Quick Tips:

Another tip that is easy to do is to simply pay attention to the streets. You will find gorgeous Cathedrals pop up out of nowhere. Usually these will not be pointed out to you simply because they are just part of everyday life in Russia. To a foreigner however, they are a work of art.

Don't forget a VISA is required to enter and exit the country of Russia. It is easier than ever to obtain a VISA. If you are traveling with a tour group or have a travel agent, they will take care of this for you. If you are planning to travel without these do not worry! I used this internet based company. Go To Russia

I would recommend this company to anyone! They will get your VISA and provide all the necessary documentation to do so.

Best Way To Get Around:

If you don't speak any Russian beware of taking a taxi. Sometimes foreigners get taken advantage of, but that depends on the taxi driver!

The room was composed of 2 beds very close to the floor, a TV and a 2 small tables. Also we had no curtains. The bathroom had simply a toilet, sink and tub. Every morning we would eat breakfast in a large room downstairs. The food was not great but it was edible. Also located in the hotel lobby were a bar and a place to get pizza. This hotel is tall and so we got a good view of the city. The other 3 sections of this hotel are supposed to be more modernized and renovated.

Just a short walk away is the very popular Izmailovo Fair. There is a fee to enter the fair, but it is small. Once you are in you can do all the shopping, browsing and bargaining your heart desires. The fair is large and resembles a flea market. You can find many of the tradition Russian gifts here. Occasionally the prices are a little high, but bargaining with the sellers is quite easy. Sometimes they will even trade stuff with you so be sure to bring some pins or even cheap sunglasses with you! On the far left side of the fair there are a couple buildings that have some more expensive and larger items.

Like Arbat Street be aware of what you can leave the country with. Many things are forbidden to leave the country. Usually this refers to antiques made before 1945. I would recommend the fair for an easy find for souvenirs and a great place to practice your bargaining skills

The shops were filled with some beautiful Russian items. It was nice to look at some of these items. Of course, before purchasing larger items remember to find out if you are able to take it out of the country. There are many things that are forbidden to take out of Russia. Many of the older and even larger items have this restriction.

Approaching the museum you will walk past stone/marble markers that represent the years of the war. On the right hand side of the path is a haunting memorial dedicated to the suffering victims of the prison camps. A line of prisoners thin, naked, and frightened slowly get smaller and simply disappear into the shadows on the back wall. As you get even closer you will find yourself at the base of a large monument stretching high into the sky. At the base St. George and the Dragon is depicted.

Once inside the museum there are many things to see. My favorite is what I call the diamond room. Hanging by a string is a diamond for every Russian who lost his/her life in World War 2. It was breathtaking to actually see how many people lost their lives. There is a lot to see here. After leaving I felt I had a whole new understanding and appreciation of the of the effects of the war on the Russian people.

Red Square is filled with all sorts of historical images and symbols. St. Basils Cathedral sits on the southern end of the square. It is by far the most recognized building associated with Russia today. Its colorful onion domes and brilliant detail make it a wondrous site for anybody. If at I possible I advise viewing the interior, as it is just as beautiful inside as its exterior. Also located on Red Square are Lenin's Mausoleum, Gum Department Store, A History Museum and even a Pizza Hut! A trip to Moscow could never be complete without stepping foot on Red Square.

If you have some spare time and especially if you are looking for good, cheap souvenirs it is a must! Not many foreigners know this little hidden place exists.

Every year there is a large jazz festival held here. During the winter months there is guaranteed to be performances taking place very often. The culture of Russia is rich. If you are looking to get a taste of the culture this would be a good place to go.

Under the Space Obelisk is a space museum. Though not a very big museum it contains some interesting items. It has original documents written both to and from Gagarin. You can also view his uniform and other space gear. Many Soviet propaganda posters are on display. In the back room there are several TV's showing videos about Soviets and space. Different Space equipment can be found in this back room also.

For a small fee you can take as many pictures as you wish wearing an actual Cosmonaut suit. Originally I was not interested on putting it on, but the person I was with insisted, so there I found myself walking around this museum getting pictures taken in a space uniform. Now looking back at the pictures, I’m glad I gave in. It makes for a good story and some funny pictures.

Behind the main building is a strip that goes directly to a wall where you can look right upon the 1980 Olympic Stadium. The path is aligned with memorials to Russians who are well known that studied at Moscow State University. I was very excited when on I read in Russian "PAVLOV" on one of these memorials. While looking over the wall at the Olympic stadium you could also get a nice view of the city as well. I think if you are a college student or involved in the academic field it is definitely worth a visit.