sriracha factory tour 2023

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Touring the Sriracha Factory of Huy Fong Foods in Irwindale

If you have been to a Chinese food restaurant, then you have no doubt seen/experienced the spicy goodness that is Sriracha. The iconic plastic bottle with the rooster on the front and the green top is one of the most popular condiments in the USA, and it is produced right here in Southern California. I got a chance to take the tour of the facility, and you can read all about it below.

• Free – Book here , but it books up pretty far in advance
• Location: 4800 Azusa Canyon Rd, Irwindale, CA 91706
• This information was from my visit in 2017

Getting There

The Huy Fong Factory is located right off the 10 Freeway. It is in an industrial area since the building is over 650,000 square feet. There is plenty of parking for visitors so you shouldn’t have trouble finding a place to park.

Here is a video I made of the tour.

Chili Grinding

Once a year, for four consecutive weekends, the Sriracha factory opens for chili grinding. This open house is a ton of fun, and if you get a chance to go, then do it. It feels like a party when you go with music, lion dancers, food, and free gifts. Here is a video I made of my time at the chili grinding in 2017

I arrived about 10 minutes early for my tour and was ushered into a large room where they had a movie playing with the history of the company. Here are a few things I learned:

• Huy Fong is the name of the ship that brought the owner over from Vietnam, so he named his company after it since it brought him to a new life.
• They use 100 million pounds of chili in a season, and it comes from only one farm.
• They have been in business for 36 years and just sell to wholesalers. The company hasn’t added a new customer for 11 years since they are kept at full demand.

This room also had a lot of pictures from how Sriracha has connected with popular culture over the years.

There is a cartoon from The Oatmeal and even a photo of Sriracha floating in zero gravity on the international space station.

After hanging out in here, the tour began with hairnets and jumping on a golf cart with the license plate “hot one.” The golf cart took us around to the back of the factory, and we started the 25 minutes of walking through the world of sriracha. My tour guide was named Claudia, and she was great!

During the chili crushing season (fall), there is a ton more going on then when I went, so keep an eye out for those open houses.

The tour takes you around the factory, and you still see the process, but it is mostly focused on the bottling aspect.

Our guide brought a microphone, but the factory is loud and it is pretty hard to hear. This didn’t take away from the fun though, as it is a well laid out tour that takes you to the main aspects of the line.

The best part is the bottling area, where you see the small bottles that are expanded to their normal size and then filled.

From here, the bottles are stamped, and the iconic green top is added.

Next, they get put into a box, and then the boxes get stacked and wrapped to prepare for shipment.

The processing line can produce up to 10,000 bottles an hour per lane, and there are nine lanes.

We then loaded back into the golf cart and were driven through the holding area, where there are tens of thousands of blue buckets filled with the crushed chilis just waiting to be turned into Sriracha.

One of the things I learned is that there are many makers of Sriracha, but Huy Fong Foods are most recognized. The name is not trademarked, but the rooster and the green cap of the bottle are. When you have a Sriracha burger at a restaurant, it is most likely not Huy Fong Foods Sriracha unless you see one of their trademarks.

The Gift Shop

After the tour ends, you will make your way to the gift shop where you are given a free small bottle of Sriracha. You can also purchase gifts from the wide range of shirts, pillows, and other funky stuff they have.

The gift shop is sold at cost, so they do not make a profit on anything here, and because of that, the prices are great. I got a shirt for $10, which was impressive.

I am happy that I finally got a chance to visit this fun Southern California spot. It is hard to beat a free tour where you get a bottle of Sriracha at the end, and I suggest you add this spot to your list of places to visit in California.

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Sriracha Factory Tour

California · Fun

Hello! How’s it going? Is it HOT where you are? It’s HOT here – in 2 ways… 1.) the weather and B.) with Sriracha on everything.

I went on a tour of the Sriracha factory on Friday!! No, this wasn’t for a blog event… Recently I heard you can take a tour at the Sriracha headquarters! And I already knew it was fairly close to my parents’ house so I was all about it. I looked it up and asked my little brother to come with me.

The Sriracha Factory is located in Irwindale, CA. (Your local Monican is from Pico Rivera , CA.)

Reason #102 why California is the BEST: The Sriracha Factory.

You can find out more about Sriracha Factory Tours here .

Sriracha Factory Tour Notes:

1. It’s a free tour offered most weekdays. You must make reservations in advance.

2. The tour is about 30 to 45 minutes long and takes you inside the huge factory.

3. The company moved to this new state-of-the-art facility in 2010.

4. They make the Sriracha bottles here too!

5. The tour starts in a welcome room covered in Sriracha memorabilia. They play videos about Sriracha on a loop in the room while you wait for everyone to arrive.

6. The creator of Sriracha, David Tran is over 70 years old and still works full time at the company.

7. The tour leaders pass out hair nets and take you to Sriracha-mobiles to go inside the factory. You have to wear a hair net over your facial hair if you have any too. I’m glad I shaved my beard that morning!

8. I don’t know this guy who is perfectly smiling at the camera, but I appreciate his enthusiasm!

9. Everyone on the tour boards the Sriracha-mobile and the tour guide drives you into the warehouse section of the factory. The warehouse is made with durable flooring that can handle lots of Sriracha stocks. And your warehouse flooring resource can be found on this website: http://warehouse-flooring.uk. Some staff are organizing sriracha using a forklift truck; they are moving the stocks from one place to another. All staff here are licensed and have undergone forklift training Melbourne to ensure that they have the proper knowledge to use a forklift.

Fun fact: They make all these blue barrels that hold the sauce on site too.

10. The warehouse section of the factory is HUGE and mostly lit with skylights! They only turn on lights in there if it’s really necessary.

11. Sriracha makes 3 kinds of hot sauce:

Sriracha, Chili Garlic and Sambal Oelek

Each sauce starts with a base of chili – salt, vinegar and 2 preservatives added.

That’s what is in these barrels.

12. We saw the Sriracha bottles being made and filled.

13. Yes, you can take pictures and video.

14. It smells very garlic-y and slightly like chili in the factory. It’s not a very strong odor and doesn’t burn your eyes, nose or throat to smell.

BUT – it is not chili grinding season right now. The tour guides said the smell is a little stronger during that 3 month time period. Even then, it’s not super offensive.

I’m noting this because there was a big new story a while back that local residents claimed the factory smelled very strong and it was unbearable. This is a little odd because the factory has been there since 2010 and was in Rosemead (a near-by city) for years before that.

I toured the Sabra factory twice in the past and would say the smells were a little similar – a mild, warm garlic smell. I liked it!

I do want to go back during chili grinding season to see that happen and sniff it out.

15. The tour is fairly short and sweet. At the end you can check out the Rooster Room, basically the gift shop.

Everyone who takes the tour gets a free small bottle of one of their three sauces. I picked the chili garlic and Matt picked the mini Sriracha bottle. Then, we went kinda crazy buying up all the Sriracha stuff!

16. I got a Sriracha tank , Sriracha to go key-chain, Sriracha ketchup and Sriracha salsa…

17. Overall it was fun! But I don’t think I’d recommend for someone to check out unless you were a HUGE Sriracha fan or lived pretty close by. It’s short and sweet and there’s no other real points of interest nearby so if you’re just traveling to Los Angeles or Anaheim for other reasons I wouldn’t automatically add this to the list of things to do.

18. After the tour I went back to my parents’ house and ate ice cream because it’s summer and that’s what you do. The end.

More information on the Sriracha Factory Tour is available here .

This wasn’t a blog related invite, media trip or sponsored post… I’m just a girl who loves the Rooster Sauce.

Question: What is your favorite hot sauce or condiment?

Me: Sriracha!

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Reader Interactions

2017-07-28 at 3:21 pm

I don’t know why, but I really love factory tours like that. I visited the Tillamook factory in Oregon and it was fantastic and at the end there was a cheese sampling and that was magic.

Also, those sriracha fire extinguishers are too much. I love them.

2017-07-25 at 8:59 am

Wow, how fun! I’m not big on hot sauce (I’m a wimp) but I love ranch dressing! I am weird in the fact that I can’t stand ketchup…. Have a great day!

2017-07-25 at 7:09 am

Looks like a fun thing to try once! I once went on a tour of the Spam museum… also interesting but I’ve never even had spam!

2017-07-25 at 5:21 am

Whataburger spicy ketchup!!!

2017-07-25 at 5:04 am

I think that looked like a great tour! I love all things spicy. #8 – that guy made me laugh out loud! Wait a minute…. $2 for a shirt??? Am I reading that right? That ketchup looks heavenly too! Yum to it all….

2017-07-25 at 7:43 am

Yeah, they had some shirts on super discount because they were trying to get rid of them.

2017-07-25 at 12:47 am

Well, I love Frank’s Hot Sauce but Sriracha is great too!

2017-07-24 at 8:52 pm

The sriracha fire extinguishers are so cute! I’d love to visit!

Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog http://charmainenyw.com

2017-07-24 at 6:27 pm

Sriracha is my favorite too. My husband makes fun of me putting it on everything! I made a killer sriracha lemon aioli two days ago and it’s gone already. Also….ice cream is the best way to end the day!

2017-07-24 at 5:02 pm

I’ve been during chili grinding season! Didn’t smell like anything in there so those chili complaints seem really suspect. These big trucks come by and dump their cargo of red jalapeño chilies and I think the whole lot gets ground up, stem and all. They had a barrel of chilies and let you take one; my boyfriend took one and ate it raw right there! But that was back when it was a self guided walking tour so I’m a bit jealous you got a guide.

2017-07-24 at 5:14 pm

He ate one?!! That is impressive. Yeah, I need to come back when it’s chili season to smell it out…

2017-07-24 at 3:32 pm

Have you seen the Sriracha documentary? It’s pretty interesting.

2017-07-24 at 5:29 pm

No, but I really want to see it now!

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RoadsideAmerica.com Your Online Guide to Offbeat Tourist Attractions

Attraction:

Tour the Sriracha Hot Sauce Factory

Irwindale, California

Sriacha is a popular Southeast Asian-style hot chili sauce, manufactured in the US since 1980 (and named after a city in Thailand). Some Irwindale locals wanted to shut down the Huy Fong Foods plant because of the noxious smell (there were rumors it was manufacturing tear gas). The factory re-ventilated, and the city dropped its lawsuit in 2014, so the sauce making continues. The formerly top secret spicy condiments factory now welcomes public tours.

Visitors board 14-seat golf cart mini-buses for part of the half hour tour, and samples are provided. There's a souvenir shop called The Rooster Room. The best (and smelliest) time to visit is chili-grinding season, mid-Sep. to late Oct. Tours must be scheduled in advance by calling.

Huy Fong Foods

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Time Out says

Heat-loving citizens of Los Angeles, our Sriracha prayers have been answered. Not only has the temporary halt on Huy Fong Foods' most beloved condiment been lifted, but its new Irwindale facility is now offering free factory tours to anyone interested in seeing (and smelling) how this sweet nectar of the gods is made. Hallelujah. Despite an ongoing feud between Huy Fong Foods and the City of Irwindale over the factory's "noxious fumes," the company is inviting Sriracha fans (read: everyone) to see the facility during regular visiting hours, Monday through Friday, 9am to 3pm. If this is your fiery version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory come to life, we'd advise stopping by before another tragic Sriracha embargo occurs—call 626-286-8328 to schedule an appointment. And in the meantime, stay sated with some of the spiciest dishes in Los Angeles .

RECOMMENDED: Time Out tours the Sriracha factory

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Inside The Sriracha Motherland

Who would have thought that the remedy for a hot day would involve eating sriracha ice cream amongst an endless supply of freshly picked chili peppers?

Last weekend, a few members of our team were thrilled to be a part of the Huy Fong Foods Chili Grinding Open House at the company’s factory and headquarters in Irwindale, California. This second annual open house season marks 35 spicy years of Sriracha sauce perfection. In celebration, the Huy Fong Foods team welcomes guests to experience first-hand how Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce is created, from pepper delivery and grinding, to creating and bottling the sauce.

Event Highlights include:

• Touring the factory to see how the magic is made.
• Meeting the man himself, David Tran, Founder and CEO of Huy Fong Foods, and his amazing team.
• Sriracha-snack tasting including an assortment of Pop Gourmet goodies, Country Archer Jerky and Sriracha Soft Serve ice cream!

Even if you don't love sriracha(but why wouldn’t you?!), visiting Huy Fong Foods is simply inspiring.  The story of the company and the genius behind its success is a tale of the American Dream, yet, the team exudes an energy that’s just as humble as how we imagine it all began.

Authenticity, passion and pride seem to stem from the top. Tran, who is frequently found styled in sriracha gear from head-to-toe, graciously posed for hundreds of photos with fans, and was seen throughout the day autographing customer purchases from The Rooster Room, the company’s well-loved gift shop. 

Overall, we had a blast and will definitely be back for more spicy shenanigans next year. Scroll down for more event photos.

Did you attend the event? Comment below to let us know what you thought!

Missed opening day? There’s still time to check it out! Sign up here . 

For more information on tours throughout the year visit Huy Fong Factory Tours .

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Huy Fong Foods, Inc.

Known worldwide for our hot chili sauces.

CHILI GARLIC

SAMBAL OELEK

Another Sriracha shortage is upon us. How long will it last?

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As the weather in Southern California heats up this summer, residents may need to come up with backup options for bringing heat to their favorite dishes.

Huy Fong Foods Inc., producer of Sriracha hot sauce, said last summer’s drought in Mexico continues to hamper its ability to churn out the iconic green-capped bottles of its popular spicy condiment.

“Unfortunately, we are still experiencing a shortage of raw material,” the Irwindale company said in a statement, referring to the chiles from Mexico that have ended up in short supply because of the bad weather conditions.

Your Sriracha panic was caused by bad weather in a single region of Mexico

The run on Sriracha was caused by weather in a single region of Mexico.

June 10, 2022

Huy Fong Foods typically uses about 50,000 tons of chiles a year in producing its three condiments, which also include a chile-garlic sauce and a sambal oelek.

Though some production resumed last fall, the company still has a “limited supply that continues to affect our production,” the statement said. And it’s not clear when chiles may become more readily available — Huy Fong Foods offered “no estimations of when supply will increase.”

The company does not know which outlets have its products in stock but said it is “working on trying to avoid future shortages.”

Sriracha maker’s shortage warning has spice lovers sweating

The maker of a beloved condiment — Huy Fong Foods Inc. — has been forced to suspend production of its iconic spicy sauces due to a shortage of chili peppers.

June 9, 2022

As customers again feel the squeeze from what Huy Fong Foods called an “unprecedented inventory shortage,” they may have to look elsewhere for their sauce needs.

On Amazon, a single 9-ounce bottle of Sriracha cost $9.50 on Tuesday. Under the three-pack option, the site notes: “We don’t know when or if this item will be back in stock.”

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Unconventional

Hot sauce master David Tran arrived in California in 1979 from Vietnam, humble and hungry but in need of a spicy additive worthy of his Pho soup. He quickly set out on a mission to produce one to share with his Southeast Asian community of Los Angeles, which was also suffering a hot sauce drought. Within a few months, his first chili sauce “Pepper Saté Sauce” was born and Tran began selling it door to door to local restaurants and markets. He named his company “Huy Fong Foods” in remembrance of the old Panamanian freighter, the “Huey Fong”, which carried Tran out of Vietnam, and chose his zodiac animal, the rooster, as his logo.

The Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce we all know and love was first sold in 1983, made from fresh, red Jalapeño chili peppers, vinegar, garlic, salt and sugar. Huy Fong Foods has never advertised their products, they simply let the sauce’s legend spread by word of mouth, and spread it has, like wildfire, now ranking as one of the world’s leaders in the hot sauce industry.

“Run free, my child, and spread the sweet, spicy gospel of truth.”

UnBelievable

Starting in a small shop in Chinatown and moving into a 68,000 square foot building in Rosemead, CA in 1986, Huy Fong Foods production of Sriracha sauce has increased every year. In 2010 the company had to open a new, 650,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Irwindale, CA where they produce up to 20 million bottles per year, enough sauce to fill about five Olympic swimming pools.

All the jalapenos used in Huy Fong sauces are grown nearby in Southern California and processed less than a day after harvesting. Over 100 million pounds of peppers roll through their factory over the course of a 10-week harvest season, which provides for their year-long sales. Still, the demand for the irresistibly spicy sauce is growing faster and faster.

The hot sauce that is, literally, out of this world.

Unsuprisingly, Huy Fong’s Sriracha is the hot sauce of choice on the world space station. We’re sure the convenient plastic squeeze bottle had nothing to do with the selection.

UnStoppable

Sriracha lovers around the world erupted into a state of utter horror and disbelief when they heard the rumor that production might be suspended indefinitely due to a lawsuit initiated by the city of Irwindale, home of Huy Fong Foods manufacturing plant. Get this, the city was complaining of the SMELL! What a strange turn of events, considering how many people have expressed great interest in a Sriracha perfume.

The manufacturing plant has rooftop vents with filters that absorb approximately 90% of the chilli and garlic odors from the processing exhaust, and Huy Fong has done everything in their power to better contain the delicious aromas. California is the home of Huy Fong, and we’d like to keep it that way. So, with the assistance of Governor Jerry Brown’s office, an agreement was reached with the city to drop the suit. Add it to the state seal, shout it from the rooftops and break open that box you’ve been guarding with your life.

SRIRACHAPOCOLYPSE AVOIDED

Unmistakable.

The clear, iconic plastic squeeze bottle with a rooster logo filled with ravishing red spicy sauce and topped with a bright green cap is hard to miss, but beware the innumerable imitators.

Uncompromised

David is picky about his peppers. Not only are they grown in the U.S.A., but they all come from one farm- Underwood Ranches located in Ventura County, California. Owned by Craig Underwood, this is the largest red pepper farm in the country, growing over 100 million pounds of peppers per year on 1,750 acres. Although this may sound like enough peppers to last through the next ice age, the supply must increase every year to meet the increasing demand for Huy Fong Foods sauces.

Every day over the 10-week harvest season, 30 semi loads of fresh peppers arrive at the factory doorstep within 2 hours of being picked, hot and ready to be processed in less than 24 hours. It’s a big job, but Craig only sells his peppers to David and David only buys his peppers from Craig. This unusual farmer- manufacturer relationship allows Huy Fong Foods to offer premium quality products made from peppers grown, picked and processed exclusively in California.

Originally invented for use in Pho soup and other traditional Vietnamese foods, Sriracha sauce has since infiltrated much of the Asian food industry, now widely used even by top Sushi chefs to spice up a range of rolls and dishes.

As Sriracha’s popularity grew, so did curiosity and an era of experimentation began. Users quickly discovered its endless versatility and compatibility with many different types of food including pizza, noodles, meat marinades, burgers, the list could go on for days…

“I’ll do what I want”, an enterprising gourmet chef exclaimed as he squeezed a glob of Sriracha sauce into a batch of hand-churned ice cream. You can now find Sriracha in many dessert dishes, making people jump with joy or plummet into speechless confusion at the fact that somehow, it works!

Legend has it that Sriracha is good on absolutely everything. Everything edible, at least. Go ahead, spice up the whole menu! Try out one of these delicious, unique recipes or just use your imagination!

Sriracha Whisky Candy

Sriracha marinara with meatballs, sriracha chocolate ice cream, sriracha-glazed chicken.

No more ducking under the table to sauce your meal, making back-alley deals or muttering requests to your server. Let go of any condiment shame you may have experienced in the past because in fact, Sriracha has benefits for your health, body and mind!

The capsaicin present in the peppers used to make Sriracha sauce is proven to make you

So go ahead, sauce freely, unforgettable.

Although churning out sweet and spicy bottles of Huy Fong Sriracha is a rewarding task of saucy splendor all on its own, it’s even more gratifying to find the internet peppered with odes, ballads, sonnets, fiery love proclamations and vows of undying devotion from the unabashed cult following Sriracha has amassed over the years.

Sriracha loves you, too!

The Chemistry of Sriracha: Hot Sauce Science – Reactions Video

Sriracha — a documentary by griffin hammond, good mythical morning: the sriracha challenge video, buzzfeed: 15 red hot sriracha facts video, sriracha anthem, pbs foodbuzz: sriracha video, l.a. beast: the sriracha challenge, popsugar food: 3 sriracha recipes for game day | eat the trend, foodbeasttv: sriracha porn, a love affair, cbs: sriracha hot sauce creating burning controversy, zagat: behind the scenes: sriracha factory video, teague tries sriracha, popsugar food: sriracha candy cane hearts | eat the trend, sriracha (rooster sauce) rap video, the protein chef: sweet sriracha chicken stir fry recipe (healthy/bodybuilding), baby wants more sriracha, bigmeat sunday: the greatest hot wings – spicy sriracha curry peanut sauce, julie borowski: hands off my sriracha, averagebetty: rooster eggs recipe, turn leftover sriracha into chili oil – chow tip, blogilatestv: sriracha popcorn recipe | food bites, badlandschugs: bottle of sriracha chili sauce chug, how to eat a bowl o’beard ramen, sriracha sriracha sriracha rap anthem.

Huy Fong produces  three  unique hot sauces, each with a flavor of its own. The most popular sauce is characterized by its clear plastic bottle, green cap, and Rooster logo. Sriracha hot sauces are the most versatile sauces you’ll find; whether you’re cooking Asian, American, Italian, or Mexican, there’s a sauce that will match your taste buds.

No weak sauce here!

SAMBAL OELEK

Simply chilies..

Sambal Oelek is made of chilies with no other additives, such as garlic or spices, for a simpler taste. Use this sauce to add heat to a dish without altering the other delicate flavors.

Available in 8 oz., 18 oz., and 8.50 lbs. sizes

The most popular sauce.

Sriracha is made from sun ripened chilies which are ground into a smooth paste along with garlic and packaged in a convenient squeeze bottle. It is excellent for adding a delicious, spicy kick to a wide variety of dishes. Like all Huy Fong sauces, only the highest quality ingredients are used – and never any artificial colors or flavorings.

Available in 17 oz. and 28 oz. bottles

CHILI GARLIC

A spicy sauce with a touch of garlic..

Chili Garlic is a tempting blend of coarsely ground chilies and garlic. This delicious sauce complements everything from chips to poultry to soups. It has a full-bodied flavor that will make your mouth water.

Available in 8 oz., 18oz., and 8.75 lbs. sizes

Sriracha sauce is available in 17 oz bottles (perfect for your purse or briefcase) and 28 oz bottles (for the kitchen table), but at the request of so many loyal customers, Huy Fong will begin offering 1-gallon bottles for restaurant use (and for the most hardcore of addicts.) To-go packets are also available in some locations, great for traveling and hot-sauce emergencies.

You can find Sriracha sauce in almost any major supermarket, Asian market, and many restaurants.

UnControllable

For many customers, Sriracha is not just a condiment; it’s a way of life. Incorporating the sauce into almost every meal, keeping it on-hand at all times, eating it straight out of the bottle; some might call it obsession, but it must be love. With memorabilia ranging from iPhone cases to T-shirts to Lollipops, the Sriracha craze is evident, and it’s becoming more and more difficult to deny the possible existence of an organized Sriracha Festival.

The Official Huy Fong Foods Sriracha Shop

The oatmeal shop.

Just one of the many fan sites offering endless praise for Sriracha and its many uses.

The Sriracha Cookbook!

Entire cookbooks have been published in celebration of Sriracha, chronicling all of the new and often unthinkable ways patrons use this spicy sauce.

Sriracha, the movie!

Sriracha has earned a cult following, but the story of this spicy sauce is a mystery to most fans. Dedicated to Sriracha lovers, this fast-paced documentary travels around the globe to reveal its origin and the man behind the iconic “rooster sauce.”

UnExplainable

Q1: i've seen the sauces in restaurants but i'm unable to find them in stores. where can i purchase your products, q2: i've seen the sauces with different colored caps and slightly different graphics. are they the same, q3: where are the sauces made, q4: what is the secret to huy fong foods’ success, welcome to our sriracha fan site..

This is an UNOFFICIAL website created by Dogs of Design as a portfolio piece to celebrate our love of Sriracha.

We are in no way officially affiliated with Huy Fong. This is a non-profit website and all materials on this site are for aesthetic and creative enjoyment only. Information presented on this site is not to be taken as fact. No copyright infringement is intended.

To view the OFFICIAL Huy Fong Sriracha site, please visit: huyfong.com

To continue on to our fan site, please click the “x” on the top right corner of this notice.

To view more of our work, please visit our website: dogsofdesign.com

Is the Sriracha shortage finally over? Here's what to know and where to buy it

Hot sauce lovers may be in luck

Updated February 12, 2024

Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed's editors. Purchases made through the links below may earn us and our publishing partners a commission.

For months, what once was under $5 a bottle skyrocketed to $30 a bottle thanks to scarce supply and fierce demand. Those looking to get their spicy fix resorted to literally begging (through social media), borrowing, and stealing (from restaurants) to satiate their hot cravings.

Here are places to get your hands on the restocked Sriracha hot sauce online, as well as some substitutes to consider trying.

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Why is there a sriracha shortage.

In 2022, Huy Fong Foods named poor weather conditions as the culprit for its Sriracha shortage. The company sources the red chili peppers vital to the recipe in California, Mexico, and New Mexico, all of which experienced severe droughts in early 2022 linked to climate change.

When will the Sriracha shortage end?

There are signs that the shortage is abating, with the sauce popping back on shelves in larger numbers than in previous months. That said, Huy Fong Foods states that their production still isn’t as high as they’d like. It’s unknown exactly when production will return to high capacity. Whether or not there will be a drought this year seems to be the best indicator of Huy Fong Foods Sriracha supply.

Where you can buy Sriracha online

Fortunately, there are several places online where you can buy Huy Fong’s Sriracha sauce at a reasonable price.

What other hot sauces should you buy?

There are tons of hot substitutes to try out.

If you’re still having trouble finding Huy Fong’s Sriracha, you can give alternatives a try. While they won’t have quite the same taste, if you shop around (and perhaps do a little experimenting), we’re sure you’ll find one that can hold you over until Huy Fong’s Sriracha sauce comes back in full force.

Alternative hot sauces to consider

Related content.

Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.

Things to do in Moscow: how to visit Moscow | Unmissable, cool & unusual

• September 2, 2023

What are the best things to do in Moscow? What to do in Moscow? First, I will list the main places to visit by theme, passing by the must-sees, but also more unusual places in Moscow. Then, I will describe what to see in Moscow in one day and how to visit Moscow in 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 days. Let’s go!

Good to know. For more information, click on the places to open the dedicated blog posts.

Main places to visit in Moscow & best things to do in Moscow

I worked in Moscow and I loved this city for its dynamism and energy. We find there from time to time to see friends, remember good memories and enjoy this giant city! Then the time has come for us to share with you our practical guide.

TOP 5 must-see places in Moscow

• Moscow Red Square
• St. Basil’s Cathedral
• Cathedral of Christ the Savior
• Bolshoi Theatre

Places of cultural, historical and religious interest in Moscow

• Novodevichy Convent and cemetery
• Tretyakov Gallery
• Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts
• Kremlin Izmaïlovo (pseudo-historic place, recently built in the image of the old, one of the best things to do in Moscow for your Instagram account 😉 )
• Park and ancient village of Kolomenskoye

Visit Moscow of the Soviet era

• Moscow State University and Sparrows Hill
• VDNKh and the Museum of Astronautics, one of the key landmarks of the Soviet era in Moscow
• GULAG Museum
• Metro stations
• The Stalinist skyscrapers, scattered all over the city

Less touristy places in Moscow

• Gorky Park and the GARAGE museum
• The old Krasny Oktyabr factory
• Zaryadye Park
• Center for Contemporary Art, WINZAVOD
• Business center, Moscow City

Main districts of Moscow to visit

• Patriarch Ponds
• Tchistye Prudy
• Kuznetsky most
• Arbat Street

However, regardless of the length of your stay, whether you are going to visit Moscow in 4 days or in 2, you need a visa. The article Obtaining a tourist visa for Russia could then be useful in any case.

What to do and see in Moscow in one day?

List of things to see and do in Moscow in one day:

• Go to Red Square
• Visit St. Basil’s Cathedral
• See Kremlin walls (but not to visit)
• Visit Cathedral of Christ the Savior
• Discover Kuznetsky most districts and see Bolshoi Theatre building
• And if you have time at the end of the day: go to the Sparrows Hill or to the Moscow City for a beautiful view

Things to do in Moscow in 2 days

If you want to visit Moscow in 2 days, there are 2 purposes: do not miss the essential places of Moscow and optimize travel.

• First day: Red Square , Saint Basil’s Cathedral , Zariadye Park, Bolshoi Theatre , Kremlin
• Day 2: Cathedral of Christ the Savior, the former Krasny Oktyabr factory on Balchug Island, Gorky Park, Moscow State University (one of the Seven Sisters buildings ) and Sparrow Hill

As 2 days os really short, be sure to choose an accommodation in the best districts where to stay in Moscow .

Walking on Red Square in Moscow: one of the unmissable things to do in Moscow

Iconic place and one of the must-see places in Moscow and even in Russia! Besides, if there was only one place to visit in Moscow in 2 days, this place would then be Red Square, without hesitation. Therefore, starting the city tour with Red Square is ideal . Several buildings are on the square, but not all of them have to be visited. Check out my blog post about Moscow’s Red Square in detail to learn more and not miss anything.

Visiting Saint-Basil’s Cathedral inside

Even more emblematic than Moscow’s Red Square! Built in the middle of the 16th century under the orders of Tsar Ivan Le Terrible, this cathedral is one of the most beautiful monuments of Orthodox art, and definitely one of the unmissable places in Moscow. Visiting Saint-Basil’s Cathedral inside is one of the most beautiful things to do in Moscow!

• Visit estimate time : 1h30
• Entry ticket : 700 RUB. Tickets can be purchased on the cathedral’s official website 45 days before the tour.
• Audio guide (recommended): 500 RUB
• Opening hours : June to August 10 am-6pm; from November to April: 11 am-5pm; May, September, October 11 am-5pm. Cathedral closed on Wednesdays. Entrance is closed 45 minutes before closing.
• Find out more in the dedicated article: Saint Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow

Take a walk in Zariadye park: one of the coolest things to do in Moscow after visiting Red Square

Zaryadie Park is just a 10-minute walk from St. Basil’s Cathedral, so it’s easy to include in your itinerary if you’re going to visit Moscow in 2 days. From its heights, you can see the red walls of the Kremlin. But, the most impressive point of view is the platform which overlooks the Moskva river. A must see! And clearly one of the coolest things to do in Moscow!

• Open 24 hours a day
• Good to know! Park Zaryadye is also a place to visit in Moscow in winter. Find out more here: What to do in Moscow in winter?

See the Bolshoi Theatre and discover the Kuznetsky Most district

The Bolshoi Theatre is the most famous Russian theater in the world. The most economical way to see a presentation at the Bolshoi Theater is to take the tickets on the theater’s official website in advance, so here is our tutorial to help you: How to buy entrance tickets to the Bolshoi? In addition, several pedestrian or one-way streets

The Bolshoi Theater is the most famous Russian theater in the world. The most economical way to see a presentation at the Bolshoi Theater is to take the tickets on the theater’s official website in advance, so here is our tutorial to help you: How to buy tickets to the Bolshoi? In addition, several pedestrian or one-way streets are located north of the theater. It is therefore very pleasant to find them to leave the main axes of the megalopolis.

Visit the Moscow Kremlin

Visit Kremlin is on top of things to do in Moscow. A place of power for centuries, the Kremlin then shows us a whole different image when viewed from the inside. If you want to visit Moscow in 2 days, the Kremlin is certainly one of the must-see places in Moscow.

• Opening hours : Daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., except Thursday.
• See our blog post about visiting the Moscow Kremlin

Visit the Cathedral of Christ the Savior

This impressive Moscow Cathedral is the seat of the Russian Orthodox Church. It is a must see if you visit Moscow in 2 days and clearly one of the things to do in Moscow. The Cathedral of Christ the Savior was first built in 1883 in memory of Russia’s victory over Napoleon’s Grand Army. Then in 1931 Stalin ordered its destruction. It was then rebuilt again (identically) only in 2000.

• Where? Ulitsa Volkhonka 15. At the foot of the Kropotkinskaya metro station.
• Opening hours . Daily: 10: 00-17: 00, except Monday: 13: 00-17: 00
• Free entry (some closing restrictions, for example a short)

Good to know! In orthodox religious places, one must avoid excessively uncovered clothing. Women should cover their heads. After visiting the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, you can explore Bolotny Island and Gorky Park. This is one of the routes our guide to Moscow.

The old Krasny Oktyabr factory: one of the coolest things to do in Moscow

If you cross the Moskva River by a pedestrian bridge which is located just in front of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, you will enjoy a beautiful view of the city and at the same time you can discover Balchug Island. Furthermore, if you want to visit Moscow in 2 days, you can include this island in your itinerary between the cathedral and Gorky park. Here is the old confectionery factory Krasny Oktyabr, which has gradually turned into a fashionable micro-district. There are then some elements of street art, cafes and restaurants and some Moscow bohemian side. At the end of the island you can see a gigantic 98-meter-high monument dedicated to the Russian reforming tsar Pierre The Great.

Good to know! You can find on this island are the trendiest nightclubs in Moscow. On weekends, there are taxi caps after midnight so there are so many people. On the other hand, if you go there in winter and during the day, the island is quite empty and less interesting to see.

Gorky Park is one of the TOP places to visit in Moscow, because it allows you to better understand the life of the locals and their rhythm. In fact, it’s a huge entertainment park. For example, in winter there is a giant ice rink and in summer – free dance or yoga lessons, sandy beaches for playing volleyball, an outdoor cinema. So, like the locals, have a Stakantchik (ice cream or cooked corn), and enjoy the atmosphere of the place: that’s one of the interesting things to do in Moscow to discover the city.

• Where? Krymsky Val 9. 20 minutes’ walk from Krasny Oktyabr, along the quays.

Sparrow Hill and Moscow State University

The Sparrow Hill, Vorobiovy Gori in Russian, is the highest point in Moscow. It is rather known to Russians, but less to travelers. A nice view on Moscow opens from the hill, and in particular on the Luzhniki Stadium. In addition, on the hill itself is the Moscow State University: an impressive skyscraper from the Soviet era.

• How to get there? By bus T7 (35 min) from Oktyaborskaya station, near Gorki Park. By metro (Vorobiovy Gorki station) + climb the hill on foot. On foot along the Moskva along the Gorky Park (1h30) + climb in funiculars.

Good to know! It is possible to cross the Moskva river by funicular. We actually tested it and it was pretty cool! That is one of our favorite things to do in Moscow!

What to do in Moscow in 3 days?

If you are going to visit Moscow in 3 days, it would be interesting to dive into the Soviet era which strongly marked the country and the city. After the Bolshevik Revolution, the capital was transferred from Saint Petersburg to Moscow, in order to mark the change of power. Moscow then became the world showcase for communist ideology. Here are the best things to do in Moscow for 3-day-trip!

VDNKh, visit Moscow of the Soviet era

VDNKh is a large exhibition center in the north of Moscow, where there are still several striking witnesses of the USSR. The most interesting are the Museum of Cosmonauts and the Statue of the Worker and the Kolkhozian , which will certainly impress you with its size!

GULAG History Museum

The explanations of the museum are very well done. We really have the feeling of going back in time. If you are going to visit Moscow in 3 days and you are interested in history and this subject in particular, I recommend this museum. Visit the GULAG History Museum is one of the most interesting things to do in Moscow.

Discover the Patriarche Pounds district

It’s a nice neighborhood in Moscow where you can come across rather affluent locals, but not necessarily very bling-bling. Take a walk in this area is really a cool thing to do in Moscow! In addition, the Ponds of Patriarch is one of the places of Bulgakov’s novel “Master and Margarita”. As this is an interesting area to see, we have included it in a walking tour of Moscow. The route ends at the Moscow Kremlin, which is very convenient, because you will be able to visit Moscow in 3 days by optimizing your trips.

What to visit in Moscow in 4 days: TOP things to do in Moscow in 4 days

If you want to visit Moscow in 3 days, you will already see a lot of things. On the other hand, if you stay one more day, you have plenty to do! The Novodevichy Convent, the Tchistie Proudy district and the Izmaylovo Kremlin are very good candidates for you, if you are going to visit Moscow in 4 days.

Visiting Novodevichy Convent in Moscow

The Novodevichy Convent is one of the most brilliant examples of Russian architecture, according to UNESCO. This beautiful complex was built in 1524 and today consists of the convent, but also of a cemetery whose status could be compared to that of Père-Lachaise in Paris. Visiting Novodevichy Convent is one of the great things to do in Moscow, if you want to go a little bit outside of the center!

Discovering Tchistye Proudy district

It’s one of the most popular areas of Moscow, with many cafes, restaurants and bars nearby. It is therefore a place to discover if you want to visit Moscow in 4 days. It is just as pleasant for a stroll as for the discovery of local life. For example, in winter the pond turns into an ice rink.

Visiting the Izmaylovo Kremlin, one of the coolest things to do in Moscow!

The Izmaylovo Kremlin is more of a tourist than a historic place. On the other hand, it is a pretty impressive place to discover, especially on weekends. Inside the Kremlin, there is a flea market where you can find a little bit of everything, but mostly good souvenirs to bring from Moscow. For example, chapka, traditional Russian scarves or matryoshka (Russian dolls). Add the Kremlin and the Izmaïlovo market to your itinerary if you are going to visit Moscow in 4 days, because it is a nice and very colorful place! Visiting the Izmailovo Kremlin is one of the things to do in Moscow, if you want to put colors in your Instagram account! 😉

In 4 days, we will have the opportunity to see several Moscow: Classic Moscow, Moscow of old Russia, Soviet Moscow and a little bit of the new Moscow. So what to visit in Moscow on the 5th day of travel?

What to visit in Moscow in 5 days?

Art lovers will be delighted to discover the Tretyakov Gallery and the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, while others will prefer to stroll along Arbat Street, see the buildings of Moskva-City or visit Bunker 42.

Admiring Russian art at Tretyakov Gallery

Founded in 1856 by an industrialist and great lover of art, the gallery has grown over the decades, and then bequeathed to the state. Today the collection includes more than 140,000 pieces, 15,000 of which are paintings. Visiting the Tretyakov Gallery is one of the things to do in Moscow if you want to discover Russian art!

• Where? Pereoulok Lavrouchinski 10. A 5-minute walk from Tretiakovskaya station
• Opening hours. Open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. Thursday and Friday. Closed on Mondays.
• Entry tickets. 500 RUB.

Visiting the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts

The Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts presents the treasures of ancient Egypt, the paintings of Rembrandt and Cézanne, a fine collection of Impressionism.

• Where? Ulitsa Volkhonka 12
• Opening hours. Daily: 10: 00-20: 00, except Thursday: 11: 00-21: 00. Closed on Mondays. The boxes close an hour before closing.
• Entry tickets. The prices vary according to the collections from 300 to 750 RUB.

Walking on Arbat Street

All Russians know Rue Arbat. So, walking on Arbat street is one of the things to do in Moscow. However, after the years, little by little it became very touristy. This is a pedestrian street only. There are souvenir shops, restaurants and cafes there, but it is no longer the most authentic neighborhood in the city.

Seeing the buildings of Moskva-City (Moscow City)

Moskva-City is Moscow’s business center, much like Paris’s Defense district. The skyscrapers of Moskva-City are among the tallest in Europe: 373 meters high! Very nice place to see at dusk.

Good to know! You can admire a nice view of Moscow City from the docks of Tarasa Shevchenko. It’s especially beautiful in the evening with all the lights on.

Bunker 42, one of the most unusual things to do in Moscow

Bunker 42 is a secret military complex which was to be used by the Soviets in the event of a nuclear attack: a space of 7000 m² 65 meters underground!

• Where? 5 Kotelnitcheski Lane, 11.
• Prices. 2200 RUB per person
• Opening hours. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Restaurant inside. Original, but rather a tourist trap.

What to visit in Moscow in 6 days or more?

There are still so many places to see, because Moscow is a big megalopolis and there is always something exciting to do there. For example: the ancient Kolomenskoye village or the WINZAVOD contemporary art center .

If you are interested in history and want to see Russian cities on a rather “human scale”, it would certainly be interesting for you to discover the cities of the Golden Ring . For example, it is very easy to get to Sergey Posad from Moscow (less than 2 hours in train). Visiting the Golden Ring is one of the best things to do in Moscow if you are staying more than a 5-6 days.

There are still plenty of places to see in Moscow, however I did my best to list here the best things to do in Moscow, what to see in Moscow in one day, but also in 2, 3, 4 or 5 days in Moscow!

Moscow travel tips:

• Airport transfer: how to go to Moscow?
• Where to stay in Moscow (hotels, districts)?
• Tourist voucher for Russian visa
• Christmas and New Year in Moscow
• What is the best time to visit Moscow?

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Novodevichy Convent and cemetery in Moscow: tickets, cemetery map

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Moscow Tours & Travel Packages 2024/2025

Our 60 most popular moscow trips. compare tour itineraries from 45 tour companies. 308 reviews. 4.7/5 avg rating., popular moscow tours.

St Petersburg & Moscow in Style - Winter

• Explore the majestic St Petersburg & Moscow on private city tours
• Admire the rich Russian history, art and architecture
• Travel to Moscow on a highspeed train
• Enjoy the local cuisine in stylish restaurants

Lower Volga Voyage

• Visit magnificent Red Square and Kremlin and examine the collection at theKremlin’s State Armory.
• Experience Russia’s diverse musical traditions at lively folk music performances
• Explore Volgograd, the site of the decisive battle of World War II’s eastern front

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White Russian - 7 days

• Discover Moscow's UNESCO-listed Red Square, home to spectacular St Basil’s Cathedral, Lenin's Mausoleum and the historic GUM Department store
• Explore the grounds of Moscow's mighty Kremlin, with its numerous governmentbuildings, gold-domed cathedrals and the giant tsar bell
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Vodka Shot - 6 days

• Explore the beautiful city of St Petersburg, including the exquisite Church on Spilled Blood, Peter & Paul Fortress and Nevsky Prospekt
• Marvel at the dazzling array of art and exhibits in the world-famous Hermitage Museum, at the Winter Palace in St Petersburg
• Discover a lavish residence of the tsars on a day trip to Catherine Palace at Tsarkoe Selo (winter: mid-October to April) or Peterhof Palace and gardens (summer: May to mid-October)
• Take in the highlights of the capital on a walking tour, visiting Moscow's famous Red Square, home to the historic GUM Department Store, Lenin’s Mausoleum and spectacular St Basil’s Cathedral
• Take a guided tour of the Moscow Kremlin, Russia’s political power house. Stroll around the grounds of this fortified complex, visit the Kremlin's cathedrals and see the mighty Tsar Bell

Route of the Romanovs - 10 days

• Learn about the last days of the Romanovs in Yekaterinburg, visiting the sites where Tsar Nicolas II and his family were assassinated and buried
• Straddle two continents at the famous obelisk Europe/Asia border marker in Yekaterinburg
• Experience the Trans-Siberian railway on an overnight train journey from Moscow to Yekaterinburg

New Year's in Moscow - 9 days

• Visit Catherine Palace at Tsarkoe Selo on Christmas Day and marvel at the incredible Amber Room
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Back in the USSR - 7 days

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Mood for Moscow - 4 days

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2018 Primetime Emmy & James Beard Award Winner

In Transit: Notes from the Underground

Jun 06 2018.

Spend some time in one of Moscow’s finest museums.

Subterranean commuting might not be anyone’s idea of a good time, but even in a city packing the war-games treasures and priceless bejeweled eggs of the Kremlin Armoury and the colossal Soviet pavilions of the VDNKh , the Metro holds up as one of Moscow’s finest museums. Just avoid rush hour.

The Metro is stunning and provides an unrivaled insight into the city’s psyche, past and present, but it also happens to be the best way to get around. Moscow has Uber, and the Russian version called Yandex Taxi , but also some nasty traffic. Metro trains come around every 90 seconds or so, at a more than 99 percent on-time rate. It’s also reasonably priced, with a single ride at 55 cents (and cheaper in bulk). From history to tickets to rules — official and not — here’s what you need to know to get started.

A Brief Introduction Buying Tickets Know Before You Go (Down) Rules An Easy Tour

A Brief Introduction

Moscow’s Metro was a long time coming. Plans for rapid transit to relieve the city’s beleaguered tram system date back to the Imperial era, but a couple of wars and a revolution held up its development. Stalin revived it as part of his grand plan to modernize the Soviet Union in the 1920s and 30s. The first lines and tunnels were constructed with help from engineers from the London Underground, although Stalin’s secret police decided that they had learned too much about Moscow’s layout and had them arrested on espionage charges and deported.

The beauty of its stations (if not its trains) is well-documented, and certainly no accident. In its illustrious first phases and particularly after the Second World War, the greatest architects of Soviet era were recruited to create gleaming temples celebrating the Revolution, the USSR, and the war triumph. No two stations are exactly alike, and each of the classic showpieces has a theme. There are world-famous shrines to Futurist architecture, a celebration of electricity, tributes to individuals and regions of the former Soviet Union. Each marble slab, mosaic tile, or light fixture was placed with intent, all in service to a station’s aesthetic; each element, f rom the smallest brass ear of corn to a large blood-spattered sword on a World War II mural, is an essential part of the whole.

The Metro is a monument to the Soviet propaganda project it was intended to be when it opened in 1935 with the slogan “Building a Palace for the People”. It brought the grand interiors of Imperial Russia to ordinary Muscovites, celebrated the Soviet Union’s past achievements while promising its citizens a bright Soviet future, and of course, it was a show-piece for the world to witness the might and sophistication of life in the Soviet Union.

It may be a museum, but it’s no relic. U p to nine million people use it daily, more than the London Underground and New York Subway combined. (Along with, at one time, about 20 stray dogs that learned to commute on the Metro.)

In its 80+ year history, the Metro has expanded in phases and fits and starts, in step with the fortunes of Moscow and Russia. Now, partly in preparation for the World Cup 2018, it’s also modernizing. New trains allow passengers to walk the entire length of the train without having to change carriages. The system is becoming more visitor-friendly. (There are helpful stickers on the floor marking out the best selfie spots .) But there’s a price to modernity: it’s phasing out one of its beloved institutions, the escalator attendants. Often they are middle-aged or elderly women—“ escalator grandmas ” in news accounts—who have held the post for decades, sitting in their tiny kiosks, scolding commuters for bad escalator etiquette or even bad posture, or telling jokes . They are slated to be replaced, when at all, by members of the escalator maintenance staff.

For all its achievements, the Metro lags behind Moscow’s above-ground growth, as Russia’s capital sprawls ever outwards, generating some of the world’s worst traffic jams . But since 2011, the Metro has been in the middle of an ambitious and long-overdue enlargement; 60 new stations are opening by 2020. If all goes to plan, the 2011-2020 period will have brought 125 miles of new tracks and over 100 new stations — a 40 percent increase — the fastest and largest expansion phase in any period in the Metro’s history.

Facts: 14 lines Opening hours: 5 a.m-1 a.m. Rush hour(s): 8-10 a.m, 4-8 p.m. Single ride: 55₽ (about 85 cents) Wi-Fi network-wide

Buying Tickets

• Ticket machines have a button to switch to English.
• You can buy specific numbers of rides: 1, 2, 5, 11, 20, or 60. Hold up fingers to show how many rides you want to buy.
• There is also a 90-minute ticket , which gets you 1 trip on the metro plus an unlimited number of transfers on other transport (bus, tram, etc) within 90 minutes.
• Or, you can buy day tickets with unlimited rides: one day (218₽/ US$4), three days (415₽/US$7) or seven days (830₽/US$15). Check the rates here to stay up-to-date.
• If you’re going to be using the Metro regularly over a few days, it’s worth getting a Troika card , a contactless, refillable card you can use on all public transport. Using the Metro is cheaper with one of these: a single ride is 36₽, not 55₽. Buy them and refill them in the Metro stations, and they’re valid for 5 years, so you can keep it for next time. Or, if you have a lot of cash left on it when you leave, you can get it refunded at the Metro Service Centers at Ulitsa 1905 Goda, 25 or at Staraya Basmannaya 20, Building 1.
• You can also buy silicone bracelets and keychains with built-in transport chips that you can use as a Troika card. (A Moscow Metro Fitbit!) So far, you can only get these at the Pushkinskaya metro station Live Helpdesk and souvenir shops in the Mayakovskaya and Trubnaya metro stations. The fare is the same as for the Troika card.
• You can also use Apple Pay and Samsung Pay.

Rules, spoken and unspoken

No smoking, no drinking, no filming, no littering. Photography is allowed, although it used to be banned.

Stand to the right on the escalator. Break this rule and you risk the wrath of the legendary escalator attendants. (No shenanigans on the escalators in general.)

Get out of the way. Find an empty corner to hide in when you get off a train and need to stare at your phone. Watch out getting out of the train in general; when your train doors open, people tend to appear from nowhere or from behind ornate marble columns, walking full-speed.

Always offer your seat to elderly ladies (what are you, a monster?).

An Easy Tour

This is no Metro Marathon ( 199 stations in 20 hours ). It’s an easy tour, taking in most—though not all—of the notable stations, the bulk of it going clockwise along the Circle line, with a couple of short detours. These stations are within minutes of one another, and the whole tour should take about 1-2 hours.

Start at Mayakovskaya Metro station , at the corner of Tverskaya and Garden Ring,  Triumfalnaya Square, Moskva, Russia, 125047.

1. Mayakovskaya.  Named for Russian Futurist Movement poet Vladimir Mayakovsky and an attempt to bring to life the future he imagined in his poems. (The Futurist Movement, natch, was all about a rejecting the past and celebrating all things speed, industry, modern machines, youth, modernity.) The result: an Art Deco masterpiece that won the National Grand Prix for architecture at the New York World’s Fair in 1939. It’s all smooth, rounded shine and light, and gentle arches supported by columns of dark pink marble and stainless aircraft steel. Each of its 34 ceiling niches has a mosaic. During World War II, the station was used as an air-raid shelter and, at one point, a bunker for Stalin. He gave a subdued but rousing speech here in Nov. 6, 1941 as the Nazis bombed the city above.

Take the 3/Green line one station to:

2. Belorusskaya. Opened in 1952, named after the connected Belarussky Rail Terminal, which runs trains between Moscow and Belarus. This is a light marble affair with a white, cake-like ceiling, lined with Belorussian patterns and 12 Florentine ceiling mosaics depicting life in Belarussia when it was built.

Transfer onto the 1/Brown line. Then, one stop (clockwise) t o:

3. Novoslobodskaya.  This station was designed around the stained-glass panels, which were made in Latvia, because Alexey Dushkin, the Soviet starchitect who dreamed it up (and also designed Mayakovskaya station) couldn’t find the glass and craft locally. The stained glass is the same used for Riga’s Cathedral, and the panels feature plants, flowers, members of the Soviet intelligentsia (musician, artist, architect) and geometric shapes.

Go two stops east on the 1/Circle line to:

4. Komsomolskaya. Named after the Komsomol, or the Young Communist League, this might just be peak Stalin Metro style. Underneath the hub for three regional railways, it was intended to be a grand gateway to Moscow and is today its busiest station. It has chandeliers; a yellow ceiling with Baroque embellishments; and in the main hall, a colossal red star overlaid on golden, shimmering tiles. Designer Alexey Shchusev designed it as an homage to the speech Stalin gave at Red Square on Nov. 7, 1941, in which he invoked Russia’s illustrious military leaders as a pep talk to Soviet soldiers through the first catastrophic year of the war.   The station’s eight large mosaics are of the leaders referenced in the speech, such as Alexander Nevsky, a 13th-century prince and military commander who bested German and Swedish invading armies.

One more stop clockwise to Kurskaya station,  and change onto the 3/Blue  line, and go one stop to:

5. Baumanskaya.   Opened in 1944. Named for the Bolshevik Revolutionary Nikolai Bauman , whose monument and namesake district are aboveground here. Though he seemed like a nasty piece of work (he apparently once publicly mocked a woman he had impregnated, who later hung herself), he became a Revolutionary martyr when he was killed in 1905 in a skirmish with a monarchist, who hit him on the head with part of a steel pipe. The station is in Art Deco style with atmospherically dim lighting, and a series of bronze sculptures of soldiers and homefront heroes during the War. At one end, there is a large mosaic portrait of Lenin.

Stay on that train direction one more east to:

6. Elektrozavodskaya. As you may have guessed from the name, this station is the Metro’s tribute to all thing electrical, built in 1944 and named after a nearby lightbulb factory. It has marble bas-relief sculptures of important figures in electrical engineering, and others illustrating the Soviet Union’s war-time struggles at home. The ceiling’s recurring rows of circular lamps give the station’s main tunnel a comforting glow, and a pleasing visual effect.

Double back two stops to Kurskaya station , and change back to the 1/Circle line. Sit tight for six stations to:

7. Kiyevskaya. This was the last station on the Circle line to be built, in 1954, completed under Nikita Khrushchev’ s guidance, as a tribute to his homeland, Ukraine. Its three large station halls feature images celebrating Ukraine’s contributions to the Soviet Union and Russo-Ukrainian unity, depicting musicians, textile-working, soldiers, farmers. (One hall has frescoes, one mosaics, and the third murals.) Shortly after it was completed, Khrushchev condemned the architectural excesses and unnecessary luxury of the Stalin era, which ushered in an epoch of more austere Metro stations. According to the legend at least, he timed the policy in part to ensure no Metro station built after could outshine Kiyevskaya.

Change to the 3/Blue line and go one stop west.

8. Park Pobedy. This is the deepest station on the Metro, with one of the world’s longest escalators, at 413 feet. If you stand still, the escalator ride to the surface takes about three minutes .) Opened in 2003 at Victory Park, the station celebrates two of Russia’s great military victories. Each end has a mural by Georgian artist Zurab Tsereteli, who also designed the “ Good Defeats Evil ” statue at the UN headquarters in New York. One mural depicts the Russian generals’ victory over the French in 1812 and the other, the German surrender of 1945. The latter is particularly striking; equal parts dramatic, triumphant, and gruesome. To the side, Red Army soldiers trample Nazi flags, and if you look closely there’s some blood spatter among the detail. Still, the biggest impressions here are the marble shine of the chessboard floor pattern and the pleasingly geometric effect if you view from one end to the other.

Keep going one more stop west to:

9. Slavyansky Bulvar.  One of the Metro’s youngest stations, it opened in 2008. With far higher ceilings than many other stations—which tend to have covered central tunnels on the platforms—it has an “open-air” feel (or as close to it as you can get, one hundred feet under). It’s an homage to French architect Hector Guimard, he of the Art Nouveau entrances for the Paris M é tro, and that’s precisely what this looks like: A Moscow homage to the Paris M é tro, with an additional forest theme. A Cyrillic twist on Guimard’s Metro-style lettering over the benches, furnished with t rees and branch motifs, including creeping vines as towering lamp-posts.

Stay on the 3/Blue line and double back four stations to:

10. Arbatskaya. Its first iteration, Arbatskaya-Smolenskaya station, was damaged by German bombs in 1941. It was rebuilt in 1953, and designed to double as a bomb shelter in the event of nuclear war, although unusually for stations built in the post-war phase, this one doesn’t have a war theme. It may also be one of the system’s most elegant: Baroque, but toned down a little, with red marble floors and white ceilings with gilded bronze c handeliers.

Jump back on the 3/Blue line  in the same direction and take it one more stop:

11. Ploshchad Revolyutsii (Revolution Square). Opened in 1938, and serving Red Square and the Kremlin . Its renowned central hall has marble columns flanked by 76 bronze statues of Soviet heroes: soldiers, students, farmers, athletes, writers, parents. Some of these statues’ appendages have a yellow sheen from decades of Moscow’s commuters rubbing them for good luck. Among the most popular for a superstitious walk-by rub: the snout of a frontier guard’s dog, a soldier’s gun (where the touch of millions of human hands have tapered the gun barrel into a fine, pointy blade), a baby’s foot, and a woman’s knee. (A brass rooster also sports the telltale gold sheen, though I am told that rubbing the rooster is thought to bring bad luck. )

Now take the escalator up, and get some fresh air.

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