Moscow Tours

Moscow is the capital of Russia and one of the most visited cities in the country. It is famous for its many parks, monuments, museums, architectural structures and historical sites.

The best way to see the capital's sights is on a guided tour. That way, you'll learn a lot more than you would on your own.

The best excursions in the Russian capital: how to choose?

There are hundreds of excursions in Moscow, but some of them deserve special attention. Here are the top-6.

City sightseeing tours

A sightseeing tour of Moscow is the best option for your first acquaintance with the city. On our website, you can order a bus, walking, or combined sightseeing tour from some of the capital's best guides. They are held at daytime and in the evening and last from 1 to 8 hours.

During this time you will see the most important places - Red Square, Sofia embankment, Vorobyovy Gory, Mosfilmovskaya Street and so on. Walks are accompanied by a fascinating story that will enrich your knowledge about the main city of the country and allow you to look at it with different eyes.

Boat trips on the Moskva River

A cruise on the Moskva River is a great choice for the warmer months. There are several types of transport available - yachts, mini-boats or the Loft Boat.

The itinerary of the river tours is designed so that you can see as many objects as possible. You will be able to see the business centre "Moscow City", the Kremlin, the House on the embankment, the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour and other sights.

Guided tours of the Kremlin Museums

Excursions in the Kremlin museums with a personal guide have a lot of advantages. Firstly, you don't have to wait for your turn, and secondly, you are guaranteed to get into the most hard-to-reach places and definitely don't miss anything. The Armoury, the Diamond Fund, the Lenin Mausoleum, the Kremlin Palace and Sobornaya Square await you.

Walks with Diggers - trips to Moscow dungeons

Walking tours through Moscow dungeons - it is unusual, interesting and absolutely safe. Together with experienced diggers, tour group participants will descend into the capital's tunnels, make their way to the underground Neglinka River, and explore several of its collectors. This is a unique chance to see the centre of the Russian capital from the inside.

Field trips to the suburbs

Bus trips around the Moscow region include many destinations. Depending on the tour program, you can drive along the Golden Ring, see the sights of ancient cities and abandoned military bases of the Moscow region, get acquainted with the centuries-old history of Serpukhov, Aleksin, Aleksandrov. Professional guides will tell you interesting facts about their history and make your trip unforgettable.

Excursions in museums with a personal guide

There are many museums in Moscow that you must visit. And if you want to make your city-break as eventful and interesting as possible, a personal guide can be a great help. A personal guide will show you the Mosfilm studio and the Tretyakov Gallery, and will guide you through Moscow's numerous bunkers, Star City and other iconic sights.

What to see in Moscow

There are so many places to see in Russia's capital, but these are a good place to start.

Moscow Kremlin and Red Square

This part of the Russian capital is considered the most famous. In its long history, it has survived many wars and fires. Therefore, both the Red (i.e. beautiful) square and the Kremlin standing on it have survived to this day in a modified form. However, this did not prevent them from topping the list of the most visited sights in Moscow and becoming a symbol of Russia.

Nowadays, the square hosts important entertainment and state events, and the Kremlin is home to government offices, churches, museums, the residence of the Russian president, and a cemetery with graves of top party figures.

The Kremlin walls are 2.5 kilometres long. Along the entire length they are fortified with 20 towers. The most famous of them is the Spasskaya Tower, against the background of which the President reads his annual New Year's address.

Moscow City

"Moscow-City" is a business quarter of the city, an embodiment of the new Russian economy and the main development project of the beginning of the noughties. The main part of the area is built up with modern high-tech skyscrapers. There are 23, but not all of them are finished. Each building has its own name and there are viewing platforms on almost all of them.

Of those high-rises that have already been commissioned, the ones that stand out the most are the Federation, the Eye, the Western, and the Empire. They offer a beautiful panorama of Moscow streets and main city objects - the White House, Ostankino, the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour and others.

Today Moscow-City is called the most expensive long-term construction project of the country, and debates about its expediency are still in progress.

St. Basil's Cathedral

The list of the capital's best sights includes this cathedral, renowned all over the world. It was built on the orders of Ivan the Terrible back in the second half of the 16th century. At that time, the temple was called The Intercession on the Rvu, and was dedicated to the capture of the Kazan Khanate. It received its present name a little later, when St Basil the Fool for Christ, much loved by the people, was buried nearby.

In former times the domes of the building were decorated with real gold and the walls were faced with red stone. After the fire, however, the restorers painted it in different colours, which made the temple look like a big birthday cake. You can admire the masterpieces of the shrine at any time of the day or night. Because of the bright lighting it does not lose its attractiveness even at night.

Tretyakov Gallery

This world famous Moscow museum is named after its founder. It features a unique collection of artwork which once belonged to the Tretyakov family. After his death the head of the family bequeathed them to the state. Thus the famous Tretyakovka, which is considered to be the most visited museum in Moscow, was born.

The official opening of the gallery took place in 1892. At that time it contained up to 1000 specimen paintings, about 500 graphic works, several ancient sculptures and a large collection of icons. Now it is the largest museum of Russian art, with over 200,000 works on display.

Bolshoi Theatre

The State Academic Bolshoi Theatre is one of the most famous theatres in the country. The Bolshoi Theatre officially opened only in 1825, though the troupe was formed much earlier. The first performance was called "Triumph of Muses". The Bolshoi's repertoire has since been expanded to include a hundred plays which are enjoyed by locals and tourists alike.

The theatre has burned down and been rebuilt many times. Nowadays the majestic building, with its massive columns, graceful sculptures, and crystal chandeliers, resembles a palace. It regularly hosts international stars and is considered to be the finest example of theatrical art.

Tips for travellers

When is the best time to visit Moscow?

Moscow can be visited at any time of year, and the choice of season depends entirely on the purpose of the trip.

If you love walking and are planning to visit the capital's suburbs, visit in September, May or June. The city is comfortable at this time, and rainfall is infrequent.

In late spring, Moscow is a blessing - fresh air, flowers blooming, birds singing, green grass beginning to sprout. The temperature sits at 12 to 18 degrees. And most importantly, at this time you can attend the grand parade on Victory Day.

At the beginning of summer in the capital it is still not too hot - the average is +23-24 degrees. Beyond that, it will be sweltering, and with so many houses, people and cars, it's hard to bear. Hiking in July and August can only be done in the late afternoon, when most museums have closed.

September is the best time for sightseeing. The air cools to +18 and there can be rain, but it's still dry and warm for the first 2 weeks.

Is it worth going in winter? It all depends on the weather. If it's snowing and freezing outside, the city is beautiful. When the temperature is above zero, you can't escape the slush.

To make sure you don't miss out, head to Moscow for the New Year and Christmas holidays. In late December and early January, the streets are decorated with garlands, the country's main Christmas tree is installed on Red Square, Christmas tunes are played, and interesting events are held all over the city. Active recreational activities like skating, skiing or snowboarding also deserve attention.

In the off-season, Moscow is humid. To avoid spoiling your holiday, hurry up and book a ticket for a concert or a guided tour of the museums and theatres. Either way, you should book your hotel in advance - there are always plenty of tourists.

Do foreigners need a visa?

To visit Moscow, tourists from other countries need to open a 30-day visa. To do this, you should gather a package of documents and apply to a visa centre, a travel agency or a Russian consulate. The time for issuing an entry permit varies from 1-2 days to several weeks.

Also note that since 2021 the citizens of 52 states may visit Russia with electronic visa. It is faster, works for 60 days from the date of issue, but allows you to stay only 16 days.

How many days should I go to Moscow?

You should allow at least 7-9 days for a comfortable exploration of the city's main sights.