safari menu font size

How-To Geek

How to customize the safari toolbar on your mac.

If you use Safari as the default browser on your Mac, you should take some time to customize the Safari toolbar to improve your productivity.

Quick Links

Why should you customize the safari toolbar, how to customize the safari toolbar.

Safari on the Mac features a minimal interface. Although you don't have a lot of room for customization or theming, you can change the toolbar buttons to suit your productivity style. Here's how to make the Safari toolbar look and work the way you want it to.

By default, the Safari toolbar shows all your enabled extension icons along with the URL bar and navigation buttons.

If you have a lot of extensions, you might want to hide some from the toolbar. You might also want to disable the Sidebar button or the Share button if you're going for a cleaner look.

When you go to customize the Safari toolbar, you'll find a new set of buttons that you can add to the toolbar. Shortcuts such as iCloud Tabs, Top Sites, Home, History, Bookmarks, Zoom, Mail, Print, Web Inspector, and so on.

For a pro user who doesn't like using keyboard shortcuts, fast access to features like Bookmarks and History can be incredibly useful. If you're a web developer, the same goes for the Web Inspector tool.

Related: Mac Users Should Ditch Google Chrome for Safari

Now that we've answered the why, let's get to the how. You can customize the Safari toolbar to your liking by first clicking "View" from the menu bar and then selecting "Customize Toolbar."

This will open a drop-down menu with a visual customization tool for the toolbar. You'll notice that all the icons in the toolbar start to jiggle, signaling that you can now move them around if you like. If you've tried reorganizing your iPhone or iPad home screen , you'll be familiar with this interface.

In the top part of the customization menu, you'll see a list of all available buttons. This is where you'll find new buttons like History or Bookmarks. If you want to add one of these buttons to the toolbar, click on the button, and drag it to the toolbar.

If you want to remove a button, click and drag the icon out of the toolbar area.

You can also customize the look of your Safari toolbar by adding some empty space. Click on the "Flexible space" button---located in the last row---and drag it into the toolbar.

To remove flexible space, click and drag it out of the toolbar.

Now that you understand how every element works, feel free to play around to get the Safari toolbar to look and feel just the way you like it.

• a. Send us an email
• b. Anonymous form
• Buyer's Guide
• Upcoming Products
• Tips / Contact Us
• Podcast Instagram Facebook Twitter Mastodon YouTube Notifications RSS Newsletter

How to Make Web Pages in Safari for Mac Easier to Read

To increase or decrease the zoom level of both text and images when viewing web pages in Safari, press Command and the + (plus) or - (minus) keys. You can also click on View in Safari's menu bar and select Zoom In or Zoom Out .

Alternatively, you can add zoom buttons to Safari's interface: Right-click (or Ctrl-click) on a space in the Safari toolbar and click Customize Toolbar... . Then drag the Zoom buttons in the dropdown to the space you just clicked on the toolbar. Click Done to finish.

Safari will remember your zoom and font size settings until you clear your History. To do so, click Safari in the menu bar, select Clear History... , then click the Clear History button.

Set the Zoom Level for a Specific Website

Once the zoom level is set up for a particular site, Safari applies it automatically whenever you visit it. Here's how it's done.

Set the Zoom Level for All Web Pages

Set Your Own Zoom Level With a Style Sheet

If none of Safari's zoom level increments sit right with your eyes, here's a way to set your own percentage.

From now on, Safari will default to the zoom level specified in your style sheet file, which you can edit at any time.

Force Websites to Use Bigger Font Sizes

Finally, there's an option in Safari that lets you force websites to display text using a minimum font size, without affecting the zoom level.

Get weekly top MacRumors stories in your inbox.

Top Rated Comments

Popular Stories

PlayStation, GameCube, Wii, and SEGA Emulator for iPhone and Apple TV Coming to App Store

Apple Reportedly Stops Production of FineWoven Accessories

Delta Game Emulator Now Available From App Store on iPhone

12.9-Inch iPad Air Now Rumored to Feature Mini-LED Display

Next article.

Our comprehensive guide highlighting every major new addition in iOS 17, plus how-tos that walk you through using the new features.

App Store changes for the EU, new emoji, Podcasts transcripts, and more.

Get the most out your iPhone 15 with our complete guide to all the new features.

A deep dive into new features in macOS Sonoma, big and small.

Revamped models with OLED displays, M3 chip, and redesigned Magic Keyboard accessory.

Updated 10.9-inch model and new 12.9-inch model, M2 chip expected.

Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference will kick off with a keynote on June 10.

Expected to see new AI-focused features and more. Preview coming at WWDC in June with public release in September.

Other Stories

16 hours ago by MacRumors Staff

2 days ago by MacRumors Staff

3 days ago by MacRumors Staff

• 9 Free Online Earth Day Games for Kids
• The Best Gadgets for The Beach or Pool

How to Modify Text Size in the Safari Browser on a Mac

You don't have to squint to read web pages in Safari

In This Article

Jump to a Section

• Step-by-Step: Change the Font Size in Safari

Change the Zoom Level in Safari

Add zoom controls to the safari toolbar, enlarge safari pages on macs with a trackpad.

When viewing a web page in the Safari web browser for the Mac, the text and screen contents may be too small to see comfortably, especially if you use a small-screen laptop. In other situations, the screen contents may be too large.

Safari makes it easy to change the font size and zoom level of web pages so that you can view web pages comfortably.

These instructions apply to Safari versions 13 through 9, covering macOS Catalina through OS X El Capitan.

Change the Font Size in Safari

To make the text larger or smaller, adjust the web page's font size.

Open the Safari browser on your Mac and go to a web page.

To increase the font size, press Option + Command + + (the plus sign).

To decrease the font size, press  Option + Command + - (the minus sign).

Alternatively, to increase the font size, go to View and select Make Text Bigger .

To decrease the font size from the menu, go to View and select Make Text Smaller .

Web sites stay at the font size you set. To return everything to its original state, go to the History menu item, select Clear History , and then select Clear History again.

Changing the zoom level on a web page is a little different from changing the text size because the tool increases or decreases the size of both text and images. Here's how to change the zoom level on a web page in Safari:

Go to the View menu at the top of the screen and select Zoom In to make all content on the current web page appear bigger. Repeat to make the content even larger.

Alternatively, use the keyboard shortcut  Command + + (the plus sign) to increase the zoom level.

To make the web page content display at a smaller size in Safari, select View > Zoom Out .

Or use the keyboard shortcut  Command + - (the minus sign) to make all content appear smaller.

To reset the zoom, go to View > Actual Size , or use the keyboard shortcut Command + 0 (zero). This command isn't available until you zoom in or out on the page.

Add a zoom icon to the Safari toolbar to make zooming in and out even easier. Here's how:

Go to View  and select  Customize Toolbar .

In the pop-up window, select the pair of buttons labeled  Zoom  and drag the buttons to Safari's main toolbar.

Select  Done  to exit the customization screen.

Two new buttons appear on the toolbar. Select the small letter A to zoom out, and select the larger letter A to zoom in.

Macs with a trackpad have more ways to change a web page's size. Place two fingers together on the trackpad and then spread your fingers apart to make a Safari web page bigger. Pull the two fingers back together to reduce the size of the web page.

A double-tap with two fingers on the trackpad zooms in closely on a section of the web page. A second double-tap returns the page to standard size.

Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day

• How to Modify Text Size in Internet Explorer
• What Is Safari?
• How to Change the Font Size on Your Screen
• How to Change the Font Size on an iPhone
• How to Zoom In or Out With Your Keyboard
• How to Display Messages in a Larger Font in Apple Mail
• How to Zoom In or Out in Windows or macOS
• How to Increase Font Size and Make Text Bigger on the iPad
• How to Change Text Size on Android
• How to Activate Full-Screen Mode in Google Chrome
• The Top 10 Internet Browsers for 2024
• How to Print an Outlook Email in a Different Font Size
• How to Change Icon Size In Windows 11
• How to Use the Safari Web Browser on iPhone
• How to Use Sticky Notes for Mac
• How to Clear Search History on iPhone

Download Free

How to Adjust Text Size on Safari

It's free and super easy to set up

Safari is a popular web browser that comes pre-installed on all Apple devices. One of the features that makes it popular is its ability to adjust text sizes to make reading easier for users. In this article, we will show you how to adjust text size on Safari for both desktop and iOS devices. We will also explore common text size issues and give you some troubleshooting tips.

Understanding Text Size Options in Safari

Before we delve into how to adjust text size in Safari, it's important to understand the different options available. There are two main text size settings in Safari: the default text size and zooming.

The default text size is the size at which text is displayed on a webpage. It's usually set by the website designer, and it's not always ideal for all users. Safari has a range of default text size settings that you can choose from.

However, if you find that even the largest default text size is still too small for your liking, you can adjust the text size further by using the zoom feature.

Default Text Size Settings

Safari's default text size settings range from "Smaller" to "Larger." You can access these settings by going to Safari's "Preferences" and clicking on the "Advanced" tab. From there, you can select your preferred default text size.

It's important to note that changing the default text size will only affect the text on webpages that haven't explicitly set their own text size.

For example, if a website has set their text size to be a specific size, changing the default text size in Safari won't affect that website's text.

Zooming vs. Text Size Adjustments

When you zoom in on a webpage, everything on the page gets bigger, including text, images, and videos. This can be useful if you want to see the entire webpage larger, but it can also make the webpage harder to navigate if everything is too big.

Text size adjustments, on the other hand, only affect the size of the text. This means that other elements of the webpage remain the same size. This can be useful if you only want to make the text larger and not affect the overall layout and design of the webpage.

To adjust the text size using the zoom feature in Safari, you can use the keyboard shortcut "Command +" to zoom in and "Command -" to zoom out. Alternatively, you can go to the "View" menu and select "Zoom In" or "Zoom Out."

Overall, understanding the different text size options in Safari can help you customize your browsing experience and make it easier to read and navigate webpages.

Adjusting Text Size on Safari for Desktop

Adjusting text size on Safari for desktop is a straightforward process. You can do it using keyboard shortcuts, the Safari menu, or Safari's preferences.

Using Keyboard Shortcuts

If you don't want to use your mouse, you can use keyboard shortcuts to adjust text size on Safari. To do this, hold down the "Command" key and press the "+" key to increase the text size or the "-" key to decrease it.

Adjusting Text Size through Safari Menu

You can also adjust text size through Safari's menu. Click on "View" in the menu bar and select "Zoom In" or "Zoom Out" to increase or decrease the text size, respectively.

Using Safari's Preferences

If you want to make a permanent change to text size, go to Safari's preferences. Click on "Safari" in the menu bar and select "Preferences." Then, click on the "Advanced" tab and choose "Accessibility." You will see an option to set a minimum font size for web pages.

Adjusting Text Size on Safari for iOS Devices

Adjusting text size on Safari for iOS devices is just as easy as it is for desktop. You can use the Reader view, iOS settings, or the pinch-to-zoom gesture.

Using the Reader View

The Reader view is a handy feature built into Safari that removes distracting elements from a webpage, such as ads and pop-ups, leaving only the main content. You can adjust text size in the Reader view by tapping on "Aa" icon and selecting a font size.

Adjusting Text Size through iOS Settings

You can also adjust text size through iOS settings. Go to "Settings," tap on "Display & Brightness" and then "Text Size." You can drag the slider to adjust the text size.

Using Pinch-to-Zoom Gesture

The pinch-to-zoom gesture is a quick and easy way to adjust text size. Simply place two fingers on the screen and pinch them together to zoom in or spread them apart to zoom out.

Customizing Font and Text Appearance

Customizing font and text appearance is another way to make reading more comfortable on Safari. You can change default font settings or use Safari extensions for additional customization.

Changing Default Font Settings

To change default font settings, go to Safari's preferences and click on the "Fonts" tab. Here, you can choose a new font and adjust font sizes and styles.

Using Safari Extensions for Additional Customization

Safari has a range of extensions that can help you customize font and text appearance. Some popular extensions include "Readability" and "Mercury Reader." These extensions allow you to adjust font sizes, styles, and colors to your preferences.

Troubleshooting Common Text Size Issues

Despite Safari's advanced text size options, you may still encounter some common issues. These issues include text overlapping problems and inconsistent text size across websites.

Resolving Text Overlapping Problems

If you notice that text is overlapping on a webpage, try zooming out or adjusting the text size. You can also try using the Reader view to remove any unwanted elements.

Fixing Inconsistent Text Size Across Websites

Most websites have their own default font sizes, so text size can appear inconsistent across different sites. To fix this, you can use Safari's "Reader view" to standardize text size across all websites. You can also use Safari extensions for additional text customization options.

Adjusting text size on Safari is a simple and effective way to make reading a more comfortable experience. Whether you're using a desktop or iOS device, Safari's advanced text size options make it easy to adjust text size according to your preferences. By using the different text size options available, you can customize your browsing experience and make reading on Safari a breeze.

Let's set you up !

Working on the web!

Student Tips

Startup Tools

Browser Glossary

Browser Tips

How to make text bigger in Safari for all webpages

While there’s sort of an unofficial standard when it comes to text size for a webpage, you’ll come across one or two along the way that use a very small font. And even if you don’t, you might simply have a little trouble viewing the text on pages clearly.

What you might not realize is that with one simple setting, you can always see the text on pages in Safari in a larger size. Here’s how to do that on Mac, iPhone, and iPad.

Change Safari’s font size on Mac

Open Safari on your Mac and then follow these steps to change the text size:

• Click Safari > Preferences from the top menu bar.
• Choose the Advanced tab.
• Check the box next to Accessibility for Never use font sizes smaller than and pick a size from the drop-down box. You can try out different sizes and see the changes immediately within Safari. This lets you pick the right one for you.

Close the Safari Preferences and then enjoy browsing the web without squinting.

Change Safari’s font size on iPhone or iPad

The simplest way to change the font size in Safari on your iPhone or iPad is to use the View Menu button at the top. While this change will only apply to the site you’re visiting, the setting will be remembered each time you visit that domain, even if you close the tab and reopen it.

Follow these steps to permanently change the font size of a webpage in Safari on iPhone or iPad:

• With a webpage open in Safari on your iOS device, tap the View Menu button in the address bar. This is labeled as two A’s ( AA ).
• Tap the large A on the right to increase the size or the small A on the left to decrease it.

And remember, you can also use the Reader View and adjust the per-site settings for Safari on iOS.

Many people don’t take the time to explore the accessibility options on their devices unless they really need to. But some terrific features can make your device experiences so much better. And this is one of them.

Are you going to change the size of the font for Safari? Let us know if this is a setting you’ll change on your Mac or if you only plan to do it on your iPhone or iPad.

Related tips:

• How to increase text size on iPhone and iPad
• How to adjust iPhone text size separately for each of your installed apps
• How to increase the font size on Mac

Want to highlight a helpful answer? Upvote!

Did someone help you, or did an answer or User Tip resolve your issue? Upvote by selecting the upvote arrow. Your feedback helps others!  Learn more about when to upvote >

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Change font size on safari

iPhone 11, iOS 14

Posted on Jun 24, 2021 5:54 AM

Similar questions

• how do i change the font size in safari how do i change the font size in safari's sidebar, please? 427 1
• how do you change font size? how do you change font size? 424 4
• how to change font size how toi change the font size of website 224 1

Loading page content

Page content loaded

Jun 25, 2021 12:47 PM in response to elva210

As an alternative, you could also change the minimum font size:

• Click Safari in the menu bar and click Preferences
• Click the Advanced tab (to the right)
• Under Accessibility, check "Never use font sizes smaller than"
• Select a font size. The bigger the number, the larger the font size will be.

Jun 25, 2021 10:33 AM in response to elva210

Hi elva210,

We see you're wanting to change the font size of Safari on your iPhone. In Settings > Safari > Page Zoom, you can select a percentage for all websites. You can test each one until you're satisfied with the size. Hope this helps.

Jun 25, 2021 11:58 AM in response to Chris_C1

Jun 25, 2021 12:53 PM in response to elva210

Hey elva210,

Glad it helped!

Have a great day.

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!)

Click Here For More City Street Guides!

(A New Guide Posted Every Other Wednesday)

Comment Here! Cancel reply

For patreon exclusive educational content:.

Limited Edition Postcard Prints!

Street Photography Workshops

Donations Always Appreciated

I'll always keep Shooter Files free for everyone, but any donations would be greatly appreciated and help me keep it going. Many thanks to everyone following along!

Cheers! -f.d. walker

Search the Files

For Exclusive Patron Content:

Safari User Guide

• Change your homepage
• Import bookmarks, history, and passwords
• Make Safari your default web browser
• Go to websites
• Find what you’re looking for
• Bookmark webpages that you want to revisit
• See your favorite websites
• Use tabs for webpages
• Pin frequently visited websites
• Play web videos
• Mute audio in tabs
• Pay with Apple Pay
• Autofill credit card info
• Autofill contact info
• Keep a Reading List
• Hide ads when reading articles
• Translate a webpage
• Download items from the web
• Share or post webpages
• Add passes to Wallet
• Save part or all of a webpage
• Print or create a PDF of a webpage
• Customize a start page
• Customize the Safari window
• Customize settings per website
• Zoom in on webpages
• Get extensions
• Manage cookies and website data
• Block pop-ups
• Clear your browsing history
• Browse privately
• Autofill user name and password info
• Prevent cross-site tracking
• View a Privacy Report
• Change Safari preferences
• Keyboard and other shortcuts
• Troubleshooting

Change Advanced preferences in Safari on Mac

Open Safari for me

The Comprehensive Guide to Moscow Nightlife

• Posted on April 14, 2018 July 26, 2018
• by Kings of Russia
• 8 minute read

Moscow’s nightlife scene is thriving, and arguably one of the best the world has to offer – top-notch Russian women, coupled with a never-ending list of venues, Moscow has a little bit of something for everyone’s taste. Moscow nightlife is not for the faint of heart – and if you’re coming, you better be ready to go Friday and Saturday night into the early morning.

This comprehensive guide to Moscow nightlife will run you through the nuts and bolts of all you need to know about Moscow’s nightclubs and give you a solid blueprint to operate with during your time in Moscow.

What you need to know before hitting Moscow nightclubs

Prices in moscow nightlife.

Before you head out and start gaming all the sexy Moscow girls , we have to talk money first. Bring plenty because in Moscow you can never bring a big enough bankroll. Remember, you’re the man so making a fuzz of not paying a drink here or there will not go down well.

Luckily most Moscow clubs don’t do cover fees. Some electro clubs will charge 15-20$, depending on their lineup. There’s the odd club with a minimum spend of 20-30$, which you’ll drop on drinks easily. By and large, you can scope out the venues for free, which is a big plus.

Bottle service is a great deal in Moscow. At top-tier clubs, it starts at 1,000$. That’ll go a long way with premium vodka at 250$, especially if you have three or four guys chipping in. Not to mention that it’s a massive status boost for getting girls, especially at high-end clubs.

Without bottle service, you should estimate a budget of 100-150$ per night. That is if you drink a lot and hit the top clubs with the hottest girls. Scale down for less alcohol and more basic places.

Dress code & Face control

Door policy in Moscow is called “face control” and it’s always the guy behind the two gorillas that gives the green light if you’re in or out.

In Moscow nightlife there’s only one rule when it comes to dress codes:

You can never be underdressed.

People dress A LOT sharper than, say, in the US and that goes for both sexes. For high-end clubs, you definitely want to roll with a sharp blazer and a pocket square, not to mention dress shoes in tip-top condition. Those are the minimum requirements to level the playing field vis a vis with other sharply dressed guys that have a lot more money than you do. Unless you plan to hit explicit electro or underground clubs, which have their own dress code, you are always on the money with that style.

Getting in a Moscow club isn’t as hard as it seems: dress sharp, speak English at the door and look like you’re in the mood to spend all that money that you supposedly have (even if you don’t). That will open almost any door in Moscow’s nightlife for you.

Types of Moscow Nightclubs

In Moscow there are four types of clubs with the accompanying female clientele:

High-end clubs:

These are often crossovers between restaurants and clubs with lots of tables and very little space to dance. Heavy accent on bottle service most of the time but you can work the room from the bar as well. The hottest and most expensive girls in Moscow go there. Bring deep pockets and lots of self-confidence and you have a shot at swooping them.

Regular Mid-level clubs:

They probably resemble more what you’re used to in a nightclub: big dancefloors, stages and more space to roam around. Bottle service will make you stand out more but you can also do well without. You can find all types of girls but most will be in the 6-8 range. Your targets should always be the girls drinking and ideally in pairs. It’s impossible not to swoop if your game is at least half-decent.

Basic clubs/dive bars:

Usually spots with very cheap booze and lax face control. If you’re dressed too sharp and speak no Russian, you might attract the wrong type of attention so be vigilant. If you know the local scene you can swoop 6s and 7s almost at will. Usually students and girls from the suburbs.

Electro/underground clubs:

Home of the hipsters and creatives. Parties there don’t mean meeting girls and getting drunk but doing pills and spacing out to the music. Lots of attractive hipster girls if that is your niche. That is its own scene with a different dress code as well.

What time to go out in Moscow

Moscow nightlife starts late. Don’t show up at bars and preparty spots before 11pm because you’ll feel fairly alone. Peak time is between 1am and 3am. That is also the time of Moscow nightlife’s biggest nuisance: concerts by artists you won’t know and who only distract your girls from drinking and being gamed. From 4am to 6am the regular clubs are emptying out but plenty of people, women included, still hit up one of the many afterparty clubs. Those last till well past 10am.

As far as days go: Fridays and Saturdays are peak days. Thursday is an OK day, all other days are fairly weak and you have to know the right venues.

The Ultimate Moscow Nightclub List

Short disclaimer: I didn’t add basic and electro clubs since you’re coming for the girls, not for the music. This list will give you more options than you’ll be able to handle on a weekend.

Preparty – start here at 11PM

Classic restaurant club with lots of tables and a smallish bar and dancefloor. Come here between 11pm and 12am when the concert is over and they start with the actual party. Even early in the night tons of sexy women here, who lean slightly older (25 and up).

The second floor of the Ugolek restaurant is an extra bar with dim lights and house music tunes. Very small and cozy with a slight hipster vibe but generally draws plenty of attractive women too. A bit slower vibe than Valenok.

Very cool, spread-out venue that has a modern library theme. Not always full with people but when it is, it’s brimming with top-tier women. Slow vibe here and better for grabbing contacts and moving on.

High-end: err on the side of being too early rather than too late because of face control.

Secret Room

Probably the top venue at the moment in Moscow . Very small but wildly popular club, which is crammed with tables but always packed. They do parties on Thursdays and Sundays as well. This club has a hip-hop/high-end theme, meaning most girls are gold diggers, IG models, and tattooed hip hop chicks. Very unfavorable logistics because there is almost no room no move inside the club but the party vibe makes it worth it. Strict face control.

Close to Secret Room and with a much more favorable and spacious three-part layout. This place attracts very hot women but also lots of ball busters and fakes that will leave you blue-balled. Come early because after 4am it starts getting empty fast. Electronic music.

A slightly kitsch restaurant club that plays Russian pop and is full of gold diggers, semi-pros, and men from the Caucasus republics. Thursday is the strongest night but that dynamic might be changing since Secret Room opened its doors. You can swoop here but it will be a struggle.

Mid-level: your sweet spot in terms of ease and attractiveness of girls for an average budget.

Started going downwards in 2018 due to lax face control and this might get even worse with the World Cup. In terms of layout one of the best Moscow nightclubs because it’s very big and bottle service gives you a good edge here. Still attracts lots of cute girls with loose morals but plenty of provincial girls (and guys) as well. Swooping is fairly easy here.

I haven’t been at this place in over a year, ever since it started becoming ground zero for drunken teenagers. Similar clientele to Icon but less chic, younger and drunker. Decent mainstream music that attracts plenty of tourists. Girls are easy here as well.

Sort of a Coyote Ugly (the real one in Moscow sucks) with party music and lots of drunken people licking each others’ faces. Very entertaining with the right amount of alcohol and very easy to pull in there. Don’t think about staying sober in here, you’ll hate it.

Artel Bessonitsa/Shakti Terrace

Electronic music club that is sort of a high-end place with an underground clientele and located between the teenager clubs Icon and Gipsy. Very good music but a bit all over the place with their vibe and their branding. You can swoop almost any type of girl here from high-heeled beauty to coked-up hipsters, provided they’re not too sober.

Afterparty: if by 5AM  you haven’t pulled, it’s time to move here.

Best afterparty spot in terms of trying to get girls. Pretty much no one is sober in there and savage gorilla game goes a long way. Lots of very hot and slutty-looking girls but it can be hard to tell apart who is looking for dick and who is just on drugs but not interested. If by 9-10am you haven’t pulled, it is probably better to surrender.

The hipster alternative for afterparties, where even more drugs are in play. Plenty of attractive girls there but you have to know how to work this type of club. A nicer atmosphere and better music but if you’re desperate to pull, you’ll probably go to Miks.

Weekday jokers: if you’re on the hunt for some sexy Russian girls during the week, here are two tips to make your life easier.

Chesterfield

Ladies night on Wednesdays means this place gets pretty packed with smashed teenagers and 6s and 7s. Don’t pull out the three-piece suit in here because it’s a “simpler” crowd. Definitely your best shot on Wednesdays.

If you haven’t pulled at Chesterfield, you can throw a Hail Mary and hit up Garage’s Black Music Wednesdays. Fills up really late but there are some cute Black Music groupies in here. Very small club. Thursday through Saturday they do afterparties and you have an excellent shot and swooping girls that are probably high.

Shishas Sferum

This is pretty much your only shot on Mondays and Tuesdays because they offer free or almost free drinks for women. A fairly low-class club where you should watch your drinks. As always the case in Moscow, there will be cute girls here on any day of the week but it’s nowhere near as good as on the weekend.

In a nutshell, that is all you need to know about where to meet Moscow girls in nightlife. There are tons of options, and it all depends on what best fits your style, based on the type of girls that you’re looking for.

Related Topics

• moscow girls
• moscow nightlife

The Top 3 Cities in Ukraine for First Timers

• Posted on July 7, 2018 August 4, 2019

You May Also Like

• Uncategorized

The Best Expat Blogs for Moscow

• Posted on May 31, 2020 June 1, 2020

Finding a Russian Bride: How and Where to Meet Her

• Posted on August 9, 2019 August 9, 2019

Meeting Women in Moscow: Dating Perspectives on the World’s Most Beautiful Women

• Posted on August 5, 2019 August 9, 2019

Meeting Russian Women: Top 5 Locations

• Posted on August 3, 2019 June 1, 2020

Moscow vs St. Petersburg – Which One to Visit?

• Posted on July 31, 2019 August 3, 2019

Hot Russian Girls – Where to Find & Date Them

• Posted on March 30, 2019 March 30, 2019

A Guide to Teaching English in Russia

• Posted on August 11, 2018 October 9, 2019

How to Attract Russian Girls

• Posted on July 15, 2018 August 4, 2019

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Input your search keywords and press Enter.

2018 Primetime Emmy & James Beard Award Winner

R&K Insider

Join our newsletter to get exclusives on where our correspondents travel, what they eat, where they stay. Free to sign up.

A History of Moscow in 13 Dishes

Featured city guides.

Explore the world with tourHQ

• Destinations
• I am a Guide
• I am a Traveller
• Online Experiences
• Currency (USD)

The epicenter of modern Russia, Moscow booms with shiny new skyscrapers, the bulbous onion domes of the tsars and politically-rich Red Square. Explore the metropolis with a tourHQ guide.

Search Cities in Russia

Moscow Tour Guides

Jorge De Reval

I am a happy, enthusiastic, amusing Spanish guy. Lively and hyperactive. Recently became qualified ...

Tanya Neyman

I became a local tour guide 6 years ago in Moscow and now we are a team of passionate guides ...

Ekaterina Smirnova

Please note: I'm away from Moscow June 11-26, 2021. I am a native Muscovite but traveled ...

Vasil Valiev

Occupation: Senior guide-translator. Guiding since 2012 in Altai mountains, North of Russia ...

Marina Spasskaya

Hi there! My name is Marina and I'm a licensed Moscow city guide.Moscow is like ...

Greetings from Saint Petersburg. This is your private tour guide Ali in Saint Petersburg. I was ...

Maria Deulina

Dear friends,My name is Maria, I am a licensed guide about Moscow. Being a native Muscovite I have ...

Ashraf Rabei

My name is Ashraf ...I'm graduated from faculty of tourism and hotel guidance department, in Egypt ...

Hengameh Ghanavati

My name is Hengameh Ghanavati. Im a licenced international tour guide since 2014 and I have ...

Todd Passey

We are a cooperative of highly experienced, certified, professional guides. Each guide takes ...

Tim Brinley

Young at heart, adventurous, organized, good people skills, a good speaker, entertaining, ...

Nikolay Borkovoy

Hace 32 años nací en la ciudad de Moscú. Tengo experiencia trabajando como guía turístico en ...

Anika Socotra-International

Our mission is to provide you with the kind of holiday you want: where you can relax in wonderful ...

Al'bina Andreeva

Moscow guide&photo! Feel Putin vibes and explore the enigmatic Russian soul through history ...

The sprawling, mind-boggling metropolis of Russian Moscow has long been one of the theatrical stages on which the great dramas of Europe and Asia have been played out in grand style. Burned by Napoleon in 1812, immortalised by Tolstoy, utilised by the Bolsheviks and championed as a bastion of heroic defiance by the post-war communists, it’s almost hard to believe just how defining the historical events that found their home on Moscow’s streets have been. Moscow tour guides will easily be able to mark the major must-see landmarks on the map, from the onion-domed orthodox Saint Basil's Cathedral, to the political powerhouse of Red Square just next door, while others will be quick to recommend a ride on Moscow’s famous subterranean metro system, or a visit to the UNESCO-attested Novodevichy Convent on the city’s southern side. But Moscow is a city also in the throes of a cultural wrangling between the old and the new. Creative energies abound here: Boho bars and pumping super clubs now occupy the iconic mega structures of the old USSR; high-fashion outlets, trendy shopping malls and luxurious residential districts stand as testimony to a city that’s now the undisputed playground of the world’s super-rich, while sprawling modern art museums dominate the cultural offering of the downtown districts north of the Moskva River.  

Tell us your destination, date, and group size.

Our team of travel experts and guides will design a tailored itinerary just for you., enjoy your trip with peace of mind knowing everything is taken care of..

Say Goodbye to Travel Stress

Choose Currency Close modal

• USD US, dollar
• GBP British Pounds

Cookie icon We use cookies!

We, and third parties, use cookies for technical and analytical purposes, for marketing purposes and for integration with social media. For more information, refer to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Consent.

By clicking on 'I agree', you consent to the use of these cookies.