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About the City
Moscow is the capital of Russia and the country's largest city. With a history spanning many centuries, it grew around the Kremlin and gradually became Russia's principal political, business, and cultural centre. Red Square, the Bolshoi Theatre, VDNKh, and many other internationally renowned landmarks attract visitors from around the world. Its well-developed infrastructure, vibrant cultural scene, and fast pace of life make Moscow one of Russia's leading centres of attraction.
History
Moscow was first mentioned in the chronicles in 1147, when Prince Yury Dolgoruky invited an ally to a feast there. Archaeologists have found traces of settlements on the site of the present-day Kremlin dating back to the eleventh century, and in 1156 Yury Dolgoruky built the first wooden fortress on Borovitsky Hill.
Thanks to its favourable position at the intersection of trade routes and the skilful policies of its princes, Moscow became the centre of one of the largest and wealthiest principalities. Almost nine centuries after it first appeared in the chronicles, the city has grown from a small fortress into the capital of Russia and one of the world's largest metropolitan areas.
Geographic Location
Moscow lies in the centre of European Russia, between the Oka and Volga Rivers and on both banks of the Moskva River. The city is located within the territory of the Moscow Region, though administratively separate from it, and forms part of the Central Federal District.
It is the country's largest transport hub, from which Russia's principal railways and motorways radiate in every direction.
Landmarks and Attractions
The Moscow Kremlin and Red Square form the heart of the city. Within the Kremlin's fifteenth-century walls is the Diamond Fund, which houses the imperial regalia. Red Square is home to St Basil's Cathedral, the State Historical Museum, and the GUM department store.
Nearby Alexander Garden boasts such historic landmarks as the Kremlin's Kutafya Tower, the Italian Grotto, and the Romanov Tercentenary Obelisk.
Moscow also has many picturesque parks and recreation areas, including Gorky Park, with cycle paths extending to Sparrow Hills, scenic Izmailovsky Park, and Victory Park on Poklonnaya Hill. VDNKh is one of the world's largest exhibition complexes, with fountains, pavilions, and the Main Botanical Garden, the largest in Europe. The Ostankino Television Tower offers panoramic views of the city, while the Museum of Cosmonautics is particularly appealing to science enthusiasts.
Average Cost of Living
Cost of a minimum food basket: RUB 8,500
Subsistence minimum per capita: RUB 24,000
Average monthly salary: RUB 181,000
Figures are for 2025
Time Zone
UTC+3:00
Transport Links
Airports:
three international airports — Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, and Vnukovo
Public transport:
metro, trams, buses, and electric buses
Climate
Overview:
temperate continental climate with four distinct seasons
Temperature:
approximately −7 to −10 °C on average in winter and +18 to +19 °C in summer
Precipitation:
600–750 mm per year, mostly in summer
Interesting Facts
Moscow offers an exceptionally wide variety of cultural experiences, including opera, ballet, theatre, museums, galleries, international festivals, concerts, and exhibitions. The city's cultural life never stops.
Moscow is one of Europe's safest major cities: public spaces are secure, and transport keeps running around the clock.