Step by step the small Slavonic town was expanding getting new citizens, soon it became one of the largest cities of the country. It was proclaimed the capital of Russia by the tzar Ivan Grozny in the 15th century. In 1712, Peter the Great (the first Russian emperor) relocated the capital to St.Petersburg, another proud beauty of the country the construction of which had just been completed.When Napoleon's troops came to conquer Russia in 1812, they resided comfortably in Moscow and stayed there for some time robbing local treasures and burning houses in the meanwhile. The city was destroyed almost completely (80%), but when the French army was defeated, everything was rebuilt.

After the Bolshevik overturn took place in 1917, Moscow once again regained the status of the capital. During the World War II (1941-1945) the Muscovites kept factories running despite the German air raids to supply the army with the needed resources. St.Petersburg, a close neighbour of Moscow, suffered even more severely during the blockade - its citizens were starving.

The war was over on May 9th which has been celebrated thereafter with yearly military parades on Red Square. The famous Lenin Mausoleum is also located on this square with the remains of the ferst head of Soviet Republic who is still considered to be "more alive than all the living" :)

Nowadays Moscow has more than 9 million citizens and about 2 million guests are visiting it daily. The so-called Sadovoye koltso (Garden ring) forms the center of Moscow where most of the offices are located. Outside this ring you will find fewer small houses and more high-rise buildings that started appearing early in the 1970s. Older buildings are concentrated in the center. Most of them were completed in the 18th-19th centuries and have been preserved to the present day as historical and architectural monuments. Nowadas they are being reconstructed and renovated to house thousands of new firms that are spreading around. However, some of them are still used for housing by the Nouveau Riches - "New Russians". Almost all of the city's improvements were realized thanks to the efforts of Yury Luzhkov, the great Mayor of Moscow.

Moscow has developed into a sea port as a result of the Moscow Channel being connected to the Baltic Sea, the White Sea, the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea. The rivers are traveled mostly by double and triple decker boats as well as hydrofoils (specifically the "Raketa" and "Meteor" boats) which serve as the "express lines". Boats depart from both Moscow's North and South river ports.

Moscow is home to some very famous and beautiful architecture. In the center of the city stands the Kremlin - churches, cathedrals and ancient museums surrounded by brick walls, situated on the top of a hill overlooking the Moskva river. Adjacent to the Kremlin are both Red Square and the majestic and very colorful St.Basil's Cathedral. Today some of Moscow's modern architecture includes the Central Stadium in Luzhniky, site of the 1980 Olympic Games, as well as Ostankino Television Tower which, with its 536 meters of height, is one of the world's highest television towers.

Well known for its theaters and museums, Moscow is home to the world famous Bolshoi Theater, the Tretyakov Art Gallery which houses many national treasures including Russian paintings, sculptures and ancient Russian icons dating from the 9th to the 17th Century, and the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, which, aside from its collection of Egyptian, classical Greek and Roman art, contains one of the finest collection of French Impressionist paintings outside of France.

The Moscow metro is of particular interest to visitors with its richly decorated underground stations - they are more than 140. Each station is unique, with no two stations alike. The Moscow metro is the most comfortable and fastest means of public transport within the city. The Moscow underground extends for approximately 215 kilometers. During peak hours the metro-trains run at speeds of 41.4 kilometers per hour (including waiting time). The passage capacity of the Moscow metro during peak hours is 43 pairs of 8-wagon trains per hour. Every day approximately 7 million passengers are transported by the Moscow metro.

Don't forget to visit some of the many churches and cathedrals which were the sites of numerous events that have shaped the Russian history: The Kremlin, Andrey Roublev Museum of Early Russian Art, Novodevichiy Nunnery Museum, Tretyakov Art Gallery, Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, Donskoy Monastery, Kuskovo Estate and the Ceramics Museum, Kolomenskoye Estate Museum.
 

Russian food is famous for its meat dishes, fish in aspic, schchi (cabbage soup), pokhlyobka (thick soups), okroshka (cold soups), blinis (pancakes) with sour cream, caviar, pies and meat a la Stroganoff (Beef Stroganoff). Siberia is known for its pelmeni (meat dumplings). Tea with lemon is the traditional Russia beverage.
 
 
 

National Holidays

1-2 January ............New Year's Day (the greatest holiday)
7 January .............Russian Christmas
8 March .............Women's Day
1-2 May .............Spring and Labor Day
9 May .............Victory Day
12 June .............Russian Independence Day
7 November .............Revolution Day
12 December ..............Constitution Day
 
 
 

Money

The Russian monetary unit is the ruble. There used to be 100 kopecks in one ruble before 1990, though since USSR turned into the Commonwealth, the value of rubles was diminished greatly and kopecks got out of use. The inflation turned money into dust by adding four zeros to banknotes.  Due to the denomination that is to take place during 1998, Russian money should lose three zeros (100 rubles instead of 100,000) and we will get kopecks back again. Nevertheless, if before you had to pay 5 kopecks for one metro token, now it will cost 5 rubles.

There is no limit to the amount of foreign currency allowed to be brought to Russia. However, all money brought into the country must be declared upon entering the country. There are numerous currency exchange offices around the city, and the exchange rates between the ruble and the US Dollar is 6000:1 (old rubles) or 6:1 (new rubles).
 
 
 

Electric Voltage

The electric current in Russia is 220 volts with the exception of some hotels where it can by 127 volts. You will need a European converter while in Russia.
 
 
 

Time Zones

Moscow is in the same time zone as St.Petersburg, 3 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Minsk and Kiev are 2 hours ahead of GMT. There are 8 different time zones in Russia, stretching to the Russian Far East, where cities like Khabarovsk are 11 hours ahead of GMT.
 
 
 

Tipping

Tipping is not required in Russia and no one should feel obliged to do so. However, many visitors use tipping as a way to show appreciation for a job well done and this is certainly acceptable. Such gestures are voluntary and at the sole discretion of the visitor.
 
 
 

Medical Services

Medical assistance in Russia is free of charge. For foreigners this includes no charges for first time medical assistance or a doctor's house call if these services are necessary. As a foreigner, if you wish to be treated in a hospital and receive any type of treatment, you are responsible for payment of these services. Any hotel service desk will be able to assist you should you require any medical assistance.

Medical services are available in all cities and towns throughout Russia. First aid, excluding hospitalization, is available free of charge to all foreign travelers. Hospital expenses, determined by individual medical institutions, are the responsibility of the traveler and can, in some circumstances, be paid for by unused tour services. Should hospital services exceed these unused tour services, the difference is to be paid in cash.

Vaccinations are not required prior to entering Russia.
 
 

Passport and Visa Information

Foreign visitors to Russia must possess a valid passport when entering and exiting the country as well as when traveling throughout Russia. Russian authorities also require visas from visitors from many countries. You should check with the Russian consulate or the Consulate department of the Russian Embassy in the country where you live several weeks prior to departure, if possible, to determine whether a visa is required for travel to Russia. If needed, entry/exit visas can be obtained from the Consulate or Embassy.