Anyone been to Moscow?

[Baconislife]

Thinking of doing 5 nights in Moscow in late October.
Anyone any advice on hotels and getting about please?

We loved it.

Make sure you allow time for the paperwork! It took me longer to get the visas than we were there and we flew short notice.

Cafe Pushkin. Ask for a table in the library hall. Worth every penny!

Shopping was amazing with everything you can think of and shops all over but we found the prices around the same as at home so prioritised food 😳

The metro is relatively easy to navigate, and people are (contra expectations) very willing to help stray foreigners.

Try Georgian food, it’s amazing!

It was so friendly, like essential says the expectation is the opposite but we found it very welcoming.

We had a fabulous time. Actually very friendly city. I have sons and we did a trip/pilgrimage to the Kubinka Tank Museum for a day which took some organising. Red square, Kremlin and Metro amazing. We also used Trips by Locals website for walking tour guide which was really good.
The planning for visas etc is a bit complicated and expensive.

Long time since I've been (2002 I think) but I loved it. I suspect its come on a long way in the last 16 years as it was still somewhat grim in places.

The people were lovely (doubt that's changed), Red Square and the Kremlin were almost worth the journey in themselves - breath taking and the metro stations themselves are astonishing. Have to admit I got hopelessly lost on the Metro though but that's must me I get lost going to the shops at home

I took the wrong route back to the hotel and wandered through a rather nasty looking estate. I think it was just the very grey architecture though as I didn't really feel threatend though I did see quite a few people who were clearly the worse for drink and drugs. Not the best thing as a lone woman who could barely speak a word of the languge but all part of life

Go and have a lovely time wish I was going back

Oh and the hotel had room service with a difference - about 10pm on my frist night my room phone went and I was asked (in German for some reason) if I needed a woman sent to my room and for how long Otherwise it was quite a smart hotel - on the face of it at least!

Twice - 1988 and 1991. My experiences will be irrelevant now. Second time was just after Gorbachev was overthrown. There was such a sense of anticipation and hope for the future. As well as tanks in the streets.

Spend a bit of time learning the alphabet before you go. It really isn't hard (all take a couple of hours) but makes a huge difference to finding your way around on the underground. You don't need to speak the language for that to be useful. (e.g. someone tells you which station to get off at, and you can actually read it).

I went a couple of years ago. The Kremlin (esp The armoury) and Red Square / St Basils are incredible. I also recommend the Novodevichy Cemetery and Sparrow Hills (used to be Lenin Hills and has amazing views, esp of Stalin’s Seven Sisters). I didn't use the Metro to get around but did go on a guided tour late on a Sunday evening to see the best of the stations which was definitely worth it.
PP suggested Georgian food, I concur but would add an elasticated waist band!

Horrible place, would never ever go back.

I should add that's just my personal experience, it's not actually a horrible place but I will always associate it with being horrible.

Agree with the poster who suggested learning the alphabet before you go. It is a huge help. I love Moscow and the people are wonderful. If you want to see ballet or opera when there, do book in advance as tickets are often sold out.

I went about a decade ago. I loved it, but one of my fellow travellers was African-American and the crap that she had to put up with was horrendous. I speak Russian but her Russian was basic and I had to intervene a number of times to protect her. The racism there was dreadful.

Also agree with the PP who suggested Georgian restaurant. There are a few in Moscow, sorry can't recall the name of the one we used, but all have good reviews on Google Reviews so probably all great. Georgian food is fresh and tasty and there are plenty of options for meat eaters and veggies alike.

We stayed at the Hilton Leningradskaya which was really nice - amazing breakfast. Metro, walking and taxis all fine to get around.

Definitely agree with Redcherries about the visas - almost all of us had to go back at least once with something we'd done wrong on the form!

Overall I totally preferred St Petersburg. However, in Moscow the Kremlin was a total must do, and if prices are still similar then I'd recommend going to Nobu just for how much cheaper it is than in London!

It's many years since I went there (1991!), so I imagine much will have changed. As others have said, the Kremlin and Red Square are obvious must sees. I recall spending much of a day touring round the Metro, visiting some of the most beautiful stations. And I also recall a souvenir market, which had some wonderful things at a reasonable price - unfortunately I cannot remember where it was, but it was famous at that time. I wonder if it still exists!?! I am the proud owner of a stacking set of Russian dolls, with Gorbachev on the outside, through to Lenin in the middle, sourced from that market.

Back to visas, they are a monumental pain. I really recommend using CIBT to do it for you. They go through your application and correct it before submission plus they have an embassy person to their office to do finger prints. Much easier than going direct.

@EhlanaOfElenia Same experience, that's why I think it's horrible.

@MissionItsPossible - sorry to hear that, but I completely understand. It was so horrible the way people behaved towards her. Lots of very overt staring, some creepy sleazes who tried to pick her up as she was 'exotic' (and were very pissed off that I wouldn't let them 'pick' her up) and others yelling at her and abusing her, particularly one arsehole on a train who stood in front of her screaming at her - I had to physically push him away from her and scream at him to get away. Noone else did a damn thing. It was constant - we were there for a month and it happened each and every damn day.

If you can choose between Petersburg and Moscow I really would go for Petersburg. So much history, stunning palaces and a bit more tourist friendly in our experience

@EhlanaOfElenia I was on a school trip and got physically beaten up by a gang and they turned on my friends when they tried to intervene and police just watched. These were grown men, not other teenagers. I’d like to think it’s better now but I wouldn’t go back to find out

@MissionItsPossible - were you badly hurt? That must have been terrifying.

The police didn't do anything because as a school group and teenagers (?) you couldn't pay them, more than likely.... I was horrified at how bribing was so utterly common place.

And I also recall a souvenir market, which had some wonderful things at a reasonable price - unfortunately I cannot remember where it was, but it was famous at that time. I wonder if it still exists!?

Sounds like Izmaylovskii Market, in the east of Moscow.

www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g298484-d300378-Reviews-Izmailovsky_Market-Moscow_Central_Russia.html

Yes, I've been twice, last time three months ago and the time before that about twelve years ago. The difference was huge, it's now much much more affluent. I'd also recommend CIBT for the visa as it has changed and is very very detailed now on the info they ask for, and your finger prints are required.

I loved Moscow! I far preferred it over St Petersburg. Book your tickets to the Kremlin Armoury in advance online. Don’t miss the Diamond Fund- if the ticket office has a sign saying the tickets are sold out, ignore it as you’ll be able to buy tickets at the entrance to the Fund (limped tickets for Russians sold each day but no limits for foreigners).

The museum about the history of the Gulag is a bit out of the way, but worth a visit. The space museum out at VDNKh is great (Russian space dogs! ) and VDNKh is worth a wander if you’re out there anyway.

A bit cheesy/totally touristy but a highlight for DS, was the Cold War Bunker 42. At the end when they ask for volunteers, it’s to push the actual buttons to send off bombs to the US. DS loved doing that.

I’d also ditto the suggestion of learning The Cyrillic alphabet before you go. It will make getting around much easier.