MoscowCapital
Russia · Country profile
Moscow is the sprawling capital of Russia, a city of enormous scale, of the golden domes and the red walls of its Kremlin, of the great squares, the palace metro stations and a history that has shaped half the world. The Red Square and its cathedral, the Kremlin with its towers and its museums, and the river of the city frame the monumental heart, while the parks, the boulevards and the newly sleek districts of the modern era spread beyond. The metro of the city, with its marble halls and its chandeliers, is the most beautiful underground railway in the world, and the cultural wealth, the theatres, the galleries and the museums, is staggering. The specific conditions of the current era complicate the visit for many travellers, and the advisories must be weighed carefully. Grand, weather-beaten and endlessly powerful, Moscow is a capital built on a scale beyond the ordinary.
About Moscow
Moscow is the capital of Russia. The city's documented population is around 13,100,000 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the Russian Ruble (RUB) and Russian is spoken; the dialling code is +7.
The Kremlin, the Red Square and the Scale of the Capital
Moscow is a city of monumental scale and brutal, magnificent beauty, and its cardinal sights, the Kremlin, the Red Square and the great cathedrals, are among the most iconic of the entire world. The metro alone, with its palaces of marble and its chandeliers, is worth the journey, and the museums, the theatres and the parks hold the extraordinary culture. The current political circumstances mean the individual traveller should carefully weigh the official travel advice, the payment systems and the practical barriers of the era before planning any visit. For those who do come, the rewards are enormous, the scale is imposing and the Russian welcome of the everyday is warmer than the headlines suggest.
The Seasons, the Advisories and the Tickets Ahead
The current travel advisories of the home country are the essential reading, and the practical constraints of the payments, the flights and the insurance should be settled before any booking. The weather is the other variable: the winter is cold, snowy and beautiful, and the summer, the white nights, short and bright. The metro is the fast, efficient artery of the enormous city, and the Kremlin and the great museums need their tickets and their queues managed ahead. The rouble is the currency and the mobile payment and the cash rules have shifted with the era. Dress for the seasons, carry the identification the rules require and keep the plans flexible. The city of Moscow is a lifetime of history and of art, best approached with care and with patience.
The Metro Palaces, the Parks and the Museums of the City
The Kremlin and the Red Square, with the Spassky tower, the cathedral of the Vasily and the great department store of the GUM, are the single most iconic square of the country. The metro of the city, the ring line and the central stations with their marble and their mosaics, doubles as the underground museum and the essential public transport. The Pushkin and the Tretyakov galleries and the great theatres of the Bolshoi and the Moscow art hold the cultural crown. The parks of the Gorky and the gardens of the Alexander and the river cruises give the green and the water of the city. The whole city is enormous, so the plan should be selective, the walking shoes serious and the hotel well placed on a metro line.
Report an error or suggest an update
- Country
- Russia
- Population
- 13,100,000
- Capital
- Moscow
- Region
- Europe
- Currency
- Russian Ruble (RUB)
- Languages
- Russian
- Calling code
- +7
- Country code
- RU
Entry requirements for Russia
Visa status for travellers from common origins visiting Russia for tourism.
Frequently asked questions
Is Moscow the capital of Russia?
Yes — Moscow is the capital of Russia.
What currency do I need in Moscow?
The local currency is the Russian Ruble (RUB). Languages spoken in Russia include Russian.
What is the dialling code for Russia?
The international dialling code for Russia is +7.
Do I need a visa to visit Russia?
It depends on your passport. For the origins we track, the current tourism visa status is Morocco (visa required) and United States (visa required). Check the entry requirements tool for your own nationality.
Flying out of Moscow? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.