24 Hours in Moscow

 

SAIL THROUGH THE CITY

A boat ride along the Moscow River gives you the chance to see the Kremlin and the ‘wedding cake’ skyscrapers from a different perspective. My mum first took me when I was six years old, so it brings back tender memories.

 

GO UNDERGROUND AT BUNKER-42

Bunker-42 was a top-secret shelter and military command centre built in the 1950s in case of a nuclear attack. Now it’s a unique Cold War museum and entertainment and restaurant complex, 65 metres below ground, with a reconstructed command centre.

 

EAT LIKE IT’S 1859

Enjoy traditional Russian pelmeni (dumplings) or beef stroganoff at Restaurant Oblomov, a 19th-century mansion named after a classic literary character known for his love of good times. I’ve been going for 20 years, and I’m always greeted by the resident parrot.

 

STROLL IN THE RED OCTOBER DISTRICT

This island on the Moscow River used to house the Red October Chocolate Factory. Now it’s a popular art district, with galleries, bars and small restaurants. Even though the factory is long gone, I can still smell the delicious Stratosphere candies I first tasted as a girl.

 

HAVE A BLAST FROM THE PAST AT GUM

The Moscow branch of Russia’s main department store GUM was built at the end of the 19th century. It has the best ice-cream and more than 100 boutiques. There’s even a grocery store with original Soviet packaging that will make any Russian over 50 deeply nostalgic.

 

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