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Graceland tours: the best options & what to expect.

Advice for making the most of your time at Elvis' famous home.

The Best Graceland Tours

Andrea Zucker | Courtesy of Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau

A visit to Graceland is a popular activity for both Elvis fans and Memphis tourists.

Note: Some tour providers on this list may be running more limited operations due to COVID-19 or may impose testing or vaccine requirements. Check with your tour operator about availability before you book.

When Elvis Presley was just 22 years old, he purchased Graceland – a 10,266-square-foot mansion that occupied a nearly 14-acre property in Memphis, Tennessee . After the singer's death in 1977, the executors of his estate found that the mansion's exorbitant operating costs proved difficult to maintain, so they decided to open Graceland for tours in 1982. Since then, more than 20 million people from around the world have visited the mansion – which now spans 17,552 square feet – and its surrounding Elvis-themed museums and shops. Read on to plan your Graceland visit.

What is Graceland?

• Where is Graceland located?

Is Graceland open for tours?

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Graceland is a 120-acre institution dedicated to the life and music of Elvis Presley. The main draw is the mansion, but there's more to see than Elvis' former abode. Visitors can stop by Elvis Presley's Memphis, a 200,000-square-foot museum and entertainment complex. This building houses the Presley Motors Automobile Museum and a series of exhibits, such as "Elvis' Tupelo," which explores Elvis' early life in his hometown of Tupelo, Mississippi. The Elvis: The Entertainer Career Museum, which displays the entertainer's gold and platinum records, his famous jumpsuits and movie memorabilia, can also be found here. Tourists will also have access to 10 interactive exhibits and games. Located throughout the complex, the interactive features include quizzes, a simulated golf cart ride and photo booths that put travelers on Elvis' movie posters and album covers. Finally, the complex houses two restaurants, a coffee shop, an ice cream parlor and a soundstage where tourists can watch Elvis' movies and attend live music performances.

After you learn all about the King, check out the Graceland Exhibition Center. This 80,000-square-foot venue features a variety of rotating museum exhibits, covering a variety of subjects, including motorcycles, Muhammad Ali and Van Gogh. The complex also boasts a food court, a bar and a separate, rentable event space.

Where is Graceland located?  

Graceland   is located in the Whitehaven community of Memphis, nearly 3 miles west of Memphis International Airport and 10 miles south of downtown.

Yes, Graceland is open for tours.

The cost per person varies depending on which tour experience you choose. Expect to pay about $30 to $200 for children 10 and younger. Adults can expect to pay around $50 to $200 per person. Keep in mind: Higher ticket fees mean a premium experience complete with VIP access, keepsakes, meal vouchers and more.

There are multiple tour options for visiting Graceland.

• Elvis Presley's Memphis + Planes Tour : This is the basic tour option. It grants visitors access to Elvis Presley's Memphis Entertainment Complex and the Elvis' Custom Jets exhibit, but does not include access to the mansion. Tickets for this tour start at $48 for adults, with discounts for children.
• Elvis Experience Tour : Tickets for this tour, which start at $77 per adult, include everything in the above tour, plus access to the mansion complete with an audio tour.
• Elvis Entourage VIP : The Elvis Entourage VIP tour includes everything in both the other tour options, plus skip-the-line access to the mansion, a VIP shuttle to the mansion, access to a special exhibit, and a keepsake pass. Tickets start at $128 per person.
• Ultimate VIP Tour : The Ultimate VIP Tour includes everything in the Elvis Entourage VIP, plus a guided tour of the mansion with an experienced guide, access to a VIP lounge, a meal voucher to an on-site restaurant, an archives show and tell, the chance to buy exclusive souvenirs and a photo-op. Tickets for this experience start at $196 per person; children 2 and younger tour for free.

The mansion tour will take about 90 minutes to complete. Those who decide to tour the rest of Graceland's offerings should budget at least 3 1/2 hours to explore.

Tourgoers can purchase tickets online or at the box office on-site. Tickets purchased online can be printed at home or downloaded on a smartphone (which saves time). You can also choose to pick up your tickets at will call; you must have a photo ID to pick them up. Patrons may also purchase a multiday ticket to access Elvis Presley's Memphis for an additional one, two or three days. Multiday tickets start at $17 per adult and can be purchased on-site only.

Tickets for exhibits at the Graceland Exhibition Center are not included in any Graceland tickets and require additional entrance fees. Tickets for those exhibits can be purchased on Graceland's website.

Which Graceland experience you choose largely depends on your fascination with the King. Graceland visitors mention that even non-Elvis fans will enjoy the tour and the up-close look at the entertainer's famous lifestyle. Visitors also appreciate the audio tour narrated by John Stamos. They recommend upgrading your tour to one of the VIP options, saying it is well worth the additional cost.

Graceland is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 or 5 p.m. (depending on the day of the week and time of year). It closes or has abbreviated hours on holidays. The last mansion tour begins at 4 or 5 p.m., depending on the day and time of year.

The best time to visit Graceland depends on what kind of experience you want. Travelers should check out Graceland's events calendar as the complex and its hotel, the Guest House at Graceland, host numerous weekend events, concerts and daytrips to Elvis' hometown throughout the year. Visitors in the mood for a festive atmosphere will want to book a trip in late November, December or early January to see the estate's holiday lights display and decorations.

Andrea Zucker | Courtesy of Memphis Convention and Visitors Bureau

• Visit the mansion after 2 p.m. to enjoy fewer crowds and shorter wait times, as this is the slowest time of day. (Multiple travelers note long wait times when arriving before this time). Check Graceland's website for exact opening times; there are certain days and holidays where hours vary.
• You're welcome to bring cameras, but flash photography is not permitted.
• Video cameras cannot be brought into the mansion, attractions or gift shops.
• Note that two rooms in the basement of the mansion and the airplanes are not wheelchair accessible.
• Bring a permanent marker to sign the famous Graceland wall before you leave.

Patrons can reach Graceland by car. On-site parking costs $10. The lot is located next to Elvis Presley's Memphis and the ticket booth. The only way to get to the mansion itself is by shuttle, which is included in your ticket price. The shuttle pickup is across from the ticketing pavilion.

There are also a few public transportation options. The Memphis Hop, a hop-on, hop-off bus tour, makes stops every hour at several attractions in the city, including Graceland. This bus generally runs Wednesday through Saturday (it may not operate on Fridays during select months), and tickets cost approximately $35 for adults and $25 for children ages 4 to 12. Memphis Area Transit Authority No. 42 bus route stops close to Graceland.

Nashville sits about 215 miles northeast of Graceland (an approximately 3 1/2-hour drive).

Yes. You'll find options for tours from Nashville (and more) below:

• Gray Line Tennessee:  Nashville to Memphis with Skip-The-Line Graceland VIP Tour & Sun Studio. View & Book Tickets: Viator | GetYourGuide  
• Graceland:  Elvis Presley's Childhood Home with Lunch & Transportation from Memphis. View & Book Tickets: Viator | GetYourGuide  
• Memphis Best Tours:  Memphis City Tour with Admission to One Memphis Attraction.  View & Book Tickets »
• Blues City Tours: Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Bus Tour. View & Book Tickets »

You may also be interested in:

• The Best Memphis Tours
• The Best Nashville Tours
• The Best Whitewater Rafting in Tennessee
• The Top Things to Do in Tennessee
• The Best Places to Visit in Tennessee

Tags: Elvis Presley , Tennessee , Tours , Vacations , Travel , Tennessee Vacations , US Vacations , Southeast Vacations

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My Itchy Travel Feet

The Baby Boomer's Guide To Travel

Best Tips for Visiting Graceland in Memphis, TN

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Within America’s vast wealth of national treasures, Graceland stands out as a timeless icon of rock and roll. If you’re exploring the South on a Southern musical road trip , visiting Graceland is a must!

Sure, Memphis, Tennessee has a lot of things to see and do, but those in the know head straight to Elvis country. Of course, to really experience this amazing piece of national history in all of its glory, you’ll need our tips for visiting Graceland.

Thankfully, My Itchy Travel Feet featured contributor, Debi Lander from ByLanderSea , is here to tell us all about her recent time exploring Graceland, Elvis Presley’s famous home, as well as staying in the luxurious Graceland Guest House, which opened in 2016. Read on to discover her visiting Graceland tips.

Table of Contents

Tips for Visiting Graceland

Elvis Presley shook the music industry in the 1950s. He rattled and rolled his way to the top, becoming the King of Rock’ n’ Roll.

I, however, was battling traffic on a drive west from Nashville toward Memphis. I kept hearing the lyrics of Paul Simon’s Graceland playing in my head, “I’m going to Graceland, Graceland—in Memphis, Tennessee, I’m going to Graceland.”

Elvis was born in Tupelo, Mississippi , on January 8, 1935, in a two-room house built by his father, grandfather and uncle. They were very poor. Many are surprised to learn Elvis had a twin brother, but unfortunately, he was stillborn.

When Elvis turned 13, his father moved the family to Memphis in hopes of securing a better job. But, Elvis had even bigger dreams, he intended to become a legend. Armed with his guitar and influenced by Captain Marvel in the comic books, Elvis envisioned himself with the character’s signature lightning bolt, hairdo and cape.

In 1953, after graduating from high school, Elvis used his own money to cut a demo record. In 1954, he recorded again, this time at the renowned Sun Studios in Memphis.

By 1955, RCA signed him into a contract, and in 1957, the young star, at age 22, bought himself a house and named it Graceland. He made sure to include a bedroom on the first floor for his parents.

I have to admit, I wasn’t a huge Elvis fan, but I was curious. Those lyrics in the Graceland song seemed to get it right again, “For reasons I cannot explain, there’s some part of me wants to see Graceland.”

On top of the curiosity, I’d heard about a 2017, $45 million, 200,000-square foot state-of-the-art Elvis Entertainment complex across the street from the Gates of Graceland.

Staying at the Guest House at Graceland

So, it was afternoon by the time my friend, Judy and I arrived in Memphis. We went directly to our hotel, the Guest House at Graceland . Another new project, this 450-room luxury resort adjacent to the Presley home, opened in 2016.

The hotel plays an Elvis theme through colors, style, and small details. I was afraid the place might be tacky, but the facility looms tasteful—and fun.

The outdoor heart-shaped firepit is called the Hunka Burning Love. TCB logos are discreetly tucked around, Elvis’ motto for taking care of business.

High-backed chairs in the lobby are designed to resemble the collars on Elvis’ capes. And peanut butter and banana sandwiches are served at 10 pm – his favorite nighttime snack.

For dinner, we’d wanted to go to downtown Memphis, but our reservations went missing, and plans got changed. Judy and I took the concierge’s advice and climbed into a pink Cadillac that took us to dinner at Marlowe’s , a BBQ joint nearby.Fun!

Evenings at the Graceland Guest House feature live music. We watched a performance from a guy who sounded exactly like Elvis, but in no way looked the part. He pulled us listeners into the songs and had many dancing.

Afterward, we enjoyed a leisurely night of watching Elvis on TV. If you want the full Elvis experience, this is the place to stay.

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Guide to Graceland Tours

Tours of the Colonial Revival-Style home begin at the Welcome Center in the massive complex. Those staying at the Guest House take a shuttle.

Your budget might get rattled when you see the admission prices, but based on a full day’s entertainment, the tour and exhibits, just roll with it!

We took the VIP tour that included no waiting in lines, worth considering if you visit during busy times. (FYI—It’s almost always crowded, about 21 million have toured Graceland since it opened to the public in 1982.) Purchasing VIP tickets in advance is a good idea.

After watching an introductory movie, you hop a shuttle over to the mansion and begin the house tour. Instead of a guide, you’re loaned an iPad and headset, available in many languages.

You listen as John Stamos and Lisa Marie (Elvis’ daughter) provide information for a self-guided tour. Enter through the front door, flanked by stained glass panels. Upon entering, I felt I was in a pretty normal home.

Then, I walked around the first floor seeing the living room, music room, parent’s bedroom, dining room and kitchen before going downstairs. Here you stop in a billiard room where the walls are lined with hundreds of yards of folded fabric. The TV room sports three televisions – so Elvis could watch the major networks just like President Johnson.

You proceed back up to view the infamous Jungle Room, really just an animal-themed space. The public cannot visit the bedrooms on the second floor, so you exit to the rear of the property. If at any time, you want additional details, you can push a button to hear more.

The tour then winds through Vernon’s office, Elvis’ Dad, who handled his business affairs after Col. Tom Parker, the stables, handball court, trophy room and small museum.

The path ends at the graves of Elvis and his parents. By the time you get there, you have embraced the King.

I was somewhat surprised to find the memorials emotional; do I dare say I couldn’t help falling in love? I now understand why devoted fans make the pilgrimage. (FYI—Before the massive expansion project, tours ended here, but trust me, your visit is far from over.)

By today’s standards Graceland remains a lovely but dated home, indeed not an extravagant showplace. That’s the thing, you do feel welcomed into Graceland as if Elvis himself were inviting you to sit and talk.

It’s the humbler side of the performer with deep family roots. I think that’s why visiting Graceland in person is memorable.

The Elvis Entertainment Complex

When you are ready, a bus shuttles you back across the street. Browse your way through the Presley Motors Automobile Museum, The Entertainer Career Museum and Elvis Discovery Exhibits. Here, you discover the flamboyant entertainer, the on-stage Elvis, as if he dons the costumes and becomes that superhero from his childhood comic books.

Most folks begin strolling around the car displays, including the legendary pink Cadillac that Elvis gave to his mother a year after his purchase. Other notables include a 1975 Dino Ferrari, 1973 Stutz Blackhawk, and cars from his movies. (Ladies, if you are having trouble convincing your man to go to Graceland, this area may change his mind.)

The glass-encased costumes, displayed in chronological order, show off the star’s ostentatious outfits; nearly all are the jumpsuit style with large jeweled belts and capes. Often a video of the concert plays in the background, so you see Elvis wearing it during a performance.

Also displayed are the military uniforms Elvis wore while stationed in Germany. Still, another room shows the influence Elvis made on other performers and their outfit designs.

The space devoted to gold and platinum records and numerous awards truly overwhelms. The walls soar high overhead and are lined with glittering records and memorabilia.

The collection strengthens the validity of Elvis’ successful career and his impact on the entertainment community during his rather short life. Elvis is the story of a true rags to riches American dream.

If you have enough energy left, you can tour his two airplanes. We did not as our feet were dragging. Plan on a full day to take everything in.

Should you become hungry while browsing the exhibits, you can eat at a few themed restaurants within the complex and, of course, linger in the souvenir shops bursting with everything Elvis. 

Need to update your road trip gear? Start with our recommendations for best road trip gear .

Visit Tupelo, Mississippi to see Elvis’ birthplace

The next day we drove two hours south to Tupelo, Mississippi, to complete the Elvis story. We pulled into Johnny’s Drive-In for lunch. It’s a burger joint, unchanged since the days Elvis ate there. You’ll find a lot of Elvis memorabilia on the walls.

Next, we visited Tupelo’s homage to its hometown boy: the Elvis Presley Birthplace Park . The 15-acre setting features the wooden, two-room shotgun house where Elvis was born.

The museum is so small, it only takes about five minutes to tour. Each room had just one lightbulb. His family moved around a few times, losing the house, but Elvis grew up in this neighborhood, playing in the surrounding hills.

Of course, the museum is dedicated to the stories and memorabilia from Elvis’ early years. Presley’s childhood church, the place where he was introduced to gospel music, was moved to this site.

Inside, visitors experience a short multimedia presentation of the Assembly of God Pentecostal services of the 1940s. The memorial chapel next door, built after his death, was closed for repairs.

We strolled the paved Walk of Life Trail, noting events in the Presley family. One stop includes a life-size bronze statue of Elvis at 13, the age he left Tupelo.

Climb or drive up the hill to the Overlook, but don’t miss the two figures up there. The pair are entitled B ecoming . They symbolize the transformation from Elvis, The Boy, to Elvis, The Entertainer. Well done!

We then drove downtown and stopped by Tupelo Hardware, a surprisingly huge store. This is where Elvis’ Mama bought him his first guitar, a present for his 11th birthday. Apparently, when trying it out in the store, she asked him what he thought.

Elvis replied, “That’s alright Mama.” Who knew then that the guitar would set him on a path to fame and fortune?

Tips for a Graceland Tour

• Carefully read the difference between the various tour options. Buy your tickets online and print them out at home to save time. 
• Tours of the mansion take about an hour to an hour and a half while the exhibits take at least two more hours. Many make it an entire day, stopping for lunch. 
• There is a free activity book for children at Guest Services. 
• There is a special time for free-admission walk-up visits to the Meditation Garden at Graceland, where the gravesites of Elvis and his family are located. Visitor walk-up times are daily from 7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. All guests must enter the gates by 8:30 a.m. to walk up, and guests must leave the mansion grounds before Graceland tours start. There are no walk-ups on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. 

Tips for Visiting Tupelo

• Don’t miss the murals of Elvis and painted guitar-shaped artworks throughout the downtown area.
• The Visitor Center (free) includes a painting of the inspirational Captain Marvel comic book that many believe inspired Elvis’ extravagant looks.

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Field Trip! - Graceland

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Field Trip!

I am not an Elvis fan and I must say that I LOVED this tour. It is simply amazing! I love the iPad tour guide which ensures that visitors don't miss any part of the mansion...The car museum was awesome! I took this tour with 46 people including 31 middle school children and we had an amazing time!

Without being an Elvis fan it was fun to visit. Filled my available time perfectly. Tip: take the hop on hop off bus for free

My mum was a huge fan of Elvis and he died when I was 5 days old, but I was brought up listening to Elvis, as I was in Memphis I wanted to come see the place he lived for my mum. Had a great day, loved the free audio tour on the ipad, you could go as fast or slow as you wanted. There was so much to see there, I also went to the car & plane museums. There is also on site restaurants, with basic food, a bit expensive, but nothing you wouldn't expect. If you are in the area, it is a must.

We did the basic tour of Graceland - the house and grounds. We took a shuttle bus from Sun Studios which wasvery convenient. You get given an ipad and headset and a shuttle bus over to the house. You walk from room to room at the instruction on the ipad and hear a commentary about each area. There is also a kids version. It was good to keep people moving along but at one point I wanted to re-listen to something and couldn't figure out how to replay it (nor could the staff member). The house is amazing it has to be seen and the grounds just beautiful. It still stands alone with a lot of space - but the area across the road is very commercialised which spoils it a bit - but I suppose you have to get your Elvis souvenir!

I've been to Graceland several times and I still think it was better in the early 80's. The inside of the house is the same and it is great to see how they lived. The cars are now moved into a museum and pieces were added. Still worth the money. There is a little café on the property also that severed great fast food.

First time I saw Graceland it was 2AM and I was climbing down from a high school tour bus to Panama City and New Orleans! Standing at the gate and looking at the mansion I was thinking it was much smaller than I thought it would be. I saw Elvis in concert in his later years and think I understood the estate. There must have been a need to stay close to his roots even though he could have afforded the Hollywood bling, this was bling enough in Memphis. It's history, folks! I will drive by every year or so.

Take The Nashville City Tour! Voted BEST Tour In Music City!

Memphis Day Trip: VIP Access to Graceland

Walk in the footsteps of legends in Memphis, TN

Quick Details

• Bus Vehicle Type: Coach
• Hour Glass Duration: 15 hours
• Map Marker Points of Interest: Graceland Mansion, Sam Phillips' Sun Studios, Peabody Hotel, & more
• Wheelchair Accessibility: ADA-compliant vehicles are available for most tours if you provide us with a 48-hour notice. After scheduling your tour, please contact our Dispatch Office at (615) 883-5555 to confirm availability.

We believe strongly in the Gray Line Tennessee sightseeing experience. If you’re dissatisfied with your tour, please contact our Customer Service office at 615-883-5555 and we’ll make it right.

Visit Elvis Presley’s Graceland Mansion on This Gray Line Memphis Tour

Sun studios, peabody hotel, explore beale street, related tours.

• Hour Glass 7 hours
• Bus Mini bus

Franklin’s Civil War Tour

Explore Civil War locations of the Battle of Franklin and hear unbelievable stories from the “bloodiest five hours of the Civil War”

• Hour Glass 4 hours

General Jackson Showboat Lunch/Dinner Tour

Enjoy lunch or dinner, musical performances, and the beautiful theatre on a cruise aboard the famous General Jackson Showboat! Book your tickets online and dance the night away!

SUBSCRIBE   |   RESERVE BY PHONE: 800.238.2000   |    RESERVE ONLINE

Stay in the heart of Elvis Presley’s Graceland ®

Graceland Experience Package

An extraordinary hotel experience in the heart of Elvis Presley’s Graceland ® ! Explore exhibits showcasing Elvis’ career, his automobiles, his wardrobe, his gold records, his custom jets, and much more from the Graceland Archives.

The Graceland Experience Package includes:

• Accommodations at The Guest House at Graceland
• Graceland Mansion Audio-Guided Tour with New Orientation Film
• Self-guided tour of Elvis’ Custom Jets
• Self-guided tour of Presley Motors Automobile Museum
• Self-guided tour of Elvis: The Entertainer Career Museum
• Self-guided tours of Elvis Discovery Exhibits
• Immersive and Interactive Experiences

Please note: this package includes Elvis Experience Tour tickets for two adults. Additional tickets for adults and youth may be purchased on-site upon arrival.

Stay in Style

The Guest House at Graceland is just steps away from the music world’s most important and beloved landmark — welcoming music fans, Graceland guests, Memphis visitors, world travelers and groups alike. A perfect blend of style and Southern hospitality, The Guest House is a perfect way to experience Memphis — the Birthplace of Rock ‘n’ Roll and Home of the Blues.

When you visit The Guest House, you’ll enjoy all the luxurious amenities that would make Elvis proud. Inspired by the “make-yourself-at-home” warmth that Elvis always showed his guests, The Guest House at Graceland reflects Elvis’ style and the charm of Graceland . From the Southern colonial features to specialty suites with Priscilla Presley’s design supervision, every facet of The Guest House has a touch of grace and a dash of rock ‘n’ roll that guests will enjoy after exploring Graceland and Memphis.

Graceland’s Must-See Locations Include:

The tour of Graceland Mansion includes the living room, his parents’ bedroom, the kitchen, TV room, pool room, the famous Jungle Room, his father’s office, and more.

MORE ABOUT GRACELAND MANSION >

A state-of-the-art entertainment and exhibit complex over 200,000-square-feet in size, “Elvis Presley’s Memphis” enables you to follow the life path that Elvis took.

ABOUT ELVIS PRESLEY’S MEMPHIS >

Step aboard Elvis’ customized airplanes to see how he traveled in luxury and take a glimpse at the Lisa Marie and Elvis’ smaller Lockheed Jetstar, the Hound Dog II.

MORE ABOUT ELVIS’ AIRPLANES >

Rooms & Suites

Events & concerts, special offers, photo gallery.

3600 Elvis Presley Blvd, Memphis, TN 38116, USA 901.443.3000 | Reservations: 800.238.2000 or 901.443.3000 | Group Sales: 901.473.6084 GRACELAND.COM | Press Room | Employment | Site Map | Privacy Policy | Web Accessibility

• Over 45 Amazing Tennessee Field Trips

By Author DaniFNW

Posted on Published: January 28, 2020

Categories Field Trip Ideas , Tennessee

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I also love to keep my kids learning when on vacation and with Tennessee being one of our favorite states to visit we have a lot of great Tennessee Field Trips to share on our list. 

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Make sure to check out the rest of our Tennessee Unit Study perfect for getting kids excited for any Tennessee trip and the perfect addition to any road school lesson plan! 

Related:  189 Free Things to do in Tennessee

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Pigeon forge and gatlinburg field trips, knoxville field trips, chattanooga tennessee field trips, nashville tennessee field trips, memphis tennessee field trips, other tennessee field trips.

Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies – Located in Gatlinburg Tennessee the aquarium is one of the best I’ve seen. They are known for their Penguin exhibit but also have a great shark exhibit too. They keep everything fun and educational. Admission to the Aquarium is included in the Smoky Mountains Sightseeing Pass .

Great Smoky Mountain National Park – I love taking the kids the National Parks. Every visitor center has so much you can learn with their museums. Several of the visitor centers in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park had open-air museums, Cades Cove is a large open-air museum too. 

Don’t forget to stop at any visitor center and get your Junior Ranger Books to have the kids to complete. They are very educational and the kids will earn the Junior Ranger badge for that park.

Titanic Museum –  Located in Pigeon Forge this museum looks like the Titanic ship on the outside and inside they keep it all interactive with employees dressed like crew members.

When you enter you re handed a card of a person on the Titanic you can see what their living quarters would be and then at the end find out if they lived or died. There are so many artifacts from the ship as well as a recreation of the grand staircase.  Tickets are included in the  Smoky Mountains Sightseeing Pass .

Tuckaleechee Caverns  – These caverns are under the Smoky Mountains and make a great geology lesson!

Alcatraz East Crime Museum – Located in Pigeon Forge this museum follows the history of crime from the early pirates to the wild west and Wyatt Earp and the OK Corral down to Bonnie and Clyde all the way to drive history up to a year ago. They have a hands-on forensics lab where adults and kids can see how police solve the crimes. 

Great Smoky Mountains Railroad –  Learn the history and legends of the Smoky Mountains while riding though the mountain and taking in the amazing nature views. 

Related:  Top 10 Things to do in Gatlinburg TN

American Museum of Science and Energy – Take a day and get your kids hands-on with science with all sorts of experiments they will love. 

Norris Dam State Park – Located just north of Knoxville this state park has the beautiful views of the dam and history of the dam. There are also several places with local history including an old mill and Civil War museum. 

Ijams Nature Center – Get outdoors at the Nature Center this is a great place for nature walks, wildlife sightings and nature programs. They even have a nature preschool program. 

Coal Creek Miners Museum and Memorial – The coal creek mine disaster happened just outside Knoxville. This was one of the worst mining disasters in our country and killed all but 3 males in town. The museum tells their story and the memorial down the road pays tribute to them. 

Zoo Knoxville – So many ways to learn about animals here its a great way to learn about them and how to protect them. 

James White Fort – This is the pioneer home of Knoxville founder. Learn how the city was established. 

Related:  25 Can’t-Miss Free Things to do in Knoxville TN

Reflection Riding Arboretum – A great place to learn about science and nature all hands on. They have lots of programs for kids of all ages, nature trails, wildlife viewings, and more. 

Chatanooga Zoo – Visiting any zoo always makes a great field trip. Learning about the animals, their habitat and how to protect them. 

Ruby Falls – Another great cavern under a mountain to check out and this one has a waterfall!

Chickamauga National Battlefield   – Checking out the battlefield and learning the history is free, the views it offers of the city are breathtaking! This is a National Park site so make sure to get your  National Park Passport  stamped and take your kids to get their  Junior Ranger badges  as well!

Point Park Battlefield   – Part of the above Chickamauga Battlefield was the site of what is now known as “The Battle Above the Clouds”. The visitors center with history is free but the battlefield tour costs $3 for adults.

Tennessee Aquarium – One of the largest aquariums around with over 9,000 animals. They also have some great animal programs! 

Brainerd Mission Cemetary   – This is a relatively small graveyard of 60 graves. But they are graves of Cherokee Indians that once lived in Chattanooga. This is an official stop on the Trail of Tears.

The National Medal of Honor Museum   – this free museum is a must for any history or military buff!

Related:  26 Free Things to do in Chattanooga TN

Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame Museum – This is 7,200 square foot interactive facility with virtual games, and many interactive video games and training equipment. 

Johnny Cash Museum – This museum holds so much music history. From who he knew, his time in the service, and his rise to fame. 

Liveminds Adventure – This is a great family escape challenge which will make you used all your logic skills. A renowned archeologist has gone missing looking for the staff of Moses and you have to find him while avoiding booby traps and more.  

The Hermitage, Home of Andrew Jackson – The home of President Andrew Jackson is right in the Nashville area and you can take a tour of the house and the grounds. The grounds host some of the slave quarters’ foundations, and his gardens where Andrew Jackson and his wife are buried. 

Stones River National Battlefield – This was one of the bloodiest conflicts of the Civil War and lots of history on this battlefield. 

The Carter House – Carter House was the location of part of the battle that let to the Stones River Battlefield and the house tour has some much history even if it is a bit gorry. You can still see where many of the musket balls hit buildings. Then take a walk in downtown Franklin for some historical markers. 

Want to learn more about the Civil War? Check out these 12 Civil War Places to Visit When Studying the Civil War .

Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park – This is a park in downtown Nashville by the State Capital that features a lot of state history and memorials. 

Belle Meade Plantation – Known for their racehorses this is a historic plantation in Nashville that also has a winery attached and slave quarters with a lot of history attached. 

Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park – There is a lot of Native American history here along with a great museum. 

The Belmont Mansion – This mansion is famous because it was run by a woman of wealth in a time when woman wasn’t really allowed to own anything. Learn how this came to be and how she started the all-girls school we now know as Belmont University. 

Grand Ole Opry – You can take a tour of the Grand Ole Opry and learn the history of the building, and the people who have walked it. See some of the dressing rooms, learn about the flood that affected the building and even stand on stage. 

Sam Davis House – Sam Davis is one of the unsung heroes of the Civil War and his house is now a museum to not just the Civil War but also the building itself with things like footprints in the brick!

Adventure Science Center – This is an amazing hands-on science center for kids and adults. This was one of the first things we did with the kids and the loved it. 

Cannonsburgh Village   -This this a free attraction and a whole area filled with historical buildings from around the area. Everything from an old mill, homes, churches, barns, and so much more! 

Related:  45 Amazing Free Things to Do in Nashville TN

Fort Pillow State Historic Park -This for located along the Mississippi River just north of Memphis. This is another Civil War fort and you can learn why its location was so important. 

Pink Palace Museum  – Every Tuesday from 1 pm to close this museum is free. This museum got its name from the pink marble mansion that it is housed in. This is the house of Clarence Saunders, founder of the Piggly Wiggle grocery store chain. The museum has many of Clarence’s personal collections and many local exhibits as well.

National Civil Rights Museum – Lorraine Motel – The civil rights movement had a large part in Memphis history and you can learn all about it here. 

Graceland – Elvis was another huge influence in music and his start from being such a poor family to his rise in fame is a great lesson for kids about working hard. 

Center for Southern Folklore  –  Memphis is all about great music, great food and great fun which makes the Center for Southern Folklore one of my favorite things on my list of free things to do in Memphis!

The center is dedicated to “celebrating the arts, music, and heritage of the South from the cultural crossroads of Memphis” which means they often have live music, storytelling and of course, soul-food! Even better? They’re always open for free!

 Related: 21 Can’t-Miss Free Things to Do in Memphis TN  (Including Graceland!)

McMinn County Living Heritage Museum – See how life was for everyone from the Cherokee to the early Tennessee settlers. They have over 30 permanent exhibits and over 10,000 artifacts.

Gray Fossil Museum – If you are talking about dinosaurs or you just have a budding paleontologist as I do then they will love this dig site! They have any hands-on science thing to do and you can tour the dig site and watch the paleontologists at work! 

Jack Daniel’s Distillery Tour – There is a lot of history on how Jack Daniel’s basically built the town of Lynchburg and how to built his company. The tour takes you on the grounds and shows you the process of how they make whiskey and also the water source for their whiskey. 

Backyard Terror’s Dinosaur Park – If you are learning about the dinosaurs this is a great way to get hands-on. The best part is this attraction is free! 

Andrew Johnson National Historic Site – Another President’s homestead you can visit. Andrew Johnson was the 17th president and known as the Defender of the Constitution for his work after the Civil War. 

Old Moore County Jail – Located in Lynchburg this is the old jail where the sheriff used to live in the building with his family and the two jail rooms, one for males and one for females, were attached to the home.

The museum has kept the building intact and now holds exhibits dedicated to the local sheriffs, artifacts from the sheriffs who lived in this house and the original jail cells including where Jessie James carved his name into the wall. 

Johnny Cash has visited this museum and said the jail cells are some of the worst he’s ever seen. There is a small exhibit dedicated to his visit. 

Cordell Hull Birthplace State Park – With a log cabin, true to period gardens, and museum on the 55-acre park that holds over 1,500 books! 

Shiloh National Military Park and Cemetary – Another battle of the Civil War it was a very bloody battle where over 23,000 died. Lots of Civil War history here and it’s an NPS site so make sure to get your Junior Ranger Badge! 

Miss Mary Bobo’s Boarding House – This is now a family dining restaurant but while you are dining on recipes the boarding house is known for you are treated to some amazing history on Miss Mary Bobo and the work she did in town. 

Fort Donelson National Battlefield and Cemetary – The surrender of Fort Donelson was the North’s first major victory in the Civil War. The cemetery was started for many of the Union Soldiers who were buried in the area and now hold many US Veterans. 

What are some of your favorite Tennessee field trips spots? Id love to add to my list! 

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‘Field Trips Are Awesome’ and the Harris PTO and G-C School Foundation aim to help!

• May 6, 2024

Everyone knows field trips are awesome.

Now there’s a fund with just that name, a way for the community to donate so every child at Harris Elementary School can experience hands-on museums, farms, zoos and more free of charge.

The new Field Trips Are Awesome fund is available through the Greenfield Central School Foundation. Individuals, businesses and corporations have been generously giving to it already, making field trips free for at least one G-C elementary school. But the potential is endless.

“It’s kind of an easy sales pitch– everyone remembers going on field trips. They’re sometimes your favorite days of school,” said Joe Lonnemann, the driving force behind the project.

The idea started when the Harris Parent Teacher Organization was brainstorming ways to better support the school. For years they would subsidize field trips for families, so parents only paid a portion of the full cost. But Lonnemann suggested asking for donations from the community: parents would appreciate not paying anything at all, and it would free up money for the PTO to do other great projects at the school, like care for teachers and classrooms.

Lonnemann, a commercial real estate broker, said he knew of several people that would be happy to give so local students could attend field trips. He is quick to say it’s a team effort as everyone on the PTO along with teachers and administration were on board to launch the idea.

“It was a truly selfless and incredible idea and everyone has benefitted from it,” said Tara Hansen, president of the PTO. “He is so humble and says, ‘Oh, it’s just for the kids.’”

Students this year have enjoyed experiences at Tuttle Orchards, Conner Prairie, the Indianapolis Zoo and downtown Greenfield to participate in the Riley Festival’s parade of flowers. Third-grade students even visited the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.

“The students were wide-eyed and on the edge of their seats when the music started,” said music teacher Mary Buckalew. “There is nothing like the sound of a live symphony orchestra!”

Buckalew hopes children are inspired to eventually choose an instrument and join the performing arts, and said it would have been very difficult to go had it not been for the fund. Teachers would have spent hours writing grants or seeking corporate donations.

Principal Sarah Greulich said the fund has been a great partnership. It even helps pay for transportation costs for Functional Academic students to attend monthly community outings to the bowling alley.

“As the pandemic was leveling out and some activities were returning to normal, we reflected on how some of our students might have been in school for two to three years and had never been on a field trip out of Harris or even enjoyed a school convocation,” she said. “The world is full of wonder and excitement and we wanted them to be able to see it! We are committed to helping our students explore more in their education, and field trips are a great way to make learning come alive.”

Virginia Brown, director of the Greenfield Central School Foundation, said she is proud the foundation is a part of making special trips happen. Reading and hearing about concepts is one thing, but having the opportunity to experience them first hand helps them solidify their understanding. To donate, visit  gcschoolfoundation.com/donate  and click on the drop-down menu to “Field Trips Are Awesome.”

While field trips are generally heavily subsidized by PTOs to make them feasible for parents, Superintendent Dr. Harold Olin said he is incredibly grateful for the vision of the Harris PTO and the Lonnemann family to making it happen. Free field trips not only helps families, he said, but also allows teachers to think outside of the box regarding the types of experiences that will be beneficial to students.

The idea might spread. Each school’s PTO has its own set of values and priorities, but in the end they all want to find ways to support students and enhance the school experience, Olin said.

“I do think the success of this program at Harris will intrigue some of our other PTOs to the point that they will investigate this option,” he said.

Lonnemann is looking forward to chaperoning a field trip this month to the Indianapolis Zoo, while Hansen will attend a trip to Conner Prairie with her second grader. Hansen, a former teacher herself, said some children are fortunate that their families have memberships to Indianapolis area educational experiences. Still others hardly ever leave Greenfield.

The new fund, she said, makes learning trips exciting for all.

“It gives them a bigger world view outside of our city and it gives them a chance to apply what they’ve learned at school in a real-life, hands-on way,” she said.

By Maribeth Vaughn

Greenfield-Central Administration Center 110 West North Street, Greenfield, IN 46140 Phone: 317.462.4434 | Fax: 317.467.4227

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Moscow vacations are always a great idea when it comes to traveling in Russia. Plan your trip to Moscow with a leading tour operator for Russia and enjoy the ease and pleasure that comes from it. You will stay at the centrally-located hotels, enjoy guided tours to Moscow's best sights with charming local guides, and, most importantly, feel relaxed and immersed in the Russian culture at all times. Wondering what the ideal way to see the best of Moscow is? Well, with a private tour to Moscow, of course! We will listen to your travel preferences and prepare a custom Moscow itinerary just for you. Let's start talking about your upcoming vacation to the gorgeous capital city of Russia.

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Tipping is not required in Russia, but it's considered good etiquette, tip 10%-15% of your bill.

The average summer temperature is approx 18°C (64°F), and winter is around -6°C (22°F).

Some of the most popular souvenirs from Moscow are caviar, Krasnaya Moska perfume.

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One of the highest points in Moscow and one of its most breathtaking places - the Sparrow Hills.

See the 344-feet Cathedral of Christ the Savior - the tallest Orthodox church in the world.

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Being the most recognizable symbol of Russia in the world, Red Square is an absolute must see when in Moscow. 

The famous GUM is a large department store in the Kitai-gorod part of Moscow facing Red Square.

St. Basil’s Cathedral is Moscow’s most famous artistic work of architecture set in the romantic Red Square.

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Bring Back In-Person Field Trips. Here’s Why

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Just as peak field trip season was set to get underway in the spring of 2020, the pandemic hit. Schools, and the cultural institutions and countless other organizations that normally welcome K-12 students for experiential learning, closed their doors.

“The pandemic was absolutely devastating for field trips. They went off a cliff, even when schools went back to in-person,” said Susie Wilkening, principal of Wilkening Consulting, a Seattle-based audience research firm.

Statistics bear this out. In the spring of 2023, Wilkening Consulting and the American Alliance of Museums conducted a survey of 340 museum directors from around the country on post-pandemic visitation. Forty percent of respondents reported that they continued to experience lower on-site visitation from K-12 teachers and students.

Several factors may be keeping schools from venturing back to in-person field trips. Virtual field trips rose in popularity during the pandemic, allowing students to glimpse educational sites as far-flung as the Egyptian pyramids or the Louvre art museum in Paris from the comfort of their homes or classrooms—and those opportunities still exist.

Logistics and funding may also be preventing schools from returning to on-site field trips. Educational researchers have suggested that some schools prioritize putting resources toward activities that may improve student achievement on standardized tests over experiences like field trips, whose results aren’t as quantifiable. That may especially be the case for schools struggling to help students recover from pandemic-era learning declines.

The argument for doing field trips again

But a growing body of research, advocacy from some district-level officials, and anecdotes from students provide compelling reasons for bringing back in-person field trips.

Lin Tajeken Jeufack, a high school junior at Kenwood High School in Maryland’s Baltimore County schools, vividly recalls how a 6th grade field trip to the National Aquarium in Baltimore that offered a behind-the-scenes glimpse into husbandry of aquatic animals planted an idea in her head about one day becoming a marine biologist.

Lin described testing the water in the animal tanks, peering under a microscope in an onsite laboratory at the aquarium, and learning about a profession she knew little about. The 16-year-old, who is now enrolled in her school’s International Baccalaureate program, volunteers at a local hospital, and says she’s leaning toward majoring in math in college, though she hasn’t ruled out a career in marine biology. Lin still welcomes the opportunity to attend in-person field trips—like a recent outing to the Philadelphia’s Franklin Institute, an art museum that features a “Giant Heart” exhibit that allows visitors to walk through the organ’s enormous, lifelike chambers.

“I think students feel safer now [post-pandemic],” said Lin. “We have a really tough course load; we’re always working. It’s good for us to get away from school for a little while.”

Field trips are especially beneficial for disadvantaged students

The lasting benefits of field trips don’t necessarily register in students’ consciousness at the moment of the visit. But these experiential outings have been proven to increase student interest in, knowledge about, and motivation to study subject matter to which they’re exposed, according to a sweeping, decade-old report by Ohio University researchers on field trips. Students from disadvantaged backgrounds tend to reap the biggest benefits from these experiences, as they are less likely to have the opportunity to engage in these activities outside of school-sponsored trips.

That’s not lost on Kadee Anstadt, superintendent/CEO of Washington Local Schools in Toledo, Ohio, who’s committed to ensuring that the students in her high-poverty district take field trips routinely.

“We are quite intentional now about the breadth of experiences we are offering our students,” said Anstadt, who recently established what she refers to as “superinten-dates,” in which she personally takes groups of students on field trips they likely wouldn’t otherwise experience.

“As an urban district, our kids sometimes don’t get to see their larger community. We’ve been to the Detroit Auto Show, to hear a Holocaust survivor, experienced the Toledo Opera, and taken the entire junior class to the Henry Ford Museum,” she said.

Some of the field trips students in the Washington Local Schools take are culturally enriching; others, practical. The district has developed a partnership with two local YMCA branches in which every 2nd grader receives eight water safety lessons.

“This ensures our kids know the dangers of a pool, pond, or lake, and also know how to get help if they need it. Some learn to swim during this time. For so many, it’s the first time they’ve ever been in a pool,” said Anstadt.

Since last year, more than 1,000 of the district’s approximately 7,000 students have received the lessons.

Fish hatcheries, hiking, ice fishing, and Native American landmarks

Laurie Barron, superintendent of the Evergreen school district in Montana, shares a philosophy on experiential field trips similar to Anstadt’s—but with vastly different surroundings to explore.

“We are in northwestern Montana bordering Glacier National Park, a recreation mecca,” said Barron, reeling off a number of recreational and cultural resources available within a quick bus trip: fish hatcheries, hiking, ice fishing, skiing, forestry opportunities, and Native American landmarks.

Barron says administrators aim for younger students in the K-8 district to go on between two and four trips per year, a number that increases to six to eight trips by the time students reach 8th grade.

“We love for them to have several off-campus opportunities each year, experiencing the great west Montana outdoors. It’s very relevant and easy to connect that to our curriculum and content,” Barron said. “And students remember a lot more that way than just reading about places in a book.”

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Fort Benton Field Trip Opportunity

• Posted by Paula Bremner
• Categories Course
• Date May 6, 2024
• Comments 0 comment

Open enrollment to the community to join us as we take a field trip to Fort Benton, MT.

To enroll please contact:

Betty Henderson-Matthews

406.338.5441 Ext. 2800

[email protected]

Natalie Malaterre

406.338.5441 Ext. 2326

[email protected]

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From struggling to role model, thanks to strong teacher support 

Second-grade teacher: literacy is a civil right, her motto of ‘always work hard’ leads to early graduation, ‘this is when my life starts getting better’: egr senior pushes through painful loss, book battle promotes literacy, teamwork  , future health care pros sample multiple career focuses, young readers follow the recipe for perfect pound cake, young engineers turn paper into a wild ride, red hawk rivals episode 2: ‘cornhole’, high-school journalists provide behind-the-scenes look at news production, basketball team unites students, promotes inclusion, his heart is in the health care field, community partners bring field trips to burton’s backyard.

Outdoor learning events are a hit with middle-schoolers

Grand Rapids — Despite the pummeling wind and a chill in the air that was unexpectedly biting for late April, Burton Middle School students had no problem getting fired up about a “field trip” right in the school’s backyard at Plaster Creek Family Park.

During the last of four outdoor field days, the park was filled with community partners — John Ball Zoo, Outdoor Discovery Center and more — bringing the energy and immersion of a field trip to seventh- and eighth-graders, without the hassle of transportation.

Which activity was the crowd favorite?

“The egg drop!” proclaimed seventh-grader Jhostan Betanco, referring to an Outdoor Discovery Center-led lesson which involved building a bird’s nest, plopping an egg inside, and dropping it from atop a ladder to see if it could withstand the fall. 

The point of the exercise was to simulate the care it takes for birds to protect their young in choppy weather, and the students had a blast with it. 

Jhostan got extra satisfaction from the activity because his group was one of the few that managed to get an egg to the ground in one piece.

Their secret, he said, was a strong foundation.

“The base had to be stable, and then we just put moss all over it,” Johstan explained.

Seventh-grader Xaylen Rozeveld also loved the activity, though her group’s egg wasn’t so fortunate.

“I liked the nest-building. That was really fun. I liked looking for the materials,” Xaylen said. “We found sticks, we got moss, grass and leaves and we put it all together.”

‘It’s really prohibitive sometimes to get them on field trips because of the setup of the school day. … That was one of the barriers we’ve been trying to address, to give them outdoor and environmental learning experiences.’ — Sally Triant, GRPS environmental education consultant

Station to Station

At another station, Ruben Canhola, Brandon De La Cruz and Brayden Zukowski worked to assemble and disassemble a camping tent. It wasn’t something they’d ever done before, but they managed to erect and tear down the tent despite the buffeting winds. 

Ruben said the outdoor activity was a welcome break after a long winter spent mostly indoors.

“(I like that) we get to do projects and stuff out here,” he said. “We don’t have to just write on a piece of paper.”

Other activities included native plant identification with Plaster Creek Stewards, fossil lessons with the West Michigan Environmental Action Council, a presentation about turtles with representatives from John Ball Zoo and watershed science discussions with the Lower Grand River Organization of Watersheds.

At the zoo station, Megan Burkhart, assistant manager of school and youth programming at John Ball Zoo, and Travis Kurtz, zoo community science coordinator, talked to students about the importance of turtles, which are an indicator species, signaling environmental quality to other animals.

Though it was too chilly to bring live turtles to the park, Burkhart said students were receptive to the lesson. 

“We’re learning a little bit about what we do at the zoo, but also what students can do in their own lives to help conserve turtles,” she said. “The students have been really excited.” 

Breaking Down Barriers

The outdoor lessons are organized by Sally Triant, environmental consultant for Grand Rapids Public Schools, and Burton science teacher Stacey Post. 

Post gave credit to the Burton science team, as well as the school’s administration, stating, “Everybody really worked together to make this happen.” 

Triant said the field days make outdoor work more accessible for middle-school students. 

“Having community partners teach middle-school scholars in their schoolyards and local parks makes this type of learning accessible to everyone and eliminates some of the common barriers caused by transportation and absences incurred in other classes,” Triant said. “This model allows for scholars to learn across content, with hands-on explorations, and from a wide variety of community partners.”

GR Outside  helped make it all possible by providing tents for students to work with and winter coats to fight the cold.

The field days are one of many projects GRPS is undertaking to ensure that all students have outdoor learning experiences at least once a year. That can be tricky, especially with students at the middle-school level, Triant said.

“It’s really prohibitive sometimes to get them on field trips because of the setup of the school day,” Triant said. “That was one of the barriers we’ve been trying to address, to give them outdoor and environmental learning experiences.”

Post said the goal is to continue to host some iteration of the outdoor field days in the future, with one taking place during each season.

“We’re hoping to do it three times a year,” she said. “Our goal is to have our scholars outside and learning. We hope to continue that and to continue to help teachers feel more comfortable taking kids outside, and getting our students more comfortable with being outside and learning outside.”

Read more from Grand Rapids:  • Nudging educators into the great outdoors • Making an impact: Tutoring center empowers kids through literacy

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2024 Wells Fargo Championship Full Field: A Major Warm-Up, Minus Scottie Scheffler

• Author: John Schwarb

The season's second major is next week at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky., and most of the top PGA Tour players will get a warm-up for it this week.

The Wells Fargo Championship is a signature event, meaning an exclusive field of 70 players competing for a $20 million purse. But unlike the last signature event, the RBC Heritage, many of the game's best won't be coming in off an exhausting major week.

Also unlike the last signature event, this field won't have to deal with Scottie Scheffler. The world No. 1 went from winning the Masters to winning at Harbour Town, a back-to-back feat not seen since 1985. As he's still awaiting his first child, he'll sit out this trip to Quail Hollow.

Wyndham Clark returns as the defending champion. A year ago he grabbed his first PGA Tour win at Wells Fargo, then took that momentum to Los Angeles Country Club to win the U.S. Open six weeks later. Also in the field is Max Homa, a two-time winner who broke through as a first-time winner at the 2019 event.

Rory McIlroy is a three-time winner and, with Scheffler out, is the highest-ranked player in the field at No. 2 in the world. Taylor Pendrith arrives from the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, where he won for the first time on Tour and will make his first signature event appearance.

Quail Hollow gets back into the major rotation in 2025 for the PGA Championship, so the Wells Fargo Championship will move to a different site next year.

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70 players Åberg, Ludvig An, Byeong Hun Bezuidenhout, Christiaan Bhatia, Akshay Bradley, Keegan Burns, Sam Cantlay, Patrick Clark, Wyndham Cole, Eric Conners, Corey Davis, Cam Day, Jason Dunlap, Nick Eckroat, Austin English, Harris Finau, Tony Fitzpatrick, Matt Fleetwood, Tommy Fowler, Rickie Glover, Lucas Grillo, Emiliano Hadwin, Adam Harman, Brian Henley, Russell Hodges, Lee Hoge, Tom Homa, Max Horschel, Billy Hovland, Viktor Hughes, Mackenzie Im, Sungjae Jaeger, Stephan Kim, Si Woo Kim, Tom Kirk, Chris Kitayama, Kurt Knapp, Jake Kohles, Ben Kuchar, Matt + Lowry, Shane Malnati, Peter Matsuyama, Hideki McCarthy, Denny McIlroy, Rory Moore, Taylor Morikawa, Collin Murray, Grayson Noren, Alex Pavon, Matthieu Pendrith, Taylor Poston, J.T. Power, Seamus Putnam, Andrew Rodgers, Patrick Rose, Justin Schauffele, Xander Schenk, Adam Scott, Adam + Simpson, Webb + Spieth, Jordan Straka, Sepp Svensson, Adam Taylor, Nick Theegala, Sahith Thomas, Justin Todd, Brendon Tway, Kevin Woodland, Gary + Young, Cameron Zalatoris, Will + - Sponsor Exemption

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Home » Europe » Moscow

EPIC MOSCOW Itinerary! (2024)

Moscow is the heart of Mother Russia. Just the mention of this city conjures images of colorful bulbous pointed domes, crisp temperatures, and a uniquely original spirit!

Moscow has an incredibly turbulent history, a seemingly resilient culture, and a unique enchantment that pulls countless tourists to the city each year! Although the warmer months make exploring Moscow’s attractions more favorable, there’s just something about a fresh snowfall that only enhances the appearance of the city’s iconic sites!

If you’re a first-time visitor to Moscow, or simply wanting to see as much of the city as possible, this Moscow itinerary will help you do just that!

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Best Time To Visit Moscow

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Here is a quick look at the seasons so you can decide when to visit Moscow!

The summer months (June-August) are a great time to travel to Moscow to take advantage of the enjoyable mild temperatures. This is considered peak travel season. Bear in mind that hotel prices rise along with the temperatures!

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If you’re planning a trip to Moscow during fall (September-November) try to plan for early fall. This way the temperatures will still be pleasant and winter won’t be threatening.

Russian winters (December-February) are not for the faint of heart as Napoleon learned to his peril. Some days the sun will be out for less than an hour, and snow is guaranteed. Although winters are exceptionally cold, this is when you’ll get a true glimpse of the Moscow experience!

The best time to visit Moscow is during spring  (March-May). The temperatures will begin to creep up and the sun begins to shine for significant portions of the day. Hotel rates will also have yet to skyrocket into peak ranges!

With a Moscow City Pass , you can experience the best of Moscow at the CHEAPEST prices. Discounts, attractions, tickets, and even public transport are all standards in any good city pass – be sure invest now and save them $$$ when you arrive!

Moscow is a large city with many accommodation options to choose from. Staying in a location that fits with your travel plans will only enhance your Moscow itinerary. Here is a brief introduction to a few great areas of the city we recommend checking out!

The best place to stay in Moscow to be close to all the action is Kitay-Gorod. This charming neighborhood will put you within walking distance to Moscow’s famous Red Square, thus cutting down on travel time. This will allow you to see more of the city in a shorter amount of time!

It’s surrounded by restaurants, cafes, bars, and shops. If you’re a first-time visitor to Moscow, or just planning a quick weekend in Moscow, then this area is perfect for you!

Another great area to consider is the Zamoskvorechye district. This area of the city offers a blend of new and old Moscow. It has an artsy vibe and there are plenty of fun sites you can explore outside of the main touristy areas of Moscow.

Of course, as in all areas of Moscow, it’s close to public transportation that will quickly connect you with the rest of the city and make your Moscow itinerary super accessible!

Best Airbnb in Moscow – Exclusive Apartment in Old Moscow

Modern and cozy, this apartment is in the heart of Old Moscow. Bordering the Basmanny and Kitay-Gorod districts, this two-bedroom flat is walking distance to the Kremlin and Red Square. Safe, quiet, and comfortable, this is the best Airbnb in Moscow, no question!

Best Budget Hotel in Moscow – Izmailovo Alfa Hotel

The Izmailovo Alfa Hotel is a very highly rated accommodation that provides all the components necessary for a comfortable trip to Moscow. There is an on-site restaurant, bar, fitness center, and an airport shuttle service. The rooms are modern and spacious and are equipped with a TV, heating/air conditioning, minibar, and more!

Best Luxury Hotel in Moscow – Crowne Plaza Moscow World Trade Centre

If you’re touring Moscow in luxury, the Crowne Plaza Moscow World Trade Centre is the hotel for you! Elegantly furnished rooms are equipped with a minibar, flat-screen TV,  in-room safes, as well as tea and coffee making facilities! Bathrooms come with bathrobes, slippers, and free toiletries. There is also an onsite restaurant, bar, and fitness center.

Best Hostel in Moscow – Godzillas Hostel

Godzillas Hostel is located in the center of Moscow, just a short walk from all the major tourist attractions and the metro station. Guests will enjoy all the usual hostel perks such as self-catering facilities, 24-hour reception, Free Wi-Fi, and security lockers. This is one of the best hostels in Moscow and its wonderful social atmosphere and will make your vacation in Moscow extra special!

An important aspect of planning any trip is figuring out the transportation situation. You’re probably wondering how you’re going to get to all of your Moscow points of interest right? Luckily, this sprawling city has an excellent network of public transportation that will make traveling a breeze!

The underground metro system is the quickest and most efficient way to travel around Moscow. Most visitors rely exclusively on this super-efficient transportation system, which allows you to get to pretty much anywhere in the city! It’s also a great option if you’re planning a Moscow itinerary during the colder months, as you’ll be sheltered from the snow and freezing temperatures!

If you prefer above-ground transportation, buses, trams, and trolleybuses, run throughout the city and provide a rather comfortable alternative to the metro.

Moscow’s metro, buses, trams, and trolleybuses are all accessible with a ‘Troika’ card. This card can be topped up with any sum of money at a metro cash desk. The ticket is simple, convenient, and even refundable upon return to a cashier!

No matter which method you choose, you’ll never find yourself without an easy means of getting from point A to point B!

Red Square | Moscow Kremlin | Lenin’s Mausoleum | St. Basil’s Cathedral  | GUM Department Store

Spend the first day of your itinerary taking your own self guided Moscow walking tour around the historic Red Square! This is Moscow’s compact city center and every stop on this list is within easy walking distance to the next! Get ready to see all of the top Moscow landmarks!

Day 1 / Stop 1 – The Red Square

• Why it’s awesome: The Red Square is the most recognizable area in Moscow, it has mesmerizing architecture and centuries worth of history attached to its name.
• Cost: Free to walk around, individual attractions in the square have separate fees. 
• Food nearby: Check out Bar BQ Cafe for friendly service and good food in a great location! The atmosphere is upbeat and they’re open 24/7!

The Red Square is Moscow’s historic fortress and the center of the Russian government. The origins of the square date back to the late 15th century, when Ivan the Great decided to expand the Kremlin to reflect Moscow’s growing power and prestige!

During the 20th century, the square became famous as the site for demonstrations designed to showcase Soviet strength. Visiting the Red Square today, you’ll find it teeming with tourists, who come to witness its magical architecture up close!

The square is the picture postcard of Russian tourism, so make sure to bring your camera when you visit! No matter the season, or the time of day, it’s delightfully photogenic! 

It’s also home to some of Russia’s most distinguishing and important landmarks, which we’ve made sure to include further down in this itinerary. It’s an important center of Russia’s cultural life and one of the top places to visit in Moscow!

In 1990, UNESCO designated Russia’s Red Square as a World Heritage site. Visiting this historic site is a true bucket-list event and essential addition to your itinerary for Moscow!

Day 1 / Stop 2 – The Moscow Kremlin

• Why it’s awesome: The Moscow Kremlin complex includes several palaces and cathedrals and is surrounded by the Kremlin wall. It also houses the principal museum of Russia (the Kremlin Armory).
• Cost: USD $15.00
• Food nearby: Bosco Cafe is a charming place to grat a casual bite to eat. They have excellent coffee and wonderful views of the Red Square and the Moscow Kremlin!

The iconic Moscow Kremlin , also known as the Kremlin museum complex, sits on Borovitsky Hill, rising above the Moscow River. It is a fortified complex in the center of the city, overlooking several iconic buildings in the Red Square!

It’s the best known of the Russian Kremlins – citadels or fortress’ protecting and dominating a city. During the early decades of the Soviet era, the Kremlin was a private enclave where the state’s governing elite lived and worked.

The Kremlin is outlined by an irregularly shaped triangular wall that encloses an area of 68 acres! The existing walls and towers were built from 1485 to 1495. Inside the Kremlin museum complex, there are five palaces, four cathedrals, and the enclosing Kremlin Wall with Kremlin towers.

The Armoury Chamber is a part of the Grand Kremlin Palace’s complex and is one of the oldest museums of Moscow, established in 1851. It showcases Russian history and displays many cherished relics. Definitely make sure to check out this museum while you’re here!

The churches inside the Moscow Kremlin are the Cathedral of the Dormition, Church of the Archangel, Church of the Annunciation, and the bell tower of Ivan Veliki (a church tower).

The five-domed Cathedral of the Dormition is considered the most famous. It was built from 1475–1479 by an Italian architect and has served as a wedding and coronation place for great princes, tsars, and emperors of Russia. Church services are given in the Kremlin’s numerous cathedrals on a regular basis.

The Grand Kremlin Palace was the former Tsar’s Moscow residence and today it serves as the official workplace of the President of the Russian Federation (Vladimir Putin seems to have bagged that title for life) .

Insider Tip: The Kremlin is closed every Thursday! Make sure to plan this stop on your Moscow itinerary for any other day of the week!

Day 1 / Stop 3 – Lenin’s Mausoleum

• Why it’s awesome: The mausoleum displays the preserved body of Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin .
• Cost: Free!
• Food nearby: Khinkal’naya is a charming Georgian restaurant with vaulted ceilings and exposed brick. It’s a popular place with locals and right next to the Red Square!

Lenin’s Mausoleum, also known as Lenin’s Tomb, is the modernist mausoleum for the revolutionary leader Vladimir Lenin. It’s located within the Red Square and serves as the resting place for the Soviet leader! His preserved body has been on public display since shortly after his death in 1924.

It’s located just a few steps away from the Kremlin Wall and is one of the most controversial yet popular Moscow attractions!

Admission is free for everyone, you’ll only need to pay if you need to check a bag. Before visitors are allowed to enter the mausoleum, they have to go through a metal detector first. No metal objects, liquids, or large bags are allowed in the mausoleum!

Expect a line to enter the building, and while you’re inside the building, you’ll be constantly moving in line with other visitors. This means you won’t be able to spend as long as you’d like viewing the mausoleum, but you’ll still be able to get a good look. Pictures and filming while inside the building are strictly prohibited, and security guards will stop you if they see you breaking this rule.

The mausoleum is only open on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday – unless it’s a public holiday or a day scheduled for maintenance. The hours it’s open for each day are limited, make sure to check online before you visit to make sure you can fit this into your Moscow itinerary for that day!

Insider Tip: The Lenin’s Museum is there for people to pay their respect; remember to keep silent and move along quickly, it’s not intended for people to congregate around. Also, men are not allowed to wear hats and everyone must take their hands out of their pockets when inside the building.

Day 1 / Stop 4 – St. Basil’s Cathedral

• Why it’s awesome: A dazzling designed cathedral that showcases Russia’s unique architecture. This cathedral is one of the most recognizable symbols of the country!
• Cost: USD $8.00
• Food nearby: Moskovskiy Chaynyy Klub is a cozy cafe serving food items and pipping hot tea; it’s the perfect place to go if you’re visiting Moscow during the winter months!

Located in the Red Square, the ornate 16th-century St. Basil’s Cathedral is probably the building you picture when you think of Moscow’s unique architecture. Its colorful onion-shaped domes tower over the Moscow skyline!

The cathedral was built from 1555-1561 by order of Tsar Ivan the Terrible. It was designed with an iconic onion dome facade and enchanting colors that captivate all who see it. Fun fact: If you’re wondering why Russian churches have onion domes, they are popularly believed to symbolize burning candles!

This iconic cathedral has become a symbol of Russia due to its distinguishing architecture and prominent position inside the Red Square. It’s one of the most beautiful, wonderful, and mesmerizing historical cathedrals in the world!

The interior of the church surprises most people when they visit. In contrast to the large exterior, the inside is not so much one large area, but rather a collection of smaller areas, with many corridors and small rooms. There are 9 small chapels and one mausoleum grouped around a central tower.

Visiting the inside is like walking through a maze, there are even small signs all around the cathedral tracing where to walk, and pointing you in the right direction! The walls are meticulously decorated and painted with intricate floral designs and religious themes.

The church rarely holds service and is instead a museum open for the public to visit.

Insider Tip: During the summer months the line to go inside the cathedral can get quite long! Make sure to arrive early or reserve your tickets online to guarantee quick access into the cathedral!

Day 1 / Stop 5 – GUM Department Store

• Why it’s awesome: This is Russia’s most famous shopping mall! It’s designed with elegant and opulent architecture and provides a real sense of nostalgia!
• Cost: Free to enter
• Food nearby: Stolovaya 57 is a cafeteria-style restaurant with a variety of inexpensive Russian cuisine menu items including soups, salads, meat dishes, and desserts. It’s also located inside the GUM department store, making it very easily accessible when you’re shopping!

The enormous GUM Department Store is located within the historic Red Square. It has a whimsical enchantment to it that sets it apart from your typical department store.

A massive domed glass ceiling lines the top of the building and fills the interior with natural sunlight. There are live plants and flowers placed throughout the mall that give the shopping complex a lively and cheerful feel! A playful fountain sits in the center, further adding to the malls inviting a sense of wonder and amusement!

The GUM department store opened on December 2, 1893. Today, it includes local and luxury stores, including Fendi, Louis Vuitton, Prada, and many more! There are numerous cafes, restaurants, and even a movie theater inside!

For a special treat, head into Gastronom 1. This 1950s-style shop sells gourmet food items, like wine, freshly-baked pastries, cheese, Russian chocolate, and of course, vodka! Also, be on the lookout for a bicycle pedaling ice cream truck with an employing selling ice cream!

The ambiance is simply amazing, a trip to this idyllic shopping mall is an absolute must on any Moscow itinerary!

Insider Tip: Make sure to carry some small change on you in case you need to use the restroom, you’ll need to pay 50 rubles – or about USD $0.80 to use the bathroom in GUM.

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These are packing cubes for the globetrotters and compression sacks for the  real adventurers – these babies are a traveller’s best kept secret. They organise yo’ packing and minimise volume too so you can pack MORE.

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Novodevichy Convent | Gorky Park | State Tretyakov Gallery | All-Russian Exhibition Center | Bolshoi Theater

On your 2 day itinerary in Moscow, you’ll have a chance to use the city’s excellent public transportation service! You’ll explore a few more of Moscow’s historic highlight as well as some modern attractions. These sites are a little more spread out, but still very easily accessible thanks to the metro!

Day 2 / Stop 1 – Novodevichy Convent

• Why it’s awesome: The Novodevichy Convent is rich in imperial Russian history and contains some of Russia’s best examples of classical architecture!
• Cost: USD $5.00
• Food nearby: Culinary Shop Karavaevs Brothers is a cozy and simple place to have a quick bite, they also have vegetarian options!

The Novodevichy Convent is the best-known and most popular cloister of Moscow. The convent complex is contained within high walls, and there are many attractions this site is known for! 

The six-pillared five-domed Smolensk Cathedral is the main attraction. It was built to resemble the Kremlin’s Assumption Cathedral and its facade boasts beautiful snowy white walls and a pristine golden onion dome as its centerpiece. It’s the oldest structure in the convent, built from 1524 -1525, and is situated in the center of the complex between the two entrance gates.

There are other churches inside the convent as well, all dating back from many centuries past. The convent is filled with an abundance of 16th and 17th-century religious artworks, including numerous large and extravagant frescos!

Just outside the convent’s grounds lies the Novodevichy Cemetery. Here, you can visit the graves of famous Russians, including esteemed authors, composers, and politicians. Probably the most intriguing gravestone belongs to Russian politician Nikita Khruschev!

The Novodevichy Convent is located near the Moscow River and offers a peaceful retreat from the busy city. In 2004, it was proclaimed a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The convent remains remarkably well-preserved and is an outstanding example of Moscow Baroque architecture! 

Insider Tip: To enter the cathedrals inside the complex, women are advised to cover their heads and shoulders, while men should wear long pants.

Day 2 / Stop 2 – Gorky Central Park of Culture and Leisure

• Why it’s awesome: A large amusement area in the heart of the city offering many attractions!
• Cost: Free! 
• Food nearby: Check out Mepkato, located inside Gorky Central Park for a casual meal in a cozy setting. There are indoor and outdoor seating options and the restaurant is child-friendly!

Gorky Central Park of Culture and Leisure is a large green space in the heart of Moscow. The park opened in 1928, and it stretches along the scenic embankment of the Moskva River. It covers an area of 300-acres and offers a lovely contrast from the compact city center.

You’ll find all sorts of wonderful attractions, from boat rides to bike rentals to tennis courts and ping-pong tables, and much more! there are an open-air cinema and festive events and concerts scheduled in the summer months.  A wide selection of free fitness classes is also offered on a regular basis, including jogging, roller skating, and dancing!

Although many of the options you’ll find here are more suited for outdoor leisure during the summer, you’ll also a selection of winter attractions, including one of Europe’s largest ice rinks for ice-skating!

If you’re trying to decide what to do in Moscow with kids, the park also offers several venues designed specifically for kids. Check out the year-round Green School which offers hands-on classes in gardening and art! You can also feed the squirrels and birds at the Golitsinsky Ponds!

The park is very well maintained and kept clean and the entrance is free of charge, although most individual attractions cost money. There is also Wi-Fi available throughout the park.

With so many attractions, you could easily spend all day here! If you’re only planning a 2 day itinerary in Moscow, make sure to plan your time accordingly and map out all the areas you want to see beforehand!

Day 2 / Stop 3 – The State Tretyakov Gallery

• Why it’s awesome: The gallery’s collection consists entirely of Russian art made by Russian artists!
• Food nearby : Brothers Tretyakovs is located right across the street from the gallery. It’s a wonderfully atmospheric restaurant serving top quality food and drinks!

The State Tretyakov Gallery was founded in 1856 by influential merchant and collector Pavel Tretyakov.  The gallery is a national treasury of Russian fine art and one of the most important museums in Russia!

It houses the world’s best collection of Russian art and contains more than 130, 000 paintings, sculptures, and graphics! These works have been created throughout the centuries by generations of Russia’s most talented artists!

The exhibits range from mysterious 12th-century images to politically charged canvases. The collection is rich and revealing and offers great insight into the history and attitudes of this long-suffering yet inspired people!

All pictures are also labeled in English. If you plan to take your time and see everything inside the museum it will take a good 3-4 hours, so make sure to plan your Moscow trip itinerary accordingly! This gallery is a must-see stop for art lovers, or anyone wanting to explore the local culture and history of Russia in a creative and insightful manner! 

Insider Tip: When planning your 2 days in Moscow itinerary, keep in mind that most museums in Moscow are closed on Mondays, this includes The State Tretyakov Gallery!

Day 2 / Stop 4 – All-Russian Exhibition Center

• Why it’s awesome: This large exhibition center showcases the achievements of the Soviet Union in several different spheres. 
• Food nearby: Varenichnaya No. 1 serves authentic and homestyle Russian cuisine in an intimate and casual setting.

The All-Russian Exhibition Center is a massive park that presents the glory of the Soviet era! It pays homage to the achievements of Soviet Russia with its many different sites found on the property.

The center was officially opened in 1939 to exhibit the achievements of the Soviet Union. It’s a huge complex of buildings and the largest exhibition center in Moscow. There are several exhibition halls dedicated to different achievements and every year there are more than one hundred and fifty specialized exhibitions!

The Peoples Friendship Fountain was constructed in 1954 and is a highlight of the park. The stunning gold fountain features 16 gilded statues of girls, each representing the former Soviet Union republics. 

The Stone Flower Fountain was also built in 1954 and is worth checking out. The centerpiece of this large fountain is a flower carved from stones from the Ural Mountains! Along the side of the fountain are various bronze sculptures.

You will find many people zipping around on rollerblades and bicycles across the large area that the venue covers. It’s also home to amusement rides and carousels, making it the perfect place to stop with kids on your Moscow itinerary! Make sure to wear comfortable shoes and allow a few hours to explore all the areas that interest you!

Day 2 / Stop 5 – Bolshoi Theater

• Why it’s awesome: The Bolshoi Theater is a historic venue that hosts world-class ballet and opera performances!
• Cost: Prices vary largely between USD $2.00 –  USD $228.00 based on seat location.
• Food nearby: Head to the Russian restaurant, Bolshoi for high-quality food and drinks and excellent service!

The Bolshoi Theater is among the oldest and most renowned ballet and opera companies in the world! It also boasts the world’s biggest ballet company, with more than 200 dancers!

The theater has been rebuilt and renovated several times during its long history. In 2011 it finished its most recent renovation after an extensive six-year restoration that started in 2005. The renovation included an improvement in acoustics and the restoration of the original Imperial decor.

The Bolshoi Theater has put on many of the world’s most famous ballet acts! Tchaikovsky’s ballet Swan Lake premiered at the theater in 1877 and other notable performances of the Bolshoi repertoire include Tchaikovsky’s The Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker!

Today, when you visit the theater, you can expect a magical performance from skilled singers, dancers, and musicians with the highest level of technique!

If you don’t have time to see a show, the theater also provides guided tours on select days of the week. Tours are given in both Russian and English and will provide visitors with a more intimate look at the different areas of the theater!

The stage of this iconic Russian theater has seen many outstanding performances. If you’re a fan of the performing arts, the Bolshoi Theater is one of the greatest and oldest ballet and opera companies in the world, making it a must-see attraction on your Moscow itinerary!

Godzillas Hostel

Godzillas Hostel is located in the center of Moscow, just a short walk from all the major tourist attractions and the metro station.

• Towels Included

Cosmonautics Museum | Alexander Garden | Ostankino Tower | Izmaylovo District | Soviet Arcade Museum

Now that we’ve covered what to do in Moscow in 2 days, if you’re able to spend more time in the city you’re going to need more attractions to fill your time. Here are a few more really cool things to do in Moscow we recommend!

Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics

• Hear the timeline of the ‘space race’ from the Russian perspective
• This museum is fun for both adults and children!
• Admission is USD $4.00

The Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics is a museum dedicated to space exploration! The museum explores the history of flight, astronomy, space exploration, space technology, and space in the arts. It houses a large assortment of Soviet and Russian space-related exhibits, and the museum’s collection holds approximately 85,000 different items!

The museum does an excellent job of telling the full story of the exciting space race between the USSR and the US! It highlights the brightest moments in Russian history and humanity and is very interesting and fun for all ages!

If you’re a fan of space or just curious about gaining insight into Russia’s fascinating history of space exploration, make sure to add this to your 3 day itinerary in Moscow!

The Alexander Garden

• A tranquil place to relax near the Red Square
• Green lawns dotted with sculptures and lovely water features
• The park is open every day and has no entrance fee

The Alexander Garden was one of the first urban public parks in Moscow! The garden premiered in 1821 and was built to celebrate Russia’s victory over Napoleon’s forces in 1812!

The park is beautiful and well maintained with paths to walk on and benches to rest on. The park contains three separate gardens: the upper garden, middle garden, and lower garden.

Located in the upper garden, towards the main entrance to the park is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier with its eternal flame. This monument was created in 1967 and contains the body of a soldier who fell during the Great Patriotic War!

The park stretches along all the length of the western Kremlin wall for about half a mile. Due to its central location in the city, it’ll be easily accessible when you’re out exploring The Red Square.

It provides a bit of relief from the city’s high-energy city streets. Bring a picnic lunch, go for a walk, or just sit and people watch, this is one of the best Moscow sites to wind-down and relax!

Ostankino Television Tower

• Television and radio tower in Moscow
• Currently the tallest free-standing structure in Europe
• Make sure you bring your passport when you visit, you can’t go up without it!

For spectacular views of the city, make sure to add the Ostankino Television Tower to your itinerary for Moscow! This impressive free-standing structure provides stunning views of the city in every direction. The glass floor at the top also provides great alternative views of the city!

It takes just 58 seconds for visitors to reach the Tower’s observation deck by super fast elevator. The tower is open every day for long hours and is a great site in Moscow to check out! There is even a restaurant at the top where you can enjoy rotating views of the city while you dine on traditional Russian cuisine or European cuisine!

The tower is somewhat of an architectural surprise in a city that is not known for skyscrapers! To see the city from a new perspective, make sure to add this stop to your Moscow itinerary!

Izmaylovo District

• The most popular attractions in this district are the kremlin and the flea market
• Outside of the city center and easy to reach via metro
• Most popular during the summer and on weekends

Travel outside the city center and discover a unique area of the city! The Izmaylovo District is a popular destination for locals and tourists alike, and one of the coolest places to see in Moscow! The two main attractions we recommend checking out are the Kremlin and the flea market.

The Izmailovo Kremlin was established as a cultural center and molded after traditional Russian architecture. This colorful complex is home to several single-subject museums, including a Russian folk art museum and a vodka museum!

Next to the Kremlin is the Izmailovo open-air market, which dates back to the 17th century! The market is connected to the Izmailovo Kremlin by a wooden bridge. Pick up all your Russian souvenirs here, including traditional handicrafts, paintings, books, retro toys, and Soviet memorabilia!

You will find many hand-made and hand-painted options available at higher prices, as well as mass-produced souvenir options at lower prices!

Museum of Soviet Arcade Games

• Closed on Mondays
• Filled with old arcade games that visitors get to try out!
• The museum also includes a small cafe and burger shop

For something a little different, check out the Museum of Soviet Arcade Games! The museum features roughly 60 machines from the Soviet era, including video games, pinball machines, and collaborative hockey foosball! The machines inside the museum were produced in the USSR in the mid-1970s.

The best part is, most of the games are still playable! Purchase tickets and try the games out for yourself! The museum also has a neat little screening room that plays old Soviet cartoons and an area with Soviet magazines! This unique attraction is a fun addition to a 3 day itinerary in Moscow, and an attraction that all ages will enjoy! 

Whether you’re spending one day in Moscow, or more, safety is an important thing to keep in mind when traveling to a big city! Overall, Moscow is a very safe place to visit. However, it is always recommended that tourists take certain precautions when traveling to a new destination!

The police in Moscow is extremely effective at making the city a safe place to visit and do their best to patrol all of the top Moscow, Russia tourist attractions. However, tourists can still be a target for pickpockets and scammers.

Moscow has a huge flow of tourists, therefore there is a risk for pickpocketing. Simple precautions will help eliminate your chances of being robbed. Stay vigilant, keep your items close to you at all times, and don’t flash your valuables!

If you’re planning a solo Moscow itinerary, you should have no need to worry, as the city is also considered safe for solo travelers, even women. Stay in the populated areas, try and not travel alone late at night, and never accept rides from strangers or taxis without a meter and correct signage.

The threat of natural disasters in Moscow is low, with the exception of severe winters when the temperature can dip below freezing! Bring a good, warm jacket if you visit in Winter.

However, please note that Russian views on homsexuality are far less accepting than those in Western Europe. Likewise, Non-Caucasian travellers may sadly encounter racism in Russia .

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ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing .

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Now that we’ve covered all the top things to see in Moscow, we thought we’d include some exciting day trips to other areas of the country!

Sergiev Posad (Golden Ring)

On this 7-hour guided tour, you’ll visit several scenic and historic areas of Russia. Start your day with hotel pick-up as you’re transferred by a comfortable car or minivan to Sergiev Posad. Admire the charming Russian countryside on your drive and enjoy a quick stop to visit the Russian village, Rudonezh!

You’ll see the majestic Saint Spring and the Church of Sergiev Radonezh. You’ll also visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, one of the most famous Orthodox sites in Russia!

Lastly, you’ll swing by the local Matreshka market and enjoy a break in a nice Russian restaurant before returning to Moscow!

Day Trip to Vladimir and Suzdal

On this 13-hour trip, you’ll discover old Russia, with its picturesque landscapes and white-stoned beautiful churches! You’ll visit the main towns of the famous Golden Ring of Russia – the name for several cities and smaller towns north-east of Moscow.

Your first stop will be in the town of Vladimir, the ancient capital of all Russian principalities. The city dates back to the 11th century and is one of the oldest and the most important towns along the Ring! Next, you’ll visit Suzdal, a calm ancient Russian town north of Vladimir with only 13,000 inhabitants!

The old-style architecture and buildings of Suzdal are kept wonderfully intact. If you’re spending three days in Moscow, or more, this is a great option for exploring the charming areas outside the city!

Zvenigorod Day Trip and Russian Countryside

On this 9-hour private tour, you’ll explore the ancient town of Zvenigorod, one of the oldest towns in the Moscow region! As you leave Moscow you’ll enjoy the stunning scenery along the Moscow River, and make a few stops at old churches along the way to Zvenigorod.

Upon arrival, you’ll explore the medieval center, including the 14th-century Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery. Next, you’ll take a break for lunch (own expense) where you’ll have the chance to try out the Russian cuisine! Next, you’ll visit the Museum of Russian Dessert and sip on tea at a Russian tea ceremony.

The final stop of the day is at the Ershovo Estate, a gorgeous place to walk around and enjoy nature!

Day Trip to St Petersburg by Train visiting Hermitage & Faberge

On this full-day tour, you’ll enjoy a a full round trip to St Petersburg where you’ll spend an exciting day exploring another popular Russian city! You’ll be picked up from your hotel in Moscow and be transferred to the train station where you’ll ride the high-speed train ‘Sapsan’ to St Petersburg.

Upon arrival, you’ll start the day by touring the Hermitage Museum and the Winter Palace. Next, you’ll visit the Faberge Museum, where you’ll explore the impressive collection of rare Faberge Eggs! In the afternoon, enjoy a sightseeing boat ride and a traditional 3-course Russian lunch.

If you’re spending 3 days in Moscow, or more, this is an excellent trip to take!

Trip to Kolomna – Authentic Cultural Experience from Moscow

On this 10-hour tour, you’ll escape the city and travel to the historic town of Kolomna! First, you’ll visit the 14th-century Kolomna Kremlin, home to the Assumption Cathedral and an abundance of museums!

Next, enjoy lunch at a local cafe (own expense) before embarking on a tour of the Marshmallow Museum – of course, a marshmallow tasting is provided!  Your final stop is the Museum of Forging Settlements, where displays include armor and accessories for fishing and hunting.

Discover this beautiful Russian fairytale city on a private trip, where all of the planning is taken care of for you!

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Find out what people want to know when planning their Moscow itinerary.

How many days you need in Moscow?

We recommend that you spend at least two or three days in Moscow to take it all in.

What’s the best month to visit Moscow?

The best time to visit Moscow is over the spring, from March to May as temperatures are mild, crowds are thin and prices are reasonable.

What are some unusual things to do in Moscow?

I mean, queuing up to see an almost 100 year old corpse is pretty unsual! Check out Lenin’s Mausoleum if you fancy it!

What are some fun things to do in Moscow?

The Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics is a fun place to explore the famous space race from the perspective of the ‘other side’!

We hope you enjoyed our Moscow itinerary! We’ve made sure to cover all the Moscow must-sees as well as some unique attractions in the city! Our addition of insider tips, favorite food stops, and day trips from Moscow is an added bonus and will guarantee you make the most out of your exciting Russian vacation!

Immerse yourself in the modern and traditional Russian lifestyle! Get lost in museums, witness awe-inspiring architecture, and indulge in Russian cuisine! Spend the day strolling through all of the charming sites of Moscow, admiring the beautiful scenery and discovering the city’s fairytale-like enchantment!

Alya and Campbell

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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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12 Lululemon ‘We Made Too Much Section’ Finds I Wish Were Already in My Suitcase — From $19

Find out what one travel writer is eyeing.

Travel + Leisure / Marcus Millan

As a longtime health and fitness writer, I’ve had the privilege of testing out a wide spectrum of activewear — and Lululemon continues to prevail as one of my favorites. But my reverence didn’t begin once I started my career; I’ve been a fan of Lululemon ever since high school (when they were still pretty new to the U.S. market). I remember saving all of my pennies to buy one of their “I <3 Running” water bottles (which perfectly captured my cross-country athlete identity at the time, duh). 

Fast-forward a good 17 years, and I’ve worn the brand during so many big moments in my life: hitting personal bests in a race, taking big steps in my career, and traveling all over the world. All this to say, I’ve tested a lot of Lulu gear — from leggings to tanks to jackets, and everything in between — and honed in on my favorites from the brand. And when I'm looking to add new pieces to my wardrobe, I always check the “ We Made Too Much” section's under-the-radar curation of clothes, outerwear, and accessories. After pouring through Lululemon's current inventory, I’ve scoped out the 12 items I’m eyeing for future trips — and they're all starting at just $19.

Pleated Open-knit High-rise Tennis Skirt

It’s looking like the "tenniscore" trend is here to stay (looking at you, "Challengers" movie), and I’m here for it. For instance, I love this classic pleated tennis skirt look — both for, you know, playing tennis, and also with a cute little T-shirt and sneakers while out and about. This is the perfect travel addition if you’re headed to a resort destination this spring (or honestly, anywhere that’s warm).

Align High-rise Pants 25-inch

If you haven’t heard of the iconic Align Pants from Lululemon, allow me to introduce you. These leggings stay in place like no other, offering just the right amount of compression. The silky smooth material also feels like a second skin on your body, so you forget you’re even wearing them. But that doesn’t mean they don’t offer plenty of coverage: Even the lighter styles are expertly lined, so you can wear them during a rigorous workout or as pants while traveling, without feeling self-conscious. You can’t beat their price in the “We Made Too Much” section ($39, seriously?!), and they’re currently available in nine gorgeous colors. I also highly recommend checking out the Align Shorts , which are great for spring hikes, running errands, or sightseeing. 

Everywhere Belt Bag 1-liter

Another Lulu item that’s achieved icon status at this point, the Everywhere Belt Bag is, everywhere . I’ve owned mine for almost six years now and it’s always the bag I grab before heading on a trip, a hike, a walk, or honestly anywhere I’m headed. It’s so lightweight, and yet holds a shocking amount of essentials: sunscreen, sunglasses, phone, wallet, snacks — the list goes on. This bag constantly sells out on Lululemon’s site, so I’m truly shocked it’s available in their “We Made Too Much” section. 

Fast and Free High-rise Tight 25-inch

While Lululemon’s Align Pants get most of the recognition, I’m equally partial to the Fast and Free High-rise Tight. I’ve had the same pair for years, and it’s held up flawlessly throughout countless miles (both running and travel). Like the Aligns, these leggings fit like a second skin; they are buttery smooth, the perfect thickness for warmer weather, and have just the right amount of compression. And right now, you can snag these tights in the classic 25-inch style , the version with pockets (!), or even the cropped 23-inch style — all starting at $59. Now, excuse me while I stock up on all three…

Tapered-Leg Mid-rise Pant 7/8 Length Luxtreme

Lululemon may be known for leggings, but they also do pants particularly well. That includes these tapered-leg trousers, which are fantastic for travel. They’re made with one of the brand’s signature sweat-wicking and breathable fabrics, offering four-way stretch (translation: ultimate comfort). They’re available in six different versatile, neutral colors, perfect for any style or occasion. 

Swiftly Tech Short-sleeve Shirt 2.0

I’m not usually a big fan of activewear T-shirts (I often find them uncomfortable or limiting), but this Tech shirt from Lululemon is one that I regularly wear. It is perfectly lightweight, breathable, and has a really nice cut — so it’s perfect for exercise or daily wear. Or, if you’re more of a sleeveless person, I swear by their tank in the same fabric (find it here for just $29 ). 

Wundermost Ultra-soft Nulu High-heck Sleeveless Bodysuit

Bodysuits are great travel staples. After all, they function as a shirt, but take up virtually zero space in your luggage — and I dare you to find a comfier one than this gorgeous piece from Lululemon. It’s made with the brand’s signature Nulu fabric, which is silky smooth to the touch and feels incredible against your skin. This bodysuit, in particular, makes for a great layering piece under a button-up shirt or jacket — or it looks lovely on its own with a pair of jeans or a skirt. It’s available in three colors in the “We Made Too Much” section, but I’m partial to this elegant off-white hue. 

Light Utilitech Cargo Pocket High-rise Pant

Speaking of great travel pants, I’m obsessed with these cargo pants. As always, they’re made with performance fabric to keep you cool and comfy during springtime travels. Of course, since they’re cargo pants, there are pockets, galore — but other notable features include a comfy elastic waistband, stretchy material, and a just-right high-rise fit. These must have just been added to the “We Made Too Much” section because a shocking number of sizes are still available. Each color option is stunning, but I’m about to add the java brown hue to my cart.

ABC Slim-fit 5 Pocket Pant 32-inch Length Utilitech

Lululemon also makes fantastic clothing for men — especially pants. The ABC Pants are its signature style and come in various lengths, fabrics, and cuts. They’re the perfect travel pants, As multiple reviewers confirmed, they stay wrinkle-free and feel comfortable when you're on the go. Right now, you can score the popular pants for just $69.

Hooded Mid-length Utility Jacket

Add jackets to the running list of clothing that Lululemon makes particularly well. And can we talk about this quintessential rain jacket? The oversized cut is so effortlessly cool — not to mention, incredibly functional for any spring travels. It’s water-repellent, windproof, and oh-so-easy to pack. 

Zeroed In Short-sleeve Shirt

Every travel wardrobe needs a reliable t-shirt that can function in different settings. This tee is technically designed for running and training, but it’s sleek enough to wear with jeans or under a jacket. As one reviewer wrote: “It's the best shirt for workouts and everyday life.”

Women's Baller Hat Soft

No matter where I’m headed on vacation, a hat is essential on my packing list. I love Lululemon’s caps (I just ordered a new one) since they’re sweat-wicking and super comfortable throughout many hours of wear. This one comes in black or white, so it’s perfect to pair with any of your favorite travel outfits. 

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