it foundation travel size

This Genius Hack for Packing Liquid Foundation Is Foolproof and Flight-Attendant Approved

There is, however, a genius solution for ensuring just the right amount of your liquid foundation, eye cream, and concealer *always* makes it to your final destination: "You can put almost anything in [contact] lens cases,” says Jessica Lehmkuhl, a flight attendant who uses the hack to pack her own beauty products when she's traveling off-duty.

“I’m exempt from normal airport screenings,” she says. “But when I travel personally and not for work, I'll put my foundation in a contact lens case.”

Lehmkuhl started using this trick four years ago after seeing other people repurposing their own cases that way. On average, she estimates that a full lens case, both the left and right sides, lasts her at least a week. “I don’t use a ton of foundation,” she says. “I combo it with powder foundation, and I use the same amount as you would use putting lotion on my face."

Aside from freeing up more of the limited space in your luggage, being able to BYO-products means being able to replicate your own beauty routine on the road as easily as you can at home. (Read: no unfortunate makeup matching mishaps.) Because while   travel-size natural beauty products do exist, the selection isn't nearly as extensive as, say, a Fenty foundation palette . But hey, here's hoping that changes very soon as inclusivity becomes more mainstream .

For now, try making this hack your new travel buddy. But before you do, Lehmkuhl offers some words of caution: Make sure the lids are screwed on tight so they don’t come undone due to cabin pressure. She also recommends labeling each case so you know what's in them. The flight attendant says this isn't a situation where you want to wing it.

{{post.sponsorText}}

Flight attendants are full of travel hacks. Here's how they stay hydrated on a plane . Plus, the packing tricks they use to fit more into their suitcases . 

Loading More Posts...

The Beach Is My Happy Place—and Here Are 3 Science-Backed Reasons It Should Be Yours, Too

Your official excuse to add "OOD" (ahem, out of doors) to your cal.

4 Mistakes That Are Causing You to Waste Money on Skin-Care Serums, According to an Esthetician

These Are the Best Anti-Chafing Denim Shorts—According to Some Very Happy Reviewers

{{ successMessage }}

Please wait a moment...

Try up to 4 free favorites with every purchase. *   Details

Free Shipping w/$45 purchase. Free Returns, too. See Details

Shop Now & Pay Later with Afterpay   Learn More

REWARD YOURSELF

The estée e-list loyalty program.

• Please accept Terms & Conditions.

You’re on the list.

This is just the beginning., welcome back., we missed you, you’re on the list.

• 1 lowercase character
• 1 uppercase character
• 8 characters minimum

YOUR ALREADY USE YOUR 15% OFF CODE. BUT THERE’S MORE WHERE THAT CAME FROM!

Service temporarily unavailable.

There's been an error. Please try again later.

Small wonders. Big benefits.

Perfectly sized to try. Start small with these must-have best sellers.

Travel Sizes

Revitalizing supreme+ moisturizer travel size, youth power creme, advanced night repair serum travel size, synchronized multi-recovery complex, advanced night cleansing gelée travel size, cleanser with 15 amino acids, instant glow duo, repair serum + primer mini skincare set, the power pair, repair serum + moisturizer mini skincare set, see the glow, pores + infuse + hydration nutritious skincare set, nutritious travel size, melting soft creme/mask moisturizer, advanced night repair eye supercharged gel-creme travel size, synchronized multi-recovery eye cream, advanced night repair eye concentrate matrix travel size, micro essence travel size, treatment lotion with bio-ferment, treatment lotion fresh with sakura ferment, revitalizing supreme+ bright moisturizer travel size, power soft creme, perfectly clean travel size, multi-action foam cleanser/purifying mask, re-nutriv travel size, ultimate diamond sculpted transformation creme moisturizer, purify + pores + hydration nutritious skincare set, makeup travel sizes, fragrance travel sizes, what is the best way to pack beauty products for travel.

Packing mini, travel size versions of your favorite skincare, makeup and fragrance formulas is the best way to ensure your beauty routine doesn’t miss a beat while you’re off to your next destination.

What size skincare, makeup and fragrance can you bring on an airplane?

All travel size makeup, travel size skincare and travel perfume bottles should be 3.4 fluid ounces, 100.55 ml, or smaller to fit within most travel guidelines. Always check your local travel guidance or specific airline rules before packing your products.

What travel size products does Estée Lauder offer?

Check out Estée Lauder travel size products and discover your go-to formulas in mini packaging. We have essential best-selling makeup, skincare and go-to fragrances in purse sprays that can fit right in your carry on.

Product minis are also a great way to try our high-performance formulas before adding the full-size bottle to your routine.

What travel size products should I pack for a trip?

Start with travel size skincare. Never leave home without your Advanced Night Repair Serum. Keep skin renewed and radiant while you travel with this mini size of our best-selling serum. You’ll also want to pack a mini cleanser, treatment lotion, moisturizer and eye cream to complete your skincare routine on-the-go.

Looking for travel size makeup? The Futurist Watery Glow Primer is a must-have for your travel makeup bag. This primer formula provides all day and long-term moisture while smoothing skin for all-day beautiful makeup application.

Don’t forget perfume for travel. Bring a spritz of your favorite fragrance with you wherever you go. Estée Lauder travel size fragrance picks include best-sellers like Beautiful Magnolia and AERIN favorites like Cedar Violet and Mediterranean Honeysuckle.

CONFIDENCE, COMMUNITY, AND JOY

• Skincare Ingredients A-Z
• Skin Concerns
• Hair Removal
• Moisturizers
• Tools and Techniques
• Hair Concerns
• Hair Styling
• Fashion Trends
• What to Wear
• Accessories
• Clothing and Apparel
• Celebrities
• Product and Brand News
• Trends and Innovation
• Amazon Picks
• Gift Guides
• Product Reviews
• Mental Health and Mood
• The Byrdie Team
• Editorial Guidelines
• Editorial Policy
• Terms of Use and Policies
• Privacy Policy

The 11 Best Mini-Sized Beauty Products, According to a Beauty Writer Who Travels All the Time

Byrdie / Amelia Manley

Minis are really cute; whether it’s a toy car, a baby animal, or a doll-sized kitchen set, miniature items have a way of melting my heart every time. My favorite category of all within the “mini” genre is probably a dead-giveaway: makeup. I’ve spent hours in those dangerous check-out lanes of Sephora where exclusively-made miniature skincare, makeup, brushes, and sponges have been placed (brilliantly) for customers awaiting check-out. On several occasions, I’ve gone in for literally only one item, and ended up leaving with dozens of others because of a long check-out line; I just kept finding more of my favorite products in travel sizes.

Because I travel a lot, I dedicate a good amount of time to strategically packing. I usually bring an entire pharmacy with me because I never know what to expect from a foreign country’s drugstores or local shopping, lest I forget something. There’s also nothing worse for me than re-purchasing something I know that I already have at home. If you’re like me and you belong to the COO club (carry-on only), you’ve had your fair share of experiences with an overstuffed bag. I can’t even count the number of times I’ve had to sit on my Rimowa luggage, praying it doesn’t crack, just so that I could zip it into something shaped like an Oreo cookie (the fabric space-expanders spilling out everywhere).

After finding out that many brands make miniature versions of their beloved products, I started researching to see what else was out there. Since switching exclusively to minis for travel , my bags have gotten a lot lighter.

With travel season upon us, I decided to round up all of the best mini products. So, whether you’re packing for your trip to Mallorca, you want to try something new with less cost commitment, or you just love how cute miniature makeup looks on your vanity, I’ve rounded up all the fan-favorites here.

Best Overall: Augustinus Bader The Cream

What We Like

• Researched-backed claims
• Pump bottle

What We Don't Like

Whether you’ve heard the wonders of this product and you want to give it a try, or you’re addicted to it and won’t let it leave your size, this is the cult cream size for you.

Price at time of publish: $89 for .5 oz

Active Ingredients: TFC8 Technology, vitamin A (retinyl palmitate), vitamin C (ascorbic acid), vitamin B5 (panthenol), hydrolyzed rice protein, aloe leaf juice, shea butter | Skin Type: Oily, combination, acne-prone | Size: 0.5 fl. oz., 1 fl. oz., or 1.7 fl. oz. | SPF: None | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Byrdie / Joline Buscemi

What Our Testers Say

"Despite trying out many moisturizers, this was the first time I was actually noticeably shocked at the immediate difference in my skin ." — Joline Buscemi , Product Tester

Best Foundation: Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation Mini

 Courtesy of Sephora

• Boosts radiance
• Travel-friendly
• Can settle into fine lines

A favorite foundation of Meghan Markle, Kylie Jenner , and pretty much every beauty editor, this mini makes traveling so much easier, especially because the full-size version is a pretty hefty glass jar.

Price at time of publish: $45

Coverage: Medium to full | Shade Range: 40 | Finish: Natural | Size: 0.6 oz. or 1 oz. | Cruelty-Free: No

Best Setting Spray: Urban Decay All-Nighter Setting Spray

Courtesy of Sephora 

• Award-winning
• Feels sticky right after application

Milk Hydro Grip Primer Mini

 Courtesy of Milk

• Minimizes pores
• Can be hard to spread

Best Powder: Laura Mercier Translucent Powder Mini

• Long-lasting
• Lightweight
• Can be drying

Best Concealer: Nars Mini Radiant Creamy Concealer

 Courtesy of Nars

Best Lash Serum: Grande Cosmetics GrandeLASH MD Lash Enhancing Serum

• Easy to apply
• Noticeable results
• Results can take longer than five weeks

Best Moisturizer: Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré

• Removes tough makeup
• Multi-purpose product
• Leaves a greasy feeling

Best Brow Gel: Anastasia DIPBROW Gel Mini

• Great color payoff

Best Mascara: Lancôme Hypnôse Drama Waterproof Mascara

• Coats every lash
• Doesn't clump

Best Toner: Biologique Recherche P50 1970 1.7oz

Courtesy of Biologique Recherche

• Balances pH
• Not readily available in stores

The heavily lauded “Jesus in a bottle” comes in a travel size, too. Now, you can chemically exfoliate on-the-go (also known as my version of an extreme sport).

Type: Chemical | Active Ingredients: Vitamins, active botanical extracts | Size: 1.7 fl. oz., 5.1 fl. oz., or 8.4 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: No

Final Verdict

We're giving top honors to the Augustinus Bader The Cream . Its innovative formula is packed with natural amino acids, vitamins, and molecules to help regenerate your body's own stem cells. It's also packed with great hydrating ingredients like aloe leaf, avocado, shea butter, and more, so it certainly lives up to its claim of replacing every skin product you need after cleansing.

Looking to cover up while you're on the go? Try the Nars Mini Radiant Creamy Concealer . It's great for adding highlight, contour, or medium to full coverage concealing without dryness or creasing.

What to Look for in Travel Size Beauty Products

Packaging materials.

Whether you're just tossing it in your bag for touchups or traveling on a plane, you'll want to make sure the product you're buying is made of up durable materials. It shouldn't pop open or break and spill all over your bag.

Application

While minis are compact and easy to pack when you need to travel light, always consider the product's application. If you have to pack extra tools for it, then it takes up more space than its cute small size. If you aren't positive what more will be needed for products, reference all-in-one makeup kits to review what you need to accompany assorted products.

You might find yourself distracted by the shiniest and most exciting products, but don't forget to purchase and pack the everyday items you need, too. Whether your staples include brow gel, sunscreen, or lip gloss, you'll want to have a mini-version of the things you rely on the most, not just the fun extras.

When looking to travel by air, you'll need to adhere to the TSA rules for carry-on cosmetics. You're allowed to bring a total of one quart-sized clear, resealable bag filled with products. Inside this bag, each item needs to be 3.4 ounces or less.

Provided you will use up whatever is contained in your travel-size toiletries, they are worth it. That's because you were able to carry them on rather than pay extra for a checked bag, which costs more. You'll want to recycle them instead of putting them in the trash to reduce your carbon footprint.

Travel-size toiletries last about the same amount of time as their full-size counterparts; it's dependent on how long that specific product lasts. Mascara can get dried out and exposed to bacteria , and should be replaced every few months.

The TSA is pretty strict about traveling with liquids, and because of that, its rules about what counts as a liquid err on the, well, solid side. Aerosols, pastes, creams, and gels are all liquids, so makeup products like mascara, foundation, eyeline r , moisturizer, and perfume are all considered liquid.

Related Stories

The 19 Best Face Moisturizers, Tested and Dermatologist Approved

17 Black-Owned Travel Essentials to Take on Your Next Vacation

24 Travel Beauty Products Byrdie Editors Always Pack

Carry-On Approved Makeup and Skincare for Your Next Trip

14 Best Makeup Bags to Keep Your Beauty Stash Organized

The 29 Best Makeup Brands of 2024, Tested & Reviewed

15 Foundations That Immaculately Cover Acne Scars

The Best Korean Skincare Products for Every Skin Concern and Budget

16 Best Aloe Vera Gels and Lotions That Calm and Cool Stressed Skin

The 16 Best Earplugs for Sleeping That Are Actually Comfortable and Effective

The 10 Best Drugstore Tinted Moisturizers and BB Creams, According to Experts

Dry Skin? Dermatologists Confirm These 14 Gentle Toners Were Formulated for You

The 14 Best Drugstore Body Lotions to Nourish and Heal Your Skin

The 13 Best Nail Files for Salon-Quality Manicures at Home

The 16 Best Body Lotions for Your Smoothest, Softest, Most Hydrated Skin

The Best Primers That Give Oily Skin a Long-Lasting Base

Sign up for 15% off & discover the world of Too Faced

FREE SHIPPING with $50+ order! Learn More

$25 BESTSELLING PALETTES! SHOP NOW

Most Popular Searches

• Travel Size
• Waterproof Mascara
• Lip Plumper

• 1 lower case character
• 1 upper case character
• 8 characters minimum

BY CLICKING REGISTER I AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS . PLEASE REVIEW THE TOO FACED PRIVACY POLICY .

YES, EMAIL ME SPECIAL OFFERS, EXCLUSIVE PRODUCT PREVIEWS AND THE LATEST NEWS FROM TOO FACED. PLEASE REVIEW THE TOO FACED PRIVACY POLICY WHICH INCLUDES OUR FINANCIAL INCENTIVE NOTICE FOR CA RESIDENTS

TRAVEL SIZE MAKEUP

Full-size favorites in perfectly portable mini sizes. take your favorite makeup on-the-go with too faced travel-size minis.

• Bestsellers
• Highest Rated
• Price (Low to High)
• Price (High to Low)

KITS & SETS

Everyday value deals!

2 fan-fave palettes for a limited time only!

HANGOVER PILLOW BALM

New summer colors, same ultra-hydrating, hyaluronic-infused formula!

MINI SIZE, MAX IMPACT

Born This Way Mini Eye Palettes

Modern nude shades inspired by the original Born This Way Natural Nudes Palette ! Highly pigmented, perfectly packable & naturally beautiful

Maintain your makeup routine no matter where the day takes you with the Too Faced Travel Minis Collection. Featuring a wide variety of travel-size makeup products, this collection has everything you need to look your best when you’re away from home. Perfect for everything from cosmetics bags for your suitcase to a slipping into a purse or clutch, these mini travel cosmetics offer convenience and quality in one simple solution.

Find Your Favorite Makeup Minis Bringing along your full-size makeup products is always a pain. It simply takes up too much space, and you’re constantly frustrated when you need to retrieve the products for at-home application or remember to put them in your bag. Our Too Faced award-winning minis offer the ideal solution. Simply buy compact versions of all your favorite products to create a custom mini makeup set so you’ll never have to deal with these frustrations again. Pick our mini foundation , eye shadow , bronzer , mascara , lip gloss and so much more. These travel-size cosmetics make touchups easy and allow you to jet off on a trip knowing you have everything you need.

Where to Stash your Travel Makeup Make your own makeup travel kit with a small pouch or toiletry bag. This one container can then be transferred wherever you need it, whether it’s at your office desk at work, inside a larger bag or tote or kept in your suitcase for exciting adventures. You can also use our mini makeup products for quick touchups on a night out by slipping one or two must-haves into your clutch or purse.

Having travel-sized makeup containers is a great way to minimize space when flying or traveling if you want to take your makeup with you, but otherwise, think about the staples of your look. Are you an eyeliner queen? Do you need foundation every day? Won’t be caught without lipstick? Think about the makeup that you can’t live without and build your makeup bag accordingly. Some great choices are foundation, concealer, eye shadow, lipstick, and eyeliner. 

Makeup in both solid and powder form is allowed in carry-ons regardless of quantity or size limits – great news for eye shadow lovers! Liquid, gel, paste, or creamy makeup needs to be limited to containers that are 3.4 ounces or less, so make sure to grab travel-sized containers before you go anywhere. 

Yes, our TSA-compliant travel size makeup comes in handy for trips & perfectly fits in your purse for easy touch-ups on-the-go!

Only pack essentials like travel size Mascara and Concealer. Also, opt for travel size versions of your other favorite items to save space.

Pack your makeup by category in a cosmetic travel case or organizer. Choose versatile makeup that can from day to night!

It's best to start with the basics: Travel Size Better Than Sex Mascara , Travel Size Lip Injection Maximum Plump , & Travel Size Born This Way Super Coverage Concealer !

Free standard shipping on any $35 purchase

Now Trending

The Wellness Shop

Black-Owned & Founded

Conscious Beauty

SPARKED at Ulta Beauty

The brightest up and coming brands

Celebrating our diverse communities

Beauty Reads

Ulta Beauty Live

• Spring Haul

viral best-sellers

full face must-haves

shape tape radiant concealer

featherlight, medium coverage

maracuja juicy lips

smoother, plumper looking lips

• Under $25 31 Products Available 31
• $25 - $75 0
• $75 - $100 0
• $100 - $150 0
• $150 - $200 0
• Over $200 0

Preferences

• Vegan 20 Products Available 20
• Clean Ingredients 14 Products Available 14
• Gluten Free 5 Products Available 5
• Mineral 2 Products Available 2
• Paraben Free 5 Products Available 5
• Sulfate Free 1 Products Available 1

Special Offers

• On Sale 5 Products Available 5
• Black 7 Products Available 7
• Brown 1 Products Available 1
• Neutral 8 Products Available 8
• Pink 6 Products Available 6
• Yellow 1 Products Available 1
• Buildable 2 Products Available 2
• Full 4 Products Available 4
• Medium 3 Products Available 3
• Cream 5 Products Available 5
• Gloss 1 Products Available 1
• Liquid 9 Products Available 9
• Loose Powder 2 Products Available 2
• Pencil 1 Products Available 1
• Pressed Powder 2 Products Available 2

Shopping Preference

• Online-Only 18 Products Available 18
• Exclusive 5 Products Available 5
• Combination 3 Products Available 3
• Dry 3 Products Available 3
• Normal 3 Products Available 3
• Oily 3 Products Available 3
• Sensitive 2 Products Available 2

Tarte Travel Size Shape Tape Full Coverage Concealer

Tarte travel size shape tape ultra creamy concealer, tarte travel-size maracuja vegan juicy lip balm, tarte travel-size face tape full coverage foundation, tarte travel-size tartelette tubing mascara, tarte travel-size tartelette xl tubing mascara.

Online only

Tarte Travel-Size Maracuja Juicy Lip Plumping Gloss

Tarte travel size shape tape radiant medium coverage concealer, tarte travel-size maracuja juicy lip crème, tarte travel size lights, camera, lashes 4-in-1 mascara, tarte travel-size maneater volumizing mascara, tarte travel-size babassu foundcealer dewy foundation spf 20, tarte travel-size timeless smoothing face makeup primer, tarte travel-size opening act eyelash primer, tarte travel-size shimmering light, tarte travel-size amazonian clay 12-hour blush, tarte travel size amazonian clay waterproof bronzer, tarte travel-size maneater waterproof volumizing mascara, tarte travel-size shape tape setting powder, tarte travel size shape tape stay spray setting spray, tarte travel size base tape hydrating primer, tarte travel-size double take black liquid & gel vegan eyeliner, tarte travel-size big ego vegan volumizing mascara, tarte travel size shape tape cloud cream broad spectrum spf 15 sunscreen, tarte travel-size maracuja juicy glow tint, tarte travel size amazonian clay 16-hour full coverage foundation, tarte travel-size face tape smoothing primer, tarte travel-size smooth operator amazonian clay finishing powder, tarte travel-size shape tape glow powder, tarte travel size gifted amazonian clay smart mascara, tarte travel size shape tape pressed powder.

Create an account to unlock free U.S. standard shipping + returns. | SIGN IN | SIGN ME UP

Shop new-in skincare and get a free Fenty Skin Travel Bag on $80+ orders. | SHOP NOW | TERMS

We've updated our Shipping and Returns Guidelines | LEARN MORE

New! Cookies N Clean Face Scrub. Exfoliate, clear pores and leave skin soft, not stressed. | SHOP NOW

Online Shopping Available

Changing your location may remove some contents from your shopping Bag

Change Language

Change Country/Region

• Hamburger Open mobile menu
• Sign in Sign In
• Search Search
• Favorite Favorite
• Bag Your cart -

Your bag is empty. Explore our popular categories!

Log in or Create an account to unlock free standard shipping + returns on all US orders

HANDPICKED FOR YOU

100% of your donation will go to CLF. Donation is non-refundable Learn More

Taxes and shipping are calculated at checkout.

Promo codes are entered at checkout.

Select a Size: Select gift amount: Select amount:

Select your Free Gift

LEMME KNOW WHEN IT DROPS. SIGN UP TO GET NOTIFIED WHEN GOODIES ARE IN STOCK.

Skincare Minis + Travel Size

Top searches:

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

NEW TO NARS?

FIND A STORE

Your browser's Javascript functionality is turned off. Please turn it on so that you can experience the full capabilities of this site.

Mini & Travel size

Glow anywhere with bestselling mini and travel-size sets.

TRENDING ON TIKTOK

#1 U.S. CONCEALER*

Online Exclusive

Online Exclusive Set

Sign Up for 15% off

Sign up to receive the NARS newsletter and an exclusive gift.

FIND NARS NEAR YOU

Click for a list of NARS Boutiques in your area.

2018 Primetime Emmy & James Beard Award Winner

In Transit: Notes from the Underground

Jun 06 2018.

Spend some time in one of Moscow’s finest museums.

Subterranean commuting might not be anyone’s idea of a good time, but even in a city packing the war-games treasures and priceless bejeweled eggs of the Kremlin Armoury and the colossal Soviet pavilions of the VDNKh , the Metro holds up as one of Moscow’s finest museums. Just avoid rush hour.

The Metro is stunning and provides an unrivaled insight into the city’s psyche, past and present, but it also happens to be the best way to get around. Moscow has Uber, and the Russian version called Yandex Taxi , but also some nasty traffic. Metro trains come around every 90 seconds or so, at a more than 99 percent on-time rate. It’s also reasonably priced, with a single ride at 55 cents (and cheaper in bulk). From history to tickets to rules — official and not — here’s what you need to know to get started.

A Brief Introduction Buying Tickets Know Before You Go (Down) Rules An Easy Tour

A Brief Introduction

Moscow’s Metro was a long time coming. Plans for rapid transit to relieve the city’s beleaguered tram system date back to the Imperial era, but a couple of wars and a revolution held up its development. Stalin revived it as part of his grand plan to modernize the Soviet Union in the 1920s and 30s. The first lines and tunnels were constructed with help from engineers from the London Underground, although Stalin’s secret police decided that they had learned too much about Moscow’s layout and had them arrested on espionage charges and deported.

The beauty of its stations (if not its trains) is well-documented, and certainly no accident. In its illustrious first phases and particularly after the Second World War, the greatest architects of Soviet era were recruited to create gleaming temples celebrating the Revolution, the USSR, and the war triumph. No two stations are exactly alike, and each of the classic showpieces has a theme. There are world-famous shrines to Futurist architecture, a celebration of electricity, tributes to individuals and regions of the former Soviet Union. Each marble slab, mosaic tile, or light fixture was placed with intent, all in service to a station’s aesthetic; each element, f rom the smallest brass ear of corn to a large blood-spattered sword on a World War II mural, is an essential part of the whole.

The Metro is a monument to the Soviet propaganda project it was intended to be when it opened in 1935 with the slogan “Building a Palace for the People”. It brought the grand interiors of Imperial Russia to ordinary Muscovites, celebrated the Soviet Union’s past achievements while promising its citizens a bright Soviet future, and of course, it was a show-piece for the world to witness the might and sophistication of life in the Soviet Union.

It may be a museum, but it’s no relic. U p to nine million people use it daily, more than the London Underground and New York Subway combined. (Along with, at one time, about 20 stray dogs that learned to commute on the Metro.)

In its 80+ year history, the Metro has expanded in phases and fits and starts, in step with the fortunes of Moscow and Russia. Now, partly in preparation for the World Cup 2018, it’s also modernizing. New trains allow passengers to walk the entire length of the train without having to change carriages. The system is becoming more visitor-friendly. (There are helpful stickers on the floor marking out the best selfie spots .) But there’s a price to modernity: it’s phasing out one of its beloved institutions, the escalator attendants. Often they are middle-aged or elderly women—“ escalator grandmas ” in news accounts—who have held the post for decades, sitting in their tiny kiosks, scolding commuters for bad escalator etiquette or even bad posture, or telling jokes . They are slated to be replaced, when at all, by members of the escalator maintenance staff.

For all its achievements, the Metro lags behind Moscow’s above-ground growth, as Russia’s capital sprawls ever outwards, generating some of the world’s worst traffic jams . But since 2011, the Metro has been in the middle of an ambitious and long-overdue enlargement; 60 new stations are opening by 2020. If all goes to plan, the 2011-2020 period will have brought 125 miles of new tracks and over 100 new stations — a 40 percent increase — the fastest and largest expansion phase in any period in the Metro’s history.

Facts: 14 lines Opening hours: 5 a.m-1 a.m. Rush hour(s): 8-10 a.m, 4-8 p.m. Single ride: 55₽ (about 85 cents) Wi-Fi network-wide

Buying Tickets

• Ticket machines have a button to switch to English.
• You can buy specific numbers of rides: 1, 2, 5, 11, 20, or 60. Hold up fingers to show how many rides you want to buy.
• There is also a 90-minute ticket , which gets you 1 trip on the metro plus an unlimited number of transfers on other transport (bus, tram, etc) within 90 minutes.
• Or, you can buy day tickets with unlimited rides: one day (218₽/ US$4), three days (415₽/US$7) or seven days (830₽/US$15). Check the rates here to stay up-to-date.
• If you’re going to be using the Metro regularly over a few days, it’s worth getting a Troika card , a contactless, refillable card you can use on all public transport. Using the Metro is cheaper with one of these: a single ride is 36₽, not 55₽. Buy them and refill them in the Metro stations, and they’re valid for 5 years, so you can keep it for next time. Or, if you have a lot of cash left on it when you leave, you can get it refunded at the Metro Service Centers at Ulitsa 1905 Goda, 25 or at Staraya Basmannaya 20, Building 1.
• You can also buy silicone bracelets and keychains with built-in transport chips that you can use as a Troika card. (A Moscow Metro Fitbit!) So far, you can only get these at the Pushkinskaya metro station Live Helpdesk and souvenir shops in the Mayakovskaya and Trubnaya metro stations. The fare is the same as for the Troika card.
• You can also use Apple Pay and Samsung Pay.

Rules, spoken and unspoken

No smoking, no drinking, no filming, no littering. Photography is allowed, although it used to be banned.

Stand to the right on the escalator. Break this rule and you risk the wrath of the legendary escalator attendants. (No shenanigans on the escalators in general.)

Get out of the way. Find an empty corner to hide in when you get off a train and need to stare at your phone. Watch out getting out of the train in general; when your train doors open, people tend to appear from nowhere or from behind ornate marble columns, walking full-speed.

Always offer your seat to elderly ladies (what are you, a monster?).

An Easy Tour

This is no Metro Marathon ( 199 stations in 20 hours ). It’s an easy tour, taking in most—though not all—of the notable stations, the bulk of it going clockwise along the Circle line, with a couple of short detours. These stations are within minutes of one another, and the whole tour should take about 1-2 hours.

Start at Mayakovskaya Metro station , at the corner of Tverskaya and Garden Ring,  Triumfalnaya Square, Moskva, Russia, 125047.

1. Mayakovskaya.  Named for Russian Futurist Movement poet Vladimir Mayakovsky and an attempt to bring to life the future he imagined in his poems. (The Futurist Movement, natch, was all about a rejecting the past and celebrating all things speed, industry, modern machines, youth, modernity.) The result: an Art Deco masterpiece that won the National Grand Prix for architecture at the New York World’s Fair in 1939. It’s all smooth, rounded shine and light, and gentle arches supported by columns of dark pink marble and stainless aircraft steel. Each of its 34 ceiling niches has a mosaic. During World War II, the station was used as an air-raid shelter and, at one point, a bunker for Stalin. He gave a subdued but rousing speech here in Nov. 6, 1941 as the Nazis bombed the city above.

Take the 3/Green line one station to:

2. Belorusskaya. Opened in 1952, named after the connected Belarussky Rail Terminal, which runs trains between Moscow and Belarus. This is a light marble affair with a white, cake-like ceiling, lined with Belorussian patterns and 12 Florentine ceiling mosaics depicting life in Belarussia when it was built.

Transfer onto the 1/Brown line. Then, one stop (clockwise) t o:

3. Novoslobodskaya.  This station was designed around the stained-glass panels, which were made in Latvia, because Alexey Dushkin, the Soviet starchitect who dreamed it up (and also designed Mayakovskaya station) couldn’t find the glass and craft locally. The stained glass is the same used for Riga’s Cathedral, and the panels feature plants, flowers, members of the Soviet intelligentsia (musician, artist, architect) and geometric shapes.

Go two stops east on the 1/Circle line to:

4. Komsomolskaya. Named after the Komsomol, or the Young Communist League, this might just be peak Stalin Metro style. Underneath the hub for three regional railways, it was intended to be a grand gateway to Moscow and is today its busiest station. It has chandeliers; a yellow ceiling with Baroque embellishments; and in the main hall, a colossal red star overlaid on golden, shimmering tiles. Designer Alexey Shchusev designed it as an homage to the speech Stalin gave at Red Square on Nov. 7, 1941, in which he invoked Russia’s illustrious military leaders as a pep talk to Soviet soldiers through the first catastrophic year of the war.   The station’s eight large mosaics are of the leaders referenced in the speech, such as Alexander Nevsky, a 13th-century prince and military commander who bested German and Swedish invading armies.

One more stop clockwise to Kurskaya station,  and change onto the 3/Blue  line, and go one stop to:

5. Baumanskaya.   Opened in 1944. Named for the Bolshevik Revolutionary Nikolai Bauman , whose monument and namesake district are aboveground here. Though he seemed like a nasty piece of work (he apparently once publicly mocked a woman he had impregnated, who later hung herself), he became a Revolutionary martyr when he was killed in 1905 in a skirmish with a monarchist, who hit him on the head with part of a steel pipe. The station is in Art Deco style with atmospherically dim lighting, and a series of bronze sculptures of soldiers and homefront heroes during the War. At one end, there is a large mosaic portrait of Lenin.

Stay on that train direction one more east to:

6. Elektrozavodskaya. As you may have guessed from the name, this station is the Metro’s tribute to all thing electrical, built in 1944 and named after a nearby lightbulb factory. It has marble bas-relief sculptures of important figures in electrical engineering, and others illustrating the Soviet Union’s war-time struggles at home. The ceiling’s recurring rows of circular lamps give the station’s main tunnel a comforting glow, and a pleasing visual effect.

Double back two stops to Kurskaya station , and change back to the 1/Circle line. Sit tight for six stations to:

7. Kiyevskaya. This was the last station on the Circle line to be built, in 1954, completed under Nikita Khrushchev’ s guidance, as a tribute to his homeland, Ukraine. Its three large station halls feature images celebrating Ukraine’s contributions to the Soviet Union and Russo-Ukrainian unity, depicting musicians, textile-working, soldiers, farmers. (One hall has frescoes, one mosaics, and the third murals.) Shortly after it was completed, Khrushchev condemned the architectural excesses and unnecessary luxury of the Stalin era, which ushered in an epoch of more austere Metro stations. According to the legend at least, he timed the policy in part to ensure no Metro station built after could outshine Kiyevskaya.

Change to the 3/Blue line and go one stop west.

8. Park Pobedy. This is the deepest station on the Metro, with one of the world’s longest escalators, at 413 feet. If you stand still, the escalator ride to the surface takes about three minutes .) Opened in 2003 at Victory Park, the station celebrates two of Russia’s great military victories. Each end has a mural by Georgian artist Zurab Tsereteli, who also designed the “ Good Defeats Evil ” statue at the UN headquarters in New York. One mural depicts the Russian generals’ victory over the French in 1812 and the other, the German surrender of 1945. The latter is particularly striking; equal parts dramatic, triumphant, and gruesome. To the side, Red Army soldiers trample Nazi flags, and if you look closely there’s some blood spatter among the detail. Still, the biggest impressions here are the marble shine of the chessboard floor pattern and the pleasingly geometric effect if you view from one end to the other.

Keep going one more stop west to:

9. Slavyansky Bulvar.  One of the Metro’s youngest stations, it opened in 2008. With far higher ceilings than many other stations—which tend to have covered central tunnels on the platforms—it has an “open-air” feel (or as close to it as you can get, one hundred feet under). It’s an homage to French architect Hector Guimard, he of the Art Nouveau entrances for the Paris M é tro, and that’s precisely what this looks like: A Moscow homage to the Paris M é tro, with an additional forest theme. A Cyrillic twist on Guimard’s Metro-style lettering over the benches, furnished with t rees and branch motifs, including creeping vines as towering lamp-posts.

Stay on the 3/Blue line and double back four stations to:

10. Arbatskaya. Its first iteration, Arbatskaya-Smolenskaya station, was damaged by German bombs in 1941. It was rebuilt in 1953, and designed to double as a bomb shelter in the event of nuclear war, although unusually for stations built in the post-war phase, this one doesn’t have a war theme. It may also be one of the system’s most elegant: Baroque, but toned down a little, with red marble floors and white ceilings with gilded bronze c handeliers.

Jump back on the 3/Blue line  in the same direction and take it one more stop:

11. Ploshchad Revolyutsii (Revolution Square). Opened in 1938, and serving Red Square and the Kremlin . Its renowned central hall has marble columns flanked by 76 bronze statues of Soviet heroes: soldiers, students, farmers, athletes, writers, parents. Some of these statues’ appendages have a yellow sheen from decades of Moscow’s commuters rubbing them for good luck. Among the most popular for a superstitious walk-by rub: the snout of a frontier guard’s dog, a soldier’s gun (where the touch of millions of human hands have tapered the gun barrel into a fine, pointy blade), a baby’s foot, and a woman’s knee. (A brass rooster also sports the telltale gold sheen, though I am told that rubbing the rooster is thought to bring bad luck. )

Now take the escalator up, and get some fresh air.

R&K Insider

Join our newsletter to get exclusives on where our correspondents travel, what they eat, where they stay. Free to sign up.

21 Things to Know Before You Go to Moscow

Featured city guides.

Moscow Study Abroad Program

Travel to Moscow! Tour the Kremlin, walk Red Square, and wander St. Basil's Cathedral. For more information please click here to contact us .

Our Travel Programs

Where to in Moscow?

Moscow Itinerary

Students' experiences, countries by region.

Africa:   Egypt,  Ghana ,  Kenya ,  Morocco ,  South Africa ,  Zambia

Asia:   China,  Delhi-Mumbai,    Bangalore/Sakleshpur ,  Japan ,  Jordan ,  Moscow ,  Nepal ,  Sri Lanka ,  Thailand ,  Thailand Vietnam,  Vietnam,    Turkey,  The UAE,  Vietnam/Cambodia,  Kingdom of Bhutan,  Thailand-Cambodia

Europe:   Albania-Greece-Macedonia ,  Balkan ,  Baltic ,  Central Europe , Finland ,   Germany ,  Greece ,  Holland ,  Iceland ,  Ireland ,  London ,  Milan ,  Paris ,  Paris-Berlin ,  Poland ,  Spain ,  Croatia ,  Bratislava ,  Prague ,  Budapest-Bratislava ,  Dresden-Berlin ,  Hungary ,  Italy ,  Manchester ,  Prague-Bratislava-Vienna ,  Rome-Sicily ,  Southern Spain

Latin America:   Argentina ,  Brazil ,  Chile ,  Costa Rica ,  Cuba ,  Ecuador ,  Mexico ,  Nicaragua ,  Peru ,  Puerto Rico ,  Guatemala ,  Guyana

Middle East:   Egypt ,  Jordan ,  Turkey ,  The UAE

North America:  Canada,   USA

Oceania:   Australia ,  Fiji ,  New Zealand

Copyright © 2022 ARAMFO Educational Foundation,pbc., All Rights Reserved.                  @w20220310

Shooter Files by f.d. walker

Street Photography Tips, Interaction, Travel, Guides

Dec 28 2016

7 First Impressions of Moscow, Russia (From a Street Photography Perspective)

At over 12 million people, Moscow is the second largest city in Europe by population. It’s an urban, cosmopolitan city of the highest level, with more than enough glitz to cater to the elite, but without losing its fair share of roughness around the edges. It can be fast paced, brash, busy, and trendy like other big cities, but it has its blend of European and Russian that makes it stand out on its own. And the most beautiful subway system you’ve ever seen.

So here are my first impressions of Moscow, from my personal Street Photographer perspective…

7 First Impressions of Moscow  (From a Street Photography Perspective)

1. big city with so much to discover.

It’s no secret that Moscow is a big city, but it can feel even bigger with how spread out much of it is. This is especially true if you compare it to cities outside of Asia. If I compared it to cities in Europe, I’d probably say only Istanbul would warrant more time to really discover the depths of this city. Most only explore around the Red Square and surrounding area, but that is such a small part of the city. Although, that central area does give you plenty to see on its own. 

Fortunately, I had a good friend living in the city to show me around, but it opened up my eyes even more to how much there is to discover in Moscow. It’s a big city with a variety of atmosphere that can take you from “east” to “west” and trendy to rugged depending on where you go. I’d imagine you’d have to live here a while to really know the city.

2. Museum Metro

The Moscow metro system was the first underground railway system in the Soviet Union and today includes 203 stations across 340km of routes. The elaborate system has some of the deepest stations in the world too, with escalators that seem to go on forever. None of this is what makes it so special, though. Many of its stations feel like stepping inside a museum, making it without a doubt the most interesting and beautiful metro system I’ve been in.

When built, Stalin wanted to make the metro stations “palaces for the people” with marble, chandeliers, and grand architecture. The best part is the variety of architecture and styles used, making many of the stations a completely different experience visually. You could easily spend a whole day traveling the stations and there are even tours available for people who wish to do just that. My advice, though, would be just to buy a ticket and hop on and off at different stations, while exploring different lines. The museum-like surrounding mixed with the crowds of characters can make for a great photography experience.

Since there are so many stations, here are some of my favorites to definitely check out:

• Novoslobodskaya 
• Mayakovskaya
• Elektrozavodskaya 
• Komsomolskaya 
• Ploschad Revolyutsii
• Dostoyevskaya
• Prospekt Mira

3. Not as walkable as Saint-Petersburg

While Saint-Petersburg feels very walkable for a city its size, Moscow can feel very spread out, even for its bigger size. Outside of the Red Square area, you can have a lot of walking before getting anywhere very interesting, so you’ll need to take the metro a lot if you really want to explore the city. Maps are deceiving here too, it will always be further than it looks.

Another reason it’s less walkable than Saint-Petersburg is its completely different set-up. Moscow’s streets are mostly contstructed in rings with narrow, winding streets in-between. This is common with medieval city cities that used to be confined by walls, but you usually don’t have it in a city this massive. Saint-Petersburg has a more grid-like pattern that also uses the canals to help you know your way around. When it comes to navigating on foot in Moscow, it can be more difficult, so bring a map and take the metro when needed. It’s why Moscow’s metro carries more passengers per day than the London and Paris subways combined.

4.  Gorky Park is like a Russian Central Park

One of the most famous places in Moscow is Gorky Park. The official name is Maxim Gorky’s Central Park of Culture & Leisure, which gives you an idea of what goes on here. When built, it was the first of its kind in the Soviet Union. Divided into two parts, it stretches along Moscow River. One end contains fair rides, foods stands, tennis courts, a sports club, a lake for boat rides, and more. This end brings more active life due to its number of attractions, while the other end is more relaxed, where you’ll find gardens, trees, older buildings, and an outdoor amphitheater.

Gorky Park attracts mostly locals so it’s a good spot to capture the non-tourist side of Moscow life. Muscovites come here to escape the city and unwind in a picturesque setting. The park remains alive outside of the warmer months too, especially when the lake turns into the city’s largest outdoor skating rink. I’d recommend taking the metro out here to spend at least half a day exploring the massive park’s life with your camera.

5. Half the city under construction

European cities in general seem to be filled with more construction than usual lately. But while this won’t be true forever, Moscow was filled with the most I’ve ever seen. Moscow already has the most skyscrapers in Europe, with many being less than a decade old. In only the last few years, the three tallest skyscrapers in Europe have opened here, giving it five of Europe’s ten tallest. The 2018 FIFA Word Cup is bringing much of this on, but the city is pushing to complete a skyline here than will rival any in the world.

The recession has slowed down the construction some, but the government is pushing it on. So all over the city, there were sidewalks covered with wood boards and lined with striped construction walls. At first, it was a little disappointing from a street photography perspective to see so much blocked by construction. After a while, though, it became something to capture. The striped construction materials and signs are colorful and all the workers created some interesting activity. It will be interesting to see what the city looks like when everything is complete, but for now, the construction provides interest itself.

6. Learn the Russian Alphabet

Much of Moscow, including the metro system, doesn’t use english. The Russian alphabet uses letters from the Cyrillic script, which if you aren’t familiar with it and don’t know the sounds, it can be hard to decipher the words. This is most important for street names and metro stops when trying to get around. It can save confusion and make it easier getting around if you learn the basic alphabet. At the very least then, you can sound out the words to see which are similar in the english conversion, which can help matching them to maps. When out shooting street photography, getting around is as important as anything. So save yourself some time and frustration by learning the Russian Alphabet.

7. Where East Meets West

Modern skyscrapers mixed with amazing architecture, a world-class metro system with a museum-like beauty, trendy fashion and chic clubs, Moscow is a rich mix of Russian culture and history in a more European package. There is a push to keep the Russian culture, while pushing forward with a modern metropolis the whole world will envy. This comes with an impressive skyline and modernities with soviet emblems and atmosphere mixed in for good measure.

It’s East meets West, modernizations meets Soviet nostalgia, and a whole lot more.

Russia’s Metropolis

Moscow is famous around the world, but it might not be completely what you expect from Russia’s capital. The city’s name brings a certain mystique, but once you’re there it brings something changed over time since its Soviet days. It’s big and sprawling, but beautiful in many ways. Most might say it feels more like a European capital on a grand scale, but you can definitely find its Russian side in there.

The urban sprawl of Moscow can be intimidating, but give it enough time and you’ll be rewarded with plenty to discover. All with the world’s best metro system to take you around.

If any of you have been to Moscow before, tell me about your experience and impressions of the city and country in the comments below! And stay tuned for more on Moscow, including some of the best Street Photography shots I captured while there.

Click Here for More First Impressions on Cities Around the World 

(from a street photographer’s perspective)

Comment Here! Cancel reply

For patreon exclusive educational content:.

Limited Edition Postcard Prints!

Street Photography Workshops

Donations Always Appreciated

I'll always keep Shooter Files free for everyone, but any donations would be greatly appreciated and help me keep it going. Many thanks to everyone following along!

Cheers! -f.d. walker

Search the Files

For Exclusive Patron Content: