Moscow Travel Guide — Best Time, Things to Do & Where to Stay

Why Moscow

Moscow is the capital and largest city of Russia, situated along the Moskva River in Central Russia. Recognized as the coldest and northernmost megacity globally, it is the most populous city situated entirely in Europe and covers the largest land area on the European continent. Within its administrative limits, the city covers 2,511 square kilometers, with an urban footprint expanding over 5,891 square kilometers. Functioning as a federal city, Moscow serves as the primary political, economic, cultural, and scientific hub for both Russia and Eastern Europe.

Human presence on the site dates to prehistoric hunter-gatherer communities, with Slavic tribes later establishing settlements around 950 AD. First recorded in historical chronicles in 1147, the town was fortified with its initial stronghold walls during the 1150s. Despite being sacked during Mongol invasions in the 1230s, it grew into a prominent principality under its first prince, Daniel, who established the Danilov Monastery. Moscow subsequently became the spiritual center of Russian Orthodoxy when church leadership relocated there in the 14th century, establishing the stone Dormition Cathedral.

Under Ivan III in the late 15th century, Italian architects redesigned the Kremlin walls, while landmark areas such as Red Square and the Zaradye district developed. Ivan the Terrible was crowned the first tsar of Russia in Moscow in 1547. To protect against recurring fires, Crimean Tatar attacks, and foreign occupations, the city constructed extensive defensive structures including Kitay-gorod, earth ramparts along what is now the Garden Ring, and fortified monastic complexes such as Novodevichy, Donskoy, and Andronikov. Although Peter the Great moved the capital to Saint Petersburg in 1712, Moscow resumed its capital status in 1918, serving through the Soviet era and remaining the capital of the Russian Federation today.

The city contains multiple UNESCO World Heritage Sites and displays historic Russian architecture, most notably around Red Square, Saint Basil's Cathedral, and the Moscow Kremlin, which acts as the official seat of the Russian government. Alongside historic monuments, modern architectural development includes the high-rise Moscow International Business Center. Moscow is also recognized as one of the world's greenest urban areas, with over 40 percent of its territory covered by green space.

As a major economic power featuring a notable concentration of financial infrastructure, Moscow has hosted significant international events, including the 1980 Summer Olympics and matches during the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Travelers reach and navigate the metropolis using a transit network consisting of four international airports, ten railway terminals, trams, a monorail system, and the Moscow Metro, which stands as Europe's busiest rapid transit system.