The basics

Moscow is the capital of the Russian Federation and has over 10 million citizens. The city is stretching out over more than 1,000 square kilometers. It is the political, cultural and economic centre of Russia. The Mayor of Moscow is Mr. Yury Luzhkov.

The history of Moscow

The city of Moscow was established around 1147, at the banks of the Moskva River, and went through some difficult times in its almost 900 years of history. In 1654, almost half of the population of the city was killed by the plague. In 1712, Moscow lost its capital status to Saint Petersburg. It would take until respectively 1918 and 1923 for Moscow to get back that status as capital of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic and the Soviet Union.

Modern Moscow

The Russian capital is world-renowned for its diverse architecture. Without doubt, the most famous spot is the Red Square, where the Kremlin is located. The square is one of UNESCO's World Hertitage Sites. Of course, the city has many more squares, streets, museums and other sites that are worth a visit. To get from A to B, you can use one of the 12 metro lines that Moscow has. There are 177 stations, and many of them are famous for their decorations.

Despite the dense public transport system, Moscow is also known for its huge traffic jams. Some 2,5 million cars hit the road every day in Moscow, resulting in long lines. During rush hours, walking is faster!

In May, temperatures very from 18°C during the day to an average 7°C at night. However, it can be exceptionally warm during that time as well - in recent years, temperatures sometimes hit the 30°C.

You can get to Moscow via five airports, although the main points of arrival are Sheremetyevo and Domodedovo International Airport. You can also take a train, and arrive through one of the nine rail terminals.

Did you know..?

• In 1980, Moscow hosted the Summer Olympics;
• Belgrade, last year's Eurovision Song Contest Host City, is one of Moscow's many twin cities;
• Moscow is ranked the most expensive city to live in for foreigners;
• You must have seen the colourful Russian Orthodox Church at the Red Square - it's called the Saint Basil's Cathedral. However, many publications make the mistake of calling this structure the Kremlin. The misconception has been created by television journalists, who have often stood in front of St. Basil's during their reports.