Graffiti Turns Streets Into Galleries
Over the past decade, Muscovites’ perceptions of graffiti have changed
Unusual Tours and New Perspectives
Travel guides offer imaginative packages and fresh ways to see Russia
Moscow’s World Cup Face-Lift Is Only Skin Deep (Op-ed)
Russia is determined to use the World Cup to polish its tarnished international image.
Glitz and Gossip at the Bakhrushin Theater Museum
The Moscow Times Club toured the Bakhrushin Theater Museum, where everyone was awed by the exhibits and the extraordinary building that houses them.
Street Artist Banksy Finally Comes to Moscow
Works by the enigmatic street artist Bansky are on display at the Central House of Artists.
The Dangerous Legacy of Keeping Russia’s World Cup Safe (Op-ed)
Russia has ramped up security measures for the World Cup, but the costs involved may be unsustainable.
Even Putin Has a World Cup Plan B
The tournament’s host almost certainly will be eliminated
Pushkin House Celebrates Russia on the Page
This year the Pushkin House Prize was awarded to books that are witnesses to Russian history, past and present.
A Butterfly on the Football Field
Butterflies, roses, mouse-traps… say what? In honor of the World Cup, I unlock some of the mysteries of Russian football fan slang.
What Lies Beneath Russia’s World Cup Glam and Glitter? (Op-ed)
Russia today is at its most repressive since the Soviet era.
Fear Not the Honeypot (Op-ed)
Why Russia is safe for World Cup fans — and why the West thinks it isn’t.
“Summer” Brings 1980s Russian Rock ‘n’ Roll to Life
Kirill Serebrennikov’s “Summer” (“Leto”) is more than a biopic about Victor Tsoi and the Leningrad rock scene.
While Mo Salah Sleeps in Grozny (Op-ed)
The World Cup is another chance for Putin to shore up ties with regimes in the Middle East at the West’s expense.
Russia’s Forgotten Football Dreams (Op-ed)
A lot has changed for Russia since it bid to host the World Cup.
Russian Grammar? Really?
Do you mutter and slur and cough to hide uncertain grammatical forms? There’s no shame in that. Admit it. The Grammar Doctor will see you now.
On North Korea, Trump Has Putin Playing Second Fiddle (Op-ed)
Moscow is pulling out all the stops to get a seat at the table.
Run in Color For Summer
Free on Sunday? How about taking part in Moscow’s most fun running event?
Seven Summer Russian Arts Festivals
Get out your calendars and start planning. It’s an arty summer outside the Russian capital.
Film Director Kira Muratova Dies at 83
The award-winning screenwriter and film director passed away at her home on Wednesday evening.
Russia Extends Austria Gas Deal to 2040 After Putin’s Visit
Russia’s gas giant Gazprom and Austria’s OMV energy company signed a new deal to extend Russian gas supplies to Austria through to 2040. The deal was signed on the day of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Vienna, in what was his first trip to the West since visiting Finland in mid-2017 and being re-elected…
Russia Extends Austria Gas Deal to 2040 After Putin’s Visit
The previous gas deal with Austria was set to expire by 2028.
See and Hear Music and More at the Prokofiev Museum
Calling all music lovers! The next time you’re in the city center, stop into the Prokofiev apartment museum.
Breaking Out of Russian Prison With Words
What happens when an American graduate student and 14 former Russian prisoners meet twice a week? They write a book together.
St. Petersburg’s Summer Cultural Agenda
The countless concerts, plays, and art shows on view in Russia’s cultural capital should keep you busy on the days between matches.
4 St. Petersburg Day Trips
The beauty of the Leningrad region goes far beyond the streets of St. Petersburg. Discover the fascinating and unique towns that surround the northern capital.
Q&A: Meet Anna Endrikhovskaya, a Sixth-Generation Muscovite
“I realized I had to stay here in Russia and make it a better place.”
St. Petersburg’s Stadium
Beset by problems, it has overcome all obstacles to welcome you at the World Cup.
Two Stadiums. Half a Century of History
Discover where you’ll be witnessing those unforgettable goals.
A Short History of Moscow
Russia’s booming and vibrant capital leaves no visitor indifferent. It’s hard not to fall completely in love with its gritty charm.
Q&A: Meet Ruslan Bekurov
Get to know the journalism professor who moved to St. Petersburg and never looked back.
Halftime, Overtime, Pub Time
5 of Moscow’s best bars to watch a match, have a drink and make new friends.
4 Moscow Day Trips
Have a day to spare during your trip and feel like exploring further afield? There’s plenty of beauty and adventure to be found outside the big city — and it’s closer than you might think.
A Day at the Museum
Moscow has over 300 museums exhibiting everything from masterpieces of art to match boxes, but if you only have a few days, the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts and the Tretyakov Galleries — Old and New — are the two you have to see.
9 of St. Petersburg’s Best Eats
Check out our favorite places to eat in town.
7 of Moscow’s Must-See Sights
If you are in Moscow for your first — and perhaps only — time, head to the city center and see where it all began and still flourishes: the Kremlin and Red Square.
Moscow’s 21 Best Eats
Scrumptious international dishes for every taste.
A Taste of St. Petersburg: Herring and New Potato Salad Recipe
This classic recipe includes northern Russia’s premier players: sour cream, herring, and new potatoes, the jewels of the short northern growing season.
Where Art Meets Sports: 6 Shows for World Cup Fans
Moscow museums celebrate football with exhibitions that combine the joys of athletics and the wonder of artistic creation.
8 of St. Petersburg’s Best World Cup Bars
Find the perfect spot to get your football fix. Whether you are looking for big screens, a pleasant vibe, good music, or a vast selection of beers, St. Petersburg has a lot to offer for every taste.
5 of St. Petersburg’s Hidden Treasures
Craving something further off the beaten track? Here are some hidden treasures that only the locals know about.
The Strange Case of a Russian Provocation
How can a murder be a provocation? Oh, easy, if it’s being discussed in Russian.
10 of St. Petersburg’s Must-See Sights
St. Petersburg’s “cultural capital of Russia” moniker is well-earned. A lifetime isn’t enough to discover all the cultural gems on offer, but here are a few you have to see.
St. Petersburg City Survival Guide
As you plan to fuse your cultural and sports itineraries in St. Petersburg, here are 11 tips to get you started.
10 of St. Petersburg’s Top Sights
St. Petersburg’s “cultural capital of Russia” moniker is well-earned. A lifetime isn’t enough to discover all the cultural gems on offer, but here are a few you have to see.
Russian Energy Giants — Gazprom and Rosneft — Clash in International Gas Markets
Russian energy major Rosneft is challenging domestic rival Gazprom.
St. Peterburg’s Summer Festivals
No matter what kind of music you like — Russian Rock, American indie, classical, or jazz — this summer you can enjoy the city’s endless summer nights to the beat of your favorite genre.
9 of St. Petersburg’s Souvenir Highlights
This former capital is abundant with kitschy memorabilia of its former glory, beautiful porcelain worthy of a tsar and trendy fashion items.
Moscow City Survival Guide
9 tips to smooth your way through the bustling metropolis.
A Short History of St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg locals are fiercely proud of the city and it’s easy to see why. Known as the ‘Venice of the North’, it is brimming with history and culture.
A Short History of Sochi
Sochi has long been the domestic holiday spot of choice for Russians, and with its breathtaking scenery you’ll soon see why.
10 of Moscow’s Souvenir Highlights
Find the greatest variety and quality of traditional Russian handcrafts and knickknacks in Russia’s historical center.
Sochi: Gifts from the Gateway to the Caucasus
The best gifts to bring home from Sochi.
Sochi’s Cultural Agenda
What’s on offer in Sochi for your artistic side.
A Short History of Sochi’s Olympic Stadium
See what all the olympic fuss was about.
Q&A Meet Tatyana Strakhova
A local view of Sochi.
Inside Stalin’s Sochi Villa
Don’t miss stalin’s holiday villa in sochi, whose star began to rise back in soviet times.
Sochi’s Colorful Parks and Gardens
Find shade in one of Sochi’s many gardens.
Kazan University: A Historical Landmark
Kazan hosts one of Russia’s oldest universities
The 6 Coolest Cocktail Bars in Kazan
Kazan is party central
A Short History of Kazan
Kazan is one of Russia’s most vibrant and multicultural cities