Trans-Siberian Railway Adventure: Part 1 - Moscow
Trans Siberian Railway is more than 9000 kilometers long and it's the longest train route in the World. It can be traveled in about 6 days and 6 hours, but if you are a traveler, you will probably want to make some stops.
There are a few routes when it comes to Trans Siberian Railway. It starts in Moscow, then it goes through Yekaterinburg, Omsk, Novosibirsk, Irkutsk, and Ulan-Ude, but then it divides into another two paths: one goes south, to Mongolia and China, and the second one goes east, all the way to Vladivostok.
My Route
My own Journey by train stops in Ulan-Ude because I wanted to see a bit more of Siberia. I got there a bus and went north, to the Baikal lake and then by boat to the Olkhon island with Khuzhir village, where I spend more than a week. The whole trip took me a month and it was one of the most exciting times of my life. Enjoy.
Moscow
This will probably be our first destination while comes to Trans Siberian Railway. Moscow is definitely a city that it's hard to fully explore in a few days. History, museums, monuments, buildings, all that makes you wanna stay longer. I assume that you won't have a month to spend here (because of our big train adventure), so I will try to write about a few places that are really worth to visit in Moscow.
How to get around Moscow
The best idea how to get around though Moscow is by metro. There are a lot of metro lines and you will be able to get almost everywhere in the city. When it comes to prices, unlimited one-day pass costs about RUB 210 (about 3.6 USD). To help yourself a bit more, you can also download a Yandex Metro application (available in the English language).
By the way, Moscow metro stations are also tourist attractions with their architectural beauty, so make sure to look around while getting around the Moscow.
The Kremlin
This is the oldest part of the city and it symbolizes the whole of Russia. You can find here a lot of different things to visit, like Cathedral of the Annunciation, the Patriarch’s chambers, Church of the Deposition of the Robe, Armory Chamber, Cathedral of the Archangel, "Archeology of the Moscow Kremlin" collection, Cathedral of the Assumption, Ivan the Great Bell Ensemble and Sobornaya square.
Oh, and don't forget about the Russia's president seat, the famous Red Square, and the beautiful Saint Basil's (Pokrovsky) Cathedral.
The Red Square
I think that you really know what is the Red Square in Moscow, but let me just say a few words about it. When I saw this square on the TV, I thought that it's very huge, but in real life, it's not that big than I expected. But it's still an awesome and beautiful place and a must-see for all the travelers who come to visit Moscow.
Saint Basil's (Pokrovsky) Cathedral
When going to the Red Square, we cannot miss the famous Pokrovsky (Saint Basil's) Cathedral. It's located on the opposite side of the Voskresensky Gate and it was built in the 16th century to honor the conquest of the Kazan Khanate by the Tsar Ivan IV. This is the place you must see while being in Moscow because it's an architectural masterpiece.
The Bolshoi Theatre
One of the most famous theatres in the world. If you are planning to visit The Bolshoi Theatre while being in Moscow (I did), you must remember to book your tickets through the internet much earlier to make sure you will get a seat.
Cathedral of Christ the Saviour
The Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow is one of the biggest Orthodox churches in the World. Unfortunately, it was demolished by Stalin and it was destroyed until 2000 when it was rebuilt. Despite the fact that this church is significantly new, it's still an architectural pearl.
You can find here also a 40-meters high platform, from where you can see the Moscow's panorama. And also don't forget to get to the bridge in front of the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour that will lead you to the Moscow River.
Conclusion
Moscow will be probably your first stop while getting to the Trans Siberian Railway. I recommend you to spend here at least two or three days, as the capital of Russia is a huge city that has a lot to offer.
