Moscow | Москва

Nickname(s):

"Third Rome"

Demonym(s):

Muscovite

Founded:

1147

Democracy:

Developed:

European Union:

Schengen:

Euro:

National Capital:

RegionalState Capital:

Population (City):

13 010 000

Population (Urban):

17 000 000

Population (Metro):

21 535 000

Population Density (km2):

5 100

Population Density (mi2):

13 200

Largest City in Russia

Language:

Russian

Currency:

Ruble

Avg. Summertime High:

25 °C

77 °F

Avg. Summertime Low:

15 °C

59 °F

Warmest Month:

July

Coldest Month:

January

Avg. Wintertime High:

-4 °C

25 °F

Avg. Wintertime Low:

-9 °C

16 °F

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Moscow is most famous for the Red Square and if you, like me, have only limited time in the city then that's where you need to go. Near the Red Square, you'll also find sights such as the Kreml, Saint Basil's Cathedral & the Bolshoi Theatre.

Russian Federation | Российская Федерация

Russia

English

Россия

Russian

Region:

Eastern Europe

Area:

17 098 246 km2

Ranked out of 195

Population:

Population:

144 700 000

Ranked 9 out of 235

Urbanization:

75 %

Ranked 59 out of 194

Capital:

Moscow

Population: 21 535 000

Largest City:

Moscow

Population: 21 535 000

Major Cities:

Moscow
Saint Petersburg
Novosibirsk
Yekaterinburg
Kazan

Economy & Development:

Human Development Index:

Very High

Ranked 52 out of 189

Inequality-Adjusted HDI:

High

Ranked 42 out of 189

GDP (PPP) Per Capita:

$31 960

Ranked 55 out of 225

Democracy & Freedom:

Democracy Index:

Authoritarian

Ranked 124 out of 167

Freedom House:

Not Free

20 points out of 100 possible

Press Freedom:

Very Serious

Ranked 155 out of 180

Economic Freedom:

3rd Quartile

Ranked 85 out of 162

National Identity:

Independence Since:

1991

Independence From:

Soviet Union

National Day:

12th of June

What Is Celebrated On The National Day:

-

Facts & Codes:

Driving Side:

Right

-

Time Zone:

UTC +3 (MSK)

-

Country Calling Code:

+ 7

-

Country Code:

RU

ISO 3166

St. Basil's Cathedral

Colorful Cathedral

Red Square

Famous Square

Kremlin

Fortified Citadel

Currency:

Russian Ruble

Code:

RUB

Subunit:

Kopeyka

Symbol:

₽, руб

Cash Or Credit:

Cards worked well for me and in central Moscow, it's no problem to rely only on your card. Cash is however still the most popular form of payment in Russia as a whole so it can be good to have some available.

As of 2022, cards are no longer working in Russia.

Good To Know:

-

Local Language:

Russian

Language Family:

Slavic (Indo-European)

Writing System:

Cyrillic (Russian Alphabet)

What About English?

I would say yes and no for English in Moscow. It wasn't as hard as I thought to get by with only English. Most people, young and old, don't speak great English. Most people do however know some basics and will do their best to make it work. Signage and other important information are almost always translated into English, so don't worry about not being able to read Cyrillic.

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Saint Basil's Cathedral

Saint Basil's Cathedral, or Pokrovsky Cathedral, is one of the main sights of Moscow. Located at the southern end of the famous Red Square.

Saint Basil's Cathedral

Close-up of the base of Saint Basil's Cathedral.

Monument to Minin and Pozharsky

A statue called 'Monument to Minin and Pozharsky' in front of Saint Basil's Cathedral.

View from inside Saint Basil's Cathedral

View fo the Red Square from inside of Saint Basil's Cathedral.

Red Square

A Christmas market on the Red Square.

Red Square

The northern end of Red Square, with Kazan Cathedral as the centerpiece of the picture.

State Historical Museum

State Historical Museum, is a museum dedicated to Russian history at the northern end of Red Square. This photo is taken from the side that's not facing the square.

Gray landscape

The urban landscape of Moscow during the winter months can be very grey and depressing.

Street near Belorusskaya

A street scene near Belorusskaya Station.

Bolshoi Theatre

The Bolshoi Theatre is visible in the left of the picture.

Revolution Square

Revolution Square and a statue of Karl Marx.

Old Arbat

The main shopping street - Old Arbat.

Street in Moscow

A street called Arbatskiy Pereulok near Old Arbat.

Moscow streets

Gazetnyy Pereulok, which would roughly be translated to "Newspaper Lane".