usf guided tours

Sarasota-Manatee Campus

Sarasota-Manatee campus tours are designed to help students gain an appreciation for the culture of the campus and local community, and help prospective students see why Sarasota-Manatee students choose to receive a preeminent education in a small school atmosphere. Guests take a guided tour of our campus: walking our halls, stepping into the classrooms, and laying beneath the pines in one of our hammocks. The tours are conducted by our Campus Experience guides who share the history and statistics of the campus, while helping flesh out the experience through their unique student lens.

Prior to the tour, students will receive an information session from an admissions counselor. This presentation will help to set the context for the tour, explain the programs and opportunities available on campus, and explain the application and scholarship process.

Tours typically last between 30 to 45 minutes, and are offered Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays at 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.  Tour schedules may change during summer semesters and holiday hours.

To schedule a Sarasota-Manatee campus tour, please register at https://www.sarasotamanatee.usf.edu/admissions/visit-usf-sarasota-manatee.aspx .  If you have questions about the tour or other visit opportunities, such as Open Houses, please contact the Campus Experience team at 941-359-4331.

University of South Florida

College of Engineering

Main navigation, undergraduate, schedule a tour of the college of engineering.

Join our Engineering Student Ambassadors for a guided tour of the engineering classrooms, and teaching and research labs (when available) and other facility spaces located on the Tampa campus.

Most tours begin in front of Engineering Building III, ENC 1302 (TECO Energy Hall Annex), at 1 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, during the fall and spring semesters.  Appointments and RSVPs preferred in order to accommodate majors of interest and group size. The tour takes about one hour.

For questions, contact Melanie Lyons .

Here is a sample of labs and spaces you can see on your visit to the Tampa campus. 

The Hall of Flags is the hub of social life in the College of Engineering, Tampa campus.

Get hands on experience in one of the many labs with the College, Tampa campus.

If you're interested in environmental and sustainability issues, visit the  environmental engineering labs, Tampa campus.

Visit a mechanical engineering lab on the Tampa campus and see how you can gain experience in automotive engineering.

USF Campus Visit and Tour 

University Admissions hosts prospective student tours on the Tampa campus at 10 a.m. or 2 p.m. If you are interested in an on-campus tour, please register through the Admissions Office .

Parking 

Before coming to the Tampa campus, be sure to visit the USF Visitor Parking website to view parking options.

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USF Home > College of The Arts > Institute for Research in Art

INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH IN ART

• Contemporary Art Museum
• Graphicstudio
• Events Calendar
• Exhibitions
• Social Engagement

Cuban artist Glexis Novoa shares insights about his work during the gallery tour for CAM's exhibition Climate Change: Cuba/USA . (photo: Anthony Wong Palms)

Tours + Field Trips

As part of CAM's educational mission, we offer a wide range of object-based learning opportunities, including guided tours and field trips, centered around a series of major interdisciplinary exhibitions and the permanent collection. We encourage direct encounters with artwork as a means to understand diverse cultures, concepts, current issues, and materials. We also offer customized class tours, assignment collaboration, and learner-centered facilitated art discussions (VTS) that are valuable to many disciplines. Guided tours and presentations by CAM's educators and curators are available to connect with specific classroom objectives.

Guided Tours

USF Contemporary Art Museum schedules public curator-led gallery tours with each exhibition. Check our events page for upcoming scheduled tours.

Guided tours are available upon request by emailing [email protected] at least two weeks in advance. Self-guided groups are also welcome during regular hours. For groups larger than 10, please email or call (813) 974-4133 to reserve gallery time.

Please contact Amy Allison at [email protected] for any questions or to schedule a tour.

Curator of Education Leslie Elsasser leads a field study tour of the exhibition Hope Ginsburg: Sponge Exchange (2020).

Field Trips

USF Contemporary Art Museum offers free exhibition tours including field trips for K-12 students and class tours for the USF and Tampa Bay education communities. Please see guidelines for choosing, scheduling and conducting your tour.

Please contact Amy Allison at (813) 974-4164 or [email protected] for any questions or to schedule a field study.

Field Trip Guide  

Download a pdf copy of this  field trip guide for everything you need to know before bringing your students to CAM!

The Contemporary Art Museum (CAM) offers free exhibition tours for students of all ages. However, some exhibitions may contain mature content and we recommend teachers and group leaders visit the exhibition before bringing their students. Groups can also visit the Collections Vault and Preparator Shop for a behind-the-scenes look at the tools, skills, and staff required to mount exhibitions and care for the University’s permanent art collection. 

Tours can be tailored to specific subject areas, interests, projects, or lesson plans. Please discuss with Amy Allison when scheduling. If students are given a school assignment to be completed during the visit, please discuss with Amy when scheduling or at least five days prior to visiting the museum, so that appropriate accommodations can be made. 

Tour Policies

• Guided tours are available to school groups Monday – Friday, from 10am – 4pm.
• Tours must be scheduled at least 3 weeks in advance.
• The allowance of maximum students is dependent on the exhibition.
• School groups should arrive 10 minutes before the start of the tour.
• Group leaders should review the Museum Manners with students and chaperones before entering the museum.
• Bookbags, backpacks, large bags and umbrellas must be checked in at the security desk.
• Students/chaperones are encouraged to enjoy free time in the museum after each exhibition tour. Museum staff will be available to answer questions.
• Make a day of it! Bring a lunch to enjoy on the lawn, visit the Carolyn M. Wilson Gallery and Centre Gallery. *Tours for the Carolyn M. Wilson Gallery and Centre Gallery must be arranged separately.
• Chaperones are required for all museum student tours. Please see below for guidelines.

Planning Your Visit

Museum manners.

• Do not touch the art.
• Be aware of your movements so you don’t accidentally bump into or brush up against the art.
• Food, beverages, and gum are not permitted inside the galleries.
• Only pencils and small notepads are allowed in the galleries.
• Be respectful of other visitors and each other by using quiet voices.
• Cell phones should be turned to silent.
• Stay with your group.
• Still photography is permitted. Flash and tripods are not allowed.
• Please follow the instructions of security guards. CAM reserves the right to dismiss any group for misconduct.

During Your Visit

Buses should unload groups in front of CAM. Bus parking is available in the University Mall parking lot, located 2 miles from the museum. Individuals wishing to park at the museum must park in the 3B Lot. Kiosks are available to take credit card payments and located adjacent to the Dance building (FAD).

Accessibility

The University of South Florida Contemporary Art Museum (USFCAM) is fully accessible to visitors with disabilities. There are disabled parking spaces outsde of the museum, an accessible entrance, good lighting and accessible restrooms. 

The museum follows the USF guidelines regarding service animals . 

USFCAM faculty and staff are pleased to work with organizations that provide cultural opportunities for visitors with disabilities to tour the Museum. For more accessibility information please call (813) 974-4133 or email [email protected] .

Donate now to support our exhibitions and related educational programs!

USFCAM Mailing List

Email sign up for USF Contemporary Art Museum updates!

Upcoming Events

Visit the events page to see all our upcoming public programs.

Video Archive

Please visit our YouTube channel and subscribe! Explore hundreds of hours of past artist talks, conversations, sympoia, performances and more.

If you have questions or would like to learn more about our education programs, please email Curator of Education Leslie Elsasser at [email protected] .

Copyright + Reproduction

The electronic images and information available on this site are subject to copyright and may be covered by other restrictions as well. The images are made available to the general public as a representation of USF Contemporary Art Museum’s programs. Copy or redistribution in any manner for commercial use is not permitted. Anyone wishing to use any of these images for commercial use, publication, or for any purpose other than personal fair use must first request and receive prior written permission from the University of South Florida Institute for Research in Art. Please contact USFCAM at (813) 974-4133 for more information.

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA

Admit-a-bull // official admissions blog, how campus visits and tours can affect your college decision.

By Emily Young | Last Updated: Dec 20, 2023

You’ve consulted everything. A guidance counselor. A tarot deck. A magic eight ball. A pro-con list so thorough, Rory Gilmore could’ve made it. But you still feel paralyzed by looming college decisions. Where should you apply? And — if you’ve already been accepted — which school should you attend?

Forget the magic eight ball. It’s time for a campus tour.

“Touring a college campus is really the best way to get a sense of whether or not you can see yourself at that campus,” says Freddie O'Brion, coordinator for campus visitation at USF. Sure, you can find plenty of helpful data on a school’s website. But when you step onto campus, you can feel vibes . Plus, you can talk to students, admissions officers, and even faculty — giving you a behind-the-scenes peak at life on campus.

Let’s dive into how a campus tour can help you in the college decision making process.

Wait! I Can’t Do an In-Person College Campus Tour!

An in-person campus visit isn’t going to be feasible for everyone, due to health or financial circumstances. “We know there is a barrier to coming and visiting a (school),” explains Brandon Cheatham, assistant director for campus visitation experience at USF Tampa. “We want people to have access no matter what.”

That’s why many schools, including USF, have created immersive virtual tours. Some virtual tours are even more in depth than an in-person visit, explains this article from U.S. News & World Report : “A general in-person tour might not include a visit to the student newspaper building, but an aspiring journalism major may be able to tour it online.”

USF offers virtual tours of all three campuses that feature 360° panoramic photos and recorded audio from current tour guides. (“I personally sometimes will go on the virtual tour and just click around because it’s so much fun,” says O'Brion.)

How to Prepare for Your College Campus Tour

If you know which schools you’re visiting, make the most of your tour by planning ahead of time .

• Research the school. That way, you’ll already know general information and can focus your tour — and questions — on what’s most important to you.
• Register in advance. Not only does this save your spot, the registration process can also help tour guides get to know you. Some registration forms might ask about your areas of interest, potential career paths, and extracurriculars you enjoy, so your guide can point out relevant info on your tour.
• Plan to visit the campus during a weekday so you can see what it’s like when classes are in session.
• Make the most of your trip by checking out all prospective schools in an area. And if your prospective school has multiple campuses — as USF does — visit each of them. You never know where you’ll click! (Just make sure you don’t try to cram in too many tours in one day. You want to have time to soak up the vibes and reflect after each campus tour.)
• Dress for comfort. Think walking shoes, removable layers, and sunscreen.
• Have your phone handy to take notes, photos, and videos.

How Your Campus Visit Experience Can Help You Make a Decision

When Cawley talks to campus visitors, they usually don’t have a straightforward answer about why they are drawn to certain campuses. It’s more of a gut check: Do they feel at home? Is the campus the right size? Ultimately, this is the benefit of a campus visit: There’s no right or wrong answer about whether it’s the right fit. Only you can tell that. “Visiting a college in person can help you to form your own impressions rather than relying on what somebody else has to say about the campus,” explains this article by CollegeRaptor.

Here’s how you can make the most of this opportunity:

Assess the Vibe

As you tour, check in with yourself:

• How long does it take you to walk around campus? Do you wish it was bigger? Smaller?
• Do the buildings and landscaping inspire you?
• Is the campus laid-back or bustling with activity?
• How do you feel about the surrounding area?

One university can have several campuses with different “personalities.” At USF, you can choose from three campuses to find your best fit:

• The large Tampa campus is a bustling, urban environment where you’ll find nearly endless events and activities.
• The midsize, waterfront St. Petersburg campus is nestled between the culturally rich downtown and the water of Bayboro Harbor.
• The intimate Sarasota-Manatee campus is known for its tightknit community and hometown feel.

Do Some Sightseeing

When you decide on a school, you’re also choosing where you’ll live for the next four years — and maybe longer, if you land a postgrad job in the area. Set aside some time to explore the business and cultural districts around your prospective school, and be sure to check out the local recreation. In Tampa Bay, you can explore:

• World-class art at The Salvador Dali Art Museum, the Ringling Museum, the Tampa Museum of Art, and more. Plus, catch a Broadway show at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts.
• Major league sports games, thanks to the Bucs, Lightning, Rays, and Rowdies.
• Sugar-sand beaches ranked among the best in the U.S. — all in USF’s backyard.
• Theme parks like Busch Gardens (which is close to the Tampa campus) or Walt Disney World (just a day trip away).
• Local culture, whether it’s Tampa’s historic Ybor City, an art show in Sarasota, or the Saturday Morning Market in St. Petersburg. (“I actually just went to the Saturday Morning Market and got some cheese,” O’Brien says. “A raspberry stout asiago, which was amazing.)

Along with your sightseeing, try to get a taste for everyday life. Hop on the public transportation (especially if you don’t plan on bringing a car to campus), shop at the local grocery store or pharmacy, and scout out the nearest hospital. Can you see yourself living here?

Ask Questions

Never hesitate to ask questions during your tour. For one thing, campus tour guides love getting questions — “that’s their favorite part of the job,” O’Brien says. And when you ask questions, you give the other members of your tour group the confidence to speak up, too.

But what kinds of questions should you ask? “The most common questions are like, how does the roommate process work, or what does safety look like on campus?” O’Brien says. While these general questions are important, O’Brien says you can get many of them answered through the website. “I feel like the best questions are things that'll give you specific answers about information that's relevant to you.”

Cawley agrees. This is your opportunity to ask your tour guide about their personal experiences — particularly with professors, jobs, and campus involvement. (“Take it from a guy who has… what are we up to?” Cawley says, mentally calculating his resume. “Four campus jobs, two clubs, USF ambassadors, and some loose affiliations with other departments like student government and campus rec. I personally love being involved on campus.”)

Try asking these questions on your next college campus tour:

• Can you tell me about your experience with the professors on campus?
• Are there any professors you would recommend?
• What jobs and internship opportunities are available for [your academic program of interest]?
• Where do you recommend that students look for work on campus?
• What’s your favorite on-campus job?
• What do you typically do on the weekends?
• What campus life are you involved in?

Choose all the Extras

After your campus tour, spend some time in the places you’d frequent as a student. Have a meal in the dining hall. Take notes on your tour in a study nook. And sign up for the “extra” offerings that immerse you in the school’s academic culture:

• Make an appointment to sit in on a class. “If there is a particular class that you would love to sit in on, but it’s not on the list of admissions office-approved classes, contact the professor and respectfully ask if it would be okay for you to be a fly on the wall in their class,” suggests this IvyWise article.
• Ask to tour a department or organization that interests you.
• Talk to an admissions counselor. Although USF’s guided tours include presentations with admissions counselors, you can also make an appointment or drop in for a one-on-one session.

Listen to Yourself

Now that you’ve toured potential schools, you’ll probably feel more empowered to make a decision. But that doesn’t mean the decision will be easy. Take time and listen to yourself. Cheatham advises students to think about what they really want, and ask yourself: “Can I see myself achieving those things at this place?”

If you’re sorting through a ton of potential schools, O’Brien recommends making a spreadsheet: list all the schools you’re considering, and write your notes in different columns for financial aid, location, academic program offerings, extracurriculars, etc. Now compare. Which school checks the most boxes?

Remember that you don’t have to make this decision alone. School admissions offices and tour guides are happy to answer follow-up questions and assist in any way they can.   Contact the USF Office of Admissions online  and find out how we can help. Or schedule your tour of USF today!

About Emily Young

Emily Young is a freelance writer and editor based on the gulf coast of Florida. A proud USF alumna, she cares about connecting readers to resources and helping students find success.

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A walking tour of the USF Forest Preserve reveals a rich natural world within Tampa's urban sprawl

Put on your hiking boots because we're trekking through the USF Forest Preserve in Tampa. The University of South Florida has requested and received proposals to build on this undeveloped property. Student researchers, turned activists, show us what makes this parcel of land so special.

On a chilly early weekday morning, three scientists are leading a guided tour of the USF Forest Preserve, which is about 500 acres of undeveloped property belonging to the University of South Florida adjacent to the Tampa campus. They have learned and now teach on this land as PhD candidates for USF. Christian Brown specializes in animals, Jeannie Mounger is a plant expert and Stephen Hesterberg is a marine ecologist.

As we walk through the east metal gate, they tell me to picture this portion of wildlife corridor as having a gingerbread man shape, lying parallel to Fletcher Avenue with the head pointing toward the university. So, we start at its right foot and trek up toward its head, which is actually the connection point of the Cypress Creek and Hillsborough River watersheds.

If that connection were to be severed by development, Brown said it would create island habitats for the species that live there.

"A lot of species can't thrive in those island habitats. They need a way to move to acquire resources: mates, food, etc., and in order to move across the landscape, they need to have corridors between different habitats types,” said Brown.

Earlier this year, USF requested and received proposals to build on the parcel. That energized students and professors to develop a grassroots campaign to save their natural classroom.

The preserve is home to rare ecosystems, like critically endangered sandhill habitat and federally protected wetlands. Multiple threatened and endangered species live there too, such as the gopher tortoise, wood stork and ceraunus blue butterfly. And more than 400 plant species grow there, including four that are only found in Hillsborough County.

We're walking on dry, sandy soil passing the burrows of threatened gopher tortoises — some are naturally decorated with bright yellow honeycomb head flowers.

"There's a leopard frog right here. It's fast. There's a couple of them. There's a lot of them, actually,” said Brown as he quickly crouches down to catch one southern leopard frog among a leaping bunch.

It's about the size of a quarter with a light green hue and brown leopard markings down its back. Brown refers to local amphibians as canaries in a coal mine.

"They're really good bio-indicators so they basically show that the water is clean and healthy,” he said.

The dirt and sand path we're on, which was originally paved by cypress tree loggers, begins to wash out. You can tell water has flowed through here at one point. This is the transitional space between the dry and wet lands.

“You’re starting to see that there's a lot more vining vegetation in the trees. It's starting to get a little thicker here. There's a lot of really tall grass,” said Mounger.

She said this is a very important space to mitigate flooding in neighborhoods, specifically near Cypress Creek.

"So, all these surrounding communities, Tampa Palms, etc., they will flood if development continues to occur in these conservation lands,” said Mounger.

Then we stumble upon something really rare.

"That is a nighthawk! Wow! Lifer experience. Oh my gosh!” Mounger said with wide eyes and a dropped jaw.

Nighthawks are nocturnal. You can sometimes hear them calling at dusk but you don't often get to see them.

We catch up with the other two scientists to tell them about the sighting. And then Brown tells me we're about to step into a wetland.

"This is an old berm, like an old raised road, that kind of went right through the wetlands and so we're about to have standing water on either side,” he said. “It's a really cool access point for the students because they can see all of the wetland wildlife without having to wade through the swamps. We hang game cameras and observe otters here and it's just like a nice window into another world."

Students learn to find, capture, and identify wildlife. Some graduates who have studied out here now work at zoos, aquariums, private consulting firms, and government research projects.

We eventually get hit with this smell of rotting fish — that means we've made it to the otter latrine.

"It's basically an area where they all express their anal glands and drop feces and communicate with each other. Here's a pile right here. If you take a closer look you can see that it's pretty much composed of old crayfish or old crawdad parts," said Brown while kneeling over the heap of dry shellfish remnants.

After squeezing through some final foliage, we make it to the head of the gingerbread man, better known as Cypress Creek, which is a 30-mile tributary of the Hillsborough River. All around us, you can see the reflection of sky and cypress trees in the slow-moving water. It's quiet. You can only hear some birds, and the water bubbling up where an otter is cryptically coming up for air.

Hesterberg said when he first heard about the possible development of the area, he was really concerned about this, right here.

"This tributary flows into the preserve to the west. Over 300 acres of floodplain wetlands here that we have in the preserve that is filtering all of this water that is coming downstream and into our main drinking supply water here in Tampa which is the Hillsborough River,” he said. “As an ecologist, it can be really a difficult profession because [of] how much the world has changed, and how much has been lost.”

But Hesterberg said he has always considered the USF Forest Preserve as being a natural place that would remain safe, until now.

We turn back, down to the right foot of the gingerbread man where we started, and make our way up the left foot to end the hike on dry land in front of yellow, white and purple wildflowers. Here, Jeannie Mounger reflects on her feelings about the preserve.

"The thing that strikes me the most are the times that I do get to bring students out here, and I get to see their joy, and I get to see the light in their eyes,” she said. “You just know that they're forming memories that they're not going to forget."

USF will receive public comments on developing the preserve within the next month or so, and then a university advisory board — of which Mounger was appointed — will recommend what to do with the property.

University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee

Main navigation, about the usf sarasota-manatee campus, visit campus.

The USF Sarasota-Manatee campus offers different types of visit opportunities to fit your needs. From Campus Tours and Open Houses to virtual experiences, find it all at the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus.

Enter a Search Term

You’re invited to the Hilltop. We’ll show you the classrooms, hangout spots, and green spaces that make up our beautiful 55-acre campus in the center of San Francisco.

In-Person Campus Visit

Join us for a campus tour and information session. Our University Ambassadors can answer your questions about academics, student life, or what it’s like to live in San Francisco.

For groups of 10 to 50, please sign up for a group visit. We offer group tours to high school or transfer students. Our University Ambassadors would be happy to show you around.

Virtual Info Session

Join a virtual information session to learn what to expect in the admission process and see what makes USF an incredible place to study. Special sessions are available for international, transfer, and nursing students.

Admission Events

Join us for an event to talk to current students, learn more about academics, and see what it’s like to live in San Francisco.

Self-Guided Tour

If you’re in the area, take a walk through our campus to see where USF students study, live, and relax. 

Graduate Student Visit

Join a graduate student ambassador for a tour of our beautiful Hilltop campus in the center of San Francisco.

Having the city of San Francisco be an extension of the campus appealed to me, and I immediately was drawn to the diversity, abundance of activities, and the nature that surrounded the campus.”

Johanna Loacker ’17, USF Biology Graduate

Plan your visit

Make the most of your trip to San Francisco and see our tips on where to stay, eat, and explore while you’re here.

Chat with a Current Student

Interested in USF? Chat with a current USF student to get your questions answered right away.

Virtual Tour

Explore our beautiful 55-acre campus, including classrooms, libraries, and more. This tour is available in English , Spanish and Mandarin .

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• Life & Culture

A Taylor Swift course is coming to USF Tampa

• Gabrielle Calise Times staff

Miss Americana? More like Miss Academia.

Taylor Swift has inspired yet another college course in Florida. This time, it’s an English elective at the University of South Florida’s Tampa campus.

According to The Oracle, USF Tampa’s student newspaper, English teachers Jessica Cook, Emily Jones and Michelle Taylor will team up to offer three Swift-themed fall sections of LIT 3301: Cultural Studies and the Popular Arts.

Past versions of the elective have been focused on topics like Harry Potter, The Oracle wrote on Monday. This time, students will gather twice a week for discussions on Swift’s impact and lectures comparing her music to Shakespeare, Emily Dickinson and Lord Byron.

The university’s course inventory describes the class as, “A study of American and international cultures as they are represented in the film, fiction, and other cultural artifacts of various ethnic groups and nationalities” and thats that the class “focuses on values/ethics, race, ethnicity and gender; thinking and writing skills.” The Oracle reported that students from any major can enroll as long as they have completed English Composition 1 and 2.

The news comes a year after Swift enchanted Tampa during three sold-out Eras Tour concerts at Raymond James Stadium , and just days before the release Swift’s newest album, “The Tortured Poets Department,” on Friday. Track 8 will be a song titled “Florida!!!” featuring Florence + The Machine.

USF isn’t the first Florida university to use Swift and her music for educational purposes, according to the Miami Herald. The University of Miami in Coral Gables offered a strategic communication class called Mastermind Taylor Swift Brand, as well as a seven-week intensive called Intellectual Property Law Through the Lens of Taylor Swift through its school of law. This spring at the University of Florida, all fifteen spots of the one-credit class Musical Storytelling with Taylor Swift and Other Iconic Female Artists filled up within 10 seconds, the Independent Florida Alligator reported.

Should seats in the class disappear as fast as Swift concert seats on Ticketmaster, students have another option. USF also has a club called the Taylor Swift Society.

Gabrielle Calise is a culture reporter who covers music, nostalgia and offbeat Florida trends. Reach her at [email protected].

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Our 20 Best Moscow Tours of 2022

Join us on an unforgettable tour to Moscow, the capital of Russia. Imagine visiting Red Square, St. Basil’s the Kremlin and more. Moscow is one of Europe’s most vibrant cities and one of Russia’s most historical. All of our tours to Moscow are fully customizable and can be adjusted to fit any budget. Our most popular tours are listed below. Please click on the tour details to learn more or contact us for more information about our Moscow tours using the form at the side of the page. You can also schedule a call with one of our Russian travel specialists to learn more.

Classic Moscow

This is our most popular Moscow tour that includes all the most prominent sights. You will become acquainted with ancient Russia in the Kremlin, admire Russian art in the Tretyakov Gallery, listen to street musicians as you stroll along the Old Arbat street, and learn about Soviet times on the Moscow Metro tour.

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A Week in Moscow

This tour is a perfect choice for those who wish to get to know Moscow in depth. One of the highlights of this package is the KGB history tour which gives an interesting perspective on the Cold War. You will also have time for exploring the city on your own or doing extra sightseeing.

Weekend in Moscow

This tour is a great way to get acquainted with the capital of Russia if you are short of time. You will see all the main attractions of the city, the most important of which is the Kremlin - the heart of Russia. The tour starts on Friday and can be combined with a business trip.

Group Tour Moscow Break by Intourist

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

Kolomenskoye Tour with transport

The history of Kolomenskoye stretches back for centuries. In 1380, Dmitri Donskoi’s army passed through Kolomenskoye on their way to the Kulikovo battlefield, and it was...

Tours by car

Kremlin, Red Sq., Cathedrals & Armory Tour

The Kremlin is truly a fascinating structure, at the same time it is an ancient tower, the city’s former military fortification, a palace, an armory, the sovereign treasury...

Walking tours

Kremlin, Red Sq., Cathedrals, Armory, Diamond Fund Tour

Old Arbat walking tour

You will be told of the street’s interesting history and view the street’s artisan culture. You will also have the opportunity to view and purchase souvenirs from the...

Tour to Sergiev Posad with transport

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

Tour to Kuskovo with transport

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

Tour to Tsaritsyno with transport

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

Moscow Metro and Old Arbat Tour

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

Vodka Museum Tour with transport (excursion and vodka tasting)

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

Mikhail Bulgakov Apartment Museum

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

Kremlin, Red Sq., Cathedrals & Diamond Fund Tour

The State Museum of Lev Tolstoy Tour

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

Novodevichy Convent Tour with transport

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

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

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

City Tour of Moscow

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

Moscow Metro walking tour

Kremlin, Red Square and Cathedrals Tour

KGB Tour with transport

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

Soviet and Post-Soviet Moscow Tour

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

Tretyakov State Gallery Tour

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

Jewish Heritage of Moscow Tour

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

Vodka Museum Tour with transport (excursion only)

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

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

Tours to Moscow

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

Moscow, a City Like No Other

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

Moscow Tours centering on Russian History

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

Frequently Asked Questions From Our Travelers

What is the best time to visit moscow.

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

How many days are enough in Moscow?

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

Do they speak English in Moscow?

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

Is it safe to travel to Moscow?

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

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'A big improvement': South Florida Baptist Hospital shows off its new $326M facility

PLANT CITY – The event was pretty easy to describe for Charles and Patricia Bridges.

“It was nice. It’s a big improvement – it’s very state-of-the-art,” Charles Bridges said.

The Bridgeses of Plant City were just two of more than 1,500 visitors Sunday to the new South Florida Baptist Hospital preview event, a chance for guests and hospital staff to gather and gawk at the 50-acre medical campus, 3202 N. Park Road, off Interstate 4 exit 22.

The new $326 million hospital, part of the BayCare hospital network , will replace the 70-year-old facility on Alexander Street, which opened in 1953. Ground was broken on the new SFBH medical center in October 2021. The hospital is tentatively scheduled to open by mid-May.

By the time the lobby doors were opened at 11 a.m., a queue of more than 100 people were in place, ready for “self-guided tours” of the 146-private room hospital. More than 800 hospital employees and 250 physicians will work at the new facility.

At the preview, SFBH administrators and healthcare workers lined the halls of the 424,000-square-foot facility – including an 85,000-square-foot medical arts building – greeting guests as they walked by and answering questions.

“Hi guys, good morning!” SFBH registration coordinator Tracy Baily said to guests. “You’re walking into what will be the emergency room, right through those double doors.”

The first floor includes the emergency center , with has 28 private patient rooms and two resuscitation rooms; emergency registration; the Heritage Hallway, a tribute to donors and the hospital legacy; cardiac rehabilitation; the rehab gym; the medical arts building; and a chapel.

The visitors also toured the Sweet Life Farms Strawberry Café and guest services.

From there, visitors could go to tour the second floor, seven-suite labor and delivery area, heart and vascular center/cath lab and the operating room and robotic surgery.

Lastly, the fourth floor gave guests a tour of the intensive care unit and medical/surgery patient rooms.

“It’s very good to have this in the community because we do so much locally; you don’t have to travel for high-tech excellence,” Susan Musser, director of surgical services, said to a group of six visiting operating room 2, one of eight in the hospital. “I’m really excited to have this state-of-the-art building to give our superb staff the equipment they need to do their jobs at the highest level of quality.”

Expanding health care: AdventHealth plans hospital in Winter Haven, Lakeland Regional adding emergency unit

While visitors toured the inside, SFBH staff and care providers had tables set up in the parking lot underneath a tent, offering an array of information sessions and free health screenings, SFBH-related gifts and bins of cold water. Before heading over, the Bridgeses said the new SFBH was “a big improvement” from the former SFBH hospital at Alexander Street, which was just over 250,000 square feet.

“Everything is so modern and there’s still room for expansion,” Charles Bridges said. “This is great for those who need medical attention in the area, and it will also bring a lot more job opportunities.”

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The epicenter of modern Russia, Moscow booms with shiny new skyscrapers, the bulbous onion domes of the tsars and politically-rich Red Square. Explore the metropolis with a tourHQ guide.

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Moscow Tour Guides

Jorge De Reval

I am a happy, enthusiastic, amusing Spanish guy. Lively and hyperactive. Recently became qualified ...

Tanya Neyman

I became a local tour guide 6 years ago in Moscow and now we are a team of passionate guides ...

Ekaterina Smirnova

Please note: I'm away from Moscow June 11-26, 2021. I am a native Muscovite but traveled ...

Vasil Valiev

Occupation: Senior guide-translator. Guiding since 2012 in Altai mountains, North of Russia ...

Marina Spasskaya

Hi there! My name is Marina and I'm a licensed Moscow city guide.Moscow is like ...

Greetings from Saint Petersburg. This is your private tour guide Ali in Saint Petersburg. I was ...

Maria Deulina

Dear friends,My name is Maria, I am a licensed guide about Moscow. Being a native Muscovite I have ...

Ashraf Rabei

My name is Ashraf ...I'm graduated from faculty of tourism and hotel guidance department, in Egypt ...

Hengameh Ghanavati

My name is Hengameh Ghanavati. Im a licenced international tour guide since 2014 and I have ...

Todd Passey

We are a cooperative of highly experienced, certified, professional guides. Each guide takes ...

Tim Brinley

Young at heart, adventurous, organized, good people skills, a good speaker, entertaining, ...

Nikolay Borkovoy

Hace 32 años nací en la ciudad de Moscú. Tengo experiencia trabajando como guía turístico en ...

Anika Socotra-International

Our mission is to provide you with the kind of holiday you want: where you can relax in wonderful ...

Al'bina Andreeva

Moscow guide&photo! Feel Putin vibes and explore the enigmatic Russian soul through history ...

The sprawling, mind-boggling metropolis of Russian Moscow has long been one of the theatrical stages on which the great dramas of Europe and Asia have been played out in grand style. Burned by Napoleon in 1812, immortalised by Tolstoy, utilised by the Bolsheviks and championed as a bastion of heroic defiance by the post-war communists, it’s almost hard to believe just how defining the historical events that found their home on Moscow’s streets have been. Moscow tour guides will easily be able to mark the major must-see landmarks on the map, from the onion-domed orthodox Saint Basil's Cathedral, to the political powerhouse of Red Square just next door, while others will be quick to recommend a ride on Moscow’s famous subterranean metro system, or a visit to the UNESCO-attested Novodevichy Convent on the city’s southern side. But Moscow is a city also in the throes of a cultural wrangling between the old and the new. Creative energies abound here: Boho bars and pumping super clubs now occupy the iconic mega structures of the old USSR; high-fashion outlets, trendy shopping malls and luxurious residential districts stand as testimony to a city that’s now the undisputed playground of the world’s super-rich, while sprawling modern art museums dominate the cultural offering of the downtown districts north of the Moskva River.  

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Disneyland Railroad Guided Tour

All aboard .

Get a look into Walt Disney’s love for trains and discover the impact it had on the Disneyland Resort. On this eye-opening, 2-hour tour sure to delight both Disneyland fans and railroad enthusiasts alike, you’ll:

Start with a Treat Enjoy a beverage and a pastry to steam power your journey through Disneyland park.

Step into the Past Walk through the park listening to stories about where the idea behind Walt’s train creations first started. Understand the impact trains had on Walt Disney’s dreams—from animation and film all the way to the theme parks.

Catch a Rare Glimpse of the Disneyland Park Roundhouse This is where “the magic happens” for the historic Disneyland Railroad system and it’s not typically viewed by the public. You’ll learn more about the Imagineers that look after the Disneyland Monorail and trains.

Take a Special Ride During your guided tour, climb aboard Disneyland Railroad’s special Presidential Car, the Lilly Belle. Take the scenic route along the Rivers of America to see landscapes inspired by 4 of America’s majestic rivers: the Mississippi, the Columbia, the Missouri and the Rio Grande. Each are carefully recreated, complete with indigenous rock formations, natural forests, wildlife and 5 picturesque waterfalls.

Riding in the Lilly Belle is dependent on weather and availability.

And Enjoy a Special Keepsake A memento to remember your tour is included.

Know Before You Go

Required Park Reservation and Admission

Reservations

Late arrivals may not be able to join the guided tour. Please be prepared to present your reservation confirmation, photo ID and the credit card provided at the time of booking.

This tour is only available during regular park hours at Disneyland Park.

Cancellations

There is a 24-hour cancellation policy. Full price will be charged and forfeited if Guest cancels within one day or is a no-show for the reservation.

Riding in the Lilly Belle

Guests utilizing wheelchairs must be able to transfer from their mobility device to a wheelchair provided at the attraction.

Guests younger than 14 years of age must be accompanied by an adult 18 years of age or older during the entire experience.

Important Details

All prices, experiences, information and offerings are subject to restrictions, change or cancellation without notice.

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