vw thing for safari

Volkswagen Thing (1971 to 1980)

The Thing, as it was known in the United States, was a military vehicle manufactured by Volkswagen. The Type 181 was created as a military vehicle for the West German Army, yet soon went into civilian production in 1971 under various names around the world. The Type 181 was known as the Thing in the United States, the Safari in Mexico, the Trekker in the UK, and as the Kurierwagen in West Germany. Popular for its utilitarian nature, these cars were simply designed, giving them durability and allowing them to be repaired easily. Featuring the same mechanical underpinnings as the Beetle, the civilian Type 181 would be in production until 1980, yet production years for the US market were only 1973-1974.

Q: What is the highest sale price of a Volkswagen Thing?

A: The highest recorded sale was $62,500 for a 1974 Volkswagen Thing Type 181 on Oct 11 2021.

Q: What was the lowest recorded sale price for a Volkswagen Thing?

A: The lowest recorded sale price was $6,700 for a 1973 Volkswagen Thing on Apr 22 2022.

Q: What is the average sale price of a Volkswagen Thing?

A: The average price of a Volkswagen Thing is $21,979.

Q: What years was the Volkswagen Thing sold?

A: The Volkswagen Thing was sold for model years 1971 to 1980.

Model years for Volkswagen Thing (1971 to 1980)

Showing 24 of 357 related listings

1976 Volkswagen Thing Convertible

Lot 143505: 1976 Volkswagen Thing Convertible

• 70,000 km (43,496 mi) TMU
• Location: Clark County, Nevada, USA
• Originality: Original & Highly Original  Vehicles that are original or close to original factory specifications, irrespective of condition. May include vehicles that have minor, removable modifications such as aftermarket wheels, exhaust, or accessories such as cargo/roof rack, stereos, etc.
• Transmission: Manual
• Driver side: LHD

1974 Volkswagen Thing

Lot 41.1: 1974 volkswagen thing.

• Location: Palm Beach County, Florida, USA

Lot 82.1: 1974 Volkswagen Thing

• 18,520 mi TMU

1973 Volkswagen Type 181 "Thing"

Lot x06209: 1973 volkswagen type 181 "thing".

• 38,985 mi TMU
• Location: Saint Charles County, Missouri, USA

1973 Volkswagen Thing

Lot 7793-atl: 1973 volkswagen thing.

• 13,720 mi TMU
• Location: Douglas County, Georgia, USA

Lot LCC17341: 1974 Volkswagen Thing

• 71,786 km (44,606 mi) TMU
• Location: Denver, Colorado, USA
• Originality: Modified  Vehicles with a period-correct engine and body, with multiple removable modifications, or a few significant modifications such as increased displacement, added performance equipment (turbo, supercharger, headers), transmission swaps, bumpers, or body wraps. Modified vehicles can generally be returned to original factory specifications.

Lot 0782-TAMPA: 1973 Volkswagen Thing

• 24,127 mi TMU
• Location: Manatee County, Florida, USA

Lot 8499-CHA: 1973 Volkswagen Thing

• Location: Concord, North Carolina, USA

1974 Volkswagen Thing Acapulco Edition

Lot 17289-pc: 1974 volkswagen thing acapulco edition.

• 41,650 mi TMU
• Location: Tucson, Arizona, USA

Lot 17258-PC: 1974 Volkswagen Thing

• Location: Arizona, USA

1973 Volkswagen Thing Suncruiser Edition

Lot sct1732: 1973 volkswagen thing suncruiser edition.

• Location: Phoenix, Arizona, USA

Lot CLP30381: 1974 Volkswagen Thing

• Location: Denver, CO, USA

1974 Volkswagen Thing Type 181

Lot 2812324: 1974 volkswagen thing type 181.

• Location: Sarasota, Florida, USA

Lot DEN1610: 1973 Volkswagen Thing

• Location: Englewood, CO, USA

Lot CHA240: 1973 Volkswagen Thing

• Location: Concord, NC, USA

Lot CTP46541: 1974 Volkswagen Thing

Lot LVS1132: 1974 Volkswagen Thing

• 27,000 mi TMU
• Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

1972 Volkswagen Thing

Lot ord2494: 1972 volkswagen thing.

• Location: Lake Mary, FL, USA

Lot 1295: 1973 Volkswagen Thing

• Location: Palmetto, FL, USA

Lot 10297: 1974 Volkswagen Thing

• Location: Pewaukee, WI, USA

Lot NSH1900: 1973 Volkswagen Thing

• Location: Smyrna, TN, USA

1971 Volkswagen Thing

Lot tpa2596: 1971 volkswagen thing.

• Location: Ruskin, FL, USA

Lot S349: 1974 Volkswagen Thing

• 58,022 mi TMU
• Location: Houston, Texas, USA

Lot 142349: 1974 Volkswagen Thing Acapulco Edition

• Location: Auburn, California, USA

Vintage VW Cars

View our type-181 volkswagen things, classic vw things for sale, featured vw thing youtube video.

We recently had a VW Thing bonanza going on here with three VW Things for sale at the same time. We’ve sold some nice Things the past several years including the one and only Safari Grande Thing Limo and even a very rare treat a 1971 VW Thing – check it out below. Plus my very own 1974 Thing I’ve owned since 1991!

Be sure to check out the featured VW Thing video as well as the Volkswagen Thing auctions as well for current offerings from other VW enthusiasts.

The VW Thing is an iconic part of Volkswagen history and they are becoming more difficult to find as time passes. So if you can find one that is for sale near you it is definitely worth picking one up for your collection!

We do still have a complete and original Acapulco VW Thing Top for sale as well as various parts from past restorations so contact John if you are interested in finding that last crucial part for your Thing.

Current VW Thing Auctions

This ’74 Thing is all tuned up and ready to be enjoyed. Starts, runs and drives great. Original paint! See the full photo shoot and description by clicking the photo. Or Call John 612-805-2428 to make an offer. Asking $13995.

1973 VW Thing

1971 VW Thing for Sale

My very own 1974 VW Thing that I have owned since 1991! This Thing was originally from Arizona so she has a nice solid body, Great Engine, Newer Ball Joints and Brakes, nice reupholstered seats.

1962 Mercedes Unimog for Sale

Military vehicle enthusiasts check out this rare 1962 Mercedes Benz Unimog S 404 for sale. Unimogs have been used by many different military’s.

The primary customer of the 404 S was the Federal West German army during the cold war. This particular Unimog was used as a French military vehicle – $9800 Call John 612-805-2428

Below we feature some of the great VW Things we’ve recently sold For a complete gallery view and more info about each Thing visit our VW Cars Sold Gallery

We have this very nicely restored orange Type 181 VW Thing for sale. This is a California Thing, originally from the Southern California desert. Very solid with no signs of bondo or rust.

This VW Thing under went a recent, nice quality restoration. The paint is fresh and looks great! The interior was redone and looks fantastic and a new top was put on as well. The attention to detail is obvious. Bumpers, glass and rubber all look very nice.

In addition, it starts, runs and drives very nicely. New exhaust system, wheels, tires and more. The original gas heater is installed but not connected. – SOLD

1974 VW Thing for Sale Rare Avocado Green Thing!

This green car is one of many VW Things we have sold over the years. This one is the middle-of-the-road car of the bunch. This is a nice, affordable Thing that runs and drives now with working brakes.

A nice running motor was just installed and front wheel cylinders and shoes were just replaced and are new so it’s a running and driving, nice complete car.

The top has no tears. This is an original Avocado Green Thing–the rarest of the 4 available stock colors, it has been repainted but it is fairly close to the original color. SOLD.

Project Thing priced to sell at $1300 – SOLD

Here is another option for you if you are looking for something very affordable just to get your foot into the fun world of VW Things. It’s a project car for sure.

It’s a ’73 VW Thing and if you don’t want to feel overwhelmed with a total restoration you could perhaps put brakes in it, put on some newer tires and a classic air-cooled motor and just enjoy it as is.

It has a factory hard top. I got this one from a lady who had owned it since the ’80s. It has low mileage but that doesn’t exactly matter as much without the motor.

It would be a lot of work to restore to factory showroom condition but that could always remain an option down the road if you were to just focus on getting it back on the road to start.

The second VW Thing we have for sale is this great red Thing. The engine in this VW starts right up and runs great, even without giving it any gas, you can just lean through the door, hit the key, and the engine fires right up. When I was checking out this car the original founder of Things Unlimited was there tuning the engine and carburetor.

That guy sure knows what he’s doing because the car runs and idles great. You can have your choice of the wheels and tires that are on the car, or you can have a good set of stock wheels and tires if you prefer. – SOLD

Ever since buying my first 1974 VW Thing in 1991 I’ve been hooked, and now I had the chance to sell the one and only “Safari Grande” featured in Dune Buggies and Hot VW’s Magazine! It was built by Larry Dustman of the Thing Shop in Arizona.

A custom built 1973-1974 6-door Acapulco VW Thing Limousine! The front half of a 1973 and the back half of a 1974 – so it has heat in the front and back. Larry built 2 of these but the other has gone missing – it was last seen, gulp, in a junk yard, and has since disappeared.

This limo Thing has a stretched Hard Top, a stretched Acapulco Top, Full roll bars, 2387 Cc engine (this beauty roars!), and dual carbs. Larry changed the paint scheme to blue and white in the late ’90’s at the request of a previous owner.

Another famous Thing (above) is an awesome custom built (also by The Thing Shop, and also featured in Dune Buggies and Hot VW’s) sexy little 1973 2-door Acapulco VW Thing. The “Safari Pequeño” This is a great fun little Thing, and I believe it is a one of a kind. It was built by John Cullinan while working at the Thing Shop and shortened 14 inches to make it a 2 door. It has since had the motor replaced with a mostly stock VW Beetle engine, and the color scheme changed to yellow. (the 6-door limo and this 2-door actually switched color schemes)

Acapulco Thing number three (above) is an original 1974 4-door Acapulco – Mostly restored by Steve Leonardis of San Jose California. Everything is stock, it came from California and has all correct vacuum lines and California emissions in their correct locations. It even has the original motor, original muffler, and stock Thing radio and speaker. Has the original Surrey Top on an additional frame, and a Hard Top with luggage rack (pictured above). 60,481 original miles. SOLD

Many more photos videos, and full descriptions of these three VW Things for sale can be seen at SunsetClassics.com

Thanks for looking!

More Photo and Video of these Classic Acapulco VW Things and other classic cars for sale can be found at Sunset Classics

Check out the VW Cars Sold Gallery for more photos and details of the vehicles John has sold.

Head on over to the VW Buses for Sale page and buy a bus!

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Check back often for more Vintage Volkswagens for Sale

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Time For A Safari? 1973 VW Thing

If you were going to take a safari, where would you go? I’d go somewhere warm and dry, but the person who took this 1973 VW Safari—I mean, “Thing,” for the US market—has chosen another path, a leafy  abode which is picturesque but likely hasn’t done the little vehicle any favors in terms of preservation. Still, at an asking price of $6500, this Thing might be a good candidate for restoration, if you can get to Flowery Branch, GA, in the greater Atlanta area (by the looks of the craigslist ad ).

The Thing, or more broadly the VW Type 181, was manufactured as a purpose-built military vehicle from 1968-83. It was first sold for civilian use in 1971. In various parts of the world, this  four-door convertible had names like “Thing,” “Safari,” “Trekker,” and others. Back when it was being sold new, it was an interesting alternative to the more commonly seen VW Beetle

Where would you start on this one? It’s listed as having all original parts and is described as a great restoration project. Though the ad presents minimal information, I’m guessing that the fact that it mentions that there are original running boards, windshield frame, top frames, and hubcaps means that these parts are difficult to find or frequently not part of the package when one buys a barn find version of this model. Looking at the photos offered, the one concern that might present itself is corrosion, and one image seems to show rust-through in the unibody. VW experts, please weigh in on what we’re really seeing there, as there is also undercoating apparently flaking off of this same area.

The condition is described as “fair,” and there is mention of a dual port engine being present, but there’s no indication as to the last time the car was run, nor whether the engine turns as it sits, and no mileage claims. So just assume that, if you make this your new winter project, you’ll be doing a total strip down and repaint, along with finding seat materials and upholstery, a top, and all the other soft bits, plus mechanicals. Is all of this a bit overwhelming? Not for the dreamer who has always wanted a Thing, with its slab-sided charm. All you need is a pith helmet and a pair of big binoculars, and you’ll be ready to chase the elephants, rhinos, and zebras that will surely appear in your neighborhood when you go on safari. Or Safari, depending on where you live.

Unless they were added by the owner I’d say the side vents put this as a ’74 model. Either way, it’s pretty rough and not worth the asking price.

Suddenly my 73 seems like a much more viable project. Thanks 👍

I certainly remember when these were new! Gimme that Thing Gimme that Thing Gimme gimme that Gimme gimme gimme gimme that Thing!

VW used to run that commercial around the clock!

Can’t go wrong with a little ABBA

Thanks, Jamie, I forgot all about that until just now. Actually, the song was “Gimme Dat Ding”, and I think VW changed it enough so I doubt the Pipkins got any royalties.

Shame on whoever left this Thing out in the elements. If they had just taken care of it they might get what they’re asking, but not in this state of “delayed maintenance”. Pass (at that price).

I think it’s cool, steep price but it does say or best offer and cash talks every thing else walks. If I had the time and money I would drop the body on an older Ford Aerostar frame with the 4.6 and 4wd then see if I can get it entered into the off road games in Hurricane Utah in March

I almost bought a pink one for $1,000. Wish I could go back!

“…your new winter project…” and spring, and summer, and fall, and… this is even rougher than the last one AND

still no info on the tv show abt the 2 teen girls (not twins) raised separate (till episode 1, 1/2 way) that the poorer 1 (raised by their mother) had after moving in with the more wealthy sis. Yup, her 1/2 dad gave her (the more artistic) one of these to run around in. Any 1 know the show name?

Rented one in Hawaii. Never ridden a more uncomfortable car.

They list it under “auto parts” bc they charge for cars + bikes.And it really is just a parts car.lol

No mention of a title. Maybe that’s why the ad is listed under ‘auto parts.’

any know the ol TV show name mentioned above (12/3, 11:37)?

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1974 Volkswagen Thing Convertible Orange RWD Manual Safari

1974 Volkswagen Thing Safari Additional Info:

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Why The Volkswagen ‘Thing’ Might Be An Even Better Safari Vehicle Than A Jeep

• By David Tracy
• December 20, 2023
• 76 Comments

I just returned from Indonesia , where I partook in the less-steamy parts of my brother’s honeymoon; among them was a ride around Bali in a Volkswagen Thing, which isn’t dissimilar to the VW Kuebelwagen that went toe-to-toe with the Jeep during World War II. VW and Jeep have competed ever since, as the two brands have had a larger influence on global car culture than any two others (go to any country on earth, and you’ll find a VW or its derivative; ditto with Jeep, especially if you consider that the Land Rover and Land Cruiser both started off life as Jeep imitators — millions of folks have had to choose between a Jeep and a Volkswagen). As someone who has extensive Jeep experience and limited VW experience, what did I think of the Thing? Well, I think in many ways it may be superior to the Jeep.

Let me begin by saying that my flight back to the U.S. landed last night, and in addition to ending up sick, I didn’t get a wink of sleep. So this blog is likely going to have some flaws. But let’s get into it. At first blush, it may seem odd to compare a rear-wheel drive, air-cooled VW to a four-wheel drive liquid-cooled Jeep, but go to the remotest parts of the world, and those two are often the only choice: It’s either a VW or some form of a Jeep. And while “some form” often includes Land Cruisers and Land Rovers and Mitsubishi Pajeros and Suzuki Jimnys, for this comparison, I’m just going to talk about the true Jeeps that I’m used to — vehicles vastly superior off-road than pretty much any VW not named Iltis . But just because Jeeps are better off-road, does that make them better for, say, island safaris? As I came to find out, the answer is a firm “no.”

The drive began at our hotel just outside of Ubud. It’s a town nestled in the jungle about an hour and a half inland from the airport, which sits on the southern shore of the island. Folks typically travel to Ubud to relax, drink coffee that originated in a cat’s poop , do Yoga, explore beautiful waterfalls and rice terraces, and get massages. It’s further proof that I, a former oil-covered Detroit junkyard-warrior, have gone soft. But also, I was here to hang out with my brother:

I’d been expecting Jeeps, which is why when a pair of VW Things showed up, I was a little bummed. But in short order, it became clear to me that these Things are much, much better than not just the Jeeps I’m used to, but certainly the “Jeeps” running all around Ubud. These Suzukis:

The reason why is simple: Even though the Volkswagen Thing, which is largely based on the Beetle (but with a wider pan) and inspired by the WWII Kuebelwagen , is significantly less advanced than Jeeps in terms of powertrain and drivetrain (the Jeep has a liquid cooled engine and four-wheel drive, while the VW is an air-cooled motor with two-wheel drive), the body is significantly more advanced than those of Jeeps — namely, VWs were unibody and open-top Jeeps have aways been body-on-frame.

What does this mean practically? Well, for one: SPACE.

A unibody vehicle uses the body itself to carry all the loads that go into the vehicle from the road (braking, accelerating, steering, hitting potholes, etc), whereas a body-on-frame vehicle needs a separate frame to handle loads. The result is that adding the frame creates bulk, which becomes especially noticeable when you sit in the VW Thing.

“I feel like this thing is too low to the ground to be good off-road,” my girlfriend said to me while comparing the riding experience to my Jeep Wrangler YJ. “Well actually, we’re  sitting low, but actually the ground clearance is quite good. You see, the unibody construction of this — yadayadayada (this is where my girlfriend tuned out).”

Case in point, check out this giant pothole:

The Thing soaked it up without issue:

More impressive than the good ground clearance/low center of gravity combo is all the storage the unibody construction affords. I mean, look at this frunk:

And check out behind the second row:

Speaking of the second row, look at all that space! You can easily fit three people across in the second row, and the legroom isn’t bad!:

What’s more, check this out — the seats fold!:

If you’re not impressed, you need only look at the lack of space in a Jeep like my 1991 Jeep Wrangler. That’s this:

Jeeps like this have been the go-to rental cars on islands like those of Hawaii, but if we’re being honest, these machines are a bit miserable. I mean, look at how little storage space there is behind the rear bench (and this is the only cargo storage the Jeep has):

Look at how narrow the rear bench is, and look at all that useless space to the left and right — that flat surface above the wheel wells is a complete waste — if you drive around with something sitting on top, it will just slide off and end up in the footwell:

Speaking of the footwell, the legroom behind the front seats is awful:

You may be wondering: “Why are you comparing a 1970s VW to a Jeep YJ?” The truth is, it doesn’t really matter — the YJ, if anything, is on the bigger side. Compare the Thing to the old CJ5 from the early 1970s, and you’ll see that old CJ was even more cramped:

And the Willys Surrey — a vehicle specifically meant to haul people around resorts? It was also really tight in the back seat, and wasted a lot of room trying to clear drivetrain components that didn’t exist (the Surrey was rear-wheel drive but shared the body of a four-wheel drive CJ-3A):

The truth is, unless you’re going off-road, Jeeps aren’t really the best runabout vehicles. And even if you are going slightly off-road, the VW Thing can hang! The engine sits close to the rear axle, weighing the driven wheels down; along with a suspension that travels quite well, this gives the Thing confident traction:

I’d also like to note how sweet the folding windshield is:

The release clamp isn’t unlike a Willys Jeep’s:

But instead of a tie-down strap to hold the windshield against some big wood blocks, there are little rubber sockets meant to fit the metal balls integrated into the windshield:

It’s clever stuff. Quick and easy, and apparently good enough to keep the windscreen down at moderate speeds thanks largely to the sheer weight of the thing. The view out of the front is phenomenal!:

My coworker Jason tells me that some of these “Type 181s” came with portal rear axles, but the models I was riding in — presumably late 1970s models — appear to have featured semi-trailing arms with torsion bars:

I also have to give a shoutout to the doors, which have an inner and outer panel, with the space between used for storage (but I assume primarily there to give the door stiffness):

Overall, I have to hand it to the Type 181 “Thing.” There’s a reason why in some markets it’s called the Safari: It is, in some ways, the ultimate. It’s got tons of room, it’s good enough off-road, the lack of pillars and the easy-fold windshield makes for amazing visibility, the VW powertrain and drivetrain is bone-simple and incredibly easy to find parts for. If you’re not doing crazy off-roading, the Thing is better for the driver and for the rider — it is an absolutely fantastic package, and a whole lot of fun.

Jeep gods, you may now strike me with your wrath.

• david tracy , Featured , indonesia , jeep , type 181 , Volkswagen , volkswagen thing , volkswagen type 181 , VW , vw thing , vw type 181

David Tracy

Has not a single person commented on DTs zip off cargo pants?

Clearly a sign that LA has taken him. A hardened Midwesterner wouldn’t have taken long pants to Bali.

I learned how to drive in a VW Thing on a muddy farm. It was bone stock except for some narrow little mud tires and never got stuck going to the back pasture. An FJ60 Land Cruiser, a 1978 Jeep Cherokee with Quadratrac! (this system seemed engineered to insure that only the one wheel with no traction would turn), various 4wd pickup trucks, and a CJ-7 all got stuck up to the axles at one time or another. Not the Thing! It also rode over bumps much better than any of those vehicles.

This brings back fond memories. Back in the ’80s when I was a kid my dad was general manager for Garuda Indonesian Airlines at Melbourne airport, so I got to travel to Indonesia many times, and my dad would borrow cars from local friends while we were there. I still very clearly remember bombing around the jungles of Bali with young me in the back seat of one of these.

Seems like a Willys Jeepster would be a more apt comparison than a Wrangler. Not sure how those were on space though.

Why not a VEEP?

http://www.ewillys.com/category/veep/

I currently have an 81 Jeep CJ-5 and my last project car was a 70 VW Type I (beetle)

I think this is an apple to pear comparison. Both are simple to repair, both are fun in their own way. Growing up, we had a neighbor who had two Things. They are weird, quirky, and reliable.

Daily driving, the Beetle is just better. 4x4ing, the Jeep can be modified slightly to do more for a low cost $300 for an Aussie locker in the front or rear axle and it now has 3 wheels engaged. Oddly, with full soft doors the heater is equally terrible as the Beetle’s using the engine heat.

Honestly, I think the AMC 4.2 is more reliable than my old Beetle. The oil cooler would leak no matter what I did to stop it. The same was almost true for my Jeep’s valve cover, until I figured out the magical gasket to stop it.

Bummer about the Covid, David! I hope you feel better, soon!

David, are you ok? 🙂

Currently have COVID-19, but more broadly, yes I am OK.

sorry to hear about the covid. Good luck with the recovery

This would be the first time I have hear that something might be better than a Jeep

David just needs some rest with a cat on his lap ????

Cousin in Norway had one of these on his farm, he said better than a jeep because lighter- his had the portal axles as it wasn’t actually a thing but a basterdized kubelwagen- neighbor had a kettenkrad with the front wheel missing that he used to pull his boat out of the water and small farm duties

I really never got why you needed a super duper off road vehicle in the first place. I started using a VW Squareback for my off road and ski adventures. Off road in the Mojave Desert, it was king. I would go out to some god forsaken place and end up in the capital of nowhere and there would be a Land Cruiser FJ and some CJ something jeep. They would be astonished I was able to make it. Well it was kind of a goat. No, really would not rock crawl in it, but really there is no super good reason to that in the first place, unless there is some kind of body part measurement taking place. For skiing it was great in the snow and you could sleep in the parking lot inn the back. Its major shortcoming would come out; a complete lack of effective heating. My Squareback was a vehicle we had when we lived in Switzerland, acquired off the European delivery system. Drove it all over Europe for a few yeas before it was handed down to me to thrash.

While not a Thing, it had most of the effective good features and handling off road and in the snow. I ended up becoming a geologist, much to the dismay of my NROTC commander, since they sent me to be a pilot. I sold the Squareback in favor of a Land Rover Series IIa. It did do better off road, not by much. It was also a box of noisy brain damaging noise on the highway. You do have to go some distance on highways to get to the off-road part. There have been times I missed the medium noise of the VW purr on the highway. I ended up driving Land Rovers, like forever. On my ninth, with a new Defender in the garage. I would have likely gotten another rear engined VW to go to the field with, except VW abandoned them after the Vanagon, which I tried a VW Vanagon Syncro Westfalia for a bit. It was too delicate for any off road of consequence. It lost the “simple” aspect of previous rear engined air cooled ones. You also had to maintain AAA membership, preferably Platinum level, so you could get it home about 1 out of 20 trips.

I was engaged to the VW distributor’s daughter for a while at UCLA. He told me the Thing was conceived to be upgraded, but the market share in the US would never justify the engineering cost to give it crash and emissions standards to meet the CARB rules and front impact standards. It would have had to have the Rabbit engine and a radiator to give it any hope on emissions and all this would have more or less made it a non-Thing after they beefed up the front. That and the Rabbit engine would hang down below the pan a bit unless the doghouse for the engine got a lot taller.

I am a thing fan. However if memory serves these dumpsters on wheels were discontinued do to horrible safety ratings?

I think they were discontinued at the same time as most other air cooled vws in favor of higher horsepower, newer, more efficient, and I’m sure safer Golfs.

Not to disagree but Wikipedia mentions in NA they were unable to meet 1975 stricter safety standards. But yeah they certainly were not high powered.

They rust immediately, which is probably why David likes them.

The screen folds down for great visibility. “ The view out of the front is phenomenal!:”

Rollover protection (if you can call it that) not so much.

I do wonder if it is possible to rollover a thing based on turnover alone?

I suspect you’d really have to try, but at the same time you wouldn’t want to succeed…

What exactly do you store between the outer and inner door panels? It appears to be some sort of white powder wrapped in green plastic wrap.

Congrats David’s brother. David, also glad to hear you had a great vacation with your family and friend(s).

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Volkswagen type 181 for sale in north america.

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VW Thing For Sale

Vw thing classifieds (usa & canada | 1973 & 1974).

Volkswagen Thing For Sale currently features VW Thing vehicles for sale in the United States and Canada for model years 1973 and 1974. This decision has been made due to model year popularity, vehicle availability and also to keep the site predominately in English. It should be noted however that the VW Safari is extremely popular in Mexico and the Trekker is equally as popular in the United Kingdom.

Please note that we have recently added some Mexico listings.  CLICK HERE to see those…

Click on the image below to view the 10 most recent VW Thing ads.  For more specific searches use the search box at the top of the site.  If you want to narrow down by State/Province or City use the links in the sidebar (bottom for mobile) navigation.

United States

Model year 1973, model year 1974.

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1973 2-Door Acapulco VW Thing for Sale

We have another cool 1974 vw thing for sale - check it out, shortened 2-door safari pequeno acapulco, featured in dune buggies and hot vw's magazine.

This 1973 two door Acapulco VW Thing was featured in Dune Buggies and Hot VW's magazine in April 1988. This is THE "Safari Pequeno" built by John Cullinan during his tenure working at the Thing Shop in Arizona. This cute little Acapulco Thing has been shortened 14 inches to make it a super fun 2 door. Since the magazine feature it has had the motor replaced with a mostly stock beetle engine. It was repainted a while back to yellow, and the seats were then colored yellow to match the new color scheme.

You've got to check out the videos we have of this little mo-ster cruising around the warehouse--what a fun little auto! The links to the videos are just below this written description.

This Thing comes with a shortened Acapulco Top AND a shortened Hard Top with specially made side curtains (with the shortened rears). The shortened hardtop does need some work but it's the original top made for the car and it comes with the sale). The vehicle has been well used since John Cullinan built the car. In its current condition it's what we in the car business would call a 15-footer (it looks great from a distance but up close some imperfections become apparent). There is one area of rust starting near the driver's side jack point. It's a very small area of mostly surface rust and this and other imperfections are shown in detail in the close-up gallery (the links to the two photo galleries are just below this text). The radio is not hooked up so we're not sure if that works :-) It sports a gas heater (as did all 1973 Things). The owner has never used the gas heater so we're not sure if it's up to snuff.

This is surely a one of a kind Thing as far as I have been able to research. I have seen some 2 door things that were made into pickup type vehicles but I have never seen a shorted Acapulco! Please enjoy spending some time with the two photo galleries to get to know the exact condition of this cute shorty Thing, check out the fun video below, please ask questions if you have them prior to bidding, and GOOD LUCK winning this AUCTION! You shouldn't have trouble fitting this little guy into your garage!!

Click an image below for many more detailed photos of the interior and exterior of this great 1973 Acapulco VW Thing

Take a look at our current classic cars for sale , see this custom 1973 acapulco vw thing in action below: videos include full walk around and more.

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Volkswagen Built the Perfect Thing for Your Next Retro Expedition

So there I was, walking along a dusty street in Mexico, when I spotted an attractive blue chunk of automotive history: a Volkswagen Thing. Yup, you read that right, Volkswagen once built a chunky off-roader on the Beetle’s chassis named the Thing. But as rad as this retro rig is, the perfect “thing” for your next vintage vehicle expedition might be its successor, the Volkswagen Iltis .

The Volkswagen Thing was built out of spare parts

The year was 1968: The Beatles were on the radio, Bullitt was playing in every cinema, and the Volkswagen Bug had become a cult classic in the United States. The Beetle–officially called the “Type 1”–was also a hugely popular economy car in countries such as Mexico. So when NATO’s ill-conceived project to invent a light amphibious “Europa Jeep” patrol car stalled (spoiler: it would never get started again), it turned to VW to build a stop-gap military transport.

As luck would have it, VW’s market research showed a more off-road capable civilian vehicle would sell well in Mexico, where the roads had been especially hard on the popular Beetle. So Volkswagen literally threw together an off-roader out of spare parts.

The “Type 181” project shared the Beetle’s drivetrain. This means it was RWD, with a tiny flat-four engine in the trunk. It made 46 horsepower.

Volkswagen reused the Karmann Ghia’s floor pan because that car was wider than the Beetle. Then it stamped out the simplest square body panels possible. The resulting vehicle was a chunky four-door convertible. It had a long trunk with room for the spare tire, flat fenders, and a fold-down windshield.

The Type 181’s windows did not roll down. Want to drive an old VW Thing around without windows? You’ll have to remove them and leave them at home or toss them in the frunk.

The Volkswagen Thing is a unicorn in the U.S.

Back to my Thing-sighting in Mexico. I was shocked because I had yet to see a VW Thing. Air-cooled Volkswagen fans certainly talk about the car, but surviving examples are rare. This is because Volkswagen began to export the car to the United States in 1973 but had to pull it from the market after 1974.

The U.S. implemented stricter crash regulations after 1974. The little rear-engine convertible had very little crash protection. But the final straw was how close the windshield is to the driver and front passenger.

The Type 181 was only called the “Thing” in the United States. The military version was just called the “Type 181” or “Type 182” in righthand drive countries. The ground clearance of the military versions benefited from a VW-built portal axle, which was a pretty cool upgrade. But its lack of 4WD still limited its capabilities.

The Type 181 I spotted in Mexico was actually branded as a Volkswagen “Safari.” It was built alongside the Beetle in the Puebla, Mexico, VW factory between 1970 and 1980. Despite this VW’s rough condition, gazing at it got me daydreaming of an off-road jungle expedition to some undiscovered Mayan pyramids. But the truth is that the Type 181 would have been the wrong VW for the job.

Volkswagen improved on the Thing with its Iltis 4×4

Volkswagen dubbed its next-generation military Jeep the Type 183–unsurprisingly. But it also was dubbed the “Iltis.” The word is German for a local predator, also known as the Polecat. This go-around, it shared an advanced 4WD chassis with the Audi 100–according to Petrolicious .

The improved drivetrain was all the Iltis needed to achieve off-road greatness. In fact, this 4×4 won the 1980 Paris Dakar rally race. Best of all, the Iltis retained the Thing’s off-beat style. The Iltis is just the “thing” for your next retro rally.

Next, read about a Volkswagen Iltis in the Dakar Classic reenactment or watch Doug DeMuro review the Volkswagen Thing in the video below:

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Henry Cesari

Henry Cesari joined MotorBiscuit in 2021 and brings his deep interest in vintage cars, trucks, and motorcycles to the site. Having restored his first classic car at just 16 years old, Henry has wrenched on everything from overland campers to Japanese motorcycles and even pre-war Bugattis. Henry is also an avid attendee at local car shows and genuinely enjoys connecting with fellow auto enthusiasts.

Henry earned a Bachelor’s in Anthropology and English from the University of Vermont. He has since incorporated his love of the written word with his admiration of classic cars. While Henry is interested in vintage cars, he believes the golden age of cars is yet to come. He is confident journalists will play an important role in this revolution by exposing the industry as it is now and envisioning its possible future.

What is the VW Thing?

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Images thanks to munzi-181 and dutch_vw181 .

VW is known for their occasional oddball, lets us not forget Volkswagen kept the antiquated but beloved classic beetle in production through to 2003.

The VW Thing also referred to as Type 181, was designed for the 1960s German army, created as a practical, rugged vehicle. The Thing as a go-anywhere light vehicle which would allow the military to cover vast expanses of land. Type 181 and 182 were dropped into the open market during the early 1970s as a fun, recreational vehicle. As an odd, unique car, the VW Thing is enormous fun and a vehicle with an unparalleled appeal. A VW which could have only been sold to the public in an era of low safety standards, as the beauty of the VW Thing is that it is raw and doesn’t conform to convention. No airbags, side protection or even a solid windshield here just raw Veedub fun. 

Who designed this VW Thing?

So what do you call a military derived volkswagen, how many vw things did they make, is the vw thing any good, can i buy a volkswagen thing.

If you like your cars full of character the VW Thing has to feature high in your list of interest and novel Volkswagens. Volkswagen designed the VW Thing for West German army on a platform created by NATO’s ‘Europa Jeep’ project.

In-swinging 1960s Europe, post-war European governments decided that they needed a lightweight four-wheel-drive vehicle which would be used across the continent in various flavours. This project was embraced by the enterprising Volkswagen company and used to create the West German Type 181. From checking out this project online, it seems that West Germany leaders were the only government to use the platform as the Europa Jeep became an expensive flop.

By the 1960s Volkswagen had already seen broad success with its air-cooled engines in the ever-popular VW Beetle and commercial VW Type 1, they had also seen the popularity of the dune buggy in the United States. Hence, it is safe to say that VW understood how this unique platform could be used in the civilian marketplace. Most other European automakers at this time were considerably more restrained and happy to continue with their established auto platforms.

Adding to this foresight, it is also worth remembering their Volkswagens Mexican market had already expressed interest in a vehicle which could handle country roads. Making the Europia Jeep a perfect match to add to the VW lineup as a fun light car.

A question which faced the Volkswagen marketing team; and depending on your part of the world will dictate what you call it. In West Germany, it’s called the Volkswagen Kurierwagen (“courier car”), in the UK we know it as the VW Trekker (RHD Type 182), in the United States it’s called the VW Thing and throughout Mexico and South America, its called the Safari.

The VW Thing is also given a Volkswagen model number of Type 181 for the left-hand-drive option and Type 182 for right-hand-drive models.

The VW Thing was an odd car even back in the 1970s; however, sales were reasonably good for a niche vehicle at 90,883 units built between 1968 and 1983. Production of this funky VW was split between Mexico and West Germany, the left-hand-drive Type 181 being the more popular model.

As such a subjective question; there is no denying that the history of this cool Volkswagen makes for an exciting vehicle. The lightweight body and small 46-hp engine also make for a slow drive; however, when you have a windshield which folds down, you don’t need speed.

The removable doors, windows which either pop-open with a flap or can be tossed into storage. The VW Thing is a small, agile car which gives bags of fun and is unlike any other vehicle on the road from Volkswagen. If you are driving the VW Thing, you had better enjoy meeting new people as it is sure to draw lots of admiring looks and questions.

While the Volkswagen Thing (Type 181 and 182) was a niche car, there are a lot of these Veedubs around. They are not as easy to source as say a Volkswagen mk1 Golf. However, they are much easier to locate than say a VW SP2. This will not be such a surprise though when we remember the VW SP2 sold just over 10,000 while the VW Thing sold over 90,000 units.

To obtain a clean, corrosion-free Volkswagen Thing, you will need to be picky. Cars imported from dry climates will always be less prone to rust.

When choosing a Volkswagen thing look for the following;

• As with any car, check the VIN plate, this is located under the back seats. Check matching number with the code stamped on the under the hood/bonnet plate. Check that the engine has an AM stamp and the stock transition has an AV stamp.
• Do the widefield wipers work; these are specific to the VW Thing and difficult to replace.
• Can you see any corrosion on the windshield frame? The bottom is a weak area.
• Does the gas-fired heater work? Remember these are old cars so be careful here.
• Has the car been involved in a crash? Not untypical so worth checking. Check the front bean; this is a VW specific part so is expensive to replace.
• Are the mirrors correct? There are many knock-off parts, and original VW parts are typically better quality but expensive.
• Checking for corrosion, check body pan, double-check under the battery.
• Rear panels, wheel arches and behind the rear seats
• Check those funky side curtains. Are they present? Are they in good condition?
• How does the convertible frame look? Is it free from rot?
• The rear exhaust should come through the rear bumper via two holes in the bumper.
• Try to get a VW Thing with stock VW 14′ wheels.
• Check behind the spare wheel for panel corrosion.
• Check all panels for rust; it’s an old Volkswagen.

So once you’ve got your Volkswagen Thing, you can enjoy depreciation free motoring, knowing that you have a chunk of Volkswagen history parked in your garage. It is cars like the VW Thing which make attending Volkswagen events so much fun. So if you have a unique Volkswagen and would like to share your story with the Veedubs community, please upload your details to the Veedubs gallery where we can all enjoy your cool Veedub.

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VOLKSWAGEN SAFARI MEXICAN (THING) 1975

1975 Volkswagen Thing thing (SAFARI) VOLKSWAGEN

• Condition: Used
• Make: Volkswagen
• Model: Thing
• SubModel: thing (SAFARI) VOLKSWAGEN
• Type: Convertible
• Mileage: 10,000
• VIN: xxxxxxx
• Color: White
• Engine size: good
• Number of cylinders: 4
• Fuel: Gasoline
• Transmission: Manual
• Drive type: owner
• Interior color: Black
• Vehicle Title: Clear

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Things to do in Moscow for First-Timers

Updated December 14, 2017

// By Margherita

Last August, a dream came true for both myself and Nick – we visited Russia for the first time. We joined the 13-day Waterways of the Tsars cruise with Viking River Cruises, travelling from Moscow to St Petersburg (with some cool stops in between). Here’s our first post, with lots of interesting things to do in Moscow for first timers!

My Moscow Dreams

I’ve always liked to think that Moscow was my first trip ever. My father visited the (then) Soviet capital in 1986, and returned with a mini-bearskin hat and stories about that mysterious country – ‘a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma’ , as Churchill famously defined it.

My dad told me stories, and I dreamt. I dreamt the multicoloured domes of St Basil’s, the crenellated walls of the Kremlin, the metro stations – my dad described them as ‘real underground palaces, with marble and chandeliers’ – I even dreamt of visiting GUM, the legendary department store on Red Square, with luxurious stuccos and dusty, empty shelves.

Moscow fascinated me so much that I imagined I could see it from my bedroom window. Looking east, beyond the station of Milano Lambrate, I could see a dozen red, blocky apartment buildings, and imagined it was Moscow. Deep within myself I knew they weren’t Socialist high-rises, it was Milano Due, the utopic ‘city of the future’ built by Berlusconi at the dawn of the 1980s.

That is probably why when we first visited Moscow last August, the city looked familiar. Many people describe their first visit to New York as a kind of deja-vu, after having seen the city in so many movies. Moscow gave me exactly the same feeling. Because, in a way, I had already been there.

Not just through my dad’s tales and my own childhood daydreaming – but also through books. I walked alongside Dr Zhivago in the streets of post-revolutionary Moscow. I sat next to Anna Karenina as she travelled to the city. Most of all, I walked down the Arbat and flew over the roofs of the city with my namesake heroine, Margarita .

Yet, Moscow eluded us for years , until we finally landed at Sheremetyevo airport one hazy morning, after two aborted landings because of thick fog. From the very first minute, it felt familiar – yet surprised us in ways I couldn’t imagine. No book or photograph prepared us for the magnificence of the Kremlin cathedrals, for the dazzling beauty of the city at night, for the extravagance of the Metro stations.

If you follow our blog regularly, you’ll know that we rarely write about ‘must-sees’ – instead, we try to delve deeper and find unusual things to see and do in the towns we visited. However, as this was our first time in Moscow, we decided to focus on the essentials, and compiled this guide of things to do in Moscow with first timers in mind. (I’m sure we’ll be back to explore the city further)

6 Things to do in Moscow for first timers

1)red square.

Red Square is Moscow’s main landmark , and the place where – I guess – 99% of people begin their exploration of the city. Imagine my joy when we were about to cross the gates into the huge square that I had so often pictured in my mind.

I could glimpse the multicoloured domes of St Basil’s on the far side , but it wasn’t the sprawling expanse I knew – something was blocking my sight. Two huge grandstands for a forthcoming festival of military bands had been erected right in the middle of Red Square, taking up most of available space.

The rest of the square was packed with tourists, it was a very hot day, and I’m sure you can imagine my disappointment.

So, just a little piece of advice for you. If you want to see Red Square in all its sprawling magnificence , make sure there’s no event going on in the square – apparently, events happen very often. We got a couple of messages on social media from people that also found Red Square all blocked up because of concerts or other festivals.

Facing St Basil’s (or the grandstands, in our case), the right hand side of the square borders the Kremlin walls, and near there you’ll find Lenin’s Mausoleum . After having seen the embalmed corpse of Mao in Beijing and Uncle Ho in Hanoi, we were looking forward to visiting Vladimir Ilich – but sadly, we missed the opening times.

On the left hand side of the square there’s  GUM , the same department store that my dad had visited 30 years previously, finding it dusty and empty. During our visit, the afternoon light shone through the glass domed ceilings, over white marble floors and whitewashed walls.

Diners clinked glasses in cafés and the store windows were packed with luxury clothes and accessories. And of course, on the far side of the square, St Basil’s was as dazzling as ever, the five domes five different jewels over the sapphire sky.

A little curiosity for you – the ‘Red’ in Red Square has nothing to do with Communism. The word Krasnaya used to mean ‘beautiful’ in Old Russian, and got the meaning ‘red’ only in more recent times. So, Red Square is also Beautiful Square.

Red Square was a bit of a disappointment, but the Kremlin exceeded all our expectations. The word Kremlin means ‘citadel’ – myself and many others were convinced that the Kremlin would be a simple city palace, but it’s in fact a walled city within a city , with palaces, churches, gardens and two helipads so Mr Putin can get to work without needing to brave the horrid Moscow traffic.

The Kremlin feels like a place that belongs to a parallel world. Everything looks tidy and perfect. Guards in huge hats and manicured uniforms patrol the streets, whistling if you dare cross away from the zebra crossing – yet, strangely, it’s absolutely fine to climb over the Tsar Bell, the largest bell ever cast at a weight of 480 tons.

The Tsar Bell never tolled, and the Tsar Cannon standing right next to it, the largest cannon ever made, never fired a single shot. Go figure.

The most beautiful location in the Kremlin is stunning Cathedral Square , surrounded by several churches with glistening golden domes. We only had time to visit two – Cathedral of the Assumption , where the Tsars were crowned, and Cathedral of the Archangel , final place of rest of several tsars and their families.

3) Moscow Metro

The Kremlin has been the home of Russia’s rulers for centuries. During Communist times, the power was in the hands of the people (or at least, that’s what they were told). In the late 1920s, Stalin ordered the construction of a monumental underground system – a ‘Palace for the People’ , that would fulfil the need for propaganda and intra-city transportation at the same time, as Moscow grew non stop.

Nowadays, the Moscow metro is developed over 12 lines – one circular and 11 radial . An apocryphal tale states that when Stalin was shown the Metro plan, no circular line was contemplated. Stalin placed his teacup on the paper, leaving a round brown mark – naturally, the leader was praised for his brilliance, and that’s how the circular line was born. All lines are colour coded, and the circular line is brown.

The Moscow Metro is not only stunning to look at – it also works amazingly well, and it’s super cheap. It runs from 5 to 2 am, every 20 seconds in peak hour, and a single ride only costs 50 roubles and has no time limit. That means you can spend the whole day touring this stunning system of underground palaces, spending less than a euro.

Each station is decorated differently – no station signs are visible from inside the trains, so Muscovites can tell where to get off by looking at the station’s decoration. Some of the most stunning include Mayakovskaya on the Green Line, Ploshchad Revolyutsii on the Blue Line and  Komsomolskaya, Novoslobodskaya and Kiyevskaya along the Circular (Koltsevaya) line.

I had read about the Arbat so many times in books , that I couldn’t wait to visit it for myself. It is one of the oldest surviving streets of Moscow , connecting the city centre with the boulevard ring. It was once one of the main thoroughfares into town from the West, before becoming home to the nobility first, then to artists and Soviet officials.

These days, the Arbat is not Moscow’s ‘Boulevard St Germain’ anymore – most of the mansions lining it were destroyed to stop Napoleon’s advance in 1812. There are actually two Arbats in Moscow now – the Old Arbat is pedestrian , so it’s still a wonderful place for a walk and some people-watching. There are several souvenir shops but being the heart of the tourist city centre, I’d give shopping around here a miss.

Towards the end of the street there’s an Alice in Wonderland themed cafe (a slice of Tokyo in the center of Moscow?) which could be an interesting spot for a coffee. Or you could check out New Arbat , just parallel, the home of administration and bureaucracy during Soviet times.

5) Cathedral of Christ the Saviour

Even if you’re not one for churches, you’ll agree with me that the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour is a spellbinding sight , with its golden domes and white marble frame set against the sky, and the Moskva river flowing right on its side.

To make matters even better, the Cathedral has a really interesting history. It was erected in the 19th century, after the victory against the Napoleonic Army. A convent was evacuated to make room for the church, and one of the sisters – enraged after having been evicted – claimed that no building erected on that site will ever stand for more than 50 years.

The Cathedral was eventually consecrated in 1883 – and in 1931, 48 years later, it was demolished by Stalin to make room for the ‘Palace of the Soviets’, a monumental building that was going to be topped by a huge statue of Lenin. WW2 halted construction, and after Stalin’s death the construction site stood unfinished for decades – the gaping hole for the foundations was turned into the world’s largest open-air swimming pool.

The ‘current’ Cathedral of Christ the Saviour was built between 1995 and 2000. 50 kilos of gold were used for the domes. Will it last for more than 50 years? Only time will tell.

6) Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics

If like me you’re a fan of Communist architecture and iconography , you’ll be spoilt in Moscow. In the past, we visited Communist sights in Warsaw , Vilnius and Bratislava – but really, they’re nothing compared to Moscow.

From kommunalka apartment blocks to Stalin’s Seven Sisters (huge 1930s skyscrapers housing hotels, apartments, offices and universities), from the Metro to statues and plaques everywhere, Moscow has plenty of relics from the Communist period – after all, it was the capital of the Communist world.

I could spend weeks touring all sights of Communist Moscow – to be honest, we are already planning a trip back for this very reason. If you only had time to visit one Communist sight, make sure it’s the Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics . The entrance to the museum is in the base of the Monument to the Conquerors of Space , which is by far THE MOST AMAZING monument we’ve ever seen. I mean, check it out.

The museum itself makes for a very interesting visit for everyone interested in the space race. It houses the first satellite ever to be launched, the embalmed bodies of two space dogs, a full-scale reproduction of space station Mir, space suits and lots more interesting exhibits. We visited on a guided tour with Viking Cruises, which was a great idea as it was really hard to understand the function of some objects otherwise.

The Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics celebrates a time when people dared to look at the stars and dream that one day, we might actually uncover this great mystery. Sure, political implications (on either side of the wall) were behind it all, not some romantic dream – but 55 years from Gagarin’s first flight, space news are often relegated to the bottom of newspaper pages.

Perhaps we have way too many problems on this planet to worry about exploring others. Exploring the Museum, I wished that one day we’ll be able to set out and uncover the biggest mystery of all once again.

Moscow with Viking Cruises

We visited several of the sights mentioned in this list on tours run by Viking River Cruises as part of our Waterways of the Tsars cruise. The Kremlin tour, Moscow city tour (by public transport or bus – naturally we opted for the latter) and a traditional music concert were included in the tour price, but we also took additional tours to the Museum of Cosmonautics and around Moscow by night , both of which we enjoyed a lot.

Our accommodation was on the Viking Truvor , moored in Moscow’s North River terminal near   Rechnoy Vozkal station on the green line, making it possible to reach the centre in half an hour to explore the city independently. All meals are served on the boat, and transport to/from the boat is always provided during tours. Trust me, on a Viking cruise you won’t go hungry!

A great benefit of exploring Moscow with Viking were the excellent local guides , who shared their knowledge with us and gave us ideas on how to make the most of our free time in such a big, sprawling city. We spent three days in Moscow, but we are sure we will be back!

We would like to thank Viking Cruises for having welcomed us aboard the Waterways of the Tsars cruise.

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I went on a budget and a luxury safari in Africa. Here's how they compare — and the one thing you really need to look for when booking.

Posted: March 14, 2024 | Last updated: March 14, 2024

• I have been on two glamping safari trips in Africa on two very different budgets.
• My all-inclusive stay was great but my cheaper glamping experience was fine, too. 
• Private game reserves are actually the most important thing to splurge on, not accommodations. 

I've been on two African safari trips . Both involved glamping but on completely different budgets.

My first more affordable trip, a lodge in South Africa with separate safari excursions, cost me about $1,100. My second, an all-inclusive lodge in Tanzania, cost me about $4,000 after a 50% off deal.

Here's how the two compare and what I think you should look for before you plan an African safari .

My affordable safari experience was at Jackalberry Ridge, where some tents cost $80 a night.

The first time I went on a safari, I went to Kruger National Park in South Africa. I didn't book a tour package, instead opting to stay at affordable lodging and book safari day trips to the park.

I stayed five nights near Kruger and one night in Johannesburg before my flight home. I spent around $1,100 for lodging, safari tours, a rental car, and food (not including flights).

After landing in Johannesburg, I rented a car ($130 for five days) to drive to my lodging in Marloth Park, a town bordering the edge of Kruger National Park.

I was staying at Jackalberry Ridge , a self-catering accommodation with no on-site restaurant, no room service, and limited housekeeping.

The one-bedroom tents at Jackalberry Ridge go for as low as $80 a night, and two-bedroom tents go for $135.

When I checked in late, there was no one at the reception desk — just an envelope with my name on it containing my keys and a map.

My main tent felt pretty spacious, with a king bed and a living-room area.

I had booked a two-bedroom unit (two tents), but my friend couldn't come at the last minute. Since I couldn't change the reservation, I still stayed in the two-bedroom unit and my friend paid her share.

The campsite came with a small pool to dip in, but it was covered as the weather was pretty cold.

Each unit had a private bathroom and kitchen in a building separate from the tents, so I needed to leave my tent to use the bathroom at night.

The bathroom was standard, with a tub, shower, and toilet.

This is glamping, so I had access to running water and a flushing toilet. I had hot water, but I found it went from scalding hot to cold in a few seconds.

I ended up taking quick showers and just washing my hair with cold water, which wasn't ideal since it was a little chilly in the morning.

It's also worth noting that Jackalberry Ridge was renovated recently, so the issue I had with hot water may have been fixed now.

I also had access to a kitchen in the same building as the bathroom.

The kitchen was well-equipped with things like pots, a microwave, and a sink, so I could cook meals or heat up leftovers.

I signed up for a couple of day safaris and did one at night.

Although I had a rental car and could've done a self-drive safari around Kruger, I didn't trust myself to spot animals while focusing on the roads.

Instead, I signed up for a couple of day safaris and one night safari. The safari tour prices often don't include the park entrance fee (about $25 per person per day), which I paid when I got to the entrance.

My three safari trips and park fees came to around $280.

I got to see zebras, giraffes, and more.

I saw a lot on the safari, including zebras, impalas, kudus, and giraffes. I saw lions and a leopard, although only from afar with binoculars. I even got a glimpse of the elusive rhinoceros.

I also spent one day taking another popular day trip in the area, the Panorama Route. This scenic road goes past Lisbon Falls and the beautiful Blyde River Canyon. The guided tour was $110.

As far as my very first safari trip goes, it was great. I got to see the Big Five , even though some of them were pretty far away.

For my next safari trip, I leveled up.

I saw a Travelzoo deal for an all-inclusive safari at Taasa Lodge , a five-star luxury safari in Tanzania.

The deal was $6,000 for two people for a whole week — the lodge is usually $12,950 for two for seven nights. It was still a splurge, but I'd be saving more than 50% on a bucket-list experience.

The package came with seven nights of lodging, two safari activities a day, three daily meals, and drinks.

Still, we spent more than the original advertised price. There are obligatory "daily government park fees" and "daily concession fees" that added about $893 per person to our bill.

We also had to take a regional flight to get to Taasa, which was more expensive than my rental car in South Africa.

To redeem the Travelzoo deal, we had to complete our booking through a specific travel agency.

We ended up opting for an all-inclusive add-on package which includes the $893 fees above, domestic airfares from Arusha to Taasa (which would already cost around $600), and our agency arranging our Tanzanian tourist visa and airport transfers. The add-on also included extra activities at the resort (more on that later).

Overall, we paid $1,715 per person on top of the $3,000 each for the lodge stay.

I hadn't anticipated paying so many extras, but it was nice to have someone take care of the logistics of getting to the resort.

My tent was luxurious and equipped with a comfortable king bed and a large living room.

When I arrived at the lodge, the staff greeted me with a glass of juice and a wet towel to refresh myself.

My tent was quite spacious. I especially liked that it had a desk and plenty of outlets I could use to charge my electronics. Our bathroom was behind our bed, and I was glad it was inside the tent this time.

We also got a butler who kept track of our schedules and made sure we had what we needed.

The bathroom felt spacious, with two sinks and a shower.

The shower's hot water was great and we had double sinks we could get ready at.

Another perk of the lodge is that we could have staff do our laundry every day, which meant we could pack less clothing.

There's a main lodge with a communal living room, dining area, and bar.

We got breakfast at the buffet in the main lodge unless we were going on a morning safari.

Most people ate dinner in the dining room, but we could've requested to have food brought to our tent.

We also passed a small pool next to the main lodge.

The pool was on the small side, but certainly had great views.

I didn't end up using it as my afternoons were filled with safari, and the mornings and evenings were chilly.

On the mornings with an early safari, we had a simple breakfast next to our Land Cruiser.

Safari breakfasts consisted of hard-boiled eggs, yogurt, doughnuts, bacon and sausage, fruits, and orange juice. Staff also made French-press coffee, which we could spike with cream liqueur.

Our Land Cruiser had a cooler of beers and sodas in the back, too.

At the private game reserve, we got pretty close to wildlife.

Taasa is located inside a private game reserve, which means staff can pretty much drive anywhere within it. This was a huge leg up from my day trips in Kruger National Park on my last safari.

Inside national parks like Kruger or Serengeti, you're only allowed to drive on designated roads for safety reasons (both for the tourists and the animals).

But in a private reserve, guides can drive offroad. Plus, the guides communicate with each other when they find something special.

We saw a bunch of animals in the private reserve and Serengeti.

We also left the reserve to spend a couple of days going into Serengeti National Park, as there were things you could only find there instead of within the private reserve.

For example, I'd planned my trip to take place during the Great Migration, and I wanted to see wildebeests crossing the Mara River.

We also went to Serengeti to find rhinoceros and hippopotamus.

Every dinner at the resort consisted of three courses: soup, an entrée, and a dessert.

The main course was usually some type of Western food, and there was always a vegetarian option.

It would've been nice to be offered more typical Tanzanian dishes, though. For me, part of the fun of traveling is learning about different countries' cuisines.

I also had access to an open bar in the main lodge. Staff could make simple cocktails, and there was lots of beer and wine. The drinks were all included with the price of the stay (except for fancy Champagnes and select wines).

One morning, we had a special breakfast on the plains.

On one day of the trip, we had a special bush breakfast. It was one of the extra activities we got with that special add-on package.

Instead of our usual safari breakfast, we had freshly prepared omelets in the wild.

We also got another special treat in the bush that morning — a toilet!

When you're offroading looking for wild animals, you can end up pretty far from a proper toilet.

On most safari days, the car stops (when guides think it's safe), and people go behind the car to do their business.

This was the only time we had this portable toilet while out on a safari. On my budget safari day trips at Kruger, we'd have to wait until we reached a rest-stop facility.

Again, we spent a lot of time watching lions.

After breakfast, we were back in safari mode.

We found a family of lions, and as we were in the private reserve, we were able to stay and watch the cubs play for quite a while.

At Kruger, when lions are spotted, traffic starts backing up on the road as all the safari cruisers stop to look, so you can't stay too long.

Here, we knew no one else would be coming.

On a different morning, our guide got a tip that another car had found a leopard sleeping.

The communication between guides in the private reserve paid off when one spotted a sleeping leopard.

When our group arrived, the leopard was napping on the tree next to his catch. Eventually, it came down, and we got a better look.

Our trip ended with a great happy hour and outdoor dinner.

Other activities that were part of our add-on package included a visit to a Maasai village in Kenya and a special happy hour and barbecue dinner.

And, for our journey home, the travel agency took care of everything, including transfers, until we boarded our international flight.

My big takeaway is that it's really worth paying to be inside a private reserve.

In my opinion, the difference between these two safari trips that's the most worth paying for is being in a private reserve.

After all, the main reason I fly to Africa is for the safari, not the glamping.

I much preferred my lodging at Taasa, mostly because of the bathroom. But if I hadn't had the 50% off deal, I'm not sure the full price would've been worth it.

Still, it was a wonderful experience, and if I had more money, I may feel differently. Even so, the budget glamping was pretty comfortable and just fine for a week.

But again, as far as the safari experience goes, the private reserve is hard to beat. Being able to go offroading and get closer to the animals is quite the experience.

And if luxurious lodges are out of the question, private reserves can also be visited more affordably. Some lodges inside private reserves, like Shindzela or Rhino River Lodge, can cost around $250 per person per night.

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Your 48-hour tour guide of Moscow this winter!

9 am – Visit the Red Square 

Christmas market on Red Square

The first thing that every tourist should do by default is visit the very heart of Moscow – it’s main and most beautiful (which ‘krasnaya’ actually meant in Old Russian) square! 

There are several ways to explore it:

• Take a selfie with Spasskaya Tower
• Have a warm drink at the Christmas market (which lasts until mid-January)
• Visit Lenin’s Mausoleum
• Shop in the gorgeous adjacent GUM department store
• Visit St. Basil’s Cathedral (and learn that it’s actually several churches under one roof).           

11 am – It’s Kremlin time! 

Inside the Moscow Kremlin

Entering the Kremlin is, actually, a bit of a quest, as it’s a presidential facility with no general access. You need to buy a ticket or, better still, book a guided tour. Inside the Kremlin’s walls, you will find ancient cathedrals, in which Russian tsars used to be crowned and buried, as well as explore the magnificent architecture of the Kremlin that reflects the rich history of the country. And, finally, you could also make a quick visit to the Moscow Kremlin Museums and admire artifacts from various Russian tsarist eras: carriages, thrones, crowns and the most incredible armory and jewelry. 

For more information, visit the official website of the Kremlin . It’s open from 10 am to 5 pm (and it’s closed on Thursdays) in winter.

2 pm – Watch the changing of the Guard

The honor guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

A very spectacular (and free) thing to do is watch how the honor guard does their ceremonial change at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Eternal Flame, situated in Alexander Garden, right next to the Kremlin wall. Every hour, from 8 am to 8 pm, the 1st Company of the Kremlin (Presidential) Regiment performs this rather old and beautiful tradition. But, be warned, it's often overcrowded. 

3 pm – Enjoy a green oasis just in the center

Florarium in Zaryadye

Just a few steps from the Red Square, you will find the fabulous Zaryadye park. Opened in 2017, it is designed by renowned American architect bureau ‘Diller Scofidio + Renfro’. You can walk among the very cozy botanical decorations and explore Russia’s climate zones, as each of them is represented in dedicated areas, complete with flora from those zones.

The floating bridge in Zaryadye Park

The park also has an underground museum, an “ice cave” and a 3D cinema, where you can take part in a virtual adventure – a flight over Moscow! However, the piece de resistance is a floating boomerang bridge over the Moskva River, one of the best places to take a selfie.

You can also grab a quick lunch or relax with a cup of coffee or tea in the park.

7 pm – Arrange a ballet night

The Bolshoi Theater

Of course, the most fancy way to finish your day in Moscow would be to go to the ballet at the Bolshoi Theater (in a perfect world, to see ‘The Nutcracker’!). However, getting tickets to the Bolshoi is not an easy task and should be done well in advance of your visit. 

But, don’t be upset if you don’t manage to get tickets to the Bolshoi. Moscow has dozens of other options to see a ballet (or opera). No less brilliant performances can be seen in the Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Music Theater or in The State Kremlin Palace (by the way, this is another way to get a quick glimpse inside the Kremlin!).

10:30 pm – Have a late dinner in a fancy restaurant

Dr Zhivago restaurant

There are not so many other cities with such a big choice of restaurants in a range of tastes and styles. In 2021, the authoritative Michelin guide announced their pick of the best of Moscow’s restaurants. And here’s our guide to all the places with Russian cuisine for any budget. But, if you happen to be in the area of the Bolshoi or Nemirovich-Danchenko Theater, then ‘Dr. Zhivago’ would definitely be a nice option (and it’s open around the clock).

DAY 2 

9 am – grab a moscow coffee.

Winter festivities mood in Moscow

Moscow is definitely a coffee city! You can find coffee shops on every corner and they all offer a huge range of drinks. Try a ‘raf’ coffee, a sweet, creamy drink that was created in Russia, or dare to pick one of the very unusual offers, like cheese coffee or a Soviet candy style one (check out our coffee guide here ).

10 am – Take a river cruise

Winter boating along the Moskva River

Another exciting way to explore Moscow is to observe it from the water. Boats cruise along the Moskva River all year round. Most begin their route from the Hotel Ukraine, one of Stalin's ‘Seven Sister’ skyscrapers, and will bring you back to the same spot after passing the medieval Novodevichy Convent, Moscow State University and Luzhniki Stadium, the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour and giant monument to Peter the Great and many other sightseeings. 

It’s always at optimum temperature inside the boat, which also has huge panoramic windows. Select boats also offer a full dining experience, so it is also a nice place to have breakfast or lunch.

If you are not a water person, then discover other, unusual sides of Moscow – pick one of the activities we’ve prepared for you here ! 

1 pm – Visit ‘Russia’ Expo and taste a bunch of Russian regional cuisines

Russia Expo at VDNKh

Until April 2024, the Soviet-era VDNKh exhibition park is hosting the huge ‘Russia’ expo, with tons of activities and expositions devoted to Russia, its culture, science and nature. Check out our special guide on what to do there!  

An entire ‘House of Russian Cuisine’ has been opened at the expo. You will find 15 food stands with flagship dishes from Kamchatka, Siberia, Karelia and other regions of Russia. Imagine trying a range of cuisines and dishes in one place without even having to travel anywhere, be it Altai pelmeni, Tula kalach or Caucasian pies! A perfect place to grab some lunch.

House of Russian cuisines at VDNKh

The VDNKh exhibition park is a great place to visit, in general! Its pavilions are the perfect example of Stalinit Empire style architecture and you can almost feel as if you’ve traveled back in time! You will also find several interesting museums in the park – devoted to space exploration, Russian history and even a ‘Special Purpose Garage’, which showcases the various vehicles used by the country’s leaders. 

'Sun of Moscow' wheel

And, finally, you can ride Europe's tallest panoramic wheel – ‘Sun of Moscow’ – that will give you panoramic views of the city – from a height of 140 meters!

5 pm – Ice skate with view & mulled wine

Ice skating rink on Red Square (GUM department store on the background)

Ice skating is one of the most popular and affordable activities in Moscow. There are several great ice skating rinks in picturesque locations that are open all winter long. One of the biggest rinks in Europe is also at the aforementioned VDNKh or you can visit the one in Gorky Park, another very popular Moscow spot, or the small, but fancy rink – right on Red Square! 

All the parks offer ice skate rental, so the only things you need are warm clothes, a charged phone to record your memories and a good mood!  Moscow also gets dark at 4:30 pm in winter and hundreds of lights are switched on, turning the city into a giant fairy tale! 

A mulled wine with a view

And, if you are not a sports person, we’ve picked several other unusual activities that you could do in Moscow instead. For example, did you know that there is an entire district of dacha (countryside) houses, just 10 minutes from the center, surrounded by giant new highrises? How about taking a stroll there and feeling the early Soviet atmosphere?

8 pm – Warm up & laugh out loud

After all these outdoor activities, what could be better than a warm cozy bar with a hot drink and nice company? Moscow is a city full of entertainment for all tastes. So, if you know the Russian language or want to practice it, go to a theater or catch a stand-up comedy show. Moscow even has comedy shows in English, where you can hear both Russians speaking fluent English or foreigners (including Brits and Americans) who live in Russia speaking in broken or heavily-accented Russian (Check their show dates on the ‘ Moscow English Comedy ’ Telegram channel)!

11 pm – Finish by partying the night away!

Propaganda club in Moscow

Moscow never sleeps, as you might have heard. Which means there are plenty of bars and nightclubs where you can have a drink (or two or three; be sure to check out how Russians make Black Russian and White Russian cocktails) and chat with incredibly different people. Have fun and don’t miss your flight (or miss it and stay longer in the best city in the world!)!

That's it! See you soon in Moscow

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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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