Taking your initial visit to Moscow, Russia is in many respects like going to any other major city. Before leaving your point of origin, you have to make sure you have a visa. The easiest visa to acquire is a tourist visa. It will be about EUR100.
If you are a usual first time tourist and do not speak Russian, go through the "green channel" upon arrival in Moscow. If you need currency, you can get it from an ATM on just about any corner. It is most prudent to bring a combination of currency, credit and ATM cards. It is crucial that you keep your passport and hotel registration on your person always.
While Moscow has some pickpockets and other small time criminals, the usual crime rate is comparable to that in any other major city or world capital. Wearing a money pouch that goes around your neck and underneath your clothing is a good choice for keeping your money and credit cards secure. Central Moscow is very safe, but you should use the practical precautions that you would take in any other large city.
For changing currencies, change bureau kiosks have more favorable exchange rates than the airport and hotel. Don't change all your cash at once. You may discover a more favorable exchange a little farther on. You will have the easiest time changing U.S. dollars or Euros rather than lesser used currencies. It is a good idea to restrict the use of your bank cards to major retailers. You're safer using cash at local stores.
While there are countless things to see and undertake in Moscow, here are some.
The Moscow subway system is highly recommended for traveling around Moscow because of its dependability, cleanliness, and safety. It is also an attraction by itself. One entry is a mere 5 rubles, and you get} a further discount with multiple passes. The metro runs from 5:30 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.. A number of the metro stations are structural works of art and are well worth visiting.
The new Tretyakov Gallery is positioned between the Park Cultury and Octoberskya train stations, and across from Gorky Park. The exhibits rotate often, and the number of artworks is huge. On the last weekend of each month, in the red brick building on the other side of the grounds is a stone fair that takes up two complete floors of the building.
Between the Tretyakov Gallery and the river is a gated sculpture garden that is 100 rubles but is a very good value. It is full of sculptures that were no longer needed in public places. They were corralled here in the 1990s.
The Old Tretyakov Gallery at 10-12 Lavrushinskiy Pereulok houses works of the Russian greats from the 1000s to the 1900s.
St. Basil's Cathedral was built in the mid 14th century by Ivan the Terrible. Alongside Red Square, the cathedral has nine chapels, each with its own unique dome.
And of course, you shouldn't miss Red Square. With the Kremlin walls, Lenin's tomb, and the huge GUM department store bordering three faces, you can readily spend an entire day here.
You'll never lack for things to visit and do in Moscow, and by the time you're used to the geography of Moscow there is every reason you'll want to return to Moscow in the future.In Russia?
flowers Moscow at http://www.sendflowers.ru/eng/
