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A day off comes, and questions inevitably arise: what to see in Moscow today, where to go for free? How can you find out about interesting events in advance, and not when they have already taken place? In this review, we will talk about budget Moscow places that not every old-timer knows.

After, we decided to write a continuation, and now the second part is in front of you!

Watch a film in a cinema or film club

Surprisingly, even today in Moscow you can find several places with free entry for everyone, and watching a movie won’t cost you a penny! Where are they located?

• A visit to the ZIL film club rarely leaves viewers indifferent.
  The club is open to the public twice a month (usually on Friday evenings), but pre-registration is required.

• “World of Art” is one of the first Moscow electronic cinemas, despite its modest size, and still attracts visitors with a variety of genres. Film club meetings take place on Wednesdays. Changes are possible, the current schedule can be viewed on the official website.

• Standing apart on our list is the building of the Library of Foreign Literature named after. M.I. Rudomino.
  Despite the fact that the library's themes have few points of intersection with the field of cinema, you can regularly attend screenings of foreign films here. Most often, the films are shown in the original (Russian subtitles are possible).

• Moscow School of Photography and Multimedia named after. A. Rodchenko.
  Here you can not only receive a certificate of completion of courses in the art of photography, but also watch a high-quality original film completely free of charge. The screening takes place at the Blue film club on Saturday. Don't forget to take any identification document with you.

• Visit to the Film Library named after. Eisenstein has a variety of plans for the weekend. The main topics are films by Russian and Soviet filmmakers. Various film events and anniversaries of film workers are also held here.

• Visit to the library named after. M.A. Svetlova. As part of the Mayak film club, you can not only watch an interesting film, but also discuss it with other participants, meet new people and have a pleasant time in an informal atmosphere.

Lifehack! If you want to see new items, which are currently in theaters, and do it at minimal cost, then take a look at the website of the Moscow Cinema cinema chain. 13 cinemas under the Moscow Department of Culture where you can enjoy watching films from 90 rubles!

Listen to classical music

If you are looking not only for free entertainment in Moscow, but also want to attend concerts of talented groups, then this section is for you.

• Concerts at the Moscow Conservatory

The Maly and Rachmaninov Halls, located on Bolshaya Nikitskaya Street, regularly invite guests to free performances. Also there you can witness a variety of festivals related to classical music.

The interesting thing is that you can attend the event for free not only on a weekday; the halls are often open on weekends. If you are only attracted to the big hall, then don’t despair, free concerts are held there too, but a little less often. In the conservatory’s poster, look for the inscription “free admission.”
Address: st. Bolshaya Nikitskaya, 13/6.

• Organ concerts at the Evangelical Christian Baptist Church

Have you thought about where to go for free on a weekend in Moscow? Are you familiar with the enchanting music of the organ?

When the last Sunday of the month arrives, church workers organize a social concert of organ music (usually starting at 15.00). The organ, created in the 19th century, performs famous works of classics.

The church is located on M. Trekhsvyatitelsky lane no. 3 (metro Kitay-Gorod). If you want to find a comfortable seat, please arrive 30 minutes before the start of the event.

Don’t think that only student concerts are open to the public. Very often, professional artists come to the Russian Academy to give free concerts (the main venues are the Musical Living Room of Shuvalova’s House and the Small Hall). Almost every weekday evening there is some kind of event at the academy. On weekends you can visit Gnesinka both in the morning and in the evening.
Address: st. Povarskaya, 30/36.

• Events at the All-Russian State Library for Foreign Literature named after M.I. Rudomino

Usually visiting libraries is not conducive to noisy events. However, everything is different here: to the sounds of constant classical music, you can not only enjoy your favorite works, but also discuss them with like-minded people. The library is located on Nikoloyamskaya street 1 (entrance on the right side).

Take a walk along the embankments or ride a bike, rollerblades, or longboards

If you are, then be sure to visit the beautiful embankments leading from Muzeon to Vorobyovy Gory. Also an interesting route to visit will be the Park of Culture - Novodevichy Convent - Kyiv metro station.

Remember that on the embankments you can ride bicycles, rollerblades, longboards, or just stroll around enjoying the view.

Visiting parks and estates

If you want to visit historical places of interest in Moscow for free, and the weather permits, then be sure to go to nature: fresh air, friendly people and a beautiful landscape will drive away any melancholy. You should also remember that almost every day off is a holiday, so you can easily get to a festival or other event. Estates include:

• Muzeon
• Park named after Gorky
• Zaryadye
• Sokolniki
• Tsaritsyno
• Kuskovo
• Izmailovo
• Kolomenskoye

• Learn about industrial culture

Are you nostalgic for the 20th century or would you be interested in seeing with your own eyes how things worked back then? Be sure to visit the Museum of Industrial Culture. It is here that you can travel in a time machine to the past, look at household items, equipment, toys and clothes of the last century. You can even buy soda from a special machine!
Address: Lyublino metro station, Zarechye st. 3A.

• Learn about water

The Water Museum is also an environmental center. Here you can not only learn interesting facts about drinking water, but also acquainted with those nology of water treatment facilities and water supply schemes for the capital, which operated at different periods of time. The museum is located in the former Main Pumping Station, dating back to the 19th century.
Address: Proletarskaya metro station, Sarinsky proezd, 13.

Mausoleum

Despite the worldwide fame of the Mausoleum, you can visit the historical place only at strictly designated times. Currently this is the morning (10-13) of Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. Visiting the Lenin Mausoleum remains free.
Where: Red Square.

Cathedral of Christ the Savior

One of the most famous temples in all of Russia also does not require payment for visiting. However, if you want to hear an interesting story about the construction and history of the temple, then you will have to pay the guide a certain amount.
Where: st. Volkhonka, 15.

For creative people

• "Winzavod"

Be sure to visit the first art territory of the capital's industrial zone. If you look carefully at the exhibition schedule, you will find several free ones there. No documents or prior registration are required to visit the center.
Where: metro Kurskaya, 4th Syromyatnichesky lane, 1/8.

• "Bottle"

This design factory was also a pioneer. Currently, creative evenings, film screenings and various festivals are held here. You can get to some of them without paying a penny, you just have to study the poster. Since the place is extremely popular, it is recommended to arrive to events 20-30 minutes before the start.
Where: m. Dmitrovskaya, st. B. Novodmitrovskaya, 36.

• "Factory"

The center is interesting not only for its diversity (connoisseurs of theatre, music and cinema, as well as artists gather here), but also for its huge number of free installations. Almost every day you can come to 18 Perevedenovsky Lane and visit a new exciting exhibition of a contemporary artist.

Who said you can't combine American fashion photography with Belgian classics and Korean modernism? Gary Tatintsian's gallery has always been distinguished by the originality of its ideas, and free exhibitions are a pleasant, but not the main addition to the overall impression.
Where: Chkalovskaya metro station, Serebryanicheskaya embankment, 19.

Going to the theater is almost free

Some places cannot be called completely free. But the small fee (within 200 rubles) is fully paid off by the emotions after visiting these places.

• Visit to the Satire Theater

Usually the cost of theater tickets exceeds the above-mentioned amount, but if you carefully monitor the promotions, you will definitely see budget performances. Believe me, their quality is absolutely no different from ordinary performances: positive emotions are guaranteed!
Where: Triumfalnaya Square, 2.

• Performances of the Vakhtangov Theater

Despite the huge period of work (more than 90 years) and the talented troupe, the theater values ​​​​its audience, offering them budget ticket prices (from 100-200 rubles).
Where: st. Arbat, 26.

• Visit to the Luna Theater

The theater has been operating for a quarter of a century and is distinguished by the original ideas of its directors, unique decorations and talented selection of music. Ticket prices start from 200 rubles.
Where: st. Malaya Ordynka, 31, building 1.

• Performances from the workshop of Pyotr Fomenko

The combination of theater traditions and experimental discoveries makes the Workshop's productions interesting and unusual. Prices for performances also start at 200 rubles.
Where: "old" stage on Kutuzovsky Prospekt, 30/32 and the “new” stage onTaras Shevchenko Embankment, 29.

Find an idea on our Instagram

Every Friday we publish in our Instagram @idem_gulyat a selection of the most interesting and free events of the weekend! Subscribe, and you will no longer have to suffer with the choice of leisure time.

Visit the events of the creative space "Symbol"

All events at Symbol are carried out free of charge, i.e. Anyone can register on the official website and attend a very interesting master class or lecture! There were all sorts of events here, from dance classes and music concerts to business meetings and psychological trainings. We recommend!

Official site
Where: st. Zolotorozhsky Val, 11, building 20.

Swing on a swing on Triumfalnaya Square

You know that on Triumfalnaya Square, under the sensitive gaze of V. Mayakovsky, there is a playground with 12 paired swings for adults? This is a delight, comrades! Remembering childhood and enjoying the moment is available to everyone.

Where: metro Mayakovskaya, Triumfalnaya square.

Take a walk through the fabulous Kremlin

The Izmailovo Kremlin delights us with its magical decoration. Walking around the Kremlin and taking bright photos is a pleasant opportunity to brighten up your day off.

Where: metro station Partizanskaya, Izmailovskoe highway, 73zh.

Take a walk around the city center or around the Moscow City complex

There can be a lot of ideas for walks, we will just start this endless list of beautiful places in Moscow, and you will continue it to your taste. To look at Moscow City, you can start with the best view - from the Taras Shevchenko embankment, and then continue your walk on the territory of the complex, crossing the Bagration Bridge. Surely you will also experience a breathtaking sensation at the foot of the tall buildings.

As for walking around the city center, we won’t be original here. Places that never cease to delight the eye every time: Red Square, St. Basil's Cathedral, Bolshoi Theater, Big Stone Bridge, Manezhnaya Square, Old and New Arbat, the area of ​​cozy streets of Kitai-Gorod, boulevards of the central district of the city, Patriarch's Ponds, Kuznetsky Most, Crimean embankment, Krutitskoe courtyard and so on...

Attend an event in a modern library

Libraries "Turgenevka" and "Nekrasovka" can rightfully be called modern, beautiful and useful! If you are interested in the format of an exhibition, concert or discussion club, then feel free to choose the event you like and come! Admission is free by prior registration on the official websites of libraries.

By the way, it’s simply impossible not to fall in love with Nekrasovka; such a beautiful and cozy interior makes you come back here again and again.

“Nekrasovka”: official website, metro station Baumanskaya, st. Baumanskaya, 58/25, building 14.
"Turgenevka": official website, m. Turgenevskaya, Bobrov lane. 6, pp. 1,2.

Another youth and modern library is definitely worth mentioning! This is the library. M.A. Svetlova or otherwise they call her "Svetlovka". A large number of events take place here: meetings of poetry club participants, drawing master classes, game rooms, literary evenings, meetings with famous cultural figures, events of film and environmental clubs and much more!
You can find the current schedule in

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Amazing panoramas from different parts of the Earth.

Traveling is a great way to break out of the ill-fated rhythm of affairs and responsibilities, replacing habitual emotions with bright and fresh impressions; acquire new invaluable knowledge and overcome the creative crisis.

Monotonous sitting in the office, traffic jams, lack of sleep, prolonged cold - rapidly strengthen the idea of ​​​​a vacation, giving birth to dreams and travel plans in the head.

It is worth noting that every year tourism is less and less in the status of a fashionable and prestigious hobby, but becomes an opportunity for cultural and spiritual development. Many people no longer choose places based on the principle “so they won’t be ashamed to tell their friends,” but choose real pearls for their soul.

In our interesting world there are hundreds of thousands of beautiful, amazing places. Often the most beautiful places and attractions are very far away. Take a fascinating tour of the ten most beautiful and unusual places in the world with the site. And let it be a virtual trip, but maybe it will inspire you to take a real one in the future.

“Tunnel of Love”, Klevan, Ukraine

The “Tunnel of Love” in Klevan was nicknamed a natural fence of trees and bushes that grew over the railway tracks near the Klevan station in a completely unusual way. At some point, the authorities stopped trimming the trees, and the dense crowns formed an impromptu grotto. So, if you are in love, then go to the “Tunnel of Love” together. And beware of the train, because despite the talk that the railway is not working, there is a train in some pictures on the network.

Heart Island, Queensland, Australia

Pink lake Retba, Senegal

Retba acquired an unusual color for several reasons. Firstly, there is a lot of salt in the waters of the lake. Its concentration is about 40%. Secondly, the microorganisms living here are red because they produce a special pigment to absorb sunlight. This is a bacteria called Dunaliella salina. They are what allow the lake to have such an unusual color.

Mont Aiguille, France

Valley of the Fallen, Guadarrama Mountains, Spain

Lake Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

Hang Son Dung, Vietnam

The largest cave in the world. According to researchers, there is enough space in the underground hall of the cave even for a 40-story skyscraper.

The most dangerous trail in the world “El Caminito del Rey”, Spain

The trail is a narrow, curved path, only a meter wide; is mounted on iron beams driven into the relief. Sometimes it becomes a place of death for tourists.

Golden Stone, Mount Chaittiyo, Burma

The golden stone in Burma is a striking example of balancing; it is located on the edge of a one and a half kilometer mountain and it seems that it is about to fall down, because you can even swing it slightly! However, this has not happened for about nine centuries. Buddhists took the fact that the stone defies the law of gravity as a sign, covered it with gold and built a pagoda on top.

Bay of Kotor, Montenegro, Croatia

The largest bay on the Adriatic Sea.

Going to Moscow, I constantly thought about why this city never became a popular tourist destination among our compatriots. It is beautiful, interesting and more than colorful here. Everyone understands this. But for some reason such things always remain behind the scenes - as if somewhere on the sidelines. On the one hand, Belarusians travel to Moscow regularly. On the other hand, only a few will have a camera with them. As if Moscow does not exist for this at all. “Peter, yes. And Moscow? Well, what is there to photograph?”

Probably, just six months ago, when my passport proudly displayed a Schengen visa, I myself would hardly have gone here. But now I am not at all disappointed that I decided to take this trip. The capital of Russia is truly a great city. And there is not an ounce of politics in these words now. I liked it here. Even though the cold weather is literally driving me crazy for the second trip in a row. And even despite the fact that for me personally this was not my first trip to this city. Oh well... Enough chatter.

Read further in our article about what interesting places in Moscow a tourist should visit, as well as how Tanya and I personally spent a weekend in this city. I’ll try to show you the capital of Russia as only Chinese tourists see it. As Gagarin said: “Let's go!”

Interesting places in Moscow: where to go as a tourist and what to do in the Russian capital

Visit the Moscow residence of Catherine II.

For lovers of antiquity and classical Russian architecture, the Tsaritsyno museum complex, located near the metro station of the same name, is a real “must see”. It’s beautiful, cozy and somehow un-Moscow quiet. In general, when you get here, it’s as if you’re falling into some other reality. I could imagine such a building somewhere in St. Petersburg. But in Moscow it looked like an alien from some parallel world.
Well, imagine: you are walking through the city. On the one hand, there is some kind of shabby market. On the other hand, high-rise apartment buildings. And then suddenly you cross the road and a huge palace appears in front of you. There is a large park around, a crystal pond with an unreal number of ducks, forged lanterns and numerous bridges with mysterious Masonic symbols. It feels like in just a few minutes you have wandered into some other - completely unfamiliar world. It's just a brain dump.

Bridge over the ravine. And a bunch of Masonic symbols.

In general, the Tsaritsyno museum complex is not only the famous Grand Palace (which does not want to fit entirely into the frame). But also a large number of other historical buildings. The bread house, ancient greenhouses, figured bridges, the Temple of the Icon of the Mother of God - all these buildings fit organically into the territory of one large Moscow park. It is very difficult to talk about this complex “in a nutshell”. Therefore, a little later I will publish a separate article on this topic. And now I’ll just sketch out a few more photographs here so that you can appreciate the beauty and grandeur of this museum. Not a single list of the most interesting places in Moscow is complete without mentioning the Tsaritsyn complex.

Grand Palace

Tanya and I. Selfie inside the imperial palace

Well, I think you recognize this lady.

At the end of the block, some useful information that my Tanya always insists on... The Tsaritsyno Museum is open all week except Monday. Working hours:

• Tuesday–Friday: from 11:00 to 18:00
• Saturday: from 11:00 to 20:00
• Sunday: from 11:00 to 19:00
• The park adjacent to the complex is open from 6 a.m. to midnight.

A comprehensive ticket to all halls and exhibitions costs 650 Russian rubles. A ticket to the Grand Palace and the Bread House will cost less - 350 rubles. A visit to the greenhouses alone costs 250 rubles. The third Sunday of every month - admission to all halls is free (as, by the way, to other museums in Moscow). More detailed information about the Tsaritsyno Museum and current exhibitions can be found on the website www.tsaritsyno-museum.ru.

Take a walk along the Kremlin walls.

The Grand Palace in Tsaritsyno is a very beautiful and picturesque place. But there is one ancient fortress in Moscow, which will still always remain number one for tourists. I think you know what I mean.
The Moscow Kremlin is a symbol of Moscow. And at the same time, it is also a symbol of all of Russia. From its walls, soldiers went to the front in 1941. The great Victory Parade took place at its walls four years later.

As for me personally, I really liked this place. You can feel the spirit of modern Russia in it. It’s as if everything that this distant and near country lives with is embodied in the features of one building. Ruby stars, an honor guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the famous clock on the Spasskaya Tower are all worth seeing. As, indeed, many other colorful little things scattered in the immediate vicinity of the Kremlin walls. Here, for example, is the “Minsk” star on the alley of “Hero Cities”.
Monuments to characters of Russian fairy tales.

A fountain with galloping horses (which, unfortunately, was not yet open in March).

All this gives the city a special charm, showing tourists that the most interesting places in Moscow can sometimes be found in the most unexpected places.

Look into Lenin's mausoleum.

I’ll be honest: Tanya and I personally never made it here during our three days in Moscow. Therefore, I will write about this iconic place (at least for the Russian capital) in a nutshell. So, guess the riddle: how is Minsk different from Moscow? It’s clear that you can find hundreds of answers to this question. But in this case, I would note only one difference: in Minsk Lenin is vertical, and in Moscow he is horizontal. Although both of them are more of a monument than a person. The body of the leader of the world proletariat has been in the mausoleum since 1924. And since then, the “human” remains of Vladimir Ilyich, as many experts note, have been preserved by less than 10 percent.

Wander around Red Square.

Just wander around, because taking pictures of anything here is practically useless. Clouds of Chinese are constantly creeping into the frame, for whom Moscow, after the collapse of the Russian ruble, has become the most popular travel destination. To say that there are a lot of them is to say nothing. Instead, I will note another interesting fact - many inscriptions in the center of Moscow are already duplicated in Chinese. Here, for example, is what the price tags look like in Moscow GUM.

Eat ice cream at the Moscow GUM.

By the way, about GUM... For me personally, this store became the most vivid impression of this entire spring trip. And the point here is not at all about shopping, but about the atmosphere itself that reigns under the glass arches of this ancient building. If you name the most interesting places in Moscow, I would boldly put the main department store of this city in first place. Why? I personally can find several answers to this question at once.

When you get here, you seem to be immersed in the atmosphere of Soviet Moscow of the 60-70s. Under the vaults of the store, melodies of USSR hits sound. Soviet posters hang on the walls. And colorful and strict ice cream makers deliver branded Soviet ice cream in waffle cones (1 = 50 rubles) through the long galleries of GUM.

I understand that in the CIS space the words “Soviet”, “USSR-ovsky”, as well as the word “GUM” itself, sound at least ambiguous. Many see them as unnecessary, moldy relics of the past. Or some kind of Soviet dullness. But Moscow GUM has nothing in common with all this. Here the atmosphere of the USSR does not repel, but on the contrary – fascinates, attracts and inspires. I want to get into it. And take it with you. Like the music of Eduard Khil. Or the song “White Steamer” from the comedy “Guardian”, which still plays in my head. Remember her?

What else do I remember about Moscow GUM? Painted benches, colorful dining room No. 57, romantic bridges hovering somewhere under glass arches, and this unusual tree, studded with dozens of colorful birdhouses with the names of various stores. It’s hard not to fall in love with a Moscow like this. After all, this city knows how to be not only frowning and stern, but also open, romantic and soulful like spring.

Admire the ancient Moscow churches

The ancient churches of the Russian capital have long become symbols known throughout the world. Russia may not be understood. You don't have to love Russia. But it’s very, very difficult not to admire the beauty of ancient Russian architecture. And, with my hands on the sacred buttons of my laptop keyboard, I can absolutely honestly say that Moscow's St. Basil's Cathedral is one of the most beautiful buildings I have ever seen in my life. But in the Russian capital there are many other interesting churches... The Cathedral of Christ the Savior, the Epiphany Cathedral, the Church of St. Sophia and many others - each of these places is a full-fledged attraction. We only found a few of them. Below I am attaching a couple of photos.

Go to a performance in one of the Moscow theaters

I probably won’t deviate too much from the truth if I say that Russian theatrical art has been and remains, if not the best in the world, then definitely one of the best. The Bolshoi Theater, the Vakhtangov Theater, the Moscow Art Theater - all these names are known far beyond the borders of Russia. Although, to be honest, now I somehow don’t want to burden you with serious stories about high art. Therefore, instead of long enumeration, I will say only one thing: in most Moscow theaters you can watch live the performance of many stars of modern Russian TV series. For example, Tanya and I were going to go to a performance with the participation of some actors from the famous television project “Kitchen”. Unfortunately, this plan was never realized. But maybe you can find time to go to the theater during your trip?

Ride the Moscow metro.

What you really won't miss during a trip to the Russian capital is the Moscow metro. Without it, moving around the city is almost impossible. Especially if you drive mainly through the central part of the city, which regularly suffers from traffic jams.
However, this is probably for the best. After all, the metro in the Russian capital is another full-fledged tourist attraction, which can easily be considered one of the most interesting places in Moscow. Many guidebooks call this subway “an underground masterpiece of architecture” and the most beautiful subway in Europe. Although, in my subjective opinion, not all local subway stations really deserve attention. The only exceptions are the oldest stations of the Moscow metro - Revolution Square, Kyiv (ring), Mayakovskaya, Novoslobodskaya. Personally, I also really liked the Vorobyovy Gory metro station, where Tanya and I found some random exhibition of folk items. And also the Vystavochnaya metro station, combined with the glass Bagration Bridge. This bridge offers an excellent view of the Moscow River embankment, as well as the skyscrapers of Moscow City. Uncleaned windows everywhere add a bit of ointment to the ointment. But these are, so to speak, the little things in life.

Oh yeah... I also really liked those subway stations where the trains pop up to the surface. You drive and drive through the dark tunnels of the subway and then suddenly - wow - there is such beauty all around.

Take a photo of the tallest building in Europe.

Honestly speaking, for me personally, the skyscrapers of the Russian capital and the local business center in general have been and remain one of the most interesting places in Moscow. Each building is a separate masterpiece. Just look at the twisted spiral of the Evolution Tower (No. 1 according to Tanya) or the “City of Capitals” complex, as if made of giant cubes. All together it looks very beautiful and impressive. And the glare playing on the waves of the Moscow River only enhances this impression.

As for the tallest buildings, there are three of them (no matter how strange it may sound). The Mercury Tower held this title in 2013. OKO Tower - in 2014. And the eastern part of the Federation Tower is the tallest building in Europe at the time of writing this article. Its height is 374 meters. Damn... I don't know about you, but I just love skyscrapers.

Skyscraper Mercury is the first on the right; Federation Tower is the double building to its left. In the center is the twisted spiral of the Evolution Tower.

If anyone is interested: some towers of the complex are equipped with separate observation platforms. I personally don’t know how cool the view is from there. But this pleasure is quite expensive - 500 Russian rubles (at the time of writing this article - 150 thousand Belarusian rubles). For 5500 rub. You can even arrange a date in the Moscow City complex. More detailed information about this is presented on the website moscow-city-observovaya.rf.

View Moscow from Sparrow Hills

However, several excellent viewing platforms in Moscow can be found absolutely free. The most popular of them is the observation deck on Vorobyovy Gory, located near the metro station of the same name. The only drawback in this case is that you will have to walk a little more to get there. Part of the path goes uphill – along the roads of a local park. The other part is along the highway, on ordinary asphalt. In total, it takes 10-15 minutes to walk from the doors of the metro station to the Vorobyovy Gory observation deck. Oh, yes: also dress warmly. It is quite cool and windy at the observation deck.

Find all seven Stalinist skyscrapers.

Russian Foreign Ministry building

The Vorobyovy Gory observation deck is also notable for the fact that it is from here that you can see all seven Stalinist skyscrapers, which were and remain one of the main symbols of modern Moscow. To be honest, I personally counted only six similar buildings from this site. I saw two more similar buildings a long time ago in Riga and Warsaw. And in Moscow itself, I was able to see only two such buildings up close - the Moscow State University skyscraper (near Vorobyovy Gory) and the building of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (near Old Arbat). I saw all the others only in the distance - somewhere in the distance or even on the horizon.

The Moscow State University building, which for 37 years was the tallest building in Europe. It is believed that materials from the destroyed Cathedral of Christ the Savior and the German Reichstag were used in the construction of this tower. And according to one of the projects, a monument to “Worker and Collective Farm Woman” should have stood next to it.

And again the building of the Russian Foreign Ministry

Tanya freezing in Moscow

Why was these buildings so interesting to me? I don’t know... Maybe I was somehow attracted by their sacred meaning, which is constantly attributed to them, coupled with the numerous secrets of their creation. Moscow skyscrapers are called “places of power”, “space conductors” and “analogues of the Egyptian pyramids”. Fans of various stories related to aliens say that Stalin built them as “communication switchboards” with extraterrestrial civilizations. And native Muscovites claim that under some buildings there are hidden entrances to secret subway lines (the so-called Metro-2).
Which of this is true and which is fiction, I, of course, don’t know. However, it is known for certain that initially there should have been not seven, but eight high-rise buildings. For the sake of one of them, the Cathedral of Christ the Savior was even specially blown up in 1931. A few years later, the grandiose construction of the Palace of the Soviets began on this site, which was stopped due to the outbreak of World War II. Subsequently, the project to construct the eighth and most important high-rise building was never implemented. However, the original sketches of the building have survived to this day. Therefore, it is still possible to imagine what this architectural giant, topped with a gigantic monument to Lenin, would look like.

photo stroi.mos.ru

See the famous monument to “Worker and Collective Farm Woman”

Another symbol of the Soviet empire and at the same time one of the most famous monuments of our time is located near the VDNH metro station, not far from the Cosmos hotel. The steel sculpture stands on a separate pedestal. And it looks gloomy, but impressive. This is probably what the real symbol of the Soviet Union should be.

Immerse yourself in the history of space exploration.

In fact, it’s worth coming to the VDNKh station not only for the famous monument to Vera Mukhina. In addition to it, there is the Museum of Cosmonautics, the famous (but also rather gloomy) Cosmos Hotel, as well as the monument to the Conquerors of Space, which appears before your eyes almost immediately after exiting the metro. In March 2016, against the backdrop of the leaden Moscow sky, this pointed stele looked very unusual and even somehow mystical. The monument seemed surprisingly cold to me. But at the same time, it was difficult to look away from him.

Find the Belarusian pavilion at the Exhibition of National Economic Achievements.

The golden fountains of VDNKh and the pavilions of this all-Union exhibition themselves were one of the main reasons for me to travel to Moscow. I don’t know why, but personally I expected a lot from them. And in the end, it was this place on the map of the Russian capital that disappointed me the most. Golden fountains disappeared behind piles of scaffolding. The alleys of the adjacent park were somehow gloomy and lifeless due to bad weather. It seemed as if some kind of endless, depressing autumn reigned in this place. Although, probably, in warm weather VDNKh looks much brighter and more welcoming.

One way or another, we still managed to find the Belarusian pavilion of this old exhibition. Does it look really cool? No. But it’s still worth visiting this interesting corner of Moscow. Personally, I remember this space rocket much more here.
Colorful, isn't it?

Take a walk along Moscow Arbat.

We ended our trip to Moscow with a walk through another famous corner of the Russian capital - the old Arbat. And I remember it for some huge number of unusual and amazing little things.
For example, here is a replica of the imperial crown in one of the local souvenir shops.

Tsoi's Wall.

A huge portrait of Zhukov on one of the walls.

And an unusual blue trolleybus, turned into one of the iconic Moscow cafes.

Also on the old Arbat there is a huge green Gulliver, the “golden” princess Turandot and an inconspicuous house where Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin once lived. All these pleasant little things turn Moscow's Arbat into a very colorful and unusual street - one of the most interesting in Moscow. Personally, we walked here with pleasure. Even though at that moment I had two loaded bags hanging on me.

Pushkin House

In general, this trip to Moscow met my expectations by about 70-80 percent. I liked this city. But I can’t say that I just fell in love with him. In general, my impressions after this trip are a topic for a full-fledged separate article. Therefore, now I will wrap up (and the text has turned out to be very large). Bye, comrades!

Excursions in Moscow

If you’re still somehow not used to walking around the Russian capital on your own, here’s another piece of free advice for you. You can find many unusual signature tours. There are programs for every taste, many of which will surprise even native Moscow residents. In addition, all excursions also have descriptions, ratings and reviews from previous tourists. Pay attention to such nuances, and you are guaranteed to get an excellent tour and a lot of vivid impressions from exploring the city.

As confirmation, here is a small selection of excursions in Moscow from professional guides.

Apartments for a day in Moscow

It is believed that Moscow is a rather expensive city. However, compared to European cities or even the Baltic countries, housing prices here are very reasonable. Therefore, finding a normal option for a trip to Moscow is not at all difficult. The main thing is to make sure that the housing you choose is located in close proximity to the metro - without it it is very difficult to move around the Russian capital.

Personally, Tanya and I, during our trip to Moscow, rented a large room in a huge four-room apartment near the Sevastopolskaya metro station. And at the same time they paid absolutely ridiculous money for it - something like 4 euros per day. Yes, I understand, you are probably all thinking now: “What kind of housing is this?” Therefore, here is a description of this apartment itself, as well as the method by which you could rent it for only 4 euros per day.

In general, a modern apartment in the Russian capital not far from one of the local metro stations can be rented for 25-35 dollars per day. Of course, if you wish, you can find an apartment for less. However, I repeat: it is difficult to move around Moscow without the metro, so it is very important that the option you choose is within walking distance from a particular station.

You can find the best options and get a small bonus upon registration on the website AIRBNB. And don’t forget that this site has its own discount coupons and promotional codes, by entering which you can reduce the cost of your chosen home by 11 or even 50 dollars in just two clicks.

Hotels in the Russian capital

There are also a lot of hotels in Moscow. But, if you choose this option, be sure to remember that the same number on different sites can cost completely differently! Therefore, it is best to look for options through search engine sites (for example, such as RoomGuru). These services allow you to compare prices in different booking systems and book hotels exactly where they are cheapest.

We were bombarded with questions. What about Baikal? Why is there no Russia? We haven't forgotten. Our country is simply so beautiful that it deserves a separate selection.

1. Curonian Spit, Kaliningrad region

The Curonian Spit is a long narrow strip of land with a unique landscape, flora and fauna. About 600 species of plants grow there and there are 296 species of animals, and the migration route of 150 species of birds also passes through. For its stunning nature, the Curonian Spit is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. You can enjoy its beauty by walking along any of the six walking routes of the national park of the same name.

2. Khibiny, Murmansk region

The Khibiny Mountains are mountains on the Kola Peninsula. They have a soft relief and are distinguished by stunning nature. Almost the entire Red Book grows and lives there. For most of the year, the mountain range remains snow-covered, which is why it attracts ski lovers. The main ski resorts are on the Aykuaivenchorr and Kukisvumchorr mountains. You can ride from November to June.

Not skiing? Go on a jeep safari around the peninsula, fish in emerald lakes or get acquainted with the life of Kola reindeer herders. Also from the minimum program in the Khibiny Mountains are the Polar-Alpine Botanical Garden and the “Snow Village”.

3. Kizhi, Karelia

Kizhi is an architectural ensemble of two wooden churches and a bell tower of the 18th–19th centuries, built without nails. This is one of the main Russian attractions. It is located on an island in Lake Onega and is part of the Kizhi State Historical and Architectural Museum. This is a great place for study and crafts, as well as reflection on timeless topics.

4. Ruskeala, Karelia

Ruskeala is a village with a unique nature and glorious history, near which there is a mountain park of the same name. It includes the Marble Canyon and the Ruskeala Gap. The canyon is surrounded by steep cliffs, grottoes and adits. It is filled with clean groundwater and is therefore absolutely transparent. And the Ruskeala Gap is unique in that the ice never melts in its distant parts. In the park you can ride a boat through the canyon, jump from its cliff, or swim through abandoned mines with scuba gear.

5. Peterhof, St. Petersburg

Peterhof is a palace and park ensemble on the southern shore of the Gulf of Finland. Along with other architectural monuments, it is the hallmark of St. Petersburg and part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The appearance of the countryside imperial residence was formed during the 18th-19th centuries; it was severely damaged during the Great Patriotic War, but was completely restored and ennobled. The best time to visit Peterhof is late spring and summer, when the fountains work. There are 147 of them - this is one of the largest fountain systems in the world.

6. Novgorod Detinets, Veliky Novgorod

On the banks of the Volkhov, in the heart of Veliky Novgorod, there is a fortress, the first chronicle mention of which dates back to 1044. XI century! Novgorod Detinets includes nine towers and four cathedrals. Including the famous snow-white St. Sophia Cathedral.

A visit to Detinets is an excellent opportunity to refresh your knowledge of Russian history and get acquainted with the culture of the Ancient Russian state.

7. Yasnaya Polyana, Tula region

Yasnaya Polyana is an estate 14 kilometers from Tula. It was founded in the 17th century and belonged to several noble families. On August 28, 1828, Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy was born in Yasnaya Polyana. There he wrote “Anna Karenina” and other works. He is buried there.

In Yasnaya Polyana you can plunge into the atmosphere of the Russian nobility and get closer to the character and life of the great writer. The best time to visit the estate is spring, when the apple orchards bloom. The house-museum of Lev Nikolayevich recreates the atmosphere of 1910, when Tolstoy left Yasnaya Polyana forever.

8. Sviyazhsk, Tatarstan

Sviyazhsk is a small village with a big history. In 1551–1552, the city of Sviyazhsk helped the troops of Ivan the Terrible take Kazan. The village is located in the Zelenodolsk region of Tatarstan. Separated from the mainland by the Kuibyshev Reservoir, a passenger ship runs to it in the summer.

There is no public, industrial or modern buildings on the island - only the picturesque nature of the Middle Volga and numerous architectural monuments. You can explore all the local attractions in a day, but fishing enthusiasts will definitely want to linger.

9. Shikhany, Bashkortostan

Shihans are fossilized reef massifs. Thousands of years ago there was a warm sea here. Therefore, inside the shihan there are deposits of rock salt and limestone.

Similar “mountains” remain only in Australia and in the Sterlitamak region of the Republic of Bashkiria. There are three shihans there: Toratau, Yuraktau and Kushtau. They form a narrow chain along the Belaya River.

Ski slopes, sanatoriums and recreation centers were built on the shihans. Lovers of geological relics and active pastime will appreciate this place.

10. Divnogorye, Voronezh region

Divnogorye is a steppe plateau in the Liskinsky district of the Voronezh region. In different parts of the plateau, multi-meter chalk pillars rise - Divas. There are cave temples in Big and Small Divas. Both are part of the ensemble of the Divnogorsk Assumption Monastery.

Another attraction of the plateau is an archaeological monument of the 9th–10th centuries called the Mayatskoe ancient settlement. There you can see the life of the Don Alans.

11. Elton, Volgograd region

Elton is a salt lake near the border with Kazakhstan. The largest mineral lake in area and one of the most mineralized in the world. The golden-pink reservoir is bordered by snow-white crystals, and around there are stunningly beautiful chamomile steppes.

Elton attracts tourists who want to improve their health. There is a sanatorium in the nearby village of the same name. You can also relax and receive treatment as “savages” by staying in a hotel or with local residents.

12. Mamayev Kurgan, Volgograd

Fierce fighting took place on this hill on the right bank of the Volga in 1942–1943. In memory of the Battle of Stalingrad, Mamaev Kurgan was turned into a memorial complex, the heart of which is the sculpture “The Motherland Calls!” Its total height is 85 meters, and it is the tallest non-religious statue in the world.

Mamayev Kurgan is imbued with historical pain: over 35,000 defenders of Stalingrad are buried there. The best place to tell children about and show how beautiful the world is without her.

13. Sukko, Krasnodar region

Sukko is a village 12 km from Anapa, surrounded by the Lysaya and Soldatskaya mountains. A small cozy resort with pebble beaches, clear sea and amazing nature. You can go for walks in the mountains, ride horseback and quad bikes, go paragliding or diving, or you can just sunbathe on the beach all day long.

14. Bolshoi Tkhach, Adygea/Krasnodar region

Bolshoi Tkhach is a 2368 m high mountain in the Western Caucasus, on the watershed of the Malaya Laba and Belaya rivers. It is part of the natural park of the same name, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Translated from Adyghe “Thach” means “god”.

Mountain, hiking and cycling tourism are developed there. Tourists and speleologists also loved these places.

15. Elbrus, Kabardino-Balkaria

Elbrus is the largest mountain in Russia and Europe. 5,642 meters above sea level! Elbrus is sung by poets and glorified by climbers. If climbing is too risky and difficult for you, come at least just to look at this giant.

In the Elbrus region you can inexpensively go skiing, drink Narzan mineral water and enjoy Caucasian hospitality with wines.

16. Egikal, Ingushetia

Egikal is a well-preserved medieval tower complex in the Caucasus Mountains. This is an open-air museum, which is part of the Dzheirakh-Assinsky State Historical, Architectural and Natural Reserve. The main purpose of the trip there is to examine the ancient towers. They fit incredibly organically into the mountain landscape. And one of the battle towers, 27 meters high, has been preserved in almost perfect condition.

17. Kezenoyam, Chechnya/Dagestan

Kezenoyam is a lake on the southern slope of the Andean mountain range. It is the largest (1.7 square kilometers) and deepest (up to 74 meters) natural reservoir in the North Caucasus. Kezenoyam amazes with its transparency - on good days you can see trout frolicking on the bottom.

A sports and tourist complex with hotels, a restaurant, sports grounds, a pier and a boat station has been created on the shore of the lake. In the warm season, the main entertainment there is fishing and walking. In winter you can go ice skating (the pond freezes) or skiing in the surrounding mountains.

18. Weathering pillars, Komi

Weathering pillars or Mansi bobbleheads are mountain outcrops from 30 to 42 meters high, which were formed due to strong winds blowing mountain peaks. They are located on the Manpupuner plateau, on the territory of the Pechora-Ilych Biosphere Reserve.

The weathering pillars are considered one of the seven wonders of Russia and one of the most mysterious places in the world. You can get to them on foot, on skis or by helicopter.

19. Kungur Cave, Perm region

Stalactites, stalagmites, huge grottoes with ice patterns and crystal clear lakes - all this is the Kungur Cave. It is located on the outskirts of the city of Kungur, which is a hundred kilometers from Perm. The age of the cave is about 10–12 thousand years, and the first written mentions of it date back to the 18th century. It is not surprising that during this time the cave became overgrown not only with stalactites, but also with legends.

One and a half kilometers of caves are available for visiting. You can get there every day from 9:00 to 16:00, and in the summer - until 18:00. A sightseeing tour costs 600-800 rubles, an individual tour costs 1,500 rubles.

20. Chusovaya, Chelyabinsk and Sverdlovsk regions/Perm region

Rafting down the legendary Chusovaya River, which flows in the Middle Urals and flows into the Kama, is the dream of any hiker. What could be more extreme and romantic than a multi-day journey along picturesque rocky shores?

Rafting along Chusovaya in spring and summer. There are several routes of varying length and difficulty. During stops, you can explore local attractions, for example, the Miracle Cave or the ruins of the Gulag.

21. Taganay, Chelyabinsk region

Taganay National Park covers the territory from the ridges of the Southern Urals to the forest-steppes. The name is translated from Bashkir as “stand for the moon.” Mountain tundra, relict forests and moss swamps have been preserved there, untouched by human hands.

In the park you can go fishing on the Big Kialim. You can climb the Otkliknaya ridge and admire the Valley of Fairy Tales with its bizarre stone figures. Or just take a walk and take home gigabytes of amazing .

22. Kucherlinsky lakes, Altai

Kucherlinsky lakes are three reservoirs in the Ust-Koksinsky region of the Altai Republic. The largest and most picturesque of them is located at an altitude of 1,790 meters. The emerald waters of glacial lakes and pristine nature will take your breath away!

Kucherlinsky lakes are open to the public from May to September. Hiking enthusiasts can get there on their own, with tents and backpacks on their shoulders. Those who prefer a comfortable stay should book an overnight stay at one of the local camp sites. This usually includes transfers, excursions to lakes and all kinds of entertainment (sauna, horseback riding, etc.).

23. Putorana, Krasnoyarsk region

Putorana is a plateau in the north-west of the Central Siberian Plateau. It is part of the reserve of the same name and is recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

The Putorana plateau is huge - 250 thousand square kilometers. There are a huge number of waterfalls, cliffs, mountain lakes and rare endemics. This is one of the most beautiful and at the same time inaccessible places in Russia. It is almost impossible to get there on your own. It is safer to use a tourist transfer from Norilsk and book a place at a camp site located in the reserve itself.

24. Oymyakon, Yakutia

Oymyakon is a village in the east of the Republic of Yakutia. This is one of the “cold poles” of the planet - the harshest place where people live. The temperature there in winter drops to minus 50–60 degrees. The absolute officially recorded minimum temperature in Oymyakon is –64.3 °C. But they say that in the winter of 1938 it was -77.8 °C in the village.

In summer, in Oymyakon, on the contrary, it is very hot. The air warms up to +30, and from May 24 to July 21, you can see white nights in the village.

The weather is the main “attraction” of Oymyakon. There is a local history museum in the village, but the exhibition is modest. So it’s better to go there in March-April, when the annual Pole of Cold festival takes place, or during the white nights to get plenty of fishing on Indigirka.

25. Lena Pillars, Yakutia

The Lena Pillars are a forty-kilometer-long series of rocks on the banks of the Lena River. The height of some rock formations reaches 220 meters - about 400 thousand years. This is also the name of the local nature park.

Thousands of tourists from all over the world come here for rafting along the picturesque cliffs and extraordinary nature. You can look not only at this miracle of nature, but also take a walk around Tuculan, where scientists discovered the remains of a mammoth, an ancient bison and a rhinoceros.

26. Ivolginsky datsan, Buryatia

Ivolginsky datsan is a Buddhist monastery consisting of ten temples, five suburgan stupas and houses of monks. On its territory one of the main Buddhist shrines is kept - the incorrupt body of Lama Itigelov.

The Ivolginsky datsan deserves attention because it stands out from the range of typical Russian attractions. It's worth a visit even if you're not religious. You can admire Sino-Tibetan architecture and learn more about Buddhist culture.

27. Baikal, Buryatia/Irkutsk region

Among the Siberian hills and ancient forests, between Irkutsk and Ulan-Ude lies the most famous Russian lake. Baikal is unique - it is the deepest lake on the planet and the cleanest lake in the country. Here you can enjoy a huge number of endemic species and breathtaking landscapes.

The most favorable time to visit Baikal is from May to October. The main resorts: Listvyanka (“the gates of Baikal”), Slyudyanka, Olkhon (the most famous Baikal island - its heart), Bolshiye Koty and Peschanaya Bay (“Baikal Riviera”). In each of these places you will find a lot of entertainment: from swimming and diving to fishing and meetings with shamans.

28. Chara Sands, Trans-Baikal Territory

The Chara sands are giant dunes and depressions stretching over 50 square kilometers in the foothills of the Kodar ridge. One of the seven wonders of Transbaikalia. The sandy massif in the middle of the deciduous taiga and swamps looks like a mirage, but it is more than real. Even more amazing is the fact that the sands are moving. They are gradually moving from southwest to northeast.

People come here to see and photograph the Transbaikal desert with their own eyes.

29. Tyatya, Sakhalin region

Tyatya (translated from Japanese as “father mountain”) is an active volcano on the island of Kunashir. It is part of the Kuril Nature Reserve. Tyatya is considered one of the most beautiful volcanoes, after Fuji and Vesuvius. And he is one of the most active in the Kuril Islands. It has some amazing craters.

It is worth a visit to feel the power of nature. In the Kuril Nature Reserve you can enjoy the beauty of rare animals, as well as thermal springs.

30. Valley of Geysers, Kamchatka Territory

The Valley of Geysers is one of the world's largest fields with underground hot springs. 90 geysers and 110 thermal springs on four square kilometers. Every now and then, multi-meter hot fountains soar upward. An amazingly beautiful sight!

The Valley of Geysers is part of the Kronotsky State Biosphere Reserve. Its visit is limited (only as part of an organized tourist group), but it is worth it to get to Kamchatka and get permission.

The beauty of Russia does not end there. Continue our list in the comments. Write which places in our country you consider the most beautiful and why.