Moscow Behind the Icons
Moscow, Russia
From USD 68.15
Office phone number: +7 495 414 2994
Moscow Behind the Icons
Moscow, Russia





Culture shock rating
Worried we’re going to shock your senses? Relax! We believe part of the fun of travel is immersing yourself in the destination and its culture, meeting the people, and learning what makes the place tick. We’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The cultural shock rating ranks how different the experience is from most Western cultures. But no matter the level, don’t worry, you’ll have a local, in-the-know guide with you every step of the way.
Low
Consider these tours your 101 intro to a place. Transportation might be private or a very comfortable public option, and the activities are usually visits to iconic sites and locations that are familiar to most Western cultures – but that will still give you fantastic insight into a destination.
Medium
Expect to rough it for parts of this tour, whether that’s on a packed public bus or in a local market off the tourist trail. There might be a few language barriers or unfamiliar cultural customs, and you’ll get an experience different from what you're used to at home.
High
You're out there in the global community! We’re going to take you down streets you’d rarely explore on your own, introduce you to local customs and languages, and take you for a ride in whatever transport is available. Get ready to take it as it comes, whatever comes. There might be a shock, but oh man, it’s worth it.

Physical rating
Worried our tours are too tough? Relax! From leisurely strolls to muscle-burning treks, we’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The physical grading gives you an idea of how much huffing and puffing you can expect on the tour.
Low
Slow and steady is all you need here. These tours have very limited physical activity, such as walking relatively flat streets, sites, or markets, and climbing in and out of the transport provided.
Medium
Not too hard, not too soft, these tours are just right! You can expect a bit of physical activity, but nothing overly challenging – perhaps walking up and down hills, riding a bike for up to 30 kilometers along mostly flat terrain, or jumping in a kayak for a gentle paddle on flat water.
High
Get ready for a workout! These tours are our most challenging and involve intense walking, hiking, kayaking, swimming, or bike riding. You could be making steep climbs by foot or pedal, or working your core in the water. We recommend you have a good level of fitness to join this tour.
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Tour snapshot
Start your Great Russian journey by discovering “Moscow’s Greatest Hits” from a local perspective! Enjoy the classic sites like Red Square and St. Basil’s Cathedral along with the spots only locals know. Learn about Russia’s emperor days, Soviet history, and contemporary Moscow as you experience the city beyond the icons.
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Highlights
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- Get out of the guidebook and dive into the local life of Moscow, seeing the typical spots in a new way
- Taste a cheburek and find out why the locals love them so much
- Learn how Soviet times influenced Moscow, its people, and Russia in general
- Retreat to a quiet secret spot away from the bustle of Moscow
- See iconic sites like Pushkinskaya Square, Red Square, and St. Basil’s Cathedral
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Schedule details
- Duration: 3 hours
- Meeting point:
Pushkin Monument on Pushkinskaya Square, metro station: Tverskaya
Map: https://www.google.ru/maps/place/Alexander+Pushkin's+Monument,+Moscow
- Find the exact meeting point with what3words:
- Starting time: 10.00 AM
- Ending point:
Red Square
Language: English
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, cheburek (snack) and drink.
Exclusions: Additional food and drinks, souvenirs and items of a personal nature, tips and gratuities for your guide.
Your Moscow tour will start at Pushkinskaya Square, a main spot for locals to gather and meet. It is the epicentre of many of Moscow’s historical layers: here you’ll find a monument to Pushkin, the main figure of Russian literature and the big macho of his times; the avantgarde building of the former main soviet newspaper; and even the first McDonald’s in Russia. These “landmarks” all come from very different periods of Russian history, and convey a lot what was happening in the country during their eras.
From there, we’re going 100% authentic with a taste of local Russian fast food. We’ll visit a spot that’s popular for selling chebureks, deep-fried pastries filled with minced meat. (Don’t worry if you’re meat-averse — for vegetarians there are chebureks with potatoes and cheese.) Wash it down with a traditional Russian soft drink or tea, and find out why the locals love this place. This snack spot is rarely visited by tourists, so you’re getting the true taste of local life!
After our short snack stop, your Moscow tour will continue with a visit to the most unlikely of beautiful sites: a grocery store! Not just any grocery store, though — Eliseevsky is famous for luxurious, neo-baroque interiors.
From there, we’ll continue walking along Tverskaya Street, passing by some of Moscow’s main landmarks: the monument to the founder of the city and the governor’s house, and along the way, you’ll learn a bit about Russian theatre, like how it reflects the mysterious Russian soul. We’ll check out an amazing, gigantic piece of ballerina-inspired graffiti art — a modern way to interpret classic Russian ballet.
Along the way, we’ll visit a Russian Orthodox Church, where we can light a candle and, if we’re lucky, listen to some beautiful choir songs while your guide shares a few personal stories. (Please note that if you wish to go inside the church, you must be wearing clothing that goes below your knees, and women must have a scarf to cover their head.)
Still feeling soothed from our experience at the church, we’ll then whisk you to a secret spot where you can find a moment of absolute silence while still being in the centre of a noisy metropolis.
We will finish our Moscow city tour at Red Square, the famous heart of Moscow, where you can spot all the legendary landmarks found in guidebooks. Here is Lenin’s Tomb, housing the body of the Russian revolutionary. You’ll also find the GUM department store, with its outstanding interiors and many soviet attributes — such as kiosks serving the famous soviet ice cream, which for sure should be on your must-try list!
And finally, the main highlight of Red Square is, of course, the 16th-century St. Basil’s Cathedral, with its bright and colourful domes — the classic Red Square scene! Get your cameras ready.
Throughout it all, your local guide will share stories from local life and history, and point out sites you may want to see during the rest of your time in Moscow. Get some insider tips on what to do next, where to eat, where to go, and how to get there, before bidding farewell to your new friends in Moscow!
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Additional information
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, cheburek (snack) and drink.
Exclusions: Additional food and drinks, souvenirs and items of a personal nature, tips and gratuities for your guide.
Dress standard: If you’d like to go inside the Russian Orthodox Church, please be sure to wear clothing that covers your legs to below the knees. Woman must also have a scarf to cover their head.
Your Trip: For your Urban Adventure you will be in a small group of a maximum of 12 people
Confirmation of booking: If you have your voucher, your booking is confirmed. We'll see you at the start point. Get in touch if you have any concerns or require more information via the email address or phone number (business hours only) on your voucher.
Child Policy: This is a child-friendly tour. Children between the ages of 6 and 11 inclusively are permitted on this tour at the rate listed above. Please select ‘child’ above when booking. Children under the age of 6 are permitted to join this tour free of charge. Please inform us at the time of booking if you’ll be bringing a child under the age of 6. You can do so in the special request box on the checkout page.
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Local contact
Office phone number: +7 495 414 2994
Email address: info@moscowurbanadventures.com
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