Tours

YOUR MOSCOW FRIEND

Moscow is still not a very friendly place toward foreigners. Too few people in the street speak English, most signs, names and instructions are made in Russian. Even tourists attractions, such as museum, often do not have English translations.

It would be cool if you get someone accompanying you in unknown city. Yet, the prices for private guides are so huge that you have to go on a group tour or struggle with difficulties yourself.

The thing is you do not neccesarily need the expert knowledge about every sight in Moscow. You often rather need someone friendly to help you in the new city! So why to pay huge amounts when you may just hire a nice person with good command of English?

"Your Moscow friends" are fluent English speakers who enjoy handling with people from different countries and culture. If you are foreign traveller visiting Moscow, we offer our help for you in Moscow:

* guide you through the top sights and interesting places in Moscow

* share with you the most neccesary information about Moscow: hotels, cafe, transportation, internet, shops, souvenirs, facilities

* make your way from airport to hotel

Per your request we may also teach you basic Russian, travel with you to Moscow surroundings, order tickets, inform you about events, etc.

Moscow City Tour

Our half-day panoramic bus tour of Moscow gives you an overview of the most important sites in the city including: the University of Moscow, the Bolshoi Theater, and the Olympic Stadium. We continue on to the impressive Red Square where you see St. Basil's Cathedral, with its vividly painted onion domes, Lenin’s Tomb, and the famous department store GUM.

During the tour a special visit to the Park of Fallen Idols can be included, where you will see the unique collection of monuments from the Soviet period which were removed from their pedestals during the coup of 1991; monuments to Stalin, the KGB Chairman Dzerzhinsky and many others.

The State Tretyakov Gallery

The State Tretyakov Gallery is the national treasury of Russian fine arts and one of the greatest museums in the world. It is located in one of the oldest districts of Moscow — Zamoskvorechye, not far from the Kremlin. The Gallery’s collection consists entirely of Russian art and works of artists who have made significant contribution to the history of Russian art. This is how it was conceived by its founder, the Moscow merchant and industrialist Pavel Mikhailovich Tretyakov (1832–1898) and how it has remained to this day. The date of its foundation is usually taken to be 1856 when the young Tretyakov first acquired works by Russian artists of his day with the aim of creating а collection, which might later grow into а museum of national art. “For me, а true and ardent lover of painting, there can be no finer wish than to found а universally accessible repository of the fine arts, which will benefit many and give pleasure to all”, — wrote the collector in 1860, adding “I… should like to leave а national gallery, that is, а gallery with pictures by Russian artists”.

The years passed and the young collector’s desire was brilliantly put into practice. In 1892, Tretyakov presented to Moscow and the whole of Russia, а large and already famous gallery containing about 2.000 paintings, draw­ings and sculptures of genuine works of Russian art.

Nowadays, the Gallery’s collection contains more than 130.000 works of painting, sculpture and graphics, created throughout the centuries by successive generations of Russian artists. Two separate buildings at different locations — at Lavrushinskiy Pereulok, and at Krymskiy Val, — house the works selected for display.

Russian art works, ranging in date from the 11th to the early 20th century, are on show in the Gallery’s historic building on Lavrushinskiy Pereulok. Here, one can see the outstanding collection of Russian Medieval icon painting, works by best-known Russian artists of the 18th — first half of the 19th century, masterpieces of national art dating to the second half of the 19th century, collection of art works from the turn of the 20th century.

The Gallery’s complex located at Lavrushinskiy Pereulok incorporates the Engineering Building, which regularly hosts temporary exhibitions, the “Church of St. Nicholas at Tolmachi ” and the Museum, a masterpiece of 17th — 19th century architecture. The latter contains a collection of icons from the 15th through 19th century, and the Russian national treasure: the 12th century icon of “The Virgin of Vladimir”.

Moscow Kremlin (Ground and Cathedral)

The history of thе Moscow Kremlin reaches back to old times. The first written record of Moscow dates back to 1147, to the reign of Great PrinceYuri of Kiev, Vladimir Monomakh’s son. He was nicknamed “Dolgoruky” (Long-armed), reaching out to other principalities for his unification policy. Yuri Dolgoruky is considered to be the founder of Moscow and in commemoration of this an equestrian statue by the sculptor S.V. Orlov was erected in Tverskaya Street in 1954.

Since time immemorial the Moscow Kremlin has been the centre of Russian statehood, the residence of Russian tsars and hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Under Dmitry Donskoi in 1367–1368, the white-stone walls and towers of the Kremlin were erected and Moscow began to be called “white-stone town”.

In 1485–1495, the Kremlin was totally rebuilt. It was then that the first brick buildings appeared there and it largely acquired its present appearance and dimensions.

At the beginning of the 18th century, Peter the Great transferred the capital of Russia to St. Petersburg; however, according to tradition, the Russian tsars were crowned in Moscow in the main Kremlin Cathedral.

In 1917 the Soviet government transferred the Russian capital back to Moscow. The Kremlin became the seat of the highest state bodies, a sort of preserve, where only those who lived or worked there were admitted. It was only in 1955 that its unique museums have again become accessible to everyone. Church services have recently been resumed in the old cathedrals and the Kremlin bells which have been silent for over 70 years have come to life.

The Kremlin has been the residence of the President of the Russian Federation and his Administration since 1992.

The Kremlin has been and remains a unique monument of Russian culture and a symbol of Russian statehood.

Moscow Kremlin (Grounds, Cathedrals and visit to the Armory Chamber)

A world-wide known treasure-house presents ancient Russian regalia, ceremonial tsar’s dresses, church hierarchs’ vestments, gold and silverware by Russian, European and Eastern masters, arms and armors, royal carriages and ceremonial horse harnesses.

The famous museum’s exhibits are of special interest because of their precious materials, high artistic level and their special historical and cultural value to the Russian State.

One of the most remarkable exhibits of the Kremlin museums linked to the genealogy of Russian princes is the Cap of Monomakh, the Russian Tsars' inherited crown. It even had its own proverbial saying: “How heavy you are, the Cap of Monomakh!”, referring to the heavy burden of responsibility accompanying it.

NOTE: for students with valid student IDs, the discount for entrance fee to the Kremlin Grounds is 50%.

Vodka Museum

Russia is a country of rich cultural and spiritual heritage. For ages foreigners have been intrigued by the “enigma of Russian soul” and tried to solve its mystery. But Russian culture would not be the same without our national drink - Russian vodka. For centuries vodka has been not only an inseparable attribute of Russian daily social life but also an integral part of Russian history.

But what do we know about our favorite drink? When and where was it invented, what is the “proper” way of drinking vodka, what food is the best to go with it, what is vodka made of, when was the first vodka monopoly introduced? The museum exhibition will answer these and many other questions.

HISTORICAL EXHIBITION - the Museum collection depicts the rich history of Russian vodka from the moment it was invented to present time. Over thousand exhibits from different periods of Russian history include photos and documents , advertising and “agitprop” posters, vodka labels, bottles, carafes, measures and many other unique pieces. The Museum is especially proud of its original wax figures compositions which illustrate the first stages of vodka invention and production in Russia.

EXCURSION - Our guides will take you through the exciting history of vodka. They’ll tell you who first produced it, how distillation process is performed, teach you the best way to drink vodka and which food is the best to go with it. You’ll learn many interesting and curious facts about vodka and its role in Russian society.

TASTING - the Museum invites you to vodka tasting during which you’ll sample several different brands of vodka accompanied by a variety of Russian traditional vodka snacks - “zakuski”.

CONTEMPORARY PRODUCERS - during your visit you’ll learn about major Russian present-day spirits producers, and get an opportunity to purchase vodka either in traditional or souvenir packing.

SOUVENIRS - after your visit to the Museum there is a shop to explore. It offers a wide range of unconventional souvenirs & gifts branded with the trademarks of the major Russian producers of vodka or the Russian Vodka Museum logo.

The Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts

The Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts has one of the most representative collections in Russia of foreign art dated from the ancient times to modern days. The exposition of the Museum includes a vast collection of tinted plaster casts of famous ancient, medieval and Renaissance sculptures and a collection of original works of foreign artists, sculptors and graphics together with objects of decorative arts.

The rooms of the ground floor present mainly original works: works of art of Ancient Egypt, antiquities, European paintings of the VII-XVIII centuries. The first floor rooms acquaint the public with art of the 19th and 20th centuries; the collection of French impressionists is one of the best in the world.

Night Moscow

Moscow looks particularly joyful and colorful with brightly illuminated streets and avenues. It is really beautiful and you will gasp with amazement when you see it.

You will have a unique chance to feel the vibrant atmosphere of Moscow by night and take pictures at the best photographing points.

You can enjoy a walk in the historical city centre, a fast ride along night prospects, a wonderful panoramic view of Moscow at famous Sparrow Hills, the traditional spot for wedding ceremonies.

This excursion lasts 3-4 hours during which you will see red Square, enjoy the view of Sophia embankment, the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, monument to Peter the Great, House on Embarkment, The New Maiden Convent (without visiting it), Moscow State University, Sparrow Hills, Poklonnaya Hill, the arch of Triumph, Kutuzov avenue, New Arbat st., Boulevard ring, Manezh square, Teatre Square, Tverskaya st., Pushkinskaya square.

Suzdal

"Museum in the open air" – its another name for the small town of Suzdal. On 9 square kilometers of its territory there are more than 200 cultural and architectural sites. Most of them are in amazingly good condition despite severe damage the town survived in the XIII century after the Tatars invasion. For its enormous work to preserve its historical sites Suzdal in 1983 was awarded by the International Federation of journalists.

Sightseeing tour and excursion to the Suzdal Kremlin: Church of the Nativity of Our Lady, excursion to the Museum of Icons, Spasso-Efimovsky Monastery.