milton solo travel steriliser tablets

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Milton Solo Travel Steriliser review

Best travel steriliser 2020.

Because travel sterilisers need to be compact enough to carry around, they’re usually short on bells and whistles. What we loved about the Milton Solo, though, was that it’s more adaptable and comes with more useful design features than any other travel model we tested. Generously sized for a bottle or breast pump parts, it can be microwaved or used with cold water sterilising solution, whichever works best for where you are.

Wednesday 8 January 2020

By Rachel Jeffcoat | Last updated Jan 18, 2024

Good for parents who

Need a steriliser for travel or to live at a grandparent’s or child minder’s house

Want the flexibility of microwave and cold water sterilisation in one unit

Have a small microwave that wouldn’t fit a steriliser upright

Can be stored in a cupboard when not in use

Keeps items sterile for 24 hours

Can be used in the microwave or with cold water sterilising solution

Short two-minute cycle in microwave or 15-minute cycle (manufacturer's guidelines) with cold water

Can fit most bottle brands (i.e. Tommee Tippee), though not very tall ones like Dr Brown’s

It’s not as roomy as the microwave steriliser bags, which can usually fit two bottles or a bottle and a breast pump – this fits one or the other

When filled with water, it leaks while on its side

The width of the unit means it’s hard to open when wet or very hot

Product information

Materials: BPA-free plastic

Included: Steriliser only

Available from a wide range of retailers, including Boots, Amazon and ASDA

RRP: £10.99

Really impressed with the Milton Solo Travel Steriliser - very quick and easy to use. I've used it both for cold water sterilisation and in the microwave at home.

What’s the Milton Solo Travel Steriliser like to purchase and assemble?

The Milton Solo is widely available from Boots, Tesco, Amazon and others – though it’s worth remembering that, if you intend to use it with cold water solution, you’ll need to buy sterilising tablets or fluid separately as it doesn’t come with any.

It comes pre-assembled and will just need a quick wash before its first use.

Instructions are helpfully printed on the box as well as on a separate leaflet in colour (unusual!) and there’s lots of information about how the product works on Milton’s website, including an explanatory video.

Milton’s FAQ section is particularly helpful if you have questions about the sterilisation process.

Is the Milton Solo safe?

The steriliser is made from tough, BPA-free plastic and feels robust and well-made. Our tester, Maisie, did wonder whether the air valve in the lid might become a weakness over the course of a few months, but it stayed in perfect condition during the 10 days she used it herself.

Speaking of that air valve – the Milton Solo’s lid screws closed tightly, but the valve pops out quite easily so it shouldn’t be left within reach of children, especially when hot.

The unit does get very hot, in fact, after a microwave cycle. Its wide diameter means it’s a two-handed job to open it, which is tricky when it’s too hot to touch. Our tester recommends leaving it for a few minutes before attempting to remove the lid.

There’s a small, flat lip on the lid so it can be laid down horizontally in a compact microwave, which also means there’s no danger of it rolling around and falling off the kitchen counter.

What’s the steriliser like in day-to-day use?

As a small travel unit, the Milton Solo is easy to store, pack away or take with you to a grandparent’s house – though it’s worth remembering that, while it’s watertight when upright, it does leak when on its side so it would need to be carefully positioned in transit (assuming you were using it to sterilise when travelling).

It’s roomier than the Tommee Tippee 2-in-1 Travel Steriliser, which we also tested, though not quite as capacious as the microwave steam steriliser bags, like the Medela Quick Clean Microwave Bags .

Our tester fitted one regular-sized bottle, i.e. any bottle but the extra-large Dr Brown’s, and also managed to fit all her breast pump parts in it easily (separately, not at the same time).

It’s also incredibly straightforward to use, sterilising the contents in a rapid two minutes in the microwave or 15 minutes in cold water sterilising solution as per manufacturer instructions – the NHS recommend 30 minutes . Once the cycle is done, the contents will stay sterile for 24 hours.

There are markings on the side showing the correct water level for cold water sterilisation, although none for microwaving, and our tester felt that would have been a useful addition.

Unlike the other travel models we tested, like the Tommee Tippee or the microwave bags, the Milton Solo is designed to be able to lie on its side if necessary so it should fit in even the smallest of microwaves.

I really like this steriliser and it's great for travel. We used ours while out for a day trip with my MIL as I hadn't had time to sort out all the bottles for the baby, but the system meant that I didn't have to!

Is the Milton Solo easy to keep clean?

Shaped like a large cup, the Milton Solo Travel Steriliser is a cinch to handwash quickly, even with the few nooks and crannies in the lid.

It’s also dishwasher-safe, which is a huge bonus for busy parents. Our tester put it in the dishwasher with other items and it came out stain-free.

How does it look?

The Milton Solo is comprised of clear and white plastics – it looks of good quality, but quite plain and utilitarian.

As it can easily be packed away when not in use, however, its aesthetics may not matter all that much.

Is it good value for money?

The unit retails at around £10.99. Our tester considered it excellent value for money and said she’d happily buy one to travel with or send to a grandparent’s house.

Final verdict

It might not come with any extras and, of course, it’s less capacious than a full-sized steriliser (see our round-up of the best sterilisers ) – but for all that the Milton Solo is surprisingly flexible, roomy and designed with a number of useful features, which elevated it well above the other travel models we tested, like the Tommee Tippee 2-in-1 and the ClevaMama Soother Tree.

About Mumsnet Reviews

All Mumsnet product reviews are written by real parents after weeks of research and testing – this includes recommendations from the Mumsnet forum . We work hard to provide honest and independent advice you can trust. Sometimes, we earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. However, we never allow this to influence our coverage.

All prices correct at time of publication

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The timing couldn’t have been better! Take It From Mummy received this Milton Solo 2 in 1 travel steriliser just before jetting off for ten days to Rhodes. Where better to give the steriliser a good, lengthy road test!

Armed with bottles, cutlery, bibs and dummies and a billion other things one takes away abroad when travelling with little ones, we knew this would probably come in handy, and we weren’t wrong!

The travel steriliser boasts the following:

Key features

• 2 in 1 microwave or cold water Single bottle Steriliser
• Ideal for travel, overnight stays or when you’re away from home
• Sterilises from 2 minutes in the microwave and in 15 mins with cold water
• Unique safety vent technology to increase the temperature inside the Solo for better sterilisation
• Innovative lay-flat lip to fit all microwaves
• Watertight thanks to a unique seal in the lid
• Contents stay sterile for 24 hours

We stayed in a hotel when abroad so only used this as a cold water steriliser but we are passing it on to another of our Mum’s panel to test out with her 7 month old in a self catering cottage in England so we can review the microwave side of things.

At first I used my baby brain and filled it up with water & sterilising tablet before I put the items in I wanted to sterilise. I quickly realised I was a complete idiot as obviously the whole thing overflowed when I tried to put in our little one’s bottle! Plonker! So then I did it correctly.. pop all your bits in..Bottle facing with opening upwards, we also put in our baby’s cutlery and a dummy & had plenty of room to spare. Then fill to line with water and add a quarter of a Milton Tablet, pop on the lid and Bob’s your uncle.

I was impressed at the lid which pushed my floating soother right down to ensure it was covered by all the water, not only that, but I unwittingly tested the ‘watertight’ feature when I knocked it on the floor (yes it was clearly a blonde day) and the whole thing remained fully intact and no drips.

Take It from Mummy’s Overall Verdict!

It’s not huge, it has to be a certain size, to fit a bottle and other bits. It fitted fine in our suitcase & I used it to store some toiletries on the plane so they didn’t leak in our luggage! ..(Not such a silly day that day!haha). We liked the design and that it only took a small amount of tablet meaning we didn’t have to take loads away with us.

A travel steriliser which does exactly what it says on the tin..and possibly more. Very impressed with the quality as I always am with Milton products.

5* From Take It From Mummy! Thank you Milton!

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• Feeding Products

Milton Sterilising Tablets review

Practical and portable: Milton Sterilising Tablets are ideal to use when travelling. Clinically proven to kill 99.9% of germs (bacteria, fungi and viruses), you can rest assured that by using the Milton Method, baby’s feeding equipment is sterile and germ-free. Easy to use, made up with regular tap water, items are sterilised in just 15 minutes and stay sterile in the solution for 24 hours – meaning you can sterilise baby’s feeding equipment again and again. That's why it won gold in our Mother and Baby Awards in the Best Steriliser /Sterilising Product category.

1. Milton Sterilising Tablets

Overview of the Milton Sterilising Tablets

Versatile with multiple uses

Easy to use

Poor packaging

Testing the Milton Sterilising Tablets

Our mum testers loved how versatile these sterilising tablets were, they were great for keeping everything from bottles to toys and teethers clean.

"So easy to use, cold water and 1 tablet, wait 15 minutes and add your items to be sterilised. I used them to sterislise bottles, dummies, toys, teethers and weaning plates and spoons. When you take the items out they always smell so clean and you know that they are ready to use."

Also, because of how convenient and small they are, they're great for going on holiday's when you might not be able to take your big steriliser with you.

"I used the tablets to sterilise some bottles whilst away. It made things a lot easier and meant I didn't have to take lots of equipment away with me. I have also used them for cleaning down surfaces like my child's toys. They worked particularly well on cleaning the straps on my highchair. I left them to soak overnight."

They also loved how reliable these sterilising tablets were, and love that Milton are such a trustworthy brand.

"The product is easy to use. I'm impressed that it is useful for a full 5 litre tub of water as I did see some other boxes of tablets that only cover around 2.3 litres which is frustrating when most containers are 5 litres. I have always seen Milton to be the leaders in the sterilising industry, my parents always used Milton and other family members on their children."

The only problem some of our parent testers found, was that the packaging could be a bit problematic.

"There is only one thing I would change about this product and that is the packaging. I find that when I try and open one I manage to split the packaging for the next one. Apart from that I'm satisfied with the product and how it works. I will continue to use it in everyday life. I have always got some in my bag."

Final thoughts

Although some of our parent testers experienced difficulties with the packaging, the sterilising tablets were overall very popular. They were very reliable and parents trusted they were thoroughly cleaning everything properly.

They also loved how convenient these tablets were when on holiday or away from home and they couldn't be easier to use.

Full product specs

Sterilises in 15 minutes

Stays sterile for 24 hours

Suitable for most baby items

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The Solo has been designed to be washed either by hand or in the dishwasher. The lid consists of two parts, for the best cleaning results please untwist the submerger from the lid and wash them separately.

If you travel with a Solo full of water you have to ensure that you keep the Solo upright as water could leak out from the valve.

Following sterilisation, using the emptied Solo can be a very handy way of transporting one baby bottle. Please ensure the cap is clean to protect the teat.

• Sterilisation

Travel Steriliser

Key features

• 2 in 1 microwave or cold water Single bottle Steriliser
• Ideal for travel, overnight stays or when you’re away from home
• Sterilises from 2 minutes in the microwave and in 15 mins with cold water
• Unique safety vent technology to increase the temperature inside the Solo for better sterilisation
• Innovative lay-flat lip to fit all microwaves
• Contents stay sterile for 24 hours

Where to buy

Milton Solo Travel Steriliser

• Description

Designed to sterilize a single baby’s bottle using a microwave or Milton cold water method. Ideal for travel, overnight stays or when you’re away from home. Sterilises in 2 mins* | fits most bottles | watertight

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Most Beautiful Metro Stations in Moscow

Visiting Moscow? Get yourself a metro card and explore Moscow’s beautiful metro stations. Moscow’s world-famous metro system is efficient and a great way to get from A to B. But there is more to it; Soviet mosaic decorations, exuberant halls with chandeliers, colourful paintings and immense statues. Moscow’s metro is an attraction itself, so take half a day and dive into Moscow’s underground!

The best thing to do is to get on the brown circle (number 5) line since the most beautiful metro stations are situated on this line. The only exception is the metro stop Mayakovskaya one the green line (number 2). My suggestion is to get a map, mark these metro stops on there and hop on the metro. It helps to get an English > Russian map to better understand the names of the stops. At some of the metro stops, the microphone voice speaks Russian and English so it’s not difficult at all.

Another thing we found out, is that it’s worth taking the escalator and explore the other corridors to discover how beautiful the full station is.

Quick hotel suggestion for Moscow is the amazing Brick Design Hotel .

These are my favourite metro stations in Moscow, in order of my personal preference:

1. Mayakovskaya Station

The metro station of Mayakovskaya looks like a ballroom! Wide arches, huge domes with lamps and mosaic works make your exit of the metro overwhelming. Look up and you will see the many colourful mosaics with typical Soviet pictures. Mayakovskaya is my personal favourite and is the only stop not on the brown line but on the green line.

2. Komsomolskaya Station

Komsomolskaya metro station is famous for its yellow ceiling. An average museum is nothing compared to this stop. Splendour all over the place, black and gold, mosaic – again – and enormous chandeliers that made my lamp at home look like a toy.

3. Novoslobodskaya Station

The pillars in the main hall of Novoslobodskaya metro station have the most colourful stained glass decorations. The golden arches and the golden mosaic with a naked lady holding a baby in front of the Soviet hammer and sickle, make the drama complete.

4. Prospect Mira Station

The beautiful chandeliers and the lines in the ceiling, make Prospekt Mira an architectural masterpiece.

5. Belorusskaya Station

Prestigious arches, octagonal shapes of Socialistic Soviet Republic mosaics. The eyecatcher of Belorusskaya metro station, however, is the enormous statue of three men with long coats, holding guns and a flag.

6. Kiyevskaya Station

The metro station of Kiyevskaya is a bit more romantic than Belorusskaya and Prospect Mira. Beautiful paintings with classical decorations.

7. Taganskaya Station

At the main hall Taganskaya metro station you will find triangle light blue and white decorations that are an ode to various Russians that – I assume – are important for Russian history and victory. There is no need to explore others halls of Taganskaya, this is it.

8. Paveletskaya Station

Another and most definitely the less beautiful outrageous huge golden mosaic covers one of the walls of Paveletskaya. I would recommend taking the escalator to the exit upstairs to admire the turquoise dome and a painting of the St Basil’s Cathedral in a wooden frame.

Travelling with Moscow’s metro is inexpensive. You can have a lot of joy for just a few Rubbles.

• 1 single journey: RMB 50 – € 0,70
• 1 day ticket: RMB 210 – € 2,95

Like to know about Moscow, travelling in Russia or the Transsiberian Train journey ? Read my other articles about Russia .

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Wow! It is beautiful. I am still dreaming of Moscow one day.

It’s absolutely beautiful! Moscow is a great city trip destination and really surprised me in many ways.

My partner and I did a self guided Moscow Metro tour when we were there 2 years ago. So many breathtaking platforms…I highly recommend it! Most of my favorites were along the Brown 5 line, as well. I also loved Mayakovskaya, Arbatskaya, Aleksandrovski Sad and Ploshchad Revolyutsii. We’re heading back in a few weeks and plan to do Metro Tour-Part 2. We hope to see the #5 stations we missed before, as well as explore some of the Dark Blue #3 (Park Pobedy and Slavyansky Bul’var, for sure), Yellow #8 and Olive #10 platforms.

That’s exciting Julia! Curious to see your Metro Tour-Part 2 experience and the stations you discovered.

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• Destination Guides

The 7 Best Things to do at Night in Moscow

By Chris Boyle

Moscow nightlife can be both fun and very confusing.

Restaurants often turn into clubs, and of course there’s the infamous ‘face control’ door policy which only admits the most beautiful, the most cash-laden and the most cultured – and very much depends on the whim of the ‘face master’ on the door at each club.Head to the right venue though, and you’ll find them full of beautiful people up for a crazy party.

Asking your hotel to phone ahead can help, as well as taking a few glamorous faces – and the ability to spend. Face control is simple; those who look cultured, wealthy and beautiful get in, those that don’t, won’t.

Cuisine: European, Japanese

RAI. It’s not just the name of a club – it’s the benchmark of glamour, the pinnacle of hedonism and the definition of an entire clubbing era.

The 8 Best Restaurants in Moscow

Confidante: beautiful branded hotels, azerbaijan, dubai and beyond: fairmont expands luxury portfolio.

A growing organism, RAI is always developing to remain at the forefront of club culture. Since hitting the Moscow scene four years ago, the club has refined its cutting edge vibe and today you’ll find a trendsetting venue that competes with the world’s most distinguished nightspots.

RAI sits at the heart of the Russian capital and pulsates with the beat of this legendary city. Loud and lavish, the parties here attract some of the most beautiful people on the planet.

Always evolving and moving with the times, RAI last year launched Evolution, a brand new program of quality music, stunning shows and an atmosphere you won’t find elsewhere. Trendy, tasty and utterly irresistible, RAI is the club of choice for those in the know.

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Opening hours: Thu, Fri, Sat 11pm – 7am

Type of music: House, vocal house, deep house, progressive house, mash-up

Metro: Kropotkinskaya

Guarded parking

Bolotnaya Embankment, 9 (near the Red October chocolate factory)

+7 985 364 0101

www.raiclub.ru

CITY SPACE BAR

The top floor of the luxurious Swissôtel Krasnye Holmy is home to one of Moscow’s trendiest bars. Chic, stylish and ultra-modern, City Space Bar is a great place to start and finish your evening.

Floor-to-ceiling windows offer a breathtaking 360 view of the Moscow skyline, while the expert bartenders mix up a selection of fabulously extravagant cocktails; classic drinks have been given a modern twist by these ‘cocktail designers’. Winner of several awards, including the coveted World’s Top Ten Bars (by the Bartender’s Guide 2008), City Space Bar is a hotspot for the city’s fashionable elite.

+7 495 221 5357

[email protected]

34th floor Swissôtel Krasnye Holmy, Kosmodamianskaya Nab, 52, 6, Moscow 115054

cityspacebar.com

Rivalling Imperia Lounge for the toughest door policy in Moscow, Soho Rooms attracts Russia’s social elite.

Models and celebrities are in abundance, as well as the capital’s movers and shakers. The club consists of four different rooms: the Dining Room, Disco Room, Bar Room and the Summer Terrace. The Disco Room is where the action happens and where you’ll find top DJ’s David Guetta and Alex Gaudino luring the likes of Naomi Campbell, Gerard Butler and Roman Abramovich onto the dance floor. Located on the banks of the River Moscow, Soho Rooms is one of Moscow’s premier clubs and is highly recommended.

Manager: Dmitry Braude, Managing Director

+7 495 988 7474

[email protected]

Savvinskiy Embankment, Pereulok 12, Str 8, Moscow

www.sohorooms.com

BOLSHOI THEATRE

One of the world’s finest opera and ballet halls is returning to active service this year.

The Bolshoi Theatre, the second largest opera house in Europe, is one of the most instantly recognizable monuments in the Russian capital. The opera house has been in existence since 1776, and despite several fires and a bomb attack, the theatre’s Classical Greek design is still very impressive. The Theatre has a varied ballet and opera program, many of which are traditional Russian performances, such as Swan Lake and the Nutcracker. Currently, the main stage of the Bolshoi Theatre is closed while it undergoes a $730m renovation that will see the theatre reemerge as one of the world’s top opera halls. During the early part of 2011, shows will still be available at the Bolshoi Theatre’s New Stage.

+ 7 495 692 0818

[email protected]

1 Teatralnaya Square

www.bolshoi.ru

Considered by many Russians to be the best place to start your evening before heading for the slightly wilder clubs, Kalina is a stylish bar with a fabulous view.

Located on the 21st floor of a Moscow high-rise and just a few minutes walk from Old Arbat street, the bar offers a breathtaking view of Moscow and an elegant and sophisticated interior. The bar has an excellent drinks menu that includes a vast array of cocktails, expertly prepared for you by the resident mixologists.

+7 495 229 5519

[email protected]

8, Novinskiy Boulevard, Lotte Plaza Shopping Center, 21st floor

www.kalinabar.ru

IMPERIA LOUNGE

When the company that produces Imperia Vodka announced that it would be opening a club in Moscow in 2010, it caused a stir amongst Muscovites.

Since vodka is the national drink in Russia, any announcement from one of the country’s main distributors was likely to create a buzz, and with Imperia Lounge, the hype was justified. Floor-to-ceiling screens project lasers and graphics onto the walls and the clientele is almost entirely made up of Russian models and celebrities. The club has one of the toughest door policies in town and exercises the legendary Moscow face-control, so you’ll really have to impress to get past that velvet rope. Once inside you’ll see why Imperia Lounge is the place to see and be seen. The multi-level industrial space features wall-mounted LCD displays and go-go dancers suspended on circular pedestals above sunken lounge spaces, together with a cool VIP deck. The music is supplied by some of the hottest DJs around, making it one of the coolest dance floors in Moscow. It gets hot and sweaty so be prepared for a crush!

Olga Milenina, VIP Manager

+7 495 967 0990

[email protected]

5 Mantulinskaya Ul, Building 7, Moscow 121151

www.russianstandard.com

Housed in a cavernous 17th century converted warehouse, GQ Bar is the brainchild of restaurateur Arkady Novikov.

The entrepreneur owns a string of restaurants and bars across Russia, all of which have a reputation for the high-class clientele they attract and the quality of food and drink on offer. GQ Bar continues this theme with the clientele seemingly pulled from the magazine images that adorn the walls of the restaurant. The bar has a timeless décor of dark oak and white walls, and the large windows provide plenty of light. A great place to start your evening, GQ Bar is located in the Baltschug area, close to many of Moscow’s finest hotels and tends to attract a more mature, business-minded crowd.

+7 495 956 7775

Ulitsa Baltschug Dom 5, Moscow

eng.novikovgroup.ru

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All the Milton products will kill Candida albicans (the agent responsible for thrush).

Items are ready for use after just 15 minutes of complete immersion in the Milton solution but can be left soaking for up to 24 hours. Items can be added and removed to and from the solution throughout the day as and when they are needed.

Bottles should be filled immediately after removal from the Milton solution. Teats should be covered.

• Sterilisation

Mini Sterilising Tablets

50 mini comprimés.

• Use only with the Milton Mini Soother Steriliser
• Sterilises in only 15 minutes
• Kills 99.9% of germs
• Ideal for travel
• No need to rinse
• Solution works for 24 hours
• No ingredients from animal origin
• Made in the UK

Where to buy

For export enquiries, please contact [email protected]

The science behind it, anti-germ activity.

• Kills 99.9% of germs including bacteria, fungi and viruses.
• Effective on Rotavirus (N°1 cause for gastroenteritis).

Proofs of efficacy according to European norms

• Bactericidal: in 5 minutes EN 1040, in 15 min EN 1276 (including SARS). Effective on Listeria, Salmonella and Campylobacter.
• Fungicidal : in 15 minutes EN 1275, EN 1650 on C.albicans (agent responsable for thrush).
• Virucidal : in 15 minutes on Poliovirus type 1 and Adénovirus type 5 according to the protocole of EN 14476+A1. Effective on sur Coronavirus and Rotavirus.

Did you know? EN is the abbreviation for European Norm.

An award winning product

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Shooter Files by f.d. walker

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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