Moscow is the capital and the largest city of Russia. It is located on the Moscow River in the Central Federal District, in the European part of Russia. Historically, it was the capital of the former Soviet Union. It is the site of the Moscow Kremlin, which serves as the residence of the President of Russia. The Russian parliament and the Government of Russia also sit in Moscow.
Moscow is a major economic centre and is home to one of the largest numbers of billionaires in the world.
Moscow has a humid continental climate with warm summers (and occasional heatwaves) and long, cold winters. Typical high temperatures in the warm months of June, July and August are around 23°C. In the winter, temperatures normally drop to around 10°C. Heavy snow falls at the end of November and melts in mid-March.
There are three notable art museums in Moscow: the Tretyakov Gallery, the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts and the State Historical Museum of Russia. Moscow is the heart of Russian performing arts, including ballet and film. Among Moscow's many theatres and ballet studios are the famous Bolshoi Theatre and the Malyi Theatre as well as Vakhtangov Theatre and Moscow Art Theatre. There are also two large circuses in Moscow: Moscow State Circus and Moscow Circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard named after Yuri Nikulin.
There is a vibrant night life in Moscow mostly centred around Tverskaya Street. The southern part of Tverskaya Street near the Manege Square and the Red Square area is known for its expensive bars and restaurants, and is considered to be a playground for New Russians and celebrities. Tverskaya Street is also one of the busiest shopping streets in Moscow. The adjoining Tretyakovsky Proyezd, is host to upmarket boutiques such as Bulgari, Tiffany & Co., Armani, Prada and Bentley.
There are five main commercial airports serving Moscow as well as several smaller airports near the city intended for private aircraft, helicopters and charters. Moscow has several train stations serving the city via nine rail terminals. They are located close to the city centre, but each handles trains from different parts of Europe and Asia.
Local transport includes the Moscow Metro, a metro system famous for its art, murals, mosaics, and ornate chandeliers, the monorail line, local buses and trams.
