Moscow Things To Do

On the west side of Red Square, Lenin’s mausoleum, erected in 1930 to house the embalmed body of the deceased Bolshevik leader, presents an eerie reminder of the failed regime.

The Kremlin’s impressive armory houses an abundance of tsarist relics from ancient weapons and Peter the Great’s boots to Catherine the Great’s ball gowns and carriages. There is also a separate, permanent diamond exhibition.

See the world’s largest collection of Russian art (130,000 works, some dating to the 11th century). Open since 1898, the Tretyakov has pieces in diverse styles, including Medieval, Socialist Realist, and Symbolist.

Ignore the rusted hulks in the dilapidated amusement park along the water, and stroll the many tree-lined lanes instead. In winter, this 300-acre park, opened in 1928, is flooded, allowing skaters to glide through a vast, frozen territory.

Founded in 1524, this historically rich monastery is best know for its cemetery, the final resting place for Nikita Khrushchev, Sergei Eisenstein, Nikolai Gogol, Sergei Prokofiev, and Anton Chekhov.

This is the best place to a get a sense of the city’s massive scale. Backed by the towering, majestic Moscow State University skyscraper, this vantage point provides a panoramic view of Moscow.

Opened under Stalin, the metro is a marvel of Soviet might and ostentation. The many stations are festooned with grand chandeliers, murals, mosaics, and monuments to the Bolshevik Revolution. Avoid the busy rush hour.