phish winter tour 2003

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Published: 2003/03/25 by Benjy Eisen

The Phish Report: Winter Tour 2003

With Phish's Winter 2003 tour now etched into hard drives and MP3 players everywhere, the band has gracefully given us another 36 hours of music to use as a soundtrack for our spring season. After a mildly disappointing and largely disapproved Holiday Run return, the band fought back in February the only way they know how – by being Phish. And true to form, Phish returned true to form.

The band began their 12-date reintegration on February 14, with a set reminiscent of ye olde school Phish. The song choices at The Great Western Forum included a nod to the outside world ("My Sweet One" on Valentine’s Day), an inside joke ("Cover of the Rolling Stone" the week that Phish was indeed on the cover), and a hint at what was to come in the following weeks with an inventive jam that bridged together "Fee" and "Taste," followed by an unforgettable version of "Bathtub Gin." Of course, the tour that came after was delightfully dogged by all of these classic Phish elements. There were inside jokes aplenty, nods, teases, inventive jams, unforgettable versions, and new standards.

While it is tiresome for tour-heads to always have to be explaining to parents and relatives that "each night is different" and "no two shows are ever the same," the fact is that this was getting harder and harder to prove in the years leading up to The Hiatus. Setlists continued to be different but pooled from the same limited group of songs, and imaginative surprises were becoming more and more rare. Perhaps it is no coincidence that boring setlists occurred with greater frequency once the band stopped writing them in advance. Regardless, during the Winter 2003 tour, setlist-wise, just about every night had something exciting, something new, something custom built for the moment. And because there were there just 12 shows for Phish to let it all hang out, the one-offs were everywhere and even old faithfuls became exciting sightings; "Reba," "Cavern," "N.I.C.U.," "Jibboo," "Maze," "Simple," "P.Y.I.T.E.," "Sparkle," "Theme," "First Tube," even "Mike’s Song" were all heard but once this tour. But once! True rarities seemed more significant, while many near-givens were no-shows whatsoever. "Gumbo," "Fluffhead," "Lizards," "Meatstick," "McGrupp," "Curtain," and "Split Open and Melt" were among the many missing. They didn’t play a single "Sand." Understand that, since returning from a two-year break, the songs that did return were cherished, while the ones that didn’t make it were forgiven or forgotten, ensuring that the song-by-song giddiness and anticipation that fans felt all February will be extended into the summer touring season.

The band clearly planned it so that each night had something unique about it, something exciting. In Las Vegas the band pulled out "Reba," followed by a welcomed bust-out of "Life On Mars?" in the first set, first night. Night two was the obligatory segue-show. "David Bowie" went in and out of "Catapult," and "Seven Below" was sandwiched on both sides by "Down With Disease," which also resurfaced in the jam out of "Piper." In Ohio, the band spread "Mike’s Song -> Weekapaug Groove" over two nights in a move reminiscent of modern Bisco. Yes, that was a first for Phish. In New Jersey, the King of the Blues, B.B. King himself, came onstage for a mini-set that included "Everyday I Have the Blues," "The Thrill is Gone," and "Rock Me Baby."

In Worcester the band covered themselves in the first set, as they played one song each from their various side-projects. Mike Gordon and Leo Kottke’s "Clone" and Trey Anastasio’s "Drifting" both made the leap with relative ease (although perhaps missing subtle elements of their original versions). Pork Tornado’s "Blue Skies" didn’t quite do as well. Vida Blue’s "Final Flight," on the other hand, presented Phish with possibly the best chance for a crossover hit.

Oh night of nights: On Long Island (2/28), Phish played "Destiny Unbound."

They also dropped a "Soul Shakedown Party" in the second set. But their playing was so inspired for the entire night that those two stand-alone miracles were all but lost in the praise for the show as a whole.

Most shows also featured at least one rarity and at least one tour one-timer. "Halley’s Comet" was dusted off (with rust and all) in New Jersey, "The Wedge" in Colorado, "Slave" in Philly, "Golden Lady" in Las Vegas, "Corrina" in New Jersey. "Driver," "Talk," "Dogs Stole Things," "Sloth," "Lifeboy," and numerous others also made cameos, spaced with thought and strategy throughout the tour.

But no accurate discussion of Phish’s Winter ’03 tour would be complete without due mention of the rust, dust, and general slop. Miscues were common. Lyrical flubs were a given. Forgotten passages and missed notes were to be expected. What’s worse all of these things were to appear in every show, without fail. Phish may be running down some pretty damn exciting trails suddenly, but their joints appear arthritic and their wheels in need of some pretty serious WD-40. Whereas these complaints ultimately sank Phish’s grand comeback during the Holiday Run, they were but mere distractions on the Winter Tour. Surprisingly, complicated tunes such as "Reba," "Divided Sky," and "Y.E.M." were pulled off with dramatic near-precision. While Phish may never be the well-oiled one-mind Buddha mindfuck of a machine that they were in 1994, in terms of surgical playing, their Winter 2003 renditions of double-diamond material was nothing short of spectacular more often than not. It is quite obvious that the band, possibly embarrassed by such indiscretions as the 1/3/03 "Y.E.M." or "Free," spent a considerable amount of time preparing these potentially troublesome tunes.

All this care and effort may have been at the expense of the givens. At this point in their career, there is no excuse for a brutally sloppy "Suzy Greenberg" or a severely flubbed "Taste."

Indicative of Winter 2003 Phish at large, these mistakes, which ranged from mere blemishes to total disasters, often were followed in the same song by magnificent jamming and jaw-dropping improvisation; and not the bag-of-trick variety, unless of course Phish has a whole new bag. The New Jersey "Twist" (2/24) will be remembered as a highlight of the show. Perhaps even of the tour. The beginning of the jam mimicked Santana’s "Oyo Como Va" and then morphed into an extended dark and evil evolution of the historic Island "Twist" (4/2/98). Out of Phish’s thousands of jams, this is one of those that people will come to know by name. Yet the song itself started off shaky at best, mired by hesitation before spinning a quick cocoon and surprising the hell out of everybody with a most beautiful butterfly.

The Las Vegas "Ghost" (2/15) all but comes to a stop with a major mid-song accident. Yet the jam is majestic, all but ensuring itself induction into the "Ghost" Hall of Fame.

In Philadelphia (2/25), a first set "Taste" got off to an unlikely start when Trey flubbed an entire verse. But the jam that followed turned this first-set standard into a watershed version, where the paved jam path was rerouted with fantastic results.

These single-song transformations, in which Hindenbergs were turned into rocket ships, are what Phish’s Winter 2003 tour was all about. Some songs were blown. Others were blown wide open. Few sets went by where there wasn’t a misplaced song or a butchered section. But not one set went by where there weren’t also whole chunks of beauty, slabs of elegance, globs of jawbusting jams and everlasting gobstoppers.

It’s a new methodology, and one that doesn’t lend itself to "Show of the Tour" debates. If you claim the second night in Ohio (2/22), based on the undisputed one-two punch of "Tube" and "Bathtub Gin" (both front-runners in their class) and a strong "David Bowie," you overlook the " MOMA ," "Limb by Limb," and "Y.E.M." of Denver, or the "Maze," "Stash," and "Ghost" of Worcester, which came with a "Y.E.M." opener and no less than four song debuts.

And then there’s Nassau Coliseum, which is another story altogether, possibly as long and as meaningful as a bible…or could it come from the Helping Friendly Book itself?

Surely an entire chapter was written at that show, reflecting on the tour at large, and whether or not Phish wrote the book this time out, or just reread it in its incomplete entirety each night before curtain call, one thing is clear: Phish have saved themselves, and in doing so, have once again reclaimed their jamband throne.

WINTER 2003 TOUR SCORECARD:

SETLISTS: A

Given just a dozen shows, Phish made sure that old faithfuls were dusted off, new showpieces were shown, wild cards were drawn in nearly every hand, and from the tour opener of "My Sweet One" to the "Proud Mary" vocal jam closer, each show had a reasonable element of surprise. Of course, Phish still needs to learn how to encore. As for the cry of too many repeats bullshit.

Sidenote for those vocal few who don’t recognize that Phish have been playing less repeats than ever before: True, Phish repeated two new tunes, "Walls of the Cave" and "Waves," five times each on this tour, but considering that they’re new, that’s a huge cutback from previous debut runs. "Also Sprach Zarathustra," "Guyute," and "Sample" were played virtually every night of their inaugural season. Additionally, on the Winter 2003 tour, two classics were played four times each, but the majority of tunes were played just once. In comparison, a random sampling of 12 consecutive shows from 1994 reveals that two tunes were played seven times each, two others six times each, and a full seven songs were each played five times. But all of this is a mute point the fact is that Phish should have been playing these new tunes even more often. That’s right.

CONSISTENCY: B+

Whereas in the past "consistency" meant the band’s ability to keep it up through a succession of shows, suddenly the concern shifted from one song to the next. Every night without fail landed at least one WMD jam. Every show had a must-hear, a leviathan, an expedition probe that went where no jam had gone before. Some shows had more of these than others, and some nights the must-hears came with expiration dates, little disclaimers that read: "If you need to clear up hard drive space…"

Of course, every show also had noticeable wreckage. That’s something that previously could not be said about the majority of Phish shows, much less entire tours. By the end of each night, however, Phish somehow found a way to redeem themselves, again and again. Redeem? Try surmount, surpass, and prevail.

Phish are once again jamming sincerely and sincerely jamming. What’s more, the jams are groundbreaking. They are playing songs, even standbys, in ways that they have never played them before, and there is a new youthfulness in their improvisations, an enthusiasm that had been missing for awhile. No more autopilot their jams have become exciting and unpredictable again.

PERFORMANCE: C

Between the Holiday Run and the Winter 2003 tour, Phish practiced. That is for certain. Tunes susceptible to disasters, you know, the "Reba’s," the "Divided Sky’s," the "Y.E.M.‘s," all were surprisingly in game form. But signatures such as "Rift," "Ghost," and "Suzy Greenberg" suffered from multiple faceplants. Nobody expects Phish to be as concise and tight as they were in the mid-1990s, and mostly for positive evolutionary reasons. But while the band mostly stepped forward into the future, it would be a disservice to ignore their lack of preparedness in an area they may have taken for granted.

NEW TUNES: B+

Phish did as we expected and turned "Walls of the Cave" into a glorious multi-beast complete with "sickest ever" versions and tangible progressions. "Waves" and "Pebbles and Marbles" both have yet to really mature, but it was good to see Phish nurture them and give them chances to step it up. These two are the ones to watch for in the future. And it should go without saying that "Walls" is, well, everything we thought it would be, with the possibility to be even more. The best of the new ballads, namely "All of these Dreams" and "Thunderhead," are also beginning to get comfortable and find their place.

That "Mock Song" still hasn’t been played live isn’t surprising, but that "46 Days" and "Seven Below" weren’t more heavily rotated is. And "Mexican Cousin" hasn’t been jammed or even embraced yet, but there’s still hope for this waiting room gem.

OLD TUNES: A-

Bad news first: they fucked up nearly every song at least once. You’d think it was the first time Phish played these songs. The good news is that Phish also played them like it was their last. "Tube," "Maze," "Llama," "Julius," "Theme From The Bottom," even "Sample In a Jar" and "Chalkdust Torture" were all maximized, rocked out so hard their stomachs were blown open and an inferno flared out from their orifices, even tearing open a new one here and there. Special honors go to "Bathtub Gin," "Down with Disease," "Y.E.M.," "Harry Hood," and "Antelope" who along with "Walls of the Cave," were the tour’s MVPs in turn. Each of these songs had new life to them, renewed spirit, and new school jams inserted into their DNA . And it worked.

Benjy Eisen ( [email protected] ) used to write the Phish column for Dupree's Diamond News.

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Winter Tour Available at LIVEPHISH.COM

We’re pleased to announce that we will be offering high-quality digital recordings of all twelve dates of Phish’s upcoming Winter 2003 tour via livephish.com.

All twelve shows should be available for download no later than two days after each show. All download files are compatible with Windows, Mac and Unix operating systems and can be burned to disc, transferred to portable players, or played through your computer.

Phish’s Winter tour is now available for pre-order, either a la carte or as a tour package for a special discounted price. In addition, we have made several shows from the archives available for purchase: 10/31/90 Armstrong Hall, Colorado Springs, CO; 12/07/97 Nutter Center, Dayton, OH, and 10/7/00 Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View, CA. All three shows are now available at livephish.com. In addition, Phish’s New Year’s Eve concert at Madison Square garden and the three subsequent shows at Hampton Coliseum in Hampton, VA remain available for purchase and download.

Thanks for all of the valuable feedback. In response to your suggestions, the download process has been reengineered from the ground up. Now when you purchase a show, you can download each song from that show individually instead of downloading an entire CD’s worth of music at once. We have discovered through your feedback that many cable modem and DSL service providers reset your internet connection after a certain amount of data transfer. By downloading one song at a time, especially for SHN purchases, you should get a more reliable download. Please review the newly-revised FAQ for detailed instructions on how to download and burn shows to CD. We also have instructions on how to resume your downloads if you get disconnected.

On the web: http://livephish.com

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• February 18, 2003 Setlist

Phish Setlist at Pepsi Center, Denver, CO, USA

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Tour: Winter Tour 2003 Tour statistics Add setlist

• Runaway Jim Play Video
• Water in the Sky Play Video
• Twist Play Video
• The Squirming Coil Play Video
• Brian and Robert Play Video
• Stash Play Video
• The Wedge Play Video
• Birds of a Feather Play Video
• Lawn Boy Play Video
• Walls of the Cave Play Video
• The Moma Dance Play Video
• Limb by Limb Play Video
• Thunderhead Play Video
• The Divided Sky Play Video
• Carini Play Video
• You Enjoy Myself Play Video
• The Lion Sleeps Tonight ( Solomon Linda’s Original Evening Birds  cover) Play Video
• NICU Play Video
• Mexican Cousin Play Video

Edits and Comments

6 activities (last edit by livemusicfan , 21 Sep 2020, 15:25 Etc/UTC )

Songs on Albums

• Birds of a Feather
• Brian and Robert
• Limb by Limb
• The Moma Dance
• Water in the Sky
• Mexican Cousin
• Thunderhead
• Walls of the Cave
• The Divided Sky
• You Enjoy Myself
• The Squirming Coil
• Runaway Jim
• The Lion Sleeps Tonight by Solomon Linda’s Original Evening Birds

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• Feb 15 2003 Thomas & Mack Center Las Vegas, NV, USA Add time Add time
• Feb 16 2003 Thomas & Mack Center Las Vegas, NV, USA Add time Add time
• Feb 18 2003 Pepsi Center This Setlist Denver, CO, USA Add time Add time
• Feb 20 2003 Allstate Arena Rosemont, IL, USA Add time Add time
• Feb 21 2003 U.S. Bank Arena Cincinnati, OH, USA Add time Add time

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Flashback: Phish’s Legendary 2003 Nassau Coliseum Show

On February 28, 2003, Phish performed the penultimate show of their Winter Tour at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, Long Island, their first since returning from a two year hiatus. The result was one of the best Phish performances of the ‘2.0’ era that spanned from December 31, 2002 through August 15, 2004.

The first set of the show kicks off with “Birds of a Feather” and while this is a solid starter to a 2003 Phish show, the “Destiny Unbound” that followed is the song that fans skip to, for this was the first version of the song since 1991, and one that fans had been clamoring for since the mid-90s. At first, few in the crowd knew what it was, but as the lyrics started, you can hear the crowd erupt, and even more so when the refrain “We gotta get on the road, Destiny Unbound” is sung.

Shock and awe swept through the crowd and continued into “Horn,” for the biggest bust out of them all was finally here. A 20+ minute “Bathtub Gin” is full of peaks and jam sections, never letting up and only resting when followed by “Sleep.” An extended “Back on the Train” and “Walls of the Cave” sandwich “Bouncing Around the Room” to wrap up the firepowered first set, and set two would prove to be equally incredible.

One of the best versions of “Tweezer” this century kicked off a five-song second set, stretching more than 27 minutes and finding ebbs and flows throughout, never noodling or fading out, just pure improvisation start to finish. The segue into a then-rare cover of Bob Marley’s “Soul Shakedown Party” lit up the room once again, as did a dark 19 minute “David Bowie.”

The only time to catch a breath this set was “Round Room,” but being the title track off the band’s recently released album, fans were rapt with attention to the new tune. Closing the set was a slow building “Harry Hood” that capped the show with a bang.

A three song encore starting with “Contact,” “Mexican Cousin” gave the fans a couple of sing-alongs before the energetic close of “Tweezer Reprise.” You would be hard pressed to find a Phish show in 2003 or 2004 that had as much firepower as February 28, 2003 did.

Phish, Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, Long Island, NY February 28, 2003

Setlist via Phish.net

Set 1 : Birds of a Feather, Destiny Unbound, Horn > Bathtub Gin, Sleep, Back on the Train, Bouncing Around the Room, Walls of the Cave

Set 2 : Tweezer > Soul Shakedown Party -> David Bowie, Round Room > Harry Hood

Encore: Contact, Mexican Cousin > Tweezer Reprise

Listen on LivePhish.com

Pete Mason is a teacher and writer living outside Albany. "Counting Down the Number Line" is his fourth children's book with illustrator Ryan Kerrigan. He is Publisher of NYS Music.

He promotes artists through PhanArt shows, highlighting music-inspired fan creations while supporting The Mockingbird Foundation and Groovesafe.

Twitter: @PhanArt Email: [email protected]

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Winter Tour 2003

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A History of Moscow in 13 Dishes

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Your 48-hour tour guide of Moscow this winter!

9 am – Visit the Red Square 

Christmas market on Red Square

The first thing that every tourist should do by default is visit the very heart of Moscow – it’s main and most beautiful (which ‘krasnaya’ actually meant in Old Russian) square! 

There are several ways to explore it:

• Take a selfie with Spasskaya Tower
• Have a warm drink at the Christmas market (which lasts until mid-January)
• Visit Lenin’s Mausoleum
• Shop in the gorgeous adjacent GUM department store
• Visit St. Basil’s Cathedral (and learn that it’s actually several churches under one roof).           

11 am – It’s Kremlin time! 

Inside the Moscow Kremlin

Entering the Kremlin is, actually, a bit of a quest, as it’s a presidential facility with no general access. You need to buy a ticket or, better still, book a guided tour. Inside the Kremlin’s walls, you will find ancient cathedrals, in which Russian tsars used to be crowned and buried, as well as explore the magnificent architecture of the Kremlin that reflects the rich history of the country. And, finally, you could also make a quick visit to the Moscow Kremlin Museums and admire artifacts from various Russian tsarist eras: carriages, thrones, crowns and the most incredible armory and jewelry. 

For more information, visit the official website of the Kremlin . It’s open from 10 am to 5 pm (and it’s closed on Thursdays) in winter.

2 pm – Watch the changing of the Guard

The honor guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

A very spectacular (and free) thing to do is watch how the honor guard does their ceremonial change at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Eternal Flame, situated in Alexander Garden, right next to the Kremlin wall. Every hour, from 8 am to 8 pm, the 1st Company of the Kremlin (Presidential) Regiment performs this rather old and beautiful tradition. But, be warned, it's often overcrowded. 

3 pm – Enjoy a green oasis just in the center

Florarium in Zaryadye

Just a few steps from the Red Square, you will find the fabulous Zaryadye park. Opened in 2017, it is designed by renowned American architect bureau ‘Diller Scofidio + Renfro’. You can walk among the very cozy botanical decorations and explore Russia’s climate zones, as each of them is represented in dedicated areas, complete with flora from those zones.

The floating bridge in Zaryadye Park

The park also has an underground museum, an “ice cave” and a 3D cinema, where you can take part in a virtual adventure – a flight over Moscow! However, the piece de resistance is a floating boomerang bridge over the Moskva River, one of the best places to take a selfie.

You can also grab a quick lunch or relax with a cup of coffee or tea in the park.

7 pm – Arrange a ballet night

The Bolshoi Theater

Of course, the most fancy way to finish your day in Moscow would be to go to the ballet at the Bolshoi Theater (in a perfect world, to see ‘The Nutcracker’!). However, getting tickets to the Bolshoi is not an easy task and should be done well in advance of your visit. 

But, don’t be upset if you don’t manage to get tickets to the Bolshoi. Moscow has dozens of other options to see a ballet (or opera). No less brilliant performances can be seen in the Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Music Theater or in The State Kremlin Palace (by the way, this is another way to get a quick glimpse inside the Kremlin!).

10:30 pm – Have a late dinner in a fancy restaurant

Dr Zhivago restaurant

There are not so many other cities with such a big choice of restaurants in a range of tastes and styles. In 2021, the authoritative Michelin guide announced their pick of the best of Moscow’s restaurants. And here’s our guide to all the places with Russian cuisine for any budget. But, if you happen to be in the area of the Bolshoi or Nemirovich-Danchenko Theater, then ‘Dr. Zhivago’ would definitely be a nice option (and it’s open around the clock).

DAY 2 

9 am – grab a moscow coffee.

Winter festivities mood in Moscow

Moscow is definitely a coffee city! You can find coffee shops on every corner and they all offer a huge range of drinks. Try a ‘raf’ coffee, a sweet, creamy drink that was created in Russia, or dare to pick one of the very unusual offers, like cheese coffee or a Soviet candy style one (check out our coffee guide here ).

10 am – Take a river cruise

Winter boating along the Moskva River

Another exciting way to explore Moscow is to observe it from the water. Boats cruise along the Moskva River all year round. Most begin their route from the Hotel Ukraine, one of Stalin's ‘Seven Sister’ skyscrapers, and will bring you back to the same spot after passing the medieval Novodevichy Convent, Moscow State University and Luzhniki Stadium, the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour and giant monument to Peter the Great and many other sightseeings. 

It’s always at optimum temperature inside the boat, which also has huge panoramic windows. Select boats also offer a full dining experience, so it is also a nice place to have breakfast or lunch.

If you are not a water person, then discover other, unusual sides of Moscow – pick one of the activities we’ve prepared for you here ! 

1 pm – Visit ‘Russia’ Expo and taste a bunch of Russian regional cuisines

Russia Expo at VDNKh

Until April 2024, the Soviet-era VDNKh exhibition park is hosting the huge ‘Russia’ expo, with tons of activities and expositions devoted to Russia, its culture, science and nature. Check out our special guide on what to do there!  

An entire ‘House of Russian Cuisine’ has been opened at the expo. You will find 15 food stands with flagship dishes from Kamchatka, Siberia, Karelia and other regions of Russia. Imagine trying a range of cuisines and dishes in one place without even having to travel anywhere, be it Altai pelmeni, Tula kalach or Caucasian pies! A perfect place to grab some lunch.

House of Russian cuisines at VDNKh

The VDNKh exhibition park is a great place to visit, in general! Its pavilions are the perfect example of Stalinit Empire style architecture and you can almost feel as if you’ve traveled back in time! You will also find several interesting museums in the park – devoted to space exploration, Russian history and even a ‘Special Purpose Garage’, which showcases the various vehicles used by the country’s leaders. 

'Sun of Moscow' wheel

And, finally, you can ride Europe's tallest panoramic wheel – ‘Sun of Moscow’ – that will give you panoramic views of the city – from a height of 140 meters!

5 pm – Ice skate with view & mulled wine

Ice skating rink on Red Square (GUM department store on the background)

Ice skating is one of the most popular and affordable activities in Moscow. There are several great ice skating rinks in picturesque locations that are open all winter long. One of the biggest rinks in Europe is also at the aforementioned VDNKh or you can visit the one in Gorky Park, another very popular Moscow spot, or the small, but fancy rink – right on Red Square! 

All the parks offer ice skate rental, so the only things you need are warm clothes, a charged phone to record your memories and a good mood!  Moscow also gets dark at 4:30 pm in winter and hundreds of lights are switched on, turning the city into a giant fairy tale! 

A mulled wine with a view

And, if you are not a sports person, we’ve picked several other unusual activities that you could do in Moscow instead. For example, did you know that there is an entire district of dacha (countryside) houses, just 10 minutes from the center, surrounded by giant new highrises? How about taking a stroll there and feeling the early Soviet atmosphere?

8 pm – Warm up & laugh out loud

After all these outdoor activities, what could be better than a warm cozy bar with a hot drink and nice company? Moscow is a city full of entertainment for all tastes. So, if you know the Russian language or want to practice it, go to a theater or catch a stand-up comedy show. Moscow even has comedy shows in English, where you can hear both Russians speaking fluent English or foreigners (including Brits and Americans) who live in Russia speaking in broken or heavily-accented Russian (Check their show dates on the ‘ Moscow English Comedy ’ Telegram channel)!

11 pm – Finish by partying the night away!

Propaganda club in Moscow

Moscow never sleeps, as you might have heard. Which means there are plenty of bars and nightclubs where you can have a drink (or two or three; be sure to check out how Russians make Black Russian and White Russian cocktails) and chat with incredibly different people. Have fun and don’t miss your flight (or miss it and stay longer in the best city in the world!)!

That's it! See you soon in Moscow

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Moscow Tours

The glorious capital of mother Russia

Home / Russia travel Destinations / Moscow Tours

Moscow Tours overview

Our private Moscow city tours allow travellers the benefit of an expert tour guide with you in every step. All you have to do is take it all in and enjoy. Explore a city born from an imperial past, yet an enduring symbol of Soviet Russia. This is a city between two worlds. When you visit Moscow , you will see how its art and architecture reflects a crossroad between Europe and Asia. Moscow revels in the centuries of comings and goings of great minds that have called this world-renowned metropolis home.

Moscow Travel Highlights:

• Rich in history and culture, reveals some amazing stories. Our captivating Moscow tours have a way of bringing the past to life as you follow a Soviet trail through the city
• Explore numerous world-class historical and contemporary art galleries and museums in Moscow , including the Tretyakov State Gallery, the Pushkin Museum, the Moscow Museum of Modern Art, and many more

Moscow holds the World's Best of Jaw-dropping Art

• Be enthralled by the monumental architecture of famous churches and iconic buildings, such as the Kremlin, the Red Square, and Saint Basil’s Cathedral
• Experience the magnificent Moscow Metro, whose grandiose architecture, intricate mosaics, and dramatic sculptures have made it a must-see attraction when travelling Russia
• Indulge yourself in one of their many famous theatre art performances, whether it be an opera or ballet performance in the glamorous Bolshoi Theatre or a post-drama or comedy production in the Gogol Centre

Captivating Adventures to Experience in Moscow

• Take a Moscow river cruise along the mighty Volga River for a unique perspective into exploring Russia’s hidden gems and treasures
• Feast on exotic Russian cuisines while strolling through the street markets or at a fine dining restaurant, and enjoy countless specialty stores sampling vodka, caviar, and chocolate
• Shop to your heart’s desire in Moscow’s two most lavished shopping centres, GUM and TSUM, where items range from the most glamorous high-end fashion brands, art, and jewellery to antiques and traditional handicrafts

Must-Visit Moscow Landmarks

The Red Square, Saint Basil’s Cathedral, and The Kremlin top every visitor’s list. These iconic buildings have defined Russia for centuries, but Moscow’s culture doesn’t stop there. Visit Izmailovsky Park, one of the largest urban parks in the world (six times larger than New York’s Central Park) or marvel at the Ostankino Tower, once the tallest structure on earth. Chase down real adventure and ride the Moscow Metro for a true taste of Russia in what visitors call part bomb shelter, part art gallery.

Moscow is an elite paradise with the highest concentration of billionaires on the planet, so nothing is off-limits. Moscow is full of history and possibility – both a political hub and billionaire playground. Visit Moscow and decide for yourself what this dynamic city means to you. Explore the expertly designed Moscow tour packages below for some more inspiration.

Explore Moscow Tours

Moscow Vibes – Three Day City Escape

This handcrafted Moscow tour is perfectly planned weekend exploration of Russia capital's most famous tourist attractions. You will enjoy a panoramic tour of this magnificent city, will explore mighty Kremlin and Red Square and indulge in world-famed Moscow metro and Arbat street.

Classic Moscow - Art, History and Culture

Breathe in the history of Moscow, explore its Imperial and soviet past, dynamic contemporary culture and lifestyle. On this 5-day tour of Moscow, you'll visit the must-see sights with your private guide and explore the city at your own pace.

Highlights of Moscow & St Petersburg

Immerse yourself in the art, history and culture of Russia and explore the contrasting styles of Moscow and St Petersburg in just one week. Experience the iconic landmarks of Moscow, then, take a fast train to Saint Petersburg, one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.

Moscow and St Petersburg in Style

This carefully crafted 9-day itinerary tells the tale of two cities – Moscow, the source of Eastern political, economic and spiritual influence, and St Petersburg – Russia’s cultural epicentre and window to Western Europe.

Moscow, St Petersburg and Golden Ring Rendezvous

This tour of Moscow, St. Petersburg and the Golden Ring explores the places that shaped Russia’s history – past, present and future. Uncover Moscow’s ongoing revolutionary spirit, before journeying back in time to rural, medieval Russia. End in St Petersburg, a city of royal splendour and undeniable romance.

Moscow & St Petersburg Winter Escapade

Experience the romantic, winter wonderland atmosphere and festive city lights of Russia’s two biggest cities and celebrate the New Year! You’ll discover some of the cities' most iconic attractions and lesser-known gems.

Northern Lights in Russia: Arctic Winter Magic

Explore main sights of mighty Moscow and cultural capital of Russia - Saint Petersburg. Head to Karelia, where we’ll stop to admire the Ruskeala Mountain Park and historic Kizhi Island. Discover the customs of the indigenous Saami in Kola Peninsula and observe Aurora Borealis dancing in the sky.

A custom tour made to order

We understand sometimes our set departure dates do not align with your ability to travel at that time, or you just want to travel bespoke. We got you covered.

Go custom — gives you the choice & flexibility of creating your own bespoke itinerary, using our tours for inspiration.

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