From Moscow with love
> See some of the best of Russian history and culture that this capital city has to offer with Trafalgar
MOSCOW is known for its world-famous Kremlin and Red Square. But this capital city of Russia has so much more to offer.
With the spotlight on the country for the 2018 Fifa World Cup, now is one of the best times to visit Moscow and check out its hidden treasures.
Let Trafalgar, the expert in guided holidays, show you the way.
Izmailovsky market A visit to this impressive souvenir and cultural complex in Moscow is an experience not to be missed. This open-air flea market offers souvenirs ranging from Soviet memorabilia to fashion accessories and collector’s items.
The main square is lined with museums, cafes and souvenir shops housed in colourful wooden buildings reminiscent of Russian architecture of the 18th century.
They include the Bread Museum where one can learn how to bake traditional gingerbread, the Museum of Russian Folk Toys, and the Museum of the History of Russian Vodka which has over 600 different brands of vodka.
Gorky Park Locals love coming to this worldfamous park to catch a music festival or exhibition, or just to lounge around.
There is free WiFi, lounge chairs and bean bags on the lawn, as well as cafes and restaurants, an observatory, a museum of contemporary art and a green school where children can learn how to plant tomatoes, take care of pets, learn about nature, or explore their creativity with craft workshops.
The park is also a haven for sport-loving enthusiasts as there is a sports centre for various games, while in the winter, it transforms into a huge ice-skating rink covering 18,000 sq m of the park’s pedestrian walkways. It even has its own snowboarding park.
Gum Department Store Gum is Russia’s most famous department store chain and its store at the Red Square is its most well-known.
With a façade stretching across 242 metres, this iconic three-level glass-roofed building was built as an indoor market in the 18th century, before becoming a stateowned store.
It now houses over 200 shops where one can find just about anything, from popular chain outlets to high-street brands, elegant restaurants and even a chamber theatre for film screenings.
Don’t miss tasting Gum’s famous ice cream which many consider to be among the best in Moscow, and has been served to long queues of shoppers since 1954.
Today, locals visit Gum to enjoy the myriad of amenities and events happening daily at the mall rather than for shopping.
Varenichnaya No.1 Drop by Varenichnaya No.1 for a bite of authentic Russian food.
This café is famous for its dumplings, which come with about 20 different fillings including cabbage, mushrooms, potatoes, lamb and sweet ones with cottage cheese and raisins or fruit fillings like apple, cherry and blackcurrant.
Of course, don’t miss out on other Russian traditional dishes such as the world-famous Borscht soup and chicken Kiev.
There are 15 cafés located around Moscow with each café having its own distinctive style and decorated to look like a Soviet era flat with bright colours and Russian memorabilia.
Interested to experience more? Then check out some lastminute deals from Trafalgar which offer up to 15% savings for trips to Europe, including its Wonders of St Petersburg and Moscow tour on Aug 27.
For more, contact Holiday Tours at 03-6286 6220, or visit www.holidaytours.com.my.