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Reviews 4.9.

32,123 total

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A very positive booking experience.

From the moment that we began the cruise enquiry Sonia has most definitely gone above and beyond to help us book our holiday. She has been totally professional and knowledgeable throughout the process and we have felt safe and comfortable in her care. She always made sure to get back to us either by phone or email, when we had any queries and as it's our first cruise there were a lot of queries! Thank you Sonia you are a great ambassador for Barrhead Travel.

Date of experience : 18 June 2024

Great 4days in Benidorm.

Great 4days in Benidorm. All arranged from Barrhead Travel Hamilton by Louise (assistant manager) Everything from flight,transfers hotel and car parking was arranged and to our satisfaction as is always the case when booking through Barrhead Travel.

Date of experience : 10 June 2024

Jamie Jo professional personal holiday planner

Jamie Jo arranged everything perfectly for us. had a wonderful holiday in Venice. Have had Jamie book many holidays for us and would highly recommend her. very patient listens to what you want and pulls it together perfectly.

Date of experience : 06 June 2024

Caribbean cruise 2025

Louise and Victoria were on spot on with everything, they replied to all my emails/phone calls instantly and were exceptionally friendly and professional, they are a credit to Barhead Travel. Thank you.

We asked your team for some help on…

We asked your team for some help on cruises for next years holiday after booking our first holiday with your company this year where the staff were so helpful for out trip to Florence this year. So booking a holiday with you next year was a sure thing for us.

Date of experience : 14 June 2024

First holiday to the Balkans.

We haven't been on holiday yet so can't comment on whether it was enjoyable or not. We can certainly say that the staff at Barrhead Travel were extremely helpful and knowledgeable. We booked through the company a few years ago and had a splendid holiday and suspect our coming holiday will be equally enjoyable

Date of experience : 15 June 2024

First time booking going to Krakow

Thus was my first time making a booking on my own for my husband and myself. The young lady (Isla) I think her name was made everything so easy for me! My husband usually does all the holiday shopping. She managed to give me what I asked for with no problems at all.

Date of experience : 17 June 2024

Sterling service

Chris was very helpful, friendly and professional. Took the time with us to ascertain what we were looking for. He did an extensive search ensuring we found the cruise to suit our wishes.

Friendly relaxing environment no rushing to make our minds up!

Ellie worked hard to find us the perfect holiday even though we were unsure where we wanted to go. She was very knowledgeable patient and friendly offering us lots of choices until we found the right one. We felt comfortable and valued.

Exceptional service

Every time we have visited Barrhead Travel, Stephanie and team have been very helpfully. Nothing is too much trouble for them. We recently booked our honeymoon, they managed to find us a brilliant deal.

Date of experience : 16 June 2024

Cheryl went above and beyond!

I feel like Cheryl went above and beyond to make our booking exactly what we wanted. We wanted a two stay holiday which was tricky to coordinate but Cheryl was happy to persevere with flights from different locations and suitable hotels at each venue too.

Great service for an unusual holiday destination

Louise was great in helping us identify a special celebration holiday to a rather unusual destination (Antarctica). We were provided with a number of options and no question was too much trouble to seek an answer to within a few hours. Highly recommended.

Date of experience : 03 June 2024

Reply from Barrhead Travel

Thank you very much for your amazing 5*review.. Louise is over the moon and says it was an absolute pleasure!! Kind regards Jackie

Excellent service when phoning looking…

Excellent service when phoning looking for flights to Oklahoma Solutions found quickly and flight reserved for a few days then purchased

Bridget was great know exactly what to offer giving expert advice, wouldn’t go to anyone else. Asset to your company.

Young man was amazing and patient being…

Young man was amazing and patient being oaps needed lots of help he could not have done any better. Holiday booked and looking forward to it. Well done and thanks again Darren.

STAFF WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND

Unable to honour original cruise booking due to lack of evacuation chair staff. Emma(manager) and Bobbie (agent) both went above and beyond to try and sort things out. Bobbie spent over an hour on the phone with P and O to verify a definite booking with appropriate disabled assistance. If the cruise is as good as the preparation by Barrhead, we are in for a tremendous holiday.

Date of experience : 13 June 2024

Our experience was exceptional this…

Our experience was exceptional this year. We booked our holiday in the Burnley Branch as usual. My sister and I had our booking sorted by Julie who in my opinion went above and beyond for us. We popped in on a Saturday which was very busy, we also had an appointment elsewhere and had a quick chat to Julie as we didn't have much time we gave her our price range and our wishes of hotel etc which she offered to check out and would ring me on the Monday. As arranged Julie rang me with half a dozen possibilities on the Monday which we checked through and again on Wednesday she offered us a couple more. There was no hard sell just lovely ideas and a quite chat about the holidays she had found. My sister and I couldn't get into Burnley for a couple of weeks so had plenty of time to sort through them. We called into Barrhead on the Saturday and booked our holiday in Santa Susanna, all with Julie's help roll on May 2025

Found the ideal place based on my…

Found the ideal place based on my criteria and timescales , followed up with further information at short notice . Well done .

Victoria Garbutt

We rang Victoria Garbutt up and told her what we wanted to do and she sorted everything out for us at a very good price.as she has done in the past. She is fantastic we would give her more stars if we could we will be booking another hoiday we her soon . THANK YOU VICTORIA .

Great response time initially and…

Great response time initially and received the best service. The staff are so experienced too so you can get all your questions answered. Thank you!

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Barrhead Travel   Reviews

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Reviews 4.9.

32,123 total

Most recent

Good bespoke customer service

I have booked several cruise holidays with Barrhead Travel and have always been delighted with the service received. We always book through May Malcom in the St Vincent Street branch and she always works hard to get us exactly the cruise we want at the best price available. It is normal for me to want something just slightly different from the basic packages being offered and May has always been very understanding and helpful, even when I have asked fie changes after booking.

Date of experience : March 08, 2018

Never again.

I will never use this company again once they have your money they are not interested. I made a round trip of 70miles to pay balance took money when I asked for more information I was told I didn’t have an appointment! We’ll be in touch says the sales assistant we will phone you over the weekend! Eh you haven’t asked my name or phone number needless to say still waiting. Phoned them back no one able to take your call we’ll call you back still waiting. Wanted to add a package to the cruise so I have dealt directly with the cruise company wish I had done this in the first place I’ve had more information from them in one phone call than Barrhead Aberdeen!

Date of experience : March 04, 2018

Excellent customer service....up to the point of booking and taking your money.....then....absolutely awful. Waited almost 3 weeks for call back regarding cancellation / amendment options. No apology, no acknowledgment of failure.....and when info was given it was inaccurate and erring in their favour....surprise, surprise. My advice......steer clear and book with someone else. In my opinion.....far from being the cruise specialists they claim to be, they are amateurs with absolutely no interest in helping customers when help is needed. Never again Barrhead Travel!!!

Date of experience : March 02, 2018

Don't use

I booked a holiday through barrhead travel in July 2017 to fly to Jamaica end of March 2018. I was informed 2 months before - January 2018 that virgin Atlantic have cancelled the return flight and i would need to pay an additional £600 to get booked onto a flight for a different day. For a company to suggest a customer to do this is absolutely outrageous. I do not believe the flight even existed in the first place. I did not like the way I was treated nor did I appreciate being told I had to pay £600 additional which would have brought me a second holiday elsewhere. They did not issue me a refund straight away and made me wait from Friday during the day until Monday afternoon. I said I needed the money on the Friday so I could book another holiday over the weekend but they apparently could not action until Monday which is lies.

Date of experience : February 09, 2018

I had something of a dispute with this …

I had something of a dispute with this company following my decision to select seats on a flight to a cruise destination. I had never done this before and expected that the company would assist in the process. I now understand that I should have gone online 90 days beforehand to select the seats at a cost of £62. I spoke to Thomsons (the cruise provider) who said it was the responsibility of the travel agent to remind me that I was obliged to go online and book them myself. Being a novice meant that although I had to pay I never selected the seats and ended up being seated right at the rear of the plane. The company said it was made clear to me that I had to go online and that they could do little for me. Customer service was dreadful and I ended up paying for something over which I had no choice. In future I will not use this company.

Date of experience : February 05, 2018

Not recommended

Went into bearden branch yesterday trying to get ideas for holiday at start of school holidays. Woman had said she would look that afternoon and possibly next morning. She said she would email details by next day. No surprise not heard a peep. No wonder loads more people book online, have just now booked via icelolly.com First and last time I will enter a Barrhead travel agents!

Date of experience : December 31, 2017

Poor customer service

I recently booked a cruise with Barrhead travel. Very good at the sales end and money collection. Apart from that not interested in helping at all: 1. Getting information on the cruise is very difficult, We leave in April but no idea if they are going to send some kind of information pack about time to check in on the boat, dress code etc etc. I have never been on a cruise before so its all completely new to my wife and I. Spending over £7000 I would expect better. 2. No help on flights 3. No help on Hotels in Barcelona Attitude is get the sale and move on. Would not use again.

Date of experience : December 28, 2017

Classic Glacier Express to Switzerland booked with Barrhead Travel

My wife and I booked a rail-based holiday with Barrhead Travel. We the help of a senior travel adviser (Adla Toal) at the Glasgow city centre office, we initially chose a Great Rail Journey to Sardinia to celebrate our Golden Wedding. Sadly GRJ cancelled the holiday due to lack of numbers. However, we decided to substitute their Classic Glacier Express tour to Switzerland. We were delighted with the holiday and also with the excellent and efficient service we received from Adla. She quickly helped us to choose new and suitable dates for our trip and negotiated many extras such as rail journeys to and from our home town of Ayr to London, plus hotels for our outward and return travel in London. We were delighted with the immediate reaction and help she offered us in person, by email and smartphone. Top marks for all her help. We were also delighted with the rail holiday from GRJ.

Date of experience : November 08, 2017

Very odd sales technique for a high street shop...

Entered a store today to have a quick chat about some potential holiday destinations for July next year. Would normally just book online but felt it was worth getting some thoughts from a travel agent. Was completely ignored by several members of staff despite it being early in the day and the shop empty. Four individuals sat round one PC having a meeting, ignoring their own customers. Really quite surprised at the attitude and safe to say I won't book anything through this company,

Date of experience : November 05, 2017

We went to Barrhead travel in EK in …

We went to Barrhead travel in EK in July and asked to book a holiday for September 29th or 30th but didn't mind where to, the agent recommended Crown Paradise Club in Cancun for the 29th September from Manchester as no Glasgow flights were available. We booked the hotel as the pictures in the brochures looked nice and it was a 4/5 star rating a few weeks before we left we were told that yearly maintenance work would be getting carried out while we were there but nothing major but we could move hotel if we wanted we went to the store and spoke to the agent and were informed that we could move if we paid the difference in price but since the price had jumped after we booked it would cost us over £1200 to move didn't matter that our hotel had went up that amount as well.When we asked about the work going on we were told main restaurant was closed for 1 day after we arrived and the pool was closed for renovation so we stayed with booking as it wasn't as bad as we expected.We arrived at the hotel 5 hours late due to flight delay so no welcome drinks as promised & we weren't allowed to take our luggage to our room so had to go for dinner without a shower or change of clothes. Our room was only a standard room but it was very basic and dated furniture was basic with cheap bedding and towels bare pebble dash walls with light fittings hanging from ceiling the bathroom was just as bad thick silicon around bath which they had painted white the basin taps rusty at the bottom with silver paint over the rust and the bath tap was an inch away from the wall.The food was little choice and poor quality as were the drinks, although some of the staff were nice most weren't unless you were South American then you got served 1st.Toilets weren't very clean in fact never saw a cleaner near them, entertainment was poor and finished just after 9 pm so nothing else to do after that unless you went out or wanted to sit in a warm bar with a substandard drink.I could go on for much longer about what was wrong with this hotel but will just say don't go i have never spent so much money eating and drinking out when we have been on an all inclusive holiday in fact this is the worst hotel we have stayed at with the worst food & drink we have seen if i had booked it online i could have saved money and blamed myself for being cheap but this hotel was recommended and wasn't cheap i feel that the agent was pushing this hotel to get a bonus it definitely wasn't for the good of the customer will not use Barrhead travel again if this is the quality of service they give and the type of hotel they recommend

Date of experience : October 21, 2017

MY wife and I have just returned from a …

MY wife and I have just returned from a Holiday in Kuala Lumpur and Bali. We booked through Barrhead Travel ,saw the holiday in one of the National papers and booked by Telephone , the person we dealt with could not have done more for us,she phoned us back a few times regarding the flights and Hotels. We flew with Etihad Airways and the service was very good on board . The only complaint we had was that the Tune Hotel in K.L. , the room was small and had nowhere to put gear,also there was no coffee etc in the room other than that it was clean and comfortable. we were room only but there was little facilities in the Hotel. After 3 days in K.L. we were collected from Hotel and taken to the Airport for our onward trip to Bali we flew with Malindo Air who could not do enough for us very friendly. The Hotel in Bali was Sense Sunset and was much better than the Tune in K.L. we had a great Holiday, Flights on time Tranfers on time no problems there Thanks

Date of experience : October 17, 2017

Would never use this travel company …

Would never use this travel company again; on their recommendation they booked us into a hideous hotel in New York, (which was obvious from the tripadvisor reviews - only discovered two weeks before we travelled). Contacted them and asked for accommodation to be changed or secure an upgrade at the very least. Were told this was not possible as the hotel, and all those in the area, were completely full. Arrived at the hotel at the end of a two week holiday to experience EXACTLY what was posted on tripadvisor - filthy, unkempt room etc. Had to pay additional 500 dollars to upgrade (which miraculously was available), this after having paid over £9,000 for a couple's holiday. Apparently, our room had been booked via Expedia and was probably super cheap!! Have written to them, and to date nearly two weeks later, have not received the courtesy of a reply. I wish I had looked on here before I booked. So much for a tailor made holiday by professionals!

Date of experience : October 16, 2017

Barrhead Travel The Gyle, Edinburgh. Praise of staff.

Barrhead Travel, The Gyle, Edinburgh. In this day and age where where it seems one is more likely to receive a complaint rather than a word of praise I thought you should be aware of the quality of customer service I received in Barrhead Travel, The Gyle, Edinburgh On previous visits to this agent my bookings were made by Michelle but on this occasion I was it was Nicole who attended to my enquiry.. Nicole was very thorough in her searches and looked at various flights, airports and hotels that might meet my needs. The whole enquiry took some time but was carried out in such a friendly relaxed manner that the whole experience was a pleasure. Nicole addressed and actioned any queries I had professionally (occasionally consulting with her colleague Michelle) but it was their customer care skills that impressed me most. With people like Nicole and Michelle at first point of service Barrhead Travel , or at least The Gyle branch Edinburgh need not worry. Well done Nicole and Michelle James McKenna

Date of experience : October 12, 2017

Would book through them again …

Would book through them again everything went smoothly

Date of experience : September 28, 2017

We were delighted with the service from …

We were delighted with the service from Adla at Barrhead travel. She organised everything from start to finish. Our trip to the Canadian Rockies and Alaska was first class. Adla certainly knew her stuff. Thank you adla You made our 40th wedding anniversary very special. Thank you Margaret and Michael

Date of experience : September 21, 2017

Excellent Canadian Vacation

Booked with Barrhead Travel ( St Vincent Street Store.) for the first time and was delighted with the service from Gregory Penfold. He tuned my requests and offered suggestions in order that we could get the hotels we wanted , a couple of which we had used in previous years. Our trip covered_ Vancouver, Victoria, SUV car hire ( Vancouver to Banff- around 2500 miles), Hope, Kamloops, Banff and Calgary. Flights from Glasgow are very limited but our outgoing flight was a direct one to Vancouver but the return from Calgary via Toronto had a 5 hour stopover. The prices were very competitive and documents arrived timeously. Any queries I had before travelling were dealt with efficiently

Date of experience : September 20, 2017

Lucky Yous got ONE STAR

Lucky Yous got ONE STAR TWO WEEKS ago a foned asking 4 help on me going 2 the Isle of Man for 10 days+because it was so late in the day she said il find out what's on offer+get back to you later that afternoon and guess what iam Still Waiting+Waiting+a think il be dead in buried b4 u got back to me ALLISON KELLY. P.S Wish a got a name

Date of experience : September 19, 2017

Lucky to get one Star!

Lucky to get one Star! Tell you what you want to here to get your money. Dont go near them.

Date of experience : August 25, 2017

Not helpful

Just returned from holiday booked online with Barrhead travel and got to say very disappointed with customer service.Initially booked to go 3rd Aug to 17th Aug but flights put back a day so had to move hotel for last day.I stupidly thought that as the travel agent (Barrhead travel) had arranged all this that it would be straightforward but no we had to be out of our room for 11am at our original hotel and it was after 2pm before we were allowed into our new rooms and we had to make our own way to the new hotel as Barrhead travel were not interested in helping with taxis.Overall the customer service was very poor and i have got to agree with the other reviews that state whenever they have got your money they dont care about you.

Date of experience : August 23, 2017

Booked a week in Ibiza

Booked a week in Ibiza. Fantastic customer service and excellent value for money.

Date of experience : August 01, 2017

Travel Itinerary For One Week in Moscow: The Best of Moscow!

I just got back from one week in Moscow. And, as you might have already guessed, it was a mind-boggling experience. It was not my first trip to the Russian capital. But I hardly ever got enough time to explore this sprawling city. Visiting places for business rarely leaves enough time for sightseeing. I think that if you’ve got one week in Russia, you can also consider splitting your time between its largest cities (i.e. Saint Petersburg ) to get the most out of your trip. Seven days will let you see the majority of the main sights and go beyond just scratching the surface. In this post, I’m going to share with you my idea of the perfect travel itinerary for one week in Moscow.

Moscow is perhaps both the business and cultural hub of Russia. There is a lot more to see here than just the Kremlin and Saint Basil’s Cathedral. Centuries-old churches with onion-shaped domes dotted around the city are in stark contrast with newly completed impressive skyscrapers of Moscow City dominating the skyline. I spent a lot of time thinking about my Moscow itinerary before I left. And this city lived up to all of my expectations.

Travel Itinerary For One Week in Moscow

Day 1 – red square and the kremlin.

Metro Station: Okhotny Ryad on Red Line.

No trip to Moscow would be complete without seeing its main attraction. The Red Square is just a stone’s throw away from several metro stations. It is home to some of the most impressive architectural masterpieces in the city. The first thing you’ll probably notice after entering it and passing vendors selling weird fur hats is the fairytale-like looking Saint Basil’s Cathedral. It was built to commemorate one of the major victories of Ivan the Terrible. I once spent 20 minutes gazing at it, trying to find the perfect angle to snap it. It was easier said than done because of the hordes of locals and tourists.

As you continue strolling around Red Square, there’s no way you can miss Gum. It was widely known as the main department store during the Soviet Era. Now this large (yet historic) shopping mall is filled with expensive boutiques, pricey eateries, etc. During my trip to Moscow, I was on a tight budget. So I only took a retro-style stroll in Gum to get a rare glimpse of a place where Soviet leaders used to grocery shop and buy their stuff. In case you want some modern shopping experience, head to the Okhotny Ryad Shopping Center with stores like New Yorker, Zara, and Adidas.

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To continue this Moscow itinerary, next you may want to go inside the Kremlin walls. This is the center of Russian political power and the president’s official residence. If you’re planning to pay Kremlin a visit do your best to visit Ivan the Great Bell Tower as well. Go there as early as possible to avoid crowds and get an incredible bird’s-eye view. There are a couple of museums that are available during designated visiting hours. Make sure to book your ticket online and avoid lines.

Day 2 – Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, the Tretyakov Gallery, and the Arbat Street

Metro Station: Kropotkinskaya on Red Line

As soon as you start creating a Moscow itinerary for your second day, you’ll discover that there are plenty of metro stations that are much closer to certain sites. Depending on your route, take a closer look at the metro map to pick the closest.

The white marble walls of Christ the Saviour Cathedral are awe-inspiring. As you approach this tallest Orthodox Christian church, you may notice the bronze sculptures, magnificent arches, and cupolas that were created to commemorate Russia’s victory against Napoleon.

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Unfortunately, the current Cathedral is a replica, since original was blown to bits in 1931 by the Soviet government. The new cathedral basically follows the original design, but they have added some new elements such as marble high reliefs.

Home to some precious collection of artworks, in Tretyakov Gallery you can find more than 150,000 of works spanning centuries of artistic endeavor. Originally a privately owned gallery, it now has become one of the largest museums in Russia. The Gallery is often considered essential to visit. But I have encountered a lot of locals who have never been there.

Famous for its souvenirs, musicians, and theaters, Arbat street is among the few in Moscow that were turned into pedestrian zones. Arbat street is usually very busy with tourists and locals alike. My local friend once called it the oldest street in Moscow dating back to 1493. It is a kilometer long walking street filled with fancy gift shops, small cozy restaurants, lots of cute cafes, and street artists. It is closed to any vehicular traffic, so you can easily stroll it with kids.

Day 3 – Moscow River Boat Ride, Poklonnaya Hill Victory Park, the Moscow City

Metro Station: Kievskaya and Park Pobedy on Dark Blue Line / Vystavochnaya on Light Blue Line

Voyaging along the Moscow River is definitely one of the best ways to catch a glimpse of the city and see the attractions from a bit different perspective. Depending on your Moscow itinerary, travel budget and the time of the year, there are various types of boats available. In the summer there is no shortage of boats, and you’ll be spoiled for choice.

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If you find yourself in Moscow during the winter months, I’d recommend going with Radisson boat cruise. These are often more expensive (yet comfy). They offer refreshments like tea, coffee, hot chocolate, and, of course, alcoholic drinks. Prices may vary but mostly depend on your food and drink selection. Find their main pier near the opulent Ukraine hotel . The hotel is one of the “Seven Sisters”, so if you’re into the charm of Stalinist architecture don’t miss a chance to stay there.

The area near Poklonnaya Hill has the closest relation to the country’s recent past. The memorial complex was completed in the mid-1990s to commemorate the Victory and WW2 casualties. Also known as the Great Patriotic War Museum, activities here include indoor attractions while the grounds around host an open-air museum with old tanks and other vehicles used on the battlefield.

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The hallmark of the memorial complex and the first thing you see as you exit metro is the statue of Nike mounted to its column. This is a very impressive Obelisk with a statue of Saint George slaying the dragon at its base.

Maybe not as impressive as Shanghai’s Oriental Pearl Tower , the skyscrapers of the Moscow City (otherwise known as Moscow International Business Center) are so drastically different from dull Soviet architecture. With 239 meters and 60 floors, the Empire Tower is the seventh highest building in the business district.

The observation deck occupies 56 floor from where you have some panoramic views of the city. I loved the view in the direction of Moscow State University and Luzhniki stadium as well to the other side with residential quarters. The entrance fee is pricey, but if you’re want to get a bird’s eye view, the skyscraper is one of the best places for doing just that.

Day 4 – VDNKh, Worker and Collective Farm Woman Monument, The Ostankino TV Tower

Metro Station: VDNKh on Orange Line

VDNKh is one of my favorite attractions in Moscow. The weird abbreviation actually stands for Russian vystavka dostizheniy narodnogo khozyaystva (Exhibition of Achievements of the National Economy). With more than 200 buildings and 30 pavilions on the grounds, VDNKh serves as an open-air museum. You can easily spend a full day here since the park occupies a very large area.

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First, there are pavilions that used to showcase different cultures the USSR was made of. Additionally, there is a number of shopping pavilions, as well as Moskvarium (an Oceanarium) that features a variety of marine species. VDNKh is a popular venue for events and fairs. There is always something going on, so I’d recommend checking their website if you want to see some particular exhibition.

A stone’s throw away from VDNKh there is a very distinctive 25-meters high monument. Originally built in 1937 for the world fair in Paris, the hulking figures of men and women holding a hammer and a sickle represent the Soviet idea of united workers and farmers. It doesn’t take much time to see the monument, but visiting it gives some idea of the Soviet Union’s grandiose aspirations.

I have a thing for tall buildings. So to continue my travel itinerary for one week in Moscow I decided to climb the fourth highest TV tower in the world. This iconic 540m tower is a fixture of the skyline. You can see it virtually from everywhere in Moscow, and this is where you can get the best panoramic views (yep, even better than Empire skyscraper).

Parts of the floor are made of tempered glass, so it can be quite scary to exit the elevator. But trust me, as you start observing buildings and cars below, you won’t want to leave. There is only a limited number of tickets per day, so you may want to book online. Insider tip: the first tour is cheaper, you can save up to $10 if go there early.

Day 5 – A Tour To Moscow Manor Houses

Metro Station: Kolomenskoye, Tsaritsyno on Dark Green Line / Kuskovo on Purple Line

I love visiting the manor houses and palaces in Moscow. These opulent buildings were generally built to house Russian aristocratic families and monarchs. Houses tend to be rather grand affairs with impressive architecture. And, depending on the whims of the owners, some form of a landscaped garden.

During the early part of the 20th century though, many of Russia’s aristocratic families (including the family of the last emperor) ended up being killed or moving abroad . Their manor houses were nationalized. Some time later (after the fall of the USSR) these were open to the public. It means that today a great many of Moscow’s finest manor houses and palaces are open for touring.

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There are 20 manor houses scattered throughout the city and more than 25 in the area around. But not all of them easily accessible and exploring them often takes a lot of time. I’d recommend focusing on three most popular estates in Moscow that are some 30-minute metro ride away from Kremlin.

Sandwiched between the Moscow River and the Andropov Avenue, Kolomenskoye is a UNESCO site that became a public park in the 1920’s. Once a former royal estate, now it is one of the most tranquil parks in the city with gorgeous views. The Ascension Church, The White Column, and the grounds are a truly grand place to visit.

You could easily spend a full day here, exploring a traditional Russian village (that is, in fact, a market), picnicking by the river, enjoying the Eastern Orthodox church architecture, hiking the grounds as well as and wandering the park and gardens with wildflower meadows, apple orchards, and birch and maple groves. The estate museum showcases Russian nature at its finest year-round.

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If my travel itinerary for one week in Moscow was a family tree, Tsaritsyno Park would probably be the crazy uncle that no-one talks about. It’s a large park in the south of the city of mind-boggling proportions, unbelievable in so many ways, and yet most travelers have never heard of it.

The palace was supposed to be a summer home for Empress Catherine the Great. But since the construction didn’t meet with her approval the palace was abandoned. Since the early 1990’s the palace, the pond, and the grounds have been undergoing renovations. The entire complex is now looking brighter and more elaborately decorated than at possibly any other time during its history. Like most parks in Moscow, you can visit Tsaritsyno free of charge, but there is a small fee if you want to visit the palace.

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Last, but by no means least on my Moscow itinerary is Kuskovo Park . This is definitely an off-the-beaten-path place. While it is not easily accessible, you will be rewarded with a lack of crowds. This 18th-century summer country house of the Sheremetev family was one of the first summer country estates of the Russian nobility. And when you visit you’ll quickly realize why locals love this park.

Like many other estates, Kuskovo has just been renovated. So there are lovely French formal garden, a grotto, and the Dutch house to explore. Make sure to plan your itinerary well because the estate is some way from a metro station.

Day 6 – Explore the Golden Ring

Creating the Moscow itinerary may keep you busy for days with the seemingly endless amount of things to do. Visiting the so-called Golden Ring is like stepping back in time. Golden Ring is a “theme route” devised by promotion-minded journalist and writer Yuri Bychkov.

Having started in Moscow the route will take you through a number of historical cities. It now includes Suzdal, Vladimir, Kostroma, Yaroslavl and Sergiev Posad. All these awe-inspiring towns have their own smaller kremlins and feature dramatic churches with onion-shaped domes, tranquil residential areas, and other architectural landmarks.

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I only visited two out of eight cities included on the route. It is a no-brainer that Sergiev Posad is the nearest and the easiest city to see on a day trip from Moscow. That being said, you can explore its main attractions in just one day. Located some 70 km north-east of the Russian capital, this tiny and overlooked town is home to Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, UNESCO Site.

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Sergiev Posad is often described as being at the heart of Russian spiritual life. So it is uncommon to see the crowds of Russian pilgrims showing a deep reverence for their religion. If you’re traveling independently and using public transport, you can reach Sergiev Posad by bus (departs from VDNKh) or by suburban commuter train from Yaroslavskaya Railway Station (Bahnhof). It takes about one and a half hours to reach the town.

Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius is a great place to get a glimpse of filling and warming Russian lunch, specifically at the “ Gostevaya Izba ” restaurant. Try the duck breast, hearty potato and vegetables, and the awesome Napoleon cake.

Day 7 – Gorky Park, Izmailovo Kremlin, Patriarch’s Ponds

Metro Station: Park Kultury or Oktyabrskaya on Circle Line / Partizanskaya on Dark Blue Line / Pushkinskaya on Dark Green Line

Gorky Park is in the heart of Moscow. It offers many different types of outdoor activities, such as dancing, cycling, skateboarding, walking, jogging, and anything else you can do in a park. Named after Maxim Gorky, this sprawling and lovely park is where locals go on a picnic, relax and enjoy free yoga classes. It’s a popular place to bike around, and there is a Muzeon Art Park not far from here. A dynamic location with a younger vibe. There is also a pier, so you can take a cruise along the river too.

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The Kremlin in Izmailovo is by no means like the one you can find near the Red Square. Originally built for decorative purposes, it now features the Vernissage flea market and a number of frequent fairs, exhibitions, and conferences. Every weekend, there’s a giant flea market in Izmailovo, where dozens of stalls sell Soviet propaganda crap, Russian nesting dolls, vinyl records, jewelry and just about any object you can imagine. Go early in the morning if you want to beat the crowds.

All the Bulgakov’s fans should pay a visit to Patriarch’s Ponds (yup, that is plural). With a lovely small city park and the only one (!) pond in the middle, the location is where the opening scene of Bulgakov’s novel Master and Margarita was set. The novel is centered around a visit by Devil to the atheistic Soviet Union is considered by many critics to be one of the best novels of the 20th century. I spent great two hours strolling the nearby streets and having lunch in the hipster cafe.

Conclusion and Recommendations

To conclude, Moscow is a safe city to visit. I have never had a problem with getting around and most locals are really friendly once they know you’re a foreigner. Moscow has undergone some serious reconstruction over the last few years. So you can expect some places to be completely different. I hope my one week Moscow itinerary was helpful! If you have less time, say 4 days or 5 days, I would cut out day 6 and day 7. You could save the Golden Ring for a separate trip entirely as there’s lots to see!

What are your thoughts on this one week Moscow itinerary? Are you excited about your first time in the city? Let me know in the comments below!

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24 comments.

Ann Snook-Moreau

Moscow looks so beautiful and historic! Thanks for including public transit information for those of us who don’t like to rent cars.

MindTheTravel

Yup, that is me 🙂 Rarely rent + stick to the metro = Full wallet!

Mariella Blago

Looks like you had loads of fun! Well done. Also great value post for travel lovers.

Thanks, Mariella!

I have always wanted to go to Russia, especially Moscow. These sights look absolutely beautiful to see and there is so much history there!

Agree! Moscow is a thousand-year-old city and there is definitely something for everyone.

Tara Pittman

Those are amazing buildings. Looks like a place that would be amazing to visit.

Adriana Lopez

Never been to Moscow or Russia but my family has. Many great spots and a lot of culture. Your itinerary sounds fantastic and covers a lot despite it is only a short period of time.

What was their favourite thing about Russia?

Gladys Parker

I know very little about Moscow or Russia for the\at matter. I do know I would have to see the Red Square and all of its exquisite architectural masterpieces. Also the CATHEDRAL OF CHRIST THE SAVIOUR. Thanks for shedding some light on visiting Moscow.

Thanks for swinging by! The Red Square is a great starting point, but there way too many places and things to discover aside from it!

Ruthy @ Percolate Kitchen

You are making me so jealous!! I’ve always wanted to see Russia.

Moscow is in my bucket list, I don’t know when I can visit there, your post is really useful. As a culture rich place we need to spend at least week.

DANA GUTKOWSKI

Looks like you had a great trip! Thanks for all the great info! I’ve never been in to Russia, but this post makes me wanna go now!

Wow this is amazing! Moscow is on my bucket list – such an amazing place to visit I can imagine! I can’t wait to go there one day!

The building on the second picture looks familiar. I keep seeing that on TV.

Reesa Lewandowski

What beautiful moments! I always wish I had the personality to travel more like this!

Perfect itinerary for spending a week in Moscow! So many places to visit and it looks like you had a wonderful time. I would love to climb that tower. The views I am sure must have been amazing!

I was lucky enough to see the skyline of Moscow from this TV Tower and it is definitely mind-blowing.

Chelsea Pearl

Moscow is definitely up there on my travel bucket list. So much history and iconic architecture!

Thumbs up! 🙂

Blair Villanueva

OMG I dream to visit Moscow someday! Hope the visa processing would be okay (and become more affordable) so I could pursue my dream trip!

Yup, visa processing is the major downside! Agree! Time and the money consuming process…

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