travel town broken tile

Travel Town Beginner’s Guide: Tips, Tricks & Strategies to Complete More Levels and Rebuild the Entire City

By: Author Barbara Craig

Posted on Last updated: April 6, 2022

Travel Town is a match and merge puzzle game developed by Magmatic Games, and it’s currently available on iOS and Android platforms. On top of the beautiful sharp graphics and matching sounds, Travel Town comes with an addictive gameplay, that fans of the genre will certainly enjoy.

To get you started on the right foot, we have put together a comprehensive Travel Town beginner’s guide . We will start this guide with explaining the basic mechanics and continue with effective strategies to advance quickly in the game, rebuild the city and help your neighbours. Of course, without forgetting to enjoy the thrill of finding new and better objects as you go merging.

Travel Town is visually similar and has the same mechanics as Merge Mansion , a game that we have covered before here at Level Winner. So if you had the pleasure of playing that game, then you probably won’t have any major problems going through Travel Town.

The game takes place in Travel Town, a beautiful seaside that was ravaged away by a storm. Your main objective is to restore it and help your neighbours who were left with nothing. Meanwhile, you discover new objects. The mechanics of the game consists of mixing matching objects to get better and better objects. You can sell these objects to your neighbours who in exchange will give you smileys among other rewards. Smileys are the in-game currencies in Travel Town, and you will use them to rebuild the town. To start to play you need to use energy. At the beginning you have 100 units of energy in the form of lightning and you must use it wisely to advance levels. But be careful, in between you must pay attention to how you organize yourself. Here I will share with you several tips and strategies to be able to advance quickly in Travel Town.

1. Starting From Scratch And Cleaning Your Place

At first, you will start with little free space to merge. Not only that, but you will also find spaces blocked by objects covered in sand. Do not worry that this is momentary and here you will see how to proceed to optimize your space.

These grey objects that you find buried in the sand have to be removed with a matching item. To do this you must take objects out of the bucket and mix until you get the one you are looking for.

Now you may ask: How do I know what I need to mix to get what I’m looking for? Well, at first you will not have major difficulties. Keep looking, you’re on the right track. Once you achieve to unlock the space you will have a little bit more room and be more comfortable.

Pay attention not to miss the opportunity to unlock a space if you have the same item. As you advance in level, more spaces will be freed up to work and you will be able to have a greater variety of objects. You will also be able to see stars with numbers drawn on the sand, these numbers indicate at what level that space is unlocked. But you may have to dig up some grey object from that new place. When the neighbours see what you achieve on the beach, they will add you to the chat group.

There you can keep up-to-date with everything they would like to improve about the city, as well as read pretty funny things apart from the fact that they don’t stop talking in that group.

2. Stay Organized And Save Space

Maintaining order in Travel Town can be crucial and makes the difference between an average player and a pro player. Maintaining order in the first levels is not something very difficult to achieve, since you will only have a couple of objects on the playground. But what happens as you go forward? As you advance in the game you will have a greater variety of objects at your disposal.

Not only that, but you will also have to achieve more complex objects and you will have the board with half-jobs distributed everywhere. So how can you improve this situation?

A good option is to organize them by type , this way you will have more ease when searching for a particular object. For example, you can group the objects that come out of the bucket in one corner, the objects that come out of the picnic basket in another corner, and so on. You can also save space by gathering all the same items , so you will have more free places.

Another option is to keep rare items, that you are not going to use for the time being, in the inventory. What happens if you follow the previous steps and still fill the sandbox with things? Can’t you keep mixing? Okay, do not worry! In this case, you have two options, one is to sell the objects in exchange for smileys, touching the object you want to sell and then below the currency symbol you can make the sale in exchange for smileys.

Some lower-tier items you will not be able to sell but if you need the space urgently you can remove them. You select the object first and then down in the garbage can. Throwing out the items does not benefit you since the sale value is not as good as the value for which the neighbours pay, but it’s still something. That’s why you have to try not to get to this point.

The inventory will also be enabled, where you can initially store up to 7 objects. You can unlock more slots in exchange for diamonds.

3. Keep Your Neighbours Happy And Successfully Deliver Orders

The neighbours seem to love the items you manage to get from the sand. That’s why they will be constantly requesting new items. Before starting to create an order object, you should review all the orders you have.

This way, you avoid making a very complicated request when you have an object that’s almost ready on your board. Sometimes the commands are very simple, but other times they are a bit more difficult. There may be unique objects , which you will have to find out where or how to get them. It may also be that you order 2 or 3 objects together.

And you have to get them all, they don’t take half orders. This may seem difficult, but as the game progresses you will become a master at delivering double or triple commands. I recommend that you try to start with the most difficult of the 2 items. When you get this object it will turn green, this way it is very easy to identify them and you will know that you have to deliver it.

An ideal scenario is that you group the objects in green in some sectors of the board where you do not move the items much. This is so that you don’t keep mixing it with the same item and you lose the needed level. So you will leave it waiting until you get the others.

Why shouldn’t you overdo the level? If you build higher-level objects, you will spend more energy and later you will not be able to sell them and they will take up space. Also, you will have to start from scratch to build it again and deliver it, since you cannot go back. For example: if a neighbour asks you for a Nautilus shell but you continue mixing until you reach a starfish, then you will not be able to go back and you will have to wait for someone to ask you for that object.

Another thing that can happen is that you see some requests in grey: when you see this, if you try to open it, it will tell you that you have to go up to the next level to be able to take that order. So first you must level up completing other orders and then you will see what the order is about.

4. Start Little By Little To Buy Buildings And Reform Them

As we mentioned before, smileys are the in-game currencies. You can spend smileys on keys, so you can rebuild the buildings of Travel Town. You have several options to get smileys:

Fulfilling the requests of the neighbours: You will constantly have orders to deliver. Although, some objects will not give you many smileys in return. Some neighbours are willing to pay fortunes for rare objects. But yes, you have to know how to find them.

Mixing certain objects: There are some objects such as photos or jewels that, when merged, may reward you smileys. You’ll notice because they will fly on the board, so don’t forget to collect them!

Buying smileys in the store: Some days there are available smileys in the store for purchase. It’s a lazy option and you must pay with diamonds in exchange if you do not want to merge.

Selling objects: Another good option is to sell some items that you have left and that you think you will not need. Once you sell an item, you will see how many smileys you got for that item in return.

Hmm… did you regret selling it? After the sale, you can recover the item by going down where it says undo selling and select the circular arrow. But be careful, once you select something else on the screen, the option to have the object returned to you will disappear.

Opening chests: The majority of the chests have smileys as a reward, and you will be able to get many out of them. But of course, getting chests is not easy. You will have to fulfil orders, level up or rebuild buildings to get them. Once you get the necessary resources you can start upgrading the city. Keep in mind that in this case, you are going to need a pile of wood planks as well as smileys. Later in this guide, we will explain how to get the materials.

5. Squeeze The Juice Out Of Your Resources

The items that allow you to advance in the game faster are the following 3. Don’t forget to take care of your resources because they are the key to success in Travel Town.

Smileys: You need to get the maximum number of smileys to be able to pay for the key to the land that you are acquiring and also for the restorations. Doing this will give you experience points and you will advance in level.

That’s why every time a face item appears on the board, it is recommended not to sell it immediately and keep them in the inventory to mix them and reach the maximum level. This way, you can obtain greater benefits than selling them one by one.

For example: If you only have one smiley and you sell it, they will give you 1 in exchange, but if you have 2, they will give you 3, if you have 4 they will give you 7, if you mix 8 they will give you 15, and if you reach the maximum level of the item (level 5) which is 16 will give you 32 smileys. This is a lot of difference to make if you are patient and wait until you have the maximum level before selling it.

Energies: the energies will allow you to continue loading objects on the board, they renew themselves from time to time, but, indeed, they are also spent quickly when you need to deliver an object. That’s why every time an energy item appears, like the smileys, it is recommended to keep them in the inventory to mix them and reach the maximum level. This way you can get more benefit from it, for an energy item at the maximum level, you will get 100 units of energy.

A tip to get more energy is to take a good look at the sign that appears when you run out, since sometimes to the right of the option to pay with diamonds it gives you the option to see a commercial in exchange for 25 energy.

And because they are short commercials, I think it’s worth watching the commercial instead of spending diamonds on energy.

Diamonds: Diamonds are definitely the most precious and that’s why you have to avoid wasting them. In Travel Town, you can use it for almost everything. For example, you can skip the waiting time of some items with diamonds, but is it worth it? Perhaps, you can be patient with the wait and use the diamonds to exchange them for space in the inventory or get energy at good prices.

Check the offers daily, there are days that for a few diamonds you can get energy packages or chests. And just like energies and smileys, diamonds can be pooled together to make the most profit from selling them. Don’t forget that every time you discover a new item, it will appear in the collection book as a gift.

You must open it and inside it, you will find a diamond. So every day at the end of playing you can go to the book to continue completing the collections.

6. Permanent Objects

Permanent objects are those from which you can obtain objects in exchange for energy. These objects cannot be sold and you can take them to their maximum level. The higher its level, the better objects you will obtain from it. Keep in mind that of the objects that you can get from inside in exchange for energy, you will not be able to select them since it will give you a random object. Permanent items have a cooldown time that depends on the item.

As much as you have energy, you will not be able to remove objects infinitely. When the inside is finished, a clock will appear indicating how long you must wait until you can get objects again. There are times when you will be lucky and it will give you some higher-level item. Here are some permanent items that you will find in the first levels: Beach Bucket: This is the first permanent item that you get in the game. It is formed from buckets and you can take it to the maximum level, which is 9. From here you can obtain pebbles, stones, sandcastles and seashells, among others. When it is at its maximum level you will be able to obtain the mysterious letter from here but to be honest it will not be easy to obtain one.

With the objects that come out of the bucket, you can complete the Shells and the Sand Castles book collection. Picnic Basket: This basket, like the bucket, is one of the first permanent items that you obtain and that requires energy to deliver objects.

From here you can obtain spoons, olives among others. And you will be able to complete the Picnic Food series and the Cutlery Tools series. Jewellery display: When you take the jewellery display to level 4 you will have a jewellery box. It is a permanent item which means that it will remain on the board forever, not only will you be able to create beautiful jewels with what is inside it but it also has a particularity.

It is that this jewellery box does not use energy to generate objects! Which means that you will have endless items? Well, yes and no, because if it has a cooldown time. You can place the jewellery box in the middle of the board and you can see how the objects jump out.

In case you have a full workspace, I recommend that you keep the jewellery box surrounded by items. This way, neither of the will pop from inside, occupying the place you need on the board.

Once they stop coming out, you will have to wait for the recharge time to expire. If you need to make a jewel and you don’t want to wait for the recharge time, you can also use diamonds to skip the time. A trick for when they give you a reward jewellery box and you have one on the board: first you empty the one you have on the board until the clock mark appears indicating that you have to wait.

Next step, you lower the new jewel box to the board and empty it too. Once the 2 are with the cooldown clock, you merge them. This will not only give you a higher tier jewel box but also resets the time so you can empty it for the third time. 

7. Reward Items

Crates: Crates have 5 levels. Inside the crates, you can get smileys or  diamonds. When you get one, either for a level-up reward or for having completed a level. You can open it or you can also save it and wait till get one of the same level to be able to merge them.

Whichever option you choose, when you want to open it you have to select them and choose the option to open there will tell you how long you have to wait. The higher the level of the crate, the greater the rewards, but also the longer it will take to open.

Energy crate: The crates contain only energy inside so nothing that comes out of it can surprise you. They are usually achieved by levelling up or completing an order. These crates cannot be levelled up as they are at their maximum level when they appear. Toolbox: Toolboxes are boxes full of tools where you can find everything from screws and wood to cement and bricks for construction. They are crucial for building upgrades. Not only that, but they are quite difficult to get, usually given to you as a reward for hard-to-complete orders.

So I recommend that you keep everything that comes out of the toolbox well until you can get the maximum level of each item. So when you manage to build, for example, a brick wall or a concrete mixer, it will be kept in the inventory until you use it in some upgrade.

These tool items will be saved in the second tab of the inventory. So you should not worry about them taking up space. You can go check what materials you have stored at any time.

8. Special Items Are Difficult To Get

Joker: The jokers are rarer items than diamonds. And they have the peculiarity of being able to duplicate any common object you have in the playground. If you’re lucky enough to get one, I don’t recommend using it to combine with a pebble.

Save it or use it to combine with an object that has a very high tier level. This way you will save a lot of time. You also have the option to buy it in the store in exchange for diamonds. So it would be a good purchase. Bubbled items: Bubbled items are items that appear inside a bubble when you are creating an object. These objects are trapped and you will not be able to use them unless you pay their reward in diamonds. Its price varies depending on the difficulty of the item. It may be that you are not interested in taking out of the bubble in exchange for some diamonds. But as soon as an item that you need appears, this may be worth spending diamonds on.

Be aware, you cannot doubt it for a long time since the bubble will disappear in a short time. Don’t worry if you decide not to pay with diamonds, the bubbles always leave you something in return, which can be a smiley, energy or even a diamond.

Mysterious letter: Just as its name says, this letter is mysterious, it is rumoured that it has a map inside and that it takes you to some hidden place in Travel Adventure, have you got it yet? Do not worry that as the levels progress they will come to your hands. As a suggestion, you should start by getting letters out of the bucket. Mysterious fossil: If there was something more mysterious than the mysterious letter, it is surely this fossil. It is much more difficult to get, but believe me, it has a very good reward.

9. Take Part In Special Events

Do not forget to complete the special events, they are a good opportunity to gather resources. Daily challenge: It is a daily event that will appear as an order on the top right and when you open it you will be able to see the tasks to complete. This order, unlike the others, has a time limit that you cannot exceed. You can see the time remaining from the order or when opening it as well.

You can also see the counter, for example, if it says 0/3, it means that you have 0 tasks performed out of 3. As you complete them, it will indicate 1/3, 2/3, and so on until it reaches 3/3. Completing it will give you the reward indicated in the order. Wildlife sanctuary: it is a special event to which you are going to be invited to travel to the jungle. Precisely to a sanctuary, where you can feed and rescue tigers, cut dry or fallen trees, and plant new and healthy ones.

During our stay in the sanctuary, you have to try to complete as many requests as possible. Here there are no smileys as a reward for orders. But in exchange for completing an order, they will give you a paw token.

As you collect the paws you will advance in level, each time you reach a new level you will need more tokens to complete it. Once the time of the stay finishes, they will give you a diploma with the maximum level you reached and with it the rewards. The levels that you can reach range from level 1 to 8.

In the sanctuary, you will have a different energy, which has the same functionality as in the rest of the game but it is blue. When you run out of energy, you can go out and wait for it to recharge or you can also buy it with diamonds.

You can also collect smileys that will appear from time to time when you mix some items, it may be that smileys appear and you can collect those, a tip to take advantage of here is that if you see that our time in the jungle is running out and they are going to be left items, the ideal is that you can sell them before leave. Because once the time is up you won’t be able to come back for anything from the place.

The mechanic is very similar to what you’ve been doing. Only that here your mission, apart from completing the orders, is to rescue the tigers that are in the jungle. To do this, the first thing you must do is get items from the worker’s hut in exchange for energy. From here you can get tools, seeds and feeding bottles.

How to rescue your first tiger? The tigers are lost in the middle of the jungle but to get to them you must first cut down the fallen trees. You do this by taking some items of tools to the maximum level until you get a chainsaw. With it, you can choose the place to weed. Note that there are two types of trees to cut, one is the dry one that you will have to cut 2 times, so you will need 2 chainsaws.

And the other one is the stump for which you’re going to have to cut only once. Both will give you lodges in return. Once you enter the jungle you will find items in grey covered by the undergrowth, to unlock it you must get a matching item. When you go into the jungle, you may find a baby tiger in grey and to rescue it you will need to have another one. To get one you have to take a feeding bottle to the maximum level, then you double-tap it and a baby tiger will appear.

Once you got the baby tiger now with it, you can rescue the one you found in the jungle.

How do you plant new and healthy trees? Once you were able to remove the dry trees, the idea of ​​the sanctuary is that you reforest it with healthy trees. To do this you must start by mixing the seeds until you bring them to their maximum level. When you manage to have a Sundari tree, it will provide you with seeds and flowers without having to spend energy in return.

As soon as you finish don’t forget to claim your reward.

10. Be Persistent And Be Patient

As you progress in the game, you can achieve more complex items. Or maybe you use up energy faster. But don’t get discouraged, you can close the game and come back when you have full energy. Some items will take a few days to form but in the meantime, you will always have some other easier items to deliver. And when you have a permanent item in cooldown, relax and do other things in Travel Town.

That was our last piece of advice, and with that we conclude our Travel Town beginner’s guide. Hopefully, the tips and tricks we shared in this article will help you to advance in the best way until you complete your collection of objects and restore the city. If you have discovered any other tips or tricks during your gameplay, we would be happy to hear from you! Feel free to drop us a line in the comments below!

Karen Lancaster

Tuesday 26th of March 2024

How do I get the sand mmmm sand castle out of bucket rather than the shells ?

Deborah Leigh

Tuesday 13th of February 2024

What is an auto producer I keep hearing them mentioned. What do I do with the items? What items should I keep on the board?

Saturday 25th of November 2023

My favorite simple trick is this: try to keep 3 jewelry boxes on the playing board. Never combine them, and they will generate free jewelry three times as fast. Same with ice cream generators. Have fun Y'all.

Tuesday 21st of November 2023

Hi can someone tell me how to make the Goddess sculpture. I believe you use the are supplies for and I'm getting paintbrushes and notebooks which gave me pipes and make a colorful palette and pieces of concrete. But I don't know what to do with them. Thank you for any advice I could get

Sunday 6th of August 2023

What do the pearls do in the beach game?

Automatic Orders List

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Automatic Orders will spawn in the order bar when you have created enough of an item to warrent the exchange of it for coins. Each time the item is made and automatically ordered, the next automatic order will have a higher exchange of coins [ ]

Example Entry: [Amount of item needed] [Item Name] - [Level Number] of [item category] ([amount of initial item needed for 1 of item specified)] created from [producer category name] producer. Generates about (approximate initial automatic order amount) coins

Categories: * - low amount of coins automatic producer. $ - high amount of coins automatic producer.

*3 Sand Castles - Max Level of Sand Castles (16) created from Beach Bucket Producer. Generates about ??? coins

*3 Cutlery Tools - Max Level of Cutlery Tools (16) created from Picnic Basket Producer. Generates about ??? coins

*3 Tiaras - Max Level of Lapis Stone (256) created from (no energy required) Jewelry Display Producer. Generates about 3600 coins (updated 2/24/24)

*3 Framed Photos - Max Level of Instant Pictures (256) created from Camera Producer. Generates about ??? coins

3 Spring Scales - Max Level of Herbalist Tools (16) created from Herb Sack Producer. Generates about 2345 coins

1 Max Bear - Max Level of Essential Oils (512) created from Herb Sack Producer. Generates about ??? coins

1 Tea Set - Max Level of Tea Cups (32) created from Herb Sack Producer. Generates about 6000 coins

1 Wild Berry Cake - Max Level of Desserts (8192) created from Kitchen Robot Producer. Generates about ??? coins

2 Grilled Salads - Max Level of Salads (16) created from Kitchen Robot Producer. Generates about 3700 coins

1 Seafood Paella - Max Level of Fish Dishes (512) created from Kitchen Robot Producer. Generates about 24000 coins

3 Abstract Paintings - Max Level of Paintings (256) created from Museum Guide Producer. Generates about ??? coins

1 [Max Level Sculptures] - Max Level of Sculptures (256) created from Museum Guide Producer. Generates about ??? coins

3 Butterfly Koi - Max Level of Gold Fish (32) created from Arabian Garden Producer. Generates about ??? coins

1 Delicious Snack Box - Max Level of Date Sweet (256) created from Arabian Gardens Producer. Generates about ??? coins

1 Special Milkshake - Max Level of Milkshake produced from Ice Cream Freezer. Generates about 20,000 coins.

1 [Max Surf Gear] - Max Level of Surf gear (4096) created from Surf Shop Producer. Generates about ??? coins

2 Perfect Amphoras - Max Level of Amphora (2048) created from Boat Producer. Generates about 7,750 coins

3 Old Wedding Photos - Max Level of Message Bottle (32) created from Boat Producer. Generates about 2,200 coins

1 Octopus - Max Level of Fish (2048) created from Boat Producer. Generates about 50,000 coins

$1 Globe - Max level of Naval Miniatures (4096) created from Lighthouse Producer. Generates a chest that gives about 7000 coins, 25 diamonds, 180 energy, at lvl 42

2 Mosquitos - Max level of Bugs created from Lighthouse Producer. Generates about 3000 coins.

$1 Pisces - Max Level of Zodiac Pendants (2048) created from Fishing Tools Producer. Generates about 28,000 coins

2 24-Karat Watch - Max Level of Gold Watches (16) created from Fishing Tools Producer. Generates about 4,000 coins

2 Flexible Monkey - Max Level of Yogi Monkey (16) created from Fishing Tools Producer. Generates about 4,000 coins

3 Gingerbread Houses - Max Level of Gingerbread People (16) created from Baking Oven Producer. Generates about 900 coins

1 [Max Colorful Tile] - Max Level of Colorful Tile (512) created from Pottery Wheel Producer. Generates about ??? coins

1 Origami Rabbit - Max Level of Takeaway Coffee (4096) created from Coffee Machine Producer. Generates about ??? coins

3 Whipped Cream Lattes - Max Level of Coffee Cup (32) created Coffee Machine Producer. Generates about 2000 coins

3 Foam Pandas - Max Level of Latte Art (16) created from Coffee Machine Producer. Generates about 1800 coins

3 Large Sangrias - Max Level of Refreshing Drink (256) created from Beach Bar Menu Producer. Generates about 2100 coins

3 Fruit Salads - Max Level of Fruit (16) created by Beach Bar Menu Producer. Generates about ??? coins

*3 Honey Cakes - Max Level of Honey Food (256) created by Honey Hive Producer. Generates about 1,700 coins

3 [Max Mushrooms] - Max Level of Mushrooms (16) created by Vegetable Cart Producer. Generates about 1,000 coins. 1400 coins for me.

1 [Max Served Grape Juice] - Max Level of Served Grape Juice (16) created by Vine Producer. Generates about 9,000 coins.

1 [Max Cork Figurine] - Max Level of Cork Figure (16) created by Vine Producer. Generates about 9,000 coins.

1 Cat Sweater - Max Level of Knitted Clothing (16) created by Adoption Certificate. Generates about 9,000 coins.y

2 Wasabi bottles - Max level of wasabi bottle created by shopping cart>>> pizza. Generates about 14000 coins at level 42.

2 Crane Flies - do not click on it. 3600 coins and it is free - they come from the bulb. It takes like a day to collect the 2 of them, but it worth.

3 roller coaster wagons

3 toy roller coasters

One hack hint from me:

If you need space, you can send thing up.

Step1: Get one free field.

Step2: Call any free producer, like ice cream, jewelry, bulb or cash register. (Star box is also good, but it is not always on your game field.)

Step3: Move the item that you want to put aside beside the free producer.

Step4: Sell the item.

Step5: Immediately undo the selling. The item will be put on the top left part. You can see the number is increasing if there were any of them already. Or you will see it above if that was the first.

Step6: You can sell and undo immediately items how many you need. While you have an automatic free producer. I usually have like 15, but I had once around 50.

Step7: If you need items from above, of course, it is hard to take back, e.g. you get a tool box, it will be placed at the end of the line. If you get card package, it will be place at the first place.

So if you need any item from the line, you need some space on the field, you take them back there and place them at the end of the line.

Travel Town - Merge Adventure 4+

Merge & discover‪‬, magmatic games ltd, designed for ipad.

• #2 in Board
• 4.8 • 65.6K Ratings
• Offers In-App Purchases

Screenshots

Description.

Explore Travel Town, where you can combine everything into better and more useful items while you travel the world! Reveal secrets as you discover yourself and help the friendly people of Travel Town! TRAVEL TOWN FEATURES: == Match Objects == • Discover over 500 fantastic objects through hundreds of levels! • Freely drag objects around the beautiful world and match 2 of a kind evolve them into more superior items! • Fulfil the missions of the townsfolk to unlock more amazing items! == Meet New Villagers == • Discover 55 villagers who live in Travel Town, and help them restore their seaside town! • Match objects to upgrade them and unlock more and more items to support you on your journey! == Town Building == • A storm has ravaged Travel Town - Collect coins and bring the town back to its former beauty! • Discover and upgrade dozens of houses and improve the town beyond your wildest dreams! Follow Travel Town on Facebook and Instagram for exclusive offers and bonuses! Facebook: facebook.com/TravelTownGame/ Instagram: instagram.com/traveltowngame/ Terms of Service: https://static.moonactive.net/legal/terms.html Privacy Notice: https://static.moonactive.net/legal/privacy.html Questions about the game? Contact us in the game by clicking on Settings > Contact Us Our support is also ready and waiting at: https://support.traveltowngame.com/

Version 2.12.541

Welcome to the latest update of Travel Town! We’ve been busy improving the game and addressing bugs for you. Enjoy!

Ratings and Reviews

65.6K Ratings

Simple, yet Slightly Challenging

Over the years I’ve played a few mobile games and not many have been merge games. However, I will say most merge games that I have played contain a very extensive wait time in between tasks, which can feel very tedious when most would like to play games to pass time. Travel Town manages to have a system that seems more effective in allowing further progression at a quicker rate than most. What I also enjoy is the fact that ADs aren’t thrown around all will nilly; They usually have a purpose. Most of the time it’s to get items or energy to keep playing and that option along with easy ways to get the in game currency have me seeing more positives in this game compared to others similar to it. I will say as I’ve kept playing that in-app purchase pop-ups have been showing up a lot more frequently versus when I first started, but the fact that energy doesn’t take very long to build up makes it a little more tolerable than it would if it felt like I had no other options. And that’s the way I feel most free games should be - free without making you feel like your arm is twisted to gain further enjoyment from playing. Simple concept, simple mechanics and progression does indeed get more complex as you move forward, but not to the point of a complete standstill and over-reliance on in-app purchases, something that made me turn away from a lot of mobile games that I once enjoyed

Overall enjoyable

Fun match game, similar to other games out there. What makes this one unique is the town development aspect and the various producers that you get as you move through the game. Some are regular tap for an item, some spit the items out at a certain interval, and some need to be tapped multiple times to produce the item. Those last ones are the most frustrating, but I like the additional challenge of having to ration your energy and plan your moves to optimize order completion. I do have a few *minor* critiques. After a certain point, you stop using some producers all together. The game has a kind of cold storage for the obsolete producers to get them out of the way. However, I do wish the game would circle back to them sometimes. Just to mix it up. Also, the frequency of energy and gem drops is rather low compared to other similar games; it would be nice to have more of a chance to get energy and gems. In the same vein, the cost of energy feels high and I dislike that the item shop only offers gems prices. Overall, this is a nice game that keeps me returning daily. It’s relaxingly simple while providing a slight challenge in terms of resource management. The special events are always a fun bonus, too.

Developer Response ,

Thank you for this feedback. We appreciate you taking the time to let us know your thoughts!😊

Still getting stuck with big update…

First off, I do really enjoy this game, and I don’t mind the new update too much. Even though we had to start over, you gave us all our diamonds back, and it was kind of nice to start with a fresh board again. HOWEVER, you said it was to give smoother progresss for everyone and less instances of getting stuck and that’s NOT what’s happening for me. I’m at level 16 and progress has pretty much halted completely. Tasks that offer supplies as rewards are not often enough to continue upgrading the buildings so I have 3 buildings just sitting there waiting for me to get more cement mixers, brick walls, and boxes of nails. So progress has almost completely stopped for me and I am unable to play the game as intended. I get what you were trying to do but you need another update to accomplish it. Right now I am just disappointed and frustrated. (Side note, the amount you get for selling high level items is ridiculous. For example, the large bacota sandwich is level 13, but when you sell it you only get 12 back, which is borderline insulting! You get 1 for the mix of olives that is level 2 in the same category so we should be getting A LOT more back for the sandwich considering it takes 2,048 olives to create it…just something to think about as this is always something about your game that has always rubbed me the wrong way.)

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Watch CBS News

Earthquake maps show where seismic activity shook the Northeast today

By Lucia Suarez Sang

Updated on: April 5, 2024 / 7:51 PM EDT / CBS News

Residents across the Northeast were rattled by a  4.8 magnitude earthquake that shook  the densely populated New York City metropolitan area and much of the surrounding region on Friday morning. The U.S. Geological Survey was quick to release maps showing the spot where the quake was centered, in New Jersey, and the area where it was felt.

The USGS reported the quake occurred about 7 miles north of Whitehouse Station, New Jersey. It indicated that the quake might have been felt by more than 42 million people. There were several aftershocks later in the day, including one with a magnitude of 4.0.

People in Baltimore , Philadelphia , New Jersey, Connecticut, Boston and other areas of the Northeast reported shaking. Tremors lasting for several seconds were felt over 200 miles away near the Massachusetts-New Hampshire border.

The map below shows the seismic intensity of the earthquake. The map, which is mostly a lighter shade of blue, shows that the intensity was light to weak, depending on the distance from the epicenter. 

Another map released by the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre on X, formerly Twitter, highlights the eyewitness reports of shaking and possible damage levels during the seismic event. 

#Earthquake 18 mi W of #Plainfield (New Jersey) 23 min ago (local time 10:23:20). Updated map - Colored dots represent local shaking & damage level reported by eyewitnesses. Share your experience via: 📱 https://t.co/IbUfG7TFOL 🌐 https://t.co/wErQf69jIn pic.twitter.com/jBjVw1ngAD — EMSC (@LastQuake) April 5, 2024

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and New York City Mayor Eric Adams have been briefed on the quake. 

"We're taking this extremely seriously and here's why: There's always the possibility of aftershocks. We have not felt a magnitude of this earthquake since about 2011," Hochul said. 

People across the region were startled by the rumbling of the quake. One New York City resident told CBS New York's Elijah Westbrook, "I was laying in my bed, and my whole apartment building started shaking. I started freaking out," 

It's not the first time the East Coast and New York City have been hit by an earthquake. 

A 5.0 quake was measured in New York City in 1884. 

The shaking stirred memories of the Aug. 23, 2011, earthquake that jolted tens of millions of people from Georgia to Canada. Registering magnitude 5.8, it was the strongest quake to hit the East Coast since World War II. The epicenter was in Virginia.

That earthquake left cracks in the Washington Monument, spurred the evacuation of the White House and Capitol and rattled New Yorkers three weeks before the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks.

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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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Red Square, Moscow, Russia

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Why visit the red square.

Being the most recognizable symbol of Russia in the world, the glorious Red Square is the UNESCO listed World Heritage which accepts thousands of tourists each year. No wonder that this sight is a true must-visit of any Russian trip and every adventurous globe-trotter has a picture in front of St. Basil's Cathedral .

The Red Square is set in the very heart of Moscow, separating the Kitay Gorod commercial district from the Kremlin walls, and has a history as old as the post-Mongol fortress itself. The name "Krásnaya Plóshchaď" translates from Russian as "red", yet the word also means "beautiful". This ancient center of Russia's political power dates back to the end of the 13th century and has a long and rich history.

Originally, it was the site of a central market square established in an area cleared by decree for the defense of Kremlin on the banks of Moskva and Neglinnaya rivers. It was also a place where various festive processions were held and thus the square was considered a sacred place.

Among the main landmarks standing on the Red Square are the famous colorful St. Basil's Cathedral built on the moat under the rule of Ivan IV, the highest wall of the Kremlin with the Spasskaya tower with the clock, the Lobnoye Mesto - a brick platform where many executions issued by “Ivan the Terrible” took place, the Kazan Cathedral built in honor of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, the Mint, the Zemsky prikaz town hall, the historic shopping mall GUM , the Minin-Pozharsky monument, the red beauty - State Historical Museum and, of course, Lenin's Mausoleum.

The Red Square has served as the site of various public ceremonies and proclamations, was the former coronation place for Russian Tsars and is still used for official ceremonies and parades today. The most important Moscow streets start from the Red Square area and extend outward to the city’s various ring roads in a spider-web of avenues, making it truly the hub of the city.

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Russia's capital has so much to offer, from the Kremlin and the Metro to the Old Arbat street and the Tretyakov Gallery. Besides these sites, you will also visit a fascinating country estate which today is quite off the beaten path, Gorky Estate, where the Soviet leader Lenin spent the last months of his life.

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Considered by some to be the Russian Vatican, Sergiev Posad is the temporary residence of the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church. The Trinity St. Sergius Monastery (Lavra)...

Tour to Kuskovo with transport

The Kuskovo Estate often called the Moscow Versailles due to its perfectly preserved French park, is an example of an 18th century, luxurious Moscow summer residence. Its history...

Tour to Tsaritsyno with transport

The Tsaritsyno Estate is located in the southern part of Moscow. The estate was constructed for Catherine the Great by the Russian architects Bazhenov and Kazakov in a romantic...

Moscow Metro and Old Arbat Tour

The Moscow Metro is one of the largest and most grandly built metro systems in the world. It was meant to be a showcase of the Soviet Union’s achievements for both the Russians...

Vodka Museum Tour with transport (excursion and vodka tasting)

Vodka is an important component of Russian life, an element of national identity and everyday culture. We invite you to visit the Vodka Museum and feel the atmosphere of long-gone...

Mikhail Bulgakov Apartment Museum

This apartment museum located close to Patriarch Ponds became the prototype of the "bad apartment" described in the novel "The Master and Margarita." Currently the museum's...

Kremlin, Red Sq., Cathedrals & Diamond Fund Tour

The State Museum of Lev Tolstoy Tour

Take this opportunity to learn more about the Russian writer Lev Tolstoy. During the visit to the museum you will see part of a vast collection of exhibits connected to Tolstoy...

Novodevichy Convent Tour with transport

Tour of the Novodevichy Monastery. Founded in 1524 by Grand Prince VasiliIoanovich, the original convent was enclosed by fortified walls and contained 12 towers. The structure...

City Tour with Visit to St. Basils & Red Sq. with transport

Panoramic City Tour. This Moscow tour is a great start to your trip and the best way to get acquainted with many of the city’s major highlights. Our professional guide will...

City Tour of Moscow

Head to the heart of Moscow with a professional guide on a 4-hour private walk through the city center. See Tverskaya and Old Arbat streets, Theatre Square with the world-famous...

Moscow Metro walking tour

Kremlin, Red Square and Cathedrals Tour

KGB Tour with transport

This is a very interesting and insightful tour. You will visit places connected with Stalin’s terror - a time of great repression and fear. You will be shown monuments to...

Soviet and Post-Soviet Moscow Tour

The tour begins with a drive or walk down Tverskaya Street – a Soviet masterpiece. In the years of Soviet power, Tverskaya began to undergo a transformation: it was widened...

Tretyakov State Gallery Tour

This world-famous gallery contains masterpieces of Russian art beginning in the 10th century up until today. You will view exquisite Russian icons and paintings from the 18th and...

Jewish Heritage of Moscow Tour

This tour offers a detailed look into the history and present-day life of the Jewish community of Moscow. On the tour, you will visit sites connected with the cultural and religious...

Vodka Museum Tour with transport (excursion only)

Lena, our guide in Moscow was excellent. She was very knowledgable and could answer any question we had for her. We liked that she could pick up on our interests and take us places we might not have thought of to go. When we realized that one of the places we had chosen to see would probably not be that interesting to us, she was able to arrange entry to the Diamond Fund and the Armoury for us. Riding the Metro with Lena was a real adventure and a lot of fun. In Saint Petersburg we found Anna well versed in the history of the Tsars and in the Hermitage collection. Arkady in Veliky Novgorod was a very good guide and answered all of our questions with ease. Novgorod was perhaps a long way to go for a day trip, but we did enjoy it. Vasily was a great driver to have and kept us safe with good humour and skill. We enjoyed ourselves so much, my daughter says she is already planning to return. We would both have no hesistation to recommend ExpresstoRussia to anyone we know.

Just wanted to let you know that My grandson Bruno and I couldn´t have been more pleased with our week in Moscow (6/15 - 6/21). We were absolutely enchanted with the whole experience, including getting lost a couple of times in the Metro during our free time. Although both our guides (both Eleanas) were excellent, I would particularly commend the first one (she took us to the Tatiakov, the KGB tour, and to that beautiful cemetery where so many great Russian artists, authors, composers, musicians, militarists, and politicians are buried). Her knowledge is encyclopedic; and her understanding of today´s Russia as a product of its past was, for us, truly enlightening. I will be taking another tour in Russia, with my wife, within the next two or three years. I will be in touch with you when the time comes. Meanwhile, I will refer you to other potential visitors to Russia as I meet them.

Tours to Moscow

Our Moscow tours are land only meaning that you arrange your own air travel to Russia and our expert staff meets you at the airport and handles everything else from there. Our online Airline Ticket booking system offers some of the most competitive rates to Russia available on the web so if you need tickets, please visit our Russian air ticket center . Rest assured that you will be taken great care of on one of our Moscow tours. Express to Russia has a fully staffed office in Moscow that will help to make your visit fun, informative and unforgettable. Please remember that of all these tours are private and can be adjusted to your taste. You can add, replace or skip some sights; you can add more days to the package or cut the tour short. Our specialists will be glad to help you create the tour of your dreams!

Moscow, a City Like No Other

Moscow is Russia’s largest city with a population of between 12 and 13 million. It is also Europe’s largest city and when you visit Moscow, you can feel it. The layout and architecture of the city is eclectic, ranging from crooked, ancient streets and alleyways to wide, bustling boulevards, from medieval churches to Stalin skyscrapers and to modern, glass buildings towering over everything and of course in the center of it all is the Kremlin and the magnificent Red Square. Moscow is also home to a fantastic, efficient and very beautiful metro system – each station having its own special design. In fact, Express to Russia’s Moscow metro tours and excursions are some of our most popular attractions that we offer. On our Moscow tours, you will see this and more.

Moscow Tours centering on Russian History

Moscow has a long and interesting history and has been the capital of Russia in many of its different iterations – capital of the Grand Duchy of Moscow , the Russian Empire and of course the Soviet Union (who could ever forget the Soviet Union?). Moscow, was founded in the 12th century by Prince Yuri Dolgaruki (Yuri of the long arms – he really did have long arms!). From that time on, it was home to the Russian Tsars until Peter the Great moved the capital to St. Petersburg in 1703. The city has survived invasions and sieges from the Mongols, the Tartars, the Poles, Lithuanians and Napoleon but has always persevered. Our Moscow tours will enlighten you on this great history and give you insights into Muscovites and their unique culture. Our Moscow tours show you what the city is like today but also brings to life the past. Moscow never seems to sleep and is bursting with energy. A Moscow tour with Express to Russia is truly the best way of getting to know Russia’s largest and most vibrant city.

Frequently Asked Questions From Our Travelers

What is the best time to visit moscow.

Any time of year is fine depending on what you plan to do. Summertime is pleasantly warm, ideal for exploring the city and its vibrant atmosphere, but Moscow will be much busier and accommodation is more expensive. Winter can be quite cold but beautiful nonetheless, and this is unproblematic if you intend to spend most of your trip in museums and galleries. There are also various festivals and events organised throughout the year. For more information about the best time to visit, read our guide

How many days are enough in Moscow?

If you plan your itinerary strategically and aren’t averse to a packed schedule, you can cover Moscow’s main sights over a long weekend. Most popular attractions are in the city centre, and the Moscow Metro allows you to cover much ground in a small amount of time. Ensure that your accommodation is fairly central and book tickets in advance, so that you can make the most of your days. For an informative and well-organised day out, check out our Moscow day tours with options to suit all interests.

Do they speak English in Moscow?

As Russia’s capital city, tourists are well accommodated in Moscow. There should be English-speaking staff in restaurants, bars, hotels, shops and attractions in tourist hotspots, and there are also English-speaking tourist police. Transport services have English translations on their maps and English announcements via intercom; alternatively, order taxis from the Yandex Taxi app (Russian Uber), though it’s unlikely that your taxi driver will speak English. If you get stuck and cannot communicate, it’s fine to use Google Translate.

Is it safe to travel to Moscow?

It is no less safe to travel to Moscow than to any European city if you exercise common sense and look after your belongings. As with every city some regions can be more unsavoury than others, but no tourist attractions are located there. The traffic in Moscow is notorious, so exercise caution when crossing roads. Do not take unlicensed taxis; book in advance or take public transport, which is widespread and perfectly safe. If you encounter any problems, look for the special tourist police who can help you. For more information, read our guide about staying safe in Russia .

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The best small town in the state is in southeast Oklahoma, according to Southern Living

A southeast Oklahoma town was picked as the best small town in the state, according to Southern Living.

Broken Bow has a modest population of 4,000, though it and its neighbor, Hochatown, are flooded with tourists every weekend.

Broken Bow named best small town in Oklahoma

According to Southern Living, there's something for everyone in the area found in the far southeast corner of Oklahoma.

Broken Bow was picked for its abounding nearby outdoor adventures, thanks to its location nestled in the foothills of the Kiamichi Mountains. And you'll find no shortage of winery tastings, local brews and delicious meals at area restaurants — some of which are in the town of Broken Bow or just a short drive away.

North of town, hiking and fishing are among those adventures inside the 3,400-acre Beavers Bend State Park adjacent to the community of Hochatown.

Beavers Bend, cabins, restaurants: Your complete guide to a trip to Broken Bow, Oklahoma

Where to stay in Broken Bow, Hochatown

A visit to southeast Oklahoma is also now known for the abundance of luxury cabins awaiting guests.

A quick search of  Airbnb  or  VRBO  brings up plenty of options, whether you're looking for a romantic cabin for two or a place for the whole family.

If you're flexible with the timing of your trip, you can look around to see what week gets you the lowest rates.

Or, if you prefer to go through the cabin owner, check out  Broken Bow Vacation Cabins ,  Beavers Bend Adventures  or  Beavers Bend Creative Escapes . Some companies, like  Broken Bow Cabin Lodging , offer "Economy Cabins" featuring a lower price point.

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Money blog: Big rise in passport costs from tomorrow

Application fees for new passports are rising tomorrow by about 7% - so get in quick if you need to renew yours. Read this and the rest of today's consumer and personal finance news in the Money blog, and leave a comment or home gym hack in the form below.

Wednesday 10 April 2024 14:50, UK

• Britons can now 'work from home' in Italy for a year
• Big rise in passport costs from tomorrow
• Cheap Eats : Great British Menu legend shares ultimate toastie recipe
• Could I build a home gym for less than my gym membership?
• Masterchef judge to close restaurant
• Santander offering free railcard to new young customers
• Basically...  Tax codes

Ask a question or make a comment

A British diamond manufacturer has had its adverts banned for not making clear its gems are synthetic.

The ads for Skydiamond had the headline: "Say hello to the world's first and only diamond made entirely from the sky."

In small text below, the company said it made diamonds using the four natural ingredients of the "sun, wind, rain" and "atmospheric carbon".

"Now that we can mine the sky, we never need to mine the earth again," it read.

Skydiamond also responded to a question on its FAQ page about whether they were real diamonds with: "Skydiamond is a perfectly formed real diamond."

The adverts sparked a complaint from the Natural Diamond Council, which believes the gems are lab-created, but the Sky Mining Company, which trades as Skydiamond, said they made clear they were not naturally occurring or mined from the earth.

The Advertising Standards Authority sided with the Natural Diamond Council.

"We considered that while some consumers may have been aware that synthetic diamonds could be manufactured or created in a laboratory, many would not," it said.

Application fees for new passports are rising tomorrow by about 7% - so get in quick if you need to renew yours. 

It's the second year in a row that passport application prices have increased, following a 9% rise in February 2023. 

Here is a breakdown of the price increases... 

Adult - £88.50 , up from £82.50

Child - £57.50 , up from £53.50

Paper form 

Adult - £100 , up from £93

Child - £69 , up from £64

Fast track (one-week service) 

Adult - £166.50 , up from £155

Child - £135.50 , up from £126

Premium (same-day service) 

Adult - £207.50 , up from £193.50. 

It could be worth renewing now if you have less than 10 months left on your current passport. 

Some countries - such as Turkey, Thailand, Egypt and Singapore - require you to have at least six months' validity on your passport. 

If you're travelling within the EU, your passport...

• Must have been issued less than 10 years before the day you enter the EU/Schengen Zone 
• Must be valid for at least three months after the day you plan to leave.

The cheapest way to renew is through the gov.uk website, and you can expect to get your passport within three weeks for standard applications. 

Italy is allowing Britons who can work remotely to apply for a year-long "digital nomad" visa.

The scheme opened for applications for non-EU citizens at the end of last week - having been talked about for years.

Anyone wanting to take advantage needs to meet a few criteria, according to Italian law Studio Legale Metta - including:

• A university or college degree (minimum three years) from an accredited institution, an accredited professional licence, or accredited superior professional experience.
• At least six months in the industry in which they intend to work remotely.
• A work contract and a salary of at least €28,000 (£24,000).
• No specific immigration crimes within the past five years. 
• Evidence of a place to stay in Italy. 
• Health insurance. A private medical insurance usually costs between €350-700 a year.

The firm advises applying four to five months in advance.

Italy is trying to encourage growth amid an aging population.

A charity boss providing free haircuts for the homeless says it is helping people on the streets feel less "invisible".

Haircuts4Homeless, founded by Stewart Roberts, has 80 centres across the UK and has delivered 60,000 haircuts over the past decade.

Mr Roberts told Sky News' Breakfast with Kay Burley that some people have had "no communication with anyone" before getting their hair cut.

"Sometimes it's a quiet one, sometimes they just open up and... they tell you their stories," he said.

He said the situations charity staff hear of can be "really sad", but they also manage to have "amazing laughs" during the sessions.

Mr Roberts said he celebrated 18 years of sobriety yesterday and has struggled with drug problems in the past.

"I really relate to people and the struggles that they have," he said, though he noted it was a "misconception" that everyone on the streets was an alcoholic or a drug addict.

"But often it's the case that they will turn to that and you can't really blame them when they're in such bad positions," he said.

Asked how people can help, Mr Roberts said the charity is always looking for volunteers and sponsors as it "doesn't run itself".

"The main thing is, we're trying to humanise the face of homelessness. It's making sure that you spread our message out," he added.

The popular comedian has lamented increasing prices for performers wanting to take part in Edinburgh Festival Fringe. 

Manford said prices, especially for accommodation, were an "absolute joke" and were fuelled by "pure greed". 

"I've just priced up a week up there and even if every show sells out, I'm still operating at a loss," he wrote on social media site X. 

The comedian said this was less of a problem for him "as it's part of a much bigger tour" and because of the "stage of my career" but he feared it would shut out new performers. 

"No idea how anyone starting out is managing to get up there and showcase their talents!" he said. 

Manford said if prices stay high then "the only people who can do it are people with money or backing". 

A quick search on Booking.com puts the price of the hotel for the duration of the festival at about £4,000 upwards (looking at places with three stars or above) - although many are charging much more. 

One of five Bulgarian nationals who falsely claimed £50m in Universal Credit filmed themselves throwing a stack of £20 notes in the air.

The criminal threw the notes one by one and waited for an unknown woman to pick them up.

Stacks of cash tied with rubber bands were also shown in a separate video.

The benefit fraud gang made thousands of false claims for Universal Credit using either real people or hijacked identities and backed them up with an array of forged documents, including counterfeit payslips and fake GP letters in the largest prosecution of its type in English legal history.

Read the full story here ...

By Sarah Taaffe-Maguire , business reporter

Oil prices are sticking around $90 a barrel, slightly below the $91 cost of Monday but still higher than the six months since October. The latest high comes as a Ukrainian drone strike targeted Russia's third-largest refinery.

After nearly four months of falls, grocery business Ocado is the best performer of the morning.

Its share price is up 4.83%, the biggest increase among the 100 most valuable companies on the London Stock Exchange that make up the FTSE (Financial Times Stock Exchange) 100 index.

War in Ukraine and instability in the Middle East had been great news for arms makers. But there's a sense that the valuation of those companies may not be able to continue to rise as aerospace and defence company Rolls-Royce was the biggest loser of the FTSE 100 on Wednesday morning. Its share price fell 1.09%.

One pound buys €1.1675 and $1.2683.

By Ollie Cooper, Money team

Gym memberships can be steep. 

Industry giant PureGym told Sky News the average cost of its London gyms was around £32.32 per month. Outside of London it's around £23.30. 

If you're training in the capital, five years of membership will set you back nearly £2,000. 

So, in the long run, could you do it for less at home?

We enlisted Lee Mitchell, head personal trainer at Jogger.co.uk, to see if he could create a home gym for under £1,939.20 - the price of five years' membership at a London PureGym. 

We set him some criteria: we'd need a good range of equipment, including benches, dumbbells, cable machines and cardio machines - and at least some of it had to be brand new.

"A home gym setup can represent serious value over time, considering everything from commuting costs to the convenience of having your workout space readily available in the comfort of your own home," said Lee. 

But could he deliver on the challenge set?

What he bought

At the top of Lee's shopping list was a multi-purpose power rack that could double as a squat rack and smith machine.

"This equipment, although a larger investment, covers fundamental exercises for individuals at all fitness levels, making it integral to any home gym," he said. 

After a quick search, he found exactly what he was looking for in good condition on Facebook Marketplace. 

This cost him £250 - a good start, as this usually retails for around £2,000.

Next, Lee found a cable machine (£359.10 with new customer discount at Gym Master), a Spin bike (£219 at Fitness Superstore), a weight bench (£41.99 at Amazon) and a vertical leg press (£429 at Fitness Superstore) all brand new and well within budget.

"Certain items genuinely benefit from being sourced brand new, such as the cable machine (to prevent fraying cables for safety) and the vertical leg press (to ensure it's in proper working order, especially given the potential risks of a faulty machine)," Lee said. 

So far, we've got five items for £1,200.09. 

Lee picked up half of his total equipment brand new, but it was back to Facebook Marketplace for the rest. 

Having adjustable dumbbells maximises space (crucial for a home gym), and Lee was able to find a great set of two for just £200. They allow you to move from as little as 5kg all the way to 40kg. 

The current owner claimed to have spent around £300 when they bought them and insisted their condition was "like new".  

Next came an Olympic barbell and 100kg worth of weighted plates to go with it. 

Lee found exactly what he was looking for at a cost of £240. 

We're just a lifting platform away from completion now - which swiftly came in at £200. 

"In total, I spent just over an hour finalising my list of equipment, sourcing from various places including Facebook Marketplace, Amazon, Fitness Superstore and Gym Master," Lee said. 

He opted for a 50/50 split between brand-new items and second-hand products, "partially to prove that this is not all about bargain hunting pre-loved items".

What about space?

The obvious argument here is that it would take a significant amount of space to put all this (in some cases) shiny equipment. 

But Lee made his choices with that in mind. 

"I factored in that the average UK garage is typically 3x6m, a common size for gym conversions. 

"All the equipment I chose fit perfectly into a 3x3m space, allowing for ample "spreading out" room within a larger space," he added. 

Impressively, Lee managed to source eight key pieces of equipment for £1939.09 - which leaves us 11p to spare.

Use the form above to tell us your home gym hacks. 

Santander is offering a free four-year railcard to new current account holders aged between 20 and 25.

Santander Railcard holders get a third off standard fares in England, Scotland and Wales, plus money off London Underground.

It also comes with deals on holidays, restaurants and attractions. 

Customers need to act quickly if they want one - it's only available until 30 April. 

Here's what you need to know:

It is only available to new customers aged between 20 and 25 who open either an Everyday, Santander Edge or Santander Edge Up current account. 

In order to get the offer, you need to have paid in at least £500 to your Santander account by 14 May 2024. 

If you meet the eligibility requirements, the bank will send you a code to claim your railcard by the 31 July 2024. 

You'll also get an email to tell you it's arrived, and you'll find your code in the statements and documents section of your mobile app. 

Then just follow the instructions that come with it to claim your card. 

The bank has warned the number of railcards available is limited, so the offer could be withdrawn.

Every Wednesday we get Michelin chefs, top bloggers or critics to pick their favourite cheap eats around where they live and at home. 

This week, we're delighted to have Great British Menu queen Lisa Goodwin-Allen, executive chef of the Michelin-starred Northcote restaurant in Lancashire.

Hi Lisa, can you tell us your favourite places in Lancashire where you can get a meal for two for less than £40?

I love Jungle on the high street in Clitheroe. I go there a lot for brunch with my husband and my son. It's great value for money and just has a really cool, relaxed atmosphere, and they serve really tasty food. 

They have things like sweetcorn fritters with chilli jam and shakshuka with a falafel scotch egg on the menu.

The dishes always have a twist to them. It also feels great to be able to give back to the brilliant independents on the local high street.

What's your go-to cheap eat for a night at home?

A cheese toastie with tomato relish...

Tomato relish ingredients:

• 25g onion, finely sliced
• 1 garlic clove, grated
• 250g good quality, soft, ripe plum tomatoes, chopped
• 20g olive oil
• 10g tomato puree
• 50g tomato juice
• 1/4 tsp red chilli, finely diced
• 1 tsp lime juice
• Good pinch of salt and sugar
• In a medium sized pan, heat the olive oil and add the finely sliced onion
• Season with salt and cover the pan with cling film or a lid
• Cook the onion down until it is completely soft but with no colour
• Once soft, remove the lid and continue to cook on a medium heat until the onion is nicely caramelised
• Add chopped tomatoes, tomato puree, tomato juice, garlic and chili.

Ingredients for the cheese toastie:

• 125g semi-skimmed milk
• 15g egg yolk
• 12g cornflour
• 50g cheddar (grated)
• 5g Tunworth cheese (cut into to chunks)
• 4 slices of toastie bread
• 50g cheddar to garnish 
• In a small bowl whisk together the egg yolk and cornflour
• Pour the milk into a medium pan, bring to the boil, and once boiling pour on to the egg mix, mix well then pour back into the pan
• Cook on a medium heat, stirring continuously until the mixture thickens
• Once thickened whisk in the grated cheese and Tunworth
• Spoon the mix in semi spear molds (3cm) and freeze. If you don't have spear moulds, you can use an ice cube tray and fill half way up
• Take one slice of bread and brush with melted butter on one side, place the buttered side of bread on to the toastie maker, place two domes of frozen cheese on to the bread in each triangle then place a slice of bread on top, brush with more melted butter, close the lid
• Cook for 3-4 minutes until golden brown.
• Remove then put a good spoon of tomato compote on top, cover with more grated black cow cheddar and finish with a drizzle of olive oil and a touch of salt.

Read all our Cheap Eats recommendations around the UK here ...

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