Moscow is the capital of Russia and the country's principal political, economic, financial, educational, and transportation center, located on the Moskva River. The city's population of 10.4 million permanent inhabitants within the city boundaries constitutes about 7% of the total Russian population. It is the most populous city in Europe.

The Red Square and the Kremlin are the historic nucleus of Moscow, a magnificent stage for political drama, signifying a great sweep of history that includes Ivan the Terrible, Peter and Catherine the Great, Romanovs dynasty, Stalin and Gorbachev.

Here you'll find Lenin's Mausoleum and St Basil's Cathedral, the famous GUM department store, and the Kremlin itself, whose splendid cathedrals and Armory museum head the list of attractions.

The Kremlin is Moscow's heart, symbolically, historically and strategically: Red Square lies along its eastern side and the Moscow River is to the south. From here, Moscow spreads out in four distinctive rings of development, each area having its own collection of monasteries, museums and elegant buildings. Most of the city's sights are within the first circle - an area that can easily be covered on foot.