Moscow Travel Guide

City Facts

Location

Province of Moscow, Russian Federation.

Time Zone

GMT + 3 (GMT + 4 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).

Electricity

220 volts AC, 50Hz; round two-pin plugs are standard.

Average January Temperatures

- 13°C ( - 9°F).

Average July Temperatures

18°C (64°F).

Average Annual Rainfall

624mm (24.3 inches). Annual snowfall 132mm (5.2 inches).

Language

Russian, the official language, can be difficult for Westerners to read as it is written in Cyrillic script. It is, however, worth taking a bit of time to learn the letters as it will make any time spent in Russia much easier. For example, the indecipherable PECTOPAH can be transliterated into RESTORAN, giving a much better indication that this is a place to get a meal. Russian has a lot of similarities to other Slavic languages, and to a degree they are mutually comprehensible, especially Ukrainian. English is not common in Moscow; it is usually only spoken by those in business or in the tourist trade. Phrases Yes - Da No - Nyet Hello - Zdrástvuitye Goodbye - Do svidanya Please - Pazhawsta Thank you - Spassíba My name is … - Minya zavoot … How are you? - Kak vi pazhivayetye? I’m very well - U minya xarasho I feel ill - Ya bolyen (male) / ya bolna (female) How much does it cost? - Skolka stoyit? Do you speak English? - Gavaritye pa anglisski? I don’t understand - Ya ne panimayu Where is …? - Gdye …? Entrance - Vxot Exit - Víxod Danger - Apásnost Open - Atkrity Closed - Zakrity Toilets - Tualyet Doctor - Vrach Hotel - Gastínitsa Restaurant - Ristorán Beer - Peeva Wine - Vine Menu - Minú Today - Sivay án Tomorrow - Zavtra Monday - Panedyélnik Tuesday - Vtesday Wednesday Sryedá Thursday - Chetvyérk Friday - Pyátneetsa Saturday - Suobrday Sunday - Vaskresyénye One - Adeen Two - Dva Three - Tri Four - Chetíriye Five - Pyat Six - Shest Seven - Syem Eight - Vosyem Nine - Dyévyat Ten - Dyésyat Twenty - Dvátset Thirty - Trítset Forty - Sorty Fifty - Pyetdesyát Sixty - Shistdyesyát Seventy - Syémdyesyat Eighty - Vightysyat Ninety - Divyansyat One Hundred - Sto One Thousand - Tísicha

Cost of Living

Special Events

Russian Orthodox Christmas
January
Celebrations of the birth of Christ take place at churches throughout the city.
Throughout the city

Prodexpo
February
Don't be put off by the dull name - this is the largest annual food and drink exhibition in Russia, featuring treats from across the Federation.
Expocentr, Krasnopresnenskaya Naberezhnaya 14
Website: www.prod-expo.ru/en

Maslenitsa or Blini Day
March
Pancakes are made to celebrate the coming of spring, at homes and restaurants.
Throughout the city
Website: www.maslenitsa.com

Women's Day
March
Honoring the role played by women in the revolutionary struggle; men make a special fuss of the women in their lives.
Throughout Moscow

Paskha (Easter)
Late-April or early-May
The main holiday of the Russian Orthodox church, when Russians end 40 days of fasting with midnight church services and a feast of special cakes.
Churches across Moscow

Victory Day
May
Parades take place at battlefields and memorials around Moscow to celebrate the end of World War II.
War memorials throughout the city

Moscow International Film Festival
June
Muscovites celebrate more than 100 years of Russian cinema with screenings of new and classic films at theaters all over Moscow.
Cinemas across Moscow
Website: www.miff.ru

White Nights Festival.
Late June-mid July
A riot of music, theater, fireworks and street performances.
Throughout the city

Fashion Week in Moscow
September
Obsessed by haute couture at the best of times, Moscow goes fashion crazy for this annual design extravaganza.
Gostiny Dvor and other venues around Moscow.
Website: www.fashionweekinmoscow.com

Moscow Day
September
Fireworks fill the sky as Moscow celebrates its foundation with a huge parade and music in Red Square.
Throughout the city

Kremlin Cup
October
Russia's answer to Wimbledon captures the city's attention for nine days in October.
Olympic Stadium, Olimpiysky prospekt (www.olimpik.ru).
Website: www.kremlincup.ru/index-eng.html

Millionaire Fair
November
The world's most excessive exhibition of luxury goods and lifestyles, appealing to Russia's nouveau riche.
Crocus Expo, Krasnogorsk 4 (eng.crocusexpo.ru)
Website: www.millionairfair.ru/eng

Day of National Unity
November
Communists come out of the woodwork to parade and flag-wave to commemorate the October Revolution.
Throughout the city

December Evenings Festival
December
Classical performances throughout December in the sumptuous surroundings of the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts.
Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, Volkhonka ulitsa 12
Website: www.museum.ru/gmii/defengl.htm

Russian Winter Festival
End December-early January
Muscovites get into the spirit of winter with all sorts of special events and rides in troikas (sleighs drawn by three horses).
Izmaylovsky Park and other venues