I recently visited Russia for the 2018 Fifa World Cup, for a whirlwind tour of Moscow as well as the other cities England played in. Russia is somewhere that has always held a curiosity for me – my name is Russian, and I learned the language up to GCSE level at school (can’t remember much now, sadly!). However, with the political situation as it has been, and tensions rife in the run up to the tournament, it was a trip I approached with caution. Would Russia be the place I had always imagined, full of beauty and culture, or rather more like the grim image depicted by the media?
Unsurprisingly, the propaganda appeared to be largely false. We were met by a friendly, welcoming society, impressed by the running of the tournament (not to mention England’s impressive performance!), as well as the breathtaking architecture and happening, hip youth culture. From the classic views of St Basil’s Cathedral on Red Square to the up and coming dining and drinking areas housed in old industrial buildings, there’s so much to see and do. Best yet, it’s also very gram-friendly, with so many beautiful spots to snap that #ootd!
We spent most of our time in Moscow due to England’s fixtures, so the majority of my content from the trip revolved around the city. I visited so many gorgeous places that I thought I’d pop them into a post, if you’re planning to visit and looking for some inspiration!
1. SAINT BASIL’S
Saint Basil’s Cathedral is undoubtedly Russia’s most iconic sight. So you gotta get a picture there, right? The Cathedral overlooks Red Square, which is where the entrance is, however this side can get very crowded (it’s impossible to get a shot without hoards of people). I try to avoid having anyone else in my images so I popped round the back, where it was far quieter, and I could pose in peace!
2. GUM DEPARTMENT STORE
A Moscow institution, Gum is a sprawling department store backing on to Red Square, featuring the very best in designer brands and a whole lot more besides. It’s not the easiest place to grab a snap as it’s busy and the light can be tricky, but they do nice displays (this was obviously for the World Cup, but it looks pretty good around Christmas too).
3. CATHEDRAL OF CHRIST THE SAVIOUR
Another Moscow must, this Cathedral sits in a spectacular location on the river, complete with beautiful architectural detailing and super grammable gold domes. This picture was shot coming from the bridge which leads to the Cathedral.
4. BAR STRELKA
Another composition to capture the Cathedral is from Bar Strelka, on the opposite side of the river. Even if you’re not looking to get the gram, it’s worth a visit for the beautiful rooftop terrace views, and I’d highly recommend the delicious cocktails and inventive cuisine. A little on the pricier side, but seriously chic.
5. HOLY BASIL CAFE
Weird name, great cafe. Visit Holy Basil Cafe for this super grammable cosy nook and picturesque smoothie bowls, stay for the chill vibes and delicious healthy grub. I chose the slightly less ‘aesthetic’ poke bowl but they do Bali-style smoothie bowls that work wonderfully for the gram (but if you just want to eat, the poke bowl was super tasty…). FYI the seating area pictured is only part of the cafe that looks like this, so it might be worth reserving, or getting there early, if you want to sit here.
6. IZMAILOVO MARKET
If you’re visiting Moscow, don’t miss the fabulously eccentric, gaudy, tacky and definitely wacky Izmailovo market. First off, it looks like a poor man’s Saint Basil’s mixed with a German beer tavern. But it also sells all sorts of weird and wonderful wares, from every matryoshka doll you could ever want to genuine soviet antiques. There’s also plenty of Instagrammable corners amongst all the multicoloured buildings.
7. JAGGER BAR
We found this Instagrammable bar whilst wandering around one of the many factory complexes that had been turning into dining and entertainment areas. According to my quick google it’s actually a nightclub, but we sat out in their terrace area and enjoyed a laidback cocktail and their food menu, which has some great options spanning various different cuisines (try the beer cheese balls!).
8. THE BRAZILIAN EMBASSY
We stumbled across the Brazilian Embassy whilst strolling through a particularly nice part of the city with lots of beautiful architecture, but this building in particular stood out. The attention to detail is so impressive, and it’s a great background to snap your outfit against!
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you check out my Instagram guide to Cinque Terre, Italy, and my guide to the best Instagram locations in London!
Let me know if you’d like to see more Instagram city guides in the comments, or DM me on Insta! Would love to know which cities you’d like to see featured next!
