Moscow is one of the few large capitals we can reach visa-free, on a direct flight and without a language barrier. But there is one matter there that causes trouble on the first day for anyone who has not settled it in advance: Azerbaijani bank cards do not work. You have to bring cash from Baku. Everything else is simple — the metro is among the most beautiful in the world, and the city fits fully into three days.
Moscow in brief
| Country | Russia; 13 million people |
| Language | Russian; English in the metro and at tourist sites |
| Money | Roubles, cash only; foreign cards do not work |
| Visa | 90 days visa-free for citizens of Azerbaijan |
| Best time | May–June and September |
| Flight | Direct from Baku, 3 hours |
| How many days | Three days is enough for the city |
Red Square and the Kremlin
Stepping onto Red Square for the first time, the coloured domes of Saint Basil’s cathedral look smaller than in the photographs. On the left stands the GUM department store, on the right the Kremlin wall, and ahead the History Museum. Entry into the Kremlin is a separate ticket, the Armoury and the cathedral square are the most interesting parts, and you should take a ticket for ten in the morning.
From the square it is ten minutes on foot to Zaryadye park, where there is a “floating bridge” suspended over the river and the best photograph of the Kremlin comes from there. In the evening the lights of GUM come on, and in the winter months an ice rink is set up on the square.
The metro, Arbat and Moscow City
The Moscow metro is not simply transport but an excursion in itself. The Komsomolskaya, Mayakovskaya, Novoslobodskaya and Ploshchad Revolyutsii stations are full of marble, mosaic and bronze sculpture. A ride is a few hundred roubles, and you can see five stations in an hour. Photography is allowed.
Old Arbat is a pedestrian street full of souvenirs and street musicians. Moscow City is the skyscraper district, and from the ninety-second floor of the Federation tower the city is in the palm of your hand. The Tretyakov Gallery holds the main collection of Russian painting, while the Pushkin Museum is for world art.
Money and transport in Moscow
The most important rule: bring the whole budget in cash dollars or euros and change it into roubles on the spot. Azerbaijani bank cards work neither at a cash machine nor at a till. There are many exchange points in the centre, while the airport rate is poor — change only as much as the taxi costs there.
Buy a Troika card for the metro and the fare drops. The Yandex Go taxi app works, but payment must be in cash. The Aeroexpress train from the airport to the centre takes forty-five minutes, while a taxi can take an hour and a half in traffic. The routes differ for Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo and Vnukovo, so check which airport is on your ticket. If you land at night, booking a transfer in advance is easier than negotiating with a cash taxi. Flights from Baku are daily and frequent, while tickets from Baku to Moscow get more expensive in holiday weeks.
The table: borscht, pelmeni, Danilovsky market
Borscht, pelmeni, blini and herring under a fur coat are the classics. The self-service canteens called stolovaya are cheap and filling, and lunch comes to a few hundred roubles. The Danilovsky and Usachevsky markets are the modern side, with dozens of kitchens under one roof.
The halal question is comfortable: around the Cathedral Mosque near Prospekt Mira, Uzbek, Azerbaijani and Tatar restaurants are lined up. Azerbaijani cooking is widespread in the city, and pilaf and kebab are found everywhere.
Read more: A Russia travel guide: Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Kazan, Sochi and paying without a card
Season and prices in Moscow
May–June and September are the most comfortable months: 18–25 degrees, green parks, long days. July and August are hot and humid. December and January are minus 5 to 15 degrees, but with the New Year decorations the city is at its loveliest, and warm clothing is essential. March and November are grey, muddy months.
A three-star hotel in the centre is 50–90 dollars and a four-star 100–180. Staying on a metro line one or two stops out from the centre brings the price down a great deal, so compare hotels by station. Museum tickets are 5–15 dollars and the Kremlin around 20. Excluding the flight, a three-day trip fits into 350–600 dollars a head.
Museum opening hours and city events are published on the official portal of the Moscow city government. On public holidays many places work to a different schedule, so check the day you are going in advance.
Frequently asked questions about Moscow
Do cards really not work at all?
Yes — the cards of Azerbaijani banks are outside the payment systems. Plan all your spending in cash and take a reserve.
How many days do you need?
Three days is enough for the centre, the metro and one or two museums. If you add Saint Petersburg, plan a week.
How do you get to Saint Petersburg?
The Sapsan fast train is four hours and is the most comfortable option. The night train saves you a night’s hotel, while the flight takes an hour and a half.
In one sentence
For anyone who settles the money question in advance, Moscow is a cheap, comfortable and very striking three days. Bring the cash from Baku, buy a Troika card, and give one morning simply to the metro stations. For a trip plan, fill in the application form.
Note: the prices in this article are those at the time of publication and may change with the exchange rate.
