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Reviews 4.9.

7,437 total

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Blue Bay Travel

Blue Bay Travel. 2nd holiday booked through Jodie this year. Great agent to deal with. Our First holiday to Sharm el Sheik. absolutely 5***** Definitely use this agent and company again. Tickets arrived on time and all arrangements and paperwork in order on our first booked holiday. Have every confidence for our recently booked holiday to Hurghada. Will update again after the forthcoming holiday. Good emails with top picks of a variety of holidays. So much easier than trawling the internet. Thanks to all at blue bay travel especially Jodie.

Date of experience : 06 April 2024

So far so good!

Not had too much contact with Blue Bay yet but what I have had has been great. Incredibly competitive price but also great communication with Izzie and fabulous to speak to on the phone. I asked lots of questions and she explained things very well and found out all the answers.

Date of experience : 18 April 2024

Ellie Rawlings is an absolute star

Ellie Rawlings is an absolute star! She is so very charming and demonstrates the utmost of patience when assisting customers with endless requests for options of travel. A true credit to Blue Bay Travel. Well done x

Date of experience : 17 April 2024

JUST WHAT WE NEEDED!

A BIG thank you to Blue Bay Travel for organising our recent holiday to the Casuarina Hotel Mauritius. We had the most fabulous time. The hotel was perfect for our needs. The gardens were a real joy. All thanks to Travel Consultant Kevin Hall, who really looked after us, taking the time to listen to our priorities. You got it right Kevin! We really appreciate your help & advise & look forward to travelling with Blue Bay Travel in the future.

Date of experience : 24 March 2024

Reply from Blue Bay Travel

Thanks so much for your fab review. We always do our best to deliver great deals as simply as possible, so it is a pleasure to hear you find the BBT experience so great. We really appreciate your feedback and anything else we can do to help, just let us know. Best Wishes, Sophie

I can't praise Sarah-Jane enough

I can't praise Sarah-Jane enough, so helpful every time. From a quick conversation, everything sorted quickly and efficiently, and she always remembers the sort of holidays we like in readiness for the next one. An absolute star!!

What an amazing experience!

What an amazing experience! Becky Bagnoli was just so brilliant at dealing with everything. She looked for a hotel which matched all our requirements and it certainly did. I will never book a holiday independently again. The price beat my searches and I had all my tickets hand delivered. Becky was lovely with dealing with every query I had, nothing was too much. Even when we were away she was at the end of the phone and helped us. Thank you we will be booking again very soon! X

Date of experience : 04 April 2024

I’d use Blue Bay every time!

Phone answered within seconds - by a human! I wanted to make changed to an existing booking. This was no problem - Teresa was very helpful and made the whole experience painless!! She explained what she was doing as we went along and answered the questions I had about seat choice etc. A pleasure to deal with. It’s so refreshing knowing they are easy to contact and super helpful!!

Date of experience : 14 April 2024

Thank you for your kind and honest review, your comments are invaluable, and Teresa will be so happy to hear your wonderful words. We are happy to be a part of your holiday making and can't wait to hear all about it, have an amazing getaway. Many Thanks, Sophie

3rd time booking

This is our 3rd time booking with Blue Bay Travel and the second time with Gemma. Gemma is super responsive to my many questions and requests for prices from different airports and different classes of travel. Always a better price than we can get ourselves too. I recommend!

Date of experience : 15 April 2024

Thank you so much for your lovely review and kind words about Gemma! We really appreciate you taking the time to send us feedback, and it will help us continue to deliver the 5* service we pride ourselves on. We hope you have a brilliant holiday, and we can't wait to hear all about it. :) Best Wishes, Sophie

Teresa was fantastic in assisting me…

Teresa was fantastic in assisting me with my booking. Nothing was too much effort and went above and beyond to ensure I had everything I required within my booking. Would highly recommend this company to friends and for future bookings.

Thank you so much for your lovely review and kind words about Teresa! We really appreciate you taking the time to send us feedback, and it will help us continue to deliver the 5* service we pride ourselves on. We hope you have a brilliant holiday, and we can't wait to hear all about it. :) Best Wishes, Sophie

Don’t hesitate just do it!

Clare Lake took the time to find out what I wanted from my holiday of a lifetime and went away to see what she could come up. We wanted safari and then chill to celebrate my 40th. Well the places looked amazing! Everything we’d asked for. We booked 😃 Our holiday came round quickly and off we went… in total we had 5 flights, 3 different accommodation and 5 private transfers. Everything went smoothly and the service was second to none. The places Clare chose for us were 5 star 🌟 I couldn’t recommend Clare and her knowledge enough. Don’t hesitate just pick up the phone you won’t be disappointed.

Date of experience : 27 March 2024

Thank you for your lovely feedback on Clare, she is great isn't she? We really appreciate your review, and it will help us continue to deliver the 5* service we pride ourselves on, and I'm sure Clare will be thrilled to hear your lovely words. Many Thanks, Sophie

Excellent service as always from Caribbean Warehouse

Excellent service as always from Caribbean Warehouse. Jodie Barber looked after us superbly well. This is the third Caribbean holiday we’ve booked with CW in the last seven years. I have recommended them to friends and family continually. Uk landline answered promptly with no holding queue. Nothing is too much trouble. Thank you again Jodie!

Date of experience : 12 April 2024

Thank you for your lovely feedback on Jodie, she is great isn't she? We really appreciate your review, and it will help us continue to deliver the 5* service we pride ourselves on, and I'm sure Jodie will be thrilled to hear your lovely words. Many Thanks, Sophie

The easiest holiday booking!

I am so impressed with booking our holiday with Blue Bay Travel! It has never been so easy and no hidden costs etc., It was a breeze .. Naomi and Jodie were just fantastic. Excellent customer service. I shall book all our future holidays with Blue Bay travel!

Thank you so much for your lovely review and kind words about Naomi and Jodie! We really appreciate you taking the time to send us feedback, and it will help us continue to deliver the 5* service we pride ourselves on. We hope you have a brilliant holiday, and we can't wait to hear all about it. :) Best Wishes, Sophie

Kevin Kneale went above and beyond to…

Kevin Kneale went above and beyond to find our holiday. We had many requirements but only a few dates we could travel, he searched every option and came up with an excellent choice of date and hotel. Thank you Kevin

Thanks so much for your fab review. We are thrilled you love the way we do things here and Kevin will be overjoyed to hear your kind words. Have the best holiday, we can't wait to hear all about it! Best Wishes, Sophie

Great personal service

Phones answered quickly by real UK based people. Georgia understood our needs, went and got the answers we needed, with useful suggestions, so we could complete our booking within minutes.

Lynne took the stress out of booking a…

Lynne took the stress out of booking a holiday every option she came up with hit the mark and was knowledgeable and friendly and I felt she understood what we wanted more than myself 😁

Date of experience : 16 April 2024

Excellent service from the onset

Easy to book and provided immediately with relevant information. More or less immediate contact after initial email sent. Georgia understood immediately when she contacted me that I was just looking for information to consider and then if I was interested would contact. Was impressed with no hard push , just made aware she was there to help if needed. Excellent service, friendly , appears to be excellent value for money. Hope the holiday lives up to my expectations but Georgia provided plenty of information prior to booking. Very happy.

Date of experience : 10 April 2024

Thank you so much for your lovely review and kind words about Georgia! We really appreciate you taking the time to send us feedback, and it will help us continue to deliver the 5* service we pride ourselves on. We hope you have a brilliant holiday, and we can't wait to hear all about it. :) Best Wishes, Sophie

Ellie's top class customer service …

Ellie assisted myself secure a booking to Kuredu Island in the Maldives for my husband and I's 60th birthday celebrations 🍾. Ellie was very patient and kind and was also very thorough going through all the finer details for our trip. All of Ellie's advice and guidance was very much appreciated.

Thank you so much for your lovely review and kind words about Ellie! We really appreciate you taking the time to send us feedback, and it will help us continue to deliver the 5* service we pride ourselves on. We hope you have a brilliant holiday, and we can't wait to hear all about it. :) Best Wishes, Sophie

Booking was easy

Jodie made booking our holiday such a great experience. From beginning to end she was helpful knowledgeable professional and friendly. She gave us precise information and followed it all up in an email too. I called her the following week to add a friend onto the same holiday and she remembered all the details!! I would highly recommend her and Bluebay Travel. Thank you Jodie

Date of experience : 25 March 2024

Thank you so much for your lovely review and kind words about Jodie! We really appreciate you taking the time to send us feedback, and it will help us continue to deliver the 5* service we pride ourselves on. We hope you have a brilliant holiday, and we can't wait to hear all about it. :) Best Wishes, Sophie

Bluebay were able to meet my itinerary wishes.

I had excellent service from Bluebay. They worked with me to meet my itinerary choices for my solo November trip to Sri Lanka. Including transfers, independent stay in Colombo before and after my 7 day tour with a driver/guide. A very satisfactory 2 weeks mix of independent city break and more organised tourist trail. Bluebay used reliable Companies in Sri Lanka.

Date of experience : 20 November 2023

Always book with Blue Bay

Always book with Blue Bay. Outstanding service. Nothing is too much trouble. Naomi amended our booking swiftly and was extremely helpful and very friendly. Thank you!!

Date of experience : 13 April 2024

Thank you for your lovely feedback on Naomi, she is great isn't she? We really appreciate your review, and it will help us continue to deliver the 5* service we pride ourselves on, and I'm sure Naomi will be thrilled to hear your lovely words. Many Thanks, Sophie

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Blue Bay Travel   Reviews

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Reviews 4.9.

7,437 total

Most relevant

Another easy booking

Another easy and professional booking done with Amy Boon Her knowledge and efficiency in booking is the reason I always book with her. Highly recommend Amy and Blue Bay Travel

Date of experience : April 12, 2024

Reply from Blue Bay Travel

We're so glad to hear your experience with us was stress free! Thanks so much for your fab feedback, we really appreciate it, and it will help us continue to deliver the 5* service we pride ourselves on. Amy will be thrilled to hear your kind words and we all wish you an amazing holiday! Best Wishes, Sophie

Cancelled flight poor customer service

We are currently held up in a hotel after a cancelled flight. Due to booking through Blue Bay travel agent, we have had no direct contact with the airline or flight updates. After waiting more than 20 minutes through the emergency out of hours helpline - the only response was to call up our airline. Even today during normal business hours, Blue Bay made no attempt to reach out about the cancelled or rescheduled flight or reply to urgent emails to provide some help about our trip. Our first and last package holiday through a travel agent. Despite reading good reviews I am leaving this review as we have been left in the dark and extremely disappointed. Prior to this we were also sent out the wrong tickets and names which had to be chased up by ourselves too. Overall a bad experience to what should have been a dream holiday.

Date of experience : April 11, 2024

Dear Alex, Thank you for your feedback we are sorry you experienced a flight delay yesterday and we do understand this has been a very stressful time. We are sorry the airline cancelled your flight last night due to a technical issue at the last moment. The airline last night arranged an hotel to accommodate you close to the airport and arranged for you to travel out to resort later today. I can see from our records you did speak with our out of hours team last night who made sure your chosen hotel was made aware of your delayed arrival. Our Customer Service team have been in in dialogue via telephone on a couple of occasions with you today and they have been able to provide you with the answers to the queries you have raised. Your emails were not answered last night as they outside our normal work office hours and this is detailed in our auto response which details the out of hours support number which you were able to reach. I am sorry for the impact to the start of your holiday, and I do hope you a wonderful holiday. If you need any assistance regarding your travel delay on the return, please do not hesitate to contact us. Kind regards Lisa

First class!

Sorted out my holiday with lots of patience as I kept changing details. Efficient and friendly with it. I will certainly be recommending and booking all my holidays here in future!

Thanks so much for your fab review. We always do our best to deliver great deals as simply as possible, so it is a pleasure to hear you find the BBT experience so great. We really appreciate your feedback and anything else we can do to help, just let us know. Best Wishes, Sophie

Lynda was great

Lynda was great. She was very patient, happily answered my numerous questions and obviously knew the area in which I was booking my holiday. I will definitely use the company again in the future.

We're so glad to hear your experience with us was stress free! Thanks so much for your fab feedback, we really appreciate it, and it will help us continue to deliver the 5* service we pride ourselves on. Lynda will be thrilled to hear your kind words and we all wish you an amazing holiday! Best Wishes, Sophie

Absolutely fantastic service received…

Absolutely fantastic service received by David. Received a call 5 mins after my enquiry even 7pm on a Sunday evening. Offered lots of information regarding flight options which was so helpful Have travelled with Blue Bay travel before & had no hesitation booking a holiday with them again. Thank you David

Date of experience : April 07, 2024

We're so glad to hear your experience with us was stress free! Thanks so much for your fab feedback, we really appreciate it, and it will help us continue to deliver the 5* service we pride ourselves on. David will be thrilled to hear your kind words and we all wish you an amazing holiday! Best Wishes, Sophie

Just booked our second holiday!

Just booked our second holiday with Kerry at Blue Bay Travel… nothing is too much trouble, even when I’m picky and keep saying no to hotels! Kerry doesn’t give up until we find the perfect deal and then she takes all of the hassle and stress away. She even reminds me when to pay! Superb service, highly recommended.

Date of experience : April 08, 2024

Thank you so much for your lovely review and kind words about Kerry! We really appreciate you taking the time to send us feedback, and it will help us continue to deliver the 5* service we pride ourselves on. We hope you have a brilliant holiday, and we can't wait to hear all about it. :) Best Wishes, Sophie

Really helpful and easy process

Made booking over the phone really wash and help advisor Lynda Malloy Very honest and open wil Th all my question Will defo use this person and company again

Date of experience : April 14, 2024

Thank you so much for your lovely review and kind words about Lynda! We really appreciate you taking the time to send us feedback, and it will help us continue to deliver the 5* service we pride ourselves on. We hope you have a brilliant holiday, and we can't wait to hear all about it. :) Best Wishes, Sophie

Quick response to my call

Quick response to my call, was able to answer all questions and take into account my wishes and give a quick response and bring the arrangements to a successful conclusion and advise how the process would proceed.

Date of experience : April 16, 2024

The fastest and easiest holiday booking!

I was so impressed with the customer service experience with Jodie! Booking our holiday to the Caribbean was exceptional! I shall book all our future holidays with Blue Bay Travel! Thank you!

Thank you so much for your lovely review and kind words about Jodie! We really appreciate you taking the time to send us feedback, and it will help us continue to deliver the 5* service we pride ourselves on. We hope you have a brilliant holiday, and we can't wait to hear all about it. :) Best Wishes, Sophie

The lady on the phone was very…

The lady on the phone was very good,explained the holiday realy well,and guided me through the booking

Georgia Copestick did an amazing job…

Georgia Copestick did an amazing job booking our holiday by email whilst we are thousands of miles away in the Caribbean. She took great care with our details and answered all my questions fully and with patience. Third time we’ve used Blue Bay. We get good prices and excellent service. Will be using them certainly in the future.

Date of experience : April 03, 2024

Mauritius…through Kevin Hall

We've booked our holiday to Mauritius through Kevin Hall. He was so patient during the booking and planning process and was happy to answer any questions. He went above and beyond and found us direct flights with AirMauritius rather than having a stop over (which we preferred). He's been ever so helpful with queries even after we've booked. Would 100% recommend and would use again!

Date of experience : April 04, 2024

Thank you so much for your lovely review and kind words about Kevin! We really appreciate you taking the time to send us feedback, and it will help us continue to deliver the 5* service we pride ourselves on. We hope you have a brilliant holiday, and we can't wait to hear all about it. :) Best Wishes, Sophie

Polly Understood The Assignment!

When I say Polly understood the assignment that's an understatement. She made sure me and my partner had the best holiday. I was very specific with what we wanted, white sands, near the beach, clean hotel etc.... and she went above and beyond what we asked for and still within budget. Our travel was easy. Our taxi driver was friendly and was available for any trips we needed. It was such a positive experience from beginning to end. Polly really knows Barbados and her recommendations of where to visit were just the cherry on top! We will definitely be using Polly again. We highly recommend Polly if you need a communicative and attentive travel consultant. She knows her stuff and makes sure that everything is in order. We made some truly lasting memories!

Date of experience : February 01, 2024

Thank you for taking the time out to give us a 5* review! Your feedback is so important to us. We're so pleased you had a fabulous holiday and can't wait to hear from you again to book your next getaway! Best wishes, Sophie

Molly-Faith

The service was faultless. I messaged for a quote, on a deal I'd seen to Barbados. Within half hour I'd received a call and a voicemail. I called back, Molly-Faith, who was so lovely. Patient, especially with regards to my slight speech impediment. Let me take my time & complete my purchase. I know my stuff with regards to holidays, no messing around, Molly was great. Barbados booked for September, sooo excited..... 😎😎xx

Date of experience : April 06, 2024

Thank you for your kind and honest review, your comments are invaluable, and Molly will be so happy to hear your wonderful words. We are happy to be a part of your holiday making and can't wait to hear all about it, have an amazing getaway. Many Thanks, Sophie

Kevin Blue Bay travel adviser

Kevin did everything in his power to make my holiday to Goa happen. I had so many requirements as myself and my husband needed 2 rooms next door to each other with walk in shower making sure that the shower had hand rails and that the rooms are on the ground floor as we are taking my 88 year old mother-in-law with us. we wanted a 5* all inclusive hotel and premium class seats on the flights. Kevin made it all happen very quickly and was always professional and polite. I would highly recommend Kevin to get your holiday package and holiday needs booked and at the best price possible. Go ahead get booking.

Date of experience : April 05, 2024

We're so glad to hear your experience with us was stress free! Thanks so much for your fab feedback, we really appreciate it, and it will help us continue to deliver the 5* service we pride ourselves on. Kevin will be thrilled to hear your kind words and we all wish you an amazing holiday! Best Wishes, Sophie

David Coulter - Top Agent

David was so efficient in making the booking for us that the time spent on the telephone was minimal compared to other travel agencies we have used in the past experiencing almost an hour to achieve the same goal. He also confirmed the booking with a follow up call on the day he said he would.

Excellent customer support - Debbie

I have just made a booking this afternoon for a holiday to Barbados. The holiday we wanted was fully booked. After a great deal of time, effort and patience the customer service advisor, Debbie managed to get us booked in on another date enabling us to go to our chosen hotel. Debbie was brilliant and helped me through some difficulties I had during the payment process. I can’t thank her enough and wouldn’t hesitate in recommending her and indeed Blue Bay Travel to anyone in the future.

We're so glad to hear your experience with us was stress free! Thanks so much for your fab feedback, we really appreciate it, and it will help us continue to deliver the 5* service we pride ourselves on. Debbie will be thrilled to hear your kind words and we all wish you an amazing holiday! Best Wishes, Sophie

Karen’s dedication and exceptional…

Karen’s dedication and exceptional customer service truly made our holiday booking experience memorable. Despite the late hour, she stayed half an hour past finishing time to ensure every detail was taken care of. Her commitment to ensuring our trip was perfect went above and beyond our expectations. We’re incredibly grateful for her assistance and would highly recommend her to anyone in need of a travel consultant.

We're so glad to hear your experience with us was stress free! Thanks so much for your fab feedback, we really appreciate it, and it will help us continue to deliver the 5* service we pride ourselves on. Karen will be thrilled to hear your kind words and we all wish you an amazing holiday! Best Wishes, Sophie

Really helpful and super efficient

David was extremely helpful and super efficient. Our first choice of holiday dates was not available but he found us a cracking deal to the Caribbean. Thank you.

Thank you so much for your lovely review and kind words about David! We really appreciate you taking the time to send us feedback, and it will help us continue to deliver the 5* service we pride ourselves on. We hope you have a brilliant holiday, and we can't wait to hear all about it. :) Best Wishes, Sophie

Holiday to Hotel Rui Palace, Sal Cape Verde

Phoned & made enquiries about a holiday to Sal, Cape Verde. Spoke with Izzie Beech. She was most helpful, & with a very friendly attitude, answered all my questions. I was given a very competitive price for the holiday, actually the best, so booked a holiday for April 24 at the Hotel Rui Palace, Santa's Maria. Thank you!

Moscow Metro

Opened in 1935 under Stalin, the Moscow Metro is one of the largest networks in the world and a tourist attraction in itself. Discover how to get around on it!

Designed to be " palaces of the people ", the different stations of Moscow's metro are spectacular examples of Socialist Realist art and architecture. Aside from providing fascinating insight into the city's history, the metro network is also an  efficient and economical way to get around the Russian capital .

Operating times & frequency

The Metro Moscow operates daily between  5:30 am and 1 am , with trains departing every 1 to 3 minutes during peak times. Outside of rush hour, trains are less frequent, every 4 to 7 minutes depending on the line and the time of day.

Ticket prices

The price of a single ticket for the Moscow Metro is 55 Roubles . Single tickets allow you to change trains as many times as you like, with no limit on distance or time. To buy tickets, you may struggle to find English speaking staff, however you should be to communicate the number of tickets you need by holding up your fingers, and thankfully most stations now have simple automated machines that you can use too. 

There are often long queues to buy tickets, so if you're planning to travel by metro a lot, we recommend buying multi-ride tickets to save time and money. You'll get a paper card which you tap on the reader to go through the turnstile.

You can buy a daily ticket for ₽ 230 ( US$ 2.40) or a 3-day ticket for ₽ 438 ( US$ 4.70).

Metro lines

Moscow Metro has 17 lines  with a total length of 246 miles (397 km) divided into more than  230 stations  (265 if we include the Moscow Central Circle). Each line is identified by a name, a number and a colour.

Guided tour of the Moscow Metro

Moscow's metro network is a museum in itself, and it's a must-see attraction on any trip to the Russian capital. The long marble corridors, fascinating Soviet-themed frescoes and gilded sculptures are truly captivating. To make the most of your visit and learn all about the symbolism and history behind some of the city's main metro stations, why not explore the network with an expert English-speaking guide? Take a look at our Guided Tour of the Moscow Metro to find out more!

A curious detail about the Moscow metro lies in the announcements on the trains. Unless you speak Russian, you probably won't understand the content of the voiceovers, however, you may note something interesting: trains heading into the city have male voiced announcements, and trains heading out of the city have female voiced announcements!

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Moscow's public transport network is efficient, comfortable and economical. Discover the city's main modes of transport, their timetables and prices.

Moscow Tourist Bus

Discover the different routes and stops of Moscow's tourist bus and explore the city comfortably enjoying panoramic views of its main monuments.

Moscow Kremlin: skip-the-line tickets and 8 things not to miss

• April 18, 2024

The Moscow Kremlin, symbol of Russi! It’s the Kremlin’s wall that you can see on Red Square. The Red Square and the Moscow Kremlin are both listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites . We visited the Moscow Kremlin several times, with skip-the-line tickets and without, with my family, but also with my colleagues when I was living in Moscow.

Visit the Moscow Kremlin: tips and practical information

I will give here the key info to save time (and money) before the visit and once there:

• Map, how to get there, opening hours
• Entry tickets to the Kremlin and the Armoury Chamber, including skip-the-line entry tickets
• Guided tours

Map of the Moscow Kremlin, how to get there and opening hours

The Kremlin is large, so I have created a map to help you find your bearings which you will find below. If you are interested in other Moscow maps, find them in Free Moscow Maps.

How to get there? Where is the entrance to the Moscow Kremlin?

• The nearest metro station is Biblioteka Imeni Lenina (point 1 on the map) on the red line. On the other hand, even if we all have in mind, the image of the Kremlin on Red Square, the entrance is NOT located directly on the square. There is an entrance on the Red Square, but it is for stuff only.
• The entrance to the Kremlin is on another side of the Kremlin (point 3 on the map).
• Check also our blog post about Where to stay in Moscow? to be sure to stay in the most interesting districts of Moscow.

Opening hours

The Kremlin is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day, except Thursday.

Good to know! It is not possible to enter the Kremlin territory with suitcases, bulky bags or animals. If you come with a suitcase anyway, there is a free concierge not far from the cash desks. The total dimensions must not exceed 150 cm (total, that is to say if we add the height, width and thickness). See the rules on the Kremlin website .

How to buy the entry tickets to visit Moscow Kremlin?

Several tickets. Later in the article I will describe in more detail what is behind the walls of the Moscow Kremlin, but we can already divide the Kremlin into several parts: the architectural ensemble of the Cathedral Square, the Armoury Chamber, the Diamond Fund and the Ivan-The-Great Bell Tower. There are entry tickets for each of these parts. So you have a choice. What is most visited is the architectural ensemble of the Cathedral Square.

Armoury Chamber. The number of entry tickets to the Armoury Chamber is limited, to make the visit more pleasant for visitors. As with the Cathedral Square, the entry tickets can be purchased online (see below). And I would recommend to buy tickets to the Armoury Chamber in advance.

There are two options for visiting the Kremlin without a guide : buy tickets in ticket offices once there OR then buy them on the Internet, then take them at the ticket offices on site with less queuing. On the other hand, if you want to have more information about the Kremlin, a guided tour can be interesting: skip-the-line, accompaniment and not necessarily expensive for many.

Buy tickets for the Kremlin on site

The ticket offices are open from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. every day, except Thursday . They are located in the Alexandrovsky Garden which runs along the walls of the Moscow Kremlin ( point 2 on the map above). It is possible to pay by bank card or in cash (rubles). See the post How to pay in Russia ?, if you need more info.

Good to know! Saturday is a day to avoid because there are many more people than the other days, especially in the morning. In general, the crowds are higher in the morning.

Moscow Kremlin guided tours

As tickets for the Armoury Chamber are limited, to go anyway you can go through guided tours, in groups or with a private guide. Certified guides have fast-track tickets and may still have seats. In addition, a guided tour in the Kremlin is worth it: you learn a lot and with many it is not so expensive, especially now with a fairly weak ruble.

With a private English-speaking guide

Only a certified guide is allowed to show you the Moscow Kremlin.

From June to September, the Kremlin is very visited and even official guides cannot have tickets. During this period, one of the solutions for a guided tour is a group visit.

Moscow Kremlin group tour in English

The second solution is to visit the Kremlin and the Armoury Chamber in a group. This is surprising, but it is not necessarily more economical than with a private guide. However, if there are no more entry tickets, this is a good solution.

Can we take pictures inside the Moscow Kremlin?

According to the Moscow Kremlin website , “it is forbidden to take photos and videos” inside the Armoury Chamber and the cathedrals”. There is no restriction for the exterior. You can still try to take photos inside the buildings, but the guards, often guards, will quickly point you out to stop.

Estimated visit time

A visit to the Kremlin and the Palace of Armor takes around 4 hours with a guided tour. If you go alone (without guide), it’s more or less equivalent. If you have fast-track tickets or you visit the Kremlin and the Palace of Armor with a certified guide, you also save a little time.

Good to know. There is nothing to eat inside the Kremlin, except maybe small snacks or ice cream. On the other hand, there are a few fast food restaurants near Okhotny Ryad station, but above all a lot of addresses on Nikolskaya Street , near Red Square and the Bolshoi Theater.

The Moscow Kremlin: what to see?

Kremlin means fortress in Slavic. The Moscow Kremlin is therefore not the only Kremlin in Russia. Nevertheless, it is the best known kremlin. It housed first the residence of the tsars, then the seat of the Soviet government, and today the Russian government. Finally, what is behind its walls?

• Cathedrals and churches;
• Exhibitions and museums;
• Palace of the Patriarch;
• State buildings which are not to be visited.

Most of the Kremlin to see is located on the Cathedral Square .

Cathedrals and churches of the Moscow Kremlin

Dormition cathedral.

(point 4 on the map, often called the Cathedral of the Assumption)

Built in 1475 and 1479 under the direction of an Italian architect, it was built in place of a small church erected by Ivan I to mark the accession of Moscow to the seat of the Russian Orthodox Church. The first stone church in Moscow, it was used for the coronation and marriage ceremonies of the Czars, as well as for important events of the heads of the Church.

Annunciation Cathedral

(point 5 on the map)

Built in 1489, this cathedral has also preserved magnificent fragments of paintings from its time. The floor is in jasper. The cathedral was a private place for the Czars to gather and confess. Until the beginning of the 20th century, the chaplain was the personal confessor of members of the Tsar’s family .

Archangel Saint Michael’s Cathedral

(point 6 on the map)

Built in 1508 by an Italian architect (again!), One finds outside and inside the cathedral of Venetian Renaissance features. 46 tombs continue the necropolis of the cathedral. It is the necropolis of the princes of Moscow (independent principality of Moscow), and the first tsars of Russia. Here are the photos (author: poznamka).

Church of the Deposition-of-the-Robe

(point 7 on the map)

Built from 1484 to 1485, the church was built in honor of the relics of the Virgin brought from Palestine to Constantinople in 452.

Ivan The Great Bell Tower

(point 8 on the map)

The bell tower is 81 meters high. Built in 1508 and blown up by Napoleon’s army in 1812, the tower and the bell tower were rebuilt soon after. Also note that a beautiful panoramic view opens from the bell tower over the city.

Museums of the Moscow Kremlin

Armoury chamber.

(point 9 on the map)

This museum of applied arts brings together an exceptional collection of the treasures of the tsars. There we find jewelry, crowns, costumes, diamonds, thrones, weapons and armor, all the riches of Russian princes and tsars accumulated during their centuries of reign.

Kremlin Museum of Treasures and Antiquities

(point 10 on the map)

This museum is located in the basement of the Annunciation Cathedral. It contains objects found during archaeological excavations on the territory of the Kremlin. They are mainly objects from medieval Russia.

Patriarch’s Palace

(point 11 on the map)

Built on the orders of Patriarch Nikon in 1655, this palace includes several rooms and a church, the Church of the Twelve Apostles. The particularity of this place is the cruciform room of 300m² which has no pillars. There are also objects that occupied the rooms: furniture, the gospels, icons.

Other Kremlin attractions

There are other interesting attractions you can see during your visit to the Moscow Kremlin. For example, you can take a refreshing break in the Taïniski garden. In addition, in a small corner of the garden is a platform for helicopters, it can be used by the Russian President in an emergency!

Tsar Pouchka (point 12) is also an attraction (especially well known to Russians). It’s a gigantic cannon that weighs almost 40 tonnes! The Guinness Book of Records considers it the largest howitzer ever built.

In the same spirit, you can also see Tsar Kolokol (point 13) , a gigantic bell tower which is located very close to the bell tower of Ivan the Great.

Around the Moscow Kremlin

I have summarized everything around the Kremlin and Red Square in this blog post:

• Red Square: everything you need to know

Interesting in Moscow:

• Where to stay in Moscow?
• How to get from airport to Moscow?
• Things to visit in Moscow: what to do and to see in Moscow?
• Visit Novodevichy Couvent and cemetery

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Travel Itinerary For One Week in Moscow: The Best of Moscow!

I just got back from one week in Moscow. And, as you might have already guessed, it was a mind-boggling experience. It was not my first trip to the Russian capital. But I hardly ever got enough time to explore this sprawling city. Visiting places for business rarely leaves enough time for sightseeing. I think that if you’ve got one week in Russia, you can also consider splitting your time between its largest cities (i.e. Saint Petersburg ) to get the most out of your trip. Seven days will let you see the majority of the main sights and go beyond just scratching the surface. In this post, I’m going to share with you my idea of the perfect travel itinerary for one week in Moscow.

Moscow is perhaps both the business and cultural hub of Russia. There is a lot more to see here than just the Kremlin and Saint Basil’s Cathedral. Centuries-old churches with onion-shaped domes dotted around the city are in stark contrast with newly completed impressive skyscrapers of Moscow City dominating the skyline. I spent a lot of time thinking about my Moscow itinerary before I left. And this city lived up to all of my expectations.

Travel Itinerary For One Week in Moscow

Day 1 – red square and the kremlin.

Metro Station: Okhotny Ryad on Red Line.

No trip to Moscow would be complete without seeing its main attraction. The Red Square is just a stone’s throw away from several metro stations. It is home to some of the most impressive architectural masterpieces in the city. The first thing you’ll probably notice after entering it and passing vendors selling weird fur hats is the fairytale-like looking Saint Basil’s Cathedral. It was built to commemorate one of the major victories of Ivan the Terrible. I once spent 20 minutes gazing at it, trying to find the perfect angle to snap it. It was easier said than done because of the hordes of locals and tourists.

As you continue strolling around Red Square, there’s no way you can miss Gum. It was widely known as the main department store during the Soviet Era. Now this large (yet historic) shopping mall is filled with expensive boutiques, pricey eateries, etc. During my trip to Moscow, I was on a tight budget. So I only took a retro-style stroll in Gum to get a rare glimpse of a place where Soviet leaders used to grocery shop and buy their stuff. In case you want some modern shopping experience, head to the Okhotny Ryad Shopping Center with stores like New Yorker, Zara, and Adidas.

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To continue this Moscow itinerary, next you may want to go inside the Kremlin walls. This is the center of Russian political power and the president’s official residence. If you’re planning to pay Kremlin a visit do your best to visit Ivan the Great Bell Tower as well. Go there as early as possible to avoid crowds and get an incredible bird’s-eye view. There are a couple of museums that are available during designated visiting hours. Make sure to book your ticket online and avoid lines.

Day 2 – Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, the Tretyakov Gallery, and the Arbat Street

Metro Station: Kropotkinskaya on Red Line

As soon as you start creating a Moscow itinerary for your second day, you’ll discover that there are plenty of metro stations that are much closer to certain sites. Depending on your route, take a closer look at the metro map to pick the closest.

The white marble walls of Christ the Saviour Cathedral are awe-inspiring. As you approach this tallest Orthodox Christian church, you may notice the bronze sculptures, magnificent arches, and cupolas that were created to commemorate Russia’s victory against Napoleon.

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Unfortunately, the current Cathedral is a replica, since original was blown to bits in 1931 by the Soviet government. The new cathedral basically follows the original design, but they have added some new elements such as marble high reliefs.

Home to some precious collection of artworks, in Tretyakov Gallery you can find more than 150,000 of works spanning centuries of artistic endeavor. Originally a privately owned gallery, it now has become one of the largest museums in Russia. The Gallery is often considered essential to visit. But I have encountered a lot of locals who have never been there.

Famous for its souvenirs, musicians, and theaters, Arbat street is among the few in Moscow that were turned into pedestrian zones. Arbat street is usually very busy with tourists and locals alike. My local friend once called it the oldest street in Moscow dating back to 1493. It is a kilometer long walking street filled with fancy gift shops, small cozy restaurants, lots of cute cafes, and street artists. It is closed to any vehicular traffic, so you can easily stroll it with kids.

Day 3 – Moscow River Boat Ride, Poklonnaya Hill Victory Park, the Moscow City

Metro Station: Kievskaya and Park Pobedy on Dark Blue Line / Vystavochnaya on Light Blue Line

Voyaging along the Moscow River is definitely one of the best ways to catch a glimpse of the city and see the attractions from a bit different perspective. Depending on your Moscow itinerary, travel budget and the time of the year, there are various types of boats available. In the summer there is no shortage of boats, and you’ll be spoiled for choice.

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If you find yourself in Moscow during the winter months, I’d recommend going with Radisson boat cruise. These are often more expensive (yet comfy). They offer refreshments like tea, coffee, hot chocolate, and, of course, alcoholic drinks. Prices may vary but mostly depend on your food and drink selection. Find their main pier near the opulent Ukraine hotel . The hotel is one of the “Seven Sisters”, so if you’re into the charm of Stalinist architecture don’t miss a chance to stay there.

The area near Poklonnaya Hill has the closest relation to the country’s recent past. The memorial complex was completed in the mid-1990s to commemorate the Victory and WW2 casualties. Also known as the Great Patriotic War Museum, activities here include indoor attractions while the grounds around host an open-air museum with old tanks and other vehicles used on the battlefield.

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The hallmark of the memorial complex and the first thing you see as you exit metro is the statue of Nike mounted to its column. This is a very impressive Obelisk with a statue of Saint George slaying the dragon at its base.

Maybe not as impressive as Shanghai’s Oriental Pearl Tower , the skyscrapers of the Moscow City (otherwise known as Moscow International Business Center) are so drastically different from dull Soviet architecture. With 239 meters and 60 floors, the Empire Tower is the seventh highest building in the business district.

The observation deck occupies 56 floor from where you have some panoramic views of the city. I loved the view in the direction of Moscow State University and Luzhniki stadium as well to the other side with residential quarters. The entrance fee is pricey, but if you’re want to get a bird’s eye view, the skyscraper is one of the best places for doing just that.

Day 4 – VDNKh, Worker and Collective Farm Woman Monument, The Ostankino TV Tower

Metro Station: VDNKh on Orange Line

VDNKh is one of my favorite attractions in Moscow. The weird abbreviation actually stands for Russian vystavka dostizheniy narodnogo khozyaystva (Exhibition of Achievements of the National Economy). With more than 200 buildings and 30 pavilions on the grounds, VDNKh serves as an open-air museum. You can easily spend a full day here since the park occupies a very large area.

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First, there are pavilions that used to showcase different cultures the USSR was made of. Additionally, there is a number of shopping pavilions, as well as Moskvarium (an Oceanarium) that features a variety of marine species. VDNKh is a popular venue for events and fairs. There is always something going on, so I’d recommend checking their website if you want to see some particular exhibition.

A stone’s throw away from VDNKh there is a very distinctive 25-meters high monument. Originally built in 1937 for the world fair in Paris, the hulking figures of men and women holding a hammer and a sickle represent the Soviet idea of united workers and farmers. It doesn’t take much time to see the monument, but visiting it gives some idea of the Soviet Union’s grandiose aspirations.

I have a thing for tall buildings. So to continue my travel itinerary for one week in Moscow I decided to climb the fourth highest TV tower in the world. This iconic 540m tower is a fixture of the skyline. You can see it virtually from everywhere in Moscow, and this is where you can get the best panoramic views (yep, even better than Empire skyscraper).

Parts of the floor are made of tempered glass, so it can be quite scary to exit the elevator. But trust me, as you start observing buildings and cars below, you won’t want to leave. There is only a limited number of tickets per day, so you may want to book online. Insider tip: the first tour is cheaper, you can save up to $10 if go there early.

Day 5 – A Tour To Moscow Manor Houses

Metro Station: Kolomenskoye, Tsaritsyno on Dark Green Line / Kuskovo on Purple Line

I love visiting the manor houses and palaces in Moscow. These opulent buildings were generally built to house Russian aristocratic families and monarchs. Houses tend to be rather grand affairs with impressive architecture. And, depending on the whims of the owners, some form of a landscaped garden.

During the early part of the 20th century though, many of Russia’s aristocratic families (including the family of the last emperor) ended up being killed or moving abroad . Their manor houses were nationalized. Some time later (after the fall of the USSR) these were open to the public. It means that today a great many of Moscow’s finest manor houses and palaces are open for touring.

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There are 20 manor houses scattered throughout the city and more than 25 in the area around. But not all of them easily accessible and exploring them often takes a lot of time. I’d recommend focusing on three most popular estates in Moscow that are some 30-minute metro ride away from Kremlin.

Sandwiched between the Moscow River and the Andropov Avenue, Kolomenskoye is a UNESCO site that became a public park in the 1920’s. Once a former royal estate, now it is one of the most tranquil parks in the city with gorgeous views. The Ascension Church, The White Column, and the grounds are a truly grand place to visit.

You could easily spend a full day here, exploring a traditional Russian village (that is, in fact, a market), picnicking by the river, enjoying the Eastern Orthodox church architecture, hiking the grounds as well as and wandering the park and gardens with wildflower meadows, apple orchards, and birch and maple groves. The estate museum showcases Russian nature at its finest year-round.

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If my travel itinerary for one week in Moscow was a family tree, Tsaritsyno Park would probably be the crazy uncle that no-one talks about. It’s a large park in the south of the city of mind-boggling proportions, unbelievable in so many ways, and yet most travelers have never heard of it.

The palace was supposed to be a summer home for Empress Catherine the Great. But since the construction didn’t meet with her approval the palace was abandoned. Since the early 1990’s the palace, the pond, and the grounds have been undergoing renovations. The entire complex is now looking brighter and more elaborately decorated than at possibly any other time during its history. Like most parks in Moscow, you can visit Tsaritsyno free of charge, but there is a small fee if you want to visit the palace.

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Last, but by no means least on my Moscow itinerary is Kuskovo Park . This is definitely an off-the-beaten-path place. While it is not easily accessible, you will be rewarded with a lack of crowds. This 18th-century summer country house of the Sheremetev family was one of the first summer country estates of the Russian nobility. And when you visit you’ll quickly realize why locals love this park.

Like many other estates, Kuskovo has just been renovated. So there are lovely French formal garden, a grotto, and the Dutch house to explore. Make sure to plan your itinerary well because the estate is some way from a metro station.

Day 6 – Explore the Golden Ring

Creating the Moscow itinerary may keep you busy for days with the seemingly endless amount of things to do. Visiting the so-called Golden Ring is like stepping back in time. Golden Ring is a “theme route” devised by promotion-minded journalist and writer Yuri Bychkov.

Having started in Moscow the route will take you through a number of historical cities. It now includes Suzdal, Vladimir, Kostroma, Yaroslavl and Sergiev Posad. All these awe-inspiring towns have their own smaller kremlins and feature dramatic churches with onion-shaped domes, tranquil residential areas, and other architectural landmarks.

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I only visited two out of eight cities included on the route. It is a no-brainer that Sergiev Posad is the nearest and the easiest city to see on a day trip from Moscow. That being said, you can explore its main attractions in just one day. Located some 70 km north-east of the Russian capital, this tiny and overlooked town is home to Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, UNESCO Site.

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Sergiev Posad is often described as being at the heart of Russian spiritual life. So it is uncommon to see the crowds of Russian pilgrims showing a deep reverence for their religion. If you’re traveling independently and using public transport, you can reach Sergiev Posad by bus (departs from VDNKh) or by suburban commuter train from Yaroslavskaya Railway Station (Bahnhof). It takes about one and a half hours to reach the town.

Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius is a great place to get a glimpse of filling and warming Russian lunch, specifically at the “ Gostevaya Izba ” restaurant. Try the duck breast, hearty potato and vegetables, and the awesome Napoleon cake.

Day 7 – Gorky Park, Izmailovo Kremlin, Patriarch’s Ponds

Metro Station: Park Kultury or Oktyabrskaya on Circle Line / Partizanskaya on Dark Blue Line / Pushkinskaya on Dark Green Line

Gorky Park is in the heart of Moscow. It offers many different types of outdoor activities, such as dancing, cycling, skateboarding, walking, jogging, and anything else you can do in a park. Named after Maxim Gorky, this sprawling and lovely park is where locals go on a picnic, relax and enjoy free yoga classes. It’s a popular place to bike around, and there is a Muzeon Art Park not far from here. A dynamic location with a younger vibe. There is also a pier, so you can take a cruise along the river too.

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The Kremlin in Izmailovo is by no means like the one you can find near the Red Square. Originally built for decorative purposes, it now features the Vernissage flea market and a number of frequent fairs, exhibitions, and conferences. Every weekend, there’s a giant flea market in Izmailovo, where dozens of stalls sell Soviet propaganda crap, Russian nesting dolls, vinyl records, jewelry and just about any object you can imagine. Go early in the morning if you want to beat the crowds.

All the Bulgakov’s fans should pay a visit to Patriarch’s Ponds (yup, that is plural). With a lovely small city park and the only one (!) pond in the middle, the location is where the opening scene of Bulgakov’s novel Master and Margarita was set. The novel is centered around a visit by Devil to the atheistic Soviet Union is considered by many critics to be one of the best novels of the 20th century. I spent great two hours strolling the nearby streets and having lunch in the hipster cafe.

Conclusion and Recommendations

To conclude, Moscow is a safe city to visit. I have never had a problem with getting around and most locals are really friendly once they know you’re a foreigner. Moscow has undergone some serious reconstruction over the last few years. So you can expect some places to be completely different. I hope my one week Moscow itinerary was helpful! If you have less time, say 4 days or 5 days, I would cut out day 6 and day 7. You could save the Golden Ring for a separate trip entirely as there’s lots to see!

What are your thoughts on this one week Moscow itinerary? Are you excited about your first time in the city? Let me know in the comments below!

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24 comments.

Ann Snook-Moreau

Moscow looks so beautiful and historic! Thanks for including public transit information for those of us who don’t like to rent cars.

MindTheTravel

Yup, that is me 🙂 Rarely rent + stick to the metro = Full wallet!

Mariella Blago

Looks like you had loads of fun! Well done. Also great value post for travel lovers.

Thanks, Mariella!

I have always wanted to go to Russia, especially Moscow. These sights look absolutely beautiful to see and there is so much history there!

Agree! Moscow is a thousand-year-old city and there is definitely something for everyone.

Tara Pittman

Those are amazing buildings. Looks like a place that would be amazing to visit.

Adriana Lopez

Never been to Moscow or Russia but my family has. Many great spots and a lot of culture. Your itinerary sounds fantastic and covers a lot despite it is only a short period of time.

What was their favourite thing about Russia?

Gladys Parker

I know very little about Moscow or Russia for the\at matter. I do know I would have to see the Red Square and all of its exquisite architectural masterpieces. Also the CATHEDRAL OF CHRIST THE SAVIOUR. Thanks for shedding some light on visiting Moscow.

Thanks for swinging by! The Red Square is a great starting point, but there way too many places and things to discover aside from it!

Ruthy @ Percolate Kitchen

You are making me so jealous!! I’ve always wanted to see Russia.

Moscow is in my bucket list, I don’t know when I can visit there, your post is really useful. As a culture rich place we need to spend at least week.

DANA GUTKOWSKI

Looks like you had a great trip! Thanks for all the great info! I’ve never been in to Russia, but this post makes me wanna go now!

Wow this is amazing! Moscow is on my bucket list – such an amazing place to visit I can imagine! I can’t wait to go there one day!

The building on the second picture looks familiar. I keep seeing that on TV.

Reesa Lewandowski

What beautiful moments! I always wish I had the personality to travel more like this!

Perfect itinerary for spending a week in Moscow! So many places to visit and it looks like you had a wonderful time. I would love to climb that tower. The views I am sure must have been amazing!

I was lucky enough to see the skyline of Moscow from this TV Tower and it is definitely mind-blowing.

Chelsea Pearl

Moscow is definitely up there on my travel bucket list. So much history and iconic architecture!

Thumbs up! 🙂

Blair Villanueva

OMG I dream to visit Moscow someday! Hope the visa processing would be okay (and become more affordable) so I could pursue my dream trip!

Yup, visa processing is the major downside! Agree! Time and the money consuming process…

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In Transit: Notes from the Underground

Jun 06 2018.

Spend some time in one of Moscow’s finest museums.

Subterranean commuting might not be anyone’s idea of a good time, but even in a city packing the war-games treasures and priceless bejeweled eggs of the Kremlin Armoury and the colossal Soviet pavilions of the VDNKh , the Metro holds up as one of Moscow’s finest museums. Just avoid rush hour.

The Metro is stunning and provides an unrivaled insight into the city’s psyche, past and present, but it also happens to be the best way to get around. Moscow has Uber, and the Russian version called Yandex Taxi , but also some nasty traffic. Metro trains come around every 90 seconds or so, at a more than 99 percent on-time rate. It’s also reasonably priced, with a single ride at 55 cents (and cheaper in bulk). From history to tickets to rules — official and not — here’s what you need to know to get started.

A Brief Introduction Buying Tickets Know Before You Go (Down) Rules An Easy Tour

A Brief Introduction

Moscow’s Metro was a long time coming. Plans for rapid transit to relieve the city’s beleaguered tram system date back to the Imperial era, but a couple of wars and a revolution held up its development. Stalin revived it as part of his grand plan to modernize the Soviet Union in the 1920s and 30s. The first lines and tunnels were constructed with help from engineers from the London Underground, although Stalin’s secret police decided that they had learned too much about Moscow’s layout and had them arrested on espionage charges and deported.

The beauty of its stations (if not its trains) is well-documented, and certainly no accident. In its illustrious first phases and particularly after the Second World War, the greatest architects of Soviet era were recruited to create gleaming temples celebrating the Revolution, the USSR, and the war triumph. No two stations are exactly alike, and each of the classic showpieces has a theme. There are world-famous shrines to Futurist architecture, a celebration of electricity, tributes to individuals and regions of the former Soviet Union. Each marble slab, mosaic tile, or light fixture was placed with intent, all in service to a station’s aesthetic; each element, f rom the smallest brass ear of corn to a large blood-spattered sword on a World War II mural, is an essential part of the whole.

The Metro is a monument to the Soviet propaganda project it was intended to be when it opened in 1935 with the slogan “Building a Palace for the People”. It brought the grand interiors of Imperial Russia to ordinary Muscovites, celebrated the Soviet Union’s past achievements while promising its citizens a bright Soviet future, and of course, it was a show-piece for the world to witness the might and sophistication of life in the Soviet Union.

It may be a museum, but it’s no relic. U p to nine million people use it daily, more than the London Underground and New York Subway combined. (Along with, at one time, about 20 stray dogs that learned to commute on the Metro.)

In its 80+ year history, the Metro has expanded in phases and fits and starts, in step with the fortunes of Moscow and Russia. Now, partly in preparation for the World Cup 2018, it’s also modernizing. New trains allow passengers to walk the entire length of the train without having to change carriages. The system is becoming more visitor-friendly. (There are helpful stickers on the floor marking out the best selfie spots .) But there’s a price to modernity: it’s phasing out one of its beloved institutions, the escalator attendants. Often they are middle-aged or elderly women—“ escalator grandmas ” in news accounts—who have held the post for decades, sitting in their tiny kiosks, scolding commuters for bad escalator etiquette or even bad posture, or telling jokes . They are slated to be replaced, when at all, by members of the escalator maintenance staff.

For all its achievements, the Metro lags behind Moscow’s above-ground growth, as Russia’s capital sprawls ever outwards, generating some of the world’s worst traffic jams . But since 2011, the Metro has been in the middle of an ambitious and long-overdue enlargement; 60 new stations are opening by 2020. If all goes to plan, the 2011-2020 period will have brought 125 miles of new tracks and over 100 new stations — a 40 percent increase — the fastest and largest expansion phase in any period in the Metro’s history.

Facts: 14 lines Opening hours: 5 a.m-1 a.m. Rush hour(s): 8-10 a.m, 4-8 p.m. Single ride: 55₽ (about 85 cents) Wi-Fi network-wide

Buying Tickets

• Ticket machines have a button to switch to English.
• You can buy specific numbers of rides: 1, 2, 5, 11, 20, or 60. Hold up fingers to show how many rides you want to buy.
• There is also a 90-minute ticket , which gets you 1 trip on the metro plus an unlimited number of transfers on other transport (bus, tram, etc) within 90 minutes.
• Or, you can buy day tickets with unlimited rides: one day (218₽/ US$4), three days (415₽/US$7) or seven days (830₽/US$15). Check the rates here to stay up-to-date.
• If you’re going to be using the Metro regularly over a few days, it’s worth getting a Troika card , a contactless, refillable card you can use on all public transport. Using the Metro is cheaper with one of these: a single ride is 36₽, not 55₽. Buy them and refill them in the Metro stations, and they’re valid for 5 years, so you can keep it for next time. Or, if you have a lot of cash left on it when you leave, you can get it refunded at the Metro Service Centers at Ulitsa 1905 Goda, 25 or at Staraya Basmannaya 20, Building 1.
• You can also buy silicone bracelets and keychains with built-in transport chips that you can use as a Troika card. (A Moscow Metro Fitbit!) So far, you can only get these at the Pushkinskaya metro station Live Helpdesk and souvenir shops in the Mayakovskaya and Trubnaya metro stations. The fare is the same as for the Troika card.
• You can also use Apple Pay and Samsung Pay.

Rules, spoken and unspoken

No smoking, no drinking, no filming, no littering. Photography is allowed, although it used to be banned.

Stand to the right on the escalator. Break this rule and you risk the wrath of the legendary escalator attendants. (No shenanigans on the escalators in general.)

Get out of the way. Find an empty corner to hide in when you get off a train and need to stare at your phone. Watch out getting out of the train in general; when your train doors open, people tend to appear from nowhere or from behind ornate marble columns, walking full-speed.

Always offer your seat to elderly ladies (what are you, a monster?).

An Easy Tour

This is no Metro Marathon ( 199 stations in 20 hours ). It’s an easy tour, taking in most—though not all—of the notable stations, the bulk of it going clockwise along the Circle line, with a couple of short detours. These stations are within minutes of one another, and the whole tour should take about 1-2 hours.

Start at Mayakovskaya Metro station , at the corner of Tverskaya and Garden Ring,  Triumfalnaya Square, Moskva, Russia, 125047.

1. Mayakovskaya.  Named for Russian Futurist Movement poet Vladimir Mayakovsky and an attempt to bring to life the future he imagined in his poems. (The Futurist Movement, natch, was all about a rejecting the past and celebrating all things speed, industry, modern machines, youth, modernity.) The result: an Art Deco masterpiece that won the National Grand Prix for architecture at the New York World’s Fair in 1939. It’s all smooth, rounded shine and light, and gentle arches supported by columns of dark pink marble and stainless aircraft steel. Each of its 34 ceiling niches has a mosaic. During World War II, the station was used as an air-raid shelter and, at one point, a bunker for Stalin. He gave a subdued but rousing speech here in Nov. 6, 1941 as the Nazis bombed the city above.

Take the 3/Green line one station to:

2. Belorusskaya. Opened in 1952, named after the connected Belarussky Rail Terminal, which runs trains between Moscow and Belarus. This is a light marble affair with a white, cake-like ceiling, lined with Belorussian patterns and 12 Florentine ceiling mosaics depicting life in Belarussia when it was built.

Transfer onto the 1/Brown line. Then, one stop (clockwise) t o:

3. Novoslobodskaya.  This station was designed around the stained-glass panels, which were made in Latvia, because Alexey Dushkin, the Soviet starchitect who dreamed it up (and also designed Mayakovskaya station) couldn’t find the glass and craft locally. The stained glass is the same used for Riga’s Cathedral, and the panels feature plants, flowers, members of the Soviet intelligentsia (musician, artist, architect) and geometric shapes.

Go two stops east on the 1/Circle line to:

4. Komsomolskaya. Named after the Komsomol, or the Young Communist League, this might just be peak Stalin Metro style. Underneath the hub for three regional railways, it was intended to be a grand gateway to Moscow and is today its busiest station. It has chandeliers; a yellow ceiling with Baroque embellishments; and in the main hall, a colossal red star overlaid on golden, shimmering tiles. Designer Alexey Shchusev designed it as an homage to the speech Stalin gave at Red Square on Nov. 7, 1941, in which he invoked Russia’s illustrious military leaders as a pep talk to Soviet soldiers through the first catastrophic year of the war.   The station’s eight large mosaics are of the leaders referenced in the speech, such as Alexander Nevsky, a 13th-century prince and military commander who bested German and Swedish invading armies.

One more stop clockwise to Kurskaya station,  and change onto the 3/Blue  line, and go one stop to:

5. Baumanskaya.   Opened in 1944. Named for the Bolshevik Revolutionary Nikolai Bauman , whose monument and namesake district are aboveground here. Though he seemed like a nasty piece of work (he apparently once publicly mocked a woman he had impregnated, who later hung herself), he became a Revolutionary martyr when he was killed in 1905 in a skirmish with a monarchist, who hit him on the head with part of a steel pipe. The station is in Art Deco style with atmospherically dim lighting, and a series of bronze sculptures of soldiers and homefront heroes during the War. At one end, there is a large mosaic portrait of Lenin.

Stay on that train direction one more east to:

6. Elektrozavodskaya. As you may have guessed from the name, this station is the Metro’s tribute to all thing electrical, built in 1944 and named after a nearby lightbulb factory. It has marble bas-relief sculptures of important figures in electrical engineering, and others illustrating the Soviet Union’s war-time struggles at home. The ceiling’s recurring rows of circular lamps give the station’s main tunnel a comforting glow, and a pleasing visual effect.

Double back two stops to Kurskaya station , and change back to the 1/Circle line. Sit tight for six stations to:

7. Kiyevskaya. This was the last station on the Circle line to be built, in 1954, completed under Nikita Khrushchev’ s guidance, as a tribute to his homeland, Ukraine. Its three large station halls feature images celebrating Ukraine’s contributions to the Soviet Union and Russo-Ukrainian unity, depicting musicians, textile-working, soldiers, farmers. (One hall has frescoes, one mosaics, and the third murals.) Shortly after it was completed, Khrushchev condemned the architectural excesses and unnecessary luxury of the Stalin era, which ushered in an epoch of more austere Metro stations. According to the legend at least, he timed the policy in part to ensure no Metro station built after could outshine Kiyevskaya.

Change to the 3/Blue line and go one stop west.

8. Park Pobedy. This is the deepest station on the Metro, with one of the world’s longest escalators, at 413 feet. If you stand still, the escalator ride to the surface takes about three minutes .) Opened in 2003 at Victory Park, the station celebrates two of Russia’s great military victories. Each end has a mural by Georgian artist Zurab Tsereteli, who also designed the “ Good Defeats Evil ” statue at the UN headquarters in New York. One mural depicts the Russian generals’ victory over the French in 1812 and the other, the German surrender of 1945. The latter is particularly striking; equal parts dramatic, triumphant, and gruesome. To the side, Red Army soldiers trample Nazi flags, and if you look closely there’s some blood spatter among the detail. Still, the biggest impressions here are the marble shine of the chessboard floor pattern and the pleasingly geometric effect if you view from one end to the other.

Keep going one more stop west to:

9. Slavyansky Bulvar.  One of the Metro’s youngest stations, it opened in 2008. With far higher ceilings than many other stations—which tend to have covered central tunnels on the platforms—it has an “open-air” feel (or as close to it as you can get, one hundred feet under). It’s an homage to French architect Hector Guimard, he of the Art Nouveau entrances for the Paris M é tro, and that’s precisely what this looks like: A Moscow homage to the Paris M é tro, with an additional forest theme. A Cyrillic twist on Guimard’s Metro-style lettering over the benches, furnished with t rees and branch motifs, including creeping vines as towering lamp-posts.

Stay on the 3/Blue line and double back four stations to:

10. Arbatskaya. Its first iteration, Arbatskaya-Smolenskaya station, was damaged by German bombs in 1941. It was rebuilt in 1953, and designed to double as a bomb shelter in the event of nuclear war, although unusually for stations built in the post-war phase, this one doesn’t have a war theme. It may also be one of the system’s most elegant: Baroque, but toned down a little, with red marble floors and white ceilings with gilded bronze c handeliers.

Jump back on the 3/Blue line  in the same direction and take it one more stop:

11. Ploshchad Revolyutsii (Revolution Square). Opened in 1938, and serving Red Square and the Kremlin . Its renowned central hall has marble columns flanked by 76 bronze statues of Soviet heroes: soldiers, students, farmers, athletes, writers, parents. Some of these statues’ appendages have a yellow sheen from decades of Moscow’s commuters rubbing them for good luck. Among the most popular for a superstitious walk-by rub: the snout of a frontier guard’s dog, a soldier’s gun (where the touch of millions of human hands have tapered the gun barrel into a fine, pointy blade), a baby’s foot, and a woman’s knee. (A brass rooster also sports the telltale gold sheen, though I am told that rubbing the rooster is thought to bring bad luck. )

Now take the escalator up, and get some fresh air.

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