Things to see in Moscow

Nerve centre of the Russian state, the Kremlin (literally ‘fortified town') is Russia’s single most famous monument. With its iconic skyline of 15th- and 16th-century churches and palaces, this walled fortress was actually founded in 1147. Its golden era was from 1276 to 1712, as the seat of the grand princes and tsars of Russia, though its place in popular culture was assured by its role as the headquarters of the government of the Soviet Union. As a result of Cold War fiction, its reputation exceeds its true historical role, but there's no better place to consider the fascinating complexities of Russia’s story.

The star-topped walls of the Kremlin and the coloured domes of St Basil’s Cathedral dominate Red Square, the centrepiece of historic Moscow. Once the setting for shows of military prowess during the Cold War, the troops still gather here annually for Moscow’s famous Victory Day parade. Landmark monuments dot its edge, including Lenin’s Mausoleum, the State Historical Museum and the GUM Department Store.

The founder of the Soviet Union is preserved for posterity 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 in a crystal casket, becoming a point of pilgrimage for devoted Russian citizens. Visitors should be respectful (no hats, cameras or hands in pockets) when visiting. Note: the mausoleum often closes without notice.

More than a musty collection of historical artefacts, every room here is decorated in the style of a different historical period or region. Permanent exhibitions display 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, but English tours are available.