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TOUR OF THE PILSEN BREWERY – PILSNER URQUELL

GIFT VOUCHERS

Don´t miss the tour of the brewery, visited by hundreds of thousands of tourists from all around the world every year! And it’s no wonder! The tour is proud holder of the award for the best brewery tour in Europe for 2024. The recognition was granted within the international World Travel Awards! Among other things, the tour will take you to see a modern brewhouse with a daily capacity of almost 3,000,000 beers , a packaging plant with a capacity of 120,000 bottles per hour , and you will taste unfiltered Pilsner Urquell straight from lagering kegs in the famous lagering cellars!

Get to know the unique story of Pilsner Urquell

Get acquainted with the history of the beer that changed the world – Pilsner Urquell, the first golden lager, which saw the light of day in 1842. It became popular mainly thanks to its typical full-bodied taste. Pilsner Urquell is still brewed using the same high quality Czech ingredients and the same original process. The original recipe has never changed, and that´s why our lager is unique. Take the tour of the Pilsner Urquell Brewery and find out more about how Pilsner Urquell is brewed. Visit the historical cellars and the packaging plant, get a closer look at the brewing process, and taste the beer at the end of the tour. The tour of the Pilsner Urquell Brewery will impress true beer lovers as well as visitors with a lukewarm relation to lager – come and see for yourselves.

What to expect during the tour

• Bottling facility – You will take a bus from the brewery courtyard to see the bottling facility one of the most modern of its type in Europe. You will see a line where beer is packaged into bottles at an impressive speed of 120,000 bottles per hour.
• Exhibition of ingredients – After visiting the packaging plant, you will take the biggest personal elevator in the Czech Republic to a unique panoramic cinema. You will get to know the secret of Pilsner Urquell brewing in a short film, and then you will find out with all your senses what ingredients are used to brew this lager.
• Brewhouses – While wandering through the beer production plant, you will also stop to look at historical brewing kettles from 1931 . You will also peek into a modern brewhouse from 2004 with a daily capacity of almost 3,000,000 beers, and naturally there will be a presentation of the entire Pilsner Urquell brewing process.
• People of Pilsner Urquell – Do you know how many people work on brewing the beer? It´s not only about the brewmaster. There are plenty of brewing professions without which you wouldn´t be able to drink Pilsner Urquell. You will find out what their everyday job involved and what was necessary for them to succeed. Diligence, enthusiasm and persistence are handed down from generation to generation in Pilsen.
• Brewery cellars – You will also visit the brewery cellars, which are 9 kilometres long. You will learn what a fermenting tub is and what we call a beer blanket. Plzeňský Prazdroj still brews some of its beer in these premises just like the first brewmaster, Josef Groll, did by fermenting beer in open tuns and maturing it in oak barrels.
• Tasting of unfiltered beer – What kind of tour of the Pilsner Urquell Brewery would it be without tasting its lager? Adult visitors will have a chance to try unfiltered and unpasteurized Pilsner Urquell poured straight from an oak barrel. You can try this beer only during the brewery tour or   the experience programme in Šalanda

If you still haven’t had enough of beer even after this 2-hour tour, you can visit  the Brewery Museum in Pilsen   or   the historical underground  or go to our   Na Spilce Pub .

CONCESSIONARY PACKAGES

Pilsner urquell brewery tour + brewery museum tour, pilsner urquell brewery tour + gambrinus brewery tour.

If you are interested in booking a tour more than one month in advance, please contact us at   [email protected]  or +420 377 062 888.

During tours for individual visitors, it is always necessary to respect the assigned language of the tour and it is not possible to interpret into other languages.

Additional tour information

Map of brewery premises

Not to be missed, brewery museum tour.

Enjoy the medieval atmosphere in the only museum of its kind, located in an original authentic brew house from the 15th century.

Pilsen Historical Underground

The Pilsen Historical Underground, with its nearly 14 km of corridors, is one of the largest historical underground systems in Central Europe.

Tours and educational programs for schools

The Brewery Museum has prepared three interactive learning programmes for first and second-grade pupils about the history of Pilsen and traditional trades.

For tour times, see below.

Plzeňský Prazdroj reserves the right to modify the times of public tours. Currently available time slots  can be verified online  or by calling +420 377 062 888.

• Reduced admission: children up to 6 and under 15, students under 26, pensioners over 65, TP, ZTP, HI YHA cardholders
• Children from 3 to 6 years of age are charged CZK 50 per visit
• Free admission: children under 3 years of age, ZTP/P card holders + their escort (1 person)
• Family ticket: max. 2 adults + 3 children up to 6 and under 15
• 15% discount on the price of a ticket for two or more of our various tours (brewery, Gambrinus Brewery, Brewery Museum, Pilsen Historical Museum) on one day. This offer does not apply to school groups

For 1 to 19 persons it is possible to buy the ticket online   for the given times. On-line purchase of tickets is possible no later than 1 hours before the start of the tour; card payment is the only option.

Cash (EUR) and payment cards are accepted when purchasing tickets upon arrival at the Visitor Centre or the Brewery Museum.

We offer tours for groups of 20 or more  in these language variants:   Czech, English, German, Russian and French. You can choose a date based on your requirements. Tour times outside the regular opening hours of the Visitor Centre may be arranged for   an additional fee of CZK 50 per person. Please order the tour at least 3 days in advance.

VISITOR RULES

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Brewery tour Brewery Museum Historic Plzeň Underground Rent of premises, fun programmes, Secese Conference Centre Pilsner Urquell Gift Shop Pilsner Urquell e-shop Group Tour Booking Experiences

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In accordance with an order from the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic, tours and experience programme are closed to public until further notice. Sorry for inconvenience. If you have any questions, contact us at [email protected] or by phone on +420 377 062 888.

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Visit our breweries

Four breweries, three magical places and the unique brewery museum.

Come and discover the history of brewing or your own favourite brand of beer. See the authentic places where the Pilsner Urquell legend originated, hold a party in the Gambrinus Brewery, immerse yourself in history in the Brewery Museum in Pilsen or enjoy an unforgettable day where Radegast and Velkopopovický Kozel are brewed. Each of our breweries offers a lavish programme of events which every beer lover is sure to enjoy.

Brewery tours

Brewery Museum in Pilsen

This museum, one of a kind in the world and housed in the original 15th-century brewery building, is also unique in terms of the range of exhibitions it offers. Hundreds of unique exhibits portray the history of brewing beer from ancient times to the present day. Visitors can learn more about the history of Pilsen’s pubs, tour the malt house, malt kiln, drying shed and laboratory and see a range of beer-related curios (such as the smallest beer mug in the world).

The historical underground of Pilsen

With almost 14 kilometres of passageways, the historical underground of Pilsen is one of the largest historical underground systems in Central Europe. The underground tour circuit is around 800 m long and runs at a depth of 9 to 12 metres under the historical centre of the city of Pilsen. Discover mediaeval life under the city and reveal the secrets of the authentic finds and nooks hidden underground.

Pilsner Urquell Brewery Tour – Czech Republic

By: Author Corinne Vail

Posted on Published: 9 November 15  - Last updated: 13 November 23

Home » World Foods and Recipes » Pilsner Urquell Brewery Tour – Czech Republic

Visiting the place where Pilsner was invented is a must for any beer lover. Just a day trip from Prague, the Pilsener Urquell Brewery tour is a must.

Living in Grafenwoehr , right over the border from the Czech Republic, we definitely get our fill of the golden nectar that is beer. Here you can find beer in so many varieties and styles that you your mind will be left reeling by all of the choices even before you’ve had anything to drink!

But no matter where you are in the world, chances are pretty good that you’re tipping back a glass of sudsy brew, called a “pils”,  that had its origins in the small city of Pilsen in the Czech Republic .  To say we were excited to take the Pilsener Urquell Brewery Tour is an understatement.

Pilsen, the Original Pils Beer

According to most experts, beer, in some form or another, has been around since the times of ancient Egypt and the pharaohs . It has even been used in spas, at beer baths throughout the Czech Republic . And, indeed, in the early nineteenth century it was not a new drink. In Pilsen when the city brewers guild and aldermen got together and decided to do something about the bad quality of their favorite drink, the decision was made to design and build a new, state of the art brewery to accommodate the needs of the town to develop the best tasting brew possible.

Once the brewery was operating, it only took the master brewer, Josef Groll, a short time to develop the next great beer, a bottom fermented pale lager with a longer shelf life and better taste than anything the townspeople had tipped back before. Soon the word got out and the new beer, Pilsner Urquell, was being barreled up and shipped far and wide. A testament to its taste and popularity, it’s still widely sought after in all corners of the world, and we Vails?  We love it!

The History of Pils Beer

So how do you learn about this fascinating history? Who can tell you all about the endeavors of Josef Groll, master brewer? Why, the guides on the Pilsner Urquell brewery museum and factory tour, of course! The brewery is still in operation today, massively so, in fact. It brews and bottles beer at the rate of over 120,000 bottles per hour.

But you can slow down and enjoy a two hour tour without getting caught up on the conveyor belts or pushed aside in the reject pile. Check the brewery’s website for up to the minute information; but, on most days, you can take an English tour at one of three times throughout the day. You’ll be accompanied by a tour guide who will happily give you all the pertinent details of the factories operation as well as sharing a story or two about Josef and some industrial spies.

Taking the Pilsener Urquell Brewery Tour

The tour will take you through the small museum, to the bottling plant, into the old and new brew houses, through a hands on experiential exhibit complete with 360 degree cinema, and finally down into the lagering caves. The breweries high tech cooling system, back in the day, included miles of these cool tunnels that could be kept even cooler during the summer months with ice that had been packed in during the winter.

Of course, the tunnels don’t get much use in today’s brewing and bottling process, but the factory does still brew and ferment a large batch of special, unfiltered pilsner especially for consumption on the tour only. You’ll get a chance to belly up to one of the big wooden casks, pull a beer and enjoy it in the cold cellar tunnels. I especially recommend this on a hot summer day!

Aside from taking the tour of the factory and the cellars, you can enjoy a good meal at the onsite restaurant where you can also sample a version of that special unfiltered brew, though it wasn’t fermented in the oaken casks. There is also a small museum store where you can purchase mementos of your visit, and of course, a case or two of your favorite pale lager, Pilsner Urquell!

Practical Information

Opening hours.

10:00 – 5:00, English tours are offered once every hour.

Getting There by Train

Take the train from the main station. It’s one hour from Prague on the RegioJet. Once you arrive in Pilsen, you can either take the number 13 to NC Černice or the number 15 bus to Mrakodrap, but this one has a longer walk.

Pilsner Urquell Brewery U Prazdroje 7, 301 00 Plzeň 3, Czech

What’s your favorite brew? Have you been to Plzen or the Pilsner Urquell Brewery Tour?

Author Bio: Corinne Vail is a travel photographer, food lover, and a perpetual traveler who has been travel writing for over 14 years. For many years she lived overseas in Germany, Japan, Turkey, South Korea, and the Netherlands teaching the children of the US. military. She’s visited over 90 countries, and she’s not stopping anytime soon.

Pin the Pilsener Urquell Brewery Tour for later!

The Edinburgers

Sunday 19th of March 2017

Visited a few weeks ago for the brewery tour and loved it! Incredible amount of history tied to the place and not to mention great beer of course :)

Corinne Vail

Jonathan, I agree. I totally love Czech beer!

Wednesday 18th of November 2015

I do enjoy a good beer, Corinne, and pilseners are some of my favorites. And speaking of beer, I'd like to try a Czech Budweiser, just so I could finally say I had enjoyed a Bud. It would make for a good laugh among my friends, who know that I think America's Budweiser beer is detestable. :) #TheWeeklyPostcard

Linda, I detest American Budweiser as well. Yes, you need to come and check it out!

Catherine Sweeney

Sunday 15th of November 2015

Haven't been to Plzen, but it's on the hubby's list of next things to do in the Czech Republic (being the beer drinker in the family). I do enjoy a brew once in a while especially in special places like this where the beers are made. Interesting to think that beer has been around since ancient Egypt.

Catherine, Yes, well I do like a good brew and I have to say that I love Czech beers more than most.

Saturday 14th of November 2015

1842? I bet they know a thing or two about making beer. I love the building. Without seeing the chimney, I would have thought it was a government building, not a factory. The car, beautiful color, is a nice touch. Looks brand new, too! Thanks for the tour, Corinne!

Marcia, The building was beautiful with an ornate gate to welcome you right up front. I highly recommend it!

Man, the next time I make it over to the Czech Republic I am definitely going to have to do this! I love beer and I find the history of breweries so interesting! Thanks for sharing! #TheWeeklyPostcard

Lolo, Then you definitely need to go. What a beautiful brewery!

Today open 11:00 - 20:30 (Last entry 19:00) Today last entry at 19:00

CZECH OUT OUR BEER STORY IN PRAGUE!

Discover the story behind the world's first golden beer & learn to pour beers like a professional tapster!

Our experiences

The Original Tour

Experience our story, brewing processes, games & tasting

Tapster Academy

Learn to pour a perfect Pilsner!

The Original Tour + Tapster Academy

Enjoy the immersive Experience and learn to pour our Pilsner!

Tripadvisor

Gift vouchers

GIVE YOUR LOVED ONES AN UNEXPECTED EXPERIENCE!

Surprise your family and friends with an extraordinary experience they will enjoy through all senses.

Just click on the button below and choose the type and number of gift vouchers, which you can then download from our website and print immediately after purchase.

Why come to us?

Great pilsner urquell beer.

Taste the best, forget the rest!

Fantastic food

You will taste amazing Czech and international food

Tapster shows

If you're lucky, you can try our pub quiz or compete in beer pouring.

Customer reviews

After learning the history of Czech beer, I now have many fun facts to share with friends.

Would highly recommend to anyone visiting Prague who likes beer!

The building is beautiful, and the experience is really interesting!

Did the Tapster Academy and the Tour - if you love beer, you’ll love the Experience!

Amazing story in Japanese, together with the best beer we've had so far.

We didn't expect such luxury in the souvenir shop and impulsively bought a few trinkets.

The team was extremely informative about the local culture valuing the foam on top of the beer, not just the contents below.

Spacious and high-tech, with brilliant multimedia and interactive displays.

It's a truly excellent experience, with the tradition of the brewery juxtaposed wonderfully with modern graphics and technology and friendly, knowledgeable staff.

Frequently asked questions

We are located right at the bottom of the Wenceslas Square. The exact address is 28. října 377/13, Prague. Check the map on the link: https://goo.gl/maps/UiHtPCrnrbJ7qLsu9

Yes! The Original Tour is very informative, and your children will enjoy it, too. However, we don't serve beer to anyone under the legal drinking age (18 years), but don't worry - two non-alcoholic beverages are available instead.

Our Tapster Academy is reserved for adults only.

Yes, we do! You can easily purchase them at the Gift vouchers section!

You will receive a download code for the gift vouchers right after the purchase, and will be able to download a beautiful voucher ready to print from our website right away.

Nevertheless, you can turn up within our opening hours and purchase your tickets on-site.

Tapster Academy has to be booked in advance.

We serve hot and cold food both in the Výčep U Zvonu and at the end of The Original Tour in the Beer Hall. The well tapped Pilsner Urquell beer is of course matched with well-known classics of Czech gastronomy such as freshly mixed beef tartare with fried bread, fried cauliflower, or Pilsner goulash. But you can also find other specialties here. You can order a great strudel with your coffee or traditional sweet buns with vanilla custard. Enjoy.

Pilsner Urquell Experience

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• Our brewery
• Our ingredients
• Perfect pouring
• Well served here
• Food and beer
• 180th Anniversary

A taste worth protecting since 1842

Brewed only in Plzeň. enjoyed all over the world.

Meet the keepers of the craft.

Deep inside the cellars of our brewery in Plzeň, Czech Republic, we make sure that every Pilsner Urquell drop tastes as unique as it did in 1842. We proudly continue the heritage of Josef Groll, the original brewmaster who introduced the world to the first golden “Pilsner” lager and changed beer forever.

BREWED THE ORIGINAL WAY

Everyone at our brewery gives their all to keep our recipe intact. It has been untouched for more than 180 years and uses traditional methods like triple decoction and parallel brewing. Yes, it takes longer, but it means we never compromise. And because Pilsner Urquell is only brewed in Plzeň, Czech Republic, that means our beer tastes the same all over the world.

WANT TO SEE HOW WE KEEP OUR CRAFT INTACT?

Come join a tour of our mythical brewery in Plzeň. Just one hour outside Prague you will find keepers of the craft hard at work to make sure thewhole world gets the original Pilsner taste.

WE DO IT ALL SO YOU CAN ENJOY THE PERFECT POUR

To keep our craft, we don't skip any steps. Our tapsters make sure you always get a thick head of dense, wet foam to seal in the freshness, protect delicate flavours from oxygen and create a perfect balance in our beer so that every sip has the perfect taste.

BUT WE ALSO GIVE YOU CHOICES. WE’RE NOT THAT STUBBORN.

You can enjoy our perfect taste in three different pours. Each one has a different flavour because each has a different amount of foam.

TRUST YOUR TAPSTER. THE ULTIMATE KEEPER.

In Czech we say “the brewmaster brews the beer and the tapster makes it“. And you better believe that every one of our tapsters is expertly trained in Plzeň, Czech Republic, to give you the perfect Pilsner Urquell experience all over the world.

SO IT’S FRESH AND FULL OF FLAVOUR

Pilsner Urquell’s signature flavour balances the sweetness from triple-decocted malt and the bitterness from Saaz hops. The thick head of dense, wet foam adds smoothness and seals in flavour and aroma.

REFRESHING, RICH AND JUST THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF HOPPY BITTERNESS

In every sip of Pilsner Urquell you’ll notice a refreshing crispness from natural carbonation, subtle caramel tones and a clean finish with a pleasing, hoppy bitterness.

BREWED THE SAME WAY SINCE 1842

They say you shouldn't fix what isn't broken. That's why we will never change our recipe. During the brewing process, we heat a portion of our mash three times to add more flavour and colour to our beer. This is called triple decoction.

SWEET MORAVIAN BARLEY, BITTER SAAZ HOPS, SOFT PLZEŇ WATER

We’ve only ever used 100% Czech ingredients to brew our beer, so we can be sure it tastes the same as it did in 1842. We will never change that.

COPYRIGHT © 2018 PLZEŇSKÝ PRAZDROJ, A.S.

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Today open 11:00 - 20:30 (Last entry 19:00) Today last entry at 19:00

CZECH OUT OUR BEER STORY IN PRAGUE!

Discover the story behind the world's first golden beer & learn to pour beers like a professional tapster!

Our experiences

The Original Tour

Experience our story, brewing processes, games & tasting

Tapster Academy

Learn to pour a perfect Pilsner!

The Original Tour + Tapster Academy

Enjoy the immersive Experience and learn to pour our Pilsner!

Tripadvisor

Gift vouchers

GIVE YOUR LOVED ONES AN UNEXPECTED EXPERIENCE!

Surprise your family and friends with an extraordinary experience they will enjoy through all senses.

Just click on the button below and choose the type and number of gift vouchers, which you can then download from our website and print immediately after purchase.

Why come to us?

Great pilsner urquell beer.

Taste the best, forget the rest!

Fantastic food

You will taste amazing Czech and international food

Tapster shows

If you're lucky, you can try our pub quiz or compete in beer pouring.

Customer reviews

After learning the history of Czech beer, I now have many fun facts to share with friends.

Would highly recommend to anyone visiting Prague who likes beer!

The building is beautiful, and the experience is really interesting!

Did the Tapster Academy and the Tour - if you love beer, you’ll love the Experience!

Amazing story in Japanese, together with the best beer we've had so far.

We didn't expect such luxury in the souvenir shop and impulsively bought a few trinkets.

The team was extremely informative about the local culture valuing the foam on top of the beer, not just the contents below.

Spacious and high-tech, with brilliant multimedia and interactive displays.

It's a truly excellent experience, with the tradition of the brewery juxtaposed wonderfully with modern graphics and technology and friendly, knowledgeable staff.

Frequently asked questions

We are located right at the bottom of the Wenceslas Square. The exact address is 28. října 377/13, Prague. Check the map on the link: https://goo.gl/maps/UiHtPCrnrbJ7qLsu9

Yes! The Original Tour is very informative, and your children will enjoy it, too. However, we don't serve beer to anyone under the legal drinking age (18 years), but don't worry - two non-alcoholic beverages are available instead.

Our Tapster Academy is reserved for adults only.

Yes, we do! You can easily purchase them at the Gift vouchers section!

You will receive a download code for the gift vouchers right after the purchase, and will be able to download a beautiful voucher ready to print from our website right away.

Nevertheless, you can turn up within our opening hours and purchase your tickets on-site.

Tapster Academy has to be booked in advance.

We serve hot and cold food both in the Výčep U Zvonu and at the end of The Original Tour in the Beer Hall. The well tapped Pilsner Urquell beer is of course matched with well-known classics of Czech gastronomy such as freshly mixed beef tartare with fried bread, fried cauliflower, or Pilsner goulash. But you can also find other specialties here. You can order a great strudel with your coffee or traditional sweet buns with vanilla custard. Enjoy.

Pilsner Urquell Experience

Follow us on instagram.

Red Square & Moscow City Tour

• Page active

Description

Highlights:.

• Experience medieval Kitay Gorod (China town).
• Wander picturesque Red Square and Alexander Garden.
• Explore grand Christ the Savior Cathedral on our Red Square tour.
• Breathtaking panoramic views from Patriarch bridge.
• Enjoy a hearty lunch on the large open verandah and marvel at the stunning views of the Kremlin.
• Learn about Russian culture from the local through relaxed cultural discussions.

Tour Itinerary:

Red square:.

Russia and Moscow are synonymous with Red Square and the Kremlin and that's hardly surprising as you'll find these places absolutely stunning!

• - Walk-through the Resurrection Gate and don’t forget to flip a coin so you’ll be sure to come back one day!
• - Visit the world's famous Kazan Cathedral .
• - See the State Department Store (GUM), once the Upper Trading Stalls, which were built over a century ago and still operating!
• - Admire the lovely St. Basil's Cathedral! The French diplomat Marquis de Custine commented that it combined "the scales of a golden fish, the enamelled skin of a serpent, the changeful hues of the lizard, the glossy rose and azure of the pigeon's neck" and wondered at "the men who go to worship God in this box of confectionery work".
• - Walk by Lobnoye Mesto (literally meaning "Execution Place", or "Place of Skulls"), once Ivan the Terrible's stage for religious ceremonies, speeches, and important events.
• - Entering the Alexander Garden , you’ll take in spectacular views of Russian architecture from ancient to Soviet times, as well as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier with an eternal flame. Watch Changing of the Guard Ceremony every hour in summer and every half an hour in winter.

Kitai-gorod:

Stroll along medieval Kitai-gorod with its strong ancient Russia feel, known for its bohemian lifestyle, markets and arts.

• - Nikolskaya Street. Here you will find the Russia's first publishing house, the second oldest monastery, and Ferryn Pharmacy, known as the number one pharmacy back in Soviet times and famous for its Empire-style architecture.
• - Ilinka Street. The financial street of the Kitaigorod (China Town) district, where you’ll find the Gostiny Dvor (Merchant’s Yard), which is now a showroom for Ferraris and Maseratis. The street was designed in the 1790s by Catherine the Great.
• - Varvarka street. The oldest street in Moscow, which dates back to the 14th century, and still has remnants of early Muscovite architecture, such as the Old English Court and the Palace of the Romanov’s.
• - Kamergersky Lane. Only a small road of about 250 meters, it is home to some of the oldest artifacts of the city, as each building holds a fascinating story. Some of Russia's most famous writers, poets, and composers from as far back as the Golden Age of Russian culture, have lived or worked on this lane.

Historic City Center

Walk the historical old center of Moscow with its cool local vibe, including the main Tverskaya street , and indulge in desserts in the first grocery “Eliseev's store” , housed in an 18th century neoclassical building, famous for its baroque interior and decoration.

From our tour. Impressions of our American tourist:

At 3:30, as energy flagged, lunch was on the agenda at a Ukrainian restaurant.  Just in time!  We asked our guide to order for us.  We all had the same thing....borscht (the Ukrainian version has beans and more tomatoes than the Russian version, which has more beets and includes beef). 

The special high bread served is called galushki.  Our main course was golubtsy...a dish of minced meat rolled in braised cabbage leaves.  Both dishes called for optional sour cream as a topping....of course, yes, please....I recommend it. 

Full, satisfied, and completely refreshed, it was off to Red Square and St. Basil's and GUM department store.  Red Square is not so named because of the color of the brick walls of the Kremlin.  Rather the word for 'red' and the word for 'beautiful' are similar in pronunciation....and, there you have it. 

As we made the turn by the National Museum in front of which is the mounted sculpture of the "Marshall of Victory," Giorgy Zhukov from WWII and caught our first view of St. Basil's, my friend and I simultaneously emitted "Oooohhhhh!"  There it was....the iconic onion domes of St. Basil's!  Hooray....it was open until 7....we had about 30 minutes and were allowed in, AND we could take photos with no flash. 

Now, I can give you a taste of what we saw in the other cathedrals in Cathedral Square.  What we learned is that St. Vasily and St. Basil are one in the same....Russian/English.  He was a common man who wandered Moscow unclothed and barefoot.  But, all, even Ivan the Terrible, heeded his opinions derived from his visions.  Ivan had this cathedral built over his tomb. 

As we exited and took photos up close of the onion domes, Inna presented us with chocolate (how did she know we were ready for another energy boost, and we each got a big piece of chocolate.  The baby's name pictured on the wrapper of this famous Russian chocolate is Alyonka....the Russian Gerber baby, don't you think? 

One could wear out the credit card in GUM's (capitalized because it is actually a government abbreviation), but the 'kitty' and my credit card stayed in my pocket as we strolled through the glass-topped arcade. 

We then strolled through some of Moscow's lovely pedestrian streets; paused to listen as a wonderful quartet performed Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" in an underground passage to cross the busy street (hooray!....we DID have our 'classical concert' experience after all; a request Alina tried in vain to fill because none was scheduled those days), saw the Bolshoi, which means 'big' (my friend has yet to recover that their performance schedule did not coincide with our cruise), saw the Central Telegraph Building, dating from the 1930's, and made our way to the Ritz-Carlton to see the night view of Moscow from the rooftop bar, called O2. 

There were fleece blankets to wrap yourself in....yes, it got that cold when the sun set.  We each ordered something hot to drink...the ginger, mint, lemon tea served to me in a parfait glass (for 600 rubles...about $9....you pay for the view here!) was delightful and hit the spot perfectly.  It was time to call it a night....

What you get:

• + A friend in Moscow.
• + Private & customized Moscow tour.
• + An exciting city tour, not just boring history lessons.
• + An authentic experience of local life.
• + Flexibility during the tour: changes can be made at any time to suit individual preferences.
• + Amazing deals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the very best cafes & restaurants. Discounts on weekdays (Mon-Fri).
• + A photo session amongst spectacular Moscow scenery that can be treasured for a lifetime.
• + Good value for souvenirs, taxis, and hotels.
• + Expert advice on what to do, where to go, and how to make the most of your time.

*This Moscow city tour can be modified to meet your requirements.

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• Guided tour

Moscow: City Sightseeing by Car/Bus

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Visiting a new city is akin to going on a first date, it is something you will never forget. Many people imagine Moscow as just a bunch of sporadic landmarks: Red Square, the Kremlin, Lenin’s Mausoleum and GUM. There is so much more to this wonderful city than that and even though we only have a few hours, we will do all we can to show you everything we know and love about our capital in one fell swoop. We will take you on a journey through the ages, from centuries ago, right up to the modern day, soaking in the sights of this vast and bustling metropolis. Bright, luxurious and both ancient and modern at the same time, Moscow invites you on a date you’ll never forget!

On our sightseeing bus tour of the city, you will see:

• The wonderfully historic city centre and its unique museums, magnificent cathedrals, the exquisite Chambers of the Romanov Boyars and of course, the famous towering red brick walls of the Kremlin, The charming beauty of the Alexander Garden awaits the capital's guests - a lush green oasis in the midst of the glass and concrete clad metropolis, basking in the etherial aura emanating from the whitewashed stone walls of the restored Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, the world- renowned fairytale onion domes of St. Basil's Cathedral and other impressive monumental buildings such as the library built in Lenin's honour - the Russian State Library - and the State Duma.
• The Lubyanka KGB headquarters is notorious to members of older generations and although nowadays, the face of the secret police has changed dramatically, the looming enigmatic building on the waterfront maintains its aura of mystery, shrouded in a variety of murky rumours and dark myths. Then, there’s another of Moscow's main attractions - the marvellous Bolshoi Theatre, yew simply cant leave Moscow without taking in its breathtaking architecture. Engrained in the fabric of Russia's cultural heritage, virtuoso performers such as prima ballerina Galina Ulanova, opera singer Feodor Chaliapin and pianist, composer and conductor Sergei Rachmaninoff once stood centre stage of this vaunted institution.
• The memorial complex on Poklonnaya Hill was constructed in the glory and honour of our heroes who defended our nation in the many crucial battles of the Great Patriotic War (WWII). This is a place that embodies a particularly acute and inextricable link between older ancf younger generations. Moving on to the Moscow International Business Centre, not dubbed ‘Moscow City' for nothing, a true glimpse of the future in the present. This incredible, rather jaw-dropping project in the capital has shown that Moscow has come to accept the age of the skyscraper. Finally, the stunning views from the observation deck at Sparrow Hills will leave professional and amateur photographers alike itching to capture them. How could one resist?

The most beautiful of all the world's cities - lady Moscow invites you out on a date!

The cost of an excursion with a personal guide for 1 person

Meeting point We'll pick you up at your hotel

St. Basil's Cathedral

House on the Embankment

Cathedral of Christ the Saviour

Vorobyovy Hills

Poklonnaya Hill Poklonnaya Gora

Moscow-City

Alexander garden

Russian State Library

Bolshoi Theatre

End of the tour

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• Excursion Moscow: City Sightseeing by Car/Bus
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