Moscow

Think of Russia and chances are the images that instantly come to mind are those of Moscow. The age-old bastion of the Kremlin with its red-star-topped towers. The broad cobbled expanse of Red Square, Lenin's tomb on one side, the crazy Technicolor onion domes of St. Basil's Cathedral on the other. Fleet-footed ballerinas pirouetting across the Bolshoi stage. Underground stations hung with massive chandeliers and decorated with grand mosaics and sculptures. All this and more can be found in Russia's capital — the political, economic and cultural heart of the largest nation on earth. It's an awe-inspiring place, split by boulevards broad ...

Think of Russia and chances are the images that instantly come to mind are those of Moscow. The age-old bastion of the Kremlin with its red-star-topped towers. The broad cobbled expanse of Red Square, Lenin's tomb on one side, the crazy Technicolor onion domes of St. Basil's Cathedral on the other. Fleet-footed ballerinas pirouetting across the Bolshoi stage. Underground stations hung with massive chandeliers and decorated with grand mosaics and sculptures. All this and more can be found in Russia's capital — the political, economic and cultural heart of the largest nation on earth. It's an awe-inspiring place, split by boulevards broad enough to accommodate armies and a meandering river that provides the best perspective for some of the city's key sights. The skyline is punctuated by golden-domed churches and the spires of Stalin's "Seven Sisters," the iconic skyscrapers of the Communist era. New Russia is represented by a revamped GUM, the grand department store on one side of Red Square, avant-garde art exhibits, a bohemian nightlife and a slew of high-class restaurants and international-grade hotels.

About the Expert

Simon Richmond has written Rough Guides to Malaysia and Japan; Lonely Planet guides to India and Russia; and adventure travel guides for Frommer's on Australia, India, South America, and Southeast Asia.