The Russian capital, Moscow, is a city rich in culture and history and home to around 11 million people making it the most heavily populated city in the country. Here is a quick reference guide to the city’s climate, sights and navigating its vast expanse.
Climate:
Like many parts of the northern hemisphere, Moscow witnesses extremes of climate, from bitterly cold winter months to scorching summers. During the peak summer months of July and August, average temperatures range between 30 and 35 degrees and gradually cool throughout September to lows of around 0 degrees moving into October. The first snows tend to arrive towards the middle of November and continue into January and February and sometimes even into March. The spring months of March and April are probably the most popular time to visit Moscow with very little rainfall and temperatures averaging around 20 degrees.
What to do:
The ideal place to start your journey around Moscow is Red Square, the famous square established back in the 1400s and named after an Old Russian word for ‘beautiful’. You’ll enter the square through the Resurrection Gate and you’ll immediately be struck by the colours of St. Basil’s Cathedral which dates back to the 16th century. You can take a tour of the cathedral and Red Square plays home to Lenin’s Tomb which you can enter to view his body. There is also the amazing GUM shopping centre with its beautiful architecture, great cafes and high-end boutiques.
Close by is The Kremlin, which as well as being the centre of the Russian Government is home to many museums, sights of historical interest and traditional cathedrals. You can easily spend an entire afternoon exploring The Kremlin but ensure you see the Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel, the Cathedral of Assumption and the Cathedral of Annunciation all located here.
If you want to relax and take in the striking architecture and scenery of Moscow, a river boat cruise is highly recommended. A 2 hour trip down the Moskva River will allow you to take in the sights of The Kremlin, Moscow State University, Gorky Park and many other historic buildings and landmarks.
Getting Around:
Moscow’s Metro system is renowned for its reliability, efficiency and cleanliness but what’s not usually mentioned is the beauty of its underground stations. Both the trains and stations can get very busy during peak hours but the Soviet-era sculptures, mosaics and architecture make it a lot easier to cope with.
