96 toyota rav4 cruise control

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Installation cruise control in 1996 rav4

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Anyone has experience in installing cruise control system in the first generation Rav4, using junk yard Toyota parts?  

I made a small repair to my 1998 Rav4's cruise control right after I bought it. I helped someone else get his Rav4.1's cruise working. I added OEM cruise control to a 1993 Civic using junkyard parts. It worked great. From all this, I think it's highly likely you can get a cruise control working using junkyard parts. It's also possible the only thing your Rav4 needs is the steering column switch. To confirm whether you have the main CC parts already installed, see this thread: rav4world.com/threads/where-are-the-fuse-s-for-the-cruise-control-on-a-1999-rav4.301912/ Be aware that the cruise control actuator for the 1996-97 Rav4 is different, at least in physical appearance, from the 1998-2000 Rav4's actuator. The 1996-97 actuator may very well be interchangeable with the 1998-2000 actuator, but I would do some checking before assuming anything.  

Great answer, thank you very much Elle. To be sure, more questions. Mine steering colum does not have cruise control switch, I will order it from eBay. What are the cruise control parts consist of: throttle actuator? computer(where is it located)? If the cruise control is regulate by the throttle, can I just use the cruise control switch, turn off the power supply to cancel the cruise control, instead of foot brake control?  

The parts are from a first generation 4 door Rav4  

Or anyone has the cruise control system wiring diagram?  

Hi Mirando, I attached the wiring diagram for a 1996 Rav4. Do a keyword search for "cruise," and this will take you to the pertinent pages. For the archives, this is a great resource for the Rav4.1 workshop manual: carmanualshub.com/toyota-rav4-pdf-workshop-and-repair-manuals/  

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• EWD1996Rav4.pdf 2.9 MB Views: 105

Elle, More question, if i wire connection according to the diagram on page 147 with the parts in hand, but disregard the ecu connection to the other modules in the car, would the cruise control system work?  

hi, Elle, what a great resource! Thank you very much.  

Mirando, -- Does your Rav4 have an automatic transmission? -- Have you checked to see whether your Rav4 already has a cruise control ECU installed?  

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Toyota Rav4 1996-1997 Complete Rostra Cruise Control Kit

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This is a 100% complete Rostra cruise control kit for the 1996-1997 Toyota Rav4. Kit comes with Vehicle specific wiring information as well as universal installation instructions. Experience required for this installation. Typical installation may require cable connection to vehicles gas pedal, not throttle. 3 year warranty on parts only. Works with automatic & manual tranmsission models. Please call with any questions regarding application or Installation.

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Toyota RAV4 Cruise Control: Mastering Usage

Toyota RAV4 Cruise Control usage guide will help you use your car to its maximum potential, as this is one of the features that make the RAV4 stand out from other models. If you want to go on a long drive with your car or use it for shorter trips, it is always a good idea to know the in-built features of the vehicle so that you have a better flow controlling it .

Knowing how to use the cruise control system will allow you to drive more comfortably in traffic or on long drives . That being said, read this to learn all about the different functions inside the cruise control feature of your Toyota and how you can control them efficiently to ensure a more effective and smooth performance from your car!

JUMP TO TOPIC

• 1.1 – Activating the System
• 1.2 – Setting the Speed
• 1.3 – Slowing Down With the Brake
• 1.4 – Slowing Down by Pressing the Button
• 1.5 – Stopping With the Brake Pedal
• 1.6 – Stopping With the Minus Button
• 1.7 – Going Downhill or Uphill
• 1.8 – Turning Cruise Control off With the Button
• 1.9 – Turning Cruise Control off With the Brake
• 1.10 – Disabling Cruise Control
• 1.11 – Changing the Distance on Cruise Control
• 2 How Does the Toyota RAV4 Cruise Control Compare to the Chrysler Pacifica Trunk Space?
• 3 Conclusion

How Can You Use Toyota RAV4 Cruise Control?

You can use cruise control on the Toyota RAV4 by finding the CRUISE key and activating the cruise control system by pressing this button. With this feature, you can also adjust the speed of your vehicle, and you can use several designated buttons to use the system.

– Activating the System

You need to activate the system to use the cruise control on the Toyota RAV4. To begin the procedure, locate the “Cruise” key . This key will be positioned on the steering wheel inside your car .

After that, you must hold down the mentioned key until you see the system has been activated. Once the system is activated, you must turn the cruise control stalk up to be in the ON position. Moving on, you will see a tiny light switch near your car’s speedometer.

The color of the light will either be blue or green. The light will flicker to inform you that the adaptive cruise control system is active. Now, you can use the cruise control in your car.

– Setting the Speed

Another method you can use if you want to use the cruise control on your Toyota is by setting the speed of your car . To start the process, you have to hold down the “+” button that will be located on your system. It is important to keep holding the key down until you reach your desired speed. You can leave the button when you get the wanted speed.

If you want to reach the speed of 57 mph, keep pressing the button. You can leave it immediately when you see the number on the speedometer read as 57. This shows that you have reached your desired speed. You can get any speed you want and check on the speedometer to be sure.

– Slowing Down With the Brake

If you are busy using your cruise control, you may need to slow down your car for some reason. When slowing down, you can use any of the two methods given. For the first method, you have to press down the brake pedal .

There is no unique way to do it; you have to do it as you would do regularly, which would slow it down. When you do this, it will cause the cruise control system to disengage at once. Once this happens to the mentioned control, you will not face any problems while slowing down your vehicle and can do it quickly.

– Slowing Down by Pressing the Button

For the second way, you must locate the “-” button . You can find it if you look over toward the cruise control stalk. Once you have located it, you will have to press the button.

As you press the button, the speed will decrease casually as you keep the button down. It is imperative to remember that if you use this technique, you do not have to use the brake pedal. The speed will decrease on its own with the help of the button.

– Stopping With the Brake Pedal

When it comes to stopping while you are using cruise control, you can use either of the two methods that have been mentioned. Both methods are of great help in their ways and will help you stop at once. You have to put your foot onto the brake pedal for the first technique.

After that, you must push it down just as you do. Ensure you do not use too much force since it could cause the pedal to break. Doing this will make the cruise control system disconnect from the system. After that, you can stop it at once.

– Stopping With the Minus Button

It is also possible to use the second method. To start the procedure, you have to locate the minus button . You have to look on your cruise control stalk, and you will be able to find it there. Once you have seen the mentioned button, you must keep holding it down.

When you press it down, it will cause the speed to decrease. Finally, it will get so low that the control system will deactivate itself. When this happens, you will be able to stop at once. It is essential to remember that this technique does not involve using the brake pedal at all.

– Going Downhill or Uphill

You must remember that sometimes the cruise control does not function at all. It only works when you are going uphill or if you are going downhill in your vehicle . In these situations, the cruise control does not cooperate.

The RAV will disengage the cruise control when you try to go either downhill or uphill. The RAV will not allow keeping the mentioned controller on. Now, if you have to cancel out the cruise control for any specific reason, you have to locate the same button that will be on the stalk. After that, you will have to press it down.

Ensure you are not too harsh when doing this because it can break off the key . The lights will immediately go off as soon as you keep the cruise control switch down. Then the car will return to its initial speed.

– Turning Cruise Control off With the Button

You can apply different methods if you want to turn off your cruise control. One of the methods that you can use is only by pressing a button. To begin the procedure, you have to locate the cancel button .

It will be on the steering wheel inside of your car. You will have to press on it as soon as you find it. Pushing it down will cause the cruise control to disengage right there. Soon after this, the light on your dashboard will switch off.

– Turning Cruise Control off With the Brake

Another method that you can use if you want to turn off your cruise control is by using the brake pedal in your car . This technique will indeed work; after doing so, you can expect the control to be off. To start with this, you have to tap on the top of the brake pedal.

– Disabling Cruise Control

If you want to disable your cruise control system, you must do just as mentioned above. To begin the process, you must locate the cruise control switch on the steering wheel . After that, you have to hold down the button. It is important to keep pressing it for at least three seconds non-stop.

By doing this, you can disable the mentioned control system. You can see the message on your dashboard if you want to assure yourself. The message will tell you you have successfully disabled your cruise control system. Once you read through, you will be sure the work is done.

– Changing the Distance on Cruise Control

It is possible to change the standard distance on your Cruise Control. To change it, you have to locate the radar range button . It will be positioned on the lower right of the steering wheel in your car. The mentioned button will symbolize a regular vehicle with radar waves coming out of the front.

Once you locate the button, you will have to press it down. It is important to remember to keep pressing down the button if you want to cycle through the different types of distances. The distance will not be shown precisely in feet. However, you will see the display screen that offers you a particular blue-colored bar positioned below the icon of a small car.

Now, if only one bar is inside, the speed is at its lowest. When there are two bars visible, it represents that the speed is medium. On the other hand, if there are three full bars, it will illustrate that the speed is at its topmost.

Once the system has reached three bars, it cannot increase anymore. It is imperative to remember that you can change the number of bars by pressing the radar button. The speed will then accordingly increase or decrease .

How Does the Toyota RAV4 Cruise Control Compare to the Chrysler Pacifica Trunk Space?

When considering the chrysler pacifica trunk details , it’s essential to analyze its space in comparison to Toyota RAV4’s cruise control features. Though unrelated aspects, the difference in trunk space might be a deciding factor for buyers looking for ample storage capacity. Evaluating both vehicles’ specifications can help make an informed decision based on individual preferences and needs.

The cruise control is a handy and innovative feature in the Toyota RAV4, but it would only be useful if you knew how to work with it, a concern that should now be put away since you have read our detailed article. To review the essential bits of the guide,

please look at the list below:

• To activate the cruise control system, you need to locate the Toyota RAV4 cruise control button next to the steering wheel and then hold it down for a while .
• You can use the “+” button to increase the speed until you reach your desired speed on the speedometer .
• Similarly, you can also use the “-” button to decrease the speed.
• To disable the cruise control, you must press the cancel key near the steering wheel. With this feature, you can also set speed rates of the vehicle.

There are many valuable things you can achieve once you know how to handle the cruise control feature on your Toyota Corolla, but these can be slightly complicated to learn if you are unfamiliar with the car’s system in general. With luck, that will not be true after you have studied the sections above, and you can work with your vehicle much better now!

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Cruise Control (Auto Drive) fit your 1996 Toyota RAV4

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How do I operate the adaptive cruise control in my vehicle?

Adaptive cruise control supplements conventional cruise control with an active vehicle-to-vehicle distance control feature. designed for use on freeways and express ways, in vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode, your car automatically acceler... sep 24, 2022 • knowledge, new section, only answer.

Adaptive cruise control supplements conventional cruise control with an active vehicle-to-vehicle distance control feature. Designed for use on freeways and express ways, in vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode, your car automatically accelerates or decelerates in order to maintain a preset following distance from the vehicle traveling directly ahead of you.

To activate the system, press the "ON/OFF" button at the end of the stalk on the lower end of the right side of the steering wheel. The radar-ready indicator will appear in the Multi Information Display.

Accelerate or decelerate to your intended speed, then press the stalk down to set it. If you want to go faster, push the stalk upward and hold until you've reached the desired speed and then release it. Or, if you want to slow down, push the stalk down and hold as you decelerate, then release it once you've reached the desired speed.

To cancel cruise control, tap the brakes, pull the stalk towards you or turn the system off with the ON/OFF button.

Adaptive Cruise Control was designed to maintain the preset distance between your car and the car driving in the same lane directly ahead of you.

When it’s active, it automatically adjusts for changes in the speed of the vehicle traveling directly ahead of you in order to maintain the vehicle-to-vehicle distance you set.

In the event that you would like to change the preset distance between vehicles, you can do so by using the radar range button located on the lower right side of the steering wheel. Simply press the button repeatedly to cycle through the ranges available. You'll find them displayed on the Multi Information Display. And finally, you can disable the distance holding feature by pushing the cruise control stalk away and holding it until the indicator disappears and the conventional cruise control indicator lights up.

Please click here  to view a video.

Disclaimer: Adaptive Cruise Control is designed to assist the driver and is not a substitute for safe and attentive driving practices. See your  Owner's Manual for important instructions and cautions.

Not all features are available on all vehicles and model grades. Please see your Owner's Manual for further details and important safety information.

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Not finding your answer?

Mastering the Toyota RAV4 Cruise Control: Utilizing Adaptive Radar for Safe Travel

Are you curious about how you can make the most out of the adaptive radar cruise control feature in your Toyota RAV4? Hi, I’m Janelle Root with i5, and today, that’s exactly what we’re going to dive into.

When it comes to using the adaptive radar cruise control, it’s essential to know how to navigate through its functionalities. Let’s get started.

Utilizing the Adaptive Radar Cruise Control

To make use of the adaptive radar cruise control, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with the toggle and cancel buttons located within your vehicle. To activate the feature, press the designated button and set the distance using another button nearby. By doing so, you’ll be able to establish safe distances of 150 feet, 100 feet, and 50 feet between your car and the vehicle ahead, ensuring a secure cruising experience.

Once you’ve set the distance, press the “set” button, and you’re all set to go. It’s as simple as that!

Stay in the Know

Thanks for tuning in to this guide on making the most of your Toyota RAV4’s adaptive radar cruise control. I hope you found this video to be informative and helpful. If you have any further questions or require additional assistance, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. And remember, sharing is caring, so feel free to pass this along to others who may benefit. Until next time!

How do I utilize the adaptive radar cruise control in the rav4?

In order to utilize the adaptive radar cruise control in the rav4, you would first push the toggle button to turn it on, then set the distance using the provided buttons. The options for distance are 150 feet, 100 feet, and 50 feet. Press ‘set’ to confirm the chosen distance.

How do I adjust the distance between my vehicle and the vehicle in front of me using adaptive radar cruise control?

To adjust the distance with adaptive radar cruise control, use the provided buttons to set the desired distance option (150 feet, 100 feet, or 50 feet) between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you.

How can I contact for further inquiries?

If you have any further questions, please feel free to reach out. You can also like and share the video for more helpful content.

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• RAV4.5 Fifth Generation (2019+ Models)
• 4.5 General

Disable Dynamic Radar when on Cruise Control?

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I've got a brand new 2021 Toyota Rav4 and it has a feature that really bugs me... the "Dynamic Radar" feature when cruise control is enabled. I find it's responsiveness to be slow and actually a pain in the butt. Is there a way to disable this feature? It should be an optional feature... I drive about 20k miles per year in a metro area and use cruise control whenever I'm on a uncongested metro freeway.  

It can be annoying sometimes especially driving a constant speed, coming on a vehicle traveling at a slower speed after a few minutes you realize that you have also slowed down. Without this feature you would have to brake, slow down or move over to pass, which I guess makes you more conscious of what you are doing. It still doesn't solve the problem of D heads who feel the need to pass you only, then pull over in front of you to slow down.  

Big Daddy said: Without this feature you would have to break slow down or move over to pass, which I guess makes you more conscious of what you are doing. Click to expand...

Did you find a solution? I'm slowly adjusting the features I dislike on my new RAV4 but this one seems to have few options as most people have no issue with it.  

Just press and (hold) the cruise control button for a few seconds.  

Have you found an answer? I have the same issue with my 2019. Im tempted to find the fuse or wiring harness for the radar and pull it. I have a 50 mile commute. Id rather have real cruise control or you end up getting slowed down from 75 mph to 55 because some moron doesnt know how to drive in a fast lane. I dont know how many times its almost caused a wreck from when you're at a turn and it hits the breaks for a semi in the other lane. This is like an idiot feature for bad drivers. Defeats the purpose of a hybrid if its constantly slowing down and speeding up on the highway. The idiots replying here are the exception not the other way around.  

Pressing and holding the cruise control button for an extra second or two works. At first I have the cruise control and a car symbol but after holding the on button for a extra couple of seconds, the car symbol disappears and just the standard cruise indicator stays on. Yay!  

Just press and hold the cruise button when you first activate it and it will deactivate dynamic cruise.  

At first I wasn't a fan of dynamic cruise control, but slowly I come to realise it does come in handy sometimes. Recently I was on the Hwy following a car in from of me, it started to slow down as there was road construction ahead, my vehicle also slowed down, as we passed a parked police car checking for speeding vehicles through a construction zone, saved me a ticket. Once we were through the car in front sped up along with my car.  

I've used the radar cruise control extensively and find it works well for me.  

It's used only to assist you while driving and will not drive for you if you don't like it just turn it off and use the regular cruise.  

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Shooter Files by f.d. walker

Street Photography Tips, Interaction, Travel, Guides

Apr 24 2017

City Street Guides by f.d. walker: A Street Photography Guide to Moscow, Russia

*A series of guides on shooting Street Photography in cities around the world. Find the best spots to shoot, things to capture, street walks, street tips, safety concerns, and more for cities around the world. I have personally researched, explored and shot Street Photography in every city that I create a guide for. So you can be ready to capture the streets as soon as you step outside with your camera!

At over 12 million people, Moscow is the largest city in Russia and second largest in Europe by population ( Istanbul is #1). An urban, cosmopolitan metropolis with more than enough glitz and glam to cater to the elite, but without losing its fair share of Soviet era roughness around the edges. It can be fast paced, brash, busy, and trendy like other big cities, but it has its blend of West meets Russia atmosphere and beauty that provides plenty of unique interest. The Red Square is as famous as it gets, but there’s so much more to this city, including the most beautiful subway system you’ve ever seen. It would take years to capture all of Moscow, but that means you have an endless amount of areas to discover.

So here’s a Street Photography guide so you can be ready to capture all that Moscow has to offer before you even arrive!

• Patriarch’s Pond
• Old Arbat Street
• Maroseyka Street
• Tverskoy Boulevard

Top 5 Street Spots:

1. red square.

The Red Square is the most famous square in not just Russia, but all of Eastern Europe. The name actually doesn’t come from the color of the bricks or communism, but from the name in Russian, Krásnaya, once meaning “beautiful” before its meaning changed to “red.” This large plaza is what you see on the cover of guide books and magazines for Moscow, with St. Basil’s Cathedral being the center piece next to Lenin’s Mausoleum surrounded by the Kremlin Wall. Of course, the Red Square attracts hordes of tourist due to the main attractions, but all that activity around an interesting atmosphere does provide street photo opportunities. It’s also the central square connecting to the city’s major streets, providing a good starting point to explore outward.

You’ll also find the popular pedestrian only Nikolskaya Street connecting the Red Square to Lubyanka Square. This line of expensive shops includes plenty of activity, while also leading you to another popular square. Filled with history rivaling any city, the Red Square and surrounding areas are the heart and soul of Russia.

2. Patriarch’s Ponds

Patriarch’s Ponds is one of the most exclusive neighborhoods in Moscow. Despite the name being plural, there’s only one large pond, but it’s worth a visit with your camera. It’s a popular spot for locals and expats to come relax or take a stroll around the pond. You get an interesting mix of young and old too, from young love to “babushkas” feeding pigeons. It’s a very peaceful park atmosphere in one of the nicer areas within the city center, while bringing enough activity for street photography. 

The pond is shallow and in the winter becomes a popular spot for ice-skating too. The area is also well-known for the location in the famous Russian novel, The Master and Margarita. 

3. Old Arbat (Stary Arbat)

Old Arbat is the most famous pedestrian street in Moscow, and dating back to the 15th century, also one of its oldest. Originally, it was an area of trade, but soon became the most prestigious residential area in Moscow. During the 18th century, Arbat started attracting the city’s scholars and artists, including Alexander Pushkin. Cafes lined the streets and impressive homes filled the neighborhood. Since then, New Arbat street was created as a highway in the area, while Old Arbat was paved for a 1km pedestrian only walkway.

Due to the historic buildings, famous artists that lived here, and the bohemian atmosphere, Old Arbat has become a big attraction for tourists today. Now, there’s a mix of cafes, restaurants, souvenir shops, street performers, street merchants and other attractions for visitors, and some locals, to come enjoy. It can get really busy here and there’s usually something interesting going on so it’s a good street to come walk with your camera for guaranteed life.

4. Gorky Park

One of the most famous places in Moscow is Gorky Park. The official name is Maxim Gorky’s Central Park of Culture & Leisure, which gives you an idea of what goes on here. When built, it was the first of its kind in the Soviet Union. Divided into two parts, it stretches along Moscow River. One end contains fair rides, foods stands, tennis courts, a sports club, a lake for boat rides, and more. This end brings more active life due to its number of attractions, while the other end is more relaxed, where you’ll find gardens, trees, older buildings, and an outdoor amphitheater.

Gorky Park attracts mostly locals so it’s a good spot to capture the non-tourist side of Moscow life. Muscovites come here to escape the city and unwind in a picturesque setting. The park remains alive outside of the warmer months too, especially when the lake turns into the city’s largest outdoor skating rink. I’d recommend taking the metro out here to spend at least half a day exploring the massive park’s life with your camera.

5. Maroseyka Street

Maroseyka Street is a popular area not too far from the Red Square. The long, winding street turns into Pokrovka and is lined with restaurants, cafes, bars and places to stay. It’s actually where I like to stay when I’m in Moscow due to its location and solid street photography opportunities itself. You have Kitay-gorod station near and if you keep walking southwest, you’ll get to the Red Square. But if you walk northwest, as it changes to Pokrovka, you can find a long street of activity for photography with its own interesting atmosphere.

6. Tverskoy Boulevard

Tverskoy Boulevard is the oldest and longest boulevard in Moscow, beginning at the end of Nikitsky Boulevard, and finishing at Pushkin Square, a spot to come for activity itself. The boulevard is made up of two avenues, with pedestrian walkways in-between. You’ll find grass, shrubbery, trees, benches and more walking it’s almost kilometer length. Many people come here to enjoy some relaxation, walk their dog, or just to use it to walk wherever they’re going. Its center location also provides a nice place to walk with your camera near plenty of other spots you’ll want to check out anyway.

Sample Street Walk:

For a full day of Street Photography, covering some of the best spots, you can follow this sample street walk for Moscow:

• Start your morning walking around the Red Square (1), while exploring the surrounding area, including Nikolskaya Street
• Then walk northwest to Patriarch’s Ponds (2) and slowly walk the pond and surrounding area with your camera
• Next, walk east to the Pushkin Monument and stroll down Tverskoy Boulevard (6)
• Once Tverskoy Boulevard (6) ends, it will turn into Nikitsky Boulevard. Follow this down until you get to the start of Old Arbat Street (3), across from Arbatskaya station
• After you’re done walking down Old Arbat Street (3) for more street photography, spend some time checking out Moscow’s beautiful metro stations
• To finish off the day with more street photography, get off the metro near Red Square (1) again, Maroseyka Street (5) or wherever you’re staying for the night.

3 Things I’ll Remember about Shooting in Moscow:

1. museum metro.

The Moscow metro system was the first underground railway system in the Soviet Union and today includes 203 stations across 340km of routes. The elaborate system has some of the deepest stations in the world too, with escalators that seem to go on forever. None of this is what makes it so special, though. Many of its stations feel like stepping inside a museum, making it without a doubt the most interesting and beautiful metro system I’ve been in.

When built, Stalin wanted to make the metro stations “palaces for the people” with marble, chandeliers, and grand architecture. The best part is the variety of architecture and styles used, making many of the stations a completely different experience visually. You could easily spend a whole day traveling the stations and there are even tours available for people who wish to do just that. My advice, though, would be just to buy a ticket and hop on and off at different stations, while exploring different lines. The museum-like surrounding mixed with the crowds of characters can make for a great photography experience.

Since there are so many stations, here are some of my favorites to check out:

• Novoslobodskaya
• Mayakovskaya
• Elektrozavodskaya
• Komsomolskaya
• Ploschad Revolyutsii
• Dostoyevskaya
• Prospekt Mira

2. Moscow is Big

It’s no secret that Moscow is a big city, but it can feel even bigger with how spread out much of it is. This is especially true if you compare it to cities outside of Asia. If I compared it to cities in Europe, I’d probably say only Istanbul would warrant more time to really discover the depths of this city. Most only explore around the Red Square and surrounding area, but that is such a small part of the city. Although, that central area does give you plenty to see on its own.

Fortunately, I had a good friend living in the city to show me around, but it opened up my eyes even more to how much there is to discover in Moscow. It’s a big city with a variety of atmosphere that can take you from “east” to “west” and trendy to rugged depending on where you go. I’d imagine you’d have to live here a while to really know the city.

3. Cosmopolitan Mix of East meets West

Modern skyscrapers mixed with amazing architecture, a world-class metro system with museum-like beauty, trendy fashion and chic clubs, Moscow is a rich mix of Russian culture and history in a more western cosmopolitan package. There is a push to keep the Russian culture, while also pushing forward with a modern metropolis the whole world will envy. This comes with an impressive skyline, that continues to grow, and endless modernities, but with soviet nostalgia and atmosphere mixed in for good measure.

Mixed in with this grand western cosmopolitan atmosphere, is a strong national pride in Russia. This includes their famous leader, Vladimir Putin. Maybe no other place will you see a country’s leader more often. All over, from the pricey tourist shops to the underground walkway stalls, you’ll find goods with Putin’s likeness covering them. From t-shirts to magnets to Matryoshka dolls. There’s a strong national pride that can be seen around the city, which also extends to their leader. Moscow is many things. It’s East meets West, modernizations meets Soviet era, and a whole lot more.

What To Do For a Street Photography Break?:

Eat at a stolovaya.

Stolovayas are Russian cafeterias that became popular in the Soviet days. You grab a tray and walk down the line of freshly prepared local dishes, and select whatever you want from the chefs. They’re usually inexpensive and a much better value than restaurants, while giving you the opportunity to try from a wide selection of everyday Russian food. They’re also very tasty. I always include some borsch on my tray and go from there. The places themselves are all over Moscow and usually come with Soviet-era aesthetics to complete the experience.

Street Safety Score: 7

*As always, no place is completely safe! So when I talk about safety, I’m speaking in general comparison to other places. Always take precaution, be smart, observe your surroundings and trust your instincts anywhere you go!

Being the 2nd largest city in Europe with over 12 million people, you’re going to have your dangerous areas, but for the most part, it feels safe walking around. Russia is statistically higher in crime compared to most of Europe, but this generally doesn’t apply to tourists and visitors. Around the Red Square and surrounding city center, you should feel completely safe walking around. Pick pocketing can happen, but no more than other touristic places. I always explore Moscow freely without coming across too much to worry about. It’s a spread out city, though, so of course it matters where you are. Just use basic street smarts, know where you are and Moscow shouldn’t give you a problem. 

People’s Reaction Score: 7

Moscow is fast paced, big city life, which usually means people aren’t too concerned with you, or your camera. I don’t find people notice or pay much attention to me when I’m out taking photos in Moscow. For the most part, people just go about their day. You shouldn’t get too many looks or concern. But it can depend on the area you are in. The more you stick out, the more you might get noticed with suspicions. I’ve never had any problems in Moscow, or Russia, but just be careful who you’re taking a photo of if you get out of the city center. Other than that, it’s about average for reactions. 

Street Tips:

Learn the alphabet .

Much of Moscow, including the metro system, doesn’t use english. The Russian alphabet uses letters from the Cyrillic script, which if you aren’t familiar with it and don’t know the sounds, can be hard to decipher the words. This is most important for street names and metro stops when trying to get around. It can save confusion and make it easier getting around if you learn the basic alphabet. At the very least then, you can sound out the words to see which are similar in the english conversion, which can help matching them to maps. When out shooting street photography, getting around is as important as anything. So save yourself some time and frustration by learning the Russian Alphabet.

Use the metro

While Saint-Petersburg feels very walkable for a city its size, Moscow can feel very spread out, even for its bigger size. Outside of the Red Square area, you can have plenty of walking before getting anywhere very interesting, so you’ll need to take the metro a lot if you really want to explore the city. Maps are deceiving here too, it will always be further than it looks.

Another reason it’s less walkable than Saint-Petersburg is its completely different set-up. Moscow’s streets are mostly contstructed in rings with narrow, winding streets in-between. This is common with medieval city cities that used to be confined by walls, but you usually don’t have it in a city this massive. Saint-Petersburg has a more grid-like pattern that also uses the canals to help you know your way around. When it comes to navigating on foot in Moscow, it can be more difficult, so bring a map and take the metro when needed. It’s why Moscow’s metro carries more passengers per day than the London and Paris subways combined.

Explore other areas if you have time

Moscow is really big. While most people stay around the Red Square within the Boulevard Ring, there’s so much more to the city. I covered some other spots outside of this circle, but if you really want to see the city, you’ll need time. If you do have time, some other areas I’d check out first are Zamoskvarechye, along some of the south and western Moscow.

Inspiration:

For some more inspiration, you can look through the Street Photography of Moscow photographer Artem Zhitenev  and check out 33 of my photos taken in Moscow .

Conclusion:

Moscow’s name brings a certain mystique, but once you’re there it might bring a different atmosphere than you expect. It’s big and sprawling, but beautiful in many ways. It can feel like a European capital on a grand scale, but you can definitely find its Russian side in there.

The urban sprawl of Moscow can be intimidating, but give it enough time and you’ll be rewarded with plenty to discover. All with the world’s best metro system to take you around.

I hope this guide can help you start to experience some of what Moscow contains. So grab your camera and capture all that Moscow has to offer for Street Photography!

If you still have any questions about shooting in Moscow, feel free to comment below or email me!

(I want to make these guides as valuable as possible for all of you so add any ideas on improvements, including addition requests, in the comment section!)

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