Discover Moscow: A Practical Guide to Planning Your Moscow Trip
‘Discover Moscow’, an online website created by the Moscow City Tourism Committee, will help you with questions about where to go, where to stay, which restaurants to visit and what to see in Moscow.
As Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin previously announced, 2025 could be a record year for tourist arrivals in the capital. According to preliminary estimates, up to 26.5 million people have visited Moscow. The number of international tourists has also increased by 10%, Sobyanin emphasized.
According to ‘Mostourism’, in 2025, tourists from the Asia-Pacific region — China, India, Vietnam and others — most often chose Moscow for their vacations. This region saw a 13% increase in visits compared to the first nine months of 2024, accounting for 57% of all visits from non-CIS countries. The capital is also popular among travelers from the Middle East.
What is ‘Discover Moscow’?
‘Discover Moscow’ is Moscow's international tourism brand, which has been in existence since 2020. It’s used at international conferences and specialized exhibitions. In 2025, the project updated its English-language website, which contains all the useful information for foreigners visiting the capital.
How to use ‘Discover Moscow’
Maria Nikanorova, Head of Communications, the Moscow City Tourism Committee, spoke about how to use the ‘Discover Moscow’ website.
1. Plan your trip:
The website contains key practical sections:
- Ticket and tour purchasing tips
- Applying for an e-visa
- Choosing a hotel
- Seasonal clothing recommendations
- Payment methods in Moscow
- Useful apps: translators, maps, taxis, metro
“We wanted to build on existing experience and, on the one hand, not overwhelm tourists, while, on the other, providing as much useful information as possible. It’s our goal to make our website the first resource for those wanting to get to know Moscow,” says Maria Nikanorova.
2. Choose routes and points of interest:
- See all the highlights in one day
- Find the best photo locations
- Choose a guided city tour
- See Moscow in different seasons
The website works as a navigator for interests and seasons. It offers options for first-time visitors, shopaholics and foodies, explains Nikanorova.
Tourists' preferences also vary, Maria notes: guests from the Middle East come for the exotic winter scenery, while Chinese tourists are interested in Soviet architecture and Stalinist skyscrapers. Indian travelers, meanwhile, appreciate natural spaces and parks.
The visa-free regime, which was established this year with both Saudi Arabia and China, is also contributing to the influx of tourists — the number of visitors from these countries to the capital is growing. "Moscow serves as a gateway to Russia for tourists from many countries, so we try to promote not only the capital, but also other regions. For example, we offer ready-made solutions from tour operators in the 'Moscow Plus' project: how to travel to two or more cities at once, for example also visiting St. Petersburg, the Vladimir Region, see the Northern Lights in Murmansk, or go to the hot springs in Tyumen," says Nikanorova.
3. Create a customized program based on your interests:
The portal offers ready-made selections:
‘Discover Moscow’ helps you quickly find the right leisure activity from hundreds of events held daily in the capital, with new ones added depending on the season. Moscow has effectively become an all-season resort: parks, skating rinks, swimming pools and, in the coming years, over 500 km of ski trails with artificial snow are being planned.
“The city has over 1,100 parks where you can stroll, bike or go for a jog or run. We offer information on what to do in each season and suggest ways to spend time in good weather or rainy weather, so that exploring the city remains comfortable no matter what,” says Maria Nikanorova.
4. Choose souvenirs
The portal also offers ideas for original gifts from local brands:
5. Get answers to any questions
You can get answers to any additional questions about planning your trip to Moscow by email (hello@discover.moscow). If necessary, you can also contact the tourist police 24/7 on +7 499 Call 157-29-31 and receive a response in English.
According to Nikanorova, tourists are interested in literally everything — from the availability of halal restaurants in Moscow to the nuances of visa processing.
6. Use the concierge service (currently only in Chinese)
In 2025, a Chinese version of the service also launched. The website prepares themed pages for each season, including sightseeing tours, themed routes around the capital, selections of Russian and Chinese restaurants and a special landing page for the Chinese New Year festival with a program of events.
‘Discover Moscow’ is present on key Chinese social media platforms: ‘Weibo’, ‘Douyin’, ‘LRB’, ‘Mafengwo’, ‘WeChat’ and also on the ‘Ctrip’ travel platform.
A built-in Chinese-language AI chatbot instantly responds to user queries based on the platform's content.
