After experiencing the magic of Russia's capital: the Kremlin Museums, St. Basil Cathedral, the Red Square, and all the must sees, why not jump into Moscow's metro?
Moscow has the world's second most heavily used rapid-transit system. It has been running since 1935, and is a promising site for art-lovers and tourists alike. Each metro station had its own identity, whether it is in honor of Stalin or made to fit modern tastes; it is surely worth seeing if ever on a trip to this renowned Russian Capital.
A day ticket is cheap and allows you to travel across the whole city, hopping from station to station as you marvel at the mesmerizing interiors decorated with chandeliers, mosaics, and other pieces of art. Visiting the metro on a weekend will allow you to take your time looking around sans the usual weekday rush.
If you want to see something more classic, be sure to visit some of the following stations:
Avtozavodskaya, Belorusskaya, Dynamo, Kievskaya, Mayakovskaya, Novoslodskaya, Oktiabrskaya, Ploshad Revolutia, Prospekt Mira, Smolenskaya, or Taganskaya.
For all you modern art-lovers, I would recommend Sretensky Bulvar. Amazed? Wait 'till you hear this!
If you're in the mood for shopping or food, there is no reason to leave this Russian metro; Okhotny Ryad station offers you a spectacular underground shopping mall. Three enormous underground floors of consumption! You will find nearly anything on these premises – jewelry, furs, shoes, hats, sportswear, electronics and much, much more.
If you're up for Russian food you'll find Kroshka-Kartoshka and Dvornyi Pivik, which offer simple Russian cuisine. You will also find the more typical restaurants such as McDonalds, Sbarro, Yo! Sushi, and many others that can be found in the mall’s spacious food court.
Images: Wikimedia http://www.wikimedia.org/
– Sarah M. Al-Sabah
