To Russia with Love

From architectural marvels to vintage flea markets, Manali Shah tells you how to make the most of 48 hours in Moscow

If you were to ask me, ‘Who is Moscow for?’ I’d say it’s for the art buff who’ll be torn between the 400+ museums in the city. It’s for the gastronome who’ll find herself feasting on not just traditional Russian but also Georgian and Ukranian cuisines. It’s for the history and architecture lover who will be awestruck by the centuries-old colourful cathedrals. Moscow’s charm lies in its brightly-lit streets full of restaurants, unique places of worship, subway stations that resemble ballrooms, gorgeous parks, and of course, the iconic Bolshoi Theatre.

RED SQUARE

The sprawling Red Square is home to Saint Basil’s Cathedral. It may not be as imposing as most famed cathedrals around the world, but what it lacks in height, it more than makes up for with its domes. Multi-coloured and onion-shaped, they have no parallel in Russian architecture.

Next, max out your credit card at GUM, a historic shopping mall featuring scores of luxury brands such as Dior and Louis Vuitton. Sweet tooth or not, on a diet or not, you can’t leave without gorging on some famed GUM ice cream.

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