I loved Moscow! I’ll be honest, I was a little nervous after reading and hearing about things that could happen, but all I found was a beautiful city just waiting to be explored.

Travel Tips In Moscow

Taxis – In Moscow, there’s a high risk of being stuck in a traffic jam. As for being taken for a financial ride, there’s a chance of that happening, too.

Citizen Taxis – Another alternative to getting around Moscow is to wave down a private car. Simply stand on the side of the road, wave and cars will stop. I had read about this unique occurrence but still didn’t believe it when I saw it in action. Tell the driver where you would like to go and negotiate a price. It helps to know some Russian to avoid misunderstandings. Incidents are apparently pretty rare, but it still helps to keep your wits about you.

Moscow Metro – I love metros. They’re easy to get around with a map in any language and even more so in Russia. The cost of travel on the metro is a flat rate regardless of where you’re travelling (26 rubles in Moscow at the time of our visit), so it’s easy to buy a ticket using sign language.

Hint – if you wish to buy two separate tickets for two individuals from a teller, both go up to the counter, otherwise you may get one ticket valid for two trips.

You also need to pay for your luggage (the same price per piece as per person), however, when compared to the cost of travel elsewhere, this is still an inexpensive form of travel.

English was available on the ticket machines. There’s not a lot of English available in the metro but English maps are available. The station names also aren’t obviously visible from inside the train, so it helps to count the stops. All lines are colour coded so it only takes a day or two to get the hang of the Moscow Metro mosmetro.ru

Getting to and from the airport – This couldn’t be easier. Aeroexpress is now available from the major Moscow airports to the metro (300 rubles at the time of our visit). You do have to walk from the railway station to the metro which may take a little negotiation (have a copy of the metro map on hand to show people so they can point you in the right direction). It’s a great alternative if you are travelling light and your Moscow hotel is located near a metro stop aeroexpress.ru

Waiting In Line – I had read that the usual protocol was to ask who was last when approaching a queue, but we found that people were more than happy to push in front of us. When we were more assertive, without being rude, we found it happened less.

Russians spend a lot of time waiting in queues, so be prepared if you have to wait.

Is There A Doctor In The House? – Occasionally, the need arises when we’re overseas for us to see a doctor. I can recommend the American Medical Centre in Moscow. They were easy to find, they speak English and I found their service to be prompt and very professional http://www.amcenter.ru/en Phone ahead to make an appointment. There’s a pharmacy just around the corner, too.

When travelling, don’t forget to take out travel insurance. A trip to the doctor in Moscow for laryngitis cost me $300.00. My travel insurance didn’t even cost me that much.

If you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel.

Things To Do In Moscow

The Metro

The tour of the Moscow Metro stations is highly recommended. An inexpensive addition to your itinerary, you can tour the entire system on just one ticket, provided you don’t leave any station. The designs are exquisite. They’re like mini museums featuring statues and mosaics, just to name a few. They really are a sight to be seen.

The Red Square

No trip to Moscow is complete without a trip to the Red Square. Home of the Kremlin, it sits directly in the centre of Moscow and is easily accessible by the metro. Walking into the Red Square and seeing St Basil’s Cathedral at the opposite end took my breath away. There is so much history surrounding the Red Square just waiting to be discovered.

Lenin’s Mausoleum was open in the mornings during our visit for viewings. Tours of the Kremlin, the Diamond Fund and the Armoury are also available. Tickets can be purchased from a booth in Alexander Garden and Trinity Tower.

The Centre of Moscow – Located just outside the entrance to the Red Square, it’s considered good luck to stand on the centre of Moscow and toss a coin….then stand back and watch as the old ladies run in to claim the coins!

St Basil’s Cathedral – This iconic cathedral is a sight not to be missed. It is truly more beautiful in real life. Built by Ivan the Terrible in the 1500′s, it takes a commanding position at the end of the Red Square. Services take place inside where you can listen to the choir, otherwise you’re welcome to view the cathedral inside and out.

Gorky Park – Stretching out along the banks of the Moscow River, Gorky Park is divided into two parts – the first being a theme park and the second, a formal garden. Many Muscovites spend their free time in Gorky Park, enjoying the adrenalin pumping thrill rides or relaxing in the beautiful gardens.

River Cruise – A river cruise along the Moscow River is a relaxing way to spend a few hours. You can choose to do a round trip or you can hop off at any time. A hop on hop off ticket is also available. It’s a great way to view the Red Square from a completely different angle and to see Moscow in a different light.

Places To Stay In Moscow

Moscow is a beautiful city and definitely worth exploring. We stayed at the Ibis Moscow Paveletskaya and recommend it to anyone who is looking for an affordable hotel that’s close to the action.

Share This: