General info

Moscow offers a unique blend of tradition and modernity. The brave new world of the nouveau riche is as omnipresent and prominent as the proud centuries-old monasteries and stately homes and palaces.

As a visitor you can look forward to countless cultural highlights all year round, find out what makes the Russian soul tick, or sample the vibrant nightlife in Europe’s biggest major city!

It is not possible to say with any certainty precisely when the city of Moscow was established, but 1147 is celebrated as its founding year – it was then that the name Moscow first appeared. A short time later the first fortifications were constructed out of timber, and around 200 years after that they were given the name Kreml, which in Russian means fortress or castle. The new Kremlin was built at the end of the fourteenth century, this time from stone, following a number of conflicts in which Moscow was virtually razed to the ground.

Over the following centuries Moscow grew in stature, and the numerous historic edifices in the city today bear witness to stylistic influences from Asia Minor to Italy.

With a population far in excess of 10 million in the metropolitan area alone, Moscow is currently Europe’s largest city. The city has three international airports, eight major railway stations and three inland ports, making it Russia’s most important transportation hub as well as its economic, political and cultural centre.

Art, culture & events

Moscow Luxury & Property Show
19.-20.04.2013
T-Modul Exhibition Hall

Eros Ramazotti
24.05.2013
Crocus City Hall

Green Day
21.06.2013
Olimpiisky Stadium

Nightlife

Translated, “vodka” means something like “little water”: don’t be surprised that it is drunk like water in many bars!

As the name suggests, one such bar is the Vodka Bar (Uliza Lwa Tolstowo 18b), not far from the Park kultury underground station. The interior is a mix of modern lounge and kitschy Soviet-style café. The bar is a favourite meeting place for young Muscovites getting ready to party at the end of a hard week’s work.

If you feel at home on the dance floor, then the Propaganda (Bolshoy Zlatourstinkskiy pereulok 7) is the place to be, any night of the week. Well-known DJs set the mood here ‘til the early morning.

The Fabrique club (Sadovnicheskaya Uliza 33) is amongst the locations rarely visited by a “normal” Muscovite. It is mainly members of the rich classes who congregate here to dance, party and flaunt themselves. The opening hours are also unconventional: it opens at 11 p.m. and closes at 7 a.m.

Restaurants

When it comes to culinary delights, Moscow is up there amongst the cities with the most on offer. There is an enormous choice of places to eat, whatever your budget – a romantic dinner or a quick snack, it is all there! One thing is for sure: there is no upper price limit to be had!

Asian cuisine and, in particular, Japanese cuisine, is very popular at the moment. Seiji (Komsomolsky Prospekt 5/2) is a high-class restaurant which pampers to this taste – at accordingly high prices!

Café Pushkin (Tverskoy Bulvar 26) offers perfect, traditional Russian cuisine. Don’t be taken in by the word “Café”: be prepared to be served borsch, pelmenis and – so they say – the best beef stroganoff in the city at the Pushkin.

Shopping

The undisputed no. 1 amongst the exclusive shopping precincts in Moscow is the Tverskaya Uliza. Top-class hotels are adjacent to designer shops and exclusive restaurants. Whether you are just window-shopping or going on a serious spending spree, a walk along the impressive main street will remain in your memory for quite some time.

In Moscow, renowned designers with an international reputation are as frequent as pebbles on the beach. One of these designers – Denis Simachev – is an admired regular at catwalks all over Europe with his creations. His combination of shop, bar and restaurant (Stoleshnikov Pereulok 12/2) is hard to beat for its colourfulness, and invites you to stop by to admire it – and spend money.

Izmailovo Park is located somewhat away from the glittery world of the rich and beautiful: come here to spend some time at one of the most popular markets in Moscow. Classic souvenirs, jewellery and all sorts of gems are sold on hundreds of market stalls. You are bound to get lucky here if you are looking for a present for yourself or your loved ones at home.