Tourist information on Moscow, Russia

Moscow is the capital and most populous city in Federal Russia, a major tourist destination and financial centre. It is also the most populated city in Europe and the seventh largest city in the world. Its present population is 10.6 million. The city derives its name from the river on which it is located (the Moskva River) and is the site of the Moscow Kremlin, an ancient fortress that today serves as the residence of the Russian President and the central Russian government. Moscow also houses the two chambers of the Russian parliament, the State Duma and the Federation Council.

The city has a well-developed system of public transport which includes four international airports, nine mainline railway stations and an underground rail network (the Moscow Metro). After the collapse of the USSR in 1991, Moscow remained the capital of Russia and has since thrived under the newly established market economy. The highest point is Teplostanskaya highland (255 m). The city is renowned for its historic architecture, which includes Saint Basil's Cathedral, the Cathedral of Christ the Savior and the Seven Sisters.

Moscow contains 96 parks and 18 gardens, the best known of which are the Central Park of Culture and Rest, also known as Gorky Park, and the Neskuchniy Garden, the oldest park in Moscow. Other attractions include the Moscow Zoo, the Bolshoi Theatre, the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts and the State Historical Museum of Russia. The city is also home two large circuses, the Moscow State Circus and the Moscow Circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard. The city was host to the 1980 Summer Olympic Games and offers many world class sporting venues. Tverskaya Street is one of the busiest shopping thoroughfares in Moscow. Moscow is served by five commercial airports: Sheremetyevo International Airport, Domodedovo International Airport, Bykovo Airport, Ostafyevo International Airport and Vnukovo International Airport.