capitol express tours photos

Capitol Express Tours

Review Highlights

“ If you want a personalized experience to see all of the landmarks and key places in DC, Adam from Capitol Express Tours is the best in the business! ” in 5 reviews

“ Andy was an exceptional guide providing lots of great historical information as he drove us safely around D. ” in 3 reviews

“ I would definitely recommend this tour to anyone who wants to see all the sights in the national mall . ” in 2 reviews

Location & Hours

Suggest an edit

1401 Pennsylvania Ave NW

Washington, DC 20004

N E St & N 14th St

Serving Washington, DC Area

You Might Also Consider

Elevated Tours

2.8 miles away from Capitol Express Tours

DC's premier monument tour company and i-71 cannabis gifting storefront. Top notch service, products and experience will leave you feeling Elevated. - Award winning products according to multiple editorials - Exclusive merchandiser… read more

in Historical Tours

Caddie Tours

At Caddie Tours we realize vacations are a very important part of people's lives. Choosing the right vacation involves many factors and we know you often need advice to make the right vacation choice for you. We are Ireland… read more

Baron Tours

Since 1985, Baron Tours has been committed to providing quality and courteous transportation services throughout the Washington DC Metropolitan area. Baron prides itself as being one of the largest privately owned transportation… read more

in Buses, Airport Shuttles, Tours

Amenities and More

About the business.

Business owner information

Business Owner

Capitol Express Tours offers prestigious tours around Washington D.C in our electric motor carts so you can tour D.C in style. Your guide is a knowledgeable, experienced professional who will deliver an informative and captivating narrative of the present metropolitan configuration, as well as a historical perspective. We're the most highly acclaimed tour service in this great nation's capital city. Book a tour now to experience this unforgettable journey. …

Ask the Community

Ask a question

Yelp users haven’t asked any questions yet about Capitol Express Tours .

Recommended Reviews

• 1 star rating Not good
• 2 star rating Could’ve been better
• 3 star rating OK
• 4 star rating Good
• 5 star rating Great

Select your rating

Overall rating

This is a must do for anyone in DC. Comfortable, open air (not a crowded enclosed bus). We saw so many great monuments and got to get out, wander, take pictures. Roy was so friendly and knowledgeable. I'd do again.

See all photos from Kathy T. for Capitol Express Tours

Our family of 4 went on a tour with Capitol Express tonight (4/14/24) and our guide was Adam. We had an amazing time! Even pre tour, the company was great at communication. I lost my confirmation and they emailed it to me. There were unexpected road closures and they replied timely to ensure we met at the right place. Adam even texted when he was on the way to meet us. The tour was an incredible way to start our vacation. Adam had a lot of knowledge to share with us, he made sure we got great photos including my 12 yo getting the photo where it looks like he is touching the top of the Washington Monument. We highly recommend this company and the evening tour!

Apr 16, 2024

Thank you, Lori, We appreciate your review and your appraisal of Capitol Express Tours. Thanks for choosing us!

The tour guide seemed very inexperienced and offered the bare minimum in history or fun facts. I expect tour guides to know and share things that you would only find out from them. This tour guide offered nothing more than "this is the XYZ building". She couldn't keep her lefts and rights straight and had to correct herself over and over. She mixed up names of the buildings. I don't feel like I learned anything I couldn't have learned on my own. She didn't seem to know what was allowed and what wasn't....she dropped us off to see the Capitol building and when we returned she was gone from where she had left us forcing us to search around the building on a panic for her. She told us she wasn't allowed to park where she had left us. Her driving felt reckless and scary and she cut off several vehicles including busses. We were in a golf cart so this was concerning because it definitely didn't feel safe. The golf cart doesn't have any clear plastic around it like I expected for winter, so it was very cold. Overall, not the experience we had hoped for when visiting our capital for the first time. I definitely wouldn't recommend this tour to others.

This tour was private for our group. Our tour guide, Andy, was knowledgeable, patient, and amazing. We really enjoyed this tour that hit all the spots that were on our list! Don't miss this tour! Worth every dollar.

Great way to see the sights in DC! Awesome small company! They really work with you and stay in communication. Our original date and time the weather was raining. The owner Mike was so kind to reschedule our tour for a different day with better weather. Highly recommend if you have kids or are short on time because it's a quick way to see all the sights and learn some history in only about 2 hours. Great addition to any DC vacation! Definitely book!

This is what you will ride in!

We had an incredible time on this tour with our two boys (ages 4 and 9). Andy was an exceptional guide providing lots of great historical information as he drove us safely around D.C. to all the monuments. I'd give him ten stars out of five he was that good.

I'm glad I decided to go with this tour company. My party of three was able to set up a tour last minute. Our tour guide Andy, was very knowledgeable, friendly, and overall a good vibe. We were able to get close and take pictures. There is some (not a lot) of walking, and you cover a lot. We learned a lot if interesting things from Andy.

The tour was fantastic - in two hours, we saw at least 20 buildings and monuments while getting out to explore four sites of our choosing. Our guide was very knowledgeable and kind

We did the night tour of the monument on our last night in Washington DC and let me tell you, this is is the way everyone should sightsee :) The electric cart tour is an excellent way to see the monument and night life, Adam is such an excellent guide he knows all the history of the places and it was so relaxing driving around town in the electric cart. Hands down this is the best city tour I have had, if you are looking for guided tour in DC don't hesitate this one is super awesome !

This was the best idea ever!! We were picked up and given a very personal tour of EVERYTHING we wanted to see... we highly recommend this tour company, even with a few sprinkles we were given rain ponchos and kept dry. Our driver was the nicest guy, so friendly and knowledgeable, he made our trip to Washington D.C. memorable and we couldn't be happier. Adam was awesome

8 other reviews that are not currently recommended

Keller Transportation

Melonie P. said "We used their services for a Church trip to Sight and Sound in PA. Booking was very easy and they by far had the nest prices. Some companies were $200-400 more. Our driver, Erik Featherstone, was amazing. He got us to each location.…" read more

Sam & Sal Tours

0.5 miles away from Capitol Express Tours

Stephen G. said "I was looking for a good small group DC tour to complement my Big Bus tour. I saw the reviews for Sam and Sal's Tour company, and made pretty much a snap decision to call them. George answered the phone in an extremely friendly and…" read more

Collections Including Capitol Express Tours

Washington DC

By Zarina M.

People Also Viewed

See DC Today

Custom Tours of DC - Private Tour Agency

Old Town Trolley Tours Washington DC

Trip Hacks DC Tours

Free Tours By Foot

Washington DC Legend Tours

DC Design Tours

USA Guided Tours

Best of Washington

Things to do in Washington

Other Historical Tours Nearby

Find more Historical Tours near Capitol Express Tours

Browse Nearby

Restaurants

River Cruise

Historical Tours Near Me

People found Capitol Express Tours by searching for…

Monument Tours Washington, DC

Sightseeing Tours Washington, DC

Related Cost Guides

Town Car Service

• White House
• Energy/Environment
• Health Care
• Transportation

Heard on the Hill

• Fintech Beat
• Political Theater
• Newsletters
• Capitol Ink
• Roll Call e-Edition
• Classifieds

Capitol Lens | Prime directive

Biden pitches tax plan in Pennsylvania as Trump stews in court

Supreme Court questions use of statute against Jan. 6 defendants

Lifeline for foreign aid package, speaker’s job up to Democrats

Capitol Ink | Special collector series

Congress’ tech plate is full, with little time at the table

Avoid hot takes on Trump’s supposed trial of the century

Moscow is the capital of Russia. In 1156, Prince Yury Dolgoruky erected timber walls around Moscow, and a moat. He is generally regarded as a founder of Moscow, and his monument is among the most honoured in the city.

In 1755, Moscow University was opened, and in 1703, the first printed newspaper (“Vedomosti”) appeared. Moscow architecture reached its peak of perfection in the second half of the 18th century due to advanced Russian architects V.I. Bazhenov (Pashkov’s house), and M.F. Kazakov (the Senate building).

The present-day appearance of Moscow’s centre was founded after Napoleon wars in Europe. Thus, Alexandrov Garden and Theatre Square appeared alongside the Bolshoi and Maly theatres, as well as the buildings of Manezh and the First Gradskaya Hospital. The 19th century is known as a “golden age” for science and the arts, and Moscow was a birthplace for many famous artists, writers, painters and cientists. A number of outstanding politicians were also from the city. The world is familiar, of course, with figures whose talents and ideas made the glory of Russia: Pushkin, Gogol, Tolstoy, Chekhov, Herzen, Pirogov, Sklifosofsky, Vasnetsov, Serov, Levitan and many others.

Today, Moscow is the largest economic, political and scientific centre of Russia.

55°45′21″N 37°37′2″E

2511 square km

Ostankino TV tower (540 m)

Park Pobedy metro station (90 m in depth)

humid continental

Red Square is a city square in Moscow, Russia. It separates the Kremlin, the former royal citadel and now the official residence of the President of Russia, from a historic merchant quarter known as Kitai-gorod. Red Square is often considered to be the central square of Moscow since the city’s major streets, which connect to Russia’s key key highways, originate there.

The square was laid out in the 15th century. Until the middle of the 17th century, Red Square was known as “Pozhar” – the place destroyed by fire. The name “Red” (or “Krasnaya,” which means “beautiful” in old Russian) came in the mid-17thh century. The main architectural detail of the square was the Cathedral of the Intercession on the Moat – the Kremlin walls were surrounded by a moat. It later took the folk name of the Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed.

In front of the cathedral was a marketplace, also the scene of religious ceremonies, appearances by the tsar, and the announcement of court verdicts from the Lobnoye Mysto. The square is a lasting witness to Russia’s dramatic history. The Victory Parade to celebrate the defeat of Nazism was held there on June 24th, 1945.

The square was laid out in the 15th century. Until the middle of the 17th century, Red Square was known as “Pozhar” – the place destroyed by fire. The name “Red” (or “Krasnaya,” which means “beau- tiful” in old Russian) came in the mid-17thh century. The main architectural detail of the square was the Cathedral of the Intercession on the Moat – the Kremlin walls were surrounded by a moat. It later took the folk name of the Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed.

Moscow Kremlin

The Moscow Kremlin or simply the Kremlin is a fortified complex in the center of Moscow, overlooking the Moskva River to the south, Saint Basil’s Cathedral and Red Square to the east, and the Alexander Garden to the west. It is the best known of the Kremlins (Russian citadels) and includes five palaces, four cathedrals, and the enclosing Kremlin Wall with Kremlin towers. In addition, within this complex is the Grand Kremlin Palace that was formerly the Tsar’s Moscow residence. The complex now serves as the official residence of the President of the Russian Federation and as a museum with 2,746,405 visitors in 2019.

The name “Kremlin” means “fortress inside a city”, and is often also used metonymically to refer to the government of the Russian Federation in a similar sense to how the “White House” refers to the Executive Office of the President of the United States. It previously referred to the government of the Soviet Union (1922–1991) and its highest members (such as general secretaries, premiers, presidents, ministers, and commissars). The term “Kremlinology” refers to the study of Soviet and Russian politics.

Christ the Savior Cathedral

The Cathedral of Christ the Savior is a Russian Orthodox cathedral in Moscow, Russia, on the northern bank of the Moskva River, a few hundred meters southwest of the Kremlin. With an overall height of 103 meters (338 ft), it is the second tallest Orthodox Christian church in the world, after the People’s Salvation Cathedral in Bucharest, Romania.

The current church is the second to stand on this site. The original church, built during the 19th cen- tury, took more than 40 years to build and was the scene of the 1882 world premiere of the 1812 Over- ture composed by Tchaikovsky. It was destroyed in 1931 on the order of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin. The demolition was supposed to make way for a colossal Palace of the Soviets to house the country’s legislature, the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. Construction started in 1937 but was halted in 1941 when Germany invaded the Soviet Union during World War II. Its steel frame was disassembled the follow- ing year, and the Palace was never built. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the current church was rebuilt on the site between 1995 and 2000.

The State Historical Museum

The museum of incredible beauty, dedicated to the ancient Rus’ and the imperial era, seems to be as old as the Kremlin. It was built until the end of the 19th century, and thanks to its neo-Russian style it does not look out of place among the other buildings in Red Square.

The State Historical Museum on the Red Square was founded by the order of Emperor Alexander 2 in 1872. Built by architect V. Sherwood and engineer A. Semenov, the museum opened to the public in 1883.

Today the State Historical Museum is the national treasure chest of Russia, storage of historical relics of the world. The history and culture of Russia from old times is represented by more than 4.5 million objects and more than 15 million of unique archive documents.

Tsaritsyno Museum-reserve

The estate is known from the late 16th century when it belonged to Tsarina Irina, sister of Tsar Boris Godunov. It was called Bogorodskoye at that time. It belonged to the Streshnevs and then to the Gal- itzines in the 17th century.Tsaritsyno is located in the south of Moscow and includes an architectural complex of the late 18th century, Greenhouses, Historical Landscaped Park with ponds, and new park zones with Light dynamic fountain. The territory covers 405 hectares.

The palace complex created as a suburb residence of Empress Catherine II. It was designed and built by the architect Vasily Bazhenov. Later the new Grand Palace by Matvey Kazakov became the center of the composition. The buildings were not completed. Work stopped after the Empress’s death.There are a history and architecture museum, a landscape park with an adjacent forest, an art museum, the Biryulyovo dendropark, and a cascade of the Tsaritsyno ponds.There are many pavilions, pergolas, arbors, artificial grottos, decorative bridges around the palace in the park. There are Russian Orthodox temple “Source of Life” and a modern recreation center with an upscale restaurant in the park.Ski and skating are available in winter and a climbing wall in the summer. There are trips around the park on an electric car along several popular routes. It is a great place for leisure and relax!

Ascension Church in Kolomenskoe

Kolomenskoe, a former estate of Moscow grand dukes and Russian tsars, is located on the right-hand bank of the Moskva river. Today it is a museum-reserve, a monument of Russian architecture of 16th and 17th-century and is a favorite venue of popular festivities and theatrical shows featuring episodes of Russian history. The Church of the Ascension was built in 1532 in the imperial estate of Kolomenskoe, near Moscow, to celebrate the birth of the prince who was to become Tsar Ivan IV (‘the Terrible’). One of the earliest examples of a traditional wooden tent-roofed church made of stone and bricks, it had a great influence on the development of Russian ecclesiastical architecture.

The church is of great importance for planning the town, as it dominates the surrounding architectur- al structures and landscape, and provides visual unity to all the elements of the estate. The Church of the Ascension is unsurpassed in its marvelous beauty and elegance it’s forms. It was built despite the strict canons of ecclesiastical architecture of the 16th century. Its a one-pillar construction, which is different from the usual five-domed structure of four pillars, that looks like a memorial sculpture with architectural features that incorporated the best of Byzantine, Greek, Roman, Gothic, and ancient Russian traditions. The example of the architecture of the Church of the Ascension in Kolomenskoe then became widespread all over the country shortly and later the tent-like style became the embod- iment of Russian national architectural tradition.

Spaso-Andronikov Convent

Originally founded in 1320, this monastery is famous for its icon painting monk, Andrei Rublev who lived and died here in the early 14th century. Rublev is a well-known master that worked on the icons of the Kremlin’s Cathedral of Annunciation and many other churches. Today there is the Cathedral of the Savior, and the museum named after Rublev is housed in the adjacent Chapel of St. Michael Archangel.

The walls of the 15th century Spaso-Andronikov Convent show traces from the hand of Andrey Ru- blev, buried at the site, and his friend Daniel Cherney. There are many burial places of great figures of Russian culture and art and monuments surviving from days of communist purges in the territory of the Convent. The children of families that were considered opponents of the system were kept in the convent during years of repression. The convent houses a unique collection of ancient icons and depicts the process of their creation, including the technology used in preparing boards and paints.

Novodevichy Convent

Novodevichy Convent is one of Moscow’s most beautiful sights which was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2004. Novodevichy Convent can be translated as New Maiden Convent. It was founded in1524 on the orders of Grand Prince Vasili III of Moscow to celebrate Russia’s recapture of Smolensk in 1514. The convent is dedicated to the Our Lady of Smolensk Icon. It was built as a fortified convent on the River Moskva. Later the convent served as a place of retirement or imprisonment for female members of royal family.

Irina Godunova became a nun under the name of Aleksandra at the convent in 1598 and died there in 1603. Sofia Alekseevna, the sister of Peter the Great and former regent of Russia, was imprisoned here from 1689 up to her death in 1704. Most of the buildings in the convent and its walls date from around this time. In 1727, Tsarina Yevdokia Lopukhina (the first wife of Peter the Great) was permitted by her grandson Emperor Peter II to return from the exile in Schlisselburg and to settle at Novodevichy Con- vent. She died there in 1731. French troops were leaving Moscow in 1812 and they tried to burn down the convent, but the fire was put out by the nuns in time according to legend. The convent was closed in 1922 and reorganized as a museum which became a branch of the State Historical Museum in 1934.

Moscow State University

Welcome to Moscow State University, the first Russian University founded in 1755 on the initiative of Mikhail Lomonosov, an outstanding scientist of the Enlightenment, whose unsettled encyclopedic mind and energy gave the inner impetus to the project. From the very beginning, elitism was alien to the very spirit of our community, which determined the University’s long-standing democratic tra- dition. Students irrespective of their background have been always admitted to University to further become our renowned alumni – famous scientists and scholars. And the students convene here, as they have always done, to study, to research, to push at the frontiers of knowledge.

Today, the emphasis is on advancing the applied science: new materials, genetics, biomedicine, phar- maceutics, cognitive sciences, ecology, and information technologies. We work hard to preserve our heritage and develop our traditions of a comprehensive approach to higher education and science. Moscow University has a rich academic history. Yet the major commitment remains the same as it has been in centuries: to provide outstanding teaching, scholarship, and research. But what makes our University so lively is this intellectual spirit combined with inexhaustible curiosity.

Poklonnaya Gora

Poklonnaya Gora in Moscow is one of the main attractions of the capital, which perpetuated the memory of those who died during the Great Patriotic War. This is a memorial park located between Kutuzovsky Prospekt and Minsk Street. It is a popular holiday destination for Muscovites and guests of the capital. The park is part of the Memorial of the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945.

In addition to the monuments dedicated to the victory in the Great Patriotic War, there is an opportu- nity to have a good rest. Both adults and children will find entertainment to their liking. You can come here with the whole family. Swings and various attractions work. Elderly people meet, walk around Victory Park, remembering the old days. You can make an excursion by driving on a road train. And young people will have a great time riding bicycles. Skaters and skateboarders are trained here. There is a cafe in Victory Park for the hungry.

Huge floral clocks will tell you the exact time. In the summer, Poklonnaya Gora in Moscow is a place of folk festivals.

Ostankino TV Tower

In truth, the most attractive thing in height is an opportunity to rise above the everyday routine and interim and to examine the movement of life from above.

Therefore, tall structures symbolizing the drive of a modern person for progress attract a large num- ber of tourists all over the world. Interest in tower tourism became global after the foundation of the Global Federation of Great Towers, at the baseline of which was Ostankino Tower.

Built-in 1967 upon the project of Soviet engineer Nikitin, N.V., Ostankino Tower, reaching the height of 540 meters, it became an architectural and engineering milestone of its time. Such known sights of Moscow city as Star boulevard, Akademika Korolyova Street, All-Union Exhibition of Achievements of National Economy (VDNKh), and “Ostankino” TV Center are close to the tower not only territorially. In the era of conquering new heights by a human being, Ostankino District became a progressive and cultural part of the city, and Tower became a symbol of its time and city.

Moscow City 360 Panorama

PANORAMA360 offers breathtaking views of Moscow from a bird’s eye view. Windows 6 meters high and a 360 ° view give an unforgettable experience! Thanks to its location just 4 km from the Kremlin, you can see all of Moscow from a new angle! Poklonnaya Gora, Moscow State University, the White House and other attractions will be at your fingertips! For young and old guests, we organize fasci- nating interactive excursions that will introduce you to the history of Moscow and allow you to see the main sights from a bird’s eye view. And at the end of an educational trip, everyone will taste ice cream and chocolate from the factories located in the Federation Tower.

The restaurant of European and author’s cuisine is located on the 89th floor of the Federation Tower. A special emphasis for gourmets in the restaurant’s menu is unique buffalo meat dishes grown at El- lafarm. A projection light show in three minutes not only acquaints visitors with the history of Moscow but also allows them to be in the center of bright events. The image created on the walls and floor of the site is as realistic and almost tangible as possible. Welcome to Russia for impressions!

Bolshoi Theatre of Russia

On 28 March 1776, Catherine II granted the prosecutor, Prince Petr Urusov, the “privilege” of “main- taining” theatre performances of all kinds, including masquerades, balls and other forms of entertain- ment, for ten years. And it is from this date that Moscow’s Bolshoi Theatre traces its history.

The Bolshoi building, which for many years now has been regarded as one of Moscow’s main sights, was opened on 20 October 1856, on Tsar Alexander II’s coronation day. On 29 October 2002, the Bol- shoi was given a New Stage and it was here it presented its performances during the years the Historic Stage was undergoing massive reconstruction and refurbishment. The reconstruction project lasted from l July 2005 to 28 October 2011. As a result of this reconstruction, many lost features of the historic building were reinstated and, at the same time, it has joined the ranks of most technically equipped theatre buildings in the world.

The Bolshoi Theatre is a symbol of Russia. It was awarded this honor due to the major contribution it made to the history of the Russian performing arts. This history is on-going and today Bolshoi Theatre artists continue to contribute to it many bright pages.

Kuskovo is an outstanding palace-and-park ensemble. In the 18th century, ceremonial receptions and grand gatherings turned it into a summer out-of-town pleasure house of Petr Sheremetev. Nowadays Kuskovo Estate is an official museum of Russian architecture, ceramic, and sculpture. The Palace is the center of the ensemble, which preserved the layout and decorative interiors, consisting of first- class works of Russian and Western European fine art; a unique collection of painting of the 18th cen- tury, gift portraits of Russian emperors and several generations of the owners of the estate.

The museum organizes 3-4 stationary stock exhibitions each year. The old traditions of the manor’s hospitality are being revived, the museum has excellent opportunities for organizing and conducting theater and entertainment programs, receptions, and festivities. In the summer, concerts and music festivals are held in the dance hall of the Palace with the participation of Russian and foreign perform- ers. The splendor of architectural monuments, genuine interiors, a park, and a unique collection of ceramics and glass will allow visitors to get an unforgettable experience, immerse themselves in the world of an old Russian estate.

Pushkin State Museum

The Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts is the largest museum of European art in Moscow, located in Volk- honka Street in the old part of Moscow, built-in 1898-1912 from the design of the architect R.I.Klein. The museum’s collection today has about 5000 paintings, 350000 drawings and engravings, 100000 coins and medals. The museum’s permanent display includes three main sections – Ancient Egypt, Greece, Italy, Rome, and the Nothern Black Sea Cost in the classical period; famous works of sculpture of the period of Middle Ages and the Renaissance; works of West European painting and sculpture from the Middle Ages to the present time.

The work on the Museum Quarter of the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts started in the late 2000s in recognition of the 100th anniversary of the museum. In 2008, the government of the Russian Fed- eration allocated funds for this project. From 2014 to 2019, museum buildings underwent reconstruc- tion and adaptation, and the Depository, Restoration, and Exhibition Center is under construction. In 2019-23, the Main Building of the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts will be reconstructed. After the reconstruction, nine museums will operate in the Museum Quarter. Spaces will be created in every museum for permanent and temporary exhibitions, depositories, shops, lecture halls, public zones, and cafés.

The State Tretyakov Gallery

The State Tretyakov Gallery is a museum of world significance with collections running into many thousands of works of art, from Old Russian icons to contemporary paintings. The collection of the Tretyakov brothers was opened to the public as a private museum in 1874 and it immediately became widely popular.

It includes such great masterpieces as the famous Old Testament Trinity, the only original icon by An- drei Rublev, many other icons attributed to Andrei Rublev and Theophanes the Greek, and a collection of outstanding works of 16th-century Russian icon-painting. The next section of the gallery is devoted to the second half of the 19th century, especially paintings of Russian realistic art (Peredvizhniki).

Check out the best works of Russian art from different eras and authors. Currently, the collection includes more than 180 000 pieces and is regularly updated. The Collection presents major master- pieces from the permanent exhibition.

Ararat Park Hyatt Moscow

Number of rooms: 205

Distance to the city centre: 0,5 km

Distance to the airport: Sheremetyevo – 30 km, Domodedovo – 50 km, Vnukovo – 30 km

Address: 4 Neglinnaya str., Moscow, Russia, 109012

Ararat Park Hyatt Moscow is located in the very heart of the capital, just a few minutes’ walk from its iconic landmarks such as the Kremlin, Red Square and Saint Basil’s Cathedral, and is within the immediate vicinity of the Bolshoi Theatre, Par- liament House, Moscow’s central business district and luxury shopping malls (TSUM and GUM). Its 205 tastefully furnished rooms were designed by the famous designer Tony Chi.

The hotel prides itself on its Ararat Café that replicates an old restaurant on Neglinnaya Street in the 1960s. It combines tra- ditions of Armenian and contemporary cuisines; its authentic dishes are prepared using ingredients freshly delivered directly from Armenia.

Ararat Park Hyatt has two restaurants, two bars, a beauty sa- lon, an indoor heated pool, a jacuzzi, a SPA (sauna, steam room, massage, facial and body treatments), a gym, a business cen- tre, Wi-Fi Internet access, babysitting services (upon request), 24-hour Concierge services.

Four Seasons Hotel Moscow

Number of rooms: 180

Distance to the city centre: 0,2 km

Address: 2, Okhotny Ryad, Moscow, Russia, 109012

Just a few steps from the Kremlin and Red Square in Moscow’s historic heart, Old World glamour gets a contemporary spin at luxurious Four Seasons Hotel Moscow. Discover a bold reimag- ining of the legendary 1930s-era Hotel Moskva at a modern replica that puts destination dining and decadent SPA treat- ments in the spotlight.

This exquisite hotel has 2 signature restaurants, a café, a bar, a tea room, SPA center (17 treatment rooms, Jacuzzi, sauna, steam room, massage, facial and body treatments) with an in- door heated pool and a beauty salon, a gym, a business center, 24h Concierge services.

Hyatt Regency Moscow Petrovky Park

Number of rooms: 298

Distance to the city centre: 8 km

Distance to the airport: Sheremetyevo – 28 km, Domodedovo – 60 km, Vnukovo – 35 km

Address: 36-33 Leningradsky Avenue, Moscow, Russia, 125167

Hyatt Regency Moscow Petrovsky Park Hotel is a premium Moscow hotel for both business and leisure travelers, conve- niently located on Leningradsky Prospekt, with easy access to tourist attractions, restaurants, shopping and business centers.

The hotel has an underground parking; a modern SPA center with an indoor pool; a beauty salon and a gym; a restaurant, a café and a bar; and other amenities that you would expect from a modern five-star hotel.

Radisson Collection Hotel

Number of rooms: 501

Distance to the airport: Sheremetyevo – 32 km, Domodedovo – 50 km, Vnukovo – 30 km

Address: 2/1 Bld. 1 Kutuzovsky Avenue, Moscow, Russia, 121248

Discover Moscow from one of the iconic Seven Sisters. Located on Moskva river bank, Radisson Collection Hotel boasts grand and opulent interiors. Experience the elegant grandeur of its 501 stylish rooms, suites, and serviced apartments with unri- valed river views. Each room is uniquely decorated with luxuri- ous furnishings and high-end materials. Guests enjoy its great convenience in terms of transportation to all three airports and top attractions.

The hotel has 19 elegant restaurants on its premises, a mod- ern SPA with an indoor pool, a panoramic bar on the 31st floor, and a flotilla of ten yachts offering year-round river cruises past Moscow’s major highlights.

The Ritz-Carlton Moscow

Number of rooms: 334

Distance to the city centre: 0,3 km

Address: Tverskaya Street 3, Moscow, Russia, 125009

From the Kremlin view to caviar tastings, The Ritz-Carlton Mos- cow celebrates the mystery and decadence of Russia’s most recognizable city. Experience sheer luxury in every imaginable way, whether you toast your stay with a sabrage demonstra- tion, browse the collections of the hotel’s jewelry and fur gal- leries or simply savor the convenience of the hotel’s enviable address next to Red Square.

Visit the award-winning O2 Lounge, the landmark rooftop restaurant, bar and terrace. Presenting unrivaled views over Red Square and the Kremlin, it offers the finest seafood, sushi and caviar coupled with a selective wine list and sophisticated house-mixed cocktails in a fashionable and chic setting.

The Ritz-Carlton Moscow has 334 rooms (including 33 Club rooms and 35 suites offering additional premium ameni- ties and services), 2 restaurants, a café, an indoor pool and a jacuzzi, a SPA center (saunas, steam rooms, Ayurveda, mas- sage, scrubs, body wraps, aromatherapy, facial and body treat- ments), a beauty salon, a business center, a banquet hall (up to 700 people), 5 conference rooms (up to 200 people), Wi-Fi Internet access, 24-hour Concierge services, parking.

The St. Regis Moscow Nikolskaya

Number of rooms: 210

Address: Nikol’skaya Street 12, Moscow, Russia, 109012

Enjoy unrivaled access to the historic landmarks and exclusive shops of Russia’s vibrant capital.   A luxury hotel in the center of Moscow, The St. Regis Moscow Nikolskaya builds upon the legacy of the brand established in 1904 by John Jacob Astor IV. A complex of historical buildings at an unrivalled location just a few minutes away from Red Square, the Kremlin and the Bolshoi Theatre, this is where aristocratic heritage meets con- temporary design.

The hotel is 460 m from the Bolshoi Theater and 620 m from Red Square. It has two restaurants, a café and a bar, a cigar lounge, a SPA-center (massage, facial and body treatments) with a swimming pool, a gym, a business center, 5 conference rooms (up to 180 people), Wi-Fi Internet access, 24-hour Con- cierge services. The St. Regis Moscow Nikolskaya is the only hotel in the center of Moscow offering full Butler Service to every guest of every room type.

Renaissance Moscow Monarch Centre Hotel

Number of rooms: 366

Distance to the city center: 7 km

Distance to the airport: Sheremetyevo – 25 km, Domodedovo – 50 km, Vnukovo – 35 km

Address: Leningradsky avenue, 31A, bld.1, Moscow, Russia, 125284

Renaissance Moscow Monarch Centre Hotel is perfectly placed in Moscow’s city center, this 5-star hotel is just moments away from noteworthy attractions including Red Square, Petrovsky Park, VTB Arena and Moscow Expocentre.

Relax in the elegant rooms and suites, where complimentary Wi-Fi, spacious work desks, mini-refrigerators and bath ame- nities await. Ideal for vacations to Moscow, we also offer rooms with full kitchens.

Refresh at on-site fitness center, make a splash in our indoor pool, unwind in our serene day spa and dine at our tempting restaurants. Showcasing flexible venues and impeccable plan- ning services, our hotel is also an inspired choice for a meeting or special event in Moscow. Come discover the endless charms of Renaissance Moscow Monarch Centre Hotel and earn miles of Marriott Bonvoy.

Hilton Leningradskaya Hotel

Number of rooms: 273 including five ambassador suites

Distance to the city center: 1 km

Distance to the airport: Sheremetyevo – 30 km, Domodedovo – 47 km, Vnukovo – 33 km

Address: Kalanchevskaya st., 21/40, Moscow, 107078

Hilton Moscow Leningradskaya Hotel is located in one of the famous Stalinist skyscrapers in the central part of the capital. All rooms are decorated in a classic modern style. Each room has a work area with a desk, TV, tea and coffee making facili- ties, and toiletries. For the convenience of our guests, there is a restaurant that serves traditional Russian cuisine and a wide selection of wines, and there is a lobby bar also.

The hotel is suitable for organizing business trips, meetings and seminars, the conference room has everything you need for work, including speakers and Wi-Fi access.

The building is a 15-minute drive from Red Square and the Kremlin Museums. Train stations and Komsomolskaya metro station are a 5-minute walk away, which will help tourists to get to the places they need. To services of visitors: restaurant “Janus”, bar, fitness club, gym, indoor pool, spa, tour desk. The hotel has the ability to hold conferences, seminars and presen- tations, corporate events.

Crowne Plaza Moscow

Number of rooms: 727

Distance to the city centre: 6 km

Distance to the airport: Sheremetyevo – 30 km, Domodedovo – 50 km, Vnukovo – 36 km

Address: Krasnopresnenskaya Naberezhnaya 12, Moscow, Russia 123610

Crowne Plaza Moscow – World Trade Centre hotel is one of Moscow’s leading business hotels. It is located near the House of the Government of the Russian Federation, the Expocentre exhibition com- plex and Moscow City business district, and overlooks the Moskva River. The historical centre of the city is within walking distance.

The hotel’s central location is perfect for hosting business events. Natural light and professional equip- ment add comfort to its seven meeting rooms, including four VIP lounges on the 20th floor with pan- oramic views over Moscow. The hotel’s dining options include a restaurant, two cafés and two bars. Other amenities offered to travellers are a well-equipped fitness and wellness centre, free parking, an ATM, laundry services and other conveniences required from any 5* business and conference hotel.

Azimut Olympic Hotel Moscow

Number of rooms: 495

Distance to the city center: 1.5 km

Distance to the airport: Sheremetyevo – 29 km, Domodedovo – 54 km, Vnukovo – 35 km.

Address: Olympic prospect, 18/1, Moscow, Russia 129110

AZIMUT Olympic Moscow is centrally located in Moscow within a walking distance from the Garden Ring, Prospect Mira and Dostoevskaya metro stations and next to the Olympic sports complex. Nearby is the Catherine Park – an ideal place for a walk and jogging. Free shuttle bus service is available to visit Moscow attractions such as the Kremlin and Red Square.

The «Olympic» Restaurant serves a buffet breakfast, the renowned Bakery, «Paulaner» German Bras- serie with its own brewery, «495» Mediterranean Restaurant and «Jai Hind» gourmet Indian restau- rant. The hotel is the leading congress hotel in Moscow. At your disposal are 12 modern equipped con- ference rooms for seminars and conferences in Moscow. Business corner with a computer, internet and copy machines are available for business guests.

Doubletree by Hilton Marina

Number of rooms: 270

Distance to the city center: 10 km

Distance to the airports: Sheremetyevo – 19 km, Domodedovo – 58 km, Vnukovo – 28 km.

Address: Leningradskoe shosse, 39, building 1, Moscow, Russia, 125212

DoubleTree by Hilton Moscow Marina Hotel is located in a business district of Moscow. It will take you only 30 minutes to get to the city center from the Hotel. The convenient location of the “Olympia Park” business center, “Metropolis” shopping and entertainment center, as well as the opportunity to get to the “Crocus Expo” center in the shortest time, will appreciate all the guests of the Hotel.

All rooms are equipped with free minibar, tea and coffee machines, comfortable work area, TV, ironing facilities. There are 11 multifunctional conference rooms in the Hotel. You can visit the «La Veranda» restaurant with classic Italian and Japanese cuisine, the «ARTYASHOK» restaurant with traditional Russian and European cuisine, and the «Lobby Bar & Lounge». Hammam, Sauna, snow fountain, and beauty salon are in the Hotel. The «Chavana» Spa offers a variety of Wellness treatments, and the Fit- ness Center is equipped with modern equipment.

Doubletree by Hilton Vnukovo

Number of rooms: 432

Distance to the city centre: 30 km; 

Distance to Vnukovo airport: 1 km

Address: 2nd Reysovaya Street 2, Moscow, Vnukovo, Russia, 119027

Conveniently located opposite the main entrance to Terminal A, DoubleTree by Hilton Moscow – Vnu- kovo Airport is also a short metro, bus, taxi or non-stop “Aeroexpress” railway shuttle ride from the city center. The hotel has 432 stylish guest rooms, including 28 suites, accessible rooms and a Presidential Suite, all equipped with HDTVs, ergonomic workspace, digital safes, free WiFi, tea/coffee making facil- ities, and 3-body-jet showers.

DoubleTree by Hilton Vnukovo offers all amenities of a modern four-star hotel, including laundry ser- vices, parking, a restaurant and a lobby bar, an executive lounge, Concierge Services, Business center, a fitness area, a wellness center with a swimming pool and a Turkish bath as well as a range of event spaces including meeting rooms and two large ballrooms with floor-to-ceiling windows.

Art Moscow Voykovskaya

Number of rooms: 260

Distance to the city centre: 13 km

Distance to the airport: Sheremetyevo – 18 km, Domodedovo – 60 km, Vnukovo – 27 km

Address: Cosmonavta Volkova str., 6a, Moscow, Russia, 127299

A modern cozy hotel where you will find everything you need for a comfortable stay for business or for leisure. It is located within a walking distance from Voykovskaya metro station and 30 mins’ drive to Sheremetyevo Airport. Distance to the Red Square – 9.5 km. Stylish and modern interiors create an atmosphere of art and inspiration. The hotel has over 260 rooms of different categories as well as all necessary infrastructure, including a restaurant, a bar and conference rooms.

Hanoi-Moscow Aparthotel

Number of rooms: 250

Distance to the city centre: 20 km

Distance to the airport: Sheremetyevo – 27 km, Domodedovo – 63 km, Vnukovo – 54 km

Address: 146-2, Yaroslavskoye sh., Moscow, Russia, 129347

The Hanoi-Moscow aparthotel is situated in one of the most picturesque areas in Moscow, 30-mins’ drive from Sheremetyevo international airport. The Losiny Ostrov National Park is in the immediate vicinity of the hotel. The upper floor of the 22-storey hotel building gives breathtaking views of mag- nificent city landscapes on one side and a sea of greenery on the other. VDNKh (The Exhibition of Achievements of the National Economy) is just 15 mins’ away.

All 250 rooms, regardless of category, are equipped with a kitchen with modern appliances, a set of tableware, and a washing machine in the bathroom. The hotel infrastructure provides the guests with everything they might possibly need: 3 restaurants and a café; a sports club, a beauty salon, car rental service and a car wash, Vietnamese acupuncture medical center, and even a 3-storey shopping center on its premises.

Kartmazovo Park Hotel

Number of rooms: 119

Distance to the airport: Vnukovo – 13 km, Sheremetyevo – 50 km, Domodedovo – 48 km

Hotel address: 4 Kiyevskoye Highway, Kartmazovo, Moscow, Russia, 142784

Kartmazovo Park hotel is located at Kiyevskoye Highway, 5 km outside Moscow. The hotel has all room categories, the rooms are equipped with everything you need to make your stay comfortable and relaxed and enjoy clean air and the proximity to the airport. Meals are served in the Kartmazovo restaurant, which operates on a customized menu system. Here, guests can choose from European, Russian and Caucasian cuisine.

Among the hotel’s facilities there are a sauna and a fitness center, a playroom for kids, a banquet hall to hold your event, and conference rooms.

Salut Hotel

Number of rooms: 1091

Distance to the city centre: 15 km

Distance to the airport: Vnukovo – 15 km, Sheremetyevo – 45 km, Domodedovo – 47 km

Hotel Address: 158 Leninskiy Prospect, Moscow, Russia, 119571

Salyut hotel is the choice of many guests visiting Moscow, optimal for groups, as well as for individual tourists and business people. The complex is located in the South-West of Moscow, near Troparevo Park, a 5-minutes’ drive from “Yugo-Zapadnaya” metro station.

Highlights nearby: MSU, the Sechenova First Moscow State Medical University, Expocenter on Krasnaya Presnya, Sparrow Hills, the Great Moscow State circus, the Luzhniki Stadium.

The hotel offers: 2 large conference rooms and 5 meeting rooms; 8 restaurants serving Chinese, Jap- anese, Italian, Russian and European specialties; a billiards club; Parking, car rental, a medical center; Solarium; Luggage storage; beauty salon; fitness club; air ticket office; Bank branch; sauna; massage.

Park Tower Hotel

Number of rooms: 330

Distance to the city centre: 9 km

Distance to the airport: Sheremetyevo – 21 km, Vnukovo – 49 km, Domodedovo – 58 km

Address: 27 Dmitrovskoe highway, Moscow, Russia, 127550

Park Tower Hotel is a modern hotel located in the North of Moscow and offering a wide range of ser- vices to business and leisure travellers.

This 25-storey hotel has been recently renovated and now offers modern, meticulously designed rooms that feature everything for a comfortable stay, including air conditioning, a workplace, a pri- vate bathroom with toiletries, 24h room service, free WiFi, and a stunning panoramic view over the Ostankinskaya TV tower, the park nearby, or Moscow City high-rises. The hotel offers the following ser- vices and amenities: two restaurants, a café and a lobby bar, three well-equipped conference rooms, a gym, ATMs, a photo studio, a luggage storage room, guarded parking, multilingual friendly staff, and arranging of tours and transportation.

Prince Park Hotel

Number of rooms: 387

Distance to the city centre: 16 km

Distance to the airport: Vnukovo – 18 km, Sheremetyevo – 47 km, Domodedovo – 42 km

Address: 1B Block 1 Novoyasenevsky Prospekt, Moscow, Russia, 117574

A modern hotel with a concept of a “city within a city”, located in the South-West of Moscow, close to Teply Stan metro station, Prince Plaza shopping mall, and MOREON water park nearby.

It offers six room categories, from the budget Standard to the luxurious President, as well as round- the-clock room service, transfer to and from Moscow airports, laundry, Concierge services, a business center with meeting and conference rooms, a SPA on site, a gym a billiards and a karaoke club. Its Imperia restaurant serves Russian and European cuisine, and its stylish lobby bar is open 24 hours a day and serves à la carte.

Troparevo Recreation Resort

Number of rooms: 60

Distance to the airport: Vnukovo – 16 km, Sheremetyevo – 45 km, Domodedovo – 45 km

Address: 3 Akademika Bakuleva str., Moscow, Russia, 117513

The resort gives its guests a perfect opportunity to forget about the city bustle and enjoy the tranquil- ity and care of its wellness professionals, while staying within a limited budget and having easy access to all means of transport.

The hotel is located next to the metro station in the Southwestern part of the capital, in a green area of the city, in the immediate vicinity of the Troparevsky forest park. The advantage of the hotel is its convenient location and easy access to the main thoroughfares of Moscow. The complex is located near Leninsky Prospekt, a 5-10 minutes’ drive from the Yugo-Zapadnaya and Konkovo metro stations.

The hotel has everything essential for a comfortable stay. Troparevo Recreation Resort is a real city in miniature with its restaurants and shops, including a jewelry salon, wellness and sports centers and other modern facilities.

SK ROYAL Hotel Moscow

Number of rooms: 111

Distance to the city centre: 18 km

Distance to the airport: Sheremetyevo – 19 km, Vnukovo – 50 km, Domodedovo – 80 km

Hotel Address: 163A bld.2 Dmitrovskoe highway, Moscow, Russia, 127495

SK ROYAL Hotel Moscow is located in the north of Moscow, built in 2010 according to the most mod- ern technologies and standards. It’s a 25-storied tower with panoramic windows at the intersection of MKAD (Moscow Automobile Ring Road) and Dmitrovskoye Highway, 16 km from Crocus Expo, the largest international exhibition centre, and a walking distance from RIO shopping mall with its own oceanarium, exotarium, and cinema.

SK ROYAL Hotel Moscow provides its guests with a full range of services for their perfect leisure ex- perience and successful business: 111 comfort rooms with free Wi-Fi, restaurant of European cuisine with 120 seats for business lunches, banquets and buffets, ballroom at the 25th floor for 220 people. SK ROYAL Hotel Moscow Conference centre offers four conference halls ranging from 70 to 300 square meters with all the necessary equipment.

Aminyevskaya Hotel

Number of rooms: 223

Distance to the city centre: 12 km

Distance to the airport: Vnukovo – 20 km, Sheremetyevo – 40 km, Domodedovo – 52 km

Address: 5 Aminyevskoe Highway, Moscow, Russia, 119530

This modern hotel is located in the West of Moscow, in a quiet green area not far from Kutuzovsky Prospekt and Skolkovo Innovation center, close to such tourist attractions as the Novodevichy Con- vent, Sparrow Hills, Poklonnaya Gora and Borodino Panorama, and only 20 minutes’ drive from Red Square.

All rooms are equipped with modern furniture, electronic keys, desk-telephones, an LCD TV, free wired internet, kettles and tea/coffee sets, mini-refrigerators and ventilators.

The hotel has a restaurant serving European cuisine: buffet et à la carte, a banquet hall, a business center, a conference room, Wi-Fi available in all areas, a safe, luggage storage, ATM on site, facilities for guests with disabilities, laundry, dry cleaning, airport shuttle, free parking.

Cosmos Hotel

Number of rooms: 1117

Distance to the city centre: 10 km

Distance to the airport: Sheremetyevo – 27 km, Vnukovo – 41 km, Domodedovo – 63 km

Address: 150 Prospect Mira, Moscow, Russia, 129366

The legendary Cosmos Hotel is located on Prospekt Mira – one of Moscow’s arterial roads, in a large green area – “Losiniy Ostrov” National Park, and right opposite the iconic VDNKh, the main exposi- tion complex of the country since the Soviet times. Cosmos Hotel has significant historic importance. It was built to accommodate foreign tourists and delegations. For the purpose of surveillance over foreigners and their guests by the KGB, some of the rooms used to be equipped with surveillance devices.

The hotel has 8 restaurants, a café and a bar, a business center, conference and meeting rooms, as well as wellness facilities: indoor pools, a gym, SPA with a Turkish bath and a sauna, as well as Con- cierge services, laundry, a beauty salon, a souvenir shop, a night club, a library and a medical center.

Children’s world

In June 2017, the Central Kids’ Store on Lubyanka celebrated its 60th anniversary. The largest chil- dren’s shopping mall has become an important milestone in the history of our country, a symbol of a happy and carefree childhood. Today it is a unique complex for family and children’s leisure, a shop- ping center with a full range of goods and services:

• 91 shops of toys and goods for children
• 7 entertaining zones that help to gain new knowledge in a playful way
• 22 restaurants
• weekly entertainment and educational

Dream island

Dream island is the first world-class indoor theme park in Russia and the largest one in Europe. On its territory, you will find 9 fairy-tale worlds with most famous cartoon characters, a city promenade and a landscape park.

Here you can fight villains next to the Ninja Turtles, or see how the inhabitants of the mysterious Transylvania Hotel live, or go to the mysterious island of the dinosaurs with Mowgli. You can walk along the streets of Rome, Barcelona, London and Beverly Hills, take pictures against the back- ground of world attractions and go shopping along the city’s promenade, under giant glass domes. For outdoor recreation, we recommend visiting the landscape park with its children’s playgrounds and sports fields.

A ticket to the Dream Island will allow you to have an incredible adventure with your loved ones, as well as unlimited access to the rides.

Moscow circus

Visit one the oldest and by far the most famous circus in Russia. Within its historical walls (the build- ing was completed in 1880) shows were put on by the most famous artists and circus dynasties, the names of many of them have become a legend.

The Moscow Circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard stages new attractions, performances, pantomimes and children’s shows. Today the audience hall of the Circus can accommodate over 2 000 persons.

Moskvarium on VDNH

Moskvarium on VDNKh, one of Moscow’s main attractions, rates among the most popular places for family time both among Muscovies and tourists.

Moskvarium is a theme park featuring a unique water show and one of the largest aquariums in Europe, with more than 12 thousand aquatic inhabitants on display.

It is also the Center of Oceanography and Marine biology, that’s focused on popularizing envi- ronmental care and protection of the world’s oceans, obtaining new knowledge, and developing new social initiatives.

Moscow is one of the world ‘s most popular destinations for shopping, and a true hunting ground for fashionistas. Visit upscale department stores and boutique galleries, located in the heart of the city, for a full range of luxury brands as well as the highest level of service. You will find all of the world’s High Street brands in big shopping malls, such as Aviapark, that houses the largest aquarium in Eastern Europe.

Restaurants

La Marée menu is a real marine encyclopedia, so even the most experienced gourmet will discover some new clam, crustacean or rare wild fish. La Marée is a truly unique project not only for Russia, but for the entire world. Here you will be offered a classic French-style oyster set, a crudo of raw fish in Italian and sashimi in Japanese style – all on one plateau.

The restaurant is headed by the brand chef of the La Marée chain, Abdessattar Zitouni, who has forty years of experience in the world’s best restaurants. Zitouni has worked for the Four Seasons hotel chain for many years and has been creating gourmet masterpieces for La Marée for 8 years. He supervises the kitchens of three restaurants in Moscow, one in Saint Petersburg, and one in Monaco.

White rabbit

Located in the very heart of Moscow, White Rabbit is a world-famous project of Russia’s eminent restaurateur Boris Zarkov. A visit to this restaurant takes guests to a new level of gastronomic bliss.

Here Russian cuisine goes in unison with the latest gastronomic trends, and Russian traditional ingredients rise to the height of recognized delicacies.

Each dish in the menu is the result of long-distance expeditions and the most careful handling of traditions.

What’s more, White Rabbit boasts perhaps the best panoramic view over the historical center of the capital from the 16th floor of Smolensky Passage.

One of the halls of White Rabbit is Chef’s Table — the first and only gastronomic theater in Russia. Resident chefs present new sets, and world-renowned guest chefs bring their own tast- ing menu. Here, chefs communicate their philosophy through their culinary masterpieces as well as personal interaction.

Sakhalin restaurant is a project of Russian prominent restaurateur Boris Zarkov and the White Rabbit Family brand chef Vladimir Mukhin.

Here the focus is a variety of seafood straight from the Russian Far East: shells, crabs, shrimps and fish along with a unique 360-degree panoramic view of Moscow.

Sakhalin is all about Gastronomy as an art, where perfection of performance is achieved under the conductor’s baton of taste. It is a restaurant that plays the music of seas and oceans.

The Turandot restaurant serves Pan-Asian and European cuisine.

The combination of Eastern culinary traditions with the Western approach, the synthesis of the most interesting elements of different gastronomic cultures continue the game set by the restaurant’s unique interior, made in the European “Chinese” style of the XVII–XVIII centuries.

Since 2008, the Turandot kitchen has been headed by Dmitry Eremeev, who previously worked for the Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation and the famous Cafe Pushkin restaurant. This brilliant professional is always in tune with the latest gastronomic trends, striving to adopt the best of the world ‘s experience.

Cafe Pushkin

After touring Moscow some 50 years ago, the famous French chansonnier Gilbert Bécaud wrote a song about Café Pushkin. The song became incredibly popular in France; the French were looking for “Pushkin’s Cafe” when they came to Moscow, but could not find it, for it was only Bécaud’s poetic fantasy. It was this song that inspired Andrei Dellos, one of the most prominent Russian restaurateurs, to open a restaurant that revived the Russian cuisine of the past centuries.

Cafe Pushkin opened in 1999 in a Baroque mansion on Tverskoy Boulevard. Gilbert Bécaud performed his famous song at its grand opening.

The main menu of the restaurant was compiled after a year of culinary experiments and a detailed study of hundreds of old recipes. Today it offers Russian and French courses of the Golden Age.

Tours in Moscow

Moscow from a birds eye view

Women’s Tour (Moscow – St. Petersburg)

Women's Tour (Moscow – St. Petersburg)

Military Tour (Moscow – St. Petersburg)

Two Capitals (Moscow – St. Petersburg)

Two Capitals (Moscow - St. Petersburg)

More cities

• Kaliningrad

Kaliningrad (former Koningsberg) is the Russian exclave on the Baltic Sea, annexed from Germany in 1945 following World War II. It is the administrative center of the westernmost region of Russia, completely separated from the rest of the country by hundreds of kilometers, land borders with Poland and Lithuania, and international seawaters.

• St. Petersburg

St. Petersburg is a fascinating place that dazzles the eye of a visitor with numerous architectural landmarks, museums, palaces, parks, wide avenues, spectacular bridges, and stylish monuments.

• Ekaterinburg

Ekaterinburg city, capital of its region, East European Russia, in the eastern foothills of the central Urals, on the Iset River. One of the largest cities of the Urals, it is an air and rail junction (a western terminus of the Trans Siberian RR) and a leading industrial, scientific, and cultural center.

Yakutia (or the Republic of Sakha) is the largest administrative and territorial subdivision in the world, and occupies one-fifth of Russia’s territory.

• Arkhangelsk
• Golden Ring
• Krasnoyarsk
• Nizhny Novgorod
• Novosibirsk
• Petrozavodsk
• Vladivostok

We are always ready to answer your questions and provide you details about the tours.

Our manager will contact you!

Moscow Tours & Travel Packages 2024/2025

Our 63 most popular moscow trips. compare tour itineraries from 45 tour companies. 308 reviews. 4.7/5 avg rating., popular moscow tours.

St Petersburg & Moscow in Style - Winter

• Explore the majestic St Petersburg & Moscow on private city tours
• Admire the rich Russian history, art and architecture
• Travel to Moscow on a highspeed train
• Enjoy the local cuisine in stylish restaurants

Golden Ring of Russia

Lower Volga Voyage

• Visit magnificent Red Square and Kremlin and examine the collection at theKremlin’s State Armory.
• Experience Russia’s diverse musical traditions at lively folk music performances
• Explore Volgograd, the site of the decisive battle of World War II’s eastern front

Best of Russia

Volga Dream Russian River Cruise

Highlights of Russia

St Petersburg & Moscow in Style - Summer

White Russian - 7 days

• Discover Moscow's UNESCO-listed Red Square, home to spectacular St Basil’s Cathedral, Lenin's Mausoleum and the historic GUM Department store
• Explore the grounds of Moscow's mighty Kremlin, with its numerous governmentbuildings, gold-domed cathedrals and the giant tsar bell
• Celebrate New Year's Eve in Moscow!
• Take in the highlights of St Petersburg including a guided tour of the exquisite Church on Spilled Blood, Peter & Paul Fortress and Cathedral
• Take a guided tour of the remarkable Hermitage Museum at the Winter Palace

All Moscow , expedition cruises, self guided adventures and vacation packages. Find the best guided and expert planned vacation and holiday packages. Read more about Moscow

Small Group Moscow Tours

Vodka Shot - 6 days

• Explore the beautiful city of St Petersburg, including the exquisite Church on Spilled Blood, Peter & Paul Fortress and Nevsky Prospekt
• Marvel at the dazzling array of art and exhibits in the world-famous Hermitage Museum, at the Winter Palace in St Petersburg
• Discover a lavish residence of the tsars on a day trip to Catherine Palace at Tsarkoe Selo (winter: mid-October to April) or Peterhof Palace and gardens (summer: May to mid-October)
• Take in the highlights of the capital on a walking tour, visiting Moscow's famous Red Square, home to the historic GUM Department Store, Lenin’s Mausoleum and spectacular St Basil’s Cathedral
• Take a guided tour of the Moscow Kremlin, Russia’s political power house. Stroll around the grounds of this fortified complex, visit the Kremlin's cathedrals and see the mighty Tsar Bell

Route of the Romanovs - 10 days

• Learn about the last days of the Romanovs in Yekaterinburg, visiting the sites where Tsar Nicolas II and his family were assassinated and buried
• Straddle two continents at the famous obelisk Europe/Asia border marker in Yekaterinburg
• Experience the Trans-Siberian railway on an overnight train journey from Moscow to Yekaterinburg

New Year's in Moscow - 9 days

• Visit Catherine Palace at Tsarkoe Selo on Christmas Day and marvel at the incredible Amber Room
• Spend a night in Novgorod, an ancient city by the Volkhov River - explore the kremlin, cathedral and other sights and enjoy a traditional Russian banya (sauna)

Back in the USSR - 7 days

Russian Revolution - 9 days

• Visit historic Novgorod, an ancient city which straddles the Volkhov River. Explore the attractive riverside kremlin and experience a traditional Russian banya (sauna)

The Snowball - 6 days

• Visit Catherine Palace at Tsarkoe Selo and marvel at the incredible Amber Room

Mood for Moscow - 4 days

• Head underground to visit a Stalinist-era Soviet Bunker on an optional excursion
• Stroll to the vibrant Izmailovo Market, which lies behind the walls of an ancient Kremlin, and shop for an array of souvenirs

Best Moscow Tours by Duration

Tours, Cruises & Private Trips

Best Moscow Tours by Price

Top Moscow Attractions & Experiences

Moscow Tours & Travel Guide

Moscow Attractions & Landmarks Guide

Moscow reviews & ratings, capitals of the north.

some hotels could have been better

It was jam packed with every place I wanted to go and see. I especially love my photo of us setting out on the night time river cruise in St Petersburg and the Peter...

I really did not buy much and what I did buy was small gifts for others .

Johanna-Marie

Good hotels, some better than others. Interesting itinerary

Too rushed. Optional tour rather too short

See all Moscow reviews

Moscow Tours FAQ

1. Does Travelstride have all the tour operators?

2. How does the Member Savings program save me money?

3. Can I trust the tour operator and trip reviews on Travelstride?

4. What does ‘Stride Preferred’ mean?

Capitol Express Tours

The Capitol Express is perfect for the entire family, from infants to seniors, it is by far, "The Best Way to See DC". You will enjoy a narrated tour of all the major attractions in the downtown/National Mall area. There will be plenty of opportunities to hop off and take pictures, get a closer look, then hop back on to the next landmark. The slow-moving electric vehicle allows a panoramic view of the whole trip and, best of all, only limited walking required, as we cover about a 10-mile journey. They can accommodate pets, strollers, wheelchairs and most requests, as well.

• Group Minimum
• Guided tours available
• Private Tour
• Educational Programming
• Open to public
• ADA compliant
• Green/LEED Certified

Additional Information

Distance to metro, distance to conv center, group maximum, attraction rates, metro station.

Federal Triangle

1401 Pennsylvania Ave. NW Washington , DC 20004 United States

(410) 259-8253, [email protected].

View Gallery

Nearby Favorites

Waldorf astoria washington, dc.

An Iconic Address For An Unforgettable Stay

National Postal Museum

Smithsonian National Postal Museum

Woodrow Wilson House

Dine intimately in the presidential Dining Room, enjoy cocktails throu...

Capitol Express Tours

• See all photos

Similar Experiences

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Capitol Express Tours - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser .

• Moscow Tours

Our 20 Best Moscow Tours of 2022

Join us on an unforgettable tour to Moscow, the capital of Russia. Imagine visiting Red Square, St. Basil’s the Kremlin and more. Moscow is one of Europe’s most vibrant cities and one of Russia’s most historical. All of our tours to Moscow are fully customizable and can be adjusted to fit any budget. Our most popular tours are listed below. Please click on the tour details to learn more or contact us for more information about our Moscow tours using the form at the side of the page. You can also schedule a call with one of our Russian travel specialists to learn more.

Classic Moscow

This is our most popular Moscow tour that includes all the most prominent sights. You will become acquainted with ancient Russia in the Kremlin, admire Russian art in the Tretyakov Gallery, listen to street musicians as you stroll along the Old Arbat street, and learn about Soviet times on the Moscow Metro tour.

Accommodation

PRIVATE TOUR

A Week in Moscow

This tour is a perfect choice for those who wish to get to know Moscow in depth. One of the highlights of this package is the KGB history tour which gives an interesting perspective on the Cold War. You will also have time for exploring the city on your own or doing extra sightseeing.

Weekend in Moscow

This tour is a great way to get acquainted with the capital of Russia if you are short of time. You will see all the main attractions of the city, the most important of which is the Kremlin - the heart of Russia. The tour starts on Friday and can be combined with a business trip.

Group Tour Moscow Break by Intourist

Russia's capital has so much to offer, from the Kremlin and the Metro to the Old Arbat street and the Tretyakov Gallery. Besides these sites, you will also visit a fascinating country estate which today is quite off the beaten path, Gorky Estate, where the Soviet leader Lenin spent the last months of his life.

Kolomenskoye Tour with transport

The history of Kolomenskoye stretches back for centuries. In 1380, Dmitri Donskoi’s army passed through Kolomenskoye on their way to the Kulikovo battlefield, and it was...

Tours by car

Kremlin, Red Sq., Cathedrals & Armory Tour

The Kremlin is truly a fascinating structure, at the same time it is an ancient tower, the city’s former military fortification, a palace, an armory, the sovereign treasury...

Walking tours

Kremlin, Red Sq., Cathedrals, Armory, Diamond Fund Tour

Old Arbat walking tour

You will be told of the street’s interesting history and view the street’s artisan culture. You will also have the opportunity to view and purchase souvenirs from the...

Tour to Sergiev Posad with transport

Considered by some to be the Russian Vatican, Sergiev Posad is the temporary residence of the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church. The Trinity St. Sergius Monastery (Lavra)...

Tour to Kuskovo with transport

The Kuskovo Estate often called the Moscow Versailles due to its perfectly preserved French park, is an example of an 18th century, luxurious Moscow summer residence. Its history...

Tour to Tsaritsyno with transport

The Tsaritsyno Estate is located in the southern part of Moscow. The estate was constructed for Catherine the Great by the Russian architects Bazhenov and Kazakov in a romantic...

Moscow Metro and Old Arbat Tour

The Moscow Metro is one of the largest and most grandly built metro systems in the world. It was meant to be a showcase of the Soviet Union’s achievements for both the Russians...

Vodka Museum Tour with transport (excursion and vodka tasting)

Vodka is an important component of Russian life, an element of national identity and everyday culture. We invite you to visit the Vodka Museum and feel the atmosphere of long-gone...

Mikhail Bulgakov Apartment Museum

This apartment museum located close to Patriarch Ponds became the prototype of the "bad apartment" described in the novel "The Master and Margarita." Currently the museum's...

Kremlin, Red Sq., Cathedrals & Diamond Fund Tour

The State Museum of Lev Tolstoy Tour

Take this opportunity to learn more about the Russian writer Lev Tolstoy. During the visit to the museum you will see part of a vast collection of exhibits connected to Tolstoy...

Novodevichy Convent Tour with transport

Tour of the Novodevichy Monastery. Founded in 1524 by Grand Prince VasiliIoanovich, the original convent was enclosed by fortified walls and contained 12 towers. The structure...

City Tour with Visit to St. Basils & Red Sq. with transport

Panoramic City Tour. This Moscow tour is a great start to your trip and the best way to get acquainted with many of the city’s major highlights. Our professional guide will...

City Tour of Moscow

Head to the heart of Moscow with a professional guide on a 4-hour private walk through the city center. See Tverskaya and Old Arbat streets, Theatre Square with the world-famous...

Moscow Metro walking tour

Kremlin, Red Square and Cathedrals Tour

KGB Tour with transport

This is a very interesting and insightful tour. You will visit places connected with Stalin’s terror - a time of great repression and fear. You will be shown monuments to...

Soviet and Post-Soviet Moscow Tour

The tour begins with a drive or walk down Tverskaya Street – a Soviet masterpiece. In the years of Soviet power, Tverskaya began to undergo a transformation: it was widened...

Tretyakov State Gallery Tour

This world-famous gallery contains masterpieces of Russian art beginning in the 10th century up until today. You will view exquisite Russian icons and paintings from the 18th and...

Jewish Heritage of Moscow Tour

This tour offers a detailed look into the history and present-day life of the Jewish community of Moscow. On the tour, you will visit sites connected with the cultural and religious...

Vodka Museum Tour with transport (excursion only)

Lena, our guide in Moscow was excellent. She was very knowledgable and could answer any question we had for her. We liked that she could pick up on our interests and take us places we might not have thought of to go. When we realized that one of the places we had chosen to see would probably not be that interesting to us, she was able to arrange entry to the Diamond Fund and the Armoury for us. Riding the Metro with Lena was a real adventure and a lot of fun. In Saint Petersburg we found Anna well versed in the history of the Tsars and in the Hermitage collection. Arkady in Veliky Novgorod was a very good guide and answered all of our questions with ease. Novgorod was perhaps a long way to go for a day trip, but we did enjoy it. Vasily was a great driver to have and kept us safe with good humour and skill. We enjoyed ourselves so much, my daughter says she is already planning to return. We would both have no hesistation to recommend ExpresstoRussia to anyone we know.

Just wanted to let you know that My grandson Bruno and I couldn´t have been more pleased with our week in Moscow (6/15 - 6/21). We were absolutely enchanted with the whole experience, including getting lost a couple of times in the Metro during our free time. Although both our guides (both Eleanas) were excellent, I would particularly commend the first one (she took us to the Tatiakov, the KGB tour, and to that beautiful cemetery where so many great Russian artists, authors, composers, musicians, militarists, and politicians are buried). Her knowledge is encyclopedic; and her understanding of today´s Russia as a product of its past was, for us, truly enlightening. I will be taking another tour in Russia, with my wife, within the next two or three years. I will be in touch with you when the time comes. Meanwhile, I will refer you to other potential visitors to Russia as I meet them.

Tours to Moscow

Our Moscow tours are land only meaning that you arrange your own air travel to Russia and our expert staff meets you at the airport and handles everything else from there. Our online Airline Ticket booking system offers some of the most competitive rates to Russia available on the web so if you need tickets, please visit our Russian air ticket center . Rest assured that you will be taken great care of on one of our Moscow tours. Express to Russia has a fully staffed office in Moscow that will help to make your visit fun, informative and unforgettable. Please remember that of all these tours are private and can be adjusted to your taste. You can add, replace or skip some sights; you can add more days to the package or cut the tour short. Our specialists will be glad to help you create the tour of your dreams!

Moscow, a City Like No Other

Moscow is Russia’s largest city with a population of between 12 and 13 million. It is also Europe’s largest city and when you visit Moscow, you can feel it. The layout and architecture of the city is eclectic, ranging from crooked, ancient streets and alleyways to wide, bustling boulevards, from medieval churches to Stalin skyscrapers and to modern, glass buildings towering over everything and of course in the center of it all is the Kremlin and the magnificent Red Square. Moscow is also home to a fantastic, efficient and very beautiful metro system – each station having its own special design. In fact, Express to Russia’s Moscow metro tours and excursions are some of our most popular attractions that we offer. On our Moscow tours, you will see this and more.

Moscow Tours centering on Russian History

Moscow has a long and interesting history and has been the capital of Russia in many of its different iterations – capital of the Grand Duchy of Moscow , the Russian Empire and of course the Soviet Union (who could ever forget the Soviet Union?). Moscow, was founded in the 12th century by Prince Yuri Dolgaruki (Yuri of the long arms – he really did have long arms!). From that time on, it was home to the Russian Tsars until Peter the Great moved the capital to St. Petersburg in 1703. The city has survived invasions and sieges from the Mongols, the Tartars, the Poles, Lithuanians and Napoleon but has always persevered. Our Moscow tours will enlighten you on this great history and give you insights into Muscovites and their unique culture. Our Moscow tours show you what the city is like today but also brings to life the past. Moscow never seems to sleep and is bursting with energy. A Moscow tour with Express to Russia is truly the best way of getting to know Russia’s largest and most vibrant city.

Frequently Asked Questions From Our Travelers

What is the best time to visit moscow.

Any time of year is fine depending on what you plan to do. Summertime is pleasantly warm, ideal for exploring the city and its vibrant atmosphere, but Moscow will be much busier and accommodation is more expensive. Winter can be quite cold but beautiful nonetheless, and this is unproblematic if you intend to spend most of your trip in museums and galleries. There are also various festivals and events organised throughout the year. For more information about the best time to visit, read our guide

How many days are enough in Moscow?

If you plan your itinerary strategically and aren’t averse to a packed schedule, you can cover Moscow’s main sights over a long weekend. Most popular attractions are in the city centre, and the Moscow Metro allows you to cover much ground in a small amount of time. Ensure that your accommodation is fairly central and book tickets in advance, so that you can make the most of your days. For an informative and well-organised day out, check out our Moscow day tours with options to suit all interests.

Do they speak English in Moscow?

As Russia’s capital city, tourists are well accommodated in Moscow. There should be English-speaking staff in restaurants, bars, hotels, shops and attractions in tourist hotspots, and there are also English-speaking tourist police. Transport services have English translations on their maps and English announcements via intercom; alternatively, order taxis from the Yandex Taxi app (Russian Uber), though it’s unlikely that your taxi driver will speak English. If you get stuck and cannot communicate, it’s fine to use Google Translate.

Is it safe to travel to Moscow?

It is no less safe to travel to Moscow than to any European city if you exercise common sense and look after your belongings. As with every city some regions can be more unsavoury than others, but no tourist attractions are located there. The traffic in Moscow is notorious, so exercise caution when crossing roads. Do not take unlicensed taxis; book in advance or take public transport, which is widespread and perfectly safe. If you encounter any problems, look for the special tourist police who can help you. For more information, read our guide about staying safe in Russia .

Our travel brands include

Express to Russia

Join us on Facebook

We invite you to become a fan of our company on Facebook and read Russian news and travel stories. To become a fan, click here .

Join our own Russian Travel, Culture and Literature Club on Facebook. The club was created to be a place for everyone with an interest in Russia to get to know each other and share experiences, stories, pictures and advice. To join our club, please follow this link .

We use cookies to improve your experience on our Website, and to facilitate providing you with services available through our Website. To opt out of non-essential cookies, please click here . By continuing to use our Website, you accept our use of cookies, the terms of our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service . I agree

Bengaluru: Auto drivers all set to showcase city to tourists

BENGALURU: To push tourism in Namma Bengaluru, auto drivers in the city have come together to introduce theme-based ‘Tourist Auto’ to offer local tour services independently.

Uma Shankar, an auto driver at Cubbon Park Auto Stand, said, “We noticed that many tourists struggle to explore Bengaluru on their own, often getting lost or missing out on hidden gems. By offering our tour services as local guides, we can showcase the city’s tourist attractions with customised route map. Bengaluru, known as the Silicon Valley of India, attracts a steady stream of tourists from across the globe due to its rich cultural heritage, bustling markets and vibrant nightlife.”

The low-cost tour guide service starts from Vidhana Soudha, Raj Bhavan, Bengaluru Palace and ends at Cubbon Park with a minimum fare of Rs 100. Even drivers are offering trips to Lalbagh Botanical Garden and other places with varying fares.

Speaking to TNIE , Adarsha Auto Union president Manjunath said while they had floated the concept earlier, they did not receive a positive response from the government. “Despite the lack of support from the government, interest in the ‘Tourist Auto’ proposal remains high, with many drivers continuing their efforts as it also supports their families. Navigating the city’s diverse attractions can be daunting for newcomers. To solve the problem, the union came up with the initiative to attract tourists,” he said.

“We are planning on having theme-bases tourist autos with pictures depicting our culture and tourist places to make them stand out from regular rickshaws. It will help tourists easily identify tourist autos. The autos will be equipped with water bottles, newspapers, magazines and a customized route map with a feedback letter. Initially, we plan to launch 50 such autos in the city,” Manjunath added.

Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp  

Download the TNIE app to stay with us and follow the latest

Related Stories

• About Our Authors
• SRAS: Study Abroad or Online
• GeoHistory: Geopolitics, History, News
• PopKult: Popular Culture
• Museum Studies: Museum Science, High Culture, City Planning
• Students Abroad: Travel Guides

Popular articles

View of the Kremlin and surrounding area from 1825. From The Album of Ancient Views of the Moscow Kremlin , by Ivan Zabelin. Available online from the Yeltsin Library .

The Kremlin: Moscow’s Historical Heart Through the Ages

Published: December 3, 2021

The Moscow Kremlin has long been the main symbol of Moscow and Russia – and for good reason. It was with the Kremlin that city of Moscow officially began and from which it grew. The Prince of Moscow, ruling from the Kremlin and drawing on the growing power of his city, united and conquered the cities and lands around him to create Russia.

While the Kremlin can be seen as something of a constant in Russian history, the Kremlin itself has seen major changes within its walls and to its own status. It has lost and gained buildings. It has changed from the seat of government to an ancillary structure, back to the governmental seat, and finally to a museum complex.

The resource below unites the work of multiple SRAS students writing on Home and Abroad , Challenge Grants , and Online Research Internships to bring you an overarching view of this iconic complex.

The Kremlin Walls

By Hudson Dobbs

The Kremlin was first established in 1156 by Prince Yuri Dolgorukiy. This post-dates the first mention of Moscow, which dates back to 1147, when Prince Dolgorukiy invited Prince Sviatoslav of Chernigov to Moscow to celebrate their alliance.

The actual site of this stronghold has likely been occupied since the second millennium BCE. It likely had fortifications built there as early as the 10th century, by the then-resident Vyatichi, a tribe of Slavic peoples.

Eventually, Prince Dolgorukiy ordered the construction of what would become the Kremlin walls. These first walls were tall and expansive and built out of wood. Although this structure was built for protection, it also served as a symbol for the power and strength of the new city of Moscow.

While the first walls did their job well, they were eventually burnt down by Tatar-Mongol forces and later upgraded to more fire-resistant oak in 1339. As the city grew, the Kremlin also further developed, and with it the popularity of building fortresses in town centers. Cities such as Smolensk, Kazan, Novgorod, and Pskov all constructed a Kremlin of their own. In fact, the word “kremlin” simply means “a fortress within a city.”

By the 13th century, the Kremlin housed the political and spiritual power of the state, with residences, workshops, churches, and state buildings all residing within its walls. In the 1360’s, Prince Dmitry Donskoy rebuilt the walls in limestone and a gleaming white Kremlin soon became the iconic image of Moscow. These walls were credited in helping the city defend itself from sieges by Grand Duke Algirdas of Lithuania in the late 1360’s.

The walls and towers that exist today are still another iteration, and were built on the order of Grand Prince Ivan III, also known as Ivan the Great, from 1485 to 1495. Ivan wanted to build something grander and more worthy of being his residence – something that would be comparable to Constantinople in terms of size and importance.

Wanting what would be specifically a “Third Rome,” Ivan invited Italian architects such as Aristotele Fioravanti and Pietro Antonio Solari. Their involvement is why the current fortress closely resembles castles of Northern Italy. Its red brick made the Kremlin unique for the time, as it was the first structure in Russia built from such material.

These brick walls have stood, with minor adjustments, since that time. One noticeable change came in the late 1600s, when Tsar Fyodor Alekseevich ordered the red brick to be whitewashed in limestone, returning it to gleaming white the city had been hitherto known for. Eventually, the whitewash stopped being maintained and was allowed to wear off, a process that was complete by the 1900s.

Grand Kremlin Palace Tour

By Jack Fisher

Formerly the Moscow residence of the Russian tsars, the Grand Kremlin Palace (not to be confused with the State Kremlin Palace) is a complex inside the Kremlin. It now hosts diplomatic meetings and official state ceremonies including presidential inaugurations. It is also designated as a residence of the President of the Russian Federation, but is rarely used for that purpose.

When SRAS gave me the opportunity to take an exclusive tour of this complex, which is an exclusive tour that is normally off-limits to the general public, I had to take it.

This particular tour is different from those that cover the more public areas inside the Kremlin and requires signing up early and submitting your documents for a security check.

I met the tour group on a Friday afternoon in Aleksandrovski Sad, which borders the Kremlin walls. From there, we made our way towards the Kremlin grounds entrance. There was a huge line to get into the grounds through a first security checkpoint, but we were able to skip straight to the front of it since we had registered for our tour ahead of time. Once we were through the gate, the crowd thinned out significantly.

As we walked through the Kremlin grounds, we saw other tour groups taking photos of the landscaping, palace, and other historical buildings. Unlike us, they didn’t have the permission of the Russian government to enter the actual palace. When we got to the palace, we walked through the front doors, crossed a second security checkpoint, met our guide, and started the tour.

Our tour guide inside the building was a woman that worked in preservation. She only spoke Russian, so everything was translated for us by an SRAS-hired guide to English. We began on the first floor of the newer section of the palace and saw several ornate living rooms and guest rooms, followed by the empress’s and emperor’s chambers. Unfortunately, we weren’t allowed to see the emperor’s office and bathroom as President Putin had decided to use them as his personal study for the remainder of his time in office.

After the first floor, we headed upstairs to the second. From the outside the palace appeared to have three floors, but in reality the second floor just had massive, vaulted ceilings and two levels of windows. From what I saw, the second floor seemed to be where the fun happened. The first major room we walked into was the Hall of the Order of St. George, built to house major military meetings and balls and today used as a large conference room. There were names of famous military officers and soldiers inscribed on the walls, and the hall looked like it could hold hundreds of guests. Then it was on to the Hall of the Order of St. Vladimir, which was way less cool. It did, however, have the largest chandelier in the palace, for what that’s worth.

Next, we moved into the oldest section of the palace. It was built in the late 1400s and the newer sections of the palace were built out to connect with it. Our guide told us that by the time of the last czars, the older section was used strictly for ceremonial purposes. The walls were covered with paintings of historical rulers and religious figures. It was definitely my favorite room as there seemed to be an aura of timelessness hanging about the place.

Then we went back through the Hall of the Order of St. Vladimir and through another hall to the older bedchamber of the czar and an older, smaller meeting room for the czar and his nobles. This section was markedly different as there was none of the opulence of the newer palace. It had a utilitarian feel due to its practical layout with comfortable but plain looking chairs, reasonably sized paintings, low ceilings and large traditional Russian stoves.

Finally, we visited the throne room. It was massive, just like the Hall of the Order of St. George, and had polished stone and gilding everywhere. Unfortunately, it was a reconstruction. Our guide let us know that the soviets had torn it apart when they came to power, creating what looked like a massive classroom to house the first meetings of the Soviet Congress. The Russian government had restored it completely within the past decade. She also let us know that the current heir to the Russian throne is Prince Harry of England, which is an interesting fact I’ve been surprising Brits with lately.

On our way out, we exited through a portrait hall. Most of the portraits were typical Enlightenment and Victorian era paintings with stuffy looking people. However, one painting caught my eye: the portrait of Knyaz Sbyatoclav. The man looked absolutely hardcore (and you can see him below in a photo I took).

In my opinion, it was definitely worth $75. While I wouldn’t go twice, the fact of the matter is that you get to see the inside of a beautiful building and stand in rooms that very powerful people meet in and have met in for hundreds of years – which is an opportunity that few regular people are given. Don’t think that it’s too expensive, because you’ll have the experience and memory with you for the rest of your life.

The Kremlin Without a Capital (1712-1918)

By Lee Sullivan

The Kremlin has always been a symbol of Russian power and authority. It is often used interchangeably with the Russian state in journalism and academic literature. This is not surprising considering the Kremlin is situated in the heart of Moscow and has typically housed Russian rulers and their offices – and continues to contain an official residence and office for Russian president Vladimir Putin. However, not all of Russia’s leaders have always called the Moscow fortress home. This article covers the nearly 200 years of Kremlin history when Moscow was not the capital.

Peter the Great moved Russia’s capital from Moscow to St. Petersburg in 1712. Despite the continued crowning of tsars in the Annunciation Cathedral and symbols of power in the Kremlin vaults, Moscow’s role in state life was minimal compared to that of the new capital. This changed when a new stage of construction began under Catherine the Great. Even though St. Petersburg was the new capital, she was crowned in Moscow following ancient tradition. A commission to replace the code of laws from Tsar Alexey Mikhailovich’s time was called in Moscow and its session was held in the Kremlin’s Faceted Palace. This was a sign that under Catherine the Great the state would be ruled from both St. Petersburg and Moscow. Additionally, the Senate was divided into departments under Catherine. Four were in St. Petersburg and two were in the newly commissioned Senate Building, which still stands in the Moscow Kremlin.

Catherine additionally planned a grand reconstruction of the Kremlin interior, one that would have seen most of its buildings demolished, save for the historic cluster of churches, and replaced with modern imperial architecture built with long, straight roads, much like St. Petersburg itself. Demolition was started, including to parts of the original Kremlin walls, when cracks began to appear in one of the cathedral walls due to the resulting disruption of the soil. Because of this, and because of the project’s already enormous cost, it was cancelled, and the original walls re-built.

In September of 1812, French troops occupied Moscow. Napoleon, who led them, planned to occupy the Kremlin as his residence. It is widely thought that in defense against the French, the Moscow mayor ordered fires be set across the city. They raged for days so and were so intense that Napoleon was forced to leave the Kremlin due to the smoke. Upon returning he declared an intention to remain in the Kremlin for winter and ordered additional fortification of the Kremlin walls. However, the French army was weakening due to battle loss and poor supply.

Napoleon ordered his troops to retreat and blow up the Kremlin in the process. Mines were laid but their effectiveness was reduced by rain and prompt Muscovite response. Still, considerable damage was done, including to the Vodozvodnaya Tower, which was completely destroyed.

The Kremlin quickly underwent restoration under Tsar Alexander I and Nicolas I. Despite the war’s considerable drain on state funding, Tsar Alexander I prioritized restoring many parts of the Kremlin including towers, walls, palaces, and cathedrals. He often traveled to Moscow to observe the restoration progress. Many of Russia’s best architects were included in the restoration efforts. Order was progressively restored to the Kremlin and new gardens, now called the Alexander Gardens, were laid out along its exterior. Buildings like the Senate were brought back to their original appearance.

Restoration was completed under Nicholas I, who gave special attention to the restoration of ancient Kremlin churches and other old buildings. He also commissioned the construction of new buildings like the Great Kremlin Palace, after having the old one demolished. The entire imperial family attended the palace blessing during an official ceremony in April 1849. It was constructed and designed with techniques that were ahead of their time – vaulted construction for walls and ceilings, inlaid stone floors, and iron rafters.

Shortly after the revolution, the Communists restored Moscow as the official capital in 1918 when Moscow was reinstated as Russia’s capital. Construction and restoration were completed by the mid-19 th century. During the Soviet years, the Kremlin housed Soviet leaders and saw the development and then dissolution of the Soviet state. Today the Kremlin stands in Russia’s capital as a unique architectural ensemble.

The Kremlin Under the Soviets

The new Bolshevik government made sweeping changes to the historic Kremlin complex to, as they saw it, better represent the character of the new socialist state.

During the revolution of November 1917, the Kremlin was ransacked, leaving it with broken glass, destroyed icons, and parts of the complex in disrepair. Restoration of the walls and towers began in 1918, but further restoration stalled for lack of funding and because the communists had not yet decided on a plan for their changes to their seat of government.

The first targets were churches and royal symbols. Nuns and monks who had long lived in the Kremlin were removed. Churches had valuables removed and transferred to the new Commissariat of Finances to fund state projects. Many royal treasures and even crown jewels were similarly transferred. The double-headed eagles on the top of the buildings were promptly removed.

Many buildings were repurposed. Initially, many were converted to housing for Communist functionaries as the revolution and war had depleted Moscow’s housing stock while driving immigration from the countryside to the city. At one point, over two thousand people lived inside the Kremlin. By 1939, however, Kremlin residents consisted of only about three dozen high ranking officials.

Other notable repurposings included turning the Palace of Facets into a canteen with its kitchen inside the Tsarina’s Golden Chamber. The Ivan the Great Bell Tower was turned into a workshop, the Small Nicholas Palace became a worker’s club, and a gym was placed in the Church of St. Catherine. In 1932, the Andrew and Alexander Halls within the palace were gutted to make room for a party congress.

Many of the buildings and statues within the complex were destroyed, often to make way for new construction; only 26 of the original 54 buildings survived the Soviet period. The Chudov Monastery and Ascension Convent were both destroyed to make way for a military academy and eventually the Kremlin Presidium was built on the ground to house the Supreme Soviet, the supreme legislative body of the USSR.

In 1929, the Maly Nikolaevsky Palace, a former royal residence, was replaced by a new administrative building.

In the 1920s, the Russian royals buried in the Archangel Cathedral on the Kremlin’s Cathedral Square were exhumed and autopsied. They and the items in their sarcophagi were turned over to the Kremlin museum. Some valuable artifacts were requisitioned to the state treasury.

In 1935, five stars of rubied glass replaced the double-headed eagles that once topped the Kremlin gate towers.

Throughout WWII, the Kremlin was disguised under mock construction and painted roofs. Despite this, several bombs still fell on the Kremlin grounds, but did not cause major damage.

In 1947, Stalin painted the Kremlin walls red in an unmistakable ode to socialism, a drastic change from the traditional white that the walls had carried for centuries.

In 1955, the Kremlin opened to the public as an open air museum. In that same year, a ban on living in the Kremlin was introduced, lessening any security risk opening it to the public might create.

The last wave of demolitions came in 1958-1961, when the Palace of Congresses, built to house the congresses of Communist Party and cultural events, replaced the Old Amoury and part of the Patriarch’s Palace.

In part due to the outcry from this massive renovation, greater care of the Kremlin grounds began. The official Kremlin museum system was established in 1966, and Elena Gagarin, daughter of Yuri Gagarin, was hired as museum director. Today, that system includes the large armoury, several churches, and items outside of the Kremlin, such as St. Basil’s Cathedral.

The changes made during the Soviet period have left the Kremlin with a striking architectural contrast between traditional, tsarist-era architecture with Soviet-style buildings and the iconic, ancient red walls and remaining cathedrals. Despite the destruction and changes that were carried out, the compound still offers an unforgettable look into Russian and Soviet history that is impossible to get from anywhere else.

The Kremlin Stars

Translated by Caroline Barrow

The following was originally posted to the the Russian 7 website . It has been translated here by SRAS Home and Abroad Translation Scholar Caroline Barrow. Additional edits and updates were applied in 2021.

On October 24, 1935, two long-standing symbols of the Russian monarchy—the two-headed eagles which stood on top of the Kremlin towers, were ordered to be brought down and replaced with five-pointed stars.

Why a five-pointed star became the symbol of the Soviet regime is unknown, but what is known is that Lev Trotsky supported this symbol. Greatly fascinated by the esoteric, he knew that stars and pentagrams have a strong energetic potential and are one of the strongest symbols. The swastika could have easily become the symbol of the new government, since it had a strong following in Russia at the beginning of the twentieth century. Swastikas were displayed on the currency of the temporary government led by Alexander Kerensky, and swastikas were painted on the walls of Empress Alexandra Fedrovna’s Ipatiev House before the royal family was executed there. This swastika trend was stopped almost solely by Trotsky and the Bolsheviks, who opted for the five-pointed star. The history of the twentieth century even showed that stars are stronger than swastikas… Stars shone over the Kremlin, in the place of two-headed eagle.

Erecting the thousand-kilogram stars on the Kremlin towers was not a simple thing to do. The problem was that the needed technology did not exist in 1935. The smallest of the Kremlin Towers, Borovitskaya, rose to 52 meters, and the tallest tower, Troitskaya, reached a height of 72 meters. Throughout the country, there were no tower cranes capable of reaching these heights. However, for Russian engineers, the word “no” did not exist, only the phrase “we must.” Engineers designed and built special cranes that could be installed on the upper deck for each tower. A metal base, called the console, was mounted at the base of each turret window, and on each console the engineers mounted a lifting crane. Thus, the process occurred in several stages: first the two-headed eagles were dismantled, and second, the stars erected.

Each star weighs about one ton. Given the height at which the stars would be placed and the fact that each star has a surface area of 6.3 square meters (potentially excellent for catching the wind), there was a danger that the stars might be blown away along with the top of the towers. So, it was decided to stress test the towers and, it turns out, with good reason: the upper part of each tower and its console was completely destroyed in the process. So, builders reinforced the masonry at the upper levels of the towers, and for the Spasskaya, Troitskaya, and Borovitskaya Tower, metal bracing was added to the base of the tower. The console on Nikolskaya Tower was so damaged that it had to be completely rebuilt.

All the stars were not made identical; four stars differ from one another in their artistic forms. On the Spasskaya Tower star, rays go out from the center. However, on Troitskaya Tower’s star, the rays look like spikes. The star on Borovitskaya Tower is made up of two contours, one inscribed in the other, and, finally, the rays on Nikolskaya Tower’s star have no pattern. In terms of length, the Spasskaya and Nikolskaya Towers were similar, with the distance between the ends of the rays being about 4.5 meters. On Troitskaya and Borovitskaya Towers, the star rays were shorter, and the distance between the ends of the rays was less, measuring 4 and 3.4 meters, respectively.

A star is good, but a spinning star is twice as nice. Moscow is large, its people many, and all must see the Kremlin stars. For the base of each star, special bearings were produced by the First Bearing Plant. These special bearings allow the stars to rotate with the wind even despite their significant weight. Consequently, it is possible to know the direction of the wind given the position of the stars.

Installation of the Kremlin Stars was a true celebration for Muscovites. The stars were not carried under the cover of night to Red Square. The day before the stars were placed on the towers they were put on display in Gorky Park. District and City Secretaries of the Communist Party came together with the ordinary mortals below to see the stars. The stars were lit from the outside to make the Ural stones shine and the rays sparkle. The eagles, taken off the towers, were also displayed to visually demonstrate the dilapidation of the “old” world and the beauty of the “new” world.

The Kremlin stars were not always ruby glass. The first stars, installed in October, 1935, were made from high-alloy stainless steel and red copper. In the center of each star, on both sides, the stars were embedded with precious stones outlining the hammer and sickle emblem. Over the course of a year, the glitter of the gems dimmed. The stars were also found to be too big, not fitting well with the architectural ensemble. In May, 1937, it was decided to install new, illuminated glass ruby stars. Also, they added a star to a fifth tower, the Vodovzvodnaya Tower. The ruby glass was produced at a factory in the city of Konstantinov, according to the method of the Moscovite glassmaker, N. I. Kurochkina. It was necessary to prepare 500 square meters of ruby glass, and for that, a new type was invented—selenium ruby glass. Before that, gold was used to color the glass; selenium was cheaper and produced a deeper color.

The Kremlin stars don’t only rotate, they also light up. In order not to overheat and cause damage, about 600 cubic meters of air is blown through the stars per hour. The stars are not affected by power outages, because they have their own, independent generators.

For the original lighting, the Moscow Electrical Lamp Plant produced the lights for the stars. The stars on Spasskaya, Troitskaya, and Nikolskaya Towers all had 5000-watt bulbs, and the other two operated at 3700 watts. In each star, two parallel filaments were installed. That way, if one burned out, the other filament still shone and a control panel is was notified of the burnout.

To change a bulb, one need not need to climb up to the star. Rather, the bulb comes down on a special rod that runs straight through the bearing. The whole process takes 30-35 minutes. In the stars’ history, the stars stopped shining only twice—once during the war, and another time for the filming of the now-classic movie The Barber of Siberia .

Editorial Note: Update 2021. Starting in 2015, the lighting of the Kremlin stars was updated with one star’s lighting system replaced each year. The old incandescent lamps were replaced with modern metal halide lamps. These lamps are approximately four times more energy efficient than the old bulbs and provide a more intense, higher-quality light. Metal halide lamps are often used for sports stadiums and other places where strong, high-quality light is needed.

In preparation for this switch, Employees of the Central Scientific and Restoration Design Workshops (TsNRPM) measured the illumination of each arm of each star separately to make sure that each would still be lit evenly and brightly. They also created models of the stars lit with various methods including LED matrices and optical fiber. In the end, metal halide was determined to be the closest in historical appearance to the existing incandescent lamps.

Within this update, each star was also given its first compressive maintenance since 1946. Damaged panes were replaced, the stars were cleaned inside and out, and the lubricants within the rotation system were replaced with modern fluids.

The State Kremlin Palace

By Benjamin Bradley Mulick

Finished in 1961 after three years of work, the Palace of Congresses, later renamed as the State Kremlin Palace (not to be confused with the Grand Kremlin Palace), opened its doors for the first time for the 22nd Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, welcoming thousands of party delegates as well as communist leaders from around the world. Today, it is still the Kremlin’s newest building and a multipurpose facility, housing large conventions, cultural displays from around the world and even its own ballet troupe. With these functions giving it continued purpose, the Kremlin’s most modern and out of place building is also one of its most significant.

The Kremlin State Palace stands out from the gilded, pastel buildings around it with its hulking angular lines, and large windows divided by tall marble columns. It’s crowned by a glass banquet hall, which was the brainchild of Khrushchev himself.

It features three main halls: The Great Hall, the Small Hall, and the Diplomatic Hall. The Great Hall is the largest, featuring the palace’s main stage and hosting its most important events. With a seating capacity of six thousand, it is where party congresses were held, and where some of Russia’s most prominent cultural programs take place today. The Small Hall hosts smaller musical performances, and by virtue of having removable seating, also hosts dance events, such as the World Cup of Latin American Dance, as held in June of 2021. The Diplomatic Hall provides a smaller and more intimate setting in which to enjoy performances. Last but not least, the Diplomatic Hall often hosts lesser-known artists, often performing genres that do best in closer settings, such as jazz and folk.

The facility also holds many smaller meeting rooms, intended as breakout rooms for conventions, but also used for various purposes today.

The construction of the State Kremlin Palace came with considerable controversy. Not only is it stylistically wildly inconsistent with the rest of the Kremlin’s buildings, one of Russia’s most oldest and most important historical ensembles, but it also resulted in the destruction of several older buildings to make ways for the Palace’s massive presence.

The demolished buildings included the Old Kremlin Armory Building, originally built in 1851 to house the Kremlin’s ceremonial guard and a collection of state documents and treasure. The northern wing of the Patriarchal Chambers was torn down, formerly part of the private quarters of the head of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Because these were officially designated historic buildings, the legality of razing them was questionable and likely would not have taken place had not the decision been made from the office of Khrushchev himself.

Perhaps the real loss, however, came from underground. The original plans for the palace, before the Second World War, envisioned it as truly massive facility built where Christ the Savior Cathedral now stands. In the Khrushchev era, it was planned to build a smaller but still very large building near MGU, along the river, in what were then the still-developing outskirts of the city. When Khrushchev decided to place it inside the Kremlin, its footprint was again shrunk and it faced restrictions on its height so that the view of the Dormition Cathedral would not be entirely lost.

To make up for this, the bottom part of the building was sunk sixteen meters into the valuable archeological depths of the Kremlin’s soil. The buildings torn down to make room for the Palace were themselves built over much older foundations.

Archeologists were given a short window to explore the former Palace of Natalya Narishkina, the mother of Tsar Peter I, as well the former sites of churches, royal kitchens, workshops, and studios in what was once an economic center based within the historic Kremlin.

Teams of archaeologists were assigned to the area, who, in addition to expected finds, also found a number of secret tunnels. Unfortunately, while the archaeologists did their best to learn and preserve what they could, the limited timeframe allowed by the construction of the State Kremlin Palace meant that the archaeological potential of the site was, in large part, wasted. The tunnels were filled in, the old foundations built over, and the ruins lost to history.

Today, the Palace is perhaps best known as the home of The Kremlin Ballet, which was specifically formed in 1990 under esteemed Russian artist and choreographer Andrey Petrov with the purpose of performing there after the Bolshoi Ballet stopped performing at the palace and returned to the Bolshoi, then under renovations.

While the Kremlin Ballet was created with a strong basis in the classics, they have made more recent contributions to the ballet world with a number of their own classically-inspired modern works, including a ballet adaptation of Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Tom Sawyer .

The State Kremlin Palace also hosts the Moscow Classical Ballet, which has been dancing in Moscow since 1966. Demonstrations of this tradition in the upcoming year will include the Moscow Classical Ballet’s dancing reinvention of Romeo and Juliet (which was considered scandalous when it was first performed in 1972), and a performance of Swan Lake , one of Russia’s most important contributions to dance, as performed by the Kremlin Ballet.

Built to hold important political events, the State Kremlin Palace is more a cultural building than a political one. The stage’s relatively short history promises to be subsumed by its promising future. Whatever the next big musical or cultural phenomenon in Russia is, the State Kremlin Palace will be a part of it.

• Read a review of The Snow Maidan as performed at the State Kremlin Palace on this site.

A Tour of the Moscow Kremlin Today

Tour as reviewed by Helen McHenry, 2019

As part of our SRAS cultural program, we were given the opportunity to take a tour of the Kremlin, a historic complex and symbol of the Russian government. We met our guide outside of Red Square before walking along the Kremlin walls to the visitors’ entrance. She pointed out the swallowtail merlons bordering the wall, a design popular in 15th century Italian-style architecture, before we mounted the battlement. To travel behind the Kremlin walls, we crossed a bridge that used to span the Neglinnaya River but today acts as an archway covering part of the footpath.

Inside the Kremlin is an intriguing mix of old and new – from the 15th century walls to the 20th century block of modernism known as the State Kremlin Palace. Our guide informed us of the controversy over the palace’s design, which stands in such contrast to the more traditional styles surrounding it. The building, built under Khrushchev’s leadership primarily as a government meeting hall, has almost as many floors underground as it does above ground. Although many cried out against the building when it was built, it still stands today, where it is now used mainly to host concerts.

A brief walk along a path lined with cannons from the state artillery collection brought us to what appeared to be the mother of all cannons. Indeed, the Tsar Cannon is the largest bombard by caliber ever manufactured and has never been used due to its vast size. Just around the corner lay a similarly large but unused item – the Tsar Bell. Commissioned during the time of Empress Anna, niece of Peter the Great, an almost life-size image of her adorns the bell’s surface.

We then traveled to Cathedral Square, which, as its name suggests, features a number of beautiful cathedrals. The overcast day did nothing to accentuate the gold domes that capped their many towers, but no amount of gloom could dim their impressive stature – so immense that photographing them from my vantage point proved a challenge. Each cathedral was adorned with more stunning iconography than the last, overwhelming to the point of monotony as we shuffled through the throngs of tourists.

Our next visit was to the State Armoury, a neoclassical building resplendent with the wealth of the tsars. We traipsed through room after room of riches, from icons, dishware, and diplomatic gifts to clothing, carriages, and thrones. What stood out to me the most was the two distinct – and sometimes warring – natures of Russian identity on display at the Armoury, East and West. The contrast was particularly obvious amongst the collections of clothing, weaponry, and thrones. The older pieces hearkened back to the time before the Western pivot of Peter the Great. While these remained just as ornately decorated as their modern counterparts, they were, on the whole, a lot less outlandish than those done in the styles of the West.

The Armoury marked our last stop within the Kremlin, so we traveled across the city center to the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. Although the cathedral is the world’s largest Orthodox church, the current building is not the original. Christ the Saviour was demolished under the reign of Stalin and was only rebuilt in the late 1990s. Since then, the cathedral has gained fame as the site of Pussy Riot’s 2012 performance, which landed three members in jail for “hooliganism.”

Our guide let us explore the church on our own, as the church requires groups to be led by its own guides. Looking forward to lunch, we opted for a quick pass through the cathedral. Had I not been so hungry, I could have spent hours inside, as every surface held intricately-painted religious imagery intermixed with adornments heavily gilded with gold. Photographs were not allowed within the cathedral, reserving this spectacle to be seen first-hand.

The Kremlin in its entirety is a spot I recommend to all visiting Moscow, as four hours within its walls was not enough for our group to even scratch the surface of the wonders within.

Tour as Reviewed by Joseph Ozment, 2016

As part of SRAS’s Russian as a Second Language (RSL) program at Moscow State University, I had the opportunity to attend a guided walking tour of the Kremlin and its museums. We had a professional tour guide provided by SRAS who was very well informed about all aspects of the Kremlin’s sites and always willing to answer questions.

The tour, as offered by SRAS each session, can differ slightly based on availability and timing. We began our day’s tour not at the Kremlin, but at the nearby Cathedral of Christ the Savior, Russia’s largest Orthodox cathedral and one of the largest Christian structures in the world. Note that there are wardrobe requirements for entering the church (men and women both must have their shoulders covered, while men cannot wear shorts and women must wear skirts at least beneath the knee).

Before going inside, we were taken around the massive structure, and given a brief yet informative overview of its history. We learned that, despite the classical style of the building, it is actually only about 20 years old, having been constructed to resemble the church that once stood on the same ground.

During Communist times, the ground on which the Church now stands was a massive swimming pool, having been filled with water after the original Church was destroyed. The plans that the Communists originally had for the site were to construct the headquarters of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, which would be one of the tallest structures in the world and house the office of the Soviet Union’s premier inside the head of a giant Vladimir Lenin statue adorning the top.

The Cathedral is a truly stunning structure. Comparable only to St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome in my mind, the sheer amount of open air is amazing when one considers how still and tranquil it is on the inside.

We then continued onwards to the Kremlin itself, which was teeming with guided tours from all over the world, just like ours. Seeing other groups from America, but also some from France, Italy, China, and several other European and Asian countries was very interesting, as people tend not to think of Russia as a popular tourist destination. However, tourism here has grown rapidly in recent years, particularly since the ruble lost about half its value on world markets, making Russia a much more affordable location.

Anna informed us of the purposes of all of the first structures we encountered within the Kremlin walls. First of all, though, she made sure that we were aware that the word “Kremlin” does not refer just the center of government in Moscow, but is a general word that means fortress. Most Russian cities and towns of reasonable size and with a medieval history possess a Kremlin.

We saw one of the offices in which President Putin occasionally works, as well as the large, semi-controversial event and concert hall that resides just inside the main entrance to the Kremlin. Despite its modern style that clashes somewhat with the comparatively ancient structures around it, the fact that the building is covered in glass at least ensures that it reflects the beauty and history that abounds within the Kremlin.

After seeing the aptly named Tsar Cannon and Tsar Bell, both of which are two of the largest objects of their kind in the world, and neither of which have been used for their structural purpose in their existence, we moved on to see several of the many churches that stand within the walls of the Kremlin.

Inside the Church of the Annunciation, we were informed of some of the basic components of any Russian Orthodox Church. For starters, every inch of wall is covered in some image or another, from icons of Saints to giant murals that depict judgment day and the people of earth being sent either to heaven or hell. We also learned that the altar in an Orthodox church is given its own room, to which only the priests are allowed entry. The mysticism that is native to Orthodoxy and inherent to its liturgy was embodied in all aspects of these churches.

After our tour of the Kremlin’s outside squares, we were taken on a tour of the Armory Museum, which houses outfits, household items, carriages, armor, weapons, and various sundry items that belonged to the Tsars and Tsarinas of Russia. Anna knowledgeably led us through the various styles worn by different Russian rulers, and explained the significance(s) behind the appearance of what they wore and the carriages in which they rode.

We were in awe of the beautiful jewels that encrusted everything the royals wore and every vessel out of which they drank or off of which they ate, not to mention of the thrones on which they sat. We saw gifts from foreign dignitaries and rulers, and even the museum’s collection of Faberge creations.

All in all, it was a day rich with history and made even more enjoyable by our friendly and incredibly knowledgeable tour guide, Anna. There is hardly a more essential Russian experience to have during your time in Moscow than a guided tour of the Kremlin.

Incidentally, Anna, a guide that SRAS has worked with for years, helps run a guiding collective in Moscow called Bridge to Moscow . They run many private tours and are available for custom tours and travel as well.

Latest Updates

By Josh Wilson

In addition to the changes to how the Kremlin stars are lit and renovations to the Kremlin bells in Spasskaya Tower , for instance, several recent events are of interest.

In the mid-2000s, the Russian Orthodox Church lobbied for the restoration of the Chudov Monetary and the Ascension Convent within the Kremlin walls. The idea was seriously considered and even discussed on television by President Vladimir Putin, although only in the sense of rebuilding them as cultural monuments and part of the museum complex, rather than as working religious institutions. In the end, however, the Kremlin Presidium was simply torn down in 2016 and the area left mostly open with fragments of the old foundations left under glass for viewing. The result is a Kremlin even more dominated by open space and gardens.

Wind has damaged the Kremlin walls on a few occasions. In June 1998, several of the iconic sparrow tail structures on the wall were damaged by strong winds. In April 2018, strong wind damaged the Senate Palace roof. In October 2021, scaffolding being used to restore a section of the inner wall was blown over the top of the wall, also damaging several of the iconic sparrow tail structures. In all cases, the damage was quickly repaired.

You Might Also Like

The Moscow Kremlin has long been the main symbol of Moscow and Russia – and for good reason. It was with the Kremlin that city of Moscow officially began and from which it grew. The Prince of Moscow, ruling from the Kremlin and drawing on the growing power of his city, united and conquered the […]

Lubyanka: Inside the Story of Moscow’s Infamous Building and District

There is always history surrounding us. In a city like Moscow, this can seem overwhelmingly apparent. Moscow has many imposing buildings from many eras – some are immediately recognizable and others only invite wonder as to what stories lay behind their beauty or grime. Lubyanka is the name commonly used to refer to the building […]

Supermetal: The Latest in Moscow’s Urban Redevelopment

By the end of 2020, the founders of Khlebozavod9 and The Brusov Ship will open a new public space near Baumanskaya metro station in Moscow. A former industrial zone will host the Supermetal Cultural and Business Complex. The team’s plans call for two architectural monuments, laboratories with panoramic windows, three courtyards, and some small manufacturing […]

Warsaw’s Old Town District

While I was on study abroad in Warsaw, Poland, the place I visited most behind the Palace of Culture and Science, where I had classes every day, was Old Town. Why? Simply put, a trip to Old Town in Warsaw is like taking a journey back in time. It is the gem of the city […]

A Day in Tashkent’s Old City: Travel from Bishkek with SRAS

As part of SRAS’s Central Asian Studies program, students had the opportunity to travel to Uzbekistan for a full week. The first day of this week-long expedition began with a half-day tour of Tashkent’s old part of town. We were accompanied by our guide, Donat, or “Don” for short. He had outstanding English, and even […]

About the authors

Serena Keenan

At the time she wrote for this site, Serena Keenan was a rising junior at Smith College in Northampton, MA. She was majoring in Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies with a minor in Government and a concentration in Translation Studies. She hoped to study abroad in Moscow during the spring 2022 semester. After college, she hoped to go on to work in nuclear nonproliferation. In her free time, she likes to read and crochet.

Program attended: Online Interships

View all posts by: Serena Keenan

Caroline Barrow

Caroline Barrow is a graduate of Texas A&M University with a degree in International Studies and Russian. She loves traveling and hearing people’s stories. Out of the places she’s been able to visit, her favorite was Kiev, Ukraine for its beauty, history, and friendly people. She received a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship and, at the time she wrote for this site, was spending year teaching English in Kostanay, Kazakhstan. Additionally, she was been named SRAS’s Home and Abroad Translation Scholar for the 2013-2014 cycle. Her contributions included mostly translations of articles and blog posts that will be of interest to students.

Program attended: Home and Abroad Scholar

View all posts by: Caroline Barrow

Lee Sullivan

Lee Sullivan is an undergraduate student at Stetson University. She is currently pursuing a BS in cybersecurity and a BA in Russian, East European, and Eurasian studies. Next semester Lee will be in Vladivostok, Russia – studying the Russian language and participating in the Home and Abroad internship with SRAS. She aspires to pursue a master’s degree upon graduating.

View all posts by: Lee Sullivan

Benjamin Mulick

Ben Mulick, at the time he wrote for this site, was a fourth year Global Studies major at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee.

View all posts by: Benjamin Mulick

Jack Fischer

Jack Fischer, at the time he wrote for this site, was majoring in Physics with Russian and Economics minors at Iowa State University of Science and Technology in Ames, Iowa. He is studied Russian as a Second Language with SRAS over the summer of 2016 to improve his command of the Russian language. In the future, he’d like to work for himself and run a business, preferably abroad.

Program attended: Challenge Grants

View all posts by: Jack Fischer

Joseph Ozment

Joseph Ozment is a fourth-year International Studies and Russian Studies major at Rhodes College in Memphis, TN. He is minoring in music minor and has spent a lot of free time on music projects. He is studying Russian as a Second Language and also working an internship with The Moscow Times. He hopes to increase his Russian skills and cultural awareness so as to use his knowledge of the country and language in a professional setting in the future.

View all posts by: Joseph Ozment

Helen McHenry

Helen McHenry, at the time she wrote for this site, was a double major in international relations and Russian at the Ohio State University, with minors in Spanish and public policy. She studied with Russian as a Second Language with SRAS at the Higher School of Economics in Moscow in order to advance her proficiency in Russian and appreciation for Russian culture. She hoped to use the knowledge gained during her time abroad to advocate for foreign policy that strengthens relations between East and West in her future career.

View all posts by: Helen McHenry

Julia Brock

Julie Brock, at the time she wrote for this site, had returned to University of Kentucky to pursue a Global Studies Certificate, with an emphasis on Russia and the travel industry. She earned prior BA and MA degrees in psychology. A few years ago, she traveled to Russia, Estonia, and Finland, and loves the culture and history of these areas. She works at the campus library, and enjoys reading, running 5Ks, and spending time with her dogs. She lived for five years in Minnesota and loved the snow, winter sports, and Museum of Russian Art.

View all posts by: Julia Brock

Hudson Dobbs

Hudson received his BA in Russian Studies with a minor in Corporate Communications from Baylor University. At the time he wrote for this site, he was serving as a Home and Abroad Scholar as part of a Spring, 2022 session of SRAS’s Language and Society program St. Petersburg. While abroad, Hudson will be researching the Russian coffee culture, as well as the evolution of specialty coffee in Russia. His goal is to open his own coffee shop in the US - taking his experiences abroad and applying them to his future business.

View all posts by: Hudson Dobbs

• Manage Account

Here Are Photos From All the Coachella 2024 Parties & Events

Here are photos from all the Coachella parties, from Revolve Festival to Neon Carnival and beyond.

By Jenny Regan

Jenny Regan

• Share this article on Facebook
• Share this article on Twitter
• Share this article on Flipboard
• Share this article on Tumblr
• + additional share options added
• Share this article on Reddit
• Share this article on Linkedin
• Share this article on Whatsapp
• Share this article on Email
• Print this article
• Share this article on Comment
• Share this article on Pinit

Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival took over Indio, Calif., for its first weekend from April 12 to 14, and besides the exciting performance lineup at the festival itself, there are countless parties and events in between sets and after hours where fans can enjoy even more action — from Neon Carnival and Revolve Festival to Heineken House and beyond.

The annual Revolve Festival took place on Saturday (April 13), and the invite-only event featured performances from T-Pain, Ludacris, Sean Paul, the Ying Yang Twins, Nina Sky, Siobhan Bell and Kim Lee. Hailey Bieber’s skincare brand, Rhode, hosteda photo booth for guests, while Supergoop! provided sunscreen. Kendall Jenner’s 818 tequila company served drinks, as did Kylie Jenner’s Sprinter Vodka Soda.

The after-hours Neon Carnival featured celebrities including Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, Ice Spice, Paris Hilton, Kesha, Jon Batiste and more. The Neon Carnival, sponsored by Liquid IV, Patron El Alto, and Levi’s, featured performances from DJ Pee .Wee (a.k.a. Anderson .Paak), James Kennedy and DJ Hunny Bee.

Coachella returns to the desert on April 19 to 21 for weekend two. In the meantime, check out photos from all the exclusive parties and events below.

Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce at Neon Carnival held during the Coachella Music and Arts Festival on April 13, 2024 in Thermal, California.

Becky G at NYLON House in Palm Springs on April 13, 2024.

Benny Blanco

Benny Blanco at the Interscope & Capitol Records Coachella Party on April 13, 2024 in Palm Springs, Calif.

Megan Fox at NYLON House in Palm Springs on April 13, 2024.

Towa Bird & Reneé Rapp

Towa Bird and Reneé Rapp at the Interscope & Capitol Records Coachella Party on April 13, 2024 in Palm Springs, Calif.

Ashlee Simpson

Ashlee Simpson at PATRÓN EL ALTO tequila at the Gallery Desert House by Gallery Media Group on Friday, April 12, during Coachella Weekend 1.

Heidi Klum & Yannik Zamborni

HEIDI KLUM and ‘Making the Cut’ winner, YANNIK ZAMBONI, visit the Aperol Terrazza during Coachella weekend one.

KATSEYE at the Interscope & Capitol Records Coachella Party on April 13, 2024 in Palm Springs, California

d4vd at the Interscope & Capitol Records Coachella Party on April 13, 2024 in Palm Springs, Calif.

Ludacris performs onstage at Revolve Festival: The Seventh Annual Fashion, Music and Lifestyle Event held during the Coachella Music and Arts Festival on April 13, 2024 in Palm Springs, Calif.

Sean Paul at Revolve Festival: The Seventh Annual Fashion, Music and Lifestyle Event held during the Coachella Music and Arts Festival on April 13, 2024 in Palm Springs, Calif..

Busta Rhymes

Busta Rhymes at Neon Carnival held during the Coachella Music and Arts Festival on April 13, 2024 in Thermal, Calif.

Paris Hilton, Kyle Richards & Kesha

Paris Hilton, Kyle Richards and Kesha at Neon Carnival held during the Coachella Music and Arts Festival on April 13, 2024 in Thermal, Calif.

Amber Rose at Neon Carnival held during the Coachella Music and Arts Festival on April 13, 2024 in Thermal, Calif.

Ice Spice & Taylor Swift

Ice Spice and Taylor Swift at Neon Carnival held during the Coachella Music and Arts Festival on April 13, 2024 in Thermal, Calif.

Charli D’Amelio

Charli D’Amelio attends CELSIUS Cosmic Desert Event at Coachella on April 12, 2024 in Indio, Calif.

Reneé Rapp at the Amex Experience at the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival 2024 on Sunday, April 14, 2024 in Indio, Calif.

Nazanin Mandi

Nazanin Mandi attends CELSIUS Cosmic Desert Event at Coachella on April 12, 2024 in Indio, Calif.

Landon Barker

Landon Barker attends CELSIUS Cosmic Desert Event at Coachella on April 12, 2024 in Indio, Calif.

DJ Pee .Wee

DJ Pee .Wee performs onstage during Neon Carnival presented by Liquid I.V. in association with Patron El Alto and The Levi’s Brand on April 13, 2024 in Thermal, Calif.

Jon Batiste

Jon Batiste attends Neon Carnival presented by Liquid I.V. in association with Patron El Alto and The Levi’s Brand on April 13, 2024 in Thermal, Calif.

Richie Akiva & Teyana Taylor

Richie Akiva and Teyana Taylor at Coachella WEEKEND Friday Fuel Bash.

Neon Carnival

Atmosphere at Neon Carnival held during the Coachella Music and Arts Festival on April 13, 2024 in Thermal, Calif.

Anderson .Paak

Anderson .Paak at Neon Carnival held during the Coachella Music and Arts Festival on April 13, 2024 in Thermal, Calif.

T-Pain performs onstage during CELSIUS Cosmic Desert Event at Coachella on April 12, 2024 in Indio, Calif.

Barry Keoghan

Barry Keoghan attends CELSIUS Cosmic Desert Event at Coachella on April 12, 2024 in Indio, Calif.

Paris Hilton

Paris Hilton in the Absolut tent at Coachella on April 12, 2024.

Get weekly rundowns straight to your inbox

Want to know what everyone in the music business is talking about?

Get in the know on.

Billboard is a part of Penske Media Corporation. © 2024 Billboard Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

optional screen reader

Charts expand charts menu.

• Billboard Hot 100™
• Billboard 200™
• Hits Of The World™
• TikTok Billboard Top 50
• Song Breaker
• Year-End Charts
• Decade-End Charts

Music Expand music menu

• R&B/Hip-Hop

Culture Expand culture menu

Media expand media menu, business expand business menu.

• Business News
• Record Labels
• View All Pro

Pro Tools Expand pro-tools menu

• Songwriters & Producers
• Artist Index
• Royalty Calculator
• Market Watch
• Industry Events Calendar

Billboard Español Expand billboard-espanol menu

• Cultura y Entretenimiento

Honda Music Expand honda-music menu

Monuments by Moonlight: Exploring DC with Nighttime Tours

When the sun sets and the moon takes center stage, Washington, D.C. undergoes a captivating transformation. The monuments and memorials along the National Mall light up, revealing a new scenery. At Capitol Express Tours, we invite you to join us for a unique journey through these illuminated landmarks on our narrated golf cart night tours before the weather gets too cold.

As it gets darker, we embark on a historical expedition, providing a fun and engaging narrated tour through D.C.’s most renowned landmarks. Enjoy the serene atmosphere and witness the allure of Washington, D.C.’s iconic structures in an educational and stress-free way.

Lincoln Memorial

Our night tour kicks off at the Lincoln Memorial, a solemn tribute to President Abraham Lincoln. Under the moonlit sky, this iconic monument with its wonderful architecture stands tall. The lighting highlights the grand statue of Lincoln and the structure of the magnificent monument.

Washington Monument

Washington Monument is a striking structure and symbol of George Washington’s legacy. As the sun sets, the monument lights up, displaying a magnificent glow against the dark sky. The view is nothing short of awe-inspiring.

World War II Memorial

World War II Memorial is a stunning memorial where the night lights emphasize its architecture and design. The lit fountains and meaningful inscriptions pay tribute to the bravery and sacrifice of the war’s heroes.

US Capitol Building

The US Capitol Building truly comes alive when lit in a vibrant glow at nighttime. The dome’s intricate architecture and stately presence command attention, leaving most visitors in awe. The Capitol takes on an ethereal quality after dark and is the perfect place to take pictures.

At Capitol Express Tours, we offer curated narrated tours that capture the magic and beauty of Washington, D.C.’s monuments and memorials under the moonlight. Our guides provide engaging narratives, sharing historical insights and stories that bring these iconic landmarks to life.

Don’t miss this opportunity to witness the monuments at dusk and by moonlight, a truly enchanting experience that will leave you with lasting memories of our nation’s capital. Book your nighttime adventure with us and discover the awe-inspiring magic of Washington, D.C. after the sun goes down.

Capitol Express Tours

• See all photos

Similar Experiences

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Capitol Express Tours - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)