Moscow advice

So I've booked some flights to Moscow and now I need to do all the rest - visas, accomm, and what to see and do!

For visa I think I'm going to use RealRussia, they're quoting £125 to do everything, which I need as I don't live near London to go to the embassy in person.

Accommodation, I don't think apartment rentals will work out cheap as there's probably just 2 of us travelling. So maybe budget hotels as I'm travelling with my girlfriend, possibly hostels but we're a bit older so not up for dorms and partying kids. :-) So far the accommodation's looking expensive, I'm going to start looking further out but close to metro stations. Suggestions appreciated!

Seeing and Doing - that's proving harder so has anyone got ideas and inspiration for things beyond the central sights around Red Square? I'm looking forward to immersing myself in Moscow, seeing the metro stations, window-shopping (been told the Arbat is the shopping area?), but it'd be nice to have some specifics on the hit-list. We're there for four and a half days.

Spasiba za idea! :-)

Hi! If you're looking for accommodation that's cheap but central, I'd recommend the Cinema Hostel, a 15 minutes walk away from the Red Square. Partying students usually choose the Napoleon hostel over it, which is just upstairs in the same building, so the Cinema Hostel is usually quiet. The hostel is spacious and clean, with a kitchen, bathroom, and a cosy 'cinema' room, and they have a comfortable 2-person room.

Hope this helps!

Thanks, I'll take a look!