Things to see

Old Arbat, Moscow

The Old Arbat is one of Moscow’s most atmospheric historical streets, and holds an important place in Russian culture and history. What emerged as a garrison and humble settlement for palace artisans then transformed into a prestigious aristocratic street, and later became a melting pot for members of the Russian and Soviet intelligentsia, some of whom immortalised this unique street in their work. Today, the Old Arbat – known by Muscovites simply as ‘Arbat’ – is a bustling tourist hotspot, and the ideal place for an afternoon’s amble to soak up the atmosphere, culture and history of Moscow.

The Bolshoi Theater, Moscow

The Bolshoi Theatre is Russia’s national theatre, and has had an astounding influence on the history and development of Russian performing arts. Since its foundation nearly 250 years ago, the Bolshoi has become synonymous with world-class opera and ballet, and there is no better place to appreciate the magic of Russian dance, music, and theatre.

The Central Naval Museum, St. Petersburg

As with many of St Petersburg’s most important sites, the Central Naval Museum owes its existence to the ingenuity of Peter the Great. The acorn of the idea that was to blossom into one of the foremost nautical museums in the world first set root during the young tsar’s European tour. Seizing every opportunity to expand his exhaustive store of knowledge, the ever ambitious Peter immersed himself in the shipyards of the two most adept navies at the time, the British and Dutch— both handily under the rule of his long-time friend, the Prince of Orange. There he uncovered the technique of ship modelling which would form the basis of the Naval Museum’s collection.

St. Nicholas Naval Cathedral, St. Petersburg

The St Nicholas Naval Cathedral is dedicated to the glory of the Russian fleet, and recognisable for the golden cupolas crowning its sky-blue walls. Tucked away in a quieter area of the city and encircled by waterways and historic streets, the cathedral is not only a historical and religious monument, but one of the most beautiful and romantic spots in St Petersburg.

The State Darwin Museum, Moscow

The Darwin Museum's scientific and education activities continue to be developed today, and the unique collections started by Kots still inspire and fascinate visitors over a century later. 6,000 exhibits on display illustrate the origin, development and diversity of life on Earth; the science and evolution of the behaviour of animals and their distribution on the planet; and the origin of Man and history of his relationship with Nature.

Orlov Museum of Palaeontology, Moscow

Old or young, the mere sight of the fearsome creatures that once roamed Russia is guaranteed to induce goose bumps. The skull of a sabre-tooth tiger is unnervingly life-like— its intact canines seem to glisten with saliva— even the skeleton of an extinct species of moose is positively hair- raising in all its 4.5 meters from hoof to antler-tip. Naturally, the museum has its stock of Siberian woolly mammoths, and a giant rhino adds an exotic twist to the otherwise distinctly Russian collection.

The Kremlin Armoury, Moscow

The bejeweled carriages, audaciously large diamonds and even the painstakingly-painted tea sets seem to exude an aura of shameless wealth and privilege. Even the most ardent of capitalists could sympathize with the indignation that spurred the Bolshevik protests upon seeing this flagrant display; especially when one considers that this four-thousand-strong amalgamation of exquisite treasures represents but a fraction of the Romanovs’ riches!

Cinema Museum, Moscow

Although the Cinema Museum is one of Russia's newer museums, its history dates back almost 100 years. Between 1910 and 1919, a number of progressive filmmakers suggested that cinema ought to be documented for posterity, so at the end of the 1920s a cinema museum was established under the auspices of the State Academy of Artistic Sciences.

The Patriarch’s Palace, Moscow

Since its grand unveiling in 1656, the Patriarchal residence has been at the center of Russian religion and politics. Tsars and ambassadors have been entertained in its legendary banquet hall and sobors (Orthodox councils) have convened in its hallowed chambers to resolve Orthodoxy’s greatest issues. Today, the twelve golden domes of the Palace and the adjoining Church of the twelve apostles are a defining feature of the Kremlin, even though the Patriarch no longer resides there.

Archangel Cathedral, Moscow

Like the Kremlin’s other cathedrals, the Archangel Cathedral became a museum during the Soviet period. It underwent significant restoration work to preserve its precious interior, and was the subject of archaeological and architectural research. Services finally resumed on 28th May 1991.

Ivan the Great Bell Tower Complex, Moscow

The Ivan the Great Bell Tower Complex is the most striking ensemble dominating the Kremlin’s Cathedral Square. The famous Ivan the Great tower is marked by its harmonious architecture, made of several white stone octagonal tiers crowned by a golden dome. At present, the ensemble holds 24 bells cast in the 16th and 17th centuries, including the mighty 65-ton Uspensky bell.

Annunciation Cathedral, Moscow

Assumption Cathedral, Moscow

The stately Assumption Cathedral was modelled on the Dormition Cathedral in Vladimir, one of the Golden Ring cities of Ancient Russia. Although the Assumption Cathedral is not as ornate as the Kremlin’s other cathedrals, it is a fascinating sight nonetheless.

The State Historical Museum, Moscow

With a collection numbering close to 5 000 000 items and 15 000 000 historic documents, this museum which has been developing for almost one hundred and fifty years has one of the finest and largest historical exhibitions in the world.

Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts, Moscow

The Museum of Fine Arts named after Emperor Alexander III was opened on 31st May 1912, with Ivan Tsvetaev as its director. The initial collection included exhibits from Moscow State University’s Cabinet of Fine Art, antiquities, foreign paintings, sculptures and decorative art, much of it donated from the private collections of Russia’s academics, statesmen, collectors and members of the royal family.

Pushkin

Russians know the town of Pushkin, not by postcards or tour excursions, but rather by the intimate poems of its namesake—Alexander Pushkin. Thanks to Alexander I, who founded an elite school (Russian: lyceum) close to his palace, Pushkin was trained in the art of verse. Along with the workbooks and dormitory of a young Pushkin, poignant traces of the school’s other famous students like Anna Akhmatova, Mihail Glinka and Vasily Zhukovsky can be seen in its grand lecture halls and dingy dormitories.