Moscow Sightseeing

[Orange County Murphy]

We will have 2 full days to sightsee in Moscow in June prior to a cruise and would welcome recommendations. We are traveling independently and will have a guide for 2 days. We will also have a car and driver on 1 of those days.

 

We plan to see the Kremlin, St. Basil's Cathedral, Lenin's mausoleum, GUM Department Store, the Metro and the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. What else should we try to include?

 

The Kremlin is enormous; what should we be sure to visit?

 

Unfortunately, it looks as though the Bolshoi will not be performing during our dates, but the circus will be in town. Has anyone seen the Moscow circus? Tickets online are about $100. Worthwhile?

 

Our hotel is the Moscow Marriott Tverskaya. Has anyone stayed there?

 

Any recommendations for restaurants or Russian foods to sample?

 

Colleen

[TLCOhio]

We will have 2 full days to sightsee in Moscow in June prior to a cruise and would welcome recommendations. We are traveling independently and will have a guide for 2 days. We will also have a car and driver on 1 of those days. We plan to see the Kremlin, St. Basil's Cathedral, Lenin's mausoleum, GUM Department Store, the Metro and the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. What else should we try to include? The Kremlin is enormous; what should we be sure to visit? Unfortunately, it looks as though the Bolshoi will not be performing during our dates, but the circus will be in town. Has anyone seen the Moscow circus? Tickets online are about $100. Worthwhile? Our hotel is the Moscow Marriott Tverskaya. Has anyone stayed there? Any recommendations for restaurants or Russian foods to sample? Colleen

 

Hi, Colleen! THANKS for posting this Moscow thread! We did a one-day, fly to Moscow and back, one-day tour from our 2008 cruise ship docking in St. Petersburg. It was a long day and there was lots of time taken in the logistics in and out of this large city of twelve million people, but it all worked well. It was worth visiting there.

 

As you can see by the pictures below we were focused more around the Kremlin, Red Square, etc. We also did the subway, which was very interesting and beautiful, plus seeing some other well-known structures, including the KGB Headquarters, Bolshoi Theatre, the Stalin-era government towers, etc.

 

The Kremlin includes many different buildings, but there are a few that are very important. At the top of the list, but not easy to just walk in without special arrangements, is the spectacular Kremlin Palace. Its rooms are large and historically significant. This is where the Czars were crowned and the place where current Russian Presidents are sworn in, hold their receptions, sign treaties, etc. Kremlin’s State Armoury, with the famed eggs & jewels, is a must see. Cathedral Square has three cathedrals within the 68 acres of the Kremlin with its walls and twenty historic towers. The Cathedral of the Annunciation was completed in 1489. Ivan the Great Bell Tower is on this Cathedral Square and is said to mark the exact centre of Moscow. It resemble a burning candle and was completed in 1600. It is 266 ft. high and was, until the 20th Century, the tallest structure in Moscow.

 

Your hotel is at a little distance for the historic heart of Moscow. Do you want to see some of their art museums and other collections within this town? Will you have a guide for part of your visit to Moscow? That might be helpful to navigate and understand a city where the signs and language are not all user friendly. Let us know your added question and reactions. Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

 

One of the Kremlin Wall Towers in Moscow:

 

 

 

The interior for Moscow's most historic church inside the Kremlin walls:

 

 

 

Walking on the famed Red Square of Moscow:

 

 

 

Inside the Kremlin’s State Armoury, here are some of the famed eggs & jewels:

 

 

 

Inside the newly, more westernized GUM Department Store:

 

 

 

Moscow’s subways are called the People’s Palace with its marble coverings and unique designs:

 

[snausman]

Thank you for the wonderful pictures of Moscow!!!! We will also be taking a one day tour of Moscow thru Celebrity. We are so looking forward to it. I did not know that we might stop at Gum Department Store, that would be awesome. Anything else we should be on the look out for??

[Orange County Murphy]

Terry,

 

Thank you for taking the time to post your beautiful photos.

 

We booked through Mir Travel & have arranged for a driver and guide. We'll arrive in Moscow on a Monday and leave on Thursday for Istanbul. We applied for our independent Russian visas this week, a somewhat time consuming but required process.

 

I'll check with Mir to see that arrangements have been made for us to see the areas of the Kremlin that you mentioned, particularly the Faberge eggs.

 

I know that the location of the Marriott Tverskaya isn't as close to Red Square as we might like, but the hotel prices in Moscow are shockingly expensive, among the highest anywhere.

 

Keep posting your marvelous photos.

 

Colleen

[TLCOhio]

Thank you for the wonderful pictures of Moscow!!!! We will also be taking a one day tour of Moscow thru Celebrity. We are so looking forward to it. I did not know that we might stop at Gum Department Store, that would be awesome. Anything else we should be on the look out for??

 

THANKS to Laura and Colleen for the nice comments! Much appreciated. On GUM Department Store, it sets right on Red Square and is easy to enter and check out it interior. It looks more and more westernized with its shops, dining options, etc., on the inside. The outside of it is a large, massive late 1800's structure. A new Coach shop was getting ready to open there in the fall of 2008. The State Armoury is great and it is fairly easy to go into there. The Kremlin Palace is the superstar that is much harder to tour. Push for that one, if possible. Read up on the history of Faberge and their production techniques, etc. We had a ship presentation on that background that was very helpful.

 

I would encourage Colleen to read up ahead on Moscow and push your tour folks to consider carefully your many options. I really like the Eyewitness books that have an excellent mix of text, history, photos, maps, building cut-aways, etc. YES, Moscow is very costly for its hotels. Below are a few more visual previews. Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

 

The domes of the historic church inside the walls of the Kremlin:

 

 

 

The famed KGB Headquarters in Moscow where many entered and did not exit (alive) during the 1950’s and 1960’s:

 

 

 

One of the 1930’s style building built by Stalin in Moscow:

 

 

 

Kremlin Treasures: Royal coaches:

 

 

 

World’s largest cannon sits inside of the Kremlin walls:

 

 

 

St. Basil's sits on Red Square and dates back to the 1500's/Ivan the Terrible:

 

[snausman]

All those pictures are wonderful, my dh and I love seeing them!!! If you have more PLEASE post them!!!!!

 

Laura

[TLCOhio]

All those pictures are wonderful, my dh and I love seeing them!!! If you have more PLEASE post them!!!!! Laura

 

THANKS, Laura, for the nice comments and wishes from you and your dh! Be careful what you wish for. Here are a few more that might be of interest. Lots to see and experience in Moscow. Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

 

Kazan Cathedral right near Red Square:

 

 

 

The fairly modern Lenin Tomb sits directly on Red Square:

 

 

 

Kremlin Treasures: Some of the Royal books & other items:

 

 

 

Kremlin Treasures: Royal clocks, etc.:

 

 

 

Young Military Officers with Soviet "High Hat":

 

 

 

Another shot from Moscow’s subways with their art and unique designs:

 

[snausman]

Simply wonderful can not wait to go!!! Thanks again!!!

 

Laura