|
From the point of view of the budget traveler, the best thing about Moscow is
the remarkable architecture that lines the city’s streets. Not many cities can
boast such a collection of imposing structures, and few are the places where the
weight of history sits so heavily. The result is a wonderfully evocative travel
destination.
Everywhere you turn in this city, rousing sights and iconic
images abound: the Red
Square, St Basil's Cathedral and the Kremlin come
together to contribute to one of the world’s most dramatic skylines. And, of
course, the great thing about wandering the streets is that it’s free.
Moscow also has a couple of attractive parks and gardens: Alexandrovsky
Garden, Neskuchniy Garden and Gorky Park (made famous by Martin Cruz Smith’s
novel). These can be particularly attractive in winter, when, covered in snow,
they capture the city’s stark beauty perfectly.
Sleep – on a
budget
As for places to stay: Moscow hostels are not necessarily quite as
cheap as you might have imagined. They are, however, of reassuringly good
quality.
Nova Hostel, a short stroll from the Red Square is one of the
better regarded budget accommodation options. Napoleon Hostel and Happy Home
Hostel are also attractive options.
Eat – on a budget
Eating
cheaply in Moscow is not the easiest thing to do. Of course, the city now has
all the chic, international eateries that it was deprived of for so many years.
But they don’t come cheap, and for the traveler on a budget, fast-food is
probably the best option.
For something quick and wholesome
Moscow-style, head for the green Kroshka Kartoshka stalls that are dotted around
town. Here you can get a piping hot jacket potato stuffed with pretty much
whatever you can think of.
Another quick and cheap option are the
Teremok Pancake Stalls which serve up delicious blinchiki, (essentially Russian
crepes). For a sit-down meal of sorts, the cheapest place available is probably
Kruzhka, a down-to-earth beer and bar food sort of place that has a number of
premises across the city.
Moscow also has a couple of other places to
look out for, where it’s possible to eat well (for not too much). These include
Rostik’s (American-style cuisine), Russkoe Bistro (cheap traditional fare) and
the amusingly cow-themed and ever popular self-service place, Moo-Moo, which has
a branch on Stary Arbat.
Party – on a budget
In keeping with a
city that seems in a constant state of reinvention, Moscow’s nightlife is
incredibly unpredictable. When setting out for a night out, it’s hard to tell
exactly what’s going to happen. And that’s half the fun of it!
But along
with eating out, drinking is the one thing that’s going to really knock your
budget out of sink. Clubs in the city tend to be pretty expensive, and Moscow’s
cocktail bars seem to be competing with those of Paris or London for the prize
for ‘Most Ludicrously Priced Drink’.
If avoiding the hangouts of the
super-rich in Moscow is half the battle, the other half is not getting ripped
off in a lap-dancing bar which are both popular, and difficult to distinguish
from the outside.
Should you manage to do this, however, Moscow’s
reputation as one of the world’s harder-drinking, harder-living cities can
unfold before your eyes in gloriously hazy Technicolor. The Arbat is the city’s
time-honored artsy, bohemian quarter. In recent years, however, its narrow
streets and charming old bars and cafés and become more heavily touristed.
Much of the city’s nightlife is to the north of the city center in the
district of Pushkinskaya. Other bars, (and even the odd club) that won't break
the bank can be found in the Khamovniki quarter, an area which, particularly on
weekends, is rammed with young revelers.
For an even cheaper alternative,
Moscow is a city that doesn’t mind standing out and drinking under the stars…
whatever the weather! Even in the dead of winter you can see crowds of people,
ordering strong drinks (to fight off the cold!) from shabby looking kiosks,
chatting and generally having a great time.
 Author Bio - Ben Cooper is a copywriter for HostelBookers.com. On his extensive travels, he’s traveled Russia on a tight budget a couple of times, and stayed in a few http://www.hostelbookers.com/hostels/russia/moscow/">Moscow hostel
 Related Articles :
Related Sites :
|
