Moscow Map

About City

Moscow is the capital of Russia and its commercial and cultural center. It is the northernmost megacity on the Earth and is the fifth largest city in the world. Moscow occupies an area of 2,511 sq km and had an approximate population of 12,593,252 in 2021.

The city is named after the Moskva River beside which it is located. The first reference to this name was made in 1147 by Yuri Dolgorukiy of Rostov. He constructed the first wall of the city in 1156. The city was destroyed by the Mongols in 1237-38 but was rebuilt later. As it was located on the headwater of the Volga River, it expanded steadily and came to be known as the Grand Duchy of Moscow. Since 1480, the city served as the imperial capital of Russia. It then continued to serve as the capital of Soviet Russia. Today, the emergence of the market economy has brought about some cosmetic changes in Russia.

Geography

Moscow lies on the East European platform. This is a very stable area made up of continental basement rocks. Limestone, silt, clay, and sand make up the depression in which the city is located. Moscow lies on the banks of the Moskva River that flows for 500 km through the East European plains of which 80 km run through the city itself. 49 bridges have been constructed over the river. The region had experienced glacial activities in the past and the signs can still be seen in certain geographical features. The highest point of the city lies at an elevation of 255 meters.

Moscow enjoys a humid continental climate. Summers are warm while winters are very cold. Heat waves are common between May and September. Rain falls in summer while the winter months from November to mid-March are covered with snow.

How to reach (transport)

Moscow is a very well-connected city. You can reach it in the following ways:

• The city is served by three main airports. The Sheremetyevo International airport lies to the north of the city. The Domodedovo International airport is located south of the city center and is currently the largest airport in Moscow. The Vnukovo International Airport lies in southwest of the city and is another busy airport. In addition, there is the Ostafyevo International Airport to the south of Moscow and it mostly caters to business traffic. The city has air linkages to all the continents and major cities of the world.
• You can travel to Moscow by train from any part of Russia because it is the railway hub of the country. Trains from Europe, Eastern Russia, Petersburg, and Asia come to the city. There are nine train stations in Moscow catering to both local and long-distance trains.
• The major highways that lead to Moscow include the E30 from Germany, Poland, and Belarus and the E22 from Riga and Latvia. The E18 runs from Finland through St. Petersburg. You can either hire a car or travel on one of the several intercity buses that travel from Moscow.

When to visit

Since the temperature is most comfortable in summer, this is the high tourist season. However, the most attractive events and festivals occur in winter. If you can protect yourself from the cold, winter may be a better time to visit Moscow.

 

Culture (fairs and festivals) and traditions

Several events are celebrated in Moscow throughout the year. Some of them are as follows:

• The Russian Orthodox Christmas is celebrated with much merriment on 7th January.
• The Maslenitsa Festival is held for a week in February with carnival fun, fireworks, music, dancing, and food.
• The St Patrick’s parade is an Irish-themed festival on 17th May.
• The Red Hill holiday is celebrated on the Sunday following Easter to welcome spring.
• The International Moscow Film Festival is held in June or July with screenings from around the world.
• The International folklore festival is celebrated from August to December. Folk music performances are held in various parks and gardens.
• The Moscow International book fair is held throughout September and is a mega event.
• City Day celebrates the founding of the city with street parades, parties, and festivities.
• The Autumn Festival and the International Festival of Poets are celebrated in October and are very popular.
• The Christmas and the Winter Carnival are celebrated with a number of events throughout the month of December.

Points of interest (places to visit)

There are several important sights in Moscow. Some of them are:

• The Red Square is the starting point of any tour of Moscow. It is surrounded by St. Basil’s Cathedral, the State History Museum, Lenin’s Mausoleum, and one of the Kremlin’s long brick walls. The Lenin Mausoleum lies at the center of the tomb of Lenin.
• The Kremlin with its stunning churches, diamond collection, and beautiful gardens is another important landmark.
• The Tretyakov Gallery is one of the richest museums in the city and contains a fabulous collection of Russian icons.
• The Pushkin museum contains western art from the impressionist and post-impressionist era.
• The Gorky Park is the trendiest and the best-known park in the city.
• Christ the Saviour cathedral is the tallest orthodox cathedral in the world and has an extensive museum.

Accommodation

Moscow offers a wide range of accommodation. The five-star hotels are plenty including Golden Apple, Metropole, National, Ritz Carlton, Savoy, and Radisson, while the four-star hotels include Korston, Peking, Katerina, Budapest, and Kebur Palace. The three-star hotels include Warsaw, Belgrad, Oksana, Altay, and Cosmos. Budget hotels are also plentiful in the city.