Moscow Unusual places in Moscow

Unusual places in Moscow

For those more adventurous travelers who want more than the standard sightseeing tour with the most popular photo destinations, though there’s nothing wrong with such tours, we’ve compiled a list of some must-see places a little further off the beaten path.

There are many hidden gems in Moscow that are adored by locals and won’t be mentioned in any guidebooks. We’ve listed just a few: lesser-known monasteries and museums, nice neighborhoods, and interesting buildings. We always try to supplement our standard tour packages with something purely “Moscow,” adding another dimension to your travel experience.

Monument to victims of Stalinist repression in Muzeon Park in Moscow

Monument to victims of Stalinist repression in Muzeon Park in Moscow, Stalin's sculpture

Monument to Felix Dzerzhinsky (the Iron Felix) - famous statue of Dzerzhinsky in Muzeon Park

Dzerzhinsky statue in front if KGB building on Lubyanka

Muzeon park - guided tour

Muzeon (park of arts)

A park with a symbolic graveyard of Soviet-era monuments that were gathered together there after the fall of the USSR. The park today is a work of art, and one of the most popular places in the city.
We recommend including this into a program together with the New Tretyakov Gallery tour or an excursion through Soviet-era Moscow.

Izmaylovo flea and crafts Market in Moscow

Izmaylovo flea and national crafts Market in Moscow

antique stalls of Izmaylovo Market in Moscow

Izmaylovo wooden Kremlin

Izmaylovo Market

This is the best place in Moscow to buy souvenirs and authentic Russian folk handicrafts from far-away regions. There is an extensive choice, and people do haggle. This is unequivocally a better place than tourist shopping spot in the city’s center.

Worker and Kolkhoz Woman Sculpture in Paris in 1937

Worker and Kolkhoz Woman Sculpture in Paris in 1937 - in fromt of German Pavilion

Worker and Kolkhoz Woman Sculpture's restauration

Worker and Kolkhoz Woman Sculpture in 2013

Worker and Kolkhoz Woman on restoration between 2003 and 2009

Worker and Kolkhoz Woman Sculpture

This is perhaps the most well-known sculpture in the USSR, recently celebrating its 80th anniversary.
It is a symbol of the fanfare of socialist labor and of an era long gone. It is one of Moscow’s key sights, imparting an understanding of Russia’s history in the 20th century. We recommend including it in the excursion through Stalin-era Moscow, and when visiting VDNKh.

Moscow State University’s main building on Sparrow Hills

Moscow State University’s main building on Sparrow Hills

Sparrow Hills and its observation platform

This is a classic place to take in a panoramic view of Moscow, both during the day and at night. It is a must-see during our Moscow sightseeing tour.

Central House of Artist on Old Arbat Street in Moscow

Pushkin house-museum on Old Arbat Street in Moscow

Bulat Okudzhava Statue on Old Arbat Street in Moscow

Praga (Prague) restaurant on Old Arbat Street in Moscow

Urussov house on Old Arbat Street in Moscow

Old Arbat Street in Moscow

Arbat street

One of the first pedestrian streets in Moscow, it saw Pushkin, Bunin, and Tolstoy in the flesh. It is the meeting place of all architectural styles in Moscow. And, no less important, there are the wonderful historic alleys and courtyards hidden from passers-by through small arches.

The House on the Embankment in Moscow under contsruction

The House on the Embankment in Moscow

House on the Embankment

A guided tour to the “Ship Building”, a symbol of prosperity in the 1920’s – and of Stalin’s repressions in the 1930’s.

Reader opinions Ratings: 8 (average 4.8 of 5)