Book a holiday to Moscow to lose yourself in this captivating, iconic and enigmatic European capital. Set foot in historic streets, surrounded by baroque churches and monuments dedicated to Russia's engaging past.
From the famous cobblestones of Red Square, you'll see many of Russia’s defining landmarks. There’s the symbolic St Basil’s Cathedral, with its colourful onion domes, and the fortified Kremlin that shaped the history of both Tsars and modern-day politicians.
Russia’s capital is more than its history though. Modern day Moscow has a vibrant, up-and-coming food scene and a varied nightlife. You can relax with locals in Gorky Park, enjoy a delicious meal in spectacular restaurants and take in a show at the world-renowned Bolshoi Theatre. Book a holiday to Moscow with Etihad and discover this exciting city.
From shopping to museums, fine dining to Russian history, holiday packages in Moscow offer everything you could expect from one of Europe’s most iconic capital cities.
The city is steeped in history and the Kremlin is the city’s must-see highlight, housing thousands of treasures, including royal armour and weapons. For an insight into the city’s notorious Cold War history, visit Bunker 42 – an underground bunker built to withstand a nuclear attack.
Art lovers will be enamoured by the State Tretyakov Gallery – full of Russian art from the pre-Soviet era.
Additionally, the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts is home to pieces from across Europe, packed with antiquities, casts and ancient sculptures.
Moscow’s up-and-coming chefs have changed the face of Russian cuisine. The city’s innovative food scene features inventive new dishes using fresh local ingredients, influenced by both traditional Russian cooking and international flavours.
You’ll find a number of fine-dining restaurants in the city for a luxurious experience, with new venues opening all the time. For a taste of true Moscow, head to Danilovsky Market for delicious street food. Here you’ll find stalls serving classic Russian treats as well as dishes from around the world.
Gorky Park is one of the city’s biggest green spaces. Situated alongside the Moskva River, Moscow locals come here to socialise and enjoy some fresh air. There are art installations to explore, playgrounds for children and plenty of cafes to pick from.
On Moscow holidays in the summer, enjoy the open-air cinema or play beach volleyball. In winter, wrap up warm and head out onto the ice-skating rink – one of the biggest in Europe.
Fantastic shopping awaits in Moscow, with gleaming modern malls and independent craft shops to explore. The Moscow GUM department store close to Red Square is the place to go for high-end designer and mid-range fashion, all housed in a grand 19th-century building.
Arbat Street is a prime spot for crafts and souvenirs. This pedestrianised street is lined with shops selling the ubiquitous matryoshka dolls. Also known as Babushka or Russian dolls, these nesting dolls are intricately carved and painted and make a brilliant souvenir. On these cobbled streets, you’ll also find handmade crafts and jewellery stalls.
No holiday in Moscow is complete without a trip to the ballet. Home to the famous Bolshoi Ballet and Opera companies, the Bolshoi Theatre is a real Russian icon – its picture even appears on the 100 Russian ruble note.
The theatre was built in the 18th century, though it has been rebuilt several times since. Visit the theatre’s museum or book a backstage tour, then take in one of the world-class ballet or opera performances.
For the definitive Moscow experience, stay in Tverskoy – the city’s central district and the home of Red Square. In the Kitay-gorod area to the south of Tverskoy, you’ll find the city’s oldest buildings dating from the 15th and 16th centuries. At the StandArt Hotel Moscow, each room is individually decorated, and there’s even an art gallery on site.
As well as great shopping opportunities and pavement cafes on Arbat Street, there’s a busy nightlife and some fantastic restaurants. This is one of the coolest parts of the city and a popular night-out destination for young Muscovites. Stay at the AZIMUT Hotel Smolenskaya Moscow and enjoy views of Moscow’s skyline.
Just south of the Moskva River is Yakimanka. This is a great option if you’re looking for a city centre area close to the major sites. Relax in the nearby Gorky Park and explore the art in the State Tretyakov Gallery.
The striking Hotel Baltschug Kempinski is fantastic for Moscow honeymoons, with spacious rooms and suites – some including river views.
The local currency in Russia is the rouble (RUB). Credit and debit cards are widely accepted, and you’ll find ATMs across the city for cash withdrawals.
Moscow’s highly efficient metro system is the best way to get around the city. Many of its stations are beautifully designed and are destinations in themselves.
Russian is the official language in Moscow, but there are also around 100 minority languages spoken. Around 10 per cent of the population speaks English.
In Russia, New Year is celebrated for a full week from the first day of the new year until 8 January. This extended holiday includes Orthodox Christmas Day on 7 January.
Moscow’s newest restaurants turn out cutting-edge international dishes, while the city still celebrates traditional flavours. Although it shares much with eastern Europe, Russian food is also highly influenced by Asia and the Middle East.
Dishes to try on your holiday to Moscow include borscht. This is a colourful beetroot soup that often includes meat, vegetables and a generous dollop of sour cream. Blinis are a fabulous and often celebratory food – small pancakes served with everything from jam to meat, cheese and kebabs. Look out for shashlyk kebabs too, Russia's version of Turkish shish kebabs.
Art is everywhere in Moscow, from the city's many impressive galleries to the colourful onion domes of its churches and metro stations.
Many of the greatest Russian novels, including Tolstoy’s War and Peace, are set in the city, so take an organised literature tour to see some of the featured sights. You can also visit the apartments where literary legends such as Chekhov and Dostoevsky lived.
If you book your Moscow holiday package between mid-December to mid-January, you’ll be in the city for the annual Winter Festival. The whole city is decked in fairy-lights and you can wander through pop-up markets and enjoy street performances.
Moscow was founded around the time of the 12th century. The modern city began to take shape during the 15th and 16th centuries, when St Basil’s Cathedral was built. In 1917, the October Revolution brought communism to Russia and Moscow soon became the centre of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), until its dissolution in 1992.
The State Historical Museum between Red Square and Manege Square has various exhibits from prehistoric to modern day Moscow. The Kremlin houses many different museums – in the Armoury Chamber you’ll find treasures ranging from the 4th to the 20th-century, including Fabergé eggs, crowns and carriages.
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