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Cruising the Moskva River: A short guide to boat trips in Russia’s capital

There’s hardly a better way to absorb Moscow’s atmosphere than on a ship sailing up and down the Moskva River. While complicated ticketing, loud music and chilling winds might dampen the anticipated fun, this checklist will help you to enjoy the scenic views and not fall into common tourist traps.

How to find the right boat?

There are plenty of boats and selecting the right one might be challenging. The size of the boat should be your main criteria.

Plenty of small boats cruise the Moskva River, and the most vivid one is this yellow Lay’s-branded boat. Everyone who has ever visited Moscow probably has seen it.

This option might leave a passenger disembarking partially deaf as the merciless Russian pop music blasts onboard. A free spirit, however, will find partying on such a vessel to be an unforgettable and authentic experience that’s almost a metaphor for life in modern Russia: too loud, and sometimes too welcoming. Tickets start at $13 (800 rubles) per person.

Bigger boats offer smoother sailing and tend to attract foreign visitors because of their distinct Soviet aura. Indeed, many of the older vessels must have seen better days. They are still afloat, however, and getting aboard is a unique ‘cultural’ experience. Sometimes the crew might offer lunch or dinner to passengers, but this option must be purchased with the ticket. Here is one such  option  offering dinner for $24 (1,490 rubles).

If you want to travel in style, consider Flotilla Radisson. These large, modern vessels are quite posh, with a cozy restaurant and an attentive crew at your service. Even though the selection of wines and food is modest, these vessels are still much better than other boats.

Surprisingly, the luxurious boats are priced rather modestly, and a single ticket goes for $17-$32 (1,100-2,000 rubles); also expect a reasonable restaurant bill on top.

How to buy tickets?

Women holding photos of ships promise huge discounts to “the young and beautiful,” and give personal invitations for river tours. They sound and look nice, but there’s a small catch: their ticket prices are usually more than those purchased online.

“We bought tickets from street hawkers for 900 rubles each, only to later discover that the other passengers bought their tickets twice as cheap!”  wrote  (in Russian) a disappointed Rostislav on a travel company website.

Nevertheless, buying from street hawkers has one considerable advantage: they personally escort you to the vessel so that you don’t waste time looking for the boat on your own.

Prices start at $13 (800 rubles) for one ride, and for an additional $6.5 (400 rubles) you can purchase an unlimited number of tours on the same boat on any given day.

Flotilla Radisson has official ticket offices at Gorky Park and Hotel Ukraine, but they’re often sold out.

Buying online is an option that might save some cash. Websites such as  this   offer considerable discounts for tickets sold online. On a busy Friday night an online purchase might be the only chance to get a ticket on a Flotilla Radisson boat.

This  website  (in Russian) offers multiple options for short river cruises in and around the city center, including offbeat options such as ‘disco cruises’ and ‘children cruises.’ This other  website  sells tickets online, but doesn’t have an English version. The interface is intuitive, however.

Buying tickets online has its bad points, however. The most common is confusing which pier you should go to and missing your river tour.

“I once bought tickets online to save with the discount that the website offered,” said Igor Shvarkin from Moscow. “The pier was initially marked as ‘Park Kultury,’ but when I arrived it wasn’t easy to find my boat because there were too many there. My guests had to walk a considerable distance before I finally found the vessel that accepted my tickets purchased online,” said the man.

There are two main boarding piers in the city center:  Hotel Ukraine  and  Park Kultury . Always take note of your particular berth when buying tickets online.

Where to sit onboard?

Even on a warm day, the headwind might be chilly for passengers on deck. Make sure you have warm clothes, or that the crew has blankets ready upon request.

The glass-encased hold makes the tour much more comfortable, but not at the expense of having an enjoyable experience.

Getting off the boat requires preparation as well. Ideally, you should be able to disembark on any pier along the way. In reality, passengers never know where the boat’s captain will make the next stop. Street hawkers often tell passengers in advance where they’ll be able to disembark. If you buy tickets online then you’ll have to research it yourself.

There’s a chance that the captain won’t make any stops at all and will take you back to where the tour began, which is the case with Flotilla Radisson. The safest option is to automatically expect that you’ll return to the pier where you started.

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Moscow (Russia)

Cruise port schedule, live map, terminals, news.

Region Russia Rivers

Local Time 2024-04-25 15:35

Moscow is a Volga River cruise port, Russia's capital and largest city (population over 12,2 million, metro 17 million). Moscow City covers a total area of approx 2610 km 2 (970 mi2). By population, the city is ranked the world's 14th largest. Moscow is one of the Russian Federation's all 3 federal cities - together with St Petersburg and Sevastopol .

Being Russian Federation's capital, Moscow is a major economic, political, scientific and cultural center, as well as Europe's biggest city.

According to Forbes 2013, Moscow has been ranked as the 9th most expensive city in the world by Mercer and has one of the largest urban economies, being ranked as an alpha global city according to Globalization and World Cities Research Network. It is also one of the fastest-growing tourist destinations in the world according to MasterCard Global Destination Cities Index. Moscow is the northernmost and the coldest megacity and metropolis on the Earth. It's home to Ostankino Tower, the tallest free-standing European structure; the Federation Tower, the tallest European skyscraper; and the Moscow International Business Center. 

Moscow is situated on Moskva River in the Central Federal District of European Russia, which makes it the most populated inland city in the world. Moscow city is well known for architecture, particularly its historic buildings like Saint Basil's Cathedral. With over 40% of its territory covered by greenery, it's one of the greenest capitals and major cities in Europe and the world. Moscow is the seat of power of the Russian Government, being the site of Moscow Kremlin, a medieval city-fortress that is now the residence of the President of Russia. Moscow Kremlin and Red Square are among the several World Heritage Sites in the city. 

Moscow has 2 passenger terminals, North River Terminal (Rechnoy vokzal) and South River Terminal. The regular ship routes and cruises along Moskva and Oka rivers are used mostly for entertainment. North River Terminal (1937-built) is currently the main hub for long-range routes along the river. There are 3 freight ports that serve Moscow.

In late-July 2021 the city announced plans to incorporate a fleet (unspecified number) of fully electric passenger ferries into its public transportation network from summer 2022, the goal being to reduce the dependence on cars.

• The boats are designed with length ~22 m (72 ft), passenger capacity 42, modern amenities (Wi-Fi, USB charging points, tables for working commuters), spaces for storing scooters and bicycles.
• Moscow Transport confirmed that two routes (with max daily capacity ~16,000 passengers) have already been mapped out.
• Passengers will be able to pay via bank cards, the city’s Troika card (smart card for travel by any public transportation) or biometric payment cards. Those with monthly/yearly public transit tickets will use the boats at no extra cost.
• The new electric ferry service is up to 5 times faster (in comparison to other city public transports) and ~2 times faster than by car.

Moscow cruise terminal

Moscow's cruise terminal is called North River Terminal or River Station  ("Rechnoy Vokzal" / "речной вокзал").

The terminal was opened in 1937 and is one of 2 passenger terminals (the other being South River Terminal) of the city's river transport. North River Terminal is the main hub for long-range (including cruise) shipping routes. 

South River Terminal (above photo) was opened in 1985.

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THE 10 BEST Moscow Boat Rides & Cruises

Boat rides & cruises in moscow.

• Boat Rentals
• Scuba & Snorkeling
• Fishing Charters & Tours
• Stand-Up Paddleboarding
• Water Sports
• Surfing, Windsurfing & Kitesurfing
• Kayaking & Canoeing
• Waterskiing & Jetskiing
• River Rafting & Tubing
• Parasailing & Paragliding
• Dolphin & Whale Watching
• Speed Boats Tours
• Submarine Tours
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3rd Transport Ring (TTK)
• District Central (TsAO)
• Garden Ring
• District Northern (SAO)
• Good for Big Groups
• Good for Couples
• Good for a Rainy Day
• Budget-friendly
• Good for Kids
• Hidden Gems
• Honeymoon spot
• Good for Adrenaline Seekers
• Adventurous
• Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, and popularity.

1. Flotilla Radisson Royal

2. Moscow River Boat Tours

3. Sup-Club

4. Akvanavt Diving Centre

5. Diving Center Crocus City Oceanarium

6. CheapRussia Tours

7. Kite School Kiteclass

8. SUP Center

9. Erwin. Reka

11. Easy Russia Tour Guide

12. Lovely Russia Tours

13. Capital River Boat Tours - Moscow Centre

14. Alfa Centr

15. Diving Club Divers

16. Sup Outdoor

17. MORE MOSCOW

19. Soho Sailing Style

20. Diving Center Crocodile

21. Mosparokhodstvo

22. Dive-Project

24. Kosinskiy Children Marine Club

25. Kayak Moscow

26. DIVECLUB CHE

27. Moswake

28. FLOW Moscow

29. Morskiye Volki

30. S-cruises

What travelers are saying

• CheapRussia Tours
• Easy Russia Tour Guide
• Lovely Russia Tours
• MORE MOSCOW
• Insider Moscow Tours
• Flotilla Radisson Royal
• Moscow River Boat Tours
• Capital River Boat Tours - Moscow Centre
• Diving Center Crocus City Oceanarium

• Destinations
• Travel Blog
• Reservations
• About Orana Travel

Last updated on April 5th, 2024

Spires of St Basil’s Cathedral, © Can Stock / peterkirillov

Visit Moscow – Red Square

When people visit Moscow, they always go to Red Square right beside the walls of the Kremlin. Red Square is famous for the colorful spires on St Basil’s Cathedral, which makes the church the most photographed spot in Moscow. In addition to St Basil’s Cathedral, visit Lenin’s Tomb and the State Historical Museum.

St Basil’s Cathedral, Red Square, © Can Stock / sailorr

Just a few steps from the State Historical Museum and still outside the walls of the Kremlin is the monument to the Unknown Soldier and the Eternal Flame. The historic GUM Department Store faces Red Square on the opposite side from the Kremlin. In winter you can sometimes enjoy outdoor skating on Red Square.

Kremlin Fortress, © Can Stock / Paha_L

Visit Moscow – the Kremlin

After seeing Red Square, step through the walls of the Kremlin. The Kremlin is a walled fortress that includes palaces, cathedrals, a museum and the office of the President of Russia. In the Kremlin you can see the Great Palace, the Cathedral of the Assumption, the Cathedral of the Annunciation, the Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel, the Ivan the Great Bell Tower, the Church of the Deposition of the Robe, the State Armory and the Tsar Bell and Cannon. You can easily spend a full day seeing the sights at the Kremlin and Red Square.

Komsomolskaya Metro Station, © Can Stock / Paha_L

Moscow Metro Stations

After the Kremlin and Red Square, the most popular thing to see and do is to visit Moscow Metro Stations. The Moscow Metro Stations are famous for their fabulous architecture, murals and chandeliers. You can start your own Moscow Metro Station tour at Revolution Square (Ploshchad Revolyutsii) just a short walk from Red Square.

Bolshoi Theatre, © Can Stock / JackF

Among the well known stations to visit on your tour are Mayakovskaya, Novoslobodskaya, Komsomolskaya and Kurskaya. Craving more Moscow Metro Stations? You can also ride the metro to the stations at Arbatskaya, Teatralnaya, Novokuznetskaya, Taganskaya, Slavyansky Bulvar or Okhotny Ryad. You can also take a guided tour of Moscow Metro Stations.

Cathedral of Christ the Savior, © Can Stock / Paha_L

Sights near the Kremlin

The following sights and attractions are all within a 20 minute walk near the Kremlin:

• Bolshoi Theatre – see the famous Bolshoi Ballet Company perform well known ballets such as Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake..
• Cathedral of Christ the Savior – famous church on the Moscow River.
• Pushkin Fine Arts Museum
• Tretyakov Gallery
• The Moscow Conservatory – Tchaikovsky was a professor here.
• Monument to Peter the Great – on the Moscow River.
• The Old Arba t St – pedestrian district.

GUM Dept Store, Red Square, Can Stock / Paha_L

Visit Moscow – More Sights

• Novodevichy Convent
• Gorky Park – transformed in 2011 by removing old carnival rides and modernizing the park into one of the city’s most popular locations.
• Kolomenskoye Museum – formerly a residence for the tzars.
• Izmaylovsky Park
• Rublyovskoye shosse – the rouble street which is the expensive residential part of town.
• Bunker 42 – check out the legacy of the Cold War.
• Take a Moscow River Cruise past the Kremlin, St. Basil’s Cathedral and the Cathedral of Christ the Savior.

Moscow River Cruise, © Can Stock / barsik

Savor the Tastes of Moscow

• Café Pushkin – the most famous restaurant in Moscow. This is 5 start dining, not a café.
• O2 Lounge at the Ritz Carlton.
• City Space Bar & Lounge on the 34th floor of the Swiss Otel.

Novodevichy Convent, © Can Stock / Lenor

Golden Circle

Outside Moscow is a beautiful series of Russian villages with traditional churches and kremlins. There are eight towns to visit in the Golden Circle: Sergiyev Posad, Pereslavl-Zalessky, Rostov, Yaroslavl, Kostroma, Ivanovo, Suzdal and Vladimir. You can reach Sergiyev Posad, Suzdal and Vladimir on day trips from Moscow. The other villages will require overnight stays in order to complete the full circle.

Get to Moscow

Sheremetyevo International Airport (SVO) is the way to get to Moscow by air for international travelers. The Aeroexpress train connects the international airport to Belorusskaya Railway Terminal. Domodedovo International Airport (DME) is also very busy, but concentrates more heavily on domestic flights.

GUM & St Basils’s, © Can Stock / gina_sanders

Visit Moscow – Hotels

• Courtyard by Marriott Moscow City Center
• National Hotel
• The Ritz-Carlton, Moscow

Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, © Can Stock / Paha_L

Moscow Weather

Moscow weather is humid year round. June through August are the best months for temperatures, but these are also the months of heavier rainfall and the busiest for tourism. Expect average summer highs of 73 F (23 C) and average lows of 54 F (12 C). The coldest winter months are December – February when average highs are 25 F (-4 C) and average lows are about 16 F (-9 C). So, the summer months from June through August are likely the best time of year to visit Moscow.

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When we talk about cruising from Los Angeles, fyi: we’re talking about cruises from Long Beach. A short drive from LA is where you’ll find this seaside Southern California city that’s inseparable from its big-city neighbor, while undeniably moving to its own local beat. Dotted with dozens of parks, beaches and multiple public golf courses (fore times five!), Long Beach also boasts perhaps the world’s most unique hotel — located aboard the old-time ocean liner The Queen Mary (which is haunted, or so go the rumors). You can experience it before one of Carnival’s cruises from Long Beach, but definitely don’t miss the glitzy, big-city Los Angeles — the right place to experience the left-coast life. Take in the storied sights of this City of Angels, from its modern museums and high-end shopping to its funky seaside towns and star-studded SoCal sights dotting the hills and boulevards. Hollywood — hooray! So if you’re dreaming about a cruise from Los Angeles, remember: Carnival’s cruises from Long Beach are just the ticket.

• Climb aboard the Queen Mary , a glamorous 1930s ocean liner.
• Find your favorite star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
• Stroll through the art and antiquities of the Getty Center ® .
• Take the backlot tour of Universal Studios ™ for a look at Hollywood mythmaking.
• Gaze into the starry night sky through the Griffith Observatory's ® giant telescope.

See it all from Long Beach (Los Angeles).

* Taxes, fees, and port expenses are additional per person.