Visit Moscow

Arbat

1 miles from downtown

Arbat Street slices through old Moscow, where trinket-shopping tourists walk paths once traveled by Tolstoy and Pushkin. Melnikov House stuns – a striking example of early 20th-century constructivism. Piles of nesting dolls and Fabergé Egg knock-offs line the windows of kitsch souvenir shops. Nine-to-fivers march along Novy (New) Arbat, which is packed with shops.

Places to stay from $6 a night

Basmanny

1.7 miles from downtown

Basmanny lies in the northeast of Moscow, known for its delectable restaurants, with something for every palate (and budget!). Sample a stroganoff or a tried-and-true pirozhki (like pierogi), then shop on Ulitsa Zemlyannoy Val. Don’t miss the Epiphany Cathedral at Yelokhovo for its resplendent golden interior that glimmers by candlelight.

Places to stay from $3 a night

Zamoskvorechye

1.4 miles from downtown

Wind back your pocket watch and get lost in Soviet-era glamour. Zamoskvorechye’s faded beauty comes into focus as you wind through the streets. Every turn reveals dramatic neo-classical architecture. The State Tretyakov Gallery is an essential stop for fine art lovers, consistently ranked among Russia’s best collections.

Places to stay from $4 a night

Presnensky

2.2 miles from downtown

Many Muscovites work in the shiny towers of Moscow City Business Center, giving Presnensky its upscale luster. Visit the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Holy Virgin Mary, Moscow’s premier Roman Catholic church. Rustle up some literary intrigue in the Bulgakov Museum ("Evil Apartments"), dedicated to the famous Soviet-era writer.

Places to stay from $3 a night

Tagansky

2 miles from downtown

Taganksy runs parallel to trendy Kitay-Gorod, and the glitzy clubs and bars of Solyanka Street don’t disappoint. But the area’s not only a roost for night owls. Solyanka State Gallery is an artist-run space devoted to "art that moves." Film lovers flock to Illuzion Cinema in the Kotelnicheskaya Embankment Building to see rare films.

Places to stay from $4 a night

Tverskoy

1.1 miles from downtown

Tverskoy is the storybook district of modern Russia. The dome-shaped shadows of the Kremlin loom over Red Square, where black-clad soldiers march on. Get swept off your feet by the splendor of the neo-classical Bolshoi Theatre, home to Russia’s famous ballet. The enormous department store, GUM, completes the quartet of must-see sights.

Places to stay from $3 a night

Khamovniki

1.7 miles from downtown

The Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts packs a painter's punch, with Cézannes and Botticellis lining the walls. Literary types (or fans of niche finds) should head to the Tolstoy Estate Museum in Khamovniki, where the master wrote in winter. Explore the cloisters at the baroque Novodevichy Convent, or the Christ the Savior Cathedral.

Places to stay from $4 a night

Yakimanka

1.2 miles from downtown

Yakimanka exudes red history. The Soviet elite lived in luxurious quarters inside the infamous House on the Embankment – take a guided tour to really explore the grounds. Gorky Park holds intriguing monuments and is a great place to relax, and Neskuchny Garden has old-world charm. Admire Vrubel and Shishkin’s paintings inside the Tretyakov Gallery.

Places to stay from $6 a night

Kremlin - Kitay-gorod

0.3 miles from downtown

Stand in amazement outside the Kremlin as it towers over Moscow's skyline. Venture to the Kremlin Museums, or dare to see Lenin's remains inside his mausoleum. Take in the bold design of St. Basil’s Cathedral, Ivan the Terrible’s enduring gift to Moscow. Chill out in parks including Alexander Gardens and Ilyinskiye Vorota Square.

Places to stay from $22 a night