Moscow for Reds and Blues

Some 50,000 English fans are expected to descend on Moscow next week ahead of the Champions League final between Manchester United and Chelsea on May 21. While many fans will fly in on the day of the match itself, others are expected to spend a couple of days exploring Russia's frantic capital - as well as the odd bar (or two). Here we present our fan guide, with six top tips for visiting footy lovers.

Say goodbye to Lenin

Just back from his spring clean, now is a great time to visit the world's most famous embalmed Bolshevik. Entry to the famous mausoleum on Red Square is free, and worth the inevitable queue, and even the hassle of having to leave behind any bags (little tip: the Historical Museum round the corner has a left luggage).

If you are in need of refreshments afterwards, there is a cheap café, Stolovaya 57, which has just opened up on the top floor of Gum – Red Square's famous neo-classical shopping arcade. There are also several bars inside- ideal spots for debating why communism failed or whether Leninism might be due for a comeback, accompanied, of course, by a bottle of lipsmackingly-clean Russky Standard vodka.

· The mausoleum opens on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday or Sunday between 10am and 1pm

Travel by metro

Other than being the quickest way of getting to the Luzhniki stadium where the final is being held, Moscow's metro is the quickest, cheapest, and most elegant way of travelling through the traffic-choked Russian capital. And some of the stations are terrific in their own right; from the life-size bronze statues within Ploschad Revolutsii (next to Red Square) to sumptuous gold-framed murals at Kievskaya, three stops away on the blue line.

Tickets for ten journeys cost 155 roubles (just over three quid) from the "Kassa" (ticket window). Tell the lady there you want "dyesit poyezdok". Don't try speaking English; but waggling 10 fingers should do the trick if your Russian isn't up to much.

Drink beer on a boat