Tours

Going on various tours to get introduced to Moscow's history and architecture is a great opportunity to not only learn more about the city's sights, but also visit unusual or even hard-to-reach places. It is best to book tours in advance, online or by phone: this way, you will be able to better plan out your trip, not to mention that many original tour programs have limited group sizes.

Hop-On, Hop-Off

Hop-On, Hop-Off is a popular network of double-decker sightseeing buses that operates in many European capitals, including Moscow. HOHO is based on a simple principle: the buses follow looped routes, where you can hop on or hop off at any stop. Available ticketing options include 24, 48, and 72-hour passes.

Moscow's Hop On, Hop Off buses follow three routes, each with its own color designation. Red buses circle the city center, passing Red Square, the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts, Arbat Street, the Central Children's Store, and Saint Basil's Cathedral. The green route goes through the Khamovniki and Yakimanka districts, passing Gorky Park, Sparrow Hills, Zaryadye Park, and Hotel Ukraina. The Orange route is dedicated to the northern part of Moscow and passes VDNH, Ostankino Tower, and the Olimpiyskiy Sports Complex along the way.

City Architecture

Unusual themed tours to Moscow sights are offered by the educational project Moscow Through the Eyes of an Engineer. On the project's website, you can choose an educational walking tour to your interests: the project has tours dedicated to the architectural styles of the capital's buildings, the chronological periods of Moscow's history, and the city's infrastructure. In addition to being able to enjoy a diverse program, tour participants will get an opportunity to visit several unusual places, such as the roof of the former Red October factory, which offers a view of the city center, and the tower of the Kievsky railway station, among others. The project also offers tours for children and workshops for all ages.

History and Modernity

The Moscow Walks project was created by a team of history enthusiasts, and was soon joined by experts from a wide variety of fields. The project's participants conduct walking tours of Moscow, with each tour having a unique route created by the guide themselves. Today, the project involves not only historians, but also journalists, art experts, architects, and urban activists, allowing you to choose a tour on whichever topic interests you most. Most of the tours are free; their complete list is available on the project's website.

Metro

The Moscow Metro offers themed tours of its stations and lobbies. The tours are conducted by certified guides who will tell you about the construction and design of the stations, unusual architectural solutions, and important events in the history of the Moscow Metro. You can book and pay for a tour on the project's website, which features a selection of a dozen different original tours.