Visiting Moscow remains a fascinating experience, although the international situation has changed the rules for foreign tourists. Major platforms like GetYourGuide, Civitatis, or Viator no longer operate in Russia, and many traditional activities cannot be booked with a foreign card due to sanctions.
Nevertheless, there are several practical and safe ways to enjoy guided tours around the city, both on foot and by boat, with options that allow online booking or direct payment to the guide on the day of the tour. In this article, I’ll explain the best current alternatives for organized tourism in Moscow.
1. Free Tours in Moscow with GuruWalk (online booking, payment to guide)
The simplest and most economical option to start discovering Moscow is to join a free walking tour in the historic center. The platform GuruWalk offers tours in various languages (English, Spanish, German, French, Italian, etc.) led by independent guides who live in the city and know its history and curiosities well.
- How does it work?
You make a free online reservation and show up on the day of the tour at the meeting point. At the end, you can tip the guide according to your satisfaction level (it is recommended between 5 and 20 euros per person). - Available themes:
- Must-see Moscow (Red Square, Kremlin, GUM…)
- Soviet Moscow Tour
- Night Tour
- Alternative Tour (street art, hidden stories…)
- Advantages:
- No need to pay in advance
- Good option for the first day in the city
2. Excursions and Tours with Sputnik8 (online booking, payment to guide)
Sputnik8 is a Russian platform that offers a wide variety of day trips, guided tours, and local experiences, many of them in various languages (English, Spanish, French, Italian, etc.). Although it does not allow payment with a foreign card, you can reserve many of the tours in advance and pay in cash to the guide on the day of the tour.
- How does it work?
- Find the tour you are interested in on their website
- Make the reservation (you will receive confirmation by email)
- Go to the meeting point and pay upon arrival
- Some recommended experiences:
- Kremlin + Red Square Tour
- Excursion to Sergiev Posad Monastery
- Walk through the Moscow Metro
- Private car tours with local guide
- Advantages:
- Wide variety of activities (including excursions outside Moscow)
- Ideal for those looking for authentic and flexible activities
3. Audio Guide Tours with AllTours App (no human guides, online payment)
If you prefer to go at your own pace, an excellent alternative is the interactive audio guides from AllTours.App, an international app that allows payment with a foreign card.
- How does it work?
Download the app, choose a tour (routes in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and other cities), pay with a card or Google Pay, and put on your headphones to start the tour whenever you want. - Available themes:
- Tour of central Moscow (Red Square, Kremlin, St. Basil’s Cathedral…)
- Moscow Metro (stopping at the most monumental stations)
- 1-day Moscow tour
- Panoramic tour from Zaryadye Bridge
- Advantages:
- No dependence on schedules or groups
- You can repeat the tour whenever you want
- Content in multiple languages (English, Spanish, etc.)
4. Moscow River Cruises with Moskvatrip (payment with foreign card or PayPal)
An unforgettable way to enjoy Moscow is to take a boat ride on the Moskva River, especially at sunset. The company Moskvatrip allows you to buy tickets online using a foreign card or PayPal, something very uncommon in Russia today.
- What do they offer?
- 1-2 hour sightseeing cruises in central Moscow
- Views of the Kremlin, St. Basil’s Cathedral, Zaryadye Park…
- Option for a dinner cruise or just a panoramic one
- How to book:
- Visit https://en.moskvatrip.ru
- Choose the tour and schedule
- Buy tickets online with Visa/MasterCard/PayPal
- Advantages:
- Platform available in English
- Secure option for booking from abroad
- Modern and air-conditioned boats
Conclusion
Although many international platforms have stopped operating in Russia, it is still possible to enjoy organized tourism in Moscow if you know where to look. From classic free tours to audio guides, full-day excursions, or boat rides, there are options for all tastes and budgets, and the best part: you can book them without needing a Russian MIR card.
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