Cheap flights to Moscow, Russia

City overview

Red Square is the heartbeat of Moscow, its buildings telling the story of Russia’s past. The Kremlin stands along one side of the square. Inside this ancient seat of the Tsars and now the President is studded with treasures. Here you’ll find magnificent frosted wedding-cake style churches such as the Assumption Cathedral, Archangel’s and Annunciation Cathedrals. Russia’s might is apparent on Ivan Square, where the Tsar Bell and Tsar Cannon stand and the Arsenal is on Senatskaya Square. The palaces – the Residence of Russian Tsars and Patriarchs and Grand Kremlin Palace – are suitably awe-inspiring.

Probably the most famous site in Red Square is St Basil’s Cathedral with its ornate onion domes and swirling colours, whichcomprises nine separate chapels.

The GUM, the shopping mall, is where you’ll find expression of the new Russia. There are more than 150 shops and stalls, big Western brands and huge prices. For more affordable souvenirs such as matrioshka dolls, get to the Old Arbat or Ismailovo Market.

Moscow’s famous fortress, the Kremlin, is built over the oldest and most central part of the city. It dates back to 1147 and is surrounded by a thick, red wall. Inside the wall are 20 towers, museums, residences, monuments and the iconic gold-domed churches. Among the attractions are Cathedral Square, the throne of Ivan the Terrible, the Armoury Palace and the tombs of Russian Orthodox Church leaders. The tallest structure behind the walls is the Belfry of Ivan the Great, which once boasted the world’s biggest bell. The giant ringer fell from the tower in 1701. The Armoury Palace has a wealth of treasures, including bejewelled coronation capes and the famous Fabergé Easter eggs. Also worth a stop is The Diamond Fund Exhibition, which displays a 180-carat diamond once belonging to Catherine the Great.

Getting around Moscow

The cheapest and best way to get around Moscow is by metro. Purchase your ticket at one of the metro stations, which are decorated with artwork and sculptures. You can buy tickets for single or multiple trips. For areas that the metro doesn’t reach, take a tram or bus. Tram and bus tickets are cheapest at metro stations or kiosks, but you can also buy tickets from the driver. Make sure you validate your ticket when you board the bus.

Marshrutky (minibus shuttles that drive along bus routes) and taxis can be flagged down for short trips. It’s easy to get private cars confused with taxis, so make sure you agree on a fare ahead of time. If you’re going to the airport, or taking a long trip, you should call ahead for a taxi.

If you do rent your own car in Moscow, take note of the rules. Using a claxon is only allowed in emergencies and your car must have seat belts, a first aid kit, a fire extinguisher and an emergency triangle or red light. If you can, avoid driving at night. Drink driving happens often, despite being illegal.

Getting downtown

Your flights to Moscow will usually land at 2 airports; Sheremetyevo International Airport (SVO), which is situated 26 km northwest of Moscow and Domodedovo International Airport (DME), which is situated 35 km from the city centre. Taxis are available from outside both terminals; passengers should avoid the renegade taxi drivers and go to the official taxi counter. Rates are fixed. There is an express bus services, which leaves from outside Sheremetyevo 1 and 2 for the nearby metro stations that connect to the city centre. Minibuses are also available.

What is good to know if travelling to Moscow?

• Cathedral Square is the centre of the Kremlin. There are three cathedrals: Cathedral of the Dormition where all the tsars were crowned, Cathedral of the Annunciation and Cathedral of the Archangel Michael where the Muscovite monarchs from 13th-17th century are interred. The Tsar Bell and Tsar Cannon are on Ivan Square, while the Grand Kremlin Palace, residence of the 19th-century Russian emperors, is on Palace Square.
• Red Square dates from the 15th century, “red” being an archaic word for beautiful, nothing to do with Communism. St Basil’s Cathedral with its colourful onion domes is here and at the northern corner of the square stands the Kazan Cathedral. This fancy red-and-white building is a replica. It was rebuilt in 1993 to replace the original, which Stalin had destroyed in 1936 to clear Red Square for military parades. The Cathedral of Christ the Saviour is also a reconstruction. It was dynamited in 1931, but rebuilt in the 1990s.
• If only the Tube was like this … Mayakovskaya is one of the most lavish stations on the metro system, boasting marble and steel pillars and mosaics.
• Shop in GUM, the State Department Store, a gorgeous three-storey arcade built in the 1890s, which lines the eastern side of Red Square. Most of the usual Western suspects are here among its 150 shops, but there are Russian shops too selling local delicacies. For souvenirs such as matroishka dolls, fur hats, khokhloma (lacquered wood) and old propaganda posters, visit the Arbat or the Izmailovsky Flea Market.
• The Seven Sisters, seven towers to rival the skyscrapers in the US, were built during Stalin’s reign. They have a “wedding cake” style, which concentrates the eye to a central tower.
• No visit to Moscow is complete without a trip to Lenin’s mausoleum.
• Christmas in Moscow really is a magical time and is worth considering booking your flights to arrive to see where classic Christmas stories come to life – the theatre!