Red Square, Cathedral of St Basil and the Kremlin
The city’s best known square, which contains the two most prominent attractions in Moscow, is the Red Square. Having taken its name from the Russian word for ‘red’, which also once meant ‘beautiful’, this huge cobbled area should be number one on ever visitors’ itinerary. The square is encompassed by the Kremlin, St Basil’s Cathedral, the ornate GUM department store and Kazan Cathedral. The addition of the Lenin Mausoleum in 1924 has ensured a continuous flow of visitors, who flock to see the Russian hero’s embalmed corpse.

Pushkin Fine Arts Museum
Located on Volkhonka street, this museum is a must for all art lovers. With art objects spanning from ancient times up to the present day, the museum will appeal to artists of all genres. Highlights include antiquities from Ancient Egypt, European paintings from the 7th to the 18th centuries as well as numerous treasures from Ancient Greece and Rome as well as objects from the Middle Ages and Renaissance periods. The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 to 18:00. There is an admission charge, with discounts for students, pensioners, Russians and CIS citizens.

Tretyakov Gallery
Another of Moscow’s impressive galleries, the new Tretyakov Gallery is housed in the Central House of Artists. Focusing mainly on modern and contemporary art, the museum regularly hosts exhibitions. Its collection of Soviet art is unrivalled, covering kitsch art from the Stalin era and underground works from the 1960s and ‘70s. The adjacent sculpture park is also worthy of a visit and includes some interesting, discarded monuments from the Soviet era. The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 to 20:00, while the sculpture park closes one hour later than the museum.

Novodichy (New Maiden’s Convent and Cemetery)
A stunning architectural fortification that looks especially beautiful on a stormy Moscow winter afternoon, this red and white brick convent with golden domes makes for a worthy visit. Set on the Moscow River, the convent’s gardens provide the perfect retreat from the city’s otherwise bustling streets. Founded in 1524, the centrepiece of the complex is the Smolensky Cathedral, with its five domes. The convent was once the home of many wives and associates of tsars and boyars, who were forced to remain in the safety of the complex until the end of their days. The on-site cemetery contains many prominent church dignitaries, nobles and lords as well as some of Russia’s most noteworthy poets and writers.

Gorky Park
Having been immortalised in Martin Cruz Smith's cold war novel ‘Gorky Park’, this theme park, set in the southern reaches of the city, is popular among residents and visitors alike. Situated on the banks of the River Moscow, highlights at the park include the Ferris wheel, winter-only ice-skating rink, ornamental gardens, games zone, fun fair and frequent concerts. Ideal for the whole family, a trip to Gorky Park guarantees a fun day out.

Bolshoi Theatre
Moscow’s most famous ballet and opera venue, the Bolshoi Theatre in Teatralnaya Square is one of the most well-known theatres in Europe, with a reputation for excellent and unmissable performances. Visitors who wish to catch a performance can pre-book tickets online (www.bolshoi.ru/ru/).

Obraztsov Puppet Theatre
Doubling as a puppetry teaching centre and the Russian State Museum of Theatrical Puppets, Obraztsov Theatre is Russia’s largest puppet theatre. Named after a great Russian puppet master, the theatre hosts performances for both adults and children, with two or three matinee showings and two evening performances each day. Tickets can be booked in advance online or by telephone (+7 95 299 3310). Those who want to explore the world of puppetry beyond just watching a performance should visit the museum, which contains more than 3,000 puppets from around the world, while an on-site library dedicated to puppetry is also open to the public.

Kolomenskoye Estate Museum
Located on Prospekt Andropova, this museum is host to regular events and visiting exhibitions including the popular traditional costume festival of Maslenitsa. Once the summer residence of Moscow princes and Russian tsars, the complex was extended during the 16th and 17th centuries to become the architectural splendour it is today. The complex houses some unique wooden structures that have been brought here from across Russia for preservation; however, the highlight of the estate is the Ascension Church. The estate makes for one of the most popular daytime retreats in the city and is a pleasure to explore.

Check out the city’s amazing art galleries including the Tretyakov Art Gallery, containing Russian and international masterpieces from the 15th century up to the present; Pushkin Fine Art Museum, housing everything from European sculptures and Impressionist paintings to Russian contemporary art; Mayakovsky Museum, renowned for its unusual building and interesting objects from the 1920s and ‘30s; and the Moscow Museum of Contemporary Art, a haven for all modern art lovers and admirers of figurative paintings.

Take a boat trip along the Moskva River and enjoy the city’s sights from a different perspective. Pass by the Kremlin’s walls, Vorobievy Hills, Gorky Park, Hotel Ukraine, Moscow University, House at Kotelnicheskaya, Stadium Luzhniki and Novodichy convent and take advantage of the photo opportunities. Inexpensive river ferries run regularly up and down the city stretches of the river, while river cruises designed for sightseers are also available.

Experience nature and unwind in Moscow’s parks. Popular retreats from the hustle and bustle of the city centre include: Kolomenskoye Estate Museum, where you can stroll the one-time home of Russia’s tsars and princes, and admire the architectural splendour; Gorky’s Parks ornamental gardens; Alexander Gardens; Boulevard Ring; and Poklonnaya Gora Memorial and Museum of the Great Patriotic War.

Visit the Red Square and enjoy Moscow’s most iconic structures. St Basil’s Cathedral takes the spotlight, closely followed by the Kremlin and Lenin’s Mausoleum, while the GUM department store’s ornate exterior also makes it worthy of a photo or two. Visitors can take their time to explore the vast square and all it has to offer while soaking up its historical importance as the site of many significant and history-changing events.

Tour Moscow’s museums and soak up the capital’s culture and history. The city is literally brimming with museums including art galleries; museums dedicated to the city’s most famous authors, playwrights and poets; historical, architectural and archaeological museums and military and political museums; as well as science museums. Most visitors choose to trace the histories of some of the city’s most prominent figures by making a visit to the city’s museums that are dedicated to individuals such as Dostoevsky, Pushkin, Tolstoy, Lenin and Bakhrushin.