Moscow City Breaks

Make no mistake; Moscow s a modern city. Superb shopping, outstanding food, a nightlife that rivals Berlin and a metro system worth travelling on just for the artwork!

Moscow is an ideal city break - you'll see plenty here even if you're just in town for a few days. It's the kind of city that will leave you reeling - and wanting more. The highlights are obvious - Red Square , the Kremlin, GUM and a visit to the Tretrakov Gallery with its collection of Russian art.

The nightlife highlights will depend on you - this is a city that caters for everyone!

Culturally there are dozens of museums and art galleries you simply must visit.

There are even a few Churches you must see to believe!

Moscow is much more than spies and cold war stories nowadays; the city is a wonderful contrast of old Russia and economic behemoth. Money is everywhere, and so is poverty. The contrasts can be jarring, but mostly it's a city break that will settle into your memory forever!

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The budget options - your first stop is the beer bars called Kruzhka. The beer is cheap and good and the bar snack menu will keep you happy. Real budget food is best found on the street in the numerous stand-up stalls selling hot dogs, kebabs and the like. You'll find a brown coloured kiosk outside many of the city metro stations called Teremok and they do a nice line in Russian crepes with a variety of fillings.

Mid price options - the mid price options are surprisingly good. Darbar on Leninsky Prospect is good Indian food in a great location with an excellent view over the city. The Hard Rock cafe on Old Arbat St serves what it does the world over at a reasonable price. Lavash is on Tsvetnoi Bulvar and serves food from the Caucus region. Mi Piace is a chain of Italian restaurants if you're over the borscht.

Splurge - you can certainly spend the house in Moscow. Right in the heart of Moscow at Number 1 Red Square is Krasnaya ploschad dom 1, in the historic museum building. Pushkin is in a mansion and seeks to serve the finest Russian cuisine. Judge for yourself! Expedition serves northern cuisine that many people rate.

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Summer sits around the mid twenties, while winter plunges into negative C territory. (You'll want your beanie!)

Spring and Autumn range from low single figures to mid teen Celsius - which is actually a pleasant temperature if you intend walking around all day.

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Red Square - this magnificent square is more memorable for the buildings that line its boundaries. Still, it is the famous site of parades galore and executions too many to list. At its edge lie the walls of the Kremlin, the impressive St Basil's Cathedral, the GUM department store and the State Historical Museum. You'll also find Lenin's Tomb here as well.

St Basil's Cathedral - for sheer grandeur it's hard to go past St Basil's. Built by Ivan the Terrible in the 1550s, this stunning example of Tsarist power and money consists of nine separate chapels, each topped by a mighty dome in a different colour to the next. Easy to see why it's one of the most photographed Cathedrals in the world.

Old Arbat Street - this is Moscow's most famous street. You'll recognise it from countless movies. It's worth a look simply to see Muscovites at work and play. There are cafes and bars and jugglers and street performers. The pedestrian thoroughfare makes it a comfortable place to just sit and people-watch a while.

Don't miss - the GUM department store. It's a blast to see one of the most famous stores in the world. The dour exterior belies the glories within and it's worth a look see, if only to understand how far Russia has come since Soviet repression. The boutiques are tres expensive so grab an ice cream and just wander the place soaking up the vibe.

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