Zubovski Bul., 13, the second door on your right coming from the metro. He works Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Reach him by telephone at 7 (495) 234-9656 or 202-6587 or by email.
5. Eyeglasses and Contacts: Lensmasters has several locations in Moscow now. They can sell you disposable lenses, cut glasses, etc. If you know your prescription, no doctor visit will be needed. If you don't, then they can test you. Ochkov.net is Moscow's largest retailer of contact lenses and related supplies. Find them just off Tverskaya at Malyi Palashevskyi Per., Tel: +7 (495) 587 95 95; +7 (800) 100 95 96.
6. Pharmacies: We recommend bringing a supply of any needed medications with you. However, if you need something, look for the international symbol of a green cross (or the word "аптека"). If you are looking for specific medication, try looking it up on Wikipedia in English and then clicking on "Russian" in the language menu on the left panel (the names are often very different). You can look up which Moscow pharmacies are currently carrying your medication at Aptekamos.ru if you can operate the site in Russian. Some larger pharmacies (which carry more prescription meds) can be found at:
   
   - Pharmakon, Ul. Tverskaja 4, Tel 292 08 43, 292 03 01 (Most central)
   - Drug Store House, 4th Dobrininsky pereulok, 4 Tel 237 40 34 (same building as Unimed Labs - see "Doctors")
   - Litpharm, Ul Tschernjachovskogo 4, Tel: 155 87 88, 155 70 80
   - Sana, Ul. Nischn. Pervomaiskaja 65, Tel 464 12 54
7. Gyms and Pools:
   
   Lata-Track Outdoor Sport Complex rents bikes, balls, etc. in the summer and skis and snowboards in the winter for use on its fairly large facility (though there are few hills of any note, be warned). The best maps and directions on thier site (in Russian). SRAS has also included it on its Google map for Moscow. 
   
   Chaika Fitness Complex offers Moscow's best pool as well some aerobics classes, tennis courts, massage, and other facilities. Plus, it is very convenient to MGU, MIRBIS, and MGIMO. They offer student discounts as well.
   
   Planeta Fitness is likely the most reasonably priced chain in Moscow.
   
   Orange Fitness is quite popular - prices are higher, but it is well-equipped.
   
   Other gyms: World Class Fitness; Gold's Gym; Dr Loder's; Sportline.
8. Dance and Yoga:
   
   Many gyms (see above) also offer dance and yoga classes. There are also several places in Moscow specializing in such lessons. Galla Dance is not far MGU and MGIMO. Main Stream is located on the same metro line as the universities and specializes in hip-hop, funk, and jazz. Lotos offers student discounts. For serious yoga, try Yoga.ru - a massive network of yoga studios. All of these options will likely offer classes in Russian only.

Study Abroad in Russia!

9. Theatre, Movies, and Music Concerts        (back to top)

1. Tickets: Russia is known for its performing arts. Take advantage and see all that you can. Tickets can be purchased at the theatre or concert hall itself or from a reseller such as Kontramarka, Parter, or Ponominalu, which allow you to reserve tickets pick them up at location near you or even have them delivered. The Bolshoi makes tickets available one month in advance and sells out quickly. Plan your visit in advance if you want to get in. For an extended list of theatre recommendations, see Theatres in Moscow.
2. Movies in English: You can find movies in English (though, we do not recommend our students spend a lot of time at these places) at The Dome (for new release Hollywood films), and 35mm (for international art-house films). There is also The Pioneer, a beautiful Soviet-era theater that shows a mix of Hollywood and art-house. Each fall, an American Film Festival is held in Moscow as are Australian and British festivals. They usually get announced on embassy websites and in The Moscow News if you are interested.
3. Acting Lessons: for those interested in acting and theatre, you might try Mr. English Stage Stars - which offers free lessons to native English speakers.

10. Transportation          (back to top)
For more on public transportation in Russia, see our Guide to Public Transport.

1. Unified Tickets: Moscow now has a unified ticket system for public transportation. If you will be using mulitple transport options (for example, the metro to get near the uni, and then ride the bus to get to the dorms or your classes), the best value is the "90-Minute Ticket," which allows you to buy one ticket, use it to "check in" and then you can get on the metro, transfer to a bus, then to a trolly, etc. all for the cost of one ride (so long as you do it within 90 minutes). You can buy these with up to sixty 90-minute sessions on one card. They plan to make the cards refillable from the kiosks used to add money to your phone soon. If you won't be regularly using multiple transport options, you can just get a "Edenyi" ticket - which is cheaper and conveniently can still be can be used for the metro, busses, trollies, and streetcars - but you must use one ride each time you board each form of transport. 
2. The Metro: Not only does Moscow's subway effectively transport a few million people every day, it also contains some of the city's best architecture. The Metro is open from about 6 am to 1 am every day. It has a clickable flash map online that will calculate your estimated travel time. Timing is very easy on the Moscow metro: allot 5 minutes per station en route, and 5-10 minutes per change of line. This system averages out well enough to nearly always be on time. See also this unofficial but interesting site in Russian on the Metro and its history.
3. Bikes: You can rent a bike via a number of businesses including two near MGU: Kant and Rentals on Sparrow Hills. Other options include Kruti Pedali, Velosite, and Titan. Biking enthusiasts can also find like-minded locals via the specialized social networking site Katushkin.ru.
4. Buses: Rusavtobus.ru provides bus schedules for Moscow in English (although inputting addresses in English seems to not work so well). Just click on the map they provide to select your starting and ending destinations. The site will then calculate which metro lines, buses, trams, and/or trolleys to use. Keep in mind that above-ground transport in Moscow is slightly less effective due to the growing number of cars in the growing metropolis. Rides on Moscow's buses, trams, and trolleys cost about one dollar each.  
5. Marshrutki: Those small yellow or white mini-vans that you see at bus stops are marshrutki. In Moscow, they usually cost about 30 rubles for most routes. For more on marshrutki, see our Guide to Public Transport.
6. Taxis:
   
   XXL Taxi is one of Moscow's best values for taxis. Call them at +7 (495) 995-82-94 to order a car.
   
   Taxi 921 is fairly cheap and generally reliable. Call +7 (495) 921-92-13 for a car.
   
   "Bombili" (bombers) are what Russians call the swarms of unlicensed taxis that roam their cities. Expats, for some reason, usually refer to them as "gypsy cabs." While we will not recommend these (as they are not actually legal and can pose some obvious safety concerns), we can say that they are how many Russians get around the city. Short trips in Moscow can be had for about 100 RUR, longer trips for 600 or 800 - if you pay much more you probably got ripped off. For more on "gypsy cabs," see our Guide to Public Transport.
7. Boats: River boats can cruise you around the city via a scenic route during the summer for about thirteen dollars and have snacks, beer, and sodas available for sale. Highly recommended.
8. From the Airport: All regular SRAS programs have airport transfers included for SRAS students. For anyone looking to get independently from the airport to Moscow, take a look at these options.

11. Religious Services           (back to top)

1. International Christian Assembly  Phone: 7 (962) 933-35-81
   Hours: Sunday from 11am to 1pm for our English-speaking International worship service.
   Location: Yunost Hotel. 34 Khamovnichesky Val, 1 minute walk from Metro Sportivnaya 
2. Russian Orthodox Church of St. Catherine 
   Hours: Saturday (at 5 p.m.) and Sunday (at 10 a.m., confession starts at 9 a.m.) in Slavonic, and in English the last Saturday of every month. There are English-speaking priests to minister to the needs of English speakers.
   Location: 60/2 Bolshaya Ordynka (Metro Polyanka)
3. International Judaism Phone: 7 (495) 768-7392
   The ‘Expat’ Jewish community serves the needs of Expatriate Jews, from many backgrounds, including representatives of the international media, businessmen, educators, diplomats and their families. Offers Shabbat Dinners and regular activities.
   Location: 2nd Vysheslavtsev pereulok, 5a 
4. Jehovah's Witnesses  Email the group
   Hours:
   - Theocratic Ministry School and Service Meeting on Fridays at 19:00.
   - Bookstudy on Wednesdays at 19:00 near the metro Tretyakovskaya (for info call the Kingdom Hall).
   - Public Talk and Watchtower study on Sundays at 10:00.
   Address: Kingdom Hall; Mikhalkovskaya street 36 (bus 90 from metro Voykovskaya or bus 123 from metro Vodny Stadion to the bus stop 'Depot Likhobory')
   
5. Adventist International Church  Phone: 7 (903) 277-9404
   Hours:
   - 10:30 a.m. each Saturday, including classes English and Russian
   - translated worship service follows at 11:30 a.m.
   - Fridays at 7 p.m. is Praise Service
   Address: Nagatinskaya Ulitsa 9/3; Metro Nagatinskaya
6. International Babtist Fellowship  Phone: 7 (495) 507-0635; 405-8103
   Hours: 11:15 am each Sunday
   Address: Shukin Theatre School, Bolshoi Nikolopeskovsky Pereulok, 12a, metro Arbatskaya.
7. Moscow Protestant Chaplaincy (MPC) Phone: +7 (499) 143-5748
   Hours: Every Sunday at 3:00 p.m.
   Address: St. Andrew's Church, Voznesenskiy Pereulok 8, near metro stations Arbatskaya, Okhotny Ryad, and Pushkinskaya.
8. St. Andrew’s Anglican Church Phone: 7 (495) 629-9889; 629-0990
   Hours:
   - Sunday: Morning Prayer at 8:00; BCP Holy Communion at 8:30; Adult Education at 10:00; Sung Liturgy at 11:00 Sunday School and Creche available at 11:00 services
   - Wednesday: Eucharist at 19:00 followed by Bible Study from 19:30 – 21:00
   - Thursday: Classical Music Concerts [PDS] every Thursday night in aid of the church's restoration fund.
   - Morning Prayer weekday mornings 8:30 (excluding Saturdays)
   - Evening Prayer weekday evenings at 18:30 (excluding Thursdays and Saturdays)
   Address: St. Andrew's Anglican Church in Moscow is situated at Voznesensky Pereulok d.8/5 (Pushkinskaya Metro).
   
9. Latter-Day Saints (LDS, Mormons)  Phone: 7 (964) 538-3725
   Address: Strominsky Pereulok # 6 (Sokolniki Metro)
   Hours: Worship service 9:30 am on Sundays 
10. Salvation Army  Phone: 7 (495) 911-2600
    Address: Khlebnikov Pereulok, 7., Bld 2
    
11. Catholic Masses at Our Lady of Hope Parish    Phone: 7 (499) 243-9621
    Hours:
    - 7:00 pm Monday - Friday Daily Masses (English Mass)
    - 6:00 pm Saturday and Sunday (English Mass)
    Address: Kutuzovskii Prospekt 7/4, Korpus 5, Entrance 3, Apartment 42 (Metro Kievskaya) at the following times:
12. Catholic Masses at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral     Phone: 7 (495) 785-5434
    Hours: Sunday Mass at 12:15 is a Bi-Lingual English-French Mass
    Address: 27 Malaya Gruzinskaya Ulitsa (Metro Krasnopresnenskaya).

12. Museums          (back to top)
This is a small sampling of Moscow’s plethora of Museums. If you are interested in taking guided excursions to any of these locations (or have requests for others), you may contact the museum directly (they usually have guides on staff that can speak English or Russian) or contact SRAS about arrangements. You should keep in mind that many of the smaller museums in Moscow tend to keep odd hours, and change them at will. You should call ahead to make sure your location will be open when you arrive. 

NOTE: Moscow has an initiative going where many museums are open for free on the third Sunday of every month. This site gives a full listing (in Russian) of those museums participating.

Note: Those entries in red are "clickable" to the museum site. 

Must Sees!          (back to top)

The State Tretyakov Gallery
(Lavrushinsky per., 10; M. Tretyakovskaya; Tel.: 231-13-62)
This is Moscow’s largest and most famous collection, started when the great Count Tretyakov gave his massive collection to the state. Open daily except Monday from 10 to 8pm (kassa closes at 6:30).  The nearby special gallery occasionally hosts very interesting exhibitions of everything from icons to Shagal.  Call to see what Many complain that this gallery tends to show mostly portraits of Russian aristocracy who, many times, were not Russian, painted by painters who were also not Russian.  For a more art-centered museum, see the Puskin. 

Mayakovsky Museum
(Lybyansky Proyezd 3/6; M. Lybyanka, Kitai Gorod; Tel: 921-9560)
They took the building Mayakovsky once lived and worked in, gutted it (save the small room he once lived in) and filled it with a profusion of colors, futurist structures, original manuscripts and photographs and other exhibits, which combine to make the visitor rather feel as if he is taking a stroll through Mayakovsky's bizarre and futurist brain! The museum is a real experience and shouldn't be missed!

Central Armed Forces Museum
(2, Ulitsa Sovietskoy Armii; M. Novoslobodskaya; +7 (495) 681-48-77)
This has all of the top end goodies from WWII - big deal trophies from every battle, including Zaitsev's rifle from Stalingrad and the eagles from the Reichstag rooftop. The great hall has all of the trophies from the Victory Day parade, including all of the Nazi battle standards laid on the ground next to their positions on the giant photo of them being laid at the foot of Lenin's mausoleum. At the end, you walk into the back courtyard to massive collection of military equipment from jets to tanks to rocket launchers. Admission is cheap, there's a cheap guide with English translation for each battle hall, and the folks who work there are wonderful. Every couple of years they reprise their "Hitler's Private Office" exhibit of stuff from the Berlin bunker.

Cold War Museum (Stalin's Bunker)
(5th Kotelnicheckii per.; M. Taganskaya; 8-495-500-0553).
This museum is only open for guided tours. Tours are held typically at 11am and 3pm, but not every day - you'll want to call ahead and make sure that a tour will be running. Situated sixty-five meters (more than 200 feet) below Moscow's streets is "The Secure Command Post 'Taganskaya,'" a former secret military command center and bomb shelter. Constructed in the 1950s during the height of the Cold War, it was built to serve as an air-defense communication center in the event of a nuclear attack. Completely functional for the better part of three decades, the bunker is made up of four 150-meter tunnels. As many as 2,500 people could work there on a given day. The complex was also fitted with provisions (food, water, electricity, and air supply) to keep 3,000 people alive for ninety days. It is now an interactive museum where you can learn about the cold war and even run the command sequence on the equipment that would have launched the Soviet Nuclear Arsenal.

The State Gulag Museum
(16 Petrovka ul; M. Kuznetsky Most; +7 495 621 73 10)
Run a Gulag survivor, this interactive museum tries to take you inside the Gulag with sound, sight, theatrical experiences, and more.

Kremlin Armory
(M. Biblioteka Lenina, Aleksandrovsky Sad; Tel.: 921-4720)
Definitely worth a visit and be sure to bring your student card for a significant discount. There are always tons of tour groups, so you can listen in on several different guides, if you don’t want to pay for one yourself.  There are always tons of intellectual-looking Russian outside who will tell you in perfect English that you cannot enter the facility without a guide (they are lying and will overcharge you for the experience).  Located near the Armory is the Diamond Fund (tel.: 229-20-36), where a collection of precious stones and Russian jewelry, golden and platinum nuggets is displayed. It is somewhat pricey to get into this exhibition (no student discounts).

Lenin’s Mausoleum
The Mausoleum was built in January 1924 to preserve Lenin's body. Lenin's coffin was brought from the village of Gorki, where he died, on 23 January and placed in the Hall of Columns of the House of Unions for people to pay their last respects. The same night the architect A. Shchusev was instructed by the government to design and build a temporary mausoleum near the Kremlin walls in which the body would remain until the funeral, which was fixed for 27 January. Shchusev wandered around Red Square for a long time, and by sunset the design for a wooden mausoleum was prepared. It was in the form of a cube (a symbol of eternity) with a height of three meters. The contemporary Mausoleum was erected in Red Square in 1930 replacing the wooden mausoleum. Lenin's body, with its face uncovered, was placed in a glass sarcophagus, and thousands of people filed past each day.

Victory Park and the Museum to the Great Patriotic War
(M. Park Pobedii - can't miss it)
Construction on this complex actually began just before WWII ended.  The museum is a massive collection of arms, uniforms, propaganda and social history pieces from the war, and some interesting tributes to Stalin (the “Great Commander”).  Unfortunately, all information is in Russian, so you may need a guide.  The new park was finished in time for the 50-year celebration WWII. Makes for interesting stroll (or rollerblading - bring your own skates) and on summer weekends you can play “count the brides” due to the Russian tradition of visiting war memorials on your way from the cathedral.

Novodevichy Cemetary
Here lies Gogol, Shostakovich, Kruschev, Tupolov, Mayakovsky, Chekov, Bulgakov, and many, many others amongst impressive headstones. Exit Metro Sportivnaya and follow Luzhnetsky prospect to Novodevichy Convent, turn right and follow the wall.  You will be charged a small admission and can (recommended) buy a map of the famous graves.

Off-The-Beaten-Path
Round out your experience in Moscow with these not-often seen gems picked by former SRAS student Hannah Chapman.

Quirky but Interesting          (back to top)

The Metro Museum
(Inside M. Sportivnaya; 3rd floor - past the militsya stand, up the stairs; Tel: 222-7309)
Dedicated to the history of the Moscow Metro, this is small and all in Russian, but has displays where you can take a picture of yourself (if you pay the extra photo fee) getting “run over” by the metro or driving one of the trains.  The old guy that takes care of it will turn on the little cut-away model that shows you how the escalators work.  

The Water Museum
(Sarinsky pr-d, 13; M. Proletarskaya; Tel: 276-92-13)
Shows the history of Moscow’s water system.  A mecca for those who still wonder why the city shuts off their hot water for a month every summer to “clean the pipes.”

Moscow Zoo
(B. Gruzinskaya, 1; M. Krasnopresnenskaya; Tel: 255 5375, 253 6367, 252 3580)
Mayor Luzhkov, with all of his resources, finally decided to put some money in the Moscow Zoo. Doesn’t seem to have had much affect on overcrowding in the cages, but the entrance is clean and impressive, and there are more things to spend money on.

Museum of the Lend-Lease Program
(Zhitnaya Ul., 8; M. Oktyabrskaya; Tel: 238-75-89)
A small group of Russians organized this small museum in a public school as part of the 60th anniversary of the end of WWII.  The thing that makes it interesting is that the Land-Lease Program, hailed by western history textbooks as major contributor to that victory, is understated (if mentioned) in the Russian.  This museum is one-of-a-kind here. 

Museum of Soviet Arcade Machines
(Baumanskaya Ul, 7; M. Baumanskaya; Tel: +7 (916) 167 19 25, +7 (926) 576 62 08)
Here you can see about 30-40 fully-restored, Soviet-era arcade games - all those on display are in full working order and you can even play some of them. Admission will run you just over $10, but include 15 tokens to play the games on display!

Art          (back to top)

The Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts
(Volkhonka str., 12; M. Kropotkinskaya; Tel: 203-79-98)
While the massive reproductions of Egyptian and Greek art are a bit over-blown, this is our favorite museum of art.  A good collection from ancient Russian art to a couple of Chagals and a Picasso on permanent exhibition. 

The Metro
Some of Moscow’s most beautiful art and architecture is underground! Chances are you will see many of the nicer stations in the center without having to make a special trip, but you might want to make a point of visiting all of the stations on the ring line, as these are especially impressive. 

The Tsaritsyno Museum
(Dolskaya Street, 1, "Tsaritsyno" or "Orekhovo" M Orekhovo, Tsaritsyno, Tel: 321-07-43)
This museum displays antique furniture and ceramics, and a fine collection of modern paintings.

The Andrei Rublev Museum of Early Russian Culture and Art
(Andronyevskaya Square, 10; M. Ploshchad Ilyicha; Tel: 278-1289).  On display are the icons of Moscow's school of the 15th to 16th centuries, sculptures of the 12th–17th centuries, copies of frescoes.  An affiliate of the museum is located at the Church of the Intercession (ul. Novozavodskaya, 6; M. Fili; Tel: 148-4552) which displays the icons of the end of the 17th century painted by the Tsar's craftsmen.

All-Russia Museum of Decorative-Applied and Folk Arts
(Ul. Delegatskaya, 3; Tel.: 921-0139, 923-1741, 923-7725)

The State Museum of Oriental Art
(Nikitsky bulvar, 12;, M Pushkinskaya, Arbatskaya; Tel: 202-4555)

Art Complexes (Urban Revitalization)

WinZavod
4th Syromytnicheskii Pereulok, 1, building 6
This former wine factory is now an artistic community center hosting some of Moscow's most cutting-edge art as well as film showings, concerts, art lessons, and the largest crowds of Moscovite-bohemians to be found anywhere.

Red October
Bersenevskaya Embankment, 6
This former chocolate factory is now a complex of trendy bars and cafes, galleries and show rooms, designer and consignment clothes shops and more. Nothing here is cheap, but everything is cool.

Contemporary Art Galaries
The following gallaries are considered to be the most prestigious show rooms in Moscow among today's Russian artists (list contributed by E. Varshavskaya)

Stella Art Gallery
(Skaryatinksy Per., 7 and Mytnaya Ul., 62;  Tel: 495-291-3407)
(Email: info@stellaartgallery.com)

Marat Guelman Gallery
Marat Guelman, Curator
(Malaya Polyanka Ul, 7/7, apt. 5; Tel: 495-238-8492)
(Fax: 495-238-4040 Email: polyanka@guelman.ru)

Aidan Gallery
Aidan Salakhov, Curator
(10th Tverskaya-Yamskaya Ul., 22, 3rd Floor; Tel: 495-251-3734)
(Fax: 495-250-9166; Email: info@aidan-gallery.ru)

Gallery XL
Elena Selina, Curator
(Podkolokolny Per., 16/2; Tel: 495-917-8508)
(Email: mail@xlgallery.ru)

Yakut Gallery 
Alexander Yakut, Curator
Nizhny Susalny Per., 5, str. 16; Tel: 495-514-2910)
(Email: mayakononenko@rambler.ru)  

Victor Freidenberg's Art-Space
Laboratory of Conceptual Design (ARTStrelka)
(Bersenevskaya Emb., 14 - on the site of the Red October Chocolate Factory; Tel: 495-621-3317)
(Email: info@labvf.comartstrelka@rambler.ru)

Gary Tatintsian Gallery
(Ilyinka Ul., 3/8, str. 5 - enter from the courtyard Tel: 495-101-2102)
(Email: info@tatinsian.ru)

RuArts Gallery
Anastasia Matyushina, Director
(1st Zachatievsky Per., 10; Tel: 495-201-4475)
(Email: info@ruarts.ru)

History          (back to top)

Red Square, Lenin Mausoleum, the Cathedrals of Basil the Blessed and the Intercession
(M Okhotny Ryad, all located on Red Square)
Lenin Mausoleum keeps odd hours.  You will have to just go and see if it is open.  The square is blocked off during “visitation” hours. Visiting “Dead Lenin” is a strange experience, not one that every one enjoys. If you are one of those people that sense “negative energy,” you will sense it here. Luckily, Stalin has been tucked away in the wall, or it would really be eerie. Talk still goes on about whether or not to bury Lenin, so, if you want, see him now.  It could be anyone’s last chance.  The churches are interesting and Basil the Blessed is that big, colorful, domed building you have seen acting as the Kremlin “poster child” for years.

KGB Museum
Located in the Lyubyanka prison, this museum is rather elusive when it comes to visiting. This occasionally gruesome but fascinating exhibit cannot be seen if you do not make an appointment and is not really affordable unless you have a group.  You can contact SRAS for help in arranging a group.

Museum of the Revolution
(Ul. Tverskaya, 21 - M. Tverskaya Tel. 299-5217/6724)
This is a very interesting museum if you have a guide. Lots about the propaganda and the battles fought.   Understandably, the communists went all-out. 

State Historical Museum
(Red Square, ½; M. Okhotny Ryad; Tel: 292-8452)
A general collection of exhibitions from ancient to modern times in Russia.  Affiliates of the State Historical Museum are located in unique 16th–17th century buildings. These are Red Square, tel: 298-3304); Palaces in Zaryadye (ul. Varvarka, 10, metro "Kitai-Gorod”, tel: 298-5018); Krutitskoye Podvorye (ul. Krutitskaya, 11, metro "Proletarskaya”, tel: 276-9256), Novodevichiy Convent (Novodevichiy Proezd, 1, metro "Sportivnaya", tel: 246-8526, open 10.30-5.30, except Mondays); "Izmailovo" estate (the metro "Izmailovsky Park", tel: 367-5579).

The Kuskovo Estate
(Metro Kuzmenki)
The Kuskovo Estate is one of the most beautiful palace and park ensembles in Moscow. The estate and the lands around it belonged to Count Sheremetev at the beginning of the 17th century. The ensemble, together with the palace and park, was designed by architect Karl Blank.

The Museum of Modern History
(Ulitsa Tverskaia, 21; Tel.: 299-54-58)
It is one of the world’s biggest museums of modern history. The way of life in Russia during the last 150 years is exhibited here: days of peace and war, the greatest revolutionary events of the XX century. Many collections of the fund have no analogues - personal belongings of statesmen and political figures of the country, paintings, sculptures, numismatics and a scientific library.

The Museum of the History of Moscow
(Novaya Ploshchad, 12; M. Lubyanka; Tel.: 924-84-90)
A unique collection of artifacts detailing Moscow's history since ancient times to now.

Museum-panorama "Battle of Borodino"
(Kutuzovskyi prospekt, 38; M. Park Pobedii; Tel: 148-19-67) 
Gives a few exhibitions and a very interesting panorama painting of the battle, which is viewed with sound effects and narration playing over loudspeakers. 

Literature, Theatre and Music          (back to top)

The Palace-Museum of Serf Art in Ostankino
(1st Ostankinskaya Street, 5; M. VDNKh; Tel: 283-4645)
This is a brilliant monument representing the classic architectural style of the 18th century, as well as to once common-practice of serf theaters (rich counts kept serfs as professional actors, scene builders, etc., when the serfs were freed, these “kept” actors turned professional and helped found Russian theatre practices).

Bulgakov sites
If you don’t know Bulgakov (Master & Margarita, Heart of a Dog, etc.) go find his books immediately. Then, take note that many of the sites mentioned in Master & Margarita can be visited in an afternoon’s walk.  Start with Bulgakov’s apartment near Mayakovskaya metro station.  It has very recently been turned into a house-museum with a live “Behemoth” strolling the premises.  It’s not easy to find, ask for directions from the Metro.  The graffiti is also quite interesting in the podyezd (entryway). Then walk over to Patriarch’s pond for an image of the opening scene.

The A.A. Bakhrushin State Central Theater Museum
(Ul. Bakhmshin; M Paveletskaya; Tel: 233 44 70)
This is one of Russia’s largest repositories of exhibitions and materials on theatre history.  They host seminars on theatre history occasionally and other events.  Well worth a look.  They have an affiliation with The Theatre Salon as well (Tverksoi bulvar, 11, bldg. 2). 

Tolstoy Museums (there are a handful)
First, at Tolstoy’s estate-museum, you can see the writer’s Moscow home, including paintings of his family and the bed he slept in.  Ask the babushkas to play the audio recording of him playing with schoolchildren. (Ulitsa Lva Tolstovo 21; M  Park Kultury; (095) 246-9444).  Second, at the Tolstoy Museum, see original manuscricpts, first-edition prints and more artifacts. (Ulitsa Prechistenka 11; M. Kropotkinskaya; (095) 202-2190).  Lastly, the true Tolstoy fan will not want to miss a day trip to Yasnaya Polyana, where his ancestral estate has been kept preserved. 

The House-Museums
Russia has tons of these preserved apartments, estates, and houses which also house things like original works, first-edition prints, and other gems from the famous people who lived in the residences.  These sometimes host special performances, concerts, and lectures.  You will also probably find babushkas that have worked there for ages and can tell you lots of interesting facts.  Here are a few that may be of interest, if you don’t find what you are interested in, you may contact us for more options. 

Pushkin House-Museum
(Old Arbat, 53 M. Arbatskaya). 

Memorial House of F. Shalyapin
(Novinskii bulvar, 25; Tel: 205-62-36, 252-25-30)

Scriabin Memorial Flat
(Ul. Vakhtangov, 11)

The Glinka Museum of Musical Culture
(Ul. Fadeyev, 4; Tel.: 972 3237)

Stanislavski House–Museum
(Leontyevsky Pereulok 6; M: Pushkinskaya; Tel: 229-2442)

The Chekov House-Museum
(Ulitsa Sadovaya-Kudrinskaya 6; M. Barrikadnaya; Tel: 291-6154)

The Glinka Museum of Musical Culture
(Ul. Fadeyev, 4; Tel: 972 3237)

Religious/Architechtural           (back to top)

The Pokrovsky Cathedral (Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed)
(Red Square; Tel: 298-33-04)
The “poster child” of the Kremlin, now fully restored to its early-medieval glory.

Novodevichy Convent
As you leave M. Sportivnaya, follow Luzhnetsky prospect till you get to the big Convent wall.  Inside you may visit one or two of the cathedrals (depending on where they might be doing repairs). Much has been restored in the last few years. If you can catch a service, you will enjoy the women’s choir. See the cemetery connected with it

The Alms-house of Count N. Sheremetev
(Sukharevskaya .ploshad, 3; M. Sukharevskaya; Tel: 921-08-06)

Kolomenskoye Museum-Preserve
(Andropov Avenue, 39; M Kolomenskaya)
This architectural and historical preserve built in the 16th-17th centuries used to be a village residence of the Russian Tsars (Peter the Great spent his early years here – you can see one of his old houses).  The museum is famous as an outstanding example of 16th-century tent-roof architecture, as the home of The Church of the Ascension (1530-1532) and for interesting samples of the Russian wooden architecture brought here from different regions of Russia.  This is also the location of a yearly “Honey Festival” and Maslenitsa celebrations. 

Science and Technology          (back to top)

Memorial Museums of Astronautics
(Prospekt Mira, 111; M VDNKh; Tel: 283-79-14, 283-18-37)
If this is a subject that interests you, think about taking a day trip to “Star City,” the command center and main training hall for Russian astronauts. 

Moscow State University Museum of the Earth (Geology)
(Inside the Main MSU building at Sparrow Hills; M. Universitet; 939-29-76)

Vernadsky Geological Museum
(ul. Mokhovaya, 11, k. 2; Tel: 203-53-87)

Paleontology Museum
(Profsouznaya St., 123; Tel: 339-15-00)
Whether you just had a childhood thing for dinos or mammoths or are really into paleontology, you will certainly enjoy a visit to this well-designed museum. Ask about any courses or seminars. Many of them are mainly for kids, but it might be good language practice anyway.

Ostanikino
(M. Shabolovskaya) s
This television tower is supposedly the largest under “Soviet” influence. Most recent fame is due to the storming of the tower in the last coup. Don’t bother going unless the skies are clear. Revolving restaurant up top is overpriced and not very good at last check.

Botanical Gardens
(26 Prospekt Mira; M. Prospekt Mira; Tel: 280-6765)
This park is not just for botanists. It is also a nice place to walk around or read a book.

 Day Trips from Moscow  (click for more info)            (back to top)

Tolstoy’s Country House Museum
"Hamovniki" After moving from Yasnaya Poliana to Moscow in 1881 Tolstoy bought a country estate in Hamovniki. The main house of the estate was built in 1805 – it is surrounded by an outhouse, household buildings and also a big garden with a pavilion and a well. The estate was converted to a museum in 1921. The museum is furnished as Tolstoy left it, so visitors are brought to the true atmosphere of Tolstoy's house. The exposition dates back to the time when the writer lived here in the years of 1893-1895.

Gzhel
Gzhel is the name of the oldest and most famous Russian ceramic center which is situated at the distance of some 50 km south-east of Moscow and known since XIVth century as a home of potter’s production. Gzhel is also the name of a village in this area and this name is applied to the beautiful artistic porcelain and majolica ware made there.

The Museum of Decorative, Applied and Folk Art
This museum is the only one of its kind in Russia, with a large and diverse collection of works of Russian applied and folk art. The collection contains more than 65,000 exhibits dating from the XIV century till the present time. Russian folk art is represented by items made from wood, birch bark, metal, ceramics and clay.

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