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So You Want to Visit Moscow

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Scary as cities come, Moscow poses a challenge for even the most weathered travelers. There’s no shortage of opportunities for sight-seeing, dining and accommodation; in fact, the very multitude can be staggering and disorienting. If you are planning a three-day trip to Moscow and want to see all the highlights without getting hurt, follow this handy guide.

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Author: Sonya

Day 1 - Moscow

Before you do anything, check into the Swissotel Krasnye Holmy, a beacon of Western professionalism. Not only does it have an unrivaled panorama of the city, its concierges are on hand to give advice in any situation. Red Square is not too far away, but you’ll probably want to play it on the safe side and have the hotel call you a cab. DON”T FORGET YOUR PASSPORT. Magnificent Red Square has a wealth of policemen looking for bribes from hapless foreigners, so it’s best to steer clear of them. Take refuge in Lenin Mausoleum – an unforgettable five minute experience – and St Basil’s, the candy-colored domed cathedral most people associate with Red Square. Travel on foot up Tverskaya Street to the Museum of Modern Russian History then back down to Krasnaya Ploshchad No. 1 for a historic theme dinner.

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Swissotel Krasnye Holmy

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Location:

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Kosmodamianskaya Naberezhnaya, 52, building 6
Street 2 Building 6
115054 Moscow, RU

Phone:

7 495 787 9800

Red Square (Krasnaia Ploshchad')

Location:

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Red Square
(Krasnaya Ploshad)
125009 Moscow, Russia

Botanical Gardens (Botanicheskii Sad)

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Location:

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Botanicheskaia ulitsa, 4
127276 Moscow, Russia

Phone:

7 495 977 9145

St. Basil's Cathedral (Sobor Vasiliia Blazhennogo)

Location:

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2 Krasnaya Ploshchad
Kremlin
109012 Moscow, Russia

Phone:

7 495 698 3304

Lenin's Mausoleum (Mavzolei V.I. Lenina)

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Location:

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Red Square (Krasnaia Ploshchad')
103073 Moscow, Russia

Phone:

+7 495 232 5657(Tourist Information)

Museum of Modern Russian History (Muzei Sovremennoi Istorii Rossii)

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Location:

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Ulitsa Tverskaia, 21
125009 Moscow, Russia

Phone:

7 495 699 6724

Krasnaia Ploshchad' dom 1 (Red Square 1)

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Location:

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Krasnaia Ploshchad' 1/2
(in the History Museum)
109012 Moscow, Russia

Phone:

74 95 692 11 96/ 7 495 692 5198

Day 2 - Moscow

Head back to the Red Square area early the next morning to get a ticket for the Kremlin – they go fast! While you are waiting, cruise the lovely Alexander Gardens. All the churches and historical sites in the Kremlin will take several hours. Afterwards, walk approximately 10 min to Rakhat Lukum for cheap but delicious Uzbek buffet. Gorky Park, a short ride away to Park Kultury metro, is a famous, sprawling amusement park. Enjoy the rides and the people-watching before heading back into town. If you only have time for one museum of a single artist, the Mayakosvky Museum in the downtown area is your best bet. After getting your fill of Futurist art, dine at Caviarterra in the Ritz-Carlton. (Yes, it has caviar.)

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Alexander Gardens (Aleksandrovskii Sad)

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Location:

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Kremlin, outer west wall
103073 Moscow, Russia

The Kremlin (Kreml')

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Location:

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Entrance from Red Square
103073 Moscow, Russia

Phone:

7 495 202 5208/ 7 495 202 3776

Rakhat Lukum

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Location:

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Bolshaya Dmitrovka, 9/1
Building 1
Moscow, Russia

Phone:

7 495 514 6478

Gorky Park

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Location:

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Krymskii Val, 9
Krymsky Val
117049 Moscow, Russia

Phone:

7 495 237 1100

Maiakovsky Museum (Muzei V.V. Maiakovskogo)

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Location:

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Lubianskii Proezd, 3/6
101000 Moscow, Russia

Phone:

7 495 921 9560/ 7 495 921 3728

Caviarterra

Location:

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Tverskaya Street 3
Ritz-Carlton Moscow
125009 Moscow, Russia

Phone:

7 495 225 8888

Day 3 - Moscow

Venture not far from Swissotel to the Tretyakov Gallery for a full morning of viewing the state domestic art collection. Simply put, it’s the best collection of Russian art in the world. Now, it’s time to move out of your comfort zone to the outskirts of the city. It’s a 30 minute metro ride to Tsaritsyno, the fantastic unfinished palace of Catherine the Great. Criss-cross the city by metro to another expansive park – Victory Park, commemorating Russia’s numerous military victories. End up with dinner at Bon, a shocking testament to the riches of New Russia.

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