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Middle East Crisis Hamas Releases Video of Injured Israeli American Hostage

• Share full article

• A Palestinian medic taking care of babies born preterm at the Emirati hospital in Rafah, southern Gaza. Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
• Military personnel beside the remains of a ballistic missile near Arad, Israel, following a missile and drone attack by Iran. Ohad Zwigenberg/Associated Press
• A Palestinian woman searching through rubble of a collapsed building in Rafah. Mohammed Abed/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
• An explosion in northern Gaza. Atef Safadi/EPA, via Shutterstock
• Palestinians at the beach during a hot day in Rafah. Mohammed Salem/Reuters

Follow live news updates on the crisis in the Middle East .

Hersh Goldberg-Polin, an Israeli American hostage, is seen in a Hamas video.

Hamas released a video on Wednesday apparently showing Hersh Goldberg-Polin, an Israeli American dual citizen who has been held hostage since the Oct. 7 terrorist attack on Israel. It appeared to be the first time that Mr. Goldberg-Polin, who was grievously injured in the attack, has been shown to be alive since his captivity began.

It is not clear when the video was filmed, but in it Mr. Goldberg-Polin, who was 23 when he was abducted, says he has been held hostage for nearly 200 days, suggesting the video was made recently. He also wishes his parents a happy holiday, which may be a reference to the weeklong Passover holiday currently being celebrated.

Mr. Goldberg-Polin’s parents later released a videotaped statement saying they were relieved to see their son alive but worried about his health, along with the health of the scores of other hostages still believed to be held in Gaza.

“We are here today with a plea to all of the leaders of the parties who have been negotiating to date — this includes Qatar, Egypt, the United States, Hamas and Israel — be brave, lean in, seize this moment and get a deal done to reunite all of us with our loved ones and end the suffering in this region,” his father, Jonathan Polin, said. His mother, Rachel Goldberg-Polin, urged her son to “stay strong, survive.”

In a video message , Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the spokesman for Israel’s military, told Mr. Goldberg-Polin’s family that Israel would do all it could to “bring your son Hersh and all our hostages back home.”

“This is an urgent call for action. We will leave no stone unturned in our efforts to find our hostages,” he said.

Mr. Goldberg-Polin was attending the Tribe of Nova music festival in Re’im, Israel, when Hamas gunmen attacked, killing hundreds. He lost part of his arm while defending an emergency shelter alongside his friend Aner Shapira, who was killed, according to survivors of the attack.

Rights groups and international law experts say that a hostage video is, by definition, made under duress, and the statements in it are usually coerced. Israeli officials have called the videos a form of “psychological warfare,” and experts say their production can constitute a war crime.

The circumstances of how the video was filmed were unclear, and the footage appears to have been edited. It was released on Hamas’s social media channels at about 5 p.m. in Israel.

Mr. Goldberg-Polin refers several times to his need for medical attention and shows his injured arm to the camera. The October attack left him “struggling to survive with serious injuries all over my body,” he says in the video, adding that during his captivity he has been “without water, food or sun and without treatment I have needed for so long.”

He also criticizes Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel and members of his government. “At a time when you are holding holiday meals with your families, think of us, the hostages who are still here in hell, under the ground,” he says.

The Hostages Families Forum said in a statement that “the hostages must be the top priority.”

“This distressing video serves as an urgent call to take swift and decisive action to resolve this horrific humanitarian crisis and ensure the safe return of our loved ones,” the group said.

Mr. Goldberg-Polin, a dual citizen of Israel and the United States, was born in Berkeley, Calif., and was in elementary school when the family moved to Israel from Richmond, Va. He was taken captive into Gaza after part of his arm was blown off during an assault on a roadside bomb shelter .

Members of his family pieced together at least some of what happened to him through other families and survivors of the attack, and by reviewing texts and phone conversations. They have said they believed he was in desperate need of medical attention because of the injuries to his arm, which are believed to have been caused by a grenade.

In a guest essay written for The New York Times’ opinion section shortly after his abduction, his mother described her son as a gentle and kind person who swam laps to raise money for a charity in Africa.

“I don’t know if he is dead or alive or if I will ever see him again,” she wrote.

His mother told reporters that her family would mark Passover this week with a Seder and “they have been very clear that if 15 minutes in we just can’t do it, and we need to cry, then we will cry.”

Mr. Goldberg-Polin ends the video by directly addressing his parents.

“I love you so much and miss you,” he told them. “It won’t be a happy holiday for me, but I wish you one.”

Malachy Browne , Johnatan Reiss and Isabel Kershner contributed reporting.

— Liam Stack reporting from Jerusalem

A U.S. aid package includes billions in military support for Israel.

President Biden on Wednesday signed a sweeping foreign aid package that includes billions in unconditional military aid to Israel, hailing the bill as a demonstration of his commitment to Israel while urging the country to help ensure additional money allocated for humanitarian assistance to Gaza reaches Palestinian civilians “without delay.”

“My commitment to Israel — I want to make clear again — is ironclad,” Mr. Biden said at the White House after signing the bill on Wednesday. “The security of Israel is critical, and we’ll always make sure that Israel has what it needs to defend itself against Iran and the terrorists it supports.”

At the same time, Mr. Biden said the bill allows for a “surge” in humanitarian aid, including food, medical supplies and clean water for “the innocent people of Gaza,” who he said were “suffering badly” from the “consequences of this war that Hamas started.”

“Israel must make sure all this aid reaches the Palestinians in Gaza without delay,” Mr. Biden said.

The United States is by far the largest supplier of military aid to Israel, whose crushing offensive in Gaza has killed more than 34,000 people, including over 14,000 children, since Oct. 7, according to local health officials and the U.N.

The near-complete siege on Gaza has also displaced nearly 1.7 million people and left hundreds of thousands starving as Israel continues to destroy civilian infrastructure and restrict the entry and distribution of humanitarian aid, according to the U.N.

The scale of the devastation being inflicted on Palestinians in the enclave has led to fierce public backlash against the Biden administration over its support for Israel.

The bill includes at least $13 billion in military aid for Israel, including more than $5 billion for its air defense systems. It also includes $9 billion for humanitarian aid to crisis spots around the world, including an unspecified amount for Gaza.

President Biden said in his remarks on Wednesday that the amount allocated for Gaza was $1 billion. The bill explicitly bars any of the funding from going to UNRWA , the largest aid group on the ground.

The bill’s inclusion of billions of dollars of military aid with no further limitations on how Israel can use it faced strong opposition from several left-leaning Democrats in Congress . Human rights and foreign policy experts have warned that Israel is violating international humanitarian law, which the State Department has denied, and that the U.S. could be violating its own laws by continuing to send no-strings-attached funding.

In December, Mr. Biden said that Israel was losing international support over its “indiscriminate” bombing of Gaza. And in April, after the Israeli military killed seven aid workers with World Central Kitchen, he said Israel had “not done enough to protect civilians” and suggested that future U.S. aid could be dependent on Israel taking concrete steps to do so.

Speaking from the White House after signing the bill on Wednesday, Mr. Biden stressed that the funding was providing “vital support” to bolster Israel’s air defenses against attacks like the retaliatory barrage of drones and missiles that Iran fired earlier this month.

He did not elaborate on what action, if any, the United States would take if Israel continues to obstruct the delivery of aid, which the International Court of Justice in The Hague ordered it to stop doing last month .

— Anushka Patil

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The White House says it won’t interfere in a decision over an Israeli battalion accused of abuse.

The national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, declined to say on Wednesday whether the Biden administration will sever U.S. aid to an Israeli military unit accused of human rights abuses, saying the matter was for the State Department to decide and that the White House would not intervene.

The State Department is weighing action against the Israeli military battalion, Netzah Yehuda, under a U.S. law that bars American equipment, funds and training from going to foreign military units found to have committed gross human rights violations. “The State Department will make these judgments,” Mr. Sullivan said at a White House news conference.

State Department officials declined to comment on the matter.

The unit has been investigated in Israel for crimes in the West Bank predating the Oct. 7 Hamas-led attacks against Israel. Following reports that the State Department might recommend it be denied U.S. military aid, Israeli officials have pressed the U.S. government not to cut off aid to the battalion in what would be the first action of its kind by the Biden administration.

Netzah Yehuda was established for ultra-Orthodox Jewish men whose strict religious observance demands that men and women be separated. The battalion has attracted other Orthodox soldiers as well, including hard-line nationalists from the West Bank settler movement.

Asked about the matter by reporters on Monday, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken declined to address specifics but said, “I think you’ll see in the days ahead that we will have more to say, so please stay tuned on that.”

A recent flurry of reports about the Biden administration’s plans, which strike one of the most sensitive nerves of the U.S.-Israel relationship, was further complicated earlier on Wednesday by the House Republican speaker, Mike Johnson.

In an interview with the conservative talk radio host Hugh Hewitt, Mr. Johnson said that Mr. Sullivan had recently sent him a written commitment that none of the billions of dollars in emergency aid for Israel, just passed by Congress and signed into law by President Biden, would be denied to the unit.

Mr. Johnson even seemed to suggest that Netzah Yehuda may suffer no American consequences at all, even though Israeli officials have indicated that they expect imminent U.S. action against the battalion.

On Saturday, as the House was voting to approve a $26 billion aid package for Israel’s military and humanitarian aid for Gaza, Mr. Johnson, who is a strong supporter of Israel’s conservative government, said that he called Mr. Sullivan to insist that none of the money would be denied to Netzah Yehuda.

“No one knows this, but I called the White House immediately and talked with Jake Sullivan, and Tony Blinken was overseas at the moment,” Mr. Johnson said, according to a transcript of the interview on Mr. Hewitt’s website. “But I made him send me an email where he committed to me in writing that it would not affect any of the funding that we were working on to assist Israel in this critical time, and that they would be very judicious in that.”

Mr. Johnson also warned that he would challenge any punitive U.S. measure.

Mr. Sullivan “indicated to me that that won’t happen, that there were some allegations of some event many years ago,” Mr. Johnson said. “It seems to have been resolved, and I am very hopeful that they won’t try to proceed on that. If they do, we’ll intervene.”

Netzah Yehuda has been accused of human rights abuses against Palestinians in the West Bank over several years, including the January 2022 death of a 78-year-old Palestinian-American man in its custody.

The Israeli military investigated the incident and disciplined three Netzah Yehuda commanders , but brought no criminal charges against its soldiers.

— Michael Crowley

Netanyahu calls U.S. student protests antisemitic and says they must be stopped.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel said on Wednesday that protests at U.S. universities against Israel’s war in Gaza were “horrific” and should be stopped, using his first public comments on the subject to castigate the student demonstrators and portray them as antisemitic.

Mr. Netanyahu’s comments could harden division over the demonstrations. They could also give ammunition to Republican leaders who have criticized the protesters and accused university administrators and Democrats of failing to protect Jewish students from attack.

“What’s happening in America’s college campuses is horrific,” Mr. Netanyahu said. “Antisemitic mobs have taken over leading universities. They call for the annihilation of Israel. They attack Jewish students. They attack Jewish faculty.”

It was not immediately possible to solicit a response from the students, who are not organized into a single group.

A relatively small number of students have staged protests for months at universities in different parts of the country to protest Israel’s conduct of the war in Gaza, which began after Hamas led an attack on Israel on Oct. 7 in which around 1,200 people were killed and more than 200 others were taken hostage. Since then, the authorities in Gaza say, more than 34,000 people have been killed in Israeli airstrikes and fighting, a majority of them women and children.

The protesters’ main policy demand is that the U.S. government stop sending military aid to Israel. Some students have also called on universities to stop investing in weapons manufacturers and to sell, or divest, holdings in funds and businesses they say profit from Israel’s invasion of Gaza and the occupation of Palestinian lands.

Organizers of many of the campus groups leading protests around the country have said that they denounce violence and antisemitism. But some demonstrators have used anti-Jewish and anti-Israel slurs and other threatening language, and some Jewish students have said they feel unsafe. Some protesters have also expressed sympathy for Hamas, which controlled Gaza before the war and has vowed to destroy Israel.

The protests swelled in recent days at some of the most prominent academic institutions in the country, including Columbia, Yale, Cornell and the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. The police have responded, in some cases by making hundreds of arrests.

One impact has been to force university leaders to grapple with how far to permit protests, which are broadly protected as free speech, given that some protesters have used antisemitic language. Some Jewish students and leaders also say they see the demonstrations themselves as antisemitic or as fostering antisemitism.

In portraying the antiwar protesters as antisemites, Mr. Netanyahu is aligning himself with some Republican leaders, who have sharply criticized university leaders and the Biden administration for doing too little to crack down on the protests.

Last month, Mr. Netanyahu spoke to Senate Republicans via a video link during a closed lunch meeting and criticized the Democratic majority leader, Senator Chuck Schumer of New York. Mr. Schumer, who is a Jew, had said in a speech on the Senate floor that Mr. Netanyahu was an impediment to peace in the Middle East and called for a new election to replace him.

On Wednesday, House Speaker Mike Johnson, a conservative Republican, visited Columbia University in New York, the site of one of the most prominent of the student protests. Mr. Johnson said that President Biden should take action, including potentially sending in the National Guard, to quell the protests at Columbia, which he asserted had grown violent and antisemitic.

The demonstrations are becoming a political headache for President Biden, because the student protesters, and other left-leaning Democrats who sympathize with them, are important constituencies in his hopes for re-election in November.

By portraying the protests in such stark moral terms, the Israeli leader could reinforce Mr. Biden’s political bind.

Mr. Netanyahu appeared to equate protests against his government’s prosecution of the war Gaza with hatred of Jews. He said the protests on American campuses were “reminiscent of what happened in German universities in the 1930s,” an apparent reference to ideologically militant pro-Nazi student groups that, according to the Holocaust Encyclopedia , worked with the security forces to carry through Hitler’s agenda.

“It’s unconscionable,” he said. “It has to be stopped.”

Soon after coming to power in 1933, the Nazis passed a law that led to the dismissal of many Jewish university teachers and emboldened student groups to deploy violence and intimidation against Jewish faculty members and students.

— Matthew Mpoke Bigg

Israel’s foreign minister thanks the Senate for passing a hard-fought aid bill.

Israel on Wednesday welcomed approval by the U.S. Senate of an aid package that includes $26.4 billion for Israel and for civilians in conflict zones, including Gaza, a vote that came as strains in the allies’ relationship have intensified over Israel’s tactics in its war with Hamas.

Israel Katz, Israel’s foreign minister, said in a statement that the bill’s passage was “a clear testament to the strength of our alliance” that “sends a strong message to our enemies.”

The aid is part of a long-stalled $95.3 billion package that had faced vehement opposition from some Republicans over support for Ukraine, which is also part of the legislation. The Senate’s action on Tuesday , on a vote of 79 to 18, was a victory for President Biden, who was expected to sign the bill into law as soon as Wednesday.

The relationship between the United States and Israel has grown increasingly tense over Israel’s unrelenting military offensive in Gaza, with the death toll there surpassing 34,000, according to the health authorities there.

Israel has stood by plans to invade the southern Gaza city of Rafah , where more than a million displaced people are sheltering, even as the Biden administration has warned that such a move would pose severe risks to civilians.

The United States is by far the biggest supplier of weapons to Israel, and even though the Biden administration has faced growing calls to restrict or stop the arms shipments, it has largely maintained its military support.

The package approved Tuesday would send roughly $15 billion in military aid to Israel and prioritizes defensive capabilities, including more than $5 billion to replenish the Iron Dome, David’s Sling and Iron Beam defense systems. An additional $2.4 billion is directed to U.S. military operations in the Middle East.

Another $9 billion would go to “worldwide humanitarian aid,” including for civilians in Gaza. The package bars any of the funding from going to UNRWA, the main United Nations agency that provides aid to Palestinians in Gaza. The United States suspended its contributions to the agency this year over Israeli allegations that a dozen of its employees had participated in the Hamas-led Oct. 7 attacks on Israel or their aftermath.

But the package does not put any conditions on military aid, a sticking point for some left-wing Democrats who have become more vocal in calling for the Israeli military to modify its tactics to better protect civilians.

Democratic lawmakers who have led the push against U.S. aid to Israel , particularly in the House, have condemned the Oct. 7 attacks and said they strongly support Israel and its right to self-defense, but oppose supplying it with more offensive weapons.

The aid that is getting into Gaza is falling far short of the needs of its desperate population. Countries including the United States have tried to find air and sea routes to get more relief supplies in. Experts say land deliveries are the most efficient method, but aid groups say those face immense hurdles in part because of Israeli security checkpoints and bombardment.

Catie Edmondson and Robert Jimison contributed reporting.

— Matt Surman

Famine could begin in Gaza within weeks if more aid doesn’t get in, the W.F.P. warns.

The World Food Program warned on Wednesday that a famine could begin in Gaza within six weeks unless there is a major scale-up in food deliveries, underscoring the lack of aid in the territory even as the Biden administration says that the amount getting in has “increased dramatically.”

“We are getting closer by the day to a famine situation,” Gian Carlo Cirri, the director of the Geneva office of the World Food Program, a U.N. agency, told reporters. “Malnutrition among children is spreading.”

Nearly a month after the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to allow unimpeded access for food aid to Gaza, international organizations say deliveries still fall short of the level needed to stop the spread of starvation. Last month, a global initiative that tracks and classifies famine said that one was “ imminent ” in northern Gaza, the part of the territory most cut off from aid, and U.S. officials have echoed that assessment in recent weeks.

On Tuesday, David Satterfield, President Biden’s special envoy for humanitarian issues in Gaza, said that “the risk of famine throughout Gaza is very high, especially in the north.” But he said “Israel has taken significant steps” over the past few weeks toward opening more crossings for aid to enter Gaza, including directly from Israel into the north.

“The volume of assistance entering into and, most importantly, distributed within Gaza has increased significantly. But we know much more aid is needed,” he said, and that it must “reach the most vulnerable in Gaza, especially in the north.”

According to United Nations data , the number of aid trucks entering Gaza has risen, but only slightly. In the two weeks ending Monday, the most recent day for which figures were available, an average of 195 trucks had entered Gaza each day through the two main crossings in the south of the territory. That was slightly higher than the average of 185 trucks daily in the two weeks before that — but still far short of the 300 trucks of food that the World Food Program estimates are needed daily to begin to meet people’s basic food needs.

Israel has disputed the United Nations’ figures of aid trucks, saying that they are an undercount.

According to Mr. Cirri of the World Food Program, 30 percent of children under the age of 2 in Gaza are severely malnourished and in northern Gaza 70 percent of the population is facing catastrophic levels of hunger. That meant they had exhausted all means of coping and were eating animal feed or selling off their belongings to buy food, he said.

“Most of them are destitute and clearly some of them are dying of hunger,” he added.

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification , an initiative of U.N. bodies and major relief agencies that tracks famine globally, defines a famine as at least 20 percent of households facing an extreme lack of food, at least 30 percent of children suffering from acute malnutrition , and at least two adults or four children for every 10,000 people dying each day from starvation or disease linked to malnutrition.

Mr. Cirri said there was reasonable evidence that all three thresholds would be met in the next six weeks.

The U.N. said on Tuesday that aid agencies continue to contend with major obstacles to delivering relief in Gaza, including active hostilities, impassable roads, unexploded ordnance, fuel shortages, delays at Israeli checkpoints and other restrictions.

Israel has denied restricting aid, blaming U.N. agencies for bureaucratic delays. Since a deadly Israeli strike on April 1 killed seven workers from the World Central Kitchen food charity, Israel has allowed some aid trucks to enter directly into northern Gaza , although it has not said how many, and has pledged to open the port of Ashdod to accept aid shipments, without providing a time frame.

Mr. Cirri said that a cease-fire is essential to ensure the free movement of humanitarian aid deliveries and consistent access to the Gazan population.

“Under the prevailing conditions, I’m afraid the situation will further deteriorate,” he said.

— Nick Cumming-Bruce and Shashank Bengali

With temperatures soaring, many Gazans swelter in makeshift tents.

When Maryam Arafat, her husband and their three young children fled their home in Gaza City under Israeli bombardment, it was the dead of winter. Forced to shelter in a ramshackle tent in Deir al Balah, the family shivered during the bitterly cold nights, as there was no fuel to heat up and not enough clothes to stay warm.

Since then, the weather has turned hot and humid in the coastal Gaza Strip, and that same tent has become unbearable and suffocating.

“The tent feels like it’s on fire,” Ms. Arafat, 23, said. “It’s so hot you can’t bear it, especially with young children.” In her lap, Yahya, who is a year old, screamed in discomfort.

Nearly two million Palestinians in Gaza were forced to flee their homes under Israeli bombardment and military evacuation orders when the weather was cold, and the makeshift tents many found themselves living in provided little protection from the low temperatures. Faced with no heating fuel, Gazans chopped down many of the trees to burn for heating and for cooking.

Now, with a blazing sun overhead, there are few trees to provide shade as temperatures soar, reaching a high of 39 degrees Celsius (102 Fahrenheit) on Wednesday.

Scott Anderson, the deputy director of UNRWA operations in Gaza, said on Sunday that the rising temperatures made combating the spread of disease as much of a priority as delivering food.

The heat is exacerbating already dire problems from Israel’s war in Gaza. People are relying on water to keep cool when it is already in short supply and not easy to get, and the warm weather is bringing insects that help spread disease.

“Everything has become difficult in this world,” Ms. Arafat said. “There is no water.”

Ms. Arafat uses a piece of cardboard to fan her children and dampens their heads and limbs with what little water they have.

Along with warmer temperatures have come mosquitoes, ants and other bugs. At night, Ms. Arafat and her husband stay up and keep watch over their three children, worried that they will be bitten. Their tent is in an encampment in an open field and she fears even more dangerous threats like snakes.

Fadwa Abu Waqfa, a 37-year-old mother of three living in a tent in Rafah, remembers how even during peacetime, when her family was living with air conditioning, a fridge and cold water, they struggled to stand the Gazan heat.

She said the situation now is beyond words.

“We can’t sit outside and we can’t sit inside the tent,” she said. “It is so hard. It’s a heat that I can’t describe.”

She and her family spend much of their days now walking to and from the pump where they fill up two gallons of water during each trip.

Her 3-year-old son, Osama, wakes up in the night from the heat, and all she can do is give him water to drink. She knows that this is just the beginning and the temperatures will get even worse in the coming months.

“We are just praying for the mercy of God,” she said.

— Raja Abdulrahim and Ameera Harouda reporting from Jerusalem

Germany commits to more aid for UNRWA after a U.N. report.

Germany said on Wednesday that it would resume funding for the main U.N. agency aiding Palestinians in Gaza, known as UNRWA, after an independent review found that Israel had not provided evidence of an allegation that led many donor nations to withdraw support for the agency.

The announcement was likely to cause further strain in Germany’s longstanding close ties with Israel , which have deteriorated because of differences over the war in Gaza.

Germany, which gave more than $200 million to UNRWA in 2023 , is the agency’s second largest donor after the United States, which has also withdrawn its funding and has yet to say whether it will restore it.

“The German government has looked closely at the allegations made by Israel against UNRWA and has been in close contact with the Israeli government, the United Nations and other international donors,” read a statement issued by Germany’s foreign and development ministries on Wednesday.

The statement said that Germany expected the agency to take on the recommendations from the independent review led by a former French foreign minister, Catherine Colonna, to protect its neutrality.

The review was commissioned by the United Nations in January, just before Israel alleged that a dozen of the agency’s 13,000 employees in Gaza had participated in the Oct. 7 Hamas-led terrorist attacks or their aftermath, and that many were members of Hamas or its allies. In findings released on Monday , the review did not address whether some employees had taken part in the attack but said Israel had provided no evidence that many UNRWA workers belonged to militant groups.

Israel harshly criticized the report and repeated its claim that UNRWA should be disbanded.

After Israel’s claims in January, Germany joined more than a dozen countries, in pausing new funding for the agency, though it noted no new funds were scheduled. Several countries, including Australia, Canada and Sweden, have since resumed funding for UNRWA . The United States and Britain, among several others, have not done so, with the State Department saying this week that it was reviewing the report on UNRWA.

Germany’s support for Israel is considered central to the modern German state, part of its national effort to atone for the Holocaust. Chancellor Olaf Scholz was one of the first Western leaders to arrive in Tel Aviv following the Oct. 7 attacks.

But that support has come under strain over the worsening conditions for civilians in Gaza under Israeli bombardment. Germany’s foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock, said in February that “words can hardly describe the situation of the people in Gaza,” and she has repeatedly warned against an Israeli invasion of Rafah, the southernmost Gaza city where more than a million civilians have sought shelter from the war.

Last week, when Ms. Baerbock made her seventh trip to Israel since the war began, her meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu turned tense, Israel’s Channel 13 News reported . Mr. Netanyahu showed Ms. Baerbock pictures of full market stands and people bathing on the beach in Gaza, the channel reported, an apparent effort to show that conditions in Gaza were not that bad.

— Christopher F. Schuetze reporting from Berlin

Israel says it is deploying two more brigades to Gaza.

The Israeli military said on Wednesday that it had mobilized two reserve brigades for “defensive and tactical missions in the Gaza Strip.”

A military statement announcing the deployment did not specify where in Gaza the brigades would be deployed. The military declined a request for comment.

Its statement said that the reserve units, which it identified as the 2nd Reserve Brigade of the 146th Division and the 679th Reserve Brigade of the 210th Division, normally operate on Israel’s northern border, where cross-border strikes with Lebanon’s Iran-backed Hezbollah militia have raged for more than six months.

The military said the reservists had already conducted training exercises to prepare for operations in Gaza.

The deployment comes ahead of a widely expected Israeli ground assault on Rafah, the southern Gazan city that has swelled in recent months with more than a million displaced people.

Active fighting has slowed in southern Gaza since earlier this month, when the Israeli military said that its 98th Division had left the city of Khan Younis in order “to recuperate and prepare for future operations.” That left no Israeli troops operating in southern Gaza.

Brigades vary in size, up to roughly 4,000 troops, and the Israeli military does not disclose how many troops it has deployed in Gaza.

Planning a trip to Moscow? Our travel guide contains up-to-date, personal information on everything from what to see , to when to visit , where to stay , and what to eat !

• General Information
• What to see
• How to get to Moscow
• Where to stay
• Where to eat

Why visit Moscow?

Majestic churches, impressive historic fortresses, and palatial buildings: Moscow is a fascinating city whose emblematic architecture reflects the turbulent history that has defined Russia throughout the centuries.

The traces of the USSR can be found around every corner of the city , side by side with the iconic relics of Imperial Russia , like the mythical Red Square , the imposing Kremlin , and the beautiful  St Basil's Cathedral . 

Discover a fascinating world of Cold War bunkers, golden-domed basilicas, world-class art museums, and the legendary "palace of the people,"  as the Moscow Metro has been nicknamed. Whether you fancy watching a classical Russian ballet at the Bolshoi Theatre , perusing the fine arts at the Pushkin Museum , or marveling at the sheer size of the monuments to the Soviet state's achievements at the  All-Russia Exhibition Centre , this travel guide will help you on your way!

Where to start?

If you're going to travel to Moscow and you don't know much about the city yet, the first thing to do is to dive into its legendary history - understanding the past will help you understand the present. Next, check out our practical hints and tips on traveling to the city before discovering which of its most important museums , monuments , and attractions pique your interest.

Looking for a place to stay?

Booking your accommodation in advance is the best way to get great discounts. Our detailed guide on where to stay in Moscow  will help you decide which neighborhood you'd like to look for hotels or apartments in, and our hotel search engine will find you the best deals!

Why is our Moscow travel guide the best?

Introducing Moscow is a  city guide written by travelers for travelers  and contains personalized advice to help you make the most of your trip to the city.

All the information in this guide is valid as of December 2022. If you find any errors or have any comments, please feel free to contact us .

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Northern Gaza still heading toward famine, says deputy WFP chief

By Michelle Nichols

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The northern Gaza Strip is still heading toward a famine, the deputy U.N. food chief said on Thursday, appealing for a greater volume and diversity of aid to be allowed into the enclave and for Israel to allow direct access from its Ashdod port through Erez crossing.

Israel pledged three weeks ago to improve aid access, including reopening Erez and allowing the use of Ashdod port. The move came after U.S. President Joe Biden demanded steps to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, saying the U.S. could place conditions on support if Israel did not act.

“We certainly welcome those commitments and some of them have been partly implemented. Some remain to be implemented,” World Food Programme (WFP) Deputy Executive Director Carl Skau told reporters, adding that for WFP there had been an “uptick” in getting aid in and some progress in accessing northern Gaza.

“But it’s far from enough. We need volume and we need diversity of goods and we really need consistency,” he said. “We’re still heading towards a famine (in the north).”

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said last week that Israel’s commitments to improve aid access in the Gaza Strip had so far had limited and sometimes no impact. A U.N.-backed report published in March said famine was imminent and likely by May in northern Gaza and could spread across the enclave of 2.3 million people by July.

MALNOURISHED CHILDREN

Both Skau – and U.N. humanitarian and reconstruction coordinator for Gaza, Sigrid Kaag, who briefed the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday – said more nutritional and medical aid needed to enter Gaza to avert a famine.

“For example, treating acutely malnourished children or pregnant women is not a matter of eating more calories. They require therapeutic and supplemental foods as well as long-term medical care,” Kaag told the Security Council.

Israel’s military said last week that eight WFP trucks of flour for Gaza came from Ashdod for the first time.

But they had to travel through Israel to be inspected at the Israeli-controlled Kerem Shalom crossing on Gaza’s southern border before traveling back up an Israeli military road along the Gaza border fence to enter northern Gaza via Erez crossing.

“What we would like to do, and what we understand the commitment to be, is to use Ashdod – not only for wheat, but also for other commodities – and from there go straight into Erez, which is an hour-and-a-half drive, rather than to go in and around Kerem Shalom,” Skau said.

The U.N. is in talks with the United States about a floating pier it is constructing to allow maritime aid deliveries to Gaza directly from Cyprus. But both Skau and Kaag said maritime access was no substitute for land deliveries, which needed to remain the focus of aid operations.

“The objective here is to get as much food to those most needy as possible and we will try to find every way to do so,” Skau said. “But we need to also remain somewhat independent, so that we can really have access to the communities and deliver in a safe and secure way.”

MORE LAND CROSSINGS

A U.N. team visiting the site for a pier and the staging area for maritime aid operations had to seek shelter in a bunker “for some time” on Wednesday after the area came under fire, a U.N. spokesperson said on Thursday.

COGAT, the Israeli military branch responsible for aid transfers, said “terrorists shot mortar fire” at the site.

Deputy U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Robert Wood told the Security Council on Wednesday that Israel had taken some positive steps on aid access, “but not nearly enough, and not quickly enough.” He said Israel needed to take immediate action to open more land crossings.

Israel’s Deputy U.N. Ambassador Jonathan Miller told the council that Israel continued “to elevate and step up” its aid support and there had been substantial results with a “dramatic increase” in the volume of aid over the past several months.

Israel is retaliating against Hamas in Gaza over an Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel led by the militant group.

Israel says about 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 people were taken hostage in the assault, and Gaza health authorities say Israel has killed 34,000 people in its offensive in Gaza since then.

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Doina Chiacu and Josie Kao)

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15 reasons you must visit Moscow

Home / Russia Travel Experiences / 15 reasons you must visit Moscow

Home to almost over 12 million souls, Moscow is many things to many people, and everyone finds their own reasons to visit Moscow. There is an infinite number of reasons to visit Moscow and its attractions. To make it easier for travellers, we created a list of the crowd’s top fifteen reasons and attractions everyone should visit when in Moscow.

Table of Contents

1. Indulge in countless historical and modern artworks

Whether you are just dipping your toes into the art world or you know everything about arts, Moscow is a must-visit for every self-proclaimed or certified art connoisseur and historian. The city has numerous historical and contemporary museums and art galleries and they are essential in the list when you visit Moscow. Among the plethora of galleries and museums is The State Tretyakov Gallery  holding the world’s foremost collection of Russian fine art. Another is the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts which showcases artworks from the ancient times to this day such as the paintings of Rembrandt, Botticelli, Van Gogh, and Picasso. The Moscow Museum of Modern Art , on the other hand, displays artworks created in the 20th and 21st centuries.

Moscow is not only home to famous historical paintings, the city also showcases modern, educational, and multimedia arts. The Moscow Planetarium is one of the biggest planetariums in the world. It is an interactive museum that educates everyone with their scientific resources. The openness of Russia to new forms of arts can be seen in the Multimedia Art Museum, Winzavod (Wine Factory), Garage Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Lumiere Brothers Photography Center . These art galleries unite all forms of media, arts, and modern culture.

For the love of art, moreover, they have converted former industrial areas to unique art spaces. ARTPLAY Center of Design and Flacon Design Factory are two of the known art spaces for local organisations and artists to express their creativity, host their own workshops, lectures, design festivals, concerts, performances, and exhibits. 

TIP: Open Museum Day in Moscow offers free day-time admission in most city museums every third Sunday of the month. Forty museums and art galleries are participating including the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts, Moscow Museum of Modern Art, Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics , and State Museum of Ceramics and Kuskovo Estate of the 18th Century.

If you’re craving for more museum adventures, we have created a list of the best museum to visit in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

2. Step onto the mighty Red Square

Walk onto the uneven cobblestones alongside the throngs of bustling citizens and you’ll see centuries of Russian (and world) history reflected in the architecture of Red Square. It is the epicentre of Russia. The country’s major highways and Moscow’s main streets all originate from the Red Square. However, it is not only the heart of Russian streets but is also the heart of Russian history and culture where most of the biggest Russian events and changes unfolded such as high-profile executions and military parades. The city square also served as the main marketplace and site for national public ceremonies and festive processions. Being considered as a sacred place, it is absolutely a must-see when you visit Moscow.

Official commemorations and parades today are still mostly held in the square. The surrounding buildings of the Red Square also add great significance to why you should include the beautiful square on your bucket list when you visit Moscow. Some of these famous attractions are iconic:

• St. Basil’s Cathedral
• Lenin’s Mausoleum
• The Kremlin
• Kazan Cathedral
• The historical GUM Department Store
• State Historical Museum
• The Iberian Gate (also known as the Resurrection Gate and Chapel

3. Visit the Moscow Kremlin

The Kremlin , together with Red Square was recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1990. UNESCO included this architectural ensemble not just because of its outstanding design but also because of its rich historical and political linkage. That is why you should not miss this when you visit Moscow. It is located on Borovitsky Hill just above the Moskva River, on the west side of the magnificent Red Square. It serves as the Russian President’s residence and treasure houses such as the Armory Chamber Museum and the Russian Diamond Fund . Two Royal Cathedrals, the Secret Garden, and Ivan the Great Bell Tower are some of the attractions you can visit inside the Kremlin. Also, along the Kremlin wall is where you can see the gravestones of most Soviet leaders -including Stalin’s.

TIP: The Kremlin is open every day except on Thursdays and tickets for each establishment inside the Kremlin are sold separately. They also limit the number of daily visitors. May to September of every year is considered as the peak season.

4. Awaken your senses in the Bolshoi theatre

The Bolshoi Ballet Company is one of the most enduring symbols of Russia’s esteemed cultural traditions, and Moscow’s Bolshoi (Big) Theatre is the association’s fittingly elegant headquarters. Moscow’s oldest theatre has been painstakingly restored and renovated in recent years. It is a must-see day or night with their world-famous opera and ballet performances when you visit Moscow. Taking in an evening performance of a classic Russian ballet like Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker is one of the city’s most captivating cultural experiences.

Aside from the Bolshoi Theatre, there are around 170 theatres in the city; each of which features unique performances. It is the sole reason why Moscow is coined as the “City of Theatres”.  No matter what genre, as long as it is in Moscow it will be surreal.  No wonder the city attracts all theatregoers around the globe. To name a few, here are the must-visit theatres around the city: (1) Maly Theatre which showcases classic traditions of Russian Theatre, (2) Moscow Art Theatre combines classical and modern drama traditions, and (4) Theatre of Nations and (5) Gogol Centre further popularized modern arts such as post-drama and comedy production.

TIP: Most people have been planning to witness a performance (especially in Bolshoi Theatre) for years. Remember to check and purchase tickets ahead of time before getting excited to watch the spectacular performance. Also, wearing your best evening dress won’t hurt.

5. Enjoy the ambiance of Moscow parks

While Moscow’s attractions are usually known as a mixture of extravagant Tsarist architecture and stern Soviet buildings, much of Moscow is actually surprisingly green and the city’s parks have grown into its pride and joy over the years. Take a break from walking around historical establishments and rest in these well-groomed green areas. These parks provide some of Moscow’s best people-watching spots and offer various activities you can do with your group or with the locals from playing sports and board games on the pavement to simply enjoying the outdoor cafes.

Slow down from the hectic pace of the city life by having a stop-over in the most popular green spaces when you visit Moscow. Gorky Park has its own telegraph and clinic, Park of Arts Museum often hosts music festivals, art fairs and exhibits, and lastly, Sokolniki Park and Izmailovsky Park have bike rentals and small amusement parks that are perfect for family day-outs.

6. Experience the magnificent Moscow Metro

Apart from being an extremely handy way to get around the city,  Moscow’s metro system  is a striking feat of engineering. Opened in 1935, it is one of the largest and oldest underground railway systems in the world. Its grand stations are remarkably beautiful. With their grandiose architecture, intricate mosaics, and dramatic sculptures, it has turned many metro stations into picturesque tourist attractions. There are 12 lines and a total of 200 stations. Elektrozavodskaya, Arbatskaya, Kievskaya, Komsomolskaya, and Mayakovskaya are just a few of the magical stations that seems to be like an underground palace.

Visit Moscow grand stations during “dead hours” —11 am to 2 pm or after 10 pm in order get the most out of the spectacular metro stations. And for the sake of courtesy and respect, always give your seat to Babushkas or the beautiful Russian grannies on the train. Train tickets can be shared and you can buy them for 1, 2, 20, 40, and 60 trips. Unlimited Metro travel for 1, 3, and 7 full days are also available from 210 to 800 rubles. Alternatively, you can purchase a Troika Card which costs 50 rubles and allows you to travel on all public transportation in Moscow.

7. Be amazed by the beauty & grace of Moscow’s churches

In Moscow, the majority of religion belongs to the Russian Orthodox Church which has 320 of total parishes in Moscow alone. Thus, it is not surprising that Orthodox churches and its unique architecture are one of the must-sees when you visit Moscow. Onion domes had long been known as the classic design of Orthodox churches in Russia. Below, we will mention some of the iconic churches you shouldn’t miss seeing in the city.

The Cathedral of Vasily the Blessed or St. Basil Cathedral is perhaps the most popular and most unusual church in the country. It is located at the Southern end of the Red Square. Built in 1555, it is originally called the Intercession Cathedral  to commemorate Ivan the Terrible’s victory over the Tatars. The bonfire-flame-shaped-cathedral has nine towers full of colours, shapes, and patterns. It was designed like a maze as a whole while each way leads to nine chapels with creatively decorated interiors. The magnificent cathedral is open every day except for the first Wednesday of every month.

With its golden onion domes, the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour  is the largest cathedral of all Russian Orthodox Church and has the capacity of over a thousand devotees. However, there is another known cathedral with golden domes —the Cathedral of the Assumption. What makes this cathedral different is that its domes are not just gold, but  they  are also light-reflecting sitting inside the Kremlin. Lastly, we would like to feature a church with neo-gothic architecture –the Moscow Immaculate Conception Catholic Cathedral.  It  is the largest Catholic building in the country. To this day, masses and Catholic religious services are still being conducted in different languages in the cathedral.

8. Visit Moscow streets and the monumental architecture

The beautiful architecture of museums and churches, makes each city street a sight to behold. For sure you’ll have a jaw-dropping moment at least once when you visit Moscow. The streets around the Red Square are a good start for you to stroll and have them as background for your OOTD photos. 

Tverskaya Stree t is known as Moscow’s fashion street and main street. This street is also one of the most expensive streets in the world, basing from the commercial rental fees. Another fashion district, Kuznetsky Most (literally translates to Blacksmith’s bridge)is where popular shops such as “Kuznetsky Most 20” – a famous concept store and “House of Foreign Books” (which is the best foreign-language bookshop) are located. Ulitsa Varvaka claims to be the oldest street and has the most churches in the city; it also shows the more medieval side of Moscow. If you are looking for high-end souvenirs, take a look at the shops on Arbat Street . Just do not forget to negotiate with the vendors and ask for discounts! Also, you get a chance to taste local vodkas as they offer free samples on the street.

9. Enjoy Moscow street food and fine dining restaurants

Moscow can surprise even the most demanding gourmands with the variety of foods , flavours and dining scenes the city has to offer. Russian cuisine is famous for exotic soups and rustic, hearty dishes like pelmeni (meat dumplings), pancakes with different fillings, and last but not the least, caviar. Sweets are also a big thing in the Russian kitchen and they are incomparable with other confectioneries that can be bought outside the country. “RotFront” soya bars , Chak-Chak Sticks and Kozinaki are just a few of the most popular sweet snacks in Moscow.

Great food is everywhere, 24 hours a day in the city. Yar , one of the oldest restaurants in Russia has been serving local Russian cuisines for nearly a century now in Moscow. Another restaurant, Praga , which opened 150 years ago is known for its European and Russian dishes in addition to their pastry shop on the ground floor. Cafe Pushkin , a three-storey restaurant is open 24 hours a day. Each floor has its own menu and theme: the Pharmacy, Library, and the Fireplace Room. The Library floor is said to have the best view of the Tverskoy Boulevard during breakfast. However, if you want to time travel, find the secret door of Mari Vanna and experience what it is like to live in a Soviet home 50 years ago. Watch old Soviet channels and look through old bookcases and photos while having traditional Russian stews and pies. And oh, do not forget to book for tables!

But there’s so much more to Moscow’s modern gastronomic landscape. From sophisticated new takes on old-school cooking to cosmopolitan eateries offering refined cuisine from around the world, Moscow is also boasting with street foods. Chebureki or cheburechnaya, as what some cafes call them, are fried triangle-shaped thin dough stuffed with minced meat and spices. On the other hand, Blini is a better option for those who have a sweet tooth. They are crepes that can be filled with, cheese, jam, honey, ham, condensed milk, or red caviar. Today, Blini are famously made and sold in Teremok — a popular fast-food chain. Another fast-food chain has popularised a Russian local snack: Kroshka-Kartoshka . Although the name translates to “tiny potato”, they serve enormous baked potatoes with cheese, pickled mushrooms, butter, and other fillings. And lastly, pirozhki, which means pie seems to be the symbol of Russian street foods. Just look around the streets and try the four local snacks that we’ve mentioned and you’ll realise that every food is stuffed and/or filled with something. Now it is your turn to stuff your belly with Moscow street food!

10. Shop till you drop in Moscow boutiques

Muscovites are mad-shoppers and once you see the brands and collectives in each shopping centre, you might become one of them. From the most glamorous high-end fashion brands, art and design pieces, to antiques and traditional handicrafts, the opportunities for a hardcore spree are endless. Make sure to drop by the two most famous shopping centres, GUM and TSUM when you visit Moscow. They are must-visits even if you are only there to admire (or baulk at) their stupendous swankiness.

GUM is on the east side of Red Square. It is a former State Department Store. The building’s architecture will instantly give you an extravagant feeling. However, along with its luxurious interior, comes the most luxurious brands and prices. It is open for twelve hours each day from 10 am to 10 pm. On the other hand, TSUM , a six-story historical gothic building is the largest high-end department store in Eastern Europe. There is a luxury supermarket which is open for twenty-four hours on the ground floor.

More affordable options are in the city’s many bustling flea markets, or in beautiful old boutique stores. Tsvetnoy Central Market and Kuznetsky Most 20 are just two of the known markets in the city where both hot and hippy street brands can be found. Local creative contemporary designers and high-end creatives are also housed in both markets.

11. Earn bragging rights with the perfect Instagram snap

Up your Instagram and Facebook feed with these views and different angles of the city. Shamelessly share your food and shoes with the streets and floors you’re walking into with your virtual friends. Or take a snap of the random streets of Moscow depicting their rich cultures. Also, do not forget the big picture! Which literally means photos of the whole city.

Did you really visit Moscow if you don’t have any photo of the Red Square and Moscow Kremlin? Stand at the centre of Red Square and Kremlin, take the most iconic shot and show the world that you were actually in Moscow. We’ve listed three buildings that have the best top views of the city. The (1) Federation Tower which also has the highest restaurant in Moscow, (2) The Moscow State University has a panoramic view of the city inside The Museum of Geography on its top floor and (3) Cathedral of Christ ’s observation deck have the most breathtaking top views of the city.

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Garage Museum of Contemporary Art , GUM, ARTPlay , and Moscow Metro stations are just some of Moscow infrastructures perfect for your channel your inner artsy persona.  While walking around the Moscow CBD, do not forget to look up and take photos of the skyscrapers as far as your eyes and camera can reach. However, if you want to take a break from all the spectacular man-made architecture, take a stroll in Patriarch’s Pond , where you can feel like a real Muscovite and nature-lover.

12. Moscow never sleeps

>Let it be known: Russians love to party! And Moscow is undoubtedly the party capital of Russia. The capital city has an incredible array of nightlife options and a scene for everyone. Whether you’re keen to catch a live Russian rock band or slink into a smoky jazz club, Moscow is there for you. Go clubbing till the break of dawn or just lounge around with a beer and an endless array of fine local vodka. We have listed our top five bars and clubs to help you decide which one to go to. Go ahead and get your body moving along the music while drinking with Muscovites. In that way, you can actually experience Moscow.

Propaganda , or Probka as what regulars call it, is opened in 1997 and has about the same age as the Moscow club culture. Aside from local drinks and world-class DJs, the club is also boasting with cheap sandwiches and steaks. On Thursdays, they hold dance parties and gay parties on Sundays. Nauka i Iskusstvo (Science and Art) is for you if music is the sole reason for your night out. The club is said to host the best electronic and hip parties. Noor Bar, nonetheless, is known for their classic cocktails which can be best enjoyed on Fridays and Saturdays while listening to their DJ sets. Just make sure to go there early to secure a spot. Another two famous nightclubs are located in Artplay: Pluton and Rodnya . Pluton promotes all kinds of music and art-performances while Rodnya is a rooftop club where you can enjoy dancing while waiting for the sun to rise in Summer.  Squad 3/4  is one of the most bizarre nightclubs in Moscow. It is located at the basement of the former Central Baths building and often hosts bohemian raves.

13. Take a Moscow River Cruise

Cruising along the Moskva River is one of the best ways to see and visit Moscow. Ticket pricing of the cruise depends on the size of the boat; the bigger the boat, the more expensive and smoother its sailing will be. For 800 rubles, you can board the most famous tour boat in Moscow: the yellow Lay’s boat. It plays loud Russian pop music as you sail the river. Bigger boats cost 1,100 to 2,000 rubles per person. These cruises on bigger boats often offer cozy lunch and dinner on top of the cruise itself.

TIP : There are two main boarding piers: Hotel Ukraine and Park Kultury. If you want to save money, buy your tickets online and make sure to arrive earlier as it is hard to find the pier where your boat is at. However, if you do not mind spending more for tickets, you can purchase from street hawkers. They will personally guide you on where to find your boat and where to get off. Also, make sure to bring extra clothes even in the summer season.

14. White Christmas in Moscow

Visit Moscow and bring all your thick but light-weight clothes and experience Moscow’s white winter. The average weather in December is around -10 to 0 degrees Celsius with an average of 17-30 days of snowfall. Witness snowfall on the Red Square which transforms into a Christmas market and the biggest ice skating rink in December. Celebrate with Muscovites during the Russian Winter Festival and watch live performances, eat street foods, and play games from mid-December to mid-January in Manezh Square.

15. Explore the Medieval towns of Golden Ring

There is always more to see beyond the capital city of a country. And in Russia’s case, outside Moscow is the ancient region called the Golden Ring . The region’s name is derived from the golden onion-shaped domes of the churches around the towns and from the ring-like route in which 1967 art historian and journalist Yuri Bychkov travelled.

The Golden Ring is comprised of eight main cities:

• Yaroslavl is where the Transfiguration Monastery (now a museum) and Ioann Vasiliyevich — a Soviet-themed hotel and restaurant.
• Vladimir boasts its Golden Gate and the Cathedral of the Dormition of the Mother of God.
• Suzdal is a thirty-minute drive from Vladimir, it has five monasteries, thirty churches, and a market square (Torgovaya Ploshchad) where you can local berries and honey.
• Sergiev Posad is known to be the location of the Trinity Lavra of St Sergius — one of the largest monasteries in the world.
• Pereselavl-Zalessky is where you can enjoy windsurfing and ride hot air balloons.
• Rostov Velikiy or Rostov the Great is boasting its colourful churches and unchanged kremlin architecture.
• Ivanovo is known for its huge textile industry, it is also known as the city of brides since there more women than men in the area.
• Kostroma is where the town of Bui — a town of cultural heritage, and Trinity-Ipatiev Monastery can be explored.

Visit Moscow and experience and see in the Golden Ring afterwards. We have carefully crafted  tours  for every traveller like you.

Just as a cherry on top, here is an awesome video clip of this magnificent city, Moscow:

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Moscow Travel Guide: Best Things to Do + More [2023]

· everything to know about visiting moscow, including the best things to do and how to get around. ·.

Moscow is Russia’s vibrant capital city, and it also happens to be the largest city in all of Europe. The city’s long and infamous history makes it one of the most unique places we have ever visited.

The architecture ranges from centuries-old palaces to uniform, gray concrete buildings. The people range from cold and private to warm and welcoming. Moscow is a city is strong juxtapositions, and we learned a lot during our time there.

This post will break down all you need to know about visiting Moscow, including the best things to do, how to get there, how to get around, and more.

The Best Things to Do in Moscow

1. explore the red square.

The Red Square is the heart of Moscow. Most of the city’s top attractions can be found here, including just about everything on this list. The Kremlin, St. Basil’s Cathedral, and Lenin’s Mausoleum are all located here, and the State Historical Museum and GUM are not far from here, either.

The Red Square is a common home for parades, protests, and seasonal celebrations. There are massive Christmas celebrations here, with food vendors and carnival rides set up in numbers.

2. Check Out the Ziferblat

The Ziferblat is a café in Moscow that is unlike any café we have ever been to. While most cafes charge you for your drinks and food, the Ziferblat charges you for your time.

Upon arrival, you are given a clock. When you leave, the barista calculates how much time you spent in the café and charges you accordingly. This concept was created to help visitors to be more intentional with their time, and the cafe itself is incredibly charming.

For a detailed look at everything you need to know before you visit, make sure you read my post about visiting the Ziferblat Cafe in Moscow .

3. Marvel at St. Basil’s Cathedral

St. Basil’s Cathedral is one of the most iconic churches in the world, and it was the single thing we were most excited to see while in Moscow. Built almost 500 years ago, St. Basil’s Cathedral is recognized by its colorful domes and whimsical style. The church is of the Russian Orthodox faith, and the inside is just as wondrous as the outside.

St. Basil’s Cathedral is located on the edge of the Red Square, making it incredibly convenient to visit. Entrance for non-worshippers costs 800 rubles, and tickets can be bought at the church

4. Explore the Kremlin

The Kremlin is the largest active fortress in Europe, and it is the site of most of Russia’s government affairs. In addition to government buildings, the Kremlin Complex is filled with courtyards, towers, and museums that are open to the public. If you have the time, you could spend a couple of days fully exploring all that there is to see in the Kremlin.

5. Walk Through Lenin’s Mausoleum

Vladimir Lenin is one of the most important figures in Russian history, and his body is located perfectly embalmed in a mausoleum in the Red Square. The Mausoleum is open to the public to visit, and as long as you are willing to go through a few security checks, it is easily one of the best things to do in Moscow. Its convenient location in the Red Square makes it a can’t miss attraction.

There is absolutely no photography allowed inside the Mausoleum. Do not test this rule.

6. Wander Along Arbat Street

The Arbat is a very popular street in Moscow that is lined with stores, cafes, and other touristy attractions. It is one of the oldest streets in the city, dating back to the 1400s. This street is both quaint and trendy, and there are many walking tours that introduce tourists to the neighborhood’s wonders and highlights.

7. Catch a Show at the Bolshoi Theatre

As a lover of the arts, it is hard to think of Moscow and not think of ballet. Russia has always been a top dog in the world of fine arts, and Bolshoi Theater is one of the best places to catch a performance. We were lucky enough to attend an Opera here, and it is a venue that you don’t want to miss out on if you enjoy opera, ballet, or orchestral performances.

8. Visit the State Historical Museum

The State Historical Museum is one of the most respected museums in Moscow. Despite its name, it is not really focused on the history of Russia as a nation. Rather, it contains a collection of artifacts from all throughout Russia’s history.

The museum’s collection is very broad in nature. It houses some items from indigenous tribes that used to occupy the region, pieces collected by the Romanov family, and more.

9. Wander Around GUM

GUM is an absolutely massive mall within walking distance of the Red Square. It isn’t just the size that draws visitors here; it’s the sense of luxury. The mall is so beautiful inside, much like the metro stations.

While visiting a mall might not sound like it belongs on a bucket list, this mall does. You will not want to miss out on visiting GUM while in Moscow.

10. Admire the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour

While St. Basil’s Cathedral is the most iconic church in Moscow, it isn’t the only one. The Cathedral of Christ the Saviour is absolutely stunning, with massive golden domes. It is the tallest Orthodox church in the world, and it is the seat of the Orthodox Patriarch of Moscow.

It is located just about a mile from the Red Square, just south of the Kremlin Complex. You can walk to it from the Red Square in about 20 minutes.

How to Get to Moscow

Flying to moscow.

Moscow has three major international airports: Sheremetyevo (SVO) , Domodedovo (DMO) , and Vnukovo (VKO) . All three of them are directly connected to downtown Moscow by the Aeroexpress trains, which leave every 30 minutes throughout the day. By Aeroexpress train, you can expect to get to the city center in 25-45 minutes depending on the airport that you fly into.

Sheremetyevo is the biggest and busiest of the three airports, and it is the one you are most likely to fly into – especially if you are coming from outside of Europe or the Caucus region. We flew into Sheremetyevo on a direct flight from New York City.

I usually provide backup airport options, because flying right into the city isn’t always the cheapest way to get where you’re going. Unfortunately, when it comes to Moscow, don’t really have a choice other than to fly right into Moscow. It is a very remote city, and it is usually the cheapest place to fly into in Russia as a whole.

Since Sheremetyevo is so busy, you will probably find a great flight option anyway. I wrote in  my post about finding cheap flights  that using hub airports will lead to more affordable airfare, and the same logic applies here. Even though Russia’s national airline, Aeroflot, is no longer a member of the SkyTeam Alliance, Moscow is still a major hub connecting passengers from all over the world.

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Train or Bus to Moscow

Trains and buses are one of the most popular ways to get around Europe. However, they’re of very little use when you’re trying to get to Moscow.

Moscow is hundreds of miles from the nearest major cities. The only major European city that can even be reached within 8 hours on the ground is St. Petersburg, and even the Baltic capitals of Riga, Vilnius, and Tallinn are over 12 hours away.

If you want to get to Moscow, the best option is almost always to fly. While the train routes to Moscow are scenic, they simply take forever.

How to Get Around Moscow

METRO | TROLLEYS | TRAMS | BUSES

Moscow has one of the most memorable metro systems in the world. Its metro lines are very deep underground, and the stations are absolutely stunning. Each station has its own unique style, but all of them contain escalators that seem to go on forever.

The system was built in an effort to showcase the power of the Soviet Union and its bright future. The plans were a form of propaganda, but they resulted in what is still one of the most visually appealing subway systems on earth.

Moscow’s metro system isn’t just pretty. It is also very useful and accessible. The system has 17 lines that connect the city and its surrounding area.

But wait; there’s more!

The Moscow metro system is also incredibly affordable, with each ride costing less than a dollar. The metro is by far the best way to get around Moscow, as it is almost impossible to beat the connection times and the low cost to ride.

Tickets can be bought at electronic, English-speaking kiosks in stations, or directly from ticket counters at certain larger stations. There are also day passes available, which are a very solid option if you plan on riding the metro several times per day.

The metro is by far the best way to get around Moscow.

In addition to the metro system, Moscow also has a network of buses, trams, and trolleys. This system is nowhere near as convenient or well-connected as the metro, though, and is likely of little use to you during your trip. There is no Uber in Moscow, but a similar app named Yandex is available if you need a ride in a pinch.

How Many Days Do You Need in Moscow?

Moscow is the biggest city in all of Europe, and it is absolutely loaded with things to do. You could spend weeks in Moscow and still find new things to do. Of course, most travelers don’t have that kind of time to spend in one place!

I recommend spending no less than three full days in Moscow, and ideally closer to five or seven.

Moscow is very spread out, and it can take some time to get from one major point to another. There are also so many places that are nice to just sit back and relax, which is hard to do when you’re in a hurry trying to cram activities into just a few days.

If you only have a week to visit Russia, I’d advise spending all of the time in one city. If you decide to split your time between Moscow and St. Petersburg, I recommend not trying to squeeze in any day trips beyond those two cities.

When Is the Best Time of the Year to Visit Moscow?

There are two different ways to approach this question. Personally, I think the best time to visit Moscow is around Christmas and New Year’s Day. While the weather will be absolutely freezing, Moscow is a surreal winter wonderland in December and January.

We were in Moscow right before Christmas. While it was very cold, you can always bundle up. Exploring the Christmas markets and pop-up ice skating rinks throughout Moscow is one of my favorite memories from anywhere I’ve traveled, and I dream of going back to do it again.

If you aren’t fond of the cold, Moscow is beautiful in the summer. It tends to get pretty cold in the shoulder seasons, so if you want warm weather, you should plan to visit in the summer. Moscow actually gets pretty warm in July and August, and there are a bunch of fantastic places to soak up the sun within the city.

The best time to visit Moscow is either around Christmas or from late May to August.

Is Moscow Safe to Visit?

While Moscow is a truly wonderful city, there’s no denying that visiting Russia comes with risks. As the country is run by an infamous communist dictator, concerns about visiting are valid. While we didn’t experience any sort of threat or negative treatment during our time in Moscow, we visited in a peaceful time.

In our experience, Russia doesn’t seem to detain normal Americans or Westerners to use as pawns. As a regular person, as long as you don’t commit any crimes, there is a slim chance you will run into any issues. However, Russia will not hesitate to enforce its laws against foreigners, and illegal behaviors will likely land you in a very compromising position.

Russia will not hesitate to enforce its laws against foreigners, and illegal behaviors will likely land you in a very compromising position.

To make matters worse, Russia has a bad reputation for gang violence. While the Russian mafia has very little interest in normal Western tourists, they won’t hesitate to pick a fight with anyone who ventures into their sphere of influence. If you seek out illegal substances or activities, you could be a target of the mafia.

If you seek out illegal substances or activities, you could be a target of the mafia.

Finally, since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, things are all very different. Russia is currently at war, and there are battles raging within 8 hours of Moscow. While it is still relatively safe to visit, that could change at any time as the war with Ukraine continues.

Is Moscow Worth Visiting?

Without a doubt, Moscow is worth visiting. It is one of the most unique major cities we have ever visited, and we hope to make it back one day. The Russian Orthodox churches are stunning, the city’s history is unlike any other, and the food is to die for.

While many visitors prefer St. Petersburg to Moscow, I think Moscow deserves a lot of hype of its own. Moscow is the beating heart of Russian culture and history, and it’s a place I highly recommend checking out if you have the chance.

That’s all we have for you about Moscow! I hope this post was helpful as you plan your trip to Russia’s capital.

Have you been to Moscow? Or is this your first time visiting? Comment below if you have anything to add to our travel guide!

Hi, I'm Greg. I'm an avid traveler who has traveled to over 50 countries all around the world with my wife and kids. I've lived in Italy, Mexico, China, and the United States, and I dream of moving abroad again in the future. With this blog, I provide my audience with detailed destination guides to my favorite places and pro-tips to make travel as stress-free as possible.

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UPDATE 1-Northern Gaza Still Heading Toward Famine, Says Deputy WFP Chief

(Adds further WFP comment in paragraphs 3, 4, 10, 12, U.N. aid official comment in paragraph 7, U.S. comment in paragraph 15 and Israeli comment in paragraph 16)

By Michelle Nichols

UNITED NATIONS, April 25 (Reuters) - The northern Gaza Strip is still heading toward a famine, the deputy U.N. food chief said on Thursday, appealing for a greater volume and diversity of aid to be allowed into the enclave and for Israel to allow direct access from its Ashdod port through Erez crossing.

Israel pledged three weeks ago to improve aid access, including reopening Erez and allowing the use of Ashdod port. The move came after U.S. President Joe Biden demanded steps to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, saying the U.S. could place conditions on support if Israel did not act.

"We certainly welcome those commitments and some of them have been partly implemented. Some remain to be implemented," World Food Programme (WFP) Deputy Executive Director Carl Skau told reporters, adding that for WFP there had been an "uptick" in getting aid in and some progress in accessing northern Gaza.

"But it's far from enough. We need volume and we need diversity of goods and we really need consistency," he said. "We're still heading towards a famine (in the north)."

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said last week that Israel's commitments to improve aid access in the Gaza Strip had so far had limited and sometimes no impact. A U.N.-backed report published in March said famine was imminent and likely by May in northern Gaza and could spread across the enclave of 2.3 million people by July.

MALNOURISHED CHILDREN

Both Skau - and U.N. humanitarian and reconstruction coordinator for Gaza, Sigrid Kaag, who briefed the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday - said more nutritional and medical aid needed to enter Gaza to avert a famine.

"For example, treating acutely malnourished children or pregnant women is not a matter of eating more calories. They require therapeutic and supplemental foods as well as long-term medical care," Kaag told the Security Council.

Israel's military said last week that eight WFP trucks of flour for Gaza came from Ashdod for the first time.

But they had to travel through Israel to be inspected at the Israeli-controlled Kerem Shalom crossing on Gaza's southern border before traveling back up an Israeli military road along the Gaza border fence to enter northern Gaza via Erez crossing.

"What we would like to do, and what we understand the commitment to be, is to use Ashdod - not only for wheat, but also for other commodities - and from there go straight into Erez, which is an hour-and-a-half drive, rather than to go in and around Kerem Shalom," Skau said.

The U.N. is in talks with the United States about a floating pier it is constructing to allow maritime aid deliveries to Gaza directly from Cyprus. But both Skau and Kaag said maritime access was no substitute for land deliveries, which needed to remain the focus of aid operations.

"The objective here is to get as much food to those most needy as possible and we will try to find every way to do so," Skau said. "But we need to also remain somewhat independent, so that we can really have access to the communities and deliver in a safe and secure way."

MORE LAND CROSSINGS

A U.N. team visiting the site for a pier and the staging area for maritime aid operations had to seek shelter in a bunker "for some time" on Wednesday after the area came under fire, a U.N. spokesperson said on Thursday.

COGAT, the Israeli military branch responsible for aid transfers, said "terrorists shot mortar fire" at the site.

Deputy U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Robert Wood told the Security Council on Wednesday that Israel had taken some positive steps on aid access, "but not nearly enough, and not quickly enough." He said Israel needed to take immediate action to open more land crossings.

Israel's Deputy U.N. Ambassador Jonathan Miller told the council that Israel continued "to elevate and step up" its aid support and there had been substantial results with a "dramatic increase" in the volume of aid over the past several months.

Israel is retaliating against Hamas in Gaza over an Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel led by the militant group.

Israel says about 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 people were taken hostage in the assault, and Gaza health authorities say Israel has killed 34,000 people in its offensive in Gaza since then.

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Doina Chiacu and Josie Kao)