Moscow beckons tourists; cultural festivals added attraction

From mid-December until the end of the New Year holidays, the Journey to Christmas festival is traditionally held in Moscow, during which one can witness various theatrical and musical performances, attend creative workshops, or try traditional Russian cuisine

Hyderabad: Moscow will make you fall in love with the city. While the famous Kremlin, St Basil’s Cathedral, and Tretyakov Gallery are the star attractions, the vibrant culture and festivals celebrated all year will make you return to the city again and again.

It is no wonder that the Russian capital is witnessing a steady increase in tourists. While traditionally the summer months from May to September is peak tourist season, more and more travelers are visiting Moscow during the winter from October to March to immerse themselves in the friendly and colourful atmosphere that pervades the city streets during festivals.

---

Numerous festivals are lined up throughout the year with the Christmas festival being the cherry on the cake. From mid-December until the end of the New Year holidays, the Journey to Christmas festival is traditionally held in Moscow, during which one can witness various theatrical and musical performances, attend creative workshops, or try traditional Russian cuisine.

Those wishing to get not only cultural but also gastronomic impressions can also visit the hotels and restaurants that host the “Moscow Tea Time” festival to feel the city’s hospitality and get acquainted with Moscow tea traditions.

Visitors can learn about different types of tea or the development of tea culture in Moscow over the centuries, and taste traditional Moscow pastries or drink tea from a samovar. Traditional Moscow tea ceremonies are also being held in central restaurants and hotels of the city.

According to Evgeny Kozlov, Chairman of the Moscow City Tourism Committee, the development of event tourism is one of the priorities for the entire capital’s tourism industry in the coming years. In 2023, the Russian capital was visited by 2.3 million travelers from other countries, primarily from China, Turkey, India, and Iran.

In the first quarter of 2024, half a million foreigners visited Moscow, which is almost 40 percent more than the year before.

It is expected that by 2030, at least 14 percent of all tourists – about 7.3 million people – will come to Moscow for cultural festivals, large-scale fairs and other events.
So why wait, pack up your bags and explore Moscow.