Although overshadowed by the Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg, it’s worth a visit to Moscow’s art museums. The Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts has a large collection of Western Art, including key works by the Impressionists and Post-Impressionists. For a look at the work of Russian artists, go to the State Tretyakov Gallery, which contains a large collection of classical and contemporary art. The modern art gallery’s grounds also host an interesting collection of outdoor Socialist Realism sculpture.

The Kremlin Museums include:

The Annunciation Cathedral --home church of Moscow Great Princes and Tsars; monumental Ivan the Terrible era painting; ancient icons include works by Theofan the Greek and Andrei Rublev.

The Archangel's Cathedral --dynastic necropolis of princes and tsars. Ivan Kalita, Dmitriy Donskoi, Ivan III, Ivan the Terrible, tsarevich Dmitriy, Mikhail and Alexey Romanov buried here. Leaders' portraits; image of "Archangel Michael with glorious works," from Battle of Kulikovo Field times.

The Armory --a treasure-house of ancient Russian regalia, ceremonial tsar's dress, church vestments, gold and silverware, arms and armouries, royal carriages and ceremonial harnesses.

The Assumption Cathedral --for centuries the main Russian State cathedral where princes, tsars, emperors and church leaders were crowned, ordained, and buried. Monumental paintings, a large collection of Russian icons, Ivan the Terrible's praying-seat and necropolis.

The Church of Laying Our Lady's Holy Robe --icons and wall-paintings in a small church, magnificent architectural, Russian wooden sculptures exhibit.

The Ivan-the-Great Bell-Tower, Assumption Belfry, and Filaret's Annex --for centuries the architectural cradle of the city, future museum and devoted to the history of Kremlin architecture.

The Patriarch's Palace --architecture of Patriarch Nikon's times, includes the Cross Chamber, the Front Anteroom, the refectory and Twelve Apostles' Church. Historic, cultural, XVII century personal items of patriarchs, precious tablewares, pocket-watches and clocks, ecclesiastical embroidery and interiors, manuscripts and printed books; icons painted by isografs of the tsar.

The world-renowned Bolshoi Theatre is perhaps Moscow’s most iconic contribution to the arts. The company was founded in 1776 and has been based in its current building on Theatre Square since 1824. Over the centuries, it has hosted premieres of works by Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff, among others. Nowadays, the Bolshoi Theatre holds performances of ballet and opera from the Russian and international canon in repertory year-round and is a major source of national pride.

The golden-domed Cathedral of Christ the Savior is the tallest Orthodox Christian church in the world and a faithful reconstruction of the church originally built to show gratitude for Russia’s victory against Napolean, during his invasion of 1812. Destroyed on Stalin’s order to make room for a never-built Palace of the Soviets, it was rebuilt in the 1990s with donations from over a million ordinary Russians.

Russia is famous for its circus arts, which were generously supported under the Soviet government. The Great Moscow State Circus hosts circus performances on five stages that can be swapped in and out of the arena during performances to vary the shows among equestrian, water-based, ice rink, illusion, and light shows.

Red Square is often considered the crossroads of all of Russia, and with good reason. Not only do Moscow’s major thoroughfares radiate from the square in all directions, but Red Square is also where you’ll find the Kremlin (residence of the Russian President), the State Historical Museum, and the colorful, onion-domed St Basil’s Cathedral. Its importance in Russian history has earned the square a designation as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The square was once the site where Russian czars were crowned and has more recently become the site of military parades and civic celebrations.

No building is more iconic of Russia than the 16th-century Cathedral of Intercession of Theotokos on the Moat, better known as Saint Basil’s Cathedral. The building is actually eight small churches arranged around a ninth, each topped with a colorful, onion-shaped dome. The spectacular, unusual, and intricate design of the cathedral is unlike any in the world, and was mercifully spared a demolition order by Stalin. Completely secular since 1929, the building now functions as an arm of the State Historical Museum.