World Cup Memories and Travel Tips

Sitting on Borovitsky Hill and overlooking the Moscow River, the Kremlin is a historic complex that features 5 palaces, 4 cathedrals and the enclosing Kremlin Wall and towers. While it’s the official residence of the President of the Russian Federation, visitors can access its museums to see Russia’s historic artifacts on display.

First stop on your Moscow sightseeing tour should be Red Square, the heart of Russia and the center stage for many important moments in Russia’s history. Here you’ll find Moscow’s most well known sight, St. Basil’s Cathedral, a masterpiece of Orthodox architecture with its iconic colorful domes.

This imposing and grandiose cathedral high in the Moscow skyline is the tallest Orthodox cathedral in the world. The original church was built to commemorate Russia’s victory over Stalin, but it was rebuilt in 2000 after Stalin destroyed it.

Travel back to the USSR with a visit to the All-Russian Exhibition center. This massive complex has it all -- parks, amusement rides, cafes, restaurants and plenty of photo ops with its Soviet pavilions, statues and fountains. The “Friendship of the Nations” fountain (pictured) symbolizes the 15 republics of the USSR.

On your way to the Kremlin, stop at the Alexander Garden, the first public park in Moscow. Every hour, the soldiers perform the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

No matter how tired you are after sightseeing, it’s never too late to visit this iconic 5-star restaurant. Open 24 hours a day, Café Pushkin gives its diners a taste of traditional Russian fare, including black caviar, borscht and pelmeni, and best washed down with a few shots of vodka, of course.

A visit to Moscow won’t be complete without taking in the spectacular multicolor domes of St. Basil's Cathedral. Built between 1555 and 1561 on the orders of Ivan the Terrible, the Orthodox cathedral commemorates the capture of Kazan and Astrakhan.

Escape the hustle and bustle of Moscow, and head to the peaceful churches located in the Novodevichy Convent grounds. Tour the 17th-century convent complex, and see where many of Russia’s most famous public figures, writers and politicians were laid to rest.

Riding the metro in Moscow is like taking a ride through an art museum. You won’t believe you are in a metro station when you see the lavish chandeliers, gilded halls and ceiling murals of skydivers and airplanes.

Visit the final resting place of Vladimir Lenin, “The Father of the Revolution,” located in the Red Square. See Lenin’s wax-like, embalmed body on permanent display in his mausoleum. Tourists should take note that it’s forbidden to carry a camera inside, and it’s considered disrespectful to put your hands in your pockets (see more Russian etiquette tips).

For a look at what’s cool in Moscow, head to Gorky Park, the city’s hipster hangout. In winter, this neighborhood is full of ice skaters when it transforms into one of Europe’s largest ice-skating rinks, and in there summer, there’s an open-air theater. Any time of year, you can take advantage of the neighborhood’s trendy galleries, bars and restaurants.

Looking for a bucket-list train adventure? Hop aboard the Tran-Siberian Railroad, the world’s longest train journey that spans 6,000 miles across 2 continents. The Classic Line travels from Moscow to Vladivostok on Russia’s far eastern coast.

Soccer fans travel from all around the world to witness the atmosphere inside the Camp Nou when FC Barcelona walk out onto the pitch. The stadium, which opened in 1957, is the largest in all of Europe with a capacity of just over 99,000. Supporters of the Catalan club can tour the stadium on days when there isn't a game and experience multimedia exhibits and see iconic memorabilia.

Borussia Dortmund may not be the most successful club in Germany (FC Bayern Munich holds that honor), but when it comes to the atmosphere inside the stadium, they might have the best supporters in all of Europe. Inside Signal Iduna Park on the southern terrace, the "Yellow Wall" stands 25,000 strong, and their creative imagery and rowdy support are as intimidating as it gets.

If you're a fan of the other kind of football, you've probably heard of Wembley Stadium. Over the past few seasons, teams from the National Football League have made the journey across the pond to play American football for their fans abroad. Typically though, the largest soccer stadium in the U.K. hosts the England national soccer team and a number of other important matches throughout the tiers of English soccer. Outside the stadium, a statue of Bobby Moore (captain of the England team that won the 1966 World Cup) welcomes visitors to the home of English soccer.

Shouts of "Allez Paris" can be heard around the Parc des Princes on game day. Opened in 1972 and home to Paris Saint-Germain of Ligue 1, "Princes' Park" was once the hunting ground for the royal family. Today, the ground is best known for its iconic and unique exterior design and raucous home supporters.

One of the richest and recognizable soccer teams in the world call Old Trafford home. Manchester United is estimated to be worth just over $3 billion, and they have won the English league a record 20 times. Old Trafford, sometimes referred to as "The Theatre of Dreams," is the second largest soccer stadium in the United Kingdom, and fans of the Red Devils can tour the stadium and go behind the scenes.

Located in Madrid, the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu is the home stadium of one of the most iconic teams in the world, Real Madrid. The stadium opened in 1947 and since then, some of the greatest to ever play the game (Cristiano Ronaldo, David Beckham, Zinedine Zidane) have worn the famous white jersey of Real.

"You'll Never Walk Alone" is more than a motto at Anfield; it embodies the past and present of Liverpool FC who play their home matches at the historic stadium. Prior to kickoff, supporters raise their scarves and sing those words made famous by Gerry & The Pacemakers in 1963. It's an experience that will leave you with goosebumps, whether you're a fan of the Reds or not.

With a capacity of 60,411, Celtic Park is the largest soccer stadium in Scotland. "Paradise," as it's referred to by Celtic FC supporters, is in Parkhead, Glasgow, and opened in 1892. To witness a rivalry unlike any other in sports, visit Celtic Park when the Old Firm (Celtic and their bitter rivals Rangers FC) get together for one of their historic clashes.

Situated on the edge of the River Thames, Craven Cottage is the oldest soccer stadium in London and has been the home to Fulham FC since 1896. The old-school ground's most unique feature is its pavilion, which was built to accommodate players since the architect forgot to add locker rooms to his original design.

When it opened in 1937, the Stadio Olimpico was called the Stadio dei Cipressi. It wasn’t until the 1960 Olympics in Rome that it was renamed. The venue hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the games, and three decades later it hosted the deciding match of the 1990 World Cup. Today, both SS Lazio and AS Roma of the Italian league play their home matches at the Stadio Olimpico.