Ten things to do in Moscow, Russia

Visit the heart of Russia at The Kremlin and Red Square

During the Soviet era, the Kremlin became an exclusive enclave where the state's governing elite lived and worked. Today, the site remains the official residence of the president of the Russian Federation. The red bricks of the square have served as a marketplace, festival ground and marketplace, and is a must see for anyone travelling to Moscow today.

Drop in on the colourful Saint Basil's Cathedral

Even before you have visited Moscow, the colourful domes of St. Basil's Cathedral are recognisable. Built to commemorate Ivan the Terrible's victory over the Tartar Mongols, the interior is rich with painted walls and icons from different periods of the church's long history. The exterior tents and domed spires, which each cap one of the nine chapels, are nothing short of iconic.

Grandeur and intrigue at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour

One of the most imposing and controversial buildings in Russia, the current Cathedral was only completed in 2000. The original Cathedral was constructed in 1883, with its vast copper domes dominating the Moscow skyline. However, during the Soviet era, it was blown apart to make way for a proposed Palace of Soviets, a piece of architecture never to be built.

Salute the Unknown Soldier at the Kremlin Wall

Dedicated to the Soviet soldiers killed during World War II, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier contains the remains of unknown soldiers killed in the Battle of Moscow in 1941. In front of the monument, there is a five-pointed star which emanates the Eternal Flame from its centre, illuminating the bronze inscription, "Your name is unknown, your deed is immortal".

Discover the legends of magical woodland creatures in Golosov Ravine

Feeding into the Moscow River, Golosov Ravine cuts Kolomanskoye Park in half. The ravine itself has an air of mystical intrigue to an otherwise quiet outdoor excursion. Magical woodland creatures figure prominently in legends of the ravine, including large hairy bigfoot creatures. Time travel stories have also been circulating about the ravine, as people have entered and came out 20 years later. One man who entered has never returned ... yet.

Lock your love in place at Padlock-tree Park

Rows of dozen of trees, each one housing hundreds of padlocks, symbolise a couple's eternal love in marriage. Adorning the banks of the Moscow River, on the Luzhkov Bridge, these padlocks have become a common practice for a newly married couple to lock their love on a padlock on one of the many metal trees.

Blast off into orbit at the Monument to the Conquerors of Space

Moscow's imposing monument to the space age could have you thinking that the space race is still going. Commemorating Yuri Gagarin's orbit of Earth in 1961, this mammoth obelisk rises 350 feet into the air. The site is also home to the Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics, where you can be a part of the space age once again.

Walk through the City Centre and visit Alexanders Garden

An area of peace and tranquillity in the heart of Moscow, Alexander Garden provides just this. A beautiful green oasis of walkways and flower gardens, housing the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, this garden was one of the first urban public parks in Moscow.

Go ice skating in one of the biggest outdoor rinks in Russian history

Measuring 20,000 square metres on the surface of the rink, Moscow's All-Russia Exhibition Centre (VDNKh) now hosts Europe's largest ice skating rink, officially titled by the Russian Guinness Book of Records. Open air cafes and restaurants surround the rink, as you can skate into the night, as the backlights of the rink illuminate the facades of buildings, fences and the rink itself. Separated into different areas, there is an area for everyone from beginners to experts.

Revel in the sumptuous interior of the Novodevichy Convent

Founded in 1542 to celebrate the taking of Smolensk from Lithuania, the Novodevichy Convent was a place for women from noble families to retire - some more willingly than others. Some of the finest 16th Century frescoes cover the sumptuous interior of the white Smolensk Cathedral, the centrepiece of the Convent.