Moscow is Russia’s capital, and it is also the country’s richest and largest city. Grandiose, spectacular, and opulent, Moscow has been at the epicenter of some of the most pivotal moments in history. It echoes with stories of innovation, tragedy, and triumph. Stories of literary greats and legendary tsars as well as political revolutions that have forever changed the world. It has a population of over 11 million people, the highest concentration of billionaires in the world, and an attitude befitting of a great city. Here are the top must-see attractions in Moscow, Russia.

Red Square

There is no better place to hear the whispered tales of this city’s past than in its very heart – Red Square. The Kremlin is a Moscow icon and has been the home of the ruling class for many years. Visit the Ivan the Great’s Bell, the Cathedral of the Annunciation, and the Cathedral of Archangel, all within the red walls. Many of the most famous stories of Moscow have been forged in the fires of war. Take a trip to the Alexander Garden which is the home of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and pays tribute to this city’s unbreakable spirit.

Victory Park

Victory Park is nearby, and it also pays tribute to the heroes of the city, including the Soviet soldiers who died in World War II. As the cold war between Russia and the US intensified, a different battled began – the race for supremacy of the heavens. Visit the Monument to the Conquerors of Space, a memorial that celebrates the Soviet people aerospace triumphs.

The Memorial Museum of Cosmonauts

Learn more about the epic contest and space race between these superpowers at the Memorial Museum of Cosmonauts. Immerse yourself in one of the proudest stories of Moscow, when Yuri Gagarin shocked the world and became the first man in space.

Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts

In Moscow, literary greats and artists are honored just like adventurers. Visit the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts to see some works of art by European and Russian masters. Watch a performance at one of the most renowned and oldest theatres in the world. Walk on the same street as some of the greatest writers in the world including Chekhov, Dostoevsky, and Tolstoy.

There is a proud literary tradition in Moscow that many parks are named after some influential authors and poets such as Pushkin square and Gorky Park. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, many evocative monuments were pulled down and dumped in the Fallen Monument Park. Recently, public artworks and modern sculptures have been added.

The Moscow Metro

Taking a trip underground will let you understand how the old and new coexist in this city. The Moscow Metro is more like an art and history museum than one of Europe’s most efficient public transport. With heroic artworks, grandiose chandeliers, opulent marble walls, each of the train stations has its own story to tell of Russia’s technology, heroism, and culture.

Moscow has a proud café culture and the city’s restaurants and coffee houses remain a place where the locals come to enjoy their rich traditional foods while sharing their own stories. As your time in Moscow draws to a close, you will come to realize this city is one of the great stories of the world. From epic sagas that changed the world to tales of happiness, luck, and loss.