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Traveling to Russia and beyond

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  • 1. Visa
    • 1.1. Invitation to Russia
      • Should I indicate nights on the train in the application for an invitation letter or Russian visa?
      • Russian visa invitation. What is it and how to get it in 5 minutes?
      • How do I get the invitation to Russia if I’m staying with Airbnb?
      • How do I get the invitation to Russia if I’m making hotel reservations with Booking.com?
      • How do I get the invitation to Russia if I travel on a cruise ship?
      • Can I modify my invitation to Russia if it contains some incorrect information?
    • 1.2. Visa to Russia
      • How to obtain a Russian Visa in an easy and cost-effective way in 2019
      • Is it possible to travel to Russia Visa-Free? Who does not need a visa?
      • Flight Stopover in Moscow: What to See and How to Obtain a Transit Visa
      • Where do I apply for a Russian visa if I live abroad?
      • How to get a Russian visa in Canada in an easy way
      • Russian Embassies, Consulates and Visa Centers – Updated list
      • Visiting St. Petersburg on a cruise without a visa (visa-free) and with a tourist visa
      • How to get a private visa to visit relatives or friends in Russia
      • Is it possible to change my itinerary or renew my Russian visa?
      • The reasons for refusal of the Russian Visa (and how to avoid them)
      • Business Visa to Russia: Step by step guide
      • How to obtain the Russian electronic visa (e-visa): St. Petersburg, Kaliningrad and Far Eastern regions
      • How to get a 3-year tourist Russian visa (only for US citizens)
      • How to get travel medical insurance for Russian visa (in 5 minutes)
    • 1.3. Registration and immigration
      • Registration in Russia: What it is and how it is done
      • Russian airports: immigration card and customs formalities
    • 1.4. Visa to China, India and post-Soviet states
      • How to travel to Belarus without a visa (visa-free) and with visa
      • How to obtain a Chinese Visa in Canada in an easy and cost-effective way
      • How to obtain a Chinese Visa in the USA in an easy and cost-effective way
      • How to apply for the electronic visa to Uzbekistan (e-Visa)
      • How to get an e-Visa to India online: Step-by-step guide
  • 2. Transport
    • 2.1. Arriving by plane
      • How to go from the airport to the center of Moscow or the Red Square
      • How to find the cheapest flights to Moscow and St. Petersburg
      • How to go from Pulkovo Airport to St. Petersburg
      • Russian airports: immigration card and customs formalities
    • 2.2. Russian trains
      • Traveling between Moscow and St. Petersburg: Which is the best way?
      • Trains in Russia: How to buy tickets on-line without the middle-man
      • Train stations in Russia: luggage storage, Wi-Fi and other services
    • 2.3. Metro, bus and taxi
      • How to use the Moscow Metro and what stations to visit
      • How to catch a taxi in Moscow, Saint Petersburg, or in other Russian cities
      • Moscow’s Troika Card: paying all public transport costs with a card
      • St. Petersburg’s Public transport: the Podorozhnik card
      • Traveling by bus through Russia (and how to buy tickets online)
    • 2.4. Car rental
      • Is it worth to rent a car in Russia? Recommendations and requirements
  • 3. Sleep and eat
    • 3.1. Accommodation in Russia
      • Accommodations in Russia: How to choose and where to make a reservation cheaply
      • Ostrovok: the best alternative to Booking.com
    • 3.2. Restaurants in Russia
      • Where to eat in Moscow: from Teremok to Café Pushkin
      • How to book a restaurant in Moscow, St. Petersburg or other Russian cities
      • What do you eat in Russia? Typical dishes and Russian restaurants
  • 4. Destinations
    • 4.1. Moscow
      • What is the Moscow Kremlin and how to buy tickets online
      • Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow: tickets and guided tours
      • What to see and do in Moscow in 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 days
      • Flight Stopover in Moscow: What to See and How to Obtain a Transit Visa
      • Shopping in Moscow: from GUM to Izmailovo market
      • Where to eat in Moscow: from Teremok to Café Pushkin
      • Guided tours in Moscow: by foot, by bicycle, by boat, or by tour bus?
      • The Free Visit to the Lenin Mausoleum in Moscow
      • St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow. Visits, tickets and schedules
      • Moscow’s Troika Card: paying all public transport costs with a card
      • Moscow Tourist Information Offices
      • Official tourist maps of Moscow (PDF)
      • Russia Travel itineraries: Big capitals, the Trans-Siberian Route and the Golden Ring
      • Places to enjoy the best views of Moscow
      • How to buy tickets for the Russian circus in Moscow and St. Petersburg
      • Russian Folklore Shows in Moscow and St. Petersburg
      • Moscow in Space: from the Museum of Cosmonautics to the Planetarium
      • What is a Russian banya and why you should visit it
      • The Seven Sisters of Moscow: The Stalinist Skyscrapers secrets
      • The Cathedral of Christ the Saviour of Moscow: you will not believe its story
      • What to see in Red Square in Moscow (and best things to do)
      • Novodevichy Convent (and cemetery), one of my favorite places in Moscow
      • Star City Moscow, where the cosmonauts live – What to see inside?
      • Moscow City: Skyscrapers & Observation Decks (You can go up to enjoy for its views)
      • Traveling to Moscow with children: What to see and do as a family
      • The Tretyakov Gallery: Russian art like you’ve never seen before
      • VDNH (VDNKh), my favorite park in Moscow: Back to the USSR!
    • 4.2. St Petersburg
      • The Hermitage of St. Petersburg: What to see and how to avoid queues
      • What to see and do in St. Petersburg in 1, 2, 3 or 4 days
      • The Palaces and Gardens of Peterhof, a must-go site in St. Petersburg
      • Catherine’s Palace in St. Petersburg: how to buy tickets online
      • The main cathedrals of St. Petersburg: Tickets and schedules
      • Opera and ballet in St. Petersburg: Where to go and how to buy tickets
      • Russia Travel itineraries: Big capitals, the Trans-Siberian Route and the Golden Ring
      • St. Petersburg’s Public transport: the Podorozhnik card
      • How to buy tickets for the Russian circus in Moscow and St. Petersburg
      • Russian Folklore Shows in Moscow and St. Petersburg
      • The Church of the Savior in St. Petersburg: How to buy tickets and schedules
      • Saint Isaac’s Cathedral in St. Petersburg: how to buy tickets and schedules
      • What is a Russian banya and why you should visit it
      • Peter and Paul Fortress in St. Petersburg: Guide to not get lost
      • White Nights of St. Petersburg: When the city doesn’t sleep
      • Essential tourist maps of St. Petersburg (PDF and JPG)
      • Visiting St. Petersburg on a cruise without a visa (visa-free) and with a tourist visa
      • Drawbridges (and Pedestrian Bridges) of St. Petersburg: Schedules and Recommendations
    • 4.3. Trans-Siberian
      • Organizing a Trans-Siberian Train Trip
      • Russia Travel itineraries: Big capitals, the Trans-Siberian Route and the Golden Ring
      • What is a Russian banya and why you should visit it
      • What to see (and do) at Lake Baikal between Irkutsk and Ulan-Ude
      • Yekaterinburg, where Europe and Asia come together
      • Next stop: Novosibirsk. Welcome to Siberia!
    • 4.4. The Golden Ring of Russia
      • The Golden Ring of Russia: from Sergiyev Posad to Suzdal
    • 4.5. Veliky Novgorod
      • Trip to Veliky Novgorod: the birthplace of Russia
    • 4.6. Kazan
      • The Kazan Kremlin: it will captivate you
  • 5. Practicalities
    • 5.1. Ruble exchange and prices
      • How to send money to Russia: WesterUnion, PayPal or TransferWise?
      • Is Russia an expensive or cheap country to travel? Tips to reduce expenses
      • Where is it better to change dollars for rubles?
      • How to request a VAT refund in Russia (Tax Free)
      • How to pay for purchases in Russia without losing money in ruble exchange?
    • 5.2. Weather, health and safety
      • Is Russia a safe country for tourists? Travel tips
      • When is the best time to travel to Russia (and which clothes to wear)
      • What is a Russian banya and why you should visit it
    • 5.3. Telephone and Internet
      • How to buy a Russian SIM card for your smartphone (online or in a store)
    • 5.4. Russian products
      • Which souvenirs to buy in Russia? From Matrioskas to Cheburashka
      • 15 maps that will give you a better insight of Russia
      • Traveling to Russia with a travel agency or on your own? What is better?
      • Holidays and celebrations in Russia in 2020 (and important days)
You are here: Home / 4. Destinations / 4.1. Moscow / Guided tours in Moscow: by foot, by bicycle, by boat, or by tour bus?

Guided tours in Moscow: by foot, by bicycle, by boat, or by tour bus?

Posted on: 09.14.19 | by Irena Domingo

Moscow can be visited in many different ways thanks to tourist services that are offered in the city: by foot, by bike, by tour bus, by taxi, by tour boat, or through other more adventurous alternatives such as hot air balloon, helicopter, or plane. In this post, I explain the different alternatives that are offered in the city for taking guided tours in English or in other languages.

Article updated on September 14, 2019. Published on April 16, 2016

«Radisson Royal Moscow» flotilla - Kremlin

The fastest and most economical way to explore the city of Moscow is to use the Metro but it can also be visited through various tourist services that are offered in the city.

  • Guided tour on foot: There are several companies that do free guided tours through the center of Moscow (that are financed through voluntary tipping) and paid excursions.
  • By bike: It is also possible to take a guided bike ride.
  • Tour bus: Like many other large cities, it is also possible to visit Moscow via tour bus.
  • Taxi: There are taxi companies that do private tours through the city.
  • Tour boat: Another very highly recommended way to visit the city is via a cruise on the river Moskva that goes through the center of the city.
  • Other alternatives: It is also possible to visit the city via motorcycle, Segway, hot air balloon, helicopter, plane, or streetcar.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

  • Basic Information
  • 1. Guided walking tour
  • 2. Guided bike tour
  • 3. Tourist bus
  • 4. Taxi tours
  • 5. Tour boat cruises
  • 6. Alternative methods for visiting the city

Basic Information

  • The majority of tourist services offered by companies are sited as being offered in English and in Russian, although some also offer tours in other languages like German, Spanish, Italian, or French.
  • Moscow CityPassLike in other large cities, in Moscow there is also a special tourist card offered, called the Moscow CityPass, and it offers access to different museums, to a tour bus, and to a cruise on the river Moskva. I have done the calculations and I sincerely believe that it is better to pay the daily entry fees for the museums in rubles. However, everyone should do their own calculations in order to find out if it is worth it to buy the card.
  • Before hiring any of the services mentioned in this blog, I recommend read the opinions of other travelers who have used their services on the GetYourGuide platform.

1. Guided walking tour

One of the best ways to familiar yourself with a city is the do a guided walking tour through the center of Moscow. Many companies do free tours through the city center.

For example, Civitatis offer free daily walking free tours through the city center to visit the exteriors of the Red Square, Saint Basil’s Cathedral and the Kremlin complex, among many others. The tour can be booked online.

The tour is financed through voluntary tipping from the tourists that go on the tour and, of course, if you are satisfied with this free tour, they will offer your other paid tour options such as a tour via the Moscow Metro or a tour of communist Moscow, among others.

  • Website: https://www.civitatis.com/en/moscow/free-walking-tour-moscow/

Guided tour Moscow - Featured image

Free Walking Tour of Moscow - Book Online

But there are many other alternatives for doing guided walking tours through the city in English or in other languages:

  • GetYourGuide
  • Moscow Private Tours
  • Bridge to Moscow
  • Happy Moscow Tours
  • Friendly Local Guides Moscow
  • Moscow Greeter Day Tours
  • Kremlin Tour
  • IdeaGuide
  • ExploRussia Company
  • Tour-Moscow
  • VikiTours – Moscow Private Tours
  • Moscow 360
  • Tour of Moscow

2. Guided bike tour

Another great way to explore the city is to do a guided bike tour, which will allow you to have an idea not only of the center of the city but also of other places further away from the center.

The company Moscow Bike Tours does many different bike tours through the city. For example, the Grand Moscow Bike Tour allows you to see the architectural marvels of the city, as well as the city parks. The tour leaves every day at 11 in the morning, lasts 5 and a half hours, and costs 70 dollars per person for groups of more than 3 people. You should make a reservation in advance on their website.

The advantage of the bike, apart from being ecological and avoiding traffic jams, is that it allows you the agility to explore the extensive terrain of the capital of Russia, although it is always preferable to do the tour in the summer and with plenty of time. Additionally, the network of bike lanes in Moscow has improved considerably in the last several years.

  • Website: http://moscowbiketours.com

Bike tours in Moscow

 

Another alternative for doing bike tours through the city in Russian or English is offered by Oliver Bikes.

3. Tourist bus

Like in other large cities all over the world, in Moscow it is also possible to tour the city via the British tour bus Company City Sightseeing Worldwide, and functions via a network of franchises.

The audio for the tour is in many languages. The service costs about $18 through GetYourGuide website.

  • Website: https://www.getyourguide.com/moscow-l181/city-sightseeing-tour-moscow-t30665/

Touristic bus Moscow

Route Touristic bus Moscow

4. Taxi tours

There are also several taxi companies that offer tours in several languages throughout the city. The most well-known is Lingotaxi, which will pick you up from your hotel in order to do a private tour through the city in which you can choose your own itinerary.

The inconvenience of the taxi is that it is more expensive and that in Moscow there are frequently traffic jams.

  • Website: https://lingotaxi.com/moscow-city-tour/

Private Moscow City Tour - Taxi - Lingotaxi

5. Tour boat cruises

The river Moskva, that forms part of the watershed of the Volga, goes through the city of Moscow. It offers the possibility to see the city from a very different viewpoint, via a boat cruise. There are many different companies that do cruises on the river Moskva. Among them, the Radisson Royal Fleet and its modern boats with restaurant service stand out.

The boats offer two different routes, one that leaves from the Hotel Ukrania and the other from Gorky Park and they last between 2.5 to 3 hours without stops (starting and finishing in the same place). They also do night tours as well. The tickets can also be purchased online or at the point of embarkation. I suppose that during high season it could be recommended to buy your tickets in advance online.

Depending on whether or not you go in first class or tourist class, the prices can oscillate between 700 and 2,000 rubles per person. If you want to eat or have dinner on the boat, this has an additional cost. The boats offer audio guides without any added cost in both English and Russian.

  • Website: https://www.radisson-cruise.ru/

«Radisson Royal Moscow» flotilla - Hotel Ukraina 2

 

Route Boat 1 - Flotilla Radisson

Other alternatives, some more economical but on more simple boats, are:

  • River Palace
  • Capital Shipping Company – Day River Tours
  • MosFlot
  • Moscow River Boat Tours

6. Alternative methods for visiting the city

Visit MOscow by airplaneLastly, it is also possible to take tours of the city via other less conventional modes of transportation, and services for which are generally offered only in Russian or English:

  • Segway: http://segwaypoint.ru/
  • Motorcycle: http://www.retro-ride.ru/
  • Hot air balloon: http://www.aerowaltz.ru/
  • MIG-29 Airplane: http://www.fly-mig29.com/
  • Helicopter: http://www.heliexpress.ru/
  • Annushka Streetcar: http://tramvay-annushka.ru/
  • Tank: Tank Riding and Bazooka Military Experience

 

 

 

I hope that this post has helped you to choose the best way to visit Moscow. If you have found it useful, you can help me by sharing it on your social media networks. Thank you for reading!

 

 

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About the Author

Irena Domingo's avatar

Hello, my name is Irena. I was born in Russia in 1974 during the Soviet era. I worked as a Russian teacher and as a translator and interpreter for the past 15 years. One of my main hobbies is traveling. Therefore, through this blog I want to help those people who want to travel to Russia.

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Hey! I’m Irena Domingo

I was born in Russia in 1974 during the Soviet era. I started this blog with one goal: to create the most complete guide ever written to travel to Russia and beyond!

I want to know about …

  • 1. Visa
    • 1.1. Invitation to Russia
    • 1.2. Visa to Russia
    • 1.3. Registration and immigration
    • 1.4. Visa to China, India and post-Soviet states
  • 2. Transport
    • 2.1. Arriving by plane
    • 2.2. Russian trains
    • 2.3. Metro, bus and taxi
    • 2.4. Car rental
  • 3. Sleep and eat
    • 3.1. Accommodation in Russia
    • 3.2. Restaurants in Russia
  • 4. Destinations
    • 4.1. Moscow
    • 4.2. St Petersburg
    • 4.3. Trans-Siberian
    • 4.4. The Golden Ring of Russia
    • 4.5. Veliky Novgorod
    • 4.6. Kazan
  • 5. Practicalities
    • 5.1. Ruble exchange and prices
    • 5.2. Weather, health and safety
    • 5.3. Telephone and Internet
    • 5.4. Russian products

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