Moscow snapshot

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Still a mysterious place to visit after decades of the Cold War, Moscow, has changed dramatically. It's now a brash city with much ostentatious wealth on show, a stark change from the grey austerity of the Communist years. Unfortunately, there is also much poverty in the country as millions struggle on small salaries and pensions.

While the suburbs are reminders of central planning with rows of bleak apartment blocks, central Moscow is rich in history. For 800 years the Kremlin, almost a city in itself, has ruled Russia and been home to princes, tsars and presidents.

Red Square sits outside the Kremin’s walls, once the setting for the May Day military parades. It is 700 metres long and features the department store GUM and Lenin’s Mausoleum. Lenin would be astonished by the glitzy designer stores just off the Square serving Russia's mega-rich.

Multi-coloured domes

The Square is also set off by the multi-coloured domes of Pokrovsky Sobor, or the Cathedral of the Intercession - but best known as St Basil’s Cathedral. It was built in the 1550s following Ivan the Terrible’s victory over the Mongols at Kazan.

The word ‘Kremlin’ means ‘fortified town’. It dates back to the city’s founding in 1147, although much is newer. The Assumption Cathedral is the largest church in the complex, once the site of Tsars’ coronations. The Annunciation Cathedral, with its copper-gilt domes, was the Tsars’ private chapel.

Fascinating collections

The Armoury Museum and Diamond Fund have fascinating collections including the famous Fabergé eggs collection. The Tsar Cannon and Tsar Bell are both the largest of their kind at 40 and 200 tonnes.

The remnants of the older city can still be found – neo-classical houses and buildings like the Bolshoi Theatre, now being renovated. As impressive as any is Moscow's Metro, built on Stalin's orders, incredibly cheap and probably the most efficient in the world. It features amazing stations with massive chandeliers, mosaics, towering ceilings and seemingly endless escalators.

Moscow’s winters are brutal but hugely atmospheric - try seeing St Basil’s Cathedral in the snow! Summers are often hot.

Most travellers will arrive by air at Sheremetyevo or possibly Domodedovo. Overnight sleeper trains from St Petersburg are a popular way to arrive while river cruise ships on the Moscow and Volga Rivers are increasingly popular. The Trans-Siberian Railway takes about a week from the Pacific coast.

Make sure you include Booked.net if searching for Moscow hotels. They list a good number of quality hotels, available at competitive prices. Also, you don't have to pay any extra fees for booking, administration or cancellation.

Every month our travel writers comb the web for city break deals to Moscow. Visit our Moscow holiday shop to browse through the latest offers.

• Moscow- Wikipedia details on Moscow