5 Hidden Gems of Magical Moscow
- Solo traveller
- Feb 26, 2017
- 7 min read
Updated: Mar 1, 2022
When I expressed an interest in travelling to Moscow I was given some advice by a Russian friend on when to visit, "Moscow is really grey and gloomy in the Winter, you must travel in the summer when it is bright and colourful".
Well I can't comment on what Moscow is like in the winter (other than the obvious that it can get very cold!), quite simply as I have not visited Moscow in the winter.
But having taking their advice on-board, I can confirm that Moscow is definitely bright, vibrant and colourful in the summer!
And with so many wonderful sights to see in Russia's capital city, a break to Moscow really is a quite wonderful experience.
But what should you make the effort to see during your trip, beyond the obvious sights of the 3 top attractions?
- The Kremlin
- Red Square
- Saint Basil's Cathedral
What are some of the less obvious attractions that can be found around this splendid metropolis?
Well amongst many other possibilities, there are 5 that I would certainly consider worthy of a visit.
1. Moscow Metro
Simply put, Moscow has some of the most beautiful subway stations in the World, and it would be a travesty to visit Moscow and not experience their wonders. Moscow's metro system is not just a transportation system, (and an extremely efficient one at that), it is a major attraction in its own right.
If, for example, you are used to the London tube, New York subway or Paris metro, then you are in for a very pleasant surprise.
These 'underground museums' vary in designs and theme, some such as Kiyevskaya, Prospekt Mira and Komsomolskaya exude palatial grandeur with their marble walls, chandeliers and beautiful murals, creating opulent but tasteful decor. Elektrozavodskaya with its marble sculptures, the stained glass windows at Novoslobodskaya, and Ploschad Revolyutsii with its 76 bronze statues are some other examples of the more impressive of Moscow's metro stations.
And then almost in sublime contrast you will find the Art Deco and futuristic designs of Chkalovskaya & Mayakovskaya, and Dostoyevskaya (a tribute to the great hero of Russian literature, Fyodor Dostoyevsky).
Additionally (and in no specific order) I would also strongly recommend visiting Novokuznetskaya, Shosse Entuziastov, Nakhimovsky Prospekt, Park Pobedy, Victory Park, Belorusskaya, Krasnoprenskaya, Taganskaya & Kurskaya.
But be warned, it is so easy to lose track of time migrating from one subterranean wonder to another, that you could resurface having spent half a day below ground!.
Moscow's metro has an average of nearly 7 million daily commuters, but surrounded by such beauty it is a wonder to me that anyone manages to get to work at all in this beguiling city!
2. Peter the Great Statue
This choice may be a surprise, at least based on conversations I had at the time with some locals, as it appears to be the epitome of a 'marmite’ monument.
In other words you either love it, or hate it!
I happen to love it, even though I unfortunately did not get a great view. My plan was to see it en route to Gorky Park (somewhere I was determined to visit having in my youth seen the 1983 film of the same name, starring William Hurt and Lee Marvin). But the Muzeon Park of Arts, (which I assumed would have the best vantage point on the Yakimanka District side of the Moskva river), was closed and my access and view to the statue therefore fairly restricted. Had time permitted I would have crossed over and viewed the structure from the Khamovniki District side of the Moskva river, which in hindsight would have been by far the better option.
The statue itself, weighing in at around 1,000 tonnes, was designed by Zurab Tsereteli and erected in 1997. It is a whopping 98 metres high, and as the name suggests is a monument of Peter The Great (Tsar of Russia from 1682 to 1725), and commemorates 300 years of the Russian Navy. It is one of the tallest structures in the world but controversially is also considered by some to be one of the ugliest!
It is also unpopular with many locals, who were sceptical about its construction, possibly related to the fact that Peter the Great didn’t particularly like Moscow and moved the capital to St Petersburg, where he built Russia’s first navy (of which the monument commemorates). But luckily for the designer Zurab Tsereteli, he was a friend of Moscow's Mayor at the time, (Yury Luzhkov), and the project went ahead.
Personally I am glad that it did as I found it to be wonderfully imposing and majestic, and my only disappointment was that I was unable to get a more clear and close up view of the whole of the statue. Yes it is lacking in the vibrancy of colour that adorns many of Moscow’s attractions, but it is a beautifully sculptured and imposing landmark. It is not somewhere that you need spend a long time at, so if you are in Moscow there is no excuse for not seeing this remarkable celebration of history for yourself and make up your own mind.
3. Central Museum of the Armed Forces
Moscow's Museum of the Armed Forces is a great day out for anyone with an interest in military memorabilia, of which this place is exhaustively packed, and there is plenty on offer to appeal to kids and adults alike at a very reasonable entry fee.
Based on my own experiences I am sure that even those without a prior interest in military history would be fascinated and impressed by the amazing collections on offer in this one big building.
It is also fairly quiet, undoubtedly a result of it’s out of town location, about 20-30 minutes on public transport, but which allows a feeling of unfettered access, so you can take your time wandering around the impressively designed displays and collections to your hearts content.
The impressive exhibition dedicated to what Russians call the Great Patriotic War, (or the Eastern Front of World War II) includes the Victory Banner used during the Berlin Victory Parade in 1945, which unsurprisingly takes pride of place.
Part of this exhibition is also dedicated to their allies on the Western Front, and includes a display of a Jeep pulling a field-gun in front of a large photograph of Omaha Beach, although the photograph is of Omaha Beach as depicted in the film ‘The Longest Day’ (1962), and not of Omaha Beach in June 1944.
But then, just when you think you have exhausted all the treasures on offer, you can go outside to the back of the building, to discover swathes of military equipment from tanks and artillery, to aircraft and helicopters, boats and even missiles.
If you are a war history or military enthusiast, than it is probably worth paying for an English guide to fully immerse yourself in this experience, as all the displays are in Russian, but even if you do not and are just viewing the displays for their visual impact, as I was, then this is still a remarkable experience, well worth the time and money.
4. Monument to the Conquerors of Space
I came across this monument quite by chance on my way to the VDNKh (Park of Soviet Economic Achievements, and which is featured below), and I was so glad that I did.
It is a phenomenal piece of work!
A simply stunning 107 meter high monument built as a celebration of the Soviet Union’s achievements in space.
The sight would be overwhelming whatever the weather, but if you are lucky enough to visit whilst enjoying blue skies, then it truly is a sight to behold as the sun glistens off the titanium coating.
Erected in 1964, the main part of the statue represents the smoke from the rocket, with the rocket itself as the pinnacle. The monument was designed to accommodate a museum within its base, and it is here that you will find the Cosmonautics Museum, although this was not completed until 17 years after the statue was erected (actually opening 2 days before the 20th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin's flight).
I did not enter the museum myself, but judging by the reactions of those that were leaving as I passed by, it is probably well worth a visit, and especially for anyone with an interest or curiosity in the history of Soviet space exploration.
The sculptures on the base of the statue are also extremely impressive, representing the people that contributed to the success that this monument was designed to celebrate.
5. VDNKh (Park of Soviet Economic Achievements)
In short, I absolutely loved this place! It is well worth spending at least an afternoon here, and you could easily lose yourself for an entire day.
I arrived not really knowing what to expect, but what I found when I arrived was a fantastical collage of colour, splendour, fun, entertainment and a host of other vibrant and happy superlatives!
Starting around the entrance there were a plethora of market stalls selling anything and everything from music, jewellery, haberdashery as well as a host of various food stalls, whose aroma’s invitingly filled the air.
The Propylaea, or central gate entrance, is an impressive series of columns and arch that looms large even from a distance, and is a fitting tribute to what lies beyond.
Lying to the north of the city, about 6 miles from Red Square, this massive complex comprises of about 90 Pavilions, each built representing the respective architectural trends of the individual soviet state, to celebrate the glory of collective farming in the soviet union. Many of these pavilions have been rebuilt many times, most significantly in the 1950’s and 1960’s.
There are also spectacularly colourful fountains adorning this vibrant and popular family hang out, which also included a fun fair and a host of other attractions.
Whichever way you choose to look you will see beauty, either physical beauty in the form of architecture, fountains and monuments, or the spiritual beauty of families happily spending time together and children laughing and giggling on one of the many various amusement opportunities available, including a children’s race track.
If you visit Moscow you must include this park in your plans. Take a day off from the more traditional sightseeing attractions, and go spend some time where so many Muscovite's go to have fun.
A little way outside the entrance is the 'Joy wheel', or Moscow eye, and an impressive 25 meter high 'Moscow Worker and Collective Farm Girl' statue, comprising of giant figures of a man and woman holding the iconic hammer and sickle.
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