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Rare Rides: Patrol the Desert in This 1989 Nissan Safari

The Patrol has forever been Nissan’s answer to the Toyota Land Cruiser, as both brands compete for rough and tumble SUV customers. Today’s Rare Ride represents just how many creature comforts can be added to a go-anywhere truck.

Presenting the Nissan Safari from 1989.

The Patrol started production in 1951, aping the looks and function of the Willys Jeep. It borrowed the name too; sometimes it was just called a Jeep. Mostly intended for military use, the bare-bones first generation lasted through 1960.

With the debut of the second generation, production expanded to include more body styles: Patrol now offered hardtops, vans, and a pickup truck. Distribution expanded as well, and the Patrol was sold (as a Nissan) at Datsun dealerships in North America between 1962 and 1969.

It was 1980 before the third-generation Patrol began production, known as the 160 series. Comfort and equipment came into play for the first time, as this generation saw the introduction of an automatic transmission. Accompanying the transmission option were new trim levels. Deluxe examples included luxuries like air conditioning and power steering.

A fourth-generation (Y60) Patrol started production in 1987, bringing us to today’s Rare Ride. In a turn from prior generations, a coil suspension replaced the old leaf springs and brought refinement to travel. Power steering was standard and, if buyers spent enough money, they’d have the benefit of front and rear disc brakes. Automatic transmissions in this generation were all of the four-speed variety, while manuals had five forward gears. Engines ranged between 2.8 and 4.2 liters, all of them inline-sixes.

The Japanese market received the fourth-generation Patrol as the Safari. While models for other markets had a 12-volt electrical system, the Safari had a 24-volt. Today’s Rare Ride is a decked-out short-wheelbase example from the end of the Eighties. It has the largest 4.2-liter diesel engine. Said diesel propels all the tape stripes, power equipment, and tweedy seats through an automatic transmission. The Safari asks $14,900 and is located in Philadelphia.

[Images: seller ]

Interested in lots of cars and their various historical contexts. Started writing articles for TTAC in late 2016, when my first posts were QOTDs. From there I started a few new series like Rare Rides, Buy/Drive/Burn, Abandoned History, and most recently Rare Rides Icons. Operating from a home base in Cincinnati, Ohio, a relative auto journalist dead zone. Many of my articles are prompted by something I'll see on social media that sparks my interest and causes me to research. Finding articles and information from the early days of the internet and beyond that covers the little details lost to time: trim packages, color and wheel choices, interior fabrics. Beyond those, I'm fascinated by automotive industry experiments, both failures and successes. Lately I've taken an interest in AI, and generating "what if" type images for car models long dead. Reincarnating a modern Toyota Paseo, Lincoln Mark IX, or Isuzu Trooper through a text prompt is fun. Fun to post them on Twitter too, and watch people overreact. To that end, the social media I use most is Twitter, @CoreyLewis86. I also contribute pieces for Forbes Wheels and Forbes Home.

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RH drive... perfect for a rural mail carrier who also needs 4x4 capability!!!

• See 1 previous

One of the carriers around here has a JDM Mitsubishi Pajero for that.

@bumpy ii I've been tempted to become a mail carrier just so I can justify buying some quirky RHD Japanese metal. But, in reality, $14k+ is a bit much for an older vehicle that will see daily service and may quite possibly be near impossible to find parts for. Yeah, a new RHD Wrangler is twice that easy, but it has a warranty and service/parts availability virtually anywhere on this continent.

Does it still have the 24V electrical system? While such things have merits for reliability reasons, maintainability would take a huge hit unless you have military-like economies of scale. What do you use for lightbulbs, for instance?

If i were to guess, it's only a partial 24v for the starting and charging circuits, and the cluster and other electrical accessories are 12v. Some older diesel tractors were set up that way.

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Nissan Safari used cars for sale - TCV(former tradecarview)

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Patrol Safari

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The Nissan Patrol Safari has a proud heritage, composed of power, determination and strength. This legacy of reliability and superior 4x4 capability remains true today, and it’s why you can take the Nissan Patrol Safari where others don’t dare to go.

THE WORLD-CLASS ADVENTURER

With its impressive styling and richly appointed interior, the Nissan Patrol will transcend your expectations of a 4WD vehicle. Its formidable all-terrain prowess is underscored by superior engineering, letting you escape the ordinary and explore new possibilities.

EXTERIOR FEATURES

Be inspired every time you get behind the wheel as you discover the thrill through driving the Patrol Super Safari.

THE EYE OF THE STORM

Stretch out and relax — in every way possible. The Nissan Patrol offers more than just room to extend your arms and legs, it encourages the soul to explore new levels of satisfaction.

INTERIOR FEATURES

Be inspired every time you get behind the wheel as you discover the thrill through driving the Patrol Safari with automatic and manual transmission. Meanwhile, the interior provides you with comfort while keeping everything within your reach. Enjoy the rush.

THE MAJESTIC PERFORMER

The forces of innovation are readily apparent with the Nissan Patrol. Its stability at high speeds instills confidence. Best of all, open the throttle and discover the heart-racing surge of class-leading power.

4800 TWINCAM 24-VALVE, GASOLINE ENGINE

Delivering more power and torque, the potent TB48DE 4800 is equipped with VTC and NICS to provide the Patrol with exceptional off-road performance and impressive top speed on the highway.

THE LEGEND LIVES ON

Go ahead, take the road less travelled — just make sure you go with the Nissan Patrol. As one of the world’s most rugged all-terrain vehicles, the Patrol is your passport to new discoveries and broader horizons.

SUPERIOR OFF-ROAD PERFORMANCE

Cruise control gives you the ability to control the speed of your Nissan automatically. This is where safety meets comfort (Super Safari Station Wagon available with Steering switch with unique black wood pattern print).

Straight-line drive transfer allows shifting from 2WD to 4WD with one touch of the lever; shifting from 2H to 4H is also possible, even in motion (up to 40km/h). The 5-speed Automatic transmission with manual mode provides sporty performance in all driving situations.

The rear differential lock allows you to escape from mud or sand easily by distributing torque evenly to the rear wheels. Superior off-road performance is assured by the higher angle of stability, improved gradeability, and the larger approach, departure, and ramp-clearance angles.

SUPERIOR CAPABILITY

Nissan Patrol Safari turns every trip into a joy ride. From 4x4 drive to a heavy-duty suspension and tough tyres and wheels, Nissan Patrol Safari is designed to help you take on the world.

ALL TERRAIN. ALL GOOD

1/2 drive modes and differential lock.

Turn off the beaten track and shift directly from 2WD to 4WD on the move. Choose high ratio for slippery sand or mud, or low ratio for treacherous terrain and really steep climbs or descents. Lock the rear differential to distribute torque evenly between the rear wheels for maximum grip. And when it gets really rough, manually lock the front hubs for total peace of mind.

1/2 PINTLE HOOK

When someone else breaks down, they’ll be glad you came along. The newly designed pintle hook is great for towing disabled vehicles.

1/2 SPARE TYRE COVER

The boldly designed spare tyre cover enhances the Nissan Patrol Safari’s distinctive appearance.

1/2 TOUGH AT ANY ANGLE

Superior off-road performance is assured by the higher angle of approach, departure, and ramp clearance angles.

1/2 TAKE ON INCLINES

Able to tackle inclines of up to 39°, Nissan Patrol Safari takes on the toughest environments in stride.

1/2 IMPROVED GRADEABILITY

The improved gradeability helps keep Nissan Patrol Safari in place at angles few other vehicles can come close to.

AMENITIES & ATTRACTIVE FEATURES

Discover features that provide you with comfort while keeping everything within your reach. Enjoy the rush.

UTILITY & COMFORT

1/2 audio system.

2DIN MW/FM, 1CD, AUX and MP3 player. The 8” Display audio, Apple Carplay, 6CD changer and controls mounted on the steering wheel — makes any drive more pleasant.

1/2 SUNROOF

Catch some rays and enjoy the ride with the Patrol Safari. The sunroof allows light and fresh air to enter your Nissan, which makes every drive refreshing.

1/2 REAR FOG LAMPS

Keeping your safety in mind, these high-intensity rear position lamps ensure your Nissan is visible even in poor conditions.

An electric-powered winch, integrated with the front bumper, useful for emergencies.

1/2 CUP HOLDERS

Handy cup holders, thoughtfully positioned throughout the interior, increase utility.

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Benefits of Trading in Your Car[[3380]]

In the market for a new vehicle? By trading in your current vehicle, you can use its value towards your new vehicle purchase. This option is offered by most dealerships, with the goal of obtaining the best offer for your vehicle. It is a simple process, and we'll break down what you need to know before starting. The first step is estimating your vehicle's trade in value, which you can do by using the trade-in-value tool. Fill out a few questions about your vehicle and include the vehicle's options, mileage, a realistic condition level and your ZIP code for the most accurate value. 

How much is my car worth?

When trading in your car, your car's value is deducted from the new vehicle's price. Your local dealership will also appraise the vehicle and make you an offer. The offer generally goes towards the new car you're purchasing. You may be able to navigate the start of the trade-in process online without visiting the dealership by visiting NISSAN@HOME [[3355]] (available at participating dealers)

Why should you trade in your car?

Though parting with your car may be difficult, especially if you've had it for a long period of time, there are plenty of advantages of trading it into the dealership where you plan on purchasing a new car. 

Car shoppers often find the trade in process at the dealership efficient because dealerships take care of the paperwork for your current and new car in one visit. Car dealers will appraise your car and make you an offer that generally goes towards your new car purchase. If you accept the offer, the deal can be concluded by signing over your trade-in vehicle's title.

One-stop shop

By working with a single dealership, you can handle the entire trade-in and new vehicle purchase process in one location! All of your communication, new-vehicle shopping, and vehicle financing decisions can be completed simultaneously.

How to trade-in a car with a loan

If you owe money on your current car loan, you can still trade in your vehicle. Often dealerships will pay off the remaining loan balance on your trade-in and obtain the vehicle's title directly from the lender. Not sure what you still owe on your vehicle? If you financed your vehicle through NMAC, you can find your payoff amount and "good thru date" by logging-into your NMAC account and selecting "Get Payoff." If you have not set up an NMAC account, you can do so online here. All payoffs generated are valid for 10 days and include 10 days of interest. Compare the estimated value of your vehicle to the payoff amount in order to determine your equity.

What does it mean to have equity in your car?

If you’re trading in a car where money is still owed, you’ll find yourself in one of these situations. If you have positive equity in your vehicle, that value can be used as a down payment toward your new lease or purchase.

Positive equity

This occurs when you owe less than the market value of your car. For example, if your vehicle is worth $15,000 market value and you still owe $10,000, this puts you at a positive equity of $5,000. Having positive equity before trading in a vehicle is ideal.

Negative equity

If you owe more on your auto loan in comparison to the market value of your vehicle, that is referred to as negative equity. Negative equity does not go away when you trade-in your vehicle and can potentially be added to your future car payments. You can add the amount you owe when estimating your payments online or speak to your dealer to find out how your trade in will impact your finance package. 

How to get the most effective trade-in offer

There are various considerations when contemplating trading in your car which is why it's recommended to talk to your local dealership either online or in person. Dealerships, whether through online or in-person communication, provide the benefit of a one-stop shop.

Here are some tips to prepare you for your trade-in:

1. Estimate Trade-in Offer: Get an approximate trade-in value of your vehicle so that you have something to compare your offer to.

2. Clean Your Vehicle: First impressions can impact the appraisal value of your vehicle, so give your vehicle a thorough cleaning inside and out. 

3. Gather Vehicle History: Receipts showing proof of maintenance and repair work are important for showing that you have taken care of your car.

4. Bring Documents: When you decide to trade-in your vehicle at a dealership, bring your valid driver's license and insurance information with you.

5. Check Your Payoff Amount: If you are in an existing lease, check your payoff amount. If you have a current Nissan you can do this easily by logging into your NMAC account.

Should I trade-in my vehicle at a dealership?

Selling your vehicle privately is also an option, however requires more time and effort than working directly with a dealership. For example, selling privately may include, advertising the vehicle, arranging multiple test drives, negotiating a price, arranging payment and assisting the title transfer. 

Trading in your vehicle to a dealership is more convenient and provides a one-stop-shop from start to finish. A dealer may also be able to help provide finance options in the event that you have negative equity in the vehicle you're trading in.  

*All material in each article on this webpage are intended for general informational purposes only and was accurate as of the date of first publication. Information is subject to change and does not constitute an offer, representation or warranty (express or implied) by Nissan North America, Inc. ("Company"). Interested parties should confirm the accuracy of any information in this website as it relates to a vehicle directly with Company before relying on it to make a purchase decision. Unless expressly referenced, Company does not endorse and is not affiliated with any company that might be mentioned in any article on this webpage. Company is not responsible or liable for the availability of links to websites or resources, or for any content, advertising, products, services, privacy policies, or other materials on or available through these websites or resources, or for your reliance thereon. Any references to data or products are subject to change without notice. Trademarks are property of their respective owners.

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Moscow Comes Alive with Classics

Photography by Andrey Smazhilo

I am not a big fan of waking up early, especially on Sundays—even moreso when rain is expected! However, I had to deal with a bit of laziness because I knew that it would be worth it. In fact: it didn’t rain, and that at the L.U.C Chopard Classic Weekend Rally, Sunday turned out to be far beyond my expectations.

I have heard about the L.U.C Chopard Classic Weekend Rally before, but—shame on me—I have never paid much attention to it. Luckily, about a week before the rally, a colleague of mine mentioned that he would be a speaker at this event and had worked out as an invitation for me.

Moscow city center is a beautiful place, but it does lack some charm. Nevertheless, this problem was solved in an expected but a very spectacular way: the city center was filled up with a whole variety of classic cars, some of which were over a century old. What a scene it was!

A Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series II standing beside a Maserati 3500 GT was a marvelous sight. The former turned out to be piloted in the rally by Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, the co-president of Chopard. Far more surprising was that his father, Karl Scheufele III (who is also a co-president of Chopard) would accompany him as a co-driver!

A funny situation happened to me on that Sunday morning, one that only happens with car enthusiasts. I arrived about an hour before the press-conference to shoot the cars before they started leaving one after another—which would make it a challenge to get good photos of them. I noticed a black GAZ-21, or “Volga” as it was also called in the USSR, and decided it was worth some shots.

Imagine my surprise when I was making a shot of its front end, and was tapped on my shoulder by a friend of mine. It turned out that he would also be taking part in the rally, accompanied by his father—except for the fact his father would be behind the wheel of this black Volga.

As the day progressed and I took more photos, my wish to take part in this rally only grew stronger. There’s always next year…even if it means waking up earlier than I’d like to!

Great selection of cars and top marks for the two-tone P1800, it looks amazing.

Thanks, I loved the Volvo too. It doesn’t look too sporty, it isn’t fast but it is full of elegance, and that’s what makes it so special.

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Most Beautiful Metro Stations in Moscow

Visiting Moscow? Get yourself a metro card and explore Moscow’s beautiful metro stations. Moscow’s world-famous metro system is efficient and a great way to get from A to B. But there is more to it; Soviet mosaic decorations, exuberant halls with chandeliers, colourful paintings and immense statues. Moscow’s metro is an attraction itself, so take half a day and dive into Moscow’s underground!

The best thing to do is to get on the brown circle (number 5) line since the most beautiful metro stations are situated on this line. The only exception is the metro stop Mayakovskaya one the green line (number 2). My suggestion is to get a map, mark these metro stops on there and hop on the metro. It helps to get an English > Russian map to better understand the names of the stops. At some of the metro stops, the microphone voice speaks Russian and English so it’s not difficult at all.

Another thing we found out, is that it’s worth taking the escalator and explore the other corridors to discover how beautiful the full station is.

Quick hotel suggestion for Moscow is the amazing Brick Design Hotel .

These are my favourite metro stations in Moscow, in order of my personal preference:

1. Mayakovskaya Station

The metro station of Mayakovskaya looks like a ballroom! Wide arches, huge domes with lamps and mosaic works make your exit of the metro overwhelming. Look up and you will see the many colourful mosaics with typical Soviet pictures. Mayakovskaya is my personal favourite and is the only stop not on the brown line but on the green line.

2. Komsomolskaya Station

Komsomolskaya metro station is famous for its yellow ceiling. An average museum is nothing compared to this stop. Splendour all over the place, black and gold, mosaic – again – and enormous chandeliers that made my lamp at home look like a toy.

3. Novoslobodskaya Station

The pillars in the main hall of Novoslobodskaya metro station have the most colourful stained glass decorations. The golden arches and the golden mosaic with a naked lady holding a baby in front of the Soviet hammer and sickle, make the drama complete.

4. Prospect Mira Station

The beautiful chandeliers and the lines in the ceiling, make Prospekt Mira an architectural masterpiece.

5. Belorusskaya Station

Prestigious arches, octagonal shapes of Socialistic Soviet Republic mosaics. The eyecatcher of Belorusskaya metro station, however, is the enormous statue of three men with long coats, holding guns and a flag.

6. Kiyevskaya Station

The metro station of Kiyevskaya is a bit more romantic than Belorusskaya and Prospect Mira. Beautiful paintings with classical decorations.

7. Taganskaya Station

At the main hall Taganskaya metro station you will find triangle light blue and white decorations that are an ode to various Russians that – I assume – are important for Russian history and victory. There is no need to explore others halls of Taganskaya, this is it.

8. Paveletskaya Station

Another and most definitely the less beautiful outrageous huge golden mosaic covers one of the walls of Paveletskaya. I would recommend taking the escalator to the exit upstairs to admire the turquoise dome and a painting of the St Basil’s Cathedral in a wooden frame.

Travelling with Moscow’s metro is inexpensive. You can have a lot of joy for just a few Rubbles.

• 1 single journey: RMB 50 – € 0,70
• 1 day ticket: RMB 210 – € 2,95

Like to know about Moscow, travelling in Russia or the Transsiberian Train journey ? Read my other articles about Russia .

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Wow! It is beautiful. I am still dreaming of Moscow one day.

It’s absolutely beautiful! Moscow is a great city trip destination and really surprised me in many ways.

My partner and I did a self guided Moscow Metro tour when we were there 2 years ago. So many breathtaking platforms…I highly recommend it! Most of my favorites were along the Brown 5 line, as well. I also loved Mayakovskaya, Arbatskaya, Aleksandrovski Sad and Ploshchad Revolyutsii. We’re heading back in a few weeks and plan to do Metro Tour-Part 2. We hope to see the #5 stations we missed before, as well as explore some of the Dark Blue #3 (Park Pobedy and Slavyansky Bul’var, for sure), Yellow #8 and Olive #10 platforms.

That’s exciting Julia! Curious to see your Metro Tour-Part 2 experience and the stations you discovered.

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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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