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Travel and Adventure with Trips Inc.

All-inclusive vacations for adults with disabilities.   -

By John Krejcha  - 

For the past 28 years, Trips Inc.™ has provided unique experiences and treasured memories for more than 16,000 travelers from all 50 states. Their foundation is based in special education and their group tour leaders each have at least 10 years of experience.

Their all-inclusive vacation experiences are so much fun that the majority of travelers return to vacation with them again. In the process, travelers often gain increased confidence, improve social, communication and life skills, make new friends, and create amazing memories for life.

Spectrum Life Magazine recently had a chance to interview Leslie Peterson, Executive Director of Trips Inc and learn about the unique and fun adventures their organization offers adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. 

Tell us about Trips Inc™ and when it was founded.  

Trips Inc.™ was founded in 1991 by Jim Peterson after he received his master’s degree in special education. Jim had worked as a director of adult services at the Devereux Foundation in California, in the special education department at the University of Oregon, and as a Special Olympics coach. He realized at the time there were not worldwide travel opportunities for people who experience disabilities. This population’s travel was limited to local camps or short day trips. Jim wanted people with disabilities and special health needs to have access to the same vacations other people enjoyed like Disneyland, Hawaii and international destinations!  

Do you or any of your staff have a personal connection with someone on the autism spectrum or with another disability? 

Over the past 28 years, we have taken over 16,000 people traveling around the world and about 25% of those folks are on the autism spectrum. One of our tour group leaders, who has been leading trips with us for over 17 years, has a son with autism. Traveler Derek Hadley has autism and started traveling with us at age 19 and that was 15 years and 18 trips ago! He’s a travel expert now!

What kinds of all-inclusive packages can Trips Inc provide?  Where have you been?

We have something for everyone! We do everything from a dude ranch adventure to city tours, theme parks, outdoor adventures, cruises, Hawaii, train trips and international destinations!  We have kayaked in the Cook Islands, viewed the northern lights in Iceland, swam with dolphins in Hawaii and traveled by train through Germany & Austria!

What is the price range of a package and what is included? 

We have trips ranging in price from $1,395 to around $4,595 depending on the location and length of the trip. Our vacations are all-inclusive and include: 

• Expertly planned itineraries tailored to accommodate our trip participants.

• All VIP entertainment, tickets, tours, and admissions--at no extra cost.

• All transportation at the destination.

• All hotels and lodging. We stay at 3 - 5 star hotels.

• All meals at the destination.

• All tips, taxes, fuel and service charges are covered.

• Guaranteed tour price locked in at the moment your reservation is accepted.

• A keepsake photo album filled with pictures from the trip and a cool Trips Inc.™ t-shirt. 

• A courtesy phone call before and after every trip to answer questions and give feedback.

• Airfare based on departure from Portland, Seattle, and San Francisco. For all other cities, we’ll adjust the airfare portion based on where you are departing from.

Trips Inc.™ is an accredited travel company with the Airline Reporting Corporation and the International Air Transport Association, and we have an on-staff accredited travel agent who will make all your travel arrangements.

What is the size of the group traveling together and what is the chaperone to traveler ratio?

Our average total trip size is about 20 travelers. During the day we break into small groups of around 4 - 6 travelers. We have a low ratio of 1 chaperone for every 3 - 4 travelers. All of our Tour Group Leaders have 10 - 29 years of experience leading our trips!

Can travelers bring a care provider with them if they have extra support needs?

We encourage independence and growth during each special adventure so travelers typically come without their care providers or families. Of course, if the traveler needs extra support for behavioral, medical or comfort reasons, they are welcome to bring someone with them!  

What are some of the obstacles that your travelers have faced when traveling and how were they overcome?

For our new travelers, it’s a lack of confidence and fear of the unknown. It’s hard for anyone to take that first step into a new situation! We always see a big shift in a person from the beginning to the end of their vacation and it carries over when they return home. Every group that travels together has a certain bond with one another and they become one big family because of the friendship, support and mutual respect they experience. We’ve found that people then plan future vacations together! 

Please share a success story about one of your travelers. 

We had a new traveler with Autism (and OCD and ADD) from Austin, Texas who came with a long list of things we were told he couldn’t do. Everything from not tying his own shoes to not going on any of the rides in Disneyland. He was visibly shy the first night but that was quickly remedied when several of the other travelers visited his room and began telling him stories about their first trip experiences. He was so supported not just by us but by the other travelers who connected with him and showed him real friendship! He even did Splash Mountain with his hands up in the air screaming with joy, “I can’t believe I’m doing this!!!”

Mom called us after the trip crying because he came home with such confidence and independence (including tying his own shoes!). She said he used to pretend he was sick to not go to school or work because he felt bullied. All that stopped and he began bringing his vacation photo album everywhere to show people what he had done!

How would somebody get started to determine if this kind of travel is right for them?

Give us a call at (541) 686-1013. We thoroughly screen each of our travelers before their trip to make sure they fit safely in our ratios and to ensure they are supported to have the vacation of a lifetime! We have rave reviews and recommendations from our travelers, their families, and caregivers if folks would like personal references. Plus, we have an amazing 80% traveler return rate!

Where are you located? 

Here is our physical location but we serve nationwide:

735 W. 7th Ave, Eugene, OR 97402

(541) 686-1013

You can learn more about Trips Inc.™ and view photo galleries on our website which is: www.tripsinc.com. We also invite you to follow us on Facebook at:  www.facebook.com/tripsincspecialadventures

What are your goals for the future for Trips Inc?

We are always working to let as many people as possible know this service is available! We know travel has been identified as having a positive impact on people’s overall quality of life and we want to support our folks in being limitless in their travel dreams. Plus, the world needs to see and experience our travelers!  

What else is important for Spectrum Life Magazine readers to know?

Just getting your basic needs met is not enough for a full life.   We believe everyone should have access to all the amazing experiences travel brings, and that everyone is made to matter!

This interview was originally published on pages 20 and 21 in our Summer 2019 edition of Spectrum Life Magazine.  Photos courtesy of Trips Inc.

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• Autism Empowerment is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization devoted to enriching and empowering the lives of youth, adults and families within autistic and neurodivergent communities. We promote a culture of Autism Acceptance and believe that each one of us has gifts and talents to make the world a better place. At the SpectrumLife.org website, we share content from Autism Empowerment and our nonprofit publications Spectrum Life Magazine and Zoom Autism Magazine. We also offer an autism and disability resource directory. Other websites of our 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization include AutismEmpowerment.org and AutismEmpowermentPodcast.org and ZoomAutism.org
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Trips Travel Destinations

April is springing up all around us, and here at trips we have some new itineraries to spring on you for those who enjoy small ship cruising, we have two new tours on tap in 2025. in may, we're boarding the azamara journey in venice and sailing to 5 ports in croatia for an intensive look at this beautiful country. this is bound to be popular, so don't hesitate in getting your deposits in. if you want to stay closer to home, but still want that small ship experience, we'll be in the pacific northwest in time for fall colors in october of 2025.sail roundtrip out of seattle on american cruise lines aboard the new american constitution. our last addition, is discovering morocco, the azores and canary islands on norwegian's star. start and end in lisbon before sailing to ports that are rarely visited - and full of intrigue. we're sure you'll love it when you find something you're interested in, head over to the register tab. there you can either download the registration form, complete it and send it in, or register on-line and drop your deposit check in the mail., current tours.

• International

Magnificent Canyon Country: Utah’s Mighty 5 Parks!

April 18 – 25, 2024 | 8 Days and 7 Nights Wait List Availability Only! Travel through the stunning beauty of Utah on your tour of some of the grandest …

Charming Hill Towns of Tuscany plus Rome!!

May 28 – June 7, 2024 | 11 Days and 9 Nights Springtime in Tuscany – it doesn’t get much better! Festive wine tastings “Under the Tuscan Sun”, the eternal …

Ultimate British Isles & Northwest Europe

June 24 – July 6, 2024 | 13 Days and 11 Nights A bit of time in jolly old London starts this amazing tour before boarding your floating hotel, the …

Ultimate Alaska | Inside Passage plus Denali

July 11 – 22, 2024 | 12 Day – 11 Night Cruise/Tour Experience the Ultimate Alaska – from Denali National Park to a scenic domed railcar ride. Board the Norwegian …

Lewis & Clark Northwest River Cruise!

July 10 – 19, 2024 | 10 Days – 9 Nights Sail the legendary Columbia and Snake Rivers on the New American Harmony with TRIPS and American Cruise Lines. With …

Bermuda, Boston & Bar Harbor!!

August 8 – 16, 2024 | 9 Days and 8 Nights Your perfect North Atlantic Summertime Tour! Start with a night in Boston, cruise to sunny Bermuda and finally a …

Quintessential Cape Cod!!

September 3 – 9, 2024 | 7 Days and 6 Nights Limited Availability! Sign Up today!! Sand dunes, lobster and clam chowder! That’s what comes to mind when you think …

Ultimate Romantic Greek Islands 2024

September 17 – 30, 2024 | 14 Day – 12 Night Cruise/Tour Sail the sparkling deep blue waters of the Mediterranean. Stroll through the winding streets of Mykonos. Explore Creek …

Canada and New England Cruise/Tour Featuring 1 Night in Quebec City!

September 24 – October 2, 2024 | 9 Day – 8 Night Cruise/Tour Sail from Quebec City to New York City aboard the Norwegian Joy as you discover charming towns …

Kenya Wing Safari – October 2024

October 17 – 27, 2024 | 11 Days and 9 Nights Embark on the trip of a lifetime on out TRIPS Kenya Wing Safari! For more than 20 years, thousands …

Spain Intensive Cruise/Tour with Azamara!

October 25 – November 6, 2024 | 13 Days and 11 Nights Cruise on the Azamara Onward and delight in the hidden treasures of Spain! Limited to 680 guests with …

Mysteries of the Mekong River and Angkor Wat

Call today to Save $1,000 per person! October 25 – November 10, 2024 | 17 Days and 15 Nights The Mekong River is the lifeblood of this part of Southeast …

Spectacular Costa Rica * The Way it Should Be Seen!

November 1 – 7, 2024 | 7 Days and 6 Nights You’ll find Costa Rica brimming with color, from toucans to brightly painted oxcarts and visiting in November is ideal! …

Christmas in New York City!

November 29 – December 3, 2024 | 5 Days and 4 Nights From the Rockettes to Broadway, Christmas in New York is not to be missed! Enjoy your choice of …

Romantic Christmas Markets on the Danube!

November 29 – December 8, 2024 | 10 Days and 8 Nights Three Spellbing Countries All Gift-Wrapped into One Delightful Itinerary! Sail on the Danube to Hugary, Austria and Germany …

A Capitol Christmas in Washington, DC!

December 8 – 13, 2024 | 6 Days and 5 Nights Stay at the Magnificent Gaylord National Resort on the Potomac River for all 5 nights as you discover the …

Tournament of Roses Parade!

December 28, 2024 – January 2, 2025 | 6 Days and 5 Nights Seeing the Tournament of Roses Parade is truly a lifetime moments event. We’ve watched the Parade on …

Hawaii!! – The Ultimate Cruise Tour – Copy

January 16 – 26, 2025 | 10 Day – 9 Night Cruise/Tour Start with two nights right on Waikiki Beach before setting off on a cruise of all the main …

Antarctica – The World’s Last Frontier

January 31 – February 16, 2025 | 17 Day – 15 Night Cruise/Tour Sail the Norwegian Star to Four Countries plus a Continent!! From Buenos Aires to Montevideo – Puerto …

Kenya Wing Safari – February 2025

February 6 – 16, 2025 | 11 Days and 9 Nights Embark on the trip of a lifetime on out TRIPS Kenya Wing Safari! For more than 20 years, thousands …

The Wonders of Tanzania

February 15 – 22, 2025 This tour is offered only as an extension to our Kenya tour that ends on the same date that this tour begins You’ll find Tanzania …

Western Caribbean Valentine’s Day Sailing onboard the New NCL Prima!

February 14 – 21, 2025 | 8 Day – 7 Night Cruise/Tour Sail the sleek and luxuriously sophisticated Norwegian Prima on this perfect TRIPS Valentine’s Day getaway from Galveston!!! From …

The Galapagos Islands and Machu Picchu – March

March 16 – 28, 2025 13 Days | 11 Nights Experience two of the world’s rarest treasures as we travel to the Galapagos Islands and on to Machu Picchu. The …

Springtime in Ireland

March 26 – April 3, 2025 | 9 Days – 7 Nights Join TRIPS on this Signature Tour for a weeklong immersion into everything Irish! Breathtaking scenery, Blarney Castle and …

Opulent Gems of the Arabian Gulf

April 10 – 19, 2025 | 10 Days – 8 Nights Sail onboard the Norwegian Sky as we visit the exotic Middle East! Start your tour in Doha, the gleaming …

Magnificent Croatia In-Depth & Venice Too!

May 1 – 10, 2025 | 10 Day – 8 Night Join us in spectacular Venice and sail the sparkling blue waters of the Adriatic Sea before setting off to …

Quintessential Cape Cod – June 2025!

June 19 – 19, 2025 | 7 Days – 6 Nights Our ever popular Cape Cod tour never fails to delight! It’s why we keeping bringing it back year after …

Ultimate Baltics & Scandinavia Capitals!

May 26 – June 6, 2025 | 12 Day – 10 Night Cruise/Tour Join us as we visit some of the most spectacular capital cities in Northern Europe, the Baltic …

Ultimate Alaska – Inside Passage plus Denali

June 19 – 30, 2025 | 12 Day – 11 Night Cruise/Tour We keep going back to Alaska – year after year! Once you’ve been you understand why. If you’ve …

Greenland and Iceland – Sailing from New York City!

August 6 – 21, 2025 | 16 Day – 15 Night Cruise/Tour It’s like Three Cruises in One! Start in New York City, then a trio of Canadian & French …

The Black Hills and Badlands

September 7- 13, 2025 | 7 Day – 6 Night Tour This TRIPS Signature Western Adventure is the perfect blend of colorful Wild West history and spectacular landscapes! Join us …

Azamara!! See Quebec and Maritime Canada – in Autumn!

Septebmer 12 – 23, 2025 | 12 Day – 11 Nights Autumn is the perfect time to visit northeast Canada – and sailing onboard the Azamara Quest makes it oh …

Kenya Wing Safari – October 2025 –

October 2- 12, 2025 | 11 Days and 9 Nights Embark on the trip of a lifetime on out TRIPS Kenya Wing Safari! For more than 20 years, thousands of …

Washington’s San Juan Islands & Puget Sound!

October 4- 12, 2025 | 9 Days and 8 Nights Experience Intimate Small-Ship Luxury Cruising with only 170 passengers on the New American Constitution. Cruise the clear blue waters of …

The Galapagos Islands and Machu Picchu – October

October 21 – November 2, 2025 13 Days | 11 Nights Experience two of the world’s rarest treasures as we travel to the Galapagos Islands and on to Machu Picchu. …

Mysteries of Morocco & Captivating Canary Islands!

October 29 – November 10, 2025 13 Days | 11 Nights Sail on the Norwegian Star fro Lisbon, Portugal through the sparkling Azores & Canary Islands and onto Morocco! You’ll explore …

Planning a trip to Moscow? Our travel guide contains up-to-date, personal information on everything from what to see , to when to visit , where to stay , and what to eat !

• General Information
• What to see
• How to get to Moscow
• Where to stay
• Where to eat

Why visit Moscow?

Majestic churches, impressive historic fortresses, and palatial buildings: Moscow is a fascinating city whose emblematic architecture reflects the turbulent history that has defined Russia throughout the centuries.

The traces of the USSR can be found around every corner of the city , side by side with the iconic relics of Imperial Russia , like the mythical Red Square , the imposing Kremlin , and the beautiful  St Basil's Cathedral . 

Discover a fascinating world of Cold War bunkers, golden-domed basilicas, world-class art museums, and the legendary "palace of the people,"  as the Moscow Metro has been nicknamed. Whether you fancy watching a classical Russian ballet at the Bolshoi Theatre , perusing the fine arts at the Pushkin Museum , or marveling at the sheer size of the monuments to the Soviet state's achievements at the  All-Russia Exhibition Centre , this travel guide will help you on your way!

Where to start?

If you're going to travel to Moscow and you don't know much about the city yet, the first thing to do is to dive into its legendary history - understanding the past will help you understand the present. Next, check out our practical hints and tips on traveling to the city before discovering which of its most important museums , monuments , and attractions pique your interest.

Looking for a place to stay?

Booking your accommodation in advance is the best way to get great discounts. Our detailed guide on where to stay in Moscow  will help you decide which neighborhood you'd like to look for hotels or apartments in, and our hotel search engine will find you the best deals!

Why is our Moscow travel guide the best?

Introducing Moscow is a  city guide written by travelers for travelers  and contains personalized advice to help you make the most of your trip to the city.

All the information in this guide is valid as of December 2022. If you find any errors or have any comments, please feel free to contact us .

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A History of Moscow in 13 Dishes

Featured city guides.

Shooter Files by f.d. walker

Street Photography Tips, Interaction, Travel, Guides

Apr 24 2017

City Street Guides by f.d. walker: A Street Photography Guide to Moscow, Russia

*A series of guides on shooting Street Photography in cities around the world. Find the best spots to shoot, things to capture, street walks, street tips, safety concerns, and more for cities around the world. I have personally researched, explored and shot Street Photography in every city that I create a guide for. So you can be ready to capture the streets as soon as you step outside with your camera!

At over 12 million people, Moscow is the largest city in Russia and second largest in Europe by population ( Istanbul is #1). An urban, cosmopolitan metropolis with more than enough glitz and glam to cater to the elite, but without losing its fair share of Soviet era roughness around the edges. It can be fast paced, brash, busy, and trendy like other big cities, but it has its blend of West meets Russia atmosphere and beauty that provides plenty of unique interest. The Red Square is as famous as it gets, but there’s so much more to this city, including the most beautiful subway system you’ve ever seen. It would take years to capture all of Moscow, but that means you have an endless amount of areas to discover.

So here’s a Street Photography guide so you can be ready to capture all that Moscow has to offer before you even arrive!

• Patriarch’s Pond
• Old Arbat Street
• Maroseyka Street
• Tverskoy Boulevard

Top 5 Street Spots:

1. red square.

The Red Square is the most famous square in not just Russia, but all of Eastern Europe. The name actually doesn’t come from the color of the bricks or communism, but from the name in Russian, Krásnaya, once meaning “beautiful” before its meaning changed to “red.” This large plaza is what you see on the cover of guide books and magazines for Moscow, with St. Basil’s Cathedral being the center piece next to Lenin’s Mausoleum surrounded by the Kremlin Wall. Of course, the Red Square attracts hordes of tourist due to the main attractions, but all that activity around an interesting atmosphere does provide street photo opportunities. It’s also the central square connecting to the city’s major streets, providing a good starting point to explore outward.

You’ll also find the popular pedestrian only Nikolskaya Street connecting the Red Square to Lubyanka Square. This line of expensive shops includes plenty of activity, while also leading you to another popular square. Filled with history rivaling any city, the Red Square and surrounding areas are the heart and soul of Russia.

2. Patriarch’s Ponds

Patriarch’s Ponds is one of the most exclusive neighborhoods in Moscow. Despite the name being plural, there’s only one large pond, but it’s worth a visit with your camera. It’s a popular spot for locals and expats to come relax or take a stroll around the pond. You get an interesting mix of young and old too, from young love to “babushkas” feeding pigeons. It’s a very peaceful park atmosphere in one of the nicer areas within the city center, while bringing enough activity for street photography. 

The pond is shallow and in the winter becomes a popular spot for ice-skating too. The area is also well-known for the location in the famous Russian novel, The Master and Margarita. 

3. Old Arbat (Stary Arbat)

Old Arbat is the most famous pedestrian street in Moscow, and dating back to the 15th century, also one of its oldest. Originally, it was an area of trade, but soon became the most prestigious residential area in Moscow. During the 18th century, Arbat started attracting the city’s scholars and artists, including Alexander Pushkin. Cafes lined the streets and impressive homes filled the neighborhood. Since then, New Arbat street was created as a highway in the area, while Old Arbat was paved for a 1km pedestrian only walkway.

Due to the historic buildings, famous artists that lived here, and the bohemian atmosphere, Old Arbat has become a big attraction for tourists today. Now, there’s a mix of cafes, restaurants, souvenir shops, street performers, street merchants and other attractions for visitors, and some locals, to come enjoy. It can get really busy here and there’s usually something interesting going on so it’s a good street to come walk with your camera for guaranteed life.

4. Gorky Park

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

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

5. Maroseyka Street

Maroseyka Street is a popular area not too far from the Red Square. The long, winding street turns into Pokrovka and is lined with restaurants, cafes, bars and places to stay. It’s actually where I like to stay when I’m in Moscow due to its location and solid street photography opportunities itself. You have Kitay-gorod station near and if you keep walking southwest, you’ll get to the Red Square. But if you walk northwest, as it changes to Pokrovka, you can find a long street of activity for photography with its own interesting atmosphere.

6. Tverskoy Boulevard

Tverskoy Boulevard is the oldest and longest boulevard in Moscow, beginning at the end of Nikitsky Boulevard, and finishing at Pushkin Square, a spot to come for activity itself. The boulevard is made up of two avenues, with pedestrian walkways in-between. You’ll find grass, shrubbery, trees, benches and more walking it’s almost kilometer length. Many people come here to enjoy some relaxation, walk their dog, or just to use it to walk wherever they’re going. Its center location also provides a nice place to walk with your camera near plenty of other spots you’ll want to check out anyway.

Sample Street Walk:

For a full day of Street Photography, covering some of the best spots, you can follow this sample street walk for Moscow:

• Start your morning walking around the Red Square (1), while exploring the surrounding area, including Nikolskaya Street
• Then walk northwest to Patriarch’s Ponds (2) and slowly walk the pond and surrounding area with your camera
• Next, walk east to the Pushkin Monument and stroll down Tverskoy Boulevard (6)
• Once Tverskoy Boulevard (6) ends, it will turn into Nikitsky Boulevard. Follow this down until you get to the start of Old Arbat Street (3), across from Arbatskaya station
• After you’re done walking down Old Arbat Street (3) for more street photography, spend some time checking out Moscow’s beautiful metro stations
• To finish off the day with more street photography, get off the metro near Red Square (1) again, Maroseyka Street (5) or wherever you’re staying for the night.

3 Things I’ll Remember about Shooting in Moscow:

1. museum metro.

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

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

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

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

2. Moscow is Big

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

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

3. Cosmopolitan Mix of East meets West

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

Mixed in with this grand western cosmopolitan atmosphere, is a strong national pride in Russia. This includes their famous leader, Vladimir Putin. Maybe no other place will you see a country’s leader more often. All over, from the pricey tourist shops to the underground walkway stalls, you’ll find goods with Putin’s likeness covering them. From t-shirts to magnets to Matryoshka dolls. There’s a strong national pride that can be seen around the city, which also extends to their leader. Moscow is many things. It’s East meets West, modernizations meets Soviet era, and a whole lot more.

What To Do For a Street Photography Break?:

Eat at a stolovaya.

Stolovayas are Russian cafeterias that became popular in the Soviet days. You grab a tray and walk down the line of freshly prepared local dishes, and select whatever you want from the chefs. They’re usually inexpensive and a much better value than restaurants, while giving you the opportunity to try from a wide selection of everyday Russian food. They’re also very tasty. I always include some borsch on my tray and go from there. The places themselves are all over Moscow and usually come with Soviet-era aesthetics to complete the experience.

Street Safety Score: 7

*As always, no place is completely safe! So when I talk about safety, I’m speaking in general comparison to other places. Always take precaution, be smart, observe your surroundings and trust your instincts anywhere you go!

Being the 2nd largest city in Europe with over 12 million people, you’re going to have your dangerous areas, but for the most part, it feels safe walking around. Russia is statistically higher in crime compared to most of Europe, but this generally doesn’t apply to tourists and visitors. Around the Red Square and surrounding city center, you should feel completely safe walking around. Pick pocketing can happen, but no more than other touristic places. I always explore Moscow freely without coming across too much to worry about. It’s a spread out city, though, so of course it matters where you are. Just use basic street smarts, know where you are and Moscow shouldn’t give you a problem. 

People’s Reaction Score: 7

Moscow is fast paced, big city life, which usually means people aren’t too concerned with you, or your camera. I don’t find people notice or pay much attention to me when I’m out taking photos in Moscow. For the most part, people just go about their day. You shouldn’t get too many looks or concern. But it can depend on the area you are in. The more you stick out, the more you might get noticed with suspicions. I’ve never had any problems in Moscow, or Russia, but just be careful who you’re taking a photo of if you get out of the city center. Other than that, it’s about average for reactions. 

Street Tips:

Learn the alphabet .

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

Use the metro

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

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

Explore other areas if you have time

Moscow is really big. While most people stay around the Red Square within the Boulevard Ring, there’s so much more to the city. I covered some other spots outside of this circle, but if you really want to see the city, you’ll need time. If you do have time, some other areas I’d check out first are Zamoskvarechye, along some of the south and western Moscow.

Inspiration:

For some more inspiration, you can look through the Street Photography of Moscow photographer Artem Zhitenev  and check out 33 of my photos taken in Moscow .

Conclusion:

Moscow’s name brings a certain mystique, but once you’re there it might bring a different atmosphere than you expect. It’s big and sprawling, but beautiful in many ways. It can feel like a European capital on a grand scale, but you can definitely find its Russian side in there.

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

I hope this guide can help you start to experience some of what Moscow contains. So grab your camera and capture all that Moscow has to offer for Street Photography!

If you still have any questions about shooting in Moscow, feel free to comment below or email me!

(I want to make these guides as valuable as possible for all of you so add any ideas on improvements, including addition requests, in the comment section!)

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