Russia has always been a magnet for adventure seekers. This enormous-in-size, rich-in-culture and mysterious-in-character country attracts travelers from all corners of the world. Behind the Russians’ gloomy and, at the first glance, unfriendly faces, one finds the most hospitable, warm-hearted souls. If you make friends in Russia, they will become your friends for life.

Covering an immense territory of 5600 miles from west to east and 3100 from north to south, Russia encompasses more than 100 different ethnic groups speaking more than 100 languages. Therefore, Russia is often called a “bridge” between Europe and Asia. For most travelers acquaintance with Russia starts with its capital.

Moscow is the Russian version of a sin city; it never sleeps and will shock even the most sophisticated traveler with its sky-high prices. For four years in a row the Russian capital has been topping the charts of the most expensive cities in the world. It is also the city with the highest concentration of Bentleys you would ever see parked in one street, and the most expensive real estate with some properties going as high as $2000 per sq. ft. It is the place where, with the right amount of funds, one can experience the most luxurious treatment. However, travelers on a budget can also find plenty of things to do and see here.

Moscow is home to over 10 million people representing over 120 ethnic groups and nationalities. Its ancient traditional architectural landmarks cohabit with the Soviet style sullen grey boxes of buildings and Western glassy office plazas. With the abundance of places to see, Moscow is surprisingly inconvenient for tourists. Just recently it started adding signs and maps in English. Traffic jams is the city’s plague, navigating downtown Moscow can be a nerve-raking experience, but the Moscow subway system is superb. The Moscow Metro carries up to 3 million passengers a day and its trains run every few minutes. The stations’ marble covered interiors could easily rival any art museum, and even if you do not plan to use subway for transportation, it is worth going to the underground just for a tour. And as an alternative to a subway or getting stuck in traffic, you can catch a ride with the legendary MiG-29 or Russia’s newest and most advanced high-altitude interceptor, the MiG-31 Foxhound. The helicopter tours offer breath-taking views of the Russian capital and its metro area.

The best way to see the city, though, is on foot with a professional guide who in addition to all standard attractions (the Kremlin, the Red Square with St. Basil Cathedral, the Bolshoi Theatre and Tretyakov Gallery, the Pushkin Art Museum, the 16th-century Novodevichy Convent, Christ the Savior Cathedral, Vorobyevy Hills, Ismailovo Flea Market, to name a few), can take you to places favored by locals and representing the true Moscow – hidden from tourists, with its old buildings, beat up sidewalks and old Moscow courtyards.

Moscow boasts a large number of high-end hotels where rooms can easily cost from $700 a night. Balchug Kempinski Hotel, Hotel Metropol, Savoi, Ararat Park Hyatt offer exquisite service along with the fantastic views of the historic city center.

The city has a huge selection of restaurants representing cuisine from all over the world. The most popular is Japanese with sushi places at every corner but if you came all the way to Russia you might as well taste its traditional food with borsht, pelmeni (Russian meat dumplings), pirozhki, chicken-Kiev and of course blinets with the red and black caviar.

Being a multi-million city, Moscow has an amazing array of nightlife options and a scene for everyone – be you a jazz aficionado or a hardcore clubber. One thing that newcomers to the city will quickly notice is that a bar or nightclub is rarely just that. Nearly every drinking hole in Moscow also serves as a restaurant, a bowling alley, billiards club, casino, concert venue or even book store!

The best time to visit Moscow is from April to October.

Things to remember when travelling to Russia:

FLIGHTS:

Getting to Moscow from the US requires a non-stop 10-hour flight from New York, Atlanta, Washington D.C. or Chicago. You can book your tickets at www.eufares.com

VISAS:

Travel in Russia has become easier than ever. Remember however that visas are required. And you need a fully licensed travel company like Go To Russia Travel (www.gotorussia.com) to provide the necessary visa support and registration.

ELECTRICITY

Electricity throughout Russia is 220 volt/50 Hz. The plug is the two-round-pin thin European standard. Be sure to bring your own converter as most places in Russia do not carry them.
CURRENCY

All prices are generally quoted in rubles. Currency can be freely converted at banks, hotels or kiosks. Traveler’s checks are hard to cash. Credit cards are accepted in most places that work with foreign tourists. ATM machines are widely available in major cities.

TIPPING

Tipping is increasingly expected at restaurants. Tip 10-15% depending on service. It is typical to round up the amount due to the next round figure.