hp ipaq 310 travel companion

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HP iPaq 310 Travel Companion review: HP iPaq 310 Travel Companion

Hp ipaq 310 travel companion.

Last year, HP introduced its HP iPaq rx5900 Travel Companion , a sleek gadget that combined the powers of a PDA and a portable navigation system into one solution. It was the first GPS device for the company, and it enjoyed moderate success with our readers . Now, HP has decided to embark on its first GPS-only venture with the new HP iPaq 310 Travel Companion. It's a sleek device with an exceptionally beautiful and sharp screen, and it has attractive features on the inside as well, including text-to-speech, integrated Bluetooth, and 3D building renderings. Unfortunately, things turned ugly as soon as we hit the road. The iPaq 310 was awful at route recalculations, giving us baffling directions and roundabout routes to our destination. In addition, the voice prompts were difficult to hear and understand. It's a shame because we really wanted to like this device, but HP needs to work out some bugs before we're willing to fork over the $$449 for the portable nav system. In the meantime, if you're looking for a midlevel to advanced in-car GPS, we'd suggest the Mio DigiWalker C520 or the Garmin Nuvi 660 .

The Bottom Line

Design Though the HP iPaq 310 Travel Companion doesn't offer a remarkably different design than other portable navigation systems, it's still one sleek device. It sports an attractive dark plum chassis and black soft-touch finish on the back, making for a handsome addition to any car interior. The iPaq 310 also has a slender profile (4.3 inches wide by 3.4 inches high by 0.7 inch deep; 6.6 ounces) so you can easily transport it between vehicles or pack it in your suitcase for use with a rental car while on a trip.

On the front, you'll find a spacious 4.3-inch TFT touch screen that shows off 65,000 colors at a sharp 800x480 pixel resolution that makes maps and text look extra crisp and vibrant. It's one of the best displays we've seen on a GPS device to date, and we were able to read it in various lighting conditions, including bright daylight. You can adjust the backlight levels, and there's a night mode option that will automatically switch the map colors at nighttime for better viewing. The touch screen was responsive to our commands, though the system itself can occasionally be sluggish; that can make it seem like the screen isn't immediately responding to your touch. The onscreen keyboard is on the cramped side, so users with larger digits may have a hard time entering addresses with just their fingertips. Fortunately, there's a stylus on top of the unit for more precise text entry.

For the most part, the HP user interface is intuitive and easy to understand. The main menu page presents you with five clear options: Navigation, Entertainment, Contacts, Extras, and Settings. That said, once you dive deeper into these selections, the function of all the different buttons isn't always obvious. The user's manual is pretty barebones, but it at least explains the purpose of each icon.

The Power button is located right above the display, while there's an SD expansion slot on the left side. To the right, you'll find a reset hole, a mini USB port, a 3.5mm headphone jack, an external antenna jack, and a multipurpose jog wheel that you can use to adjust the volume and backlight, scroll through and select the various menus, or zoom in and out of maps.

The HP iPaq 310 Travel Companion comes packaged with an AC adapter, a car charger, a USB cable, a leather protective case, a vehicle mount (windshield and dash), and reference material.

Features The HP iPaq 310 Travel Companion was built from scratch and no longer uses TomTom's navigation software. Instead, it uses HP's own navigation software and comes preloaded with TeleAtlas maps of the United States and Canada. As with most portable navigation systems, you can get directions to a specific address, a point of interest (POI), a location from your Favorites or recently visited list, or your home address. Once you've entered your destination, routes can be calculated in several methods, including shortest, fastest, and most economical, and you can instruct the system to avoid certain road types and maneuvers, such as highways, toll roads, and U-turns. There will also be an iPaq-dedicated Web site where you can plan your trips beforehand and then send them the iPaq 310. This is a nice option if you have time to preplan your journey since you can take advantage of your computer's full screen and keyboard to enter all the information. Unfortunately, this feature was not live at the time of this writing, so we couldn't check it out. HP says the site should be ready for public use by late November but didn't give a specific date. Other navigation goodies include automatic route recalculation and safety camera warnings.

The iPaq 310 offers text- and voice-guided directions in English, Spanish, or French. In addition, the unit has text-to-speech functionality so you'll hear actual street names instead of generic voice prompts. Maps are presented in 2D or 3D view, and while driving a specified route, the map screen will show you the distance to and direction of your next turn as well as the street name, your current driving speed, estimated time of arrival, and other useful information. One cool aspect about the iPaq 310 is that you get 3D renderings of buildings. This capability isn't available for all buildings but includes most major landmarks, which can be helpful in getting your bearings in unfamiliar areas since it gives you a visual reference point.

The iPaq 310 also features integrated Bluetooth, so you can pair your Bluetooth-enabled cell phone or smartphone with the iPaq 310 and use it as a hands-free speaker system. Once connected, you can either use the touch screen to accept or reject calls. Also, if a number is listed with a POI, there's an option to dial out directly from the iPaq 310. Unfortunately, the system doesn't automatically transfer your phone's contact or call history list, though you can synchronize your device with your PC to transfer Outlook contacts. Again, sadly, this feature wasn't available at the time of this review so we weren't able to try it out.

For entertainment, there's a built-in music and video player. Using the expansion slot, you can load up an SD card with your favorite MP3, WMA, WMV, and AVI music and video files, and check them out on the iPaq 310. The players are pretty rudimentary with just the basic functions--play, pause/stop, rewind, fast forward--but it does support playlist creation. Other extras include a calculator, a clock, a picture viewer, and a set of games.

Performance We took the HP iPaq 310 Travel Companion out for a test drive in San Francisco, and from a cold start under clear skies, it took about 3 to 4 minutes for the receiver to get a fix on our position, while subsequent starts were almost instantaneous. During everyday drives around the city, the iPaq 310 did a good job of tracking our movements, and it was pretty cool to see the 3D building renderings.

We entered our standard trip from the Marina District to CNET's downtown headquarters, and the iPaq 310 was able to quickly return with an accurate route. Disappointingly, the voice prompts were a bit soft even with the volume at its highest level and there was a bit of reverberation. Also, the text-to-speech directions weren't as smooth as some of the other GPS devices we tested as it mangled and chopped up the pronunciation of some street names. However, more concerning is the system's ineptitude at route recalculations. We missed a number of turns to test this functionality, and while the iPaq 310 was quick to come up with new directions, they were completely circuitous. Instead of coming up with a new route, it would try to have us go back to the point where we missed the actual turn instead of plotting a new course from our current location.

We were able to successfully pair the HP iPaq 310 with the RIM BlackBerry Curve and had no problems making calls. Multimedia performance was mediocre. Given the soft-spoken directions, we weren't surprised to find that songs sounded weak and hollow through the systems speakers. We experienced similar results with video, but on the upside, the audio and picture were always synchronized and picture quality was good.

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HP iPAQ 310 Travel Companion – GPS Devices: Reviews

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FOLLOW THAT VOICE

Calling HP’s Travel Companion a GPS unit just isn’t fair. The 4.3-inch screen is huge, and 3-D technology means maps can be viewed topographically or at street level—making for foolproof (and fun) navigation. On the road, mate it with a Bluetooth cell phone and it doubles as a hands-free device. And, natch, it talks. Electronic maps feature text-to-speech. Especially cool: This thing is battery-operated, so you can use it in the car, then just take it off the dash and go when it comes time to explore a new city on foot. On a longer trip? You’ve got audio and video playback as well. 6.6 oz; 2GB flash; Bluetooth, GPS; ipaq.com

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HP iPAQ 310 Travel Companion Review

Aside from the cool screen and pretty maps, the HP iPAQ 310 Travel Companion also syncs this with a Bluetooth cell phone to make the unit hands free unit. It also supports audio and video playback.

The quick & dirty:

Where you can get one: Amazon.com: $269

Why they rock:

• High Definition 4.3 Inch WVGA Display Screen/ 800 x 480 3X to 5X Higher Resolution
• 128MB Fast DDR Memory with 2GB Flash Storage
• Centrality/ SiRF/ Titan Dual Core 600 MHz Processor with 3D Graphics
• Centrality 40 Channel with Autonomy TTFF Acceleration GPS
• 0.41 Lbs (WxLxH) 4.30″ x 3.40″ x 0.70″

Seat-of-the-pants rating: 9 out of 10

One of my favorite features of the HP iPAQ 310 Travel Companion is its sizes and the fact that it is battery powered. While many navigation units are battery powered, the car ones tend to be too bulky for use outside of the car. But, the HP iPAQ 310 Travel Companion is sleek enough to comfortably carry around in your pack or jacket pocket, making it great for exploring new cities on foot. Plug it into your car, and then stick it in your pocket as you explore on foot.

Looking to buy? Check out these sites: Amazon.com: $269

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Saturday January 5, 2008 3:54 am

Unboxing live 028: hp ipaq 310 travel companion.

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Features , GPS , Handhelds , Videocasts ,

While getting ready to depart for CES today, we received a CES Navigation Kit via FedEx. Turns out our friends at HP wanted to make sure we made it through the rigorous tech conference in perfect health (as you’ll see in the video), and without getting lost. You see, they packed in their newly launched iPaq 310 Travel Companion. We actually did a pre-launch video on the whole line of HP iPaq models , so go watch that for a refresher. The 310 Travel Companion is included.

This is HP’s first dedicated GPS device, so feast your eyes on the unboxing experience, and feel free to hit us back with any questions about it. The device retails for $449 USD. Full details on the iPaq 310, along with specs and price, after the jump.

http://blip.tv/file/get/Unboxing-UnboxingLive028HPIPaq310TravelCompanion916.m4v

http://blip.tv/file/get/Unboxing-UnboxingLive028HPIPaq310TravelCompanion459.mp4

http://blip.tv/file/get/Unboxing-UnboxingLive028HPIPaq310TravelCompanion608.mp4

Hewlett-Packard has used its considerable expertise as a computer manufacturer to introduce improvements into the iPAQ-310 that make the company’s first dedicated GPS navigation device astand out from the crowd, but help raise the bar for portable GPS navigators in general. At 4.3 inches wide, 3.4 inches high, and 0.7 inches thick, the device is quite small and slim, but fits rich navigation and multimedia features, better than DVD screen resoulation, a unique true 3D display, and robust business support into that little package. HP touts this as “different and unique for the travel connosieur,” and it’s innovative features certainly make a convincing argument to back up that claim.

The iPAQ-310’s advanced 3D navigation system provides stunning visuals. For select cities, rather than the simple lines and color blocks you see on other navigators, you get actual 3-D models of buildings in space. Nothing else puts you in space and gives you a real feel for where you are and where you need to go than this device. Panning and zooming are smoother and faster. Plus, the 4.3-inch (diagonally) widescreen display has far better resolution than competitive models, 800 x 480 pixels compared to the current standard 420 x 272 pixels, which means all of those 3D maps are clear and detailed.

What’s In The Box iPAQ-310, car kit, car charger, AC charger, sync cable, slip case

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Are you going to be giving away the CES kit just like you gave away the Vista Starter Kit?

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GPS Navigation

• HP iPAQ Travel Companion 310

Bottom Line

• Powerful dual-core Titan processor.
• High-resolution widescreen display.
• Forty-channel GPS receiver.
• Excellent 3D rendering.
• Buildings rendered in 3D in 40 U.S.
• Multisegment routing.
• Power connects to device directly, not via mounting bracket.
• Text on the bottom of the screen is a bit small.

When you boot up just about any device from HP, you get a splash screen exclaiming, "HP Invent." This may be pure marketing shtick, but in the case of the new HP iPAQ 310 Travel Companion, it's actually true: The device offers innovation that its competitors don't yet have. When you first open the box, the iPAQ 310 looks just like any other widescreen GPS unit, but once you boot it up, you'll quickly discover that it's far from ordinary. The device features the highest-resolution 4.3-inch screen I've seen, and it delivers gorgeous 3D images. At $449.99, the iPAQ 310 offers most of the features you'd expect to find in a GPS at this price point, including a capable text-to-speech engine, extensive multisegment routing and a handy Bluetooth phone interface. Live traffic, which is not included, is supported with an optional traffic receiver.

Most GPS devices that are built around Windows CE 5.0 have processors that run somewhere between 300- and 400-MHz clock speeds. The iPAQ 310 gains considerably more power from SiRF Technology's new SiRFtitan 600-MHz ARM11 dual-core processor. A new integrated chipset, the SiRFtitan is essentially an SOC (system on chip), and the iPAQ 310 is the first product to use it. One core provides processing for an application, and the other core is an integrated vector floating-point unit for 3D graphic acceleration. The SiRFtitan also includes an ultrasensitive 40-channel GPS receiver. The 4.3-inch screen has the traditional dimensions of a WQVGA screen, but at 800 by 480 pixels, its resolution is nearly three times higher than that of any GPS display on the market. The fast processor, coupled with the high- resolution display, allows the device to render 3D images with amazing clarity. In 40 major metropolitan areas, even buildings are rendered in 3D. (See the slide show for examples.)

The iPAQ packs all this power into a slim 3.4-by-4.3-by-0.7-inch (HWD) unit that weighs just 6.6 ounces together with its 1,700-mAh lithium ion battery. An added bonus: The battery is removable and user-replaceable, so you need never run out of juice. At 0.7 inches thick, the iPAQ 310 shares bragging rights with the Magellan Maestro 4250 as the slimmest personal navigation device on the market. The 310, like many GPS devices, has a windshield mounting bracket with a suction cup, as well as an adhesive disk for dashboard mounting. The mounting bracket can be adjusted vertically, which, combined with a ball-and-socket connection, provides complete control over the positioning of the device on the windshield. The bottom of the device fits into a slot in the bracket, and a simple clamp holds the top in place. Power is supplied to the iPAQ 310 through a mini USB cable that plugs into a port protected by a rubber tab on the right-hand side of the device. Nonetheless, I prefer a device that picks up power from its mounting bracket. It's much more convenient to connect the power cable to the bracket once than to connect it to the device each time you mount it. The iPAQ 310 bundles both an AC and DC power cord, as well as a carrying case to protect the unit when it's not in use.

When you first switch on the iPAQ 310, you immediately notice the sharp, clear graphics. The "home" screen shows time and date, Bluetooth status, battery condition, an icon for volume, and a lock icon to lock the screen. At the center of the display, there's a large icon to launch the navigation program and a series of smaller icons labeled Entertainment, Contacts, Extras, and Settings. The entertainment menu has options for playing music or video, displaying photos, and five games. The music player and picture viewers worked well, as did the video player when handling WMV files, but AVI and MOV files wouldn't play. The "Contacts" feature gives you access to your address book, which you can import from Outlook. "Extras" provides access to a calculator, a three-zone world clock, and the phone menu.

The top-level navigation menu is simple. The large icon in the center of the screen displays the map, along with icons for Go to, Nav extras, Route, and Settings. Icons for accessing the phone dialer, the route status list, the music player, and volume control are displayed across the top of the map view. Along the bottom of the screen are multiple data fields that toggle between various values when touched. There's also an icon showing GPS status, a Menu icon, and a field that posts estimated arrival and travel times. With an active route, the center at the top of the screen indicates your current street and toggles to the name of the next street, distance to the next maneuver, and turn direction. A large turn arrow also appears in the upper left-hand corner of the screen.

You can really see the benefits of the high-resolution screen and robust graphics processor in the map view. Using the scroll wheel on the right-hand side of the device, you can zoom in to a street-level perspective or zoom all the way out to a 2D view. If you tap the screen, additional icons appear briefly. Those icons enable you to toggle between 2D and 3D, zoom in or out, select one of three perspective views, and toggle between the full-screen map view and the normal view with all the icons visible. Two additional icons also let you rotate the map clockwise or counterclockwise—a feature I've not seen on any other device.

To map a route, you simply tap Go to. Options for creating a destination include Address, Favorites, POIs, Home, Work, History, Contacts, Point on Map, or Coordinates—or you can load a pre-saved route. To find an address, you can enter the city, street name, and house number—or navigate to City Center, Street Center, or an intersection. The iPAQ 310 contains the entire Info USA point-of-interest (POI) database with 12 million POIs. You can search for POIs near your current location, near your destination, along your route, or near a point on the map. Another way to find a POI is to search within one of 18 categories or across all categories; results can be displayed by distance or alphabetically. Five vehicle routing profiles, three route calculation methods (short, fast, most economical), and a list of seven "avoidances" let you tailor your route to your preferences.

The iPAQ 310 delivered excellent navigation results. On tests, the text-to-speech function pronounced street names well. And routes generated by the device matched those created by other Tele Atlas–based GPS products I've reviewed. Automatic route recalculation after a missed turn was quick. While traveling through New York City, I really liked the 3D rendering of building detail–something a less-capable processor couldn't achieve. But I did discover that the Bluetooth phone interface, which is linked to the POI database, did not automatically reconnect to my phone during testing, as it should have. I chalk that up to the vast number of phones the device needs to support. Your experience may vary. My only major complaint is with the small typeface used for the data fields at the bottom of the screen. I found myself searching for my reading glasses to read arrival times and remaining travel times.

Overall, the fast processor, high-resolution screen, superb 3D capabilities, and large POI database make the HP iPAQ 310 Travel Companion an excellent navigation device.

Compare the GPS devices mentioned above side by side .

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• FA974AA - iPAQ 310 Travel Companion

HP FA974AA - iPAQ 310 Travel Companion Manuals

HP FA974AA - iPAQ 310 Travel Companion Product Manual (87 pages)

Table of contents.

• Table of Contents 3

2 Register the Travel Companion

3 box contents, 4 components.

• Front Components 12
• Components Front Components 12
• Left and Right Components 13
• Top and Bottom Components 13
• Back Components 14

5 Power on and Set up the Travel Companion

• Step 1: Remove the Battery Cover 15
• Step 2: Install the Battery and Replace the Battery Cover 15
• Step 3: Charge the Battery 16
• Power on Travel Companion 16
• Car Kit Setup 16

6 Warnings and Safety Information

7 learn the basics.

• Power On/Off 20
• Adjust Volume and Brightness 20
• Zoom in and out 20
• Open the Quick Launch Menu 21
• Buttons on the Top and the Bottom of the Screen 21
• Buttons on the Map 24
• Direct Selectors 25
• List Selectors 26
• Switches 26
• Virtual Keyboards 26
• The QWERTY Keyboard 26
• The Numeric Keyboard 27

8 Discovering the Travel Companion through the Startup Menu

• Pictures 30
• Add Contact 32
• Edit Contact 33
• Navigate to a Contact 33
• Call Contact 33
• Calculator 35
• Align Screen 36
• Language 36
• Media Directories 37

9 Operating Navigation

• Navigate to an Address 38
• Navigate to a POI 39
• Create a Route with Multiple Destinations 39
• Create a Route with a Different Start Point 40
• Save User Data 41

10 Reference Book - Navigation Menu

• Find an Address, Street, Intersection, or City 43
• Find in History 44
• Find One of the Favorites 44
• Find Home or Work 44
• Search Reference 44
• POI Groups 45
• POI Subgroups 45
• Select a POI 45
• Coordinate Display Format 47

11 Bluetooth

• Connect a Bluetooth-Enabled Phone to Your Travel Companion 48
• Use Phone Dialer 49
• Use Contacts 50
• Answer or Reject a Call 50
• Connect to a Bluetooth Stereo Headphones 50
• Daylight and Night Color Schemes 53
• Current Position and Lock-On-Road 53
• Selected Map Point, also Known as the Cursor 54
• Visible Pois (Points of Interest) 54
• Road Safety Cameras 54
• Contacts 54
• Active Leg of the Route 55
• Inactive Legs of the Route 55
• Start Point, Via Points, and Destination 55
• Turn Preview 55
• Cursor (the Selected Map Point) 55
• Track Log Recording/Playback Indicator 55
• Cursor Menu 56
• Current Street 57
• Distance to Next Turn 57
• Next Street/Next City 57
• Edit Route 58
• Route Detail 58
• Saved Routes 59
• Route Data Displayed (for Destination and Via Points) 59
• Warning Icons 61
• Other Functions 61
• Manage Track Logs 62

3 D Settings

• Landmarks 64
• Elevated Roads 64
• Buildings 64
• Backlight Always on 64
• Brightness 64
• Power Management 64
• Smart Powersave 65
• 2D/3D Map View 65
• Alternative Road Names 65
• POI Visibility 65
• Show Street Labels 65
• Night Mode 66
• Auto Zoom 66
• Restore Lock-To-Position and Smart Zoom 67
• Zoom in after Find 67
• Overview Mode 67
• Voice Guidance 68
• Key Sounds 68
• Dynamic Volume 68
• Economical 69
• Automatic 69
• Motorways 69
• Unpaved Roads 69
• Carpool Lanes (for the USA Map Only) 70
• Cross-Border Planning 70
• Permit Needed 70
• Toll Roads 70
• Keep Position on Road 70
• Language 71
• Set Time Format 71
• Alternative Speed Limit 71
• Speeding Tolerance 71
• Alternative Speeding Tolerance 72
• Enable Safety Cameras 72

15 Navigation Extras

• Trip Planner 73
• List of Traffic Messages 73
• TMC Configuration 74
• Exclude Selected Station 74
• Selected FM Radio Station 74
• Show Excluded Stations 74

16 GPS Data Screen

17 about screen, 18 outlook synchronization, 19 product specifications.

• System Specifications 78
• Physical Specifications 78
• Operating Environment 79

20 Regulatory Notices

• Modifications 80
• Declaration of Conformity for Products Marked with the FCC Logo (United States Only) 80
• Canadian Notice 81
• Avis Canadien 81
• Battery Warning 82
• Battery Recycling 82
• Battery Disposal 82
• Equipment Warning 83
• Acoustics Warning 83
• Airline Travel Notice 84
• Medical Electronic Equipment 84
• U.S. Regulatory Wireless Notice 84
• Canadian Regulatory Wireless Notice 84
• Brazilian Notice 84
• Bluetooth Devices 85
• Taiwan DGT Notice 85
• Korean Notice 85

21 Guidelines for Care and Maintenance

• Using the Travel Companion 86
• Cleaning the Travel Companion 86
• Carrying or Storing the Travel Companion 86
• Using Accessories 86
• Using the Travel Companion in Public Places 86
• Obtain Services for a Cracked or Damaged Screen 86
• Protect the Travel Companion Screen from Cracking or Damage 87

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HP FA974AA - iPAQ 310 Travel Companion Overview (10 pages)

• Table of Contents 1
• Using HP Protecttools 3
• Odyssey Client 3
• Biometric Fingerprint Reader (HP Ipaq Hx2700 Series Only) 4
• Recovering from a Locked Device 5
• Passphrases 5
• Performance Considerations Related to Data Encryption 5
• Virtual Private Network and Wired Equivalency Privacy 6
• Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) 7
• Wi-Fi Hotspots 7
• WLAN Standards 7
• Additional Security Solutions 8
• Terminology 9
• For more Information 10
• Call to Action 10

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Daniel Dumas

Review: HP iPaq Travel Companion 310 Is a Globetrotter's BFF

One of the best guides we've found (besides that Icelandic supermodel with an infallible sense of direction) is the new HP Travel Companion 310. It's a taco-size GPS unit adorned by an easy to read 4.3-inch, 480 x 800-resolution touchscreen and punctuated by elegantly simple controls. Maps are detailed and effortless to read, coming in either 2-D or 3-D flavors. The 3-D maps are especially useful when you're lost — the realistic representations of buildings and elevated streets can help you easily gain your bearings after straying off course.

After you've reached journey's end (or are flying smoothly en route) the 310 has a few more tricks up its digital sleeve. Play MP3s, watch video or kill time in one of the included games. Feeling chatty? Sync the 310 to your cellphone via Bluetooth and use the GPS device as a hands-free speaker. Hey that's even better than the Icelandic supermodel — she won't even take our calls. —Bradley Carbone __ WIRED 2-D and 3-D map options are clean and easy to read. GPS tracking while on foot or in a vehicle works without a digital hiccup. Multiple voice and language options. Scroll-wheel controller makes zooming in on maps smoother than a Barry White album. __ TIRED Spades of extras + deep operating system = steep learning curve. Toggling between features often causes menu to temporarily stall. Only two measly gigs of included memory? Looks like we're not giving up our iPods anytime soon.

$450, hp.com

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Product Identifiers

• UPC 0883585309559
• Model iPAQ 310 Travel Companion
• eBay Product ID (ePID) 71586364

Product Key Features

• Features MP3 Player, Calculator
• Screen Size 4.3"
• Type Automotive Mountable
• Weight 0.41lb.

Additional Product Features

• Battery Life 4h
• Trip Calculator Points-Of-Interest (Poi)
• User Interface Touch Screen
• Installed Memory 128MB
• Expansion Slot Type South Dakota (Secure Digital) Card Slot
• Resolutions 800x480
• PC Interface Bluetooth
• Usage Automotive Mountable
• Audible Features Spoken Street Names
• System Type Portable, Fixed

HP IPAQ GPS 310c

This is a unit that has a lot of nice features, especially at this price. It's not only a GPS unit, but a portable entertainment device. The way you can integrate your Outlook contacts and used them as points of interest. Most GPS units have about 750,000 points of interest, this unit has over 12 million! Overall a very nice unit. The only drawback (and it's a major one) is limited support especially since HP is not making this unit anymore. It's one of HP's obsure product that had very good promise, but never really came full circle with it (HP televisions, camera, GPS, etc.), but it's nice none the less.

Absolute disgrace of a product for HP

Want an example of HP ineptitude? Look no further than this model that looks great and has all the right technical specs but is an utter failure in terms of useability. With all the expertise HP had with their Ipaq PDA, they absolutely trashed all of that, crippled the Win Mobile system on which this is based, made all menu options and choices totally unintuitive and took the multimedia features and made them nearly worthless. To cap it all off, they made the battery life on these things abysmal. Don't get lost and buy this piece of C.....p!

HP GPS IPAQ 310

I have to rate this unit below average. I had a Garmin Nuvi 200 and got this HP as a second unit to have in my other car. After having the Garmin and using it now for over 6 months I can say that it is head and heels above the HP unit, the Garmin graphics are much better and more dependable. Wish I had bought another Garmin. It may just be personal preference but I am just calling it as I see it.

its not a typical gps. somewhat difficult to use. Sometimes the screen want move as your driving but it gives the textual directions in a very small screen at the top. Works great as an Ipaq not so much as a GPs

HP Automotive Mountable Car GPS Units

Automotive mountable car gps units, garmin automotive mountable car gps units, unbranded automotive mountable car gps units, mio automotive mountable car gps units, navigon automotive mountable car gps units.

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Street Photography Tips, Interaction, Travel, Guides

Apr 24 2017

City Street Guides by f.d. walker: A Street Photography Guide to Moscow, Russia

*A series of guides on shooting Street Photography in cities around the world. Find the best spots to shoot, things to capture, street walks, street tips, safety concerns, and more for cities around the world. I have personally researched, explored and shot Street Photography in every city that I create a guide for. So you can be ready to capture the streets as soon as you step outside with your camera!

At over 12 million people, Moscow is the largest city in Russia and second largest in Europe by population ( Istanbul is #1). An urban, cosmopolitan metropolis with more than enough glitz and glam to cater to the elite, but without losing its fair share of Soviet era roughness around the edges. It can be fast paced, brash, busy, and trendy like other big cities, but it has its blend of West meets Russia atmosphere and beauty that provides plenty of unique interest. The Red Square is as famous as it gets, but there’s so much more to this city, including the most beautiful subway system you’ve ever seen. It would take years to capture all of Moscow, but that means you have an endless amount of areas to discover.

So here’s a Street Photography guide so you can be ready to capture all that Moscow has to offer before you even arrive!

• Patriarch’s Pond
• Old Arbat Street
• Maroseyka Street
• Tverskoy Boulevard

Top 5 Street Spots:

1. red square.

The Red Square is the most famous square in not just Russia, but all of Eastern Europe. The name actually doesn’t come from the color of the bricks or communism, but from the name in Russian, Krásnaya, once meaning “beautiful” before its meaning changed to “red.” This large plaza is what you see on the cover of guide books and magazines for Moscow, with St. Basil’s Cathedral being the center piece next to Lenin’s Mausoleum surrounded by the Kremlin Wall. Of course, the Red Square attracts hordes of tourist due to the main attractions, but all that activity around an interesting atmosphere does provide street photo opportunities. It’s also the central square connecting to the city’s major streets, providing a good starting point to explore outward.

You’ll also find the popular pedestrian only Nikolskaya Street connecting the Red Square to Lubyanka Square. This line of expensive shops includes plenty of activity, while also leading you to another popular square. Filled with history rivaling any city, the Red Square and surrounding areas are the heart and soul of Russia.

2. Patriarch’s Ponds

Patriarch’s Ponds is one of the most exclusive neighborhoods in Moscow. Despite the name being plural, there’s only one large pond, but it’s worth a visit with your camera. It’s a popular spot for locals and expats to come relax or take a stroll around the pond. You get an interesting mix of young and old too, from young love to “babushkas” feeding pigeons. It’s a very peaceful park atmosphere in one of the nicer areas within the city center, while bringing enough activity for street photography. 

The pond is shallow and in the winter becomes a popular spot for ice-skating too. The area is also well-known for the location in the famous Russian novel, The Master and Margarita. 

3. Old Arbat (Stary Arbat)

Old Arbat is the most famous pedestrian street in Moscow, and dating back to the 15th century, also one of its oldest. Originally, it was an area of trade, but soon became the most prestigious residential area in Moscow. During the 18th century, Arbat started attracting the city’s scholars and artists, including Alexander Pushkin. Cafes lined the streets and impressive homes filled the neighborhood. Since then, New Arbat street was created as a highway in the area, while Old Arbat was paved for a 1km pedestrian only walkway.

Due to the historic buildings, famous artists that lived here, and the bohemian atmosphere, Old Arbat has become a big attraction for tourists today. Now, there’s a mix of cafes, restaurants, souvenir shops, street performers, street merchants and other attractions for visitors, and some locals, to come enjoy. It can get really busy here and there’s usually something interesting going on so it’s a good street to come walk with your camera for guaranteed life.

4. Gorky Park

One of the most famous places in Moscow is Gorky Park. The official name is Maxim Gorky’s Central Park of Culture & Leisure, which gives you an idea of what goes on here. When built, it was the first of its kind in the Soviet Union. Divided into two parts, it stretches along Moscow River. One end contains fair rides, foods stands, tennis courts, a sports club, a lake for boat rides, and more. This end brings more active life due to its number of attractions, while the other end is more relaxed, where you’ll find gardens, trees, older buildings, and an outdoor amphitheater.

Gorky Park attracts mostly locals so it’s a good spot to capture the non-tourist side of Moscow life. Muscovites come here to escape the city and unwind in a picturesque setting. The park remains alive outside of the warmer months too, especially when the lake turns into the city’s largest outdoor skating rink. I’d recommend taking the metro out here to spend at least half a day exploring the massive park’s life with your camera.

5. Maroseyka Street

Maroseyka Street is a popular area not too far from the Red Square. The long, winding street turns into Pokrovka and is lined with restaurants, cafes, bars and places to stay. It’s actually where I like to stay when I’m in Moscow due to its location and solid street photography opportunities itself. You have Kitay-gorod station near and if you keep walking southwest, you’ll get to the Red Square. But if you walk northwest, as it changes to Pokrovka, you can find a long street of activity for photography with its own interesting atmosphere.

6. Tverskoy Boulevard

Tverskoy Boulevard is the oldest and longest boulevard in Moscow, beginning at the end of Nikitsky Boulevard, and finishing at Pushkin Square, a spot to come for activity itself. The boulevard is made up of two avenues, with pedestrian walkways in-between. You’ll find grass, shrubbery, trees, benches and more walking it’s almost kilometer length. Many people come here to enjoy some relaxation, walk their dog, or just to use it to walk wherever they’re going. Its center location also provides a nice place to walk with your camera near plenty of other spots you’ll want to check out anyway.

Sample Street Walk:

For a full day of Street Photography, covering some of the best spots, you can follow this sample street walk for Moscow:

• Start your morning walking around the Red Square (1), while exploring the surrounding area, including Nikolskaya Street
• Then walk northwest to Patriarch’s Ponds (2) and slowly walk the pond and surrounding area with your camera
• Next, walk east to the Pushkin Monument and stroll down Tverskoy Boulevard (6)
• Once Tverskoy Boulevard (6) ends, it will turn into Nikitsky Boulevard. Follow this down until you get to the start of Old Arbat Street (3), across from Arbatskaya station
• After you’re done walking down Old Arbat Street (3) for more street photography, spend some time checking out Moscow’s beautiful metro stations
• To finish off the day with more street photography, get off the metro near Red Square (1) again, Maroseyka Street (5) or wherever you’re staying for the night.

3 Things I’ll Remember about Shooting in Moscow:

1. museum metro.

The Moscow metro system was the first underground railway system in the Soviet Union and today includes 203 stations across 340km of routes. The elaborate system has some of the deepest stations in the world too, with escalators that seem to go on forever. None of this is what makes it so special, though. Many of its stations feel like stepping inside a museum, making it without a doubt the most interesting and beautiful metro system I’ve been in.

When built, Stalin wanted to make the metro stations “palaces for the people” with marble, chandeliers, and grand architecture. The best part is the variety of architecture and styles used, making many of the stations a completely different experience visually. You could easily spend a whole day traveling the stations and there are even tours available for people who wish to do just that. My advice, though, would be just to buy a ticket and hop on and off at different stations, while exploring different lines. The museum-like surrounding mixed with the crowds of characters can make for a great photography experience.

Since there are so many stations, here are some of my favorites to check out:

• Novoslobodskaya
• Mayakovskaya
• Elektrozavodskaya
• Komsomolskaya
• Ploschad Revolyutsii
• Dostoyevskaya
• Prospekt Mira

2. Moscow is Big

It’s no secret that Moscow is a big city, but it can feel even bigger with how spread out much of it is. This is especially true if you compare it to cities outside of Asia. If I compared it to cities in Europe, I’d probably say only Istanbul would warrant more time to really discover the depths of this city. Most only explore around the Red Square and surrounding area, but that is such a small part of the city. Although, that central area does give you plenty to see on its own.

Fortunately, I had a good friend living in the city to show me around, but it opened up my eyes even more to how much there is to discover in Moscow. It’s a big city with a variety of atmosphere that can take you from “east” to “west” and trendy to rugged depending on where you go. I’d imagine you’d have to live here a while to really know the city.

3. Cosmopolitan Mix of East meets West

Modern skyscrapers mixed with amazing architecture, a world-class metro system with museum-like beauty, trendy fashion and chic clubs, Moscow is a rich mix of Russian culture and history in a more western cosmopolitan package. There is a push to keep the Russian culture, while also pushing forward with a modern metropolis the whole world will envy. This comes with an impressive skyline, that continues to grow, and endless modernities, but with soviet nostalgia and atmosphere mixed in for good measure.

Mixed in with this grand western cosmopolitan atmosphere, is a strong national pride in Russia. This includes their famous leader, Vladimir Putin. Maybe no other place will you see a country’s leader more often. All over, from the pricey tourist shops to the underground walkway stalls, you’ll find goods with Putin’s likeness covering them. From t-shirts to magnets to Matryoshka dolls. There’s a strong national pride that can be seen around the city, which also extends to their leader. Moscow is many things. It’s East meets West, modernizations meets Soviet era, and a whole lot more.

What To Do For a Street Photography Break?:

Eat at a stolovaya.

Stolovayas are Russian cafeterias that became popular in the Soviet days. You grab a tray and walk down the line of freshly prepared local dishes, and select whatever you want from the chefs. They’re usually inexpensive and a much better value than restaurants, while giving you the opportunity to try from a wide selection of everyday Russian food. They’re also very tasty. I always include some borsch on my tray and go from there. The places themselves are all over Moscow and usually come with Soviet-era aesthetics to complete the experience.

Street Safety Score: 7

*As always, no place is completely safe! So when I talk about safety, I’m speaking in general comparison to other places. Always take precaution, be smart, observe your surroundings and trust your instincts anywhere you go!

Being the 2nd largest city in Europe with over 12 million people, you’re going to have your dangerous areas, but for the most part, it feels safe walking around. Russia is statistically higher in crime compared to most of Europe, but this generally doesn’t apply to tourists and visitors. Around the Red Square and surrounding city center, you should feel completely safe walking around. Pick pocketing can happen, but no more than other touristic places. I always explore Moscow freely without coming across too much to worry about. It’s a spread out city, though, so of course it matters where you are. Just use basic street smarts, know where you are and Moscow shouldn’t give you a problem. 

People’s Reaction Score: 7

Moscow is fast paced, big city life, which usually means people aren’t too concerned with you, or your camera. I don’t find people notice or pay much attention to me when I’m out taking photos in Moscow. For the most part, people just go about their day. You shouldn’t get too many looks or concern. But it can depend on the area you are in. The more you stick out, the more you might get noticed with suspicions. I’ve never had any problems in Moscow, or Russia, but just be careful who you’re taking a photo of if you get out of the city center. Other than that, it’s about average for reactions. 

Street Tips:

Learn the alphabet .

Much of Moscow, including the metro system, doesn’t use english. The Russian alphabet uses letters from the Cyrillic script, which if you aren’t familiar with it and don’t know the sounds, can be hard to decipher the words. This is most important for street names and metro stops when trying to get around. It can save confusion and make it easier getting around if you learn the basic alphabet. At the very least then, you can sound out the words to see which are similar in the english conversion, which can help matching them to maps. When out shooting street photography, getting around is as important as anything. So save yourself some time and frustration by learning the Russian Alphabet.

Use the metro

While Saint-Petersburg feels very walkable for a city its size, Moscow can feel very spread out, even for its bigger size. Outside of the Red Square area, you can have plenty of walking before getting anywhere very interesting, so you’ll need to take the metro a lot if you really want to explore the city. Maps are deceiving here too, it will always be further than it looks.

Another reason it’s less walkable than Saint-Petersburg is its completely different set-up. Moscow’s streets are mostly contstructed in rings with narrow, winding streets in-between. This is common with medieval city cities that used to be confined by walls, but you usually don’t have it in a city this massive. Saint-Petersburg has a more grid-like pattern that also uses the canals to help you know your way around. When it comes to navigating on foot in Moscow, it can be more difficult, so bring a map and take the metro when needed. It’s why Moscow’s metro carries more passengers per day than the London and Paris subways combined.

Explore other areas if you have time

Moscow is really big. While most people stay around the Red Square within the Boulevard Ring, there’s so much more to the city. I covered some other spots outside of this circle, but if you really want to see the city, you’ll need time. If you do have time, some other areas I’d check out first are Zamoskvarechye, along some of the south and western Moscow.

Inspiration:

For some more inspiration, you can look through the Street Photography of Moscow photographer Artem Zhitenev  and check out 33 of my photos taken in Moscow .

Conclusion:

Moscow’s name brings a certain mystique, but once you’re there it might bring a different atmosphere than you expect. It’s big and sprawling, but beautiful in many ways. It can feel like a European capital on a grand scale, but you can definitely find its Russian side in there.

The urban sprawl of Moscow can be intimidating, but give it enough time and you’ll be rewarded with plenty to discover. All with the world’s best metro system to take you around.

I hope this guide can help you start to experience some of what Moscow contains. So grab your camera and capture all that Moscow has to offer for Street Photography!

If you still have any questions about shooting in Moscow, feel free to comment below or email me!

(I want to make these guides as valuable as possible for all of you so add any ideas on improvements, including addition requests, in the comment section!)

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People & blogs about Moscow

Impressions of an expat.

This blog written in the form of fascinating novel-in-progress. Marco North immerses the readers into particular situations expats can face daily but in literary processed version. The blog is widely popular and even is called as «the work of a modern Chekhov».

Site: http://impressionsofanexpat.blogspot.com

Kidding Herself

Kidding Herself is written from the point of view of a five year old girl and is a child’s guide to going out in Moscow. Herself moved to Moscow from London in 2015 with her British Mama, her Russian Papa and her AngloRusski Big Brother. Find out what she thinks about the Kremlin, Red Square, the zoo, more art galleries than she thinks are strictly necessary and the giant Central Children’s Store.

Site: http://kiddingherself.com

FunnyNotesBlog

Mostly the funny notes of Iva coping with Russian life and culture!

Site: https://funnynotesblog.blogspot.ru

Potty diares

This is a blog of an expat mother of two sons, living in Moscow. The author shares her experience on bringing up kids in Moscow, some useful tips and impressions of the city.

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Travel Itinerary For One Week in Moscow: The Best of Moscow!

I just got back from one week in Moscow. And, as you might have already guessed, it was a mind-boggling experience. It was not my first trip to the Russian capital. But I hardly ever got enough time to explore this sprawling city. Visiting places for business rarely leaves enough time for sightseeing. I think that if you’ve got one week in Russia, you can also consider splitting your time between its largest cities (i.e. Saint Petersburg ) to get the most out of your trip. Seven days will let you see the majority of the main sights and go beyond just scratching the surface. In this post, I’m going to share with you my idea of the perfect travel itinerary for one week in Moscow.

Moscow is perhaps both the business and cultural hub of Russia. There is a lot more to see here than just the Kremlin and Saint Basil’s Cathedral. Centuries-old churches with onion-shaped domes dotted around the city are in stark contrast with newly completed impressive skyscrapers of Moscow City dominating the skyline. I spent a lot of time thinking about my Moscow itinerary before I left. And this city lived up to all of my expectations.

Travel Itinerary For One Week in Moscow

Day 1 – red square and the kremlin.

Metro Station: Okhotny Ryad on Red Line.

No trip to Moscow would be complete without seeing its main attraction. The Red Square is just a stone’s throw away from several metro stations. It is home to some of the most impressive architectural masterpieces in the city. The first thing you’ll probably notice after entering it and passing vendors selling weird fur hats is the fairytale-like looking Saint Basil’s Cathedral. It was built to commemorate one of the major victories of Ivan the Terrible. I once spent 20 minutes gazing at it, trying to find the perfect angle to snap it. It was easier said than done because of the hordes of locals and tourists.

As you continue strolling around Red Square, there’s no way you can miss Gum. It was widely known as the main department store during the Soviet Era. Now this large (yet historic) shopping mall is filled with expensive boutiques, pricey eateries, etc. During my trip to Moscow, I was on a tight budget. So I only took a retro-style stroll in Gum to get a rare glimpse of a place where Soviet leaders used to grocery shop and buy their stuff. In case you want some modern shopping experience, head to the Okhotny Ryad Shopping Center with stores like New Yorker, Zara, and Adidas.

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To continue this Moscow itinerary, next you may want to go inside the Kremlin walls. This is the center of Russian political power and the president’s official residence. If you’re planning to pay Kremlin a visit do your best to visit Ivan the Great Bell Tower as well. Go there as early as possible to avoid crowds and get an incredible bird’s-eye view. There are a couple of museums that are available during designated visiting hours. Make sure to book your ticket online and avoid lines.

Day 2 – Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, the Tretyakov Gallery, and the Arbat Street

Metro Station: Kropotkinskaya on Red Line

As soon as you start creating a Moscow itinerary for your second day, you’ll discover that there are plenty of metro stations that are much closer to certain sites. Depending on your route, take a closer look at the metro map to pick the closest.

The white marble walls of Christ the Saviour Cathedral are awe-inspiring. As you approach this tallest Orthodox Christian church, you may notice the bronze sculptures, magnificent arches, and cupolas that were created to commemorate Russia’s victory against Napoleon.

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Unfortunately, the current Cathedral is a replica, since original was blown to bits in 1931 by the Soviet government. The new cathedral basically follows the original design, but they have added some new elements such as marble high reliefs.

Home to some precious collection of artworks, in Tretyakov Gallery you can find more than 150,000 of works spanning centuries of artistic endeavor. Originally a privately owned gallery, it now has become one of the largest museums in Russia. The Gallery is often considered essential to visit. But I have encountered a lot of locals who have never been there.

Famous for its souvenirs, musicians, and theaters, Arbat street is among the few in Moscow that were turned into pedestrian zones. Arbat street is usually very busy with tourists and locals alike. My local friend once called it the oldest street in Moscow dating back to 1493. It is a kilometer long walking street filled with fancy gift shops, small cozy restaurants, lots of cute cafes, and street artists. It is closed to any vehicular traffic, so you can easily stroll it with kids.

Day 3 – Moscow River Boat Ride, Poklonnaya Hill Victory Park, the Moscow City

Metro Station: Kievskaya and Park Pobedy on Dark Blue Line / Vystavochnaya on Light Blue Line

Voyaging along the Moscow River is definitely one of the best ways to catch a glimpse of the city and see the attractions from a bit different perspective. Depending on your Moscow itinerary, travel budget and the time of the year, there are various types of boats available. In the summer there is no shortage of boats, and you’ll be spoiled for choice.

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If you find yourself in Moscow during the winter months, I’d recommend going with Radisson boat cruise. These are often more expensive (yet comfy). They offer refreshments like tea, coffee, hot chocolate, and, of course, alcoholic drinks. Prices may vary but mostly depend on your food and drink selection. Find their main pier near the opulent Ukraine hotel . The hotel is one of the “Seven Sisters”, so if you’re into the charm of Stalinist architecture don’t miss a chance to stay there.

The area near Poklonnaya Hill has the closest relation to the country’s recent past. The memorial complex was completed in the mid-1990s to commemorate the Victory and WW2 casualties. Also known as the Great Patriotic War Museum, activities here include indoor attractions while the grounds around host an open-air museum with old tanks and other vehicles used on the battlefield.

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The hallmark of the memorial complex and the first thing you see as you exit metro is the statue of Nike mounted to its column. This is a very impressive Obelisk with a statue of Saint George slaying the dragon at its base.

Maybe not as impressive as Shanghai’s Oriental Pearl Tower , the skyscrapers of the Moscow City (otherwise known as Moscow International Business Center) are so drastically different from dull Soviet architecture. With 239 meters and 60 floors, the Empire Tower is the seventh highest building in the business district.

The observation deck occupies 56 floor from where you have some panoramic views of the city. I loved the view in the direction of Moscow State University and Luzhniki stadium as well to the other side with residential quarters. The entrance fee is pricey, but if you’re want to get a bird’s eye view, the skyscraper is one of the best places for doing just that.

Day 4 – VDNKh, Worker and Collective Farm Woman Monument, The Ostankino TV Tower

Metro Station: VDNKh on Orange Line

VDNKh is one of my favorite attractions in Moscow. The weird abbreviation actually stands for Russian vystavka dostizheniy narodnogo khozyaystva (Exhibition of Achievements of the National Economy). With more than 200 buildings and 30 pavilions on the grounds, VDNKh serves as an open-air museum. You can easily spend a full day here since the park occupies a very large area.

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First, there are pavilions that used to showcase different cultures the USSR was made of. Additionally, there is a number of shopping pavilions, as well as Moskvarium (an Oceanarium) that features a variety of marine species. VDNKh is a popular venue for events and fairs. There is always something going on, so I’d recommend checking their website if you want to see some particular exhibition.

A stone’s throw away from VDNKh there is a very distinctive 25-meters high monument. Originally built in 1937 for the world fair in Paris, the hulking figures of men and women holding a hammer and a sickle represent the Soviet idea of united workers and farmers. It doesn’t take much time to see the monument, but visiting it gives some idea of the Soviet Union’s grandiose aspirations.

I have a thing for tall buildings. So to continue my travel itinerary for one week in Moscow I decided to climb the fourth highest TV tower in the world. This iconic 540m tower is a fixture of the skyline. You can see it virtually from everywhere in Moscow, and this is where you can get the best panoramic views (yep, even better than Empire skyscraper).

Parts of the floor are made of tempered glass, so it can be quite scary to exit the elevator. But trust me, as you start observing buildings and cars below, you won’t want to leave. There is only a limited number of tickets per day, so you may want to book online. Insider tip: the first tour is cheaper, you can save up to $10 if go there early.

Day 5 – A Tour To Moscow Manor Houses

Metro Station: Kolomenskoye, Tsaritsyno on Dark Green Line / Kuskovo on Purple Line

I love visiting the manor houses and palaces in Moscow. These opulent buildings were generally built to house Russian aristocratic families and monarchs. Houses tend to be rather grand affairs with impressive architecture. And, depending on the whims of the owners, some form of a landscaped garden.

During the early part of the 20th century though, many of Russia’s aristocratic families (including the family of the last emperor) ended up being killed or moving abroad . Their manor houses were nationalized. Some time later (after the fall of the USSR) these were open to the public. It means that today a great many of Moscow’s finest manor houses and palaces are open for touring.

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There are 20 manor houses scattered throughout the city and more than 25 in the area around. But not all of them easily accessible and exploring them often takes a lot of time. I’d recommend focusing on three most popular estates in Moscow that are some 30-minute metro ride away from Kremlin.

Sandwiched between the Moscow River and the Andropov Avenue, Kolomenskoye is a UNESCO site that became a public park in the 1920’s. Once a former royal estate, now it is one of the most tranquil parks in the city with gorgeous views. The Ascension Church, The White Column, and the grounds are a truly grand place to visit.

You could easily spend a full day here, exploring a traditional Russian village (that is, in fact, a market), picnicking by the river, enjoying the Eastern Orthodox church architecture, hiking the grounds as well as and wandering the park and gardens with wildflower meadows, apple orchards, and birch and maple groves. The estate museum showcases Russian nature at its finest year-round.

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If my travel itinerary for one week in Moscow was a family tree, Tsaritsyno Park would probably be the crazy uncle that no-one talks about. It’s a large park in the south of the city of mind-boggling proportions, unbelievable in so many ways, and yet most travelers have never heard of it.

The palace was supposed to be a summer home for Empress Catherine the Great. But since the construction didn’t meet with her approval the palace was abandoned. Since the early 1990’s the palace, the pond, and the grounds have been undergoing renovations. The entire complex is now looking brighter and more elaborately decorated than at possibly any other time during its history. Like most parks in Moscow, you can visit Tsaritsyno free of charge, but there is a small fee if you want to visit the palace.

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Last, but by no means least on my Moscow itinerary is Kuskovo Park . This is definitely an off-the-beaten-path place. While it is not easily accessible, you will be rewarded with a lack of crowds. This 18th-century summer country house of the Sheremetev family was one of the first summer country estates of the Russian nobility. And when you visit you’ll quickly realize why locals love this park.

Like many other estates, Kuskovo has just been renovated. So there are lovely French formal garden, a grotto, and the Dutch house to explore. Make sure to plan your itinerary well because the estate is some way from a metro station.

Day 6 – Explore the Golden Ring

Creating the Moscow itinerary may keep you busy for days with the seemingly endless amount of things to do. Visiting the so-called Golden Ring is like stepping back in time. Golden Ring is a “theme route” devised by promotion-minded journalist and writer Yuri Bychkov.

Having started in Moscow the route will take you through a number of historical cities. It now includes Suzdal, Vladimir, Kostroma, Yaroslavl and Sergiev Posad. All these awe-inspiring towns have their own smaller kremlins and feature dramatic churches with onion-shaped domes, tranquil residential areas, and other architectural landmarks.

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I only visited two out of eight cities included on the route. It is a no-brainer that Sergiev Posad is the nearest and the easiest city to see on a day trip from Moscow. That being said, you can explore its main attractions in just one day. Located some 70 km north-east of the Russian capital, this tiny and overlooked town is home to Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, UNESCO Site.

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Sergiev Posad is often described as being at the heart of Russian spiritual life. So it is uncommon to see the crowds of Russian pilgrims showing a deep reverence for their religion. If you’re traveling independently and using public transport, you can reach Sergiev Posad by bus (departs from VDNKh) or by suburban commuter train from Yaroslavskaya Railway Station (Bahnhof). It takes about one and a half hours to reach the town.

Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius is a great place to get a glimpse of filling and warming Russian lunch, specifically at the “ Gostevaya Izba ” restaurant. Try the duck breast, hearty potato and vegetables, and the awesome Napoleon cake.

Day 7 – Gorky Park, Izmailovo Kremlin, Patriarch’s Ponds

Metro Station: Park Kultury or Oktyabrskaya on Circle Line / Partizanskaya on Dark Blue Line / Pushkinskaya on Dark Green Line

Gorky Park is in the heart of Moscow. It offers many different types of outdoor activities, such as dancing, cycling, skateboarding, walking, jogging, and anything else you can do in a park. Named after Maxim Gorky, this sprawling and lovely park is where locals go on a picnic, relax and enjoy free yoga classes. It’s a popular place to bike around, and there is a Muzeon Art Park not far from here. A dynamic location with a younger vibe. There is also a pier, so you can take a cruise along the river too.

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The Kremlin in Izmailovo is by no means like the one you can find near the Red Square. Originally built for decorative purposes, it now features the Vernissage flea market and a number of frequent fairs, exhibitions, and conferences. Every weekend, there’s a giant flea market in Izmailovo, where dozens of stalls sell Soviet propaganda crap, Russian nesting dolls, vinyl records, jewelry and just about any object you can imagine. Go early in the morning if you want to beat the crowds.

All the Bulgakov’s fans should pay a visit to Patriarch’s Ponds (yup, that is plural). With a lovely small city park and the only one (!) pond in the middle, the location is where the opening scene of Bulgakov’s novel Master and Margarita was set. The novel is centered around a visit by Devil to the atheistic Soviet Union is considered by many critics to be one of the best novels of the 20th century. I spent great two hours strolling the nearby streets and having lunch in the hipster cafe.

Conclusion and Recommendations

To conclude, Moscow is a safe city to visit. I have never had a problem with getting around and most locals are really friendly once they know you’re a foreigner. Moscow has undergone some serious reconstruction over the last few years. So you can expect some places to be completely different. I hope my one week Moscow itinerary was helpful! If you have less time, say 4 days or 5 days, I would cut out day 6 and day 7. You could save the Golden Ring for a separate trip entirely as there’s lots to see!

What are your thoughts on this one week Moscow itinerary? Are you excited about your first time in the city? Let me know in the comments below!

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24 comments.

Ann Snook-Moreau

Moscow looks so beautiful and historic! Thanks for including public transit information for those of us who don’t like to rent cars.

MindTheTravel

Yup, that is me 🙂 Rarely rent + stick to the metro = Full wallet!

Mariella Blago

Looks like you had loads of fun! Well done. Also great value post for travel lovers.

Thanks, Mariella!

I have always wanted to go to Russia, especially Moscow. These sights look absolutely beautiful to see and there is so much history there!

Agree! Moscow is a thousand-year-old city and there is definitely something for everyone.

Tara Pittman

Those are amazing buildings. Looks like a place that would be amazing to visit.

Adriana Lopez

Never been to Moscow or Russia but my family has. Many great spots and a lot of culture. Your itinerary sounds fantastic and covers a lot despite it is only a short period of time.

What was their favourite thing about Russia?

Gladys Parker

I know very little about Moscow or Russia for the\at matter. I do know I would have to see the Red Square and all of its exquisite architectural masterpieces. Also the CATHEDRAL OF CHRIST THE SAVIOUR. Thanks for shedding some light on visiting Moscow.

Thanks for swinging by! The Red Square is a great starting point, but there way too many places and things to discover aside from it!

Ruthy @ Percolate Kitchen

You are making me so jealous!! I’ve always wanted to see Russia.

Moscow is in my bucket list, I don’t know when I can visit there, your post is really useful. As a culture rich place we need to spend at least week.

DANA GUTKOWSKI

Looks like you had a great trip! Thanks for all the great info! I’ve never been in to Russia, but this post makes me wanna go now!

Wow this is amazing! Moscow is on my bucket list – such an amazing place to visit I can imagine! I can’t wait to go there one day!

The building on the second picture looks familiar. I keep seeing that on TV.

Reesa Lewandowski

What beautiful moments! I always wish I had the personality to travel more like this!

Perfect itinerary for spending a week in Moscow! So many places to visit and it looks like you had a wonderful time. I would love to climb that tower. The views I am sure must have been amazing!

I was lucky enough to see the skyline of Moscow from this TV Tower and it is definitely mind-blowing.

Chelsea Pearl

Moscow is definitely up there on my travel bucket list. So much history and iconic architecture!

Thumbs up! 🙂

Blair Villanueva

OMG I dream to visit Moscow someday! Hope the visa processing would be okay (and become more affordable) so I could pursue my dream trip!

Yup, visa processing is the major downside! Agree! Time and the money consuming process…

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