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Bolshoi Theatre

Even people who don't follow ballet and opera have usually heard of the renowned Bolshoi Theatre.


In 2011, Russia's beloved Bolshoi reopened after a long renovation. Visitors are now enjoying improved acoustics, new seating and touched-up mosaics that restored the theater to its imperial luster after decades of communist neglect.



The opera and ballet productions are more popular than ever, but it's not just the same old "Swan Lake." Experimental stagings of classics such as "Ruslan and Lyudmila" were sending traditionalists into a tizzy -- and winning the theater new cultural relevance.



The theater runs an online booking system. Reserve early, as tickets can sell out months in advance. In 2018, the Bolshoi is closed from July 29 to September 12 (though nothing can stop you from marveling at its exterior).