About Moscow

The political, scientific, historical, architectural and business centre of Russia, Moscow displays the country's contrasts at their most extreme. The ancient and modern exist side by side in this city of  11 million. Catch a metro from one of the ornate stations to see Red Square, the Kremlin, the nine domes of St Basil's Cathedral, Lenin's Mausoleum, the KGB Museum and other symbols of Moscow's great past, then lighten up and go shopping in GUM, or people-watch in Pushkin Square.

World Heritage Sites in Moscow:

• Church of the Ascension in Kolomenskoye

• Kremlin and Red Square

• Ensemble of the Novodevichy Convent

Moscow covers an area of more than 1,000 sq km. The city is served by an extensive transit network, which includes four international airports, nine railroad terminals, three ports and one of the deepest underground tubes in the world (305 km). The Moscow Metro is also recognized as one of the city's landmarks due to the rich and varied architecture of its 185 stations. Moscow was first mentioned in a chronicle dating back to 1147. In the course of its history the city has served as the capital of a progression of states, from the medieval Grand Duchy of Moscow and the subsequent Tsardom of Russia to the Soviet Union (in 1712, Peter the Great relocated the Russian capital to newly-built St Petersburg; and in 1918, the government of the newly-established Russian Soviet Republic moved the capital from St Petersburg back to Moscow).

Climate

The coldest months in Moscow are January and February with an average temperature of +16 degrees F (-9C). Cold waves can bring brutal -35 degrees F. The first snow falls about the end of October and remains until the beginning of April. In summer an average temperature is about 65 degrees F (18C), although much warmer temperatures in July and August, with daytime highs near 90 degrees F (30C) are not unheard of. The rainiest months are July and August, although these months can often be quite dry and pleasant. October is often a dry, pleasantly cool and colorful month, although rain is still common. Autumn and winter in Moscow and the suburbs have a charm of their own.
The average May day temperature in Moscow is warm and comfortable: +20C

Pictures of Moscow