Moscow in September
Discussion
As said I wouldn't drive!, even our office drivers have a death wish. Have a look at the armoury in the Kremlin, In fact you could probably spend a day in the Kremlin as its a collection of buildings / churches. Lots of Russian school kids though. Red square, Gorky Park and a trip around the underground network. To be honest it may be well worth paying for a local guide as it's not the easiest city to negotiate around if its your first time.
Warning as well, it's not cheap. Two economies operate a tourist one and a local, The airport is a long way out of town and it can be very expensive if you get in the "wrong" cab. I normally have the luxury of an office car pick me up but it may be sensible to sort something through the hotel. Having said that there is the train which I've used but it can be a little daunting given that you cannot even make a stab at a translation.
You will have a great time, the nightlife is great although I probably wouldnt have taken the girlfriend!
Warning as well, it's not cheap. Two economies operate a tourist one and a local, The airport is a long way out of town and it can be very expensive if you get in the "wrong" cab. I normally have the luxury of an office car pick me up but it may be sensible to sort something through the hotel. Having said that there is the train which I've used but it can be a little daunting given that you cannot even make a stab at a translation.
You will have a great time, the nightlife is great although I probably wouldnt have taken the girlfriend!
Mail me if you want the phone numbers of a couple of English speaking drivers. They are very reliable and take cash... 1 also takes cards, but a large surcharge for this.
So ... Moscow......
The Kremlin.... as posted above, it´s excellent to see the museums
Lenin - Free, but a cost to store your bag
St Basil´s Cathedral - Well worth the 4 quid to go round
Gum - A shopping centre, but see it at night with the lights on
Gorky park - Not worth it and quite a walk
The Metro - Well worth going to some famous stations
The Bolshoi - Your concierge will be able to get these tickets and it is brilliant (it´s the only ballet I have been to) and the Bolshoi building is spectacular
Food - Goodmans Steakhouse - like the one in London, but better in my opinion
restaurants can be expensive, but there are other places I have been to which are very good.... but your card will take a big hit
Explorer on Solyanka is the strangest restaurant I have ever been to with it´s helicopter inside, furs everywhere and be very careful with what you order.
Mr Lee´s chinese is very good
Don´t hand a wallet back to anyone which they "dropped". Be nice to the police and I would not take a gypsy taxi (i.e. a car which you flag down and just pay some cash to) You will usually need to book taxi´s although not always
To get from the airport (Domo is you fly BA or Shero if you fly Aeroflot) is possible by train and quicker than by car. If you are used to foreign cities and travelling then do it.... otherwise, get a taxi pre-booked.
Sure there are other things, if I think of any, I will add them
So ... Moscow......
The Kremlin.... as posted above, it´s excellent to see the museums
Lenin - Free, but a cost to store your bag
St Basil´s Cathedral - Well worth the 4 quid to go round
Gum - A shopping centre, but see it at night with the lights on
Gorky park - Not worth it and quite a walk
The Metro - Well worth going to some famous stations
The Bolshoi - Your concierge will be able to get these tickets and it is brilliant (it´s the only ballet I have been to) and the Bolshoi building is spectacular
Food - Goodmans Steakhouse - like the one in London, but better in my opinion
restaurants can be expensive, but there are other places I have been to which are very good.... but your card will take a big hit
Explorer on Solyanka is the strangest restaurant I have ever been to with it´s helicopter inside, furs everywhere and be very careful with what you order.
Mr Lee´s chinese is very good
Don´t hand a wallet back to anyone which they "dropped". Be nice to the police and I would not take a gypsy taxi (i.e. a car which you flag down and just pay some cash to) You will usually need to book taxi´s although not always
To get from the airport (Domo is you fly BA or Shero if you fly Aeroflot) is possible by train and quicker than by car. If you are used to foreign cities and travelling then do it.... otherwise, get a taxi pre-booked.
Sure there are other things, if I think of any, I will add them
My favourite places:
1) Novodevichy Cemetary - fabulous fabulous monuments, lots of names you'll recognise: Rybalko (he gets a tank), Prokoviev, Alexander Lebed, Boris Yeltsin, Molotov, Ivan Kozhedub, Mrs Gorbechova, Gogol, Gromyko, Eisenstein, Ilyushin, Shostakovich, Tupolev, etc etc. And it's wooded and beautiful.
2) Gorky's House (if you like Art Noveau).
3) VVts All Russian Exhibition Centre - pavilions are full of tat, but the buildings themselves and the Fountain of the Friendship of Peoples are gorgeous. Lots of locals there drinking tea in inexpensive cafes, and same Metro stop as Space Museum (once agin, the exterior of the building is unbelievable, even if you don't go in to see Gagarin's capsule, etc) and the "Worker and Peasant Girl" statue.
4) The Metro.
5) Any park!
Good local chain to eat is Yolki-Palki (think Harvester - right down to the salad bar - but done well, with Russian dishes). Menu changes through the year but I still remember the Pea Soup with fondness!
Wear dark trousers (grey, brown) - all the locals do. Light shirt and leather jacket.
1) Novodevichy Cemetary - fabulous fabulous monuments, lots of names you'll recognise: Rybalko (he gets a tank), Prokoviev, Alexander Lebed, Boris Yeltsin, Molotov, Ivan Kozhedub, Mrs Gorbechova, Gogol, Gromyko, Eisenstein, Ilyushin, Shostakovich, Tupolev, etc etc. And it's wooded and beautiful.
2) Gorky's House (if you like Art Noveau).
3) VVts All Russian Exhibition Centre - pavilions are full of tat, but the buildings themselves and the Fountain of the Friendship of Peoples are gorgeous. Lots of locals there drinking tea in inexpensive cafes, and same Metro stop as Space Museum (once agin, the exterior of the building is unbelievable, even if you don't go in to see Gagarin's capsule, etc) and the "Worker and Peasant Girl" statue.
4) The Metro.
5) Any park!
Good local chain to eat is Yolki-Palki (think Harvester - right down to the salad bar - but done well, with Russian dishes). Menu changes through the year but I still remember the Pea Soup with fondness!
Wear dark trousers (grey, brown) - all the locals do. Light shirt and leather jacket.
Really no need to drive. If you want a car and driver for your stay, my old driver, Victor will organize very reasonably, his number is +7 9264758886.
Do the Kremlin, St Basils, Christ the Saviour, Gum, the memorial to the Great Patriotic War, the Metro (for the stations), the Bolshoi ballet and Gorky Park. Mooch around Red Square, the Patriots Ponds (the Soho/Covent Garden of Moscow, with loads of good and reasonably priced restaurants) and the Old Arbatskaya. I also think the old Olympic venues out in Donetsk are very emblematic of the Soviet Cold War era. if you're okay sitting in traffic for a while, Stalin's "nearby dacha" out at Kuntsovo is also worth a visit.
Walk lots and soak in the culture. Don't be phased WHEN the police doc-check you and remember that, in my experience, it's as safe a city to bumble about as any.
Remember that it's expensive and that people won't go massively out of their way to be helpful to tourists (you need to go to St Pete's for that). If you fly into Domedodevo and you're not pre-booking a driver, take the train, which costs you about £3 opposed to £20-30 and delivers you to Paveletskya station which is a couple of metro stops from the very centre of town. When you have reclaimed your bags and checked through customs, turn right and head to the main concourse. Turn left and walk to the far end of the arrivals hall and you'll see the station to your right. The ticket office is dead ahead of you. Buy a ticket at the windows, DO NOT buy from the touts hanging around in front of you.
Finally remember that, if you're going in early September it may well still be stinking hot and, if later in the month, it could be really, really wet
Do the Kremlin, St Basils, Christ the Saviour, Gum, the memorial to the Great Patriotic War, the Metro (for the stations), the Bolshoi ballet and Gorky Park. Mooch around Red Square, the Patriots Ponds (the Soho/Covent Garden of Moscow, with loads of good and reasonably priced restaurants) and the Old Arbatskaya. I also think the old Olympic venues out in Donetsk are very emblematic of the Soviet Cold War era. if you're okay sitting in traffic for a while, Stalin's "nearby dacha" out at Kuntsovo is also worth a visit.
Walk lots and soak in the culture. Don't be phased WHEN the police doc-check you and remember that, in my experience, it's as safe a city to bumble about as any.
Remember that it's expensive and that people won't go massively out of their way to be helpful to tourists (you need to go to St Pete's for that). If you fly into Domedodevo and you're not pre-booking a driver, take the train, which costs you about £3 opposed to £20-30 and delivers you to Paveletskya station which is a couple of metro stops from the very centre of town. When you have reclaimed your bags and checked through customs, turn right and head to the main concourse. Turn left and walk to the far end of the arrivals hall and you'll see the station to your right. The ticket office is dead ahead of you. Buy a ticket at the windows, DO NOT buy from the touts hanging around in front of you.
Finally remember that, if you're going in early September it may well still be stinking hot and, if later in the month, it could be really, really wet
Edited by ClaphamGT3 on Thursday 25th July 22:19
F1SERB said:
have to take the misses im afraid
Don't mention the women unless the mrs mentions them, and even then be neutral. Don't get caught looking (by your mrs).I work for a Russian company and have got myself in to a lot of bother by having various attractive ladies as facebook friends and mentioning their beauty in passing.
All very good suggestions from the other posters. A couple of ideas that I would consider:
1. As well as the metro consider taking a trip on trolleybus 'B' which circumnavigates the garden ring. You will see quite a large portion of Moscow from above ground as opposed to under it.
http://www.likealocalguide.com/moscow/trolleybus-6...
It takes on average an hour to complete the circuit but traffic can be murderous. Grab a beer (N.B. not sure if this is more regulated now) and watch the world go by!
2. Visit park kolomenskoye - Good views & architecture. (As mentioned above most Moscow parks are fantastic but this was by far my favourite when I was there)
3. Head up to vorobyovy gory (sparrow hills) to get nice view of the city, take a look at MGU, see the ski jumps and see all of the seven sisters buildings from the look out in one hit.
4. Try taking a river cruise through the city (not done one myself but they are really popular by all accounts)
This topic has really made me nostalgic for the place. Lived there in 2005-2006 and forgot how much I missed it. Hope it hasn't changed too much.
Enjoy your trip!
1. As well as the metro consider taking a trip on trolleybus 'B' which circumnavigates the garden ring. You will see quite a large portion of Moscow from above ground as opposed to under it.
http://www.likealocalguide.com/moscow/trolleybus-6...
It takes on average an hour to complete the circuit but traffic can be murderous. Grab a beer (N.B. not sure if this is more regulated now) and watch the world go by!
2. Visit park kolomenskoye - Good views & architecture. (As mentioned above most Moscow parks are fantastic but this was by far my favourite when I was there)
3. Head up to vorobyovy gory (sparrow hills) to get nice view of the city, take a look at MGU, see the ski jumps and see all of the seven sisters buildings from the look out in one hit.
4. Try taking a river cruise through the city (not done one myself but they are really popular by all accounts)
This topic has really made me nostalgic for the place. Lived there in 2005-2006 and forgot how much I missed it. Hope it hasn't changed too much.
Enjoy your trip!
Edited by Backalicious on Friday 26th July 12:52
Puggit said:
I would strongly not recommend driving in Russia!!
What this guy said. It's mental. Like other world mental.To reiterate what others have mentioned:
- The Bolshoi is a delight. Amazing building, and fantastic ballet/opera.
- Get around the tube network. It's on the kind of scale than makes London look pathetic (>10mins between some stops), and some of the stations have to be seen to be believed (chandeliers etc.). Make sure you touch the dog's nose for luck (Google it).
- Pushkin Museum is very cool.
- Tretyakov Gallery is enormous, and full of classic Russian works.
- Museum of the Great Patriotic War was a real eye-opener, and a must for anyone with an interest in history.
- Likewise Bunker 42.
- St Basil's is great on the outside, but dull as dishwater when you get inside. Save the money, walk 15mins along the river and go to Christ the Saviour instead. Mindblowing.
It's an odd city, and could seem quite impenetrable if you can't speak the language (think Tokyo for comparison). I'm lucky that I can speak enough to hold a conversation, but even then the 'snobbery' language factor can be worse than Paris (I speak French, but almost all non-speakers I know have had unpleasant experiences there). I STRONGLY suggest that you go beyond learning "please" and "thank you", as otherwise you might find yourself eating in McDonald's or Starbucks.
Otherwise, have a ball!
Edited by Dave200 on Friday 26th July 17:25
If you're not sure who Pushkin is, please do read up before you go. This guy is a national hero to the same level as Nelson or Wellington here, even though he wrote poetry 
As for the language, good luck. I work with Russians, I try and get them to teach me the language, I'm good at learniing languages - it's still utterly impenetrable to me!
As for the language, good luck. I work with Russians, I try and get them to teach me the language, I'm good at learniing languages - it's still utterly impenetrable to me!
Puggit said:
If you're not sure who Pushkin is, please do read up before you go. This guy is a national hero to the same level as Nelson or Wellington here, even though he wrote poetry
As for the language, good luck. I work with Russians, I try and get them to teach me the language, I'm good at leaking languages - it's still utterly impenetrable to me!
I am a linguaphile; I speak near fluent French, business German and Korean, conversational Dutch, basic Spanish and basic/business Russian. It is without a shadow of a doubt, the hardest language that I have ever learnt, both to write and to speak and the idea that you can just 'absorb' it by being amongst Russian speakers is madness.As for the language, good luck. I work with Russians, I try and get them to teach me the language, I'm good at leaking languages - it's still utterly impenetrable to me!
Fantastic city. Have you sorted out all visas etc and the invitation?
I personally would have gone in the winter - I did a few years ago (eary, and more cold war drama/ excitement)
Have you looked at tickets to the bolshoi? They can be quite cheap especially if you book in advance.
Red Square is a must obviously and Lenins tomb but don't take anything with you (Cameras etc), there is a locker you can drop your stuff off at.
Someone told me about a KGB museum but couldnt find it, maybe worth a google search.
Good luck and enjoy.
I personally would have gone in the winter - I did a few years ago (eary, and more cold war drama/ excitement)
Have you looked at tickets to the bolshoi? They can be quite cheap especially if you book in advance.
Red Square is a must obviously and Lenins tomb but don't take anything with you (Cameras etc), there is a locker you can drop your stuff off at.
Someone told me about a KGB museum but couldnt find it, maybe worth a google search.
Good luck and enjoy.
as posted the Metro system is excellent but avoid rush hour ! , worth googling " Metro maps before you go , a word of advice dont get an english translated one : you will get lost !! .
Use the Russian version then simply compare station names.take care crossing between stations , some of the stations really are works of art and have the longest elevators in the world
Theres an old story that says when Stalin was shown the blueprint for the metro , he put his coffee cup down , hence the brown circle line was created. !!
Good Hotels to stay , Raddison , Golden Ring , both near the tourist district of Arbat ( also a hard rock cafe there and English themed pub : John Bulls "
just out of curiosity why Moscow ? if you are going as a tourist I would reccommend Saint Petersburg its a much prettier City and has far more to see
DBSV8 said:
as posted the Metro system is excellent but avoid rush hour ! , worth googling " Metro maps before you go , a word of advice dont get an english translated one : you will get lost !! .
just out of curiosity why Moscow ? if you are going as a tourist I would reccommend Saint Petersburg its a much prettier City and has far more to see
There is a great interactive map mobile app for the Metro, which has English and Russian names. Get yourself a Russian SIM card with a data bundle for pennies, and use away with impunity - I have a Beeline one, but YMYV.
St Petersburg is to Moscow as London is to Glasgow. The city is much younger, friendlier and more accessible - and a tonne more picturesque (think French Renaissance in minus 30).
Dave200 said:
DBSV8 said:
as posted the Metro system is excellent but avoid rush hour ! , worth googling " Metro maps before you go , a word of advice dont get an english translated one : you will get lost !! .
just out of curiosity why Moscow ? if you are going as a tourist I would reccommend Saint Petersburg its a much prettier City and has far more to see
There is a great interactive map mobile app for the Metro, which has English and Russian names. Get yourself a Russian SIM card with a data bundle for pennies, and use away with impunity - I have a Beeline one, but YMYV.
St Petersburg is to Moscow as London is to Glasgow. The city is much younger, friendlier and more accessible - and a tonne more picturesque (think French Renaissance in minus 30).
Puggit said:
Don't mention the women unless the mrs mentions them, and even then be neutral. Don't get caught looking (by your mrs).
Good luck with that!My 2 abiding memories of Moscow... probably THE most expensive place I've ever visitied and consistently THE most beautiful women I have ever seen.
More often than not, the 2 are very closely linked.
Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff