Chapter 20 - Excursions, Sights and Parks

There is so much to see in and around Moscow that is is almost impossible to list everything. This chapter, however, is meant to give you an idea of some of the most interesting places you can visit.

To get acquainted with Moscow, you might first want to go on a city tour. Later on, you can then return to places you particularly liked either on your own or with a group. Once you have explored Moscow, you may want to start venturing to other locations outside the capital, such as the Golden Ring cities and St. Petersburg.

In summer months, go on a riverboat cruise. Start with those in Moscow to get a great view of many of the city’s sights. If you are more adventurous, you can also go on a cruise to other cities in Russia.

Moscow has a multitude of famous sights, and in this section we provide information on such points of interest as the Moscow Kremlin and Red Square, Alexander Garden with the tomb of the unknown soldier and the adjacent Manezh Square, Kitai-Gorod, Ulitsa Tverskaya, the Stary (Old) and Novy (New) Arbat, Kuznetsky Most, Moscow State University and the Moscow metro.

Moscow also has numerous nice and large parks. Some are plain, others have ponds or beaches (most unsuitable for swimming, however), and yet others contain old palaces/estates and other places of interest. This section contains information on such parks and estates as Abramtsevo, the All-Russia Exhibition Center (VVTs), Arkhangelskoye, Bitsevsky Les, the Botanical Garden, Gorky Park, the Hermitage Garden, Izmailovo, Kolomenskoye, Krylatskoye, Kuskovo, Kuzminki, Ostankino, Serebyranny Bor, Sokolniki, Tsaritsyno, Victory Park and the Zoo.

Although Moscow is not located on a large lake, the Moscow River and its various water reservoirs in and around the city offer plenty of opportunity for beach life during summer months. If you are a beach fan, here are some ideas for places to visit which are within easy reach of the city.

This chapter concludes with a list of country resorts outside Moscow.

Moscow River

Moscow State
University

Stary Arbat

Novy Arbat

Tverskaya

Stalin
Skyscrapers

Christ the
Savior

Moscow Zoo

Kolomenskoye

Novospassky
Monastery

Novodevichy
Monastery

Kremlin

St. Basil's
Cathedral

Alexander
Gardens & Tomb
of the Unknown
Soldier

GUM

Manezhnaya
Square

Suzdal

Solovki Islands

Bitsevsky Park