THOUGHTS ON MOSCOW

NEWS & VIEWS FROM THE RAILS

MY FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF MOSCOW

The hotel we stayed in was near the centre, clean and comfortable, newly refurbished, staff were helpful and friendly and the breakfast was the best we had on our trip - although we didn’t know this at the time or we would have taken longer to enjoy it! There is no point asking for a view as most buildings in Moscow have height regulations. So, we had a quiet room at the back, which made for a good night's sleep.  I think there is nothing worse than the excitement of being in a new town or city and as soon as you enter your hotel its like another hotel in another town because they are all standardised though out the world. It is better to be in a hotel that enhances your experience and for this you really can’t get better than the Arbat House Hotel.

Moscow's Food and Restaurants

A few things worth thinking about start with food. Russians don’t have their main meals in the same way we do in the UK. In a normal day there maybe 3 or 4 courses but Christmas and special occasions (including ordering in restaurants) comes in at about 7 courses. Starting with a normal starter and following with salad, soup, meat, potato’s, bread, a light dessert!! and cheese course (or a variation of all these). 

It is important to understand this as at first you think the meals are small until you realise everything is to be ordered individually, which can quickly become pricy. We stuck to the side street coffee bars, which were cosy and where we discovered “som tem” a meat and vegetable filled bun/pie. 

We also found these very easily at platform stops when on the Trans-Siberian train. It also allows you to point at what you want as not many Russians speak English, so it is a good idea to learn a few words. We also found most of them say things “to the point” - like an order! - which takes some getting used to, so don’t be offended by being told to “sit”.
blog moscow 1
blog moscow 2

Moscow's Culture and History

Moscow is a city deep in culture and history, which you can feel all around you. Our guide had a deep passion for her city and country which showed in her knowledge. She created a picture in our imagination of how life would have been hundreds of years ago, how lovers and poets were enchanted by the city from the time it was the capital and from times when it was not. The buildings are so well kept you can understand what it must have been like as you twist and turn down side street to find these hidden gems. It made me wish I had also seen St Petersburg which must also be as historical as Moscow. I have visited many cities but Moscow has become one of my favourites and I think is a real must see.

GUEST BLOG POST

This is the first in a series of 5 articles written by guest blogger Louisa Howard who recently completed a Trans-Siberian tour with us from Moscow to Shanghai via the Trans-Mongolian, Beijing and Xian.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT moscow

BROWSE RECENT POSTS

Siberia's Top 5

Siberia is one of the highlights of a Trans-Siberian journey and most visitors will undoubtedly have at least one stop in this magnificent region.

A Plumb Adventure

The Trans-Siberian Travel Company's staff member Chris Plumb took an epic journey from Vladivostok to St Petersburg visa Mongolia and the Tsars Gold train.

Trips Avoiding China

In the past most tourists have focused on the Trans-Mongolian to Beijing but in recent years the Trans-Siberian line to Vladivostok has become increasingly popular.

Visiting St Petersburg

Is it worth adding on a visit to the second city of Russia; St Petersburg? After all, it isn’t strictly a part of the Trans Siberian or Mongolian train lines.

Moscow Metro

There are so many options of tours in Moscow but a Metro tour should be the top of everyone’s list and is one of our favourites with plenty of surprises!

Irkutsk & Lake Baikal

One of the most popular stops on any Trans Mongolian or Trans Siberian Railway tour is the wonderful Siberian city of Irkutsk and nearby Lake Baikal.

Destination Ekaterinburg

Ekaterinburg is the fourth largest city in Russia and one of the most popular stops on the Trans-Siberian Railway offering up history and rural Russia in the Urals.

Moscow's Kremlin

Literally meaning “fortress inside a city” the Moscow Kremlin refers to the fortified collection of palaces and cathedrals that look over Red Square.

St Petersburg's Hermitage

The State Hermitage is one of the world’s oldest museums having been founded by Catherine the Great 250 years ago and has been open to the public for over 160 years.

First Time China

As this was my first time in China I was keen to see as much as possible. We settled on Beijing, Xian and Shanghai which offer great contrasts.

Platform Life

This trip is full of discovery but you have to also get up and go out on the platforms to find the most exciting experiences to complete your Trans-Siberian trip.

Train Life

Guest blog entry describing life on board a Trans-Siberian train and the daily coming and going and routines you get into on a long train ride.

What Route to Take

When first exploring into the Trans Siberian railway, one of the first questions to ask yourself is which way to go. Here our guest blogger gives her views.

Moscow Impressions

First in a series of 5 articles written by guest blogger Louisa Howard who completed a Trans-Mongolian trip with us from Moscow all the way to Shanghai.

Trans-Siberian History

Learn about the history of this extraordinary railway in our brief guide to the construction and importance of the train routes across Russia and to China.

Tsars Gold Train

The Tsars Gold private train is one of several that run tours just for tourists in a good level of comfort along the Trans-Mongolian route. Learn more here.

Life On Board

What is a Siberian train really like? Here we go into detail about what you experience on the trains and how they really are and what facilities they have.

Destination Vladivostok

Vladivostok lies at the Far Eastern end of the Trans-Siberian railway and has been a city that has had an important part in the history of several countries.

Destination Krasnoyarsk

One of the lesser know destinations available for Trans-Siberian Tours is a stopover in the city of Krasnoyarsk despite being the third largest in Siberia.

About Siberia

With a total size of 13.1 million square miles Siberia takes up three quarters of Russia’s total size and a tenth of the whole world’s surface - learn more.

Off The Beaten Track

Learn about our Off The Beaten track rail tours that visit destinations less visited along the Siberian and Trans-Mongolian rail routes including Kazan and Krasnoyarsk.

Gers in Winter

One of the Highlights of a Trans-Siberian Tour is Mongolia and a night or two out at a ger camp on the steppe. How about visiting Mongolian ger camps in winter?

Visa Requirements

There are few nationalities that can take a Trans-Siberian trip visa free. This article intends to shed some light on the paperwork required by most.

Bogie Changing

Whether you are a train aficionado or not one of the more unusual Trans-Siberian tours experiences available to the traveller occurs at the Chinese borders.

Planning A Trip

For many people the idea of how to start organizing their Trans Siberian holiday is a daunting task. Here is a beginner’s guide to deciding what’s best for you.

Trans-Siberian in Winter

Winter is a very special time to travel the Trans-Siberian but many might be put off by the cold. This article will hopefully convince you to dress up warm and travel!

Accommodation Options

One of the joys of Trans-Siberian is the wide variety of accommodation on offer. Here we list some of the best options for the most popular stop overs.

Destination Kazan

Kazan is half way between Moscow and Ekaterinburg and an increasingly popular stop on Trans-Siberian trips for its exciting mix of cultures from East and West.

Trans-Siberian Routes

In this article we discuss the different Trans-Siberian route options available including the Trans-Manchurian, Trans-Mongolian and the Baikal Amur Mainline.

Who Travels The Trans-Siberian

Using the public trains in Russia who are you likely to come across on your Trans-Siberian travels. Here we discuss the different groups you are likely to find.

Train Classes

Picking the right train class can make all the difference on a Trans-Siberian train trip where so much time is spent on board. Learn about the different train classes here.

HOMETOURSPLANABOUTBLOG
☎ UK +44 (0) 20 8816 8925info@thetranssiberiantravelcompany.com
All trips are operated by HeadsEast Ltd | UK Company number 6717612 | © Copyright 2008-21 HeadsEast Ltd
footer logos
We hold ATOL license 10287 so booking with us gives you 100% financial protection. We are also members of the Association of British Travel Agents. ABTA has strict membership requirements and we are required to adhere to the associations high standards. Our ABTA number is Y1699.
Privacy PolicyTerms & ConditionsGreen PolicyCareers
linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram