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I had a sudden business trip to Turkey…

I had a sudden business trip to Turkey (we moved our team of 50 programmers out of Russia), so I went to meet them and set them up in Cypress. I always wanted to see sites like Gobekli Tepe, Catalhoyuk, Pamukkale and Cappadocia so, about 10 days before travel, I called Orsan (found on the web with good reviews) up in a panic. I needed a tour put together fast and it's fairly crowded season in October. Booking last minute can always turn a "good" travel agent into a "bad" one if their better people are already booked, but he found us Uraz Nehir as our guide and Uraz is great -- he's very conscientious, really knows the local sites and people, so it was fantastic. Our itinerary was packed, but he added many fascinating but more obscure sites -- some not even on Google maps yet where no one goes but the sites are as interesting as the main sites. Our basic itinerary was: October 15 – Private transfer to Antalya airport for your flight to Gaziantep. Welcome at airport, private Gaziantep tour and transfer to Şanlıurfa for overnight. October 16 – Private Göbeklitepe tour and overnight in Şanlıurfa October 17 – Private transfer to Adiyaman and Mt. Nemrut visit at sunset, overnight in Adiyaman. October 18 – Private transfer to Cappadocia and overnight October 19 – Hot air balloon flight & private Cappadocia tour October 20 – Private Cappadocia tour October 21 - Private transfer to Konya, visit Catalhoyuk stay in Konya October 22 - Konya => Sagalassos Ancient City => Denizli October 23 - Pamukkale and Hierapolis drive back to Antalya October 24 - Day trip Perge or Side then to Airport (arrive at 13:00) A lot! But it was really great! Highly recommended!

Date of experience : October 15, 2022

Trip to Turkey

Orsan made our trip to Turkey an unforgettable experience! Communication was prompt and very helpful. All of the planning was taking care with attention to detail and he made this trip a wonderful experience for our family of 5!

Date of experience : July 17, 2022

Travel Atelier get my highest recommendation

Travel Atelier organised a private 9 day tour of Turkey for us. The tour was perfectly arranged with a level of personalization, warmth and detail that couldn't be faulted. We did run in a few snags on the way (why oh why would Turkish Airline move the time of a flight EARLIER?!!!) which is no fault of Travel Atelier's at all - and the way they quickly dealt with the issue - swift action, calmness and remedy. HIGH RECOMMENDATION.

Date of experience : April 23, 2019

Reply from Travel Atelier

Dear Angela, Thank you very much to share your travel experience with Travel Atelier during your Turkey travels. Tailoring travel itineraries and following the day to day operations for our guests is what we know and do best and your comments are the Best award for our team. We send you warm regards from Snow White & Sunny Cappadocia and Happy Travels. Murat - Managing Partner

A perfect visit to Cappadocia with three kids

We used Travel Atelier for every element of our visit to Cappadocia. They arranged everything for our family of five, picked us up at the Cappadocia airport and took us to our hotel in Uçhisar, provided a guide and driver for us for several days to take us around Cappadocia, and then drove us to the airport to fly out. Everything was perfect. Ismail is one of our favorite guides we've had anywhere. It was great being able to skip the lines everywhere, especially since we visited during a holiday week. We got so much more from our visit, and saw a lot more of Cappadocia, than if we had tried to arrange things ourselves.

Date of experience : June 16, 2019

Dear Eric, Thank You so very much for the great review. It was a pleasure to meet you also in person during your busy schedule exploring Cappadocia. We learned also a lot from you, regarding traveling with Kids and following your world travels with them on instagram, enjoying your comments and still learning from those. Hope our paths come together again one day with another Turkey visit you will plan. We send you all warm regards from Snow White & Sunny Cappadocia and Happy Travels. Murat

Trip of Lifetime to Turkey with Travel Atelier

We found Travel Atelier through friends who visited Turkey in 2018 and were very happy that we did. Ismail at Travel Atelier tailored the trip and tours based on our interests, creating a wonderful introduction to Turkey. All the arrangements worked smoothly. We did request some changes to our itinerary on the fly, which Ismail handled to our satisfaction. We had the pleasure of meeting Ismail in Cappodocia. We visited Istanbul, Cappodocia, the area around Izmir (Ephesus, Priene, Miletus, Didyma, Pamukkale, Aphrodisisas) before heading to Pergamon, Canakkale, Gallipoli and back to Istanbul. We were very pleased with our guides (Ozcan in Istanbul, Ismail in Cappodocia, Dicle in Ephesus/ area around Izmir and Erdem in Canakkale, Gallipoli) and our drivers. All of our guides were knowledgeable and we learned a lot about Turkey’s history and culture. They accommodated our mobility challenges adjusting to our pace and/or rearranging our itinerary to eliminate as many stairs as possible as well as adding visits to the museums associated with the ruins. We particularly enjoyed all of the restaurants they recommended, giving us a taste of local dishes, a highlight of our trip. We left Canada not liking eggplant and came home loving it! Our drivers had “nerves of steel”. We were very happy to have them at the wheel navigating the narrow streets through all kinds of traffic. Overall, it was the trip of a lifetime. We are very happy to recommend Travel Atelier for travel to Turkey.

Dear Sue, Thank you very much for sharing your Travel experiences with us while exploring highlights of Turkey. Besides having expert travel consultants in the house, our updates on the products and well organized network of professionals with good planning and execution worked well with you too. particularly very proud to see that you were recommended by another Travel Atelier guest and word of mouth PR works best for us since we created Travel Atelier 16 years ago even in hard times like now. Due to pandemic travel business all around world suffering so the travelers but we are gearing up for bright future for travel. As a partner of the company I often travel myself and seek for unique places, hotels, restaurants and experiences to see if we can recommend to our future guests. We still do and get prepared for the coming travel season. Hope we can be at your service again in Turkey or elswhere in Europe and Thanks You for recommending Travel Atelier to your friends and fellow travelrs reading Trust Pilot. We send you warm regards from Snow White & Sunny Cappadocia and Happy Travels in the near future. Murat

Trip of a Lifetime!

We recently got back from a 2-week trip to Turkey organized by Travel Atelier and it was a trip of a lifetime! Ismail from Travel Atelier oversaw all the planning and execution of the trip. Right from our first few chat interactions, it was clear that Travel Atelier was going to be a top-notch operation -- Ismail was incredibly responsive and patient as we worked through our various travel plans. Our travels bore that initial impression out. We did Travel Atelier's Treasures of Turkey escorted private tour, with an extra day in Cappadocia, choosing to stay at boutique hotels. The itinerary was very thoughtfully put together and everything was top shelf quality. Accommodations were clean and comfortable and provided us a varied look at Turkey - we stayed in Istanbul's Old Town just minutes from Topkapi Palace / Hagia Sophia / Blue Mosque, a beautiful seaside resort in Assos, in the lively town center of Çanakkale, in a cave hotel in Cappadocia perfectly-located for balloon viewing, and also in a rustic resort in a very cute hill village Şirince. Travel Atelier's restaurant options were clean and provided a varied look at various Turkish cuisines -- be prepared to gain some weight on the trip! It's hard to pick a favorite but probably our highlight was our lunch at a small Cappadocia restaurant named Aravan Evi -- amazing home-cooked meal and hospitality. Travel Atelier also incorporated some unforgettable activities into our itinerary -- I want to call out three of them: 1) Cappadocia balloon ride -- Travel Atelier placed us in the first (and most desirable) launch of the day in a very spacious balloon -- many of the other balloons we saw were packed with far more guests 2) Bosphorus Tour -- We were expecting to be part of a large boat tour, but were very pleasantly surprised to find out that Travel Atelier had reserved a private boat for our Bosphorus Cruise! 3) Meskendir Valley -- as mentioned above, we added a day to our Cappadocia itinerary and Ismail guided us in Meskendir Valley, which was a fantastic hike. Our local guides and drivers were all knowledgeable and personable. Mehmet in Istanbul had an incredible wealth of historical knowledge and helped us skip every line in Istanbul. Dicle in the Ephesus/Izmir area was very helpful during an allergy incident that my wife had. Erdem in Çanakkale had a great dry humor and he did a really great job engaging our kids. Eda in Ihlara Valley was patient and personable. Iron man Şenol drove us from Izmir all the way to Istanbul, including a number of very long days. And we were especially happy to get a chance to meet and be guided by Ismail in Cappadocia. Overall, we had a trip of a lifetime in Turkey -- we found Turkey to have a unique combination of incredibly rich history, East-meets-West culture, amazing sights, delicious food, cleanliness and safety, and friendly and welcoming people. Coming from the US, I can say the trip really broadened our perspective. Thanks to Travel Atelier for their impeccable attention to detail, commitment to quality, and amazing hospitality!

Date of experience : July 05, 2019

Dear Eric, so Happy to see we have been at your service and you fully enjoyed Turkey and our services during your visit to Turkey. Thank you for choosing Travel Atelier and writing such a beautiful and detailed trip report. This will not only motivate us but help feloow travelsr too. As a partner of the company I often travel myself and seek for unique places, hotels, restaurants and experiences to see if we can recommend to our future guests. While traveling we also experience places with different persfectives and use according to our guests wishes, physical conditions, expectations etc. that's why the more details our guests share with us the more we can handpick everything and clearly you have exchanged a lot of information with ısmail and work together for a succesful trip. We send you warm regards from Snow White & Sunny Cappadocia and Happy Travels. Murat - Managing Partner

Wow! Above and Beyond Expectations/Worry Free Traveling

I don’t know where to start because they are AMAZING! They more than fulfilled my expectations. Note that I have a very high bar and always expect perfection. I also have plenty of experience with travel agencies but this one is in a another league. 
1. Communication: Fast, prompt, professional and to the point responses to all my emails and during chats. From the first email to the last one few days before the trip and during the trip communication is immediate regardless of time. All questions answered to the point and with extra information and tips that went beyond the original questions. 
2. Patience and friendliness: our trip to Turkey lasted for about 15 days from end of Aust to early September. It was 4 of us: my husband 56, my son 31, my daughter 27 and me celebrating my 60th birthday. We changed the itinerary multiple times, changed the dates multiple times, changed specific destinations multiple times and the length of it multiple times. Not once I felt Ismael to be annoyed or bother at all by our indecisions. On the contrary he diligently kept on making different suggestions and pointing out pros and cons of each. The whole process took more than a month to get finalized and I always felt he had our best interests in mind and that he cared about making this vacations the best. Never felt pushed to finalized the trip, never felt pushed into anything or bother with required down payments or anything like that. 
3. Delivery: Oh my God a truly perfect itinerary, fun activities/sites and perfect logistics. We got a vacation where everything went as expected without any hiccups. Ours was totally customized for us. 
A. Transportation: punctual and courteous from the second we were picked up at the airport and throughout the trip. Impeccable and luxurious van that were beyond our expectations. We all felt so VIP. We arrived to Istanbul at different times and every one of us was picked up on time and with incredible vehicles and drivers. Every one of them so helpful, kind and safe. For local flights he checked us in ahead of time and got us great seats in. They knew exactly how in advanced we needed to be picked up to make all of our flights on time and stress free. Simply worry free experience. 

 B. Accommodations: all hotels really great ( I requested 3 to 4 star hotels to keep my cost reasonable and I felt more were 4 stars than 3 stars).The first hotel in Istanbul was incredible ( Pera Palace), luxurious and so friendly. Most hotels were boutique hotels. Cute, clean, charming, great locations and incredible staff. Every single hotel was expecting us and knew exactly who we were. No issues with rooms ( my children room had an issue in first hotel and they upgraded them to a better room immediately). The hotel in Izmir "Viento Hotel" so cute and in a crazy charming town and the Doga thermal hotel close to Pamukkale (the blue thermal mountains ) with such amazing thermal pool so great. We had excellent Turkish breakfast in all of the hotels, some more extensive than others but all good. Oh my God , but my ultimate favorite hotel was Argos, a cave hotel in Cappadocia. It was the big star to finish our trip. What a beautiful place. It’s magic. 

 C. Tour Guides: punctual, knowledgeable, friendly and accommodating. Our 2nd favorite tour guide was Adam in Gallipoli/ Troy. Ismael being our favorite of course. Again driver and vans so incredibly comfortable, punctual, with such helpful and sweet drivers. Ismael In Cappadocia was the cherry on top. What an amazing professional and human being. So caring and so thoughtful. About him I can write on an on. He anticipated everything that could go wrong and took care of it or fixed it before we even knew. For example one of our local flights was during dinner time and the only opportunity for dinner due to itinerary. He knew the airline would not provide food so he arranged dinner boxes and drinks for us. Our names were called by flight attendant and we were Like OMG what an amazing detail. In another occasion he saved us from disaster when in Cappadocia my daughter left her passport at the Argos hotel the day we were to flight back to Istanbul and then home. The Argos hotel called him and he arranged special driver to meet our driver at a stop we had before our flight. He knew we were going to see Turkish rugs in the way. We hadn’t even realized she was missing her passport until he texted her. Another series of details to celebrate my birthday: in the first hotel in Istanbul we were welcomed with a fruit and dessert plate along with a bottle of wine & a Happy Birthday message in my room; at our final destination hotel (Argos) in Cappadocia they also welcomed me with a plate of fruits, nuts, and Argos locally made bottle of wine with a beautiful note. The night before my actual birthday while in Cappadocia he arranged a dinner for us where we were treated to a bottle of wine as well as a surprise cake with sparkling candles and all from the travel agency. Ismael and the agency loves what they do for sure.

 D. Food: in most cities we were taken for lunch to typical small restaurants with home style made foods representative of the different areas we visited. So delicious. Loved Turkish food. Our tour guide advised us on food selections and to my surprise it was all included in our package. Also timely drinks and ice cream at different stops were offered, also complimentary. The van always had cold water bottles for us too. Dinner recommendations were very good. 

We took couple of days on our own as well as evenings but we still felt taken care of because all the tour guides advices, recommendations, directions and because Ismail replied promptly to all our text messages. How he does it? I don’t know, but he is on top of every single detail. Most Memorable: 1. Turkish Bath in Istanbul most beautiful traditional bath house Ayasofya Hurrem Sultan Hamam recommended to us and arranged for us girls ( guys did not want to go) on our arrival day was something Out of This World. He was so right to say it was a good way of getting rid of jet lag and a great start to our trip. Don’t miss this! 2. The VIP Hot air Balloon ride on the day of my birthday that Ismail arranged for us in Cappadocia was breathtaking. It was the most magical experience I have ever had. 3. Finally meeting Ismael in Cappadocia is memorable because he is truly a professional and great human being who truly made our vacation perfect, especial and worry free. He took us to his favorite restaurants for lunch and did everything to make us feel welcomed from letting us shop at our leisure to taking photographs for us. His calmed and worry free personality was great. I can’t recommend him and Atelier more. We can never forget him.

 LOVE THEM and I can't wait to call Atelier for another great trip.

Date of experience : October 11, 2019

Dear Adalgisa, thank you so much for such detailed and beautiful review on us. We do our best to accommodate all our guests wish lists and go beyond, create unique itineraries & offer cool experiences, such reviews are motivating our team to keep up the great work they provide. Hope your travels bring you back to Turkey one day and we can be at your service. Warm regards from Snow White Cappadocia and Happy Travels.

Having just returned from a 10 day…

Having just returned from a 10 day private family trip organized by Travel Atelier we wanted to express our delight with our experience visiting this diverse country! We chose Travel Atelier as they are a local company based in Cappadocia and the itinerary suggested captured our interest as it allowed us to visit a great mix of locations to give us an appreciation of modern and historical Turkey. We started out in Istanbul experiencing this fascinating city straddling the continents of Europe and Asia followed by time in the geological wonderland that is Cappadocia and finishing in the Izmir regions where we visited historical sites such as Ephesus and Pergamon and Didyma. Throughout the planning process, Orsan, from Travel Atelier was helpful and accommodating seeking to understand our goals and requirements (such as dietary restrictions for one of our family members) for the trip and modifying the itinerary accordingly. Information was communicated thoroughly and promptly. On arrival in Turkey, the trip unfolded seamlessly with all the guides, drivers and the central office working as a team to provide the highest quality experience possible. Day 1 on arrival included a trip to a Hamman after a quick check in at the hotel. We can't think of a better way to have started our trip after a long flight than the luxurious soaking, scrubbing and massaging that was all part of the Hamman experience! The next day we met our guide who took us on a walking tour of Istanbul and spent the next 3 days with us in the city. Additional local guides in the Cappadocia and Izmir region met up with us at each of the stages of our trip. We can't say enough about our local guides who were all highly knowledgeable as well as personable and friendly. They all had a "can do" attitude and where completely open and helpful to adapting the itinerary "on the fly" to meet our needs. For example, a day trip to Troy was substituted for more time in Istanbul to allow us to experience more of the city and also seek out some emergency camera repairs for one of our group. The timing and sequencing of our excursions was adapted to address our interest in photography and take advantage of the best photographic conditions when they occurred. As far as meals and accommodations went we were delighted with the offerings arranged by Travel Atelier. We enjoyed eating in smaller, local restaurants to experience the unique cuisine of the country along with the local people in the regions we were visiting. For meals on our own, our guides had helpful suggestions for excellent restaurants. A cooking class in the home of a Turkish family was a unique experience to both experience the hospitality and warmth of the wonderful family hosting us as well as learn first hand about making typical Turkish dishes. In setting up the trip, we specified 4 star accomodations (vs. 5 star) and honestly, we felt so pampered we can't imagine what the 5 star option would be like! Especially fantastic were the accomodations in Istanbul (Ciragan Kempinsky Palace right on the Bosphorus) and the Argos in Cappadocia. During our trip, our guides and Orsan were readily available to clarify questions and provide up to date information about our itinerary and facilitate details like check-in for our internal flights. Even after our trip, Travel Atelier was very accommodating and allowed us to delay our airport transfer to a few days as we planned an additional four days on our own after we returned to Istanbul at the end of the organized trip. Overall, Turkey as a destination and Travel Atelier as a tour company exceeded our expectations. We absolutely felt we received terrific value for this tour and we had the opportunity to see an experience Turkey in a rich, interactive and personally rewarding fashion!

Date of experience : August 31, 2019

Dear Glen, how wonderful to read your review and you have enjoyed your visit of our beautiful country and to reading our services not only met your expectations but exceeded, Well; our aim has always been to put our guests as first priority of all and comforting them & providing great travel experiences buy using our expertise and network. Thank you for sharing your experiences with us to other travelers. Hope to be at your service at another adventure to Turkey or Europe in the future. Warm regards from Snowy White & Sunny Cappadocia and Happy Travels. Murat

Luxury Travel Atelier

Istanbul & Cappadocia Expedition

Istanbul & cappadocia expedition.

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Luxury Tailor Made Journey

Travel with your private party on this Luxury Tailor Made Journey, departing when you choose and with expert local guides leading the way; you can even customize the itinerary to your interests. Independently explore Turkey, touring Topkapi Palace and Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, along with the archaeological ruins of Ephesus as well as Bodrum — rich in maritime history. Also discover the marvelous Fairy Chimneys of Cappadocia.

LTA Advantages

• Embark on a privately guided tour of I stanbul’s bustling bazaars and architectural marvels .
• Led by a private guide, explore the troglodyte dwellings of Cavusin in Cappadocia .
• Rise into the skies & marvel over sweeping views of Cappadocia’s fairy chimneys in a hot air balloon .
• Featuring a handpicked selection of luxury accommodations.
• A culinary adventure in a family-owned 230 years old cave house.
• Explore labyrinthine , subterranean cities in Cappadocia .
• Stay at a handpicked selection of luxury accommodations.

Trip Itinerary

From $4,670 per person.

Please note that USD per person is double occupancy.Prices are subject to change for a crafted-design trip.

INCLUDED WITH EVERY JOURNEY

• One-of-a-Kind Itinerary Designed for You
• Hand-Selected Luxury Accommodations
• Exclusive Insider-Access Opportunities and Inspiring Sightseeing
• English-Speaking Local Guides
• Airport Meet and Greet with Private Transfers
• Full Breakfast Daily
• Entrance Fees and Taxes
• 24/7 LTA On-Call Support

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Give us a call & speak to your LTA destination expert

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• [email protected]

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Moscow Travel Guide: Best Things to Do + More [2023]

· everything to know about visiting moscow, including the best things to do and how to get around. ·.

Moscow is Russia’s vibrant capital city, and it also happens to be the largest city in all of Europe. The city’s long and infamous history makes it one of the most unique places we have ever visited.

The architecture ranges from centuries-old palaces to uniform, gray concrete buildings. The people range from cold and private to warm and welcoming. Moscow is a city is strong juxtapositions, and we learned a lot during our time there.

This post will break down all you need to know about visiting Moscow, including the best things to do, how to get there, how to get around, and more.

The Best Things to Do in Moscow

1. explore the red square.

The Red Square is the heart of Moscow. Most of the city’s top attractions can be found here, including just about everything on this list. The Kremlin, St. Basil’s Cathedral, and Lenin’s Mausoleum are all located here, and the State Historical Museum and GUM are not far from here, either.

The Red Square is a common home for parades, protests, and seasonal celebrations. There are massive Christmas celebrations here, with food vendors and carnival rides set up in numbers.

2. Check Out the Ziferblat

The Ziferblat is a café in Moscow that is unlike any café we have ever been to. While most cafes charge you for your drinks and food, the Ziferblat charges you for your time.

Upon arrival, you are given a clock. When you leave, the barista calculates how much time you spent in the café and charges you accordingly. This concept was created to help visitors to be more intentional with their time, and the cafe itself is incredibly charming.

For a detailed look at everything you need to know before you visit, make sure you read my post about visiting the Ziferblat Cafe in Moscow .

3. Marvel at St. Basil’s Cathedral

St. Basil’s Cathedral is one of the most iconic churches in the world, and it was the single thing we were most excited to see while in Moscow. Built almost 500 years ago, St. Basil’s Cathedral is recognized by its colorful domes and whimsical style. The church is of the Russian Orthodox faith, and the inside is just as wondrous as the outside.

St. Basil’s Cathedral is located on the edge of the Red Square, making it incredibly convenient to visit. Entrance for non-worshippers costs 800 rubles, and tickets can be bought at the church

4. Explore the Kremlin

The Kremlin is the largest active fortress in Europe, and it is the site of most of Russia’s government affairs. In addition to government buildings, the Kremlin Complex is filled with courtyards, towers, and museums that are open to the public. If you have the time, you could spend a couple of days fully exploring all that there is to see in the Kremlin.

5. Walk Through Lenin’s Mausoleum

Vladimir Lenin is one of the most important figures in Russian history, and his body is located perfectly embalmed in a mausoleum in the Red Square. The Mausoleum is open to the public to visit, and as long as you are willing to go through a few security checks, it is easily one of the best things to do in Moscow. Its convenient location in the Red Square makes it a can’t miss attraction.

There is absolutely no photography allowed inside the Mausoleum. Do not test this rule.

6. Wander Along Arbat Street

The Arbat is a very popular street in Moscow that is lined with stores, cafes, and other touristy attractions. It is one of the oldest streets in the city, dating back to the 1400s. This street is both quaint and trendy, and there are many walking tours that introduce tourists to the neighborhood’s wonders and highlights.

7. Catch a Show at the Bolshoi Theatre

As a lover of the arts, it is hard to think of Moscow and not think of ballet. Russia has always been a top dog in the world of fine arts, and Bolshoi Theater is one of the best places to catch a performance. We were lucky enough to attend an Opera here, and it is a venue that you don’t want to miss out on if you enjoy opera, ballet, or orchestral performances.

8. Visit the State Historical Museum

The State Historical Museum is one of the most respected museums in Moscow. Despite its name, it is not really focused on the history of Russia as a nation. Rather, it contains a collection of artifacts from all throughout Russia’s history.

The museum’s collection is very broad in nature. It houses some items from indigenous tribes that used to occupy the region, pieces collected by the Romanov family, and more.

9. Wander Around GUM

GUM is an absolutely massive mall within walking distance of the Red Square. It isn’t just the size that draws visitors here; it’s the sense of luxury. The mall is so beautiful inside, much like the metro stations.

While visiting a mall might not sound like it belongs on a bucket list, this mall does. You will not want to miss out on visiting GUM while in Moscow.

10. Admire the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour

While St. Basil’s Cathedral is the most iconic church in Moscow, it isn’t the only one. The Cathedral of Christ the Saviour is absolutely stunning, with massive golden domes. It is the tallest Orthodox church in the world, and it is the seat of the Orthodox Patriarch of Moscow.

It is located just about a mile from the Red Square, just south of the Kremlin Complex. You can walk to it from the Red Square in about 20 minutes.

How to Get to Moscow

Flying to moscow.

Moscow has three major international airports: Sheremetyevo (SVO) , Domodedovo (DMO) , and Vnukovo (VKO) . All three of them are directly connected to downtown Moscow by the Aeroexpress trains, which leave every 30 minutes throughout the day. By Aeroexpress train, you can expect to get to the city center in 25-45 minutes depending on the airport that you fly into.

Sheremetyevo is the biggest and busiest of the three airports, and it is the one you are most likely to fly into – especially if you are coming from outside of Europe or the Caucus region. We flew into Sheremetyevo on a direct flight from New York City.

I usually provide backup airport options, because flying right into the city isn’t always the cheapest way to get where you’re going. Unfortunately, when it comes to Moscow, don’t really have a choice other than to fly right into Moscow. It is a very remote city, and it is usually the cheapest place to fly into in Russia as a whole.

Since Sheremetyevo is so busy, you will probably find a great flight option anyway. I wrote in  my post about finding cheap flights  that using hub airports will lead to more affordable airfare, and the same logic applies here. Even though Russia’s national airline, Aeroflot, is no longer a member of the SkyTeam Alliance, Moscow is still a major hub connecting passengers from all over the world.

READ OUR CHEAT SHEET

Train or Bus to Moscow

Trains and buses are one of the most popular ways to get around Europe. However, they’re of very little use when you’re trying to get to Moscow.

Moscow is hundreds of miles from the nearest major cities. The only major European city that can even be reached within 8 hours on the ground is St. Petersburg, and even the Baltic capitals of Riga, Vilnius, and Tallinn are over 12 hours away.

If you want to get to Moscow, the best option is almost always to fly. While the train routes to Moscow are scenic, they simply take forever.

How to Get Around Moscow

METRO | TROLLEYS | TRAMS | BUSES

Moscow has one of the most memorable metro systems in the world. Its metro lines are very deep underground, and the stations are absolutely stunning. Each station has its own unique style, but all of them contain escalators that seem to go on forever.

The system was built in an effort to showcase the power of the Soviet Union and its bright future. The plans were a form of propaganda, but they resulted in what is still one of the most visually appealing subway systems on earth.

Moscow’s metro system isn’t just pretty. It is also very useful and accessible. The system has 17 lines that connect the city and its surrounding area.

But wait; there’s more!

The Moscow metro system is also incredibly affordable, with each ride costing less than a dollar. The metro is by far the best way to get around Moscow, as it is almost impossible to beat the connection times and the low cost to ride.

Tickets can be bought at electronic, English-speaking kiosks in stations, or directly from ticket counters at certain larger stations. There are also day passes available, which are a very solid option if you plan on riding the metro several times per day.

The metro is by far the best way to get around Moscow.

In addition to the metro system, Moscow also has a network of buses, trams, and trolleys. This system is nowhere near as convenient or well-connected as the metro, though, and is likely of little use to you during your trip. There is no Uber in Moscow, but a similar app named Yandex is available if you need a ride in a pinch.

How Many Days Do You Need in Moscow?

Moscow is the biggest city in all of Europe, and it is absolutely loaded with things to do. You could spend weeks in Moscow and still find new things to do. Of course, most travelers don’t have that kind of time to spend in one place!

I recommend spending no less than three full days in Moscow, and ideally closer to five or seven.

Moscow is very spread out, and it can take some time to get from one major point to another. There are also so many places that are nice to just sit back and relax, which is hard to do when you’re in a hurry trying to cram activities into just a few days.

If you only have a week to visit Russia, I’d advise spending all of the time in one city. If you decide to split your time between Moscow and St. Petersburg, I recommend not trying to squeeze in any day trips beyond those two cities.

When Is the Best Time of the Year to Visit Moscow?

There are two different ways to approach this question. Personally, I think the best time to visit Moscow is around Christmas and New Year’s Day. While the weather will be absolutely freezing, Moscow is a surreal winter wonderland in December and January.

We were in Moscow right before Christmas. While it was very cold, you can always bundle up. Exploring the Christmas markets and pop-up ice skating rinks throughout Moscow is one of my favorite memories from anywhere I’ve traveled, and I dream of going back to do it again.

If you aren’t fond of the cold, Moscow is beautiful in the summer. It tends to get pretty cold in the shoulder seasons, so if you want warm weather, you should plan to visit in the summer. Moscow actually gets pretty warm in July and August, and there are a bunch of fantastic places to soak up the sun within the city.

The best time to visit Moscow is either around Christmas or from late May to August.

Is Moscow Safe to Visit?

While Moscow is a truly wonderful city, there’s no denying that visiting Russia comes with risks. As the country is run by an infamous communist dictator, concerns about visiting are valid. While we didn’t experience any sort of threat or negative treatment during our time in Moscow, we visited in a peaceful time.

In our experience, Russia doesn’t seem to detain normal Americans or Westerners to use as pawns. As a regular person, as long as you don’t commit any crimes, there is a slim chance you will run into any issues. However, Russia will not hesitate to enforce its laws against foreigners, and illegal behaviors will likely land you in a very compromising position.

Russia will not hesitate to enforce its laws against foreigners, and illegal behaviors will likely land you in a very compromising position.

To make matters worse, Russia has a bad reputation for gang violence. While the Russian mafia has very little interest in normal Western tourists, they won’t hesitate to pick a fight with anyone who ventures into their sphere of influence. If you seek out illegal substances or activities, you could be a target of the mafia.

If you seek out illegal substances or activities, you could be a target of the mafia.

Finally, since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, things are all very different. Russia is currently at war, and there are battles raging within 8 hours of Moscow. While it is still relatively safe to visit, that could change at any time as the war with Ukraine continues.

Is Moscow Worth Visiting?

Without a doubt, Moscow is worth visiting. It is one of the most unique major cities we have ever visited, and we hope to make it back one day. The Russian Orthodox churches are stunning, the city’s history is unlike any other, and the food is to die for.

While many visitors prefer St. Petersburg to Moscow, I think Moscow deserves a lot of hype of its own. Moscow is the beating heart of Russian culture and history, and it’s a place I highly recommend checking out if you have the chance.

That’s all we have for you about Moscow! I hope this post was helpful as you plan your trip to Russia’s capital.

Have you been to Moscow? Or is this your first time visiting? Comment below if you have anything to add to our travel guide!

Hi, I'm Greg. I'm an avid traveler who has traveled to over 50 countries all around the world with my wife and kids. I've lived in Italy, Mexico, China, and the United States, and I dream of moving abroad again in the future. With this blog, I provide my audience with detailed destination guides to my favorite places and pro-tips to make travel as stress-free as possible.

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