BARGAIN BASEMENT
WHERE TO STAY: Cheap accommodation is fairly limited in Moscow but the Vostok Hotel, near the Botanical Gardens, about three miles north of the city centre, has 137 en-suite rooms with a phone, fridge and TV. There's also a bar and restaurant. Doubles from £40 (www.expedia.co.uk) Cost: £20
SIGHTSEEING: Red Square is the heart of Mother Russia. The vast square contains the Kremlin, Lenin's mausoleum, the iconic St Basil's Cathedral with its onion domes and the GUM department store, whose elegant Victorian era arcades were once f full of dowdy state produced goods but are now bursting with designer labels and coffee shops. Cost: Free
FOR KIDS: Once the Carnaby Street of Moscow, the cobbled Arbat was a haven for writers, artists and assorted bohemian types and is still a strong pull for tourists and locals. Children will love the buskers, street performers and souvenir shops. Cost: Free SHOPPING: Ramstor and Sedmoy are two of Moscow's most popular supermarket chains, where you can buy everything from frozen food and clothing to quality Russian food and drink.
EATING OUT: Do as the locals do and grab yourself a cheap and cheerful blini (pancake) or deep-fried pelmeni (similar to ravioli) from one of the many street stalls or fast food outlets, where you eat standing up. Cost: £2
NIGHTLIFE: Club Che (10/2 Nikolskaya Ulitsa) has the feel of a steamy Cuban clip joint and is brimming with atmosphere. It's covered in Revolutionary-era graffiti, plays Latino-inspired music and serves great Tex-Mex food and some of the best mojito cocktails (two-for-one at weekends) in town. Cost: Entry free
COST PER DAY £22
ON A BUDGET
WHERE TO STAY: The huge Izmailovo Gamma-Delta hotel complex (www.izmail o vo.ru) contains everything you could possibly want, including a beauty parlour, health and fitness centre, coffee shops, an internet cafe, billiards and pool rooms, a bowling alley and a casino. Rooms are all ensuite, with doubles star ting at around £80. Cost: £40 SIGHTSEEING: Moscow's Metro underground system is the most spectacular in the world and, even if you're not travelling, some of its 16 5-plus stations (especially on the Circle Line and at Ploshchad Revolyuutsii near Red Square) are well worth a visit. Cost: Free
FOR KIDS: Gorky Park on the south bank has to be the king of all parks. Opened in 1928 and set in 300 acre s of parkland, it contains three funfairs, an enormous ferris wheel, two roller coasters, a water chute and an old Soviet space shuttle offering a cosmic experience. In winter the footpaths flood and freeze over, making a great ice-skating rink. A single ticket covering all rides around £8. Cost: £8
SHOPPING: The Izmaylovo Market in the park of the same name is one of Moscow's top attractions, where you'll find the famous "matryoshka" lacquered Russian dolls, wood carvings, arts and crafts, ceramics, quilts and animal skins.
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EATING OUT: The Arbath as the highest concentration of restaurants in Moscow. Try the Russkoye Bistro, which serves fast food Russianstyle. Lunch should set you back no more than £10. Cost: £10
NIGHTLIFE: The Bolshoi Theatre (www.bolshoi.ru) is being renovated, but it is still open for ballet, opera and theatre performances. Tickets from £10. Cost: £10
COST PER DAY £68
BREAK THE BANK
WHERE TO STAY: The Ararat Park Hyatt Moscow (www.moscow.park.hyatt.com) is in the middle of the city, minutes walk from Red Square and the Kremlin. Rooms are tastefully furnished with plus h linens, walk-in showers with heated floors and highclass toiletries. Doubles from around £265. Cost: £132.50
SIGHTSEEING: Moscow is huge and can be daunting for the firsttime visitor, so it is is worthwhile booking a guided city tour. Capital Tours (www.capitaltours.ru) of fer a range of walking, bus and river tours from around £15. Cost: £15
FOR KIDS: The Moscow State Circus (www.mo scow state circus.com) puts on unforgettable shows featuring clowns, breathtaking trapeze and acrobatic stunts and performing animals. Although the animals are well looked after, if you don't agree with making tigers jump through burning hoops and bears ride bicycles, this may not be for you. Cost: From £20
SHOPPING: The vast GUM shopping complex in Red Square is renowned for its designer labels and you'll find every thing from Estee Lauder to Armani and Dolce & Gabbana on sale. It's laid out in three parallel arcades and has a glass canopy roof that gives a lovely view of the stars on a winter's night.
EATING OUT: If money is no object, Vanil (1 Ostozhenka Ulitsa) serves the best French and Japanese fusion food in the city and attracts the likes of President Putin and Prince Albert of Monaco. Expect to pay around £40 for a main dish. Cost: £40-plus NIGHTLIFE: If you really want to see how the other half lives, then a vi sit to Club Leto (1/15 Yauzskaya Ulitsa) should be top of your list. Set in a converted church, the open-air club features four bars, including a gold-topped circular one, two dancefloors, historic religious icons and a podium spor ting leggy dancers in skimpy outfits. A table reservation will set you back at least £750 (drinks included). Cost: £750
COST PER DAY £957.50
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