Russia – Moscow – Woke and Awake Travel

To and From Moscow:
Plenty of travel options from Dublin, but Aeroflot is possibly one of the best as they fly direct to SVO (Sheremetyevo) which is the main airport in Moscow, consider flight times as they either arrive late or very early next day (Moscow is + 2 hours GMT). Either way an additional hotel night is required for the late arrival.
Visa for Moscow is essential and requires a visit to the Russian Embassy in Rathgar D14, you can check on the link 1 under useful addresses. But be warned it is a challenge and every detail must be correct, ensure you have a hotel booked and they have completed the host tourist voucher, and note the Embassy is normally only open in the morning, contrary to what the web site may state.
Formalities completed: head to check out.

Woke Tip: Plan for an early arrival and negotiate with the hotel for early room occupancy rate.
Awake Tip: Book a car for airport transfer to hotel, through your hotel concierge or booking.com always a good option – note traffic in Moscow is dreadful at rush hour, be warned especially for return leg.

Arrival in SVO:Long transfer in from the aircraft landing slot into terminal building, but immigration and customs efficient enough and driver on time and waiting in arrivals hall to transfer to the St Regis Nikolskaya, fabulous luxury hotel in an excellent location to explore the city on foot or by metro.

Figure 1 – Lubyanka-Square-with-ST-REGIS-behind

Check out 2 under Useful links

Day 1 – Exploring Moscow: Red Square
Heading out around lunchtime first day after early arrival and freshen up.
Red square is only a five-minute walk from The St Regis Nikolskaya. From Lubyanka Square, along Nikolskaya – plenty of shops and bars along the route together with must see seasonal lighting.

Figure 2 Lubyanka Square Along Nikolskava

Do not miss Nikolskaya plaza on the way to Red Square – great spot for lunch at very reasonable prices and an easy introduction to Russian hospitality and cuisine.Check out 3 under useful links

Follow on for 5 minutes and just as you approach Red Square you will see Kazan Cathedral a Pink-&-white 1993 replica of a destroyed 1600s Russian Orthodox church, topped with golden domes on your right, worth taking a look before heading across Red Square to the State Historical Museum, The complex includes Pokrovsky ( St Basils Cathedral ) a monument to Minin and Pozharsky on Red Square the House of the Romanov Boyars and Izmailove.
With likely queues best buy a ticket online and plan for an afternoon as plenty to observe in the four parts of the tourist sites.
Iconic Pokrovsky Cathedral is a true wonder and on the UNESCO Heritage list.

Figure 3 St Basils Interior

Figure 4 Back of St Basils Cathedral

Figure 5 View from St Basils Cathedral back across Red Square

Check out Link 4 under useful addresses
After a long first day back to hotel, great leisure centre to relax before dinner in the Italian Osteria A Tavola restaurant.

Awake Tip : Book tickets on line to avoid long queues
Awoke Tip : Don’t go mad on the first day after an early start but also a lot to take in even just site seeing in the Red Square …it is WOW !

Exploring Moscow – Day 2 : The Kremlin Cathedral Museums and Armoury.

This visit will take most of a day and well worth the time to soak in, pre-book tickets and note The Kremlin is closed on a Thursday.
Check out Link 5 under useful addresses

After a day of sightseeing and the splendour of the Kremlin and State Armoury, head out of the complex across Red Square to GUM, one of Moscow’s major landmark for some retail splendour,over 200 high end boutiques.

Figure 6 Inside GUM

Then an aperitif is a must at one of Moscow’s institutions the Hotel National: 15/1 Mokhovaya Str. Bld. 1, Moscow, Russia, 125009

Figure 7 Hotel National

Exploring Moscow -Day 3 :
Out and About on the metro is an experience not to be missed a museum of communist design and art! It is made easier by the proximity of Lubyanka station, do not miss Ploshcahd Revolyutsii, Stalin’s favourite station on the way out to Mayakovskaya, then aim for Kropotkinskaya, so you can visit the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts.

Complete the loop back to Kitay Gorod and visit the Church of the Trinity in Nikitniki, Epithany Cathedral and Chamber of the Romanov Boyars.

On New Years Eve the city goes into pedestrian mode and comes a live with theatre,music & dance from early afternoon. And of course the most amazing fire works at midnight on Red Square!
We had lots of dining experiences to choose from close by including €1500/head at our hotel to traditional Russian restaurants and more casual dining but advisable to make reservations even if on the day for NYE!

Figure 8 Kitay Gorod

Figure 9 Back in Time

While our experience across the world on New Years Day has been of closed cities this is not the case in Moscow the party continues with music, song ,dance and markets throughout the city
Finish the trip with an Irish pub experience, head out from Lubyanka square !
Moscow is certainly a once in a lifetime must and worth considering doing the duo of Moscow & St Petersburg in the one trip… While can be little cold New Year is certainly worth considering for the decorations & Christmas trees alone !

Figure 10 Putin and Anfield