Moscow City Guide - Sightseeing

The first stops on any tour of Moscow are Red Square and the Kremlin - the heart, not only of the city but also of the country itself. The history of the country is writ large here in the historic centre of Moscow and the seat of Tsarist and Soviet power.

The Garden Ring Road circles the city centre and within its boundaries are most of Moscow's major attractions. The Moskva River arcs within this ring, aligning with one of the Kremlin's walls and passing Gorky Park to the southwest. It is worth noting that most museums are closed on Monday.

Tourist Information
Intourist Travel Agency
150, Prospect Mira
Tel: (495) 956 4207.
Website: www.intourist.com
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1730.

Until a few years ago, the Intourist travel company was the state tourist board, however, it is now merely one of many tour agencies that can help with visa applications and package tours.  There is no official tourist board for the city or indeed the country, although information and advice is also available from the tourist office in the Metropol Hotel, Teatralny proezd 1/4 (tel: (495) 927 6000), as well as from the embassies. One of the ‘official' Moscow websites (www.moscow-guide.ru, www.moscowcity.com and www.russianmuseums.info) may also be of use to visitors. The Travellers' Yellow Pages (website: www.infoservices.com/moscow/index.html) has good supplementary information, as does Russia Tourism (website: www.russia-tourism.ru).

There are no tourist passes currently available in Moscow.