13 Fascinating Facts About Moscow

Moscow is the capital and most heavily populated city in Russia, as well as being the largest city on the European continent. It is an iconic and global city and is the key political, economic, cultural and scientific centre of not only Russia but of Eastern Europe as well. It is a city renowned for the Red Square, the Kremlin and St. Basil’s cathedral and furthermore, should be on your travel bucket list.

So, you want to go to this mysterious but enticing city? Here are 13 fascinating facts about Moscow.

1. Moscow claims the largest number of billionaires in the world. Per Forbes, there are 84 billionaires in the city
2. The first McDonald’s opened in Pushkin Square on January 31, 1990. The line to the restaurant ran for several kilometres
3. Tram number 3 is the oldest route in Moscow and commenced on April 6, 1899
4. The Moscow Kremlin is the world’s largest medieval fortress.
5. Moscow is named after a river
6. The flag of England and Moscow have the same figure of St. George in armour and riding a horse back while slaying a dragon with his lance.
7. Arbat street is 520 years making it one of the oldest streets in Moscow.
8. The millionth citizen of Moscow was born in 1897
9. Over 6 million passengers use the Moscow metro daily making it the third busiest metro in the world
10. Moscow State University is the world’s largest university building
11. Moscow is regularly named one of the most expensive cities in the world
12. Trains in Moscow metro run more regularly than in any other metro in the world. At peak times the interval between trains is just 1.5 minutes
13. Moscow’s Russian State Library was founded in 1862, is the biggest in Europe and second biggest in the World after Library of Congress in USA

Fancy a trip to Russia? Travel Talk offer a 6-Day Highlights of Russia tour that finishes in Moscow so you have plenty of time to explore this magnificent city!