The first stops on any tour of Moscow are Red Square and the Kremlin - the heart, not only of the city but also the symbolic heart of the Russian nation. Radiating out from the Kremlin and nearby Manezhnaya Square are famous streets such as ulitsa Petrovka and Tverskaya ulitsa, which runs north to Pushkin Square, and immediately south is the Moskva River (Moscow River), which curls through the centre in a series of winding bends. 

The Garden Ring Road encircles the city centre and most of the famous sights are contained within this boundary. Many attractions are southwest of the Kremlin, along the river, including Gorky Park, the pedestrianised boulevard of ulitsa Arbat and the parklands surrounding the Luzhniki Stadium and Moscow State University. It is worth noting that most museums are closed on Monday.

Intourist Travel Agency
Cosmos Hotel, 150 Prospekt Mira
Tel: (495) 730 1919.
Website: www.intourist.com
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1730.

Until recently, the Intourist travel company doubled as the official state tourist board. Today, however, it is just one of many tour agencies that can help with visa applications and package tours. Other useful sources of information include foreign embassies in Moscow and the information desk at the Metropol Hotel, Teatralny proezd 1/4 (tel: (495) 927 6000). You can also find useful information on the websites: www.moscowcity.com; www.moscow-taxi.com; www.russia-tourism.ru; www.russianmuseums.info and eng.menu.ru. To find telephone numbers in Moscow, try http://en.mbtg.ru.

There are no tourist passes currently available in Moscow.