Things to see in Moscow

Krasnaya Ploschad, usually referred to as Red Square, is bordered by some of Russia’s best known monuments - the Kremlin, St Basil's Cathedral and the GUM department store. This enormous, 700m-long (2,300ft) public space was used for patriotic May Day parades back in the Soviet era, but nowadays serves as a major tourist attraction. The GUM (Gosudarstvenny Universalny Magazin) department store now functions as an extremely upmarket shopping mall – a metaphor for Russia’s recent enthusiasm for capitalism. In contrast, the square’s west side has Lenin's Mausoleum. In 1990, Red Square and the Kremlin were designated UNESCO World Heritage sites. The square is sometimes closed for state functions.

The Soviet Union’s founder lies in state on the eastern side of the Kremlin in a red and black granite mausoleum facing Red Square. Lenin died in 1924 and his embalmed body was installed inside the mausoleum inside a crystal casket. Boris Yeltsin was keen to have this symbol of the Soviet Union removed, but for the time being, the Russian authorities seem committed to preserving his body for future generations. Visitors are expected to be respectful (no hats, cameras or hands in pockets) when paying a visit, and should check visiting times in advance as the mausoleum often closes without notice.

Founded in 1524 by Grand Prince Vassily III, Moscow’s Novodevichy Convent contains the Sobor Smolensk Bogomateri (Cathedral of the Virgin of Smolensk), with its distinctive golden onion domes and tiered bell tower dating from 1690. The cathedral itself was built in 1525 and features 16th-century frescoes, as well as a magnificent late 17th-century iconostasis. The convent, now a UNESCO World Heritage site, was a place of exile for noblewomen in mourning or disfavour. The adjacent Novodevichy Cemetery is equally interesting and contains the graves of many distinguished Muscovites, including Nikita Krushchev, Nikolai Gogol, Sergei Prokofiev and Anton Chekhov.

Located at the north end of Red Square, the State Historical Museum is far more than just a display of historical artefacts - every room of one of the best attractions in Moscow is decorated in the style of a different historical period or region. Permanent exhibitions feature treasures from all over Russia, including a 5,000-year-old longboat unearthed beside the River Volga and racks of medieval armour and weapons. Exhibits from Siberia, Altay and Kievan Rus reflect the broad cultural and ethnic diversity of the country. Descriptions are in Russian, so it is worth paying for an English audio guide or booking a guided tour in advance.