Things to Do in Moscow

Like most of the countries, Russia too, had a dark past and that gloomy past is showcased in the Gulag Museum. The soviet regime had a brutal policy which meant the killing of millions of people, the reason why the inner space of the museum creates a very unsettling vibe. There aren’t any windows and the interiors are very dimly lit, making it one of the most eye-opening things to do in Moscow. One can get information about Russia’s grim history through multimedia technology like audio and video footage.

Kuskovo is renowned to be the summer country house of the Russian Sheremetev family. It is considered to be the first great estate belonging to the Russian nobility. One can get a deep insight into that period’s Russian architecture and the lifestyle that the Russian nobles led during that time. For someone who wishes to gain great knowledge about Russian history, it has to be one of the top things to do in Moscow. It is home to the nationalized collections of several Russian art collectors. It was heavily damaged during the French invasion but now it has been restored to its former glory.

Also known as the Memorial Museum of Astronautics, it is dedicated to space exploration. Museum of Cosmonautics is home to a wide collection of Russian and Soviet space-related models and exhibits which explore the history of traveling through space. Science buffs believe that visiting this museum is one of the best things to do in Moscow. More than 85,000 items related to space exploration are on display here! Some of the most notable exhibits here include a Russian spacesuit, rocket propulsion units, soviet moon rover and a crew manual from the Apollo test project.

Tsaritsyno is a park and museum complex in the city of Moscow, which is particularly famous for its architectural brilliance. It is also renowned to be the largest reserves in the city. The design philosophy of the park follows a neo-gothic design which will definitely be a point of wonder once you visit the park and the museum. The landscape park is dotted with ponds, artificial islands and towers with light dynamic fountains. If you’re looking for a place for a brisk evening walk, this has to be one of the best things to do in Moscow.

Art lovers will find a safe haven at the Moscow Museum of Modern art as it is home to more than 2,000 masterpieces by 20th century artists. This museum is believed to hold the largest and the most impressive collection of modern Russian art. The vast building is segregated into five different zones with their own specific theme. Although most of the artworks are by Russian artists, this museum also has an impressive collection of western masters like Pablo Picasso, Fernand Léger, Joan Miró and Giorgio De Chirico. Such an impressive collection makes it one of the best things to do in Moscow for art lovers.

Saint Basil the Blessed is one of the most well renowned cathedrals in the whole of Russia. It is believed that it was commissioned by Tsar Ivan IV and the Italian architect who designed it, was blinded after that so that he cannot construct anything like it ever again. This church dates back to the 1550s and holds a very special place in Russian history. It is also renowned for its unique and eye-catchy architecture, making it one of the most recognizable figures in Russia and one of the best things to do in Moscow.

Founded back in 1907, the Darwin Museum in Moscow is the first museum in the entire world which is dedicated to evolution. There are more than 6,000 exhibits on display here which showcase the development and origin of life on earth. The museum is divided into three floors with their own dedicated themes. One can also find specimens of prehistoric animals like Dodo and Great Auk, which can be only seen in a handful of museums in the world.

Tretyakov gallery or Moscow art museum was founded back in 1856 by Pavel M. Tretyakov. It is considered to hold the largest and the most impressive collection of 17th and 18th century Russian artworks. A visual treat for art lovers, this gallery is home to more than 40,000 artworks, making it one of the best things to do in Moscow. On display are 18-century portraits, and historical paintings from the 19th century, apart from some other works from the Soviet period.

The Pushkin state museum of fine arts is believed to be the largest museum dedicated to fine European art in Moscow. Its collection currently includes 70,000 sculptures, paintings, applied works, drawings, animalistic objects and archaeological ones as well. If you’re into history, a visit to this Museum is a must if you’re visiting Moscow because it also holds genuine artifacts from Southeast Asia that belong to some of the most ancient civilizations to ever walk on this earth. If you’re into art and history, this has to be one of the best things to do in Moscow.