4souvenir huntThere are any number of places in Moscow to pick up mementoes to take home. Street vendors

outside the Red Square (left) sell Russian dolls in all shapes, sizes and colours, and even dolls with the faces of Russian President Vladimir Putin, US President Barack Obama and the late pop star Michael Jackson. The Russian-style fur hats sold there are also bestsellers. More shopping can be found at the pedestrianised Arbat Street, filled with shops selling paintings, T-shirts and Faberge-style eggs. Walking down the 1.25km-long avenue thronged with tourists, you can also spot international chains like Dunkin’ Donuts and Starbucks, but look carefully as some of their names are in Cyrillic.

2spectacular subwayMoscow’s metro system

(engl.mosmetro.ru), opened in 1935, is famous for its ornate stations. Arbatskaya – the deepest station at 41m underground – has high vaulted ceilings with intricate reliefs. Another station worth seeing is Novokuznetskaya. Its 32 stained glass windows with backlighting give you the feel of being in a church. Not only are the metro stations beautiful, the trains are efficient, and second only to Tokyo, Japan, in terms of ridership. It is inexpensive too, at only 28 rubles (US$0.88) for a single journey.

m o s c o w

s i l v e r k r i s . c o m | 8 58 4 | s i l v e r k r i s . c o m

1high life For a taste of high society in the city, head to The Ritz-Carlton Moscow’s Bar & Lobby Lounge (ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/Moscow) where elite Muscovites, from

millionaires to television personalities, can be spotted. Choose from over 15 types of tea including Moroccan mint and Asian jasmine – served with gold plated tea strainers – and tuck into marmalade jelly sweets, macarons or the local delicacy orange caviar. The hotel interior is pure elegance with walls of artwork, cases of vintage whisky and live classical music. Continue your evening at the Bolshoi Theatre (bolshoi.ru/en). You can catch its renowned ballet company in performances of classics such as Swan Lake and Nutcracker (below right) from now until December.

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5look back Some people find the idea of visiting

Lenin’s Mausoleum (Red Square) a bit unnerving, but it’s an experience not to be missed. The embalmed body of the Marxist revolutionary has now lain in state for almost 90 years. Entry to the tomb is free but it is open only between 10am and 1pm, and the place is closed on Monday and Friday. Photography is not allowed. Inside, the tomb is almost pitch dark with only a spotlight trained on the leader lying in his glass case. Visitors file past quickly and out into a garden by the walls of the Kremlin. Here, some of Russia’s legendary figures are buried, including Yuri Gagarin, the first man to journey to outer space. Head next door to the Kremlin (kreml.ru) for a look at the walled complex of churches, palaces, government buildings and an armoury.

CURRENCYRussian Ruble

US$1 = 32.2 RUB

VISARequirements vary.

Visit visatorussia.com

for details.

BEST TIME TO VISITBetween March and

June. This is when

temperatures start to

get warmer but hotel

rates are also cheaper

than during the

summer months.

HOW TO GET THERESingapore Airlines flies

5 times weekly from

Singapore to Moscow.

MORE INFORMATIONrussiatourism.ru/en

fast facts

3scintillating sightsGum (gum.ru/en;

opposite page), a glass-roofed shopping centre next to the Red Square, has a beautiful interior with fountains and fairy lights. But after dark, it’s the exterior that dazzles with the thousands of lights on its facade, making it a magnet for camera-toting tourists. Down the road, the whimsical St Basil’s Cathedral (Red Square) is also lit up, bringing the bright colours of its domes to life. For spectacular aerial views of the city, visit the Ostankino TV Tower (tvtower.ru), the fourth tallest tower in the world with a viewing platform at 337m. The closed deck is open daily from 10am to 10pm.

BY SOPHIE WILLIAMS

Must-dosmoscow5 the essential quick guide

for discerning travellers