Explore Unusual Things In Moscow BEFORE TRAVELLING Along The Trans-SIBERIAN RAILWAY

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If you are planning on taking a trip along the Trans-Siberian railway, many people will start their journey in Moscow, and it is worth your while in spending a couple of extra days there to explore this fascinating city. There are many well-known landmarks that many people will visit in Moscow such as:

• The Kremlin
• St. Basil's Cathedral 
• Red Square
• Bolshoi Theatre
• Gorky Central Park of Culture and Recreation

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However, there are also a wealth of exciting sights and attractions around Moscow that have the added benefit of very few tourists. If you are visiting Moscow before travelling along the Trans-Siberian railway, here are some sights off-the-beaten-track that will provide you with special memories from the start of your trip of a lifetime. 

Bunker-42

Beneath the streets of Moscow there are a network of tunnels and passageways that are a left-over remnant of the Soviet Union and some of these were built after the first series of nuclear tests to determine the optimum design to survive nuclear fallout. Bunker 42 was designed to give Stalin and other officials with the USSR quick access in the case of a nuclear emergency and makes for an eerie tourist destination. 

The Museum Of Soviet Arcade Games 

Here you will find around 60 preserved and functional arcade games from the Soviet era, and they are even complete with their very own Kopek coins with the famous hammer and sickle. Unlike a lot of other museums, you can get your Kopek coins and try out the exhibits.It is a fun way to spend an hour or two while exploring Moscow and the perfect way to start Trans-Siberian railway holidays and tours. 

The Laika Monument

Laika was the first animal to orbit the earth from space, and in 2008 a memorial was erected to this world-famous pooch. Starting her life as a homeless mongrel wandering the streets of Moscow, she would be transformed into a national icon famous around the world, although the feat meant that she lost her life in the process. A little bit of history is commemorated in this statue celebrating the life of the first animal in space, and it is worth taking the time to visit.

Take A Trip On The Subway

You may not think that a trip to the Moscow subway will have many exciting things to see, but you would be mistaken. The metro stations of the city are nothing less than architectural masterpieces and a complete contrast to many equivalent metro stations in the West. Looking more like ornate grand ballrooms or halls, a trip along the subway will have some worthwhile sights to behold that you may not be expecting.

Miniature Moscow

Take a trip back in time and visit the miniature scaled model of Moscow that is a piece of propaganda by Russian artist Efim Deshalyt. The 400-foot model was designed to show that the Russian capital was far superior to any in the West and it was created in 1977 by 300 skilled artisans to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Bolshevik Revolution. 

These are just a few of the more unusual sights you can see when visiting Moscow, and for more ideas of places to visit in the Russian capital city, there are websites that offer plenty of cool ideas. 

​Image source Pixabay