palace travel agencia de viajes

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Buscador Placetravel

Descubre nuestros destinos, ciudad de méxico, cancún, riviera maya, puerto vallarta.

TOURS MÁS POPULARES

Actividades en Cancún y Riviera Maya

Nuestros asesores

Victoria Molina

Estoy para ayudarte en reservar tu próxima actividad durante tu visita.

Paola Vazquez

Hola yo te acompañaré durante tu nueva experiencia en nuestras actividades.

Blanca Bautista

Traveleros felices

Reserve con la agencia 4 parques a un súper precio y un tour a Holbox y no me arrepiento en lo absoluto. tienen muy buenos precios y cumplen con lo que ofrecen. Sin duda los recomiendo ampliamente

Priscilla Calderón

Excelente servicio atendieron todas mis consultas vía wathsapp, la forma de pago es muy segura, y en cada tour me confirmaban la llegada de transporte. agendé y pagué antes de llegar a Cancun. lo recomiendo 100%!!

Milagros Suárez

Agradecida por la atención prestada. Logre hacer mis reservaciones desde Venezuela de forma sencilla y rápida. Los tours que contratamos fueron lo ofrecido y esperado.

José De Santiago García

Excelente servicio y atención al cliente. Lázaro siempre estuvo al pendiente y brindando información sobre cada cosa todo el tiempo. Sin duda volvería a contar con ellos para mi próximo viaje. 

Leidy Johana Coral

Excelente servicio al cliente, puntualidad y cumplimiento con lo ofrecido en sus planes turísticos.

Diego Xavier Flores Estrella

¡¡Recomendado!! Excelente servicio de acuerdo con lo contratado. Además, la coordinación y comunicación muy buena y oportuna, en todo momento atentos. Nuestro agente Lázaro estuvo siempre pendiente y dando indicaciones claras y al pendiente del servicio.

Leno Rodríguez

¡¡Excelente servicio!! 10/10 y precios muy buenos!! Comunicación al 100 con el agente del tour, Lázaro nos brindó un muy buen servicio 

María Paz Fredericksen de la cuadra

Excelente servicio, 100% recomendado. Dan una atención de calidad y no debes preocuparte de nada más que disfrutar. Agradezco especialmente a mi asesora de viaje Paola Vásquez, por hacer de este viaje un placer 

Diana Arevalo

Lo recomiendo, dan excelente servicio, atentos y cordiales en todo momento, resuelven cualquier duda inmediatamente, gracias, Lázaro 100% recomendado 

Cielo Yamilette

Es una empresa completamente confiable. Cumplen en su totalidad con todo lo que ofrecen.  

Son responsables y tienes atención e información en todo momento.  Se las recomiendo ampliamente. 

Sumaq Urpi Rojas Rondan

Mi agente fue Lázaro Hernández y ha sido más que amable y paciente, desde la elección de los paquetes, sugerencias y coordinaciones... ¡Todo cronometrado y organizado de cada tour! Ha sido una muy grata experiencia, lo recomiendo 100%

Gran experiencia, tomé dos tours y fueron muy atentos, totalmente recomendable 10/10 

Un agradecimiento extra para mi Asesor Lázaro que resolvió todas nuestras dudas y siempre estuvo al pendiente. Estoy totalmente seguro de que volveré con ustedes. 

Lo recomiendo, es una empresa confiable que cumple con todo lo que ofrece.  Tome los paquetes de Isla mujeres, Xenses, Xplor y Xcaret plus. Y todo excelente, nos atendió Paola Vásquez, una persona muy amable y profesional, resolvió todas mis dudas y nos realizó un seguimiento personalizado. 

Mauricio Gonzalo Javier

Todo muy ordenado y coordinado. Tours confiables ya que abonamos antes y todo sin problemas. ¡¡Nuestra asesora Blanca Bautista muy atenta y pendiente de que cada tour saliera fenomenal!! 

Ana Yanssy Cr

Súper recomendado. Gracias por todas las atenciones y a nuestra asesora Blanca por estar siempre al pendiente  

Brian Cortez

¡El mejor servicio de excursiones entre los que conozco! ¡La calidad y carisma de sus empleados hacen que cada excursión sea un paseo que vas a querer repetir! ¡Aplausos especiales para Blanca, Diego y Dania!

Sandra Herrera

Excelente atención, el asesor que me atendió en mi último viaje (Lázaro) siempre estuvo al pendiente de cada tour. Recomiendo la agencia 100%

Syndi Malena Lopez Rulli

El servicio, atención y cortesía de nuestro asesor Daniel fue espectacular, excepcional y excelente. La coordinación de nuestros 5 tours por Cancún, excelente transporte, seguros, cómodos, los guías amables y divertidos, buena guía turística y coordinación de Place Travel. Altamente recomendada esta agencia por sus servicios, puntualidad y excepcional atención. Gracias 

Gis Saligan

Súper recomendado, su servicio, cuenta con excelente atención y calidad. Mi asesor Lázaro, estuvo de la mano conmigo en todo momento, fue atento, amable y sobre todo responsable al aclarar todas mis dudas y apoyarme en todo lo que necesitaba. Los volvería a contratar una y mil veces más. 

Paola López

Muy buen servicio, la pasamos genial mi novio y yo en Cancún, nuestra asesora vacacional Paola muy atenta y sobre todo contestando siempre mis dudas que se presentaban, coordinó todo lo necesario para nuestros tours, ¡recomendado!

Paulina Macías

¡Confiable, puntual, serios y excelente atención! En especial gracias a Blanca, fue una excelente asesora.  Recomiendo llevar botanita comprada por ti antes de subir a los tours ya que puedes dejar las cosas en el autobús o transporte que vayas así no gastarás excesivamente en puntos turísticos. Muy seguro todo con ellos. 

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Palace Travel

Location & Hours

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123 S Broad St

Philadelphia, PA 19109

Avenue of the Arts South, Penn Center

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About the Business

Business owner information

Lloyd Murray C.

Business Owner

Since 1991, Palace Travel has expanded our offering of tours, safaris and other travel arrangements to more than thirty African destinations. Destinations include Ghana, Mali, Senegal, and Libya in addition to the usual Africa vacation destinations such as South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Egypt, Morocco, among others. Whether the destination is West Africa or East Africa, North Africa or Southern Africa, Central Africa or the Indian Ocean Islands,Palace Travel is your most comprehensive Africa travel specialist. Palace Travel is the only North American travel company with wholly owned, fully operational offices that are strategically located in West Africa. Our staff has extensive experience in all aspects of tourism, in addition to an in-depth knowledge of local cultures, languages and traditions. Tours are conducted by experienced staff with company owned vehicles, which guarantee personalized, reliable, professional service, and allows us to pass significant savings to our clientele. Travel itineraries are specially crafted to reflect a unique blend of culture, history and traditional tourism in Africa. Our tours can be customized to meet the interests of diverse groups such as religious, professional, volunteer and academic organizations, and the solo traveler... …

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Overall rating

I took my sons and I on a trip to Ghana. Khumasi, Accra, and cape coast tour. Our tour was what is called Sankofa- getting back to your roots. We had the best time ever. We were greeted at the airport with our own personal driver and tour guide. Richard and Sam were their names. By the time our 10 days ended they were like family. Palace tours did a great job not sure about these older reviews I'm glad I didnt see them before we went. Because I would have missed out on a great opportunity.Honestly we had no problems resorts were nice. Good food options, we stayed at nice places. Everything was taken care of we just had to show up. I'm only writing this review because we took the trip march 2017. I want to plan a new trip and looked up palace travel and saw a bad review and had to let it be known that it wasnt the case with us by any stretch. I look forward to doing business with Palace in the future.

Trip to Ghana 2017

I would give this travel agency less than one star or even zero, but there is no option for that here. I contacted Palace Travel a few months ago to arrange flights for a trip to Africa for myself and two friends. Everything went smoothly at first until we noticed about a month before we left that our reservations were not showing up on the airlines' respective websites (Delta and Royal Air Maroc, which codeshare). Thus ensued a flurry of emails and phone calls to straighten out the situation including several inadequate explanations from MARY, the manager and DAN, who helped us with our original reservation. After no less than a half dozen iterations, each reflecting a schedule from our original itineraries, we thought our reservations were corrected and embarked on our journey. Along the way we were also given conflicting explanations for changes in our connecting flights including once being told in writing that we could not have less than two hours between a domestic and international flight and another time being told that a less than one hour connection to an international flight was perfectly fine. Clearly someone was not being truthful. I suspect they never submitted the original itineraries when we purchased them and then had to scramble to make it work. But that is just speculation. Back to the facts... The trouble continued when one of us arrived to check in for her outgoing flight from the US. She was delayed at check in for almost an hour while the agent searched for her reservation. The worst error was when I arrived at the airport for my flight home from Morocco. I did not have a ticket in their system. Instead, I had a ticket for an itinerary that showed one of the incorrect versions they had booked at a prior point during the back and forth. I was asked to pay EUR 150 to board the plane to get back home to the US. When I called MARY on Monday she agreed to pay the fee but was completely uninterested in hearing me express my disappointment in their poor level of service. She was short with me, cut me off, and used a very condescending tone even as she said the words, "I'm sorry.". She also did not offer any compensation for our trouble. So, not only did they get it wrong several times, they were also quite rude and demonstrated a total lack of customer service. I would NEVER EVER recommend this travel agent to a friend and will not use them in the future. Be warned that they are excessively incompetent and insufferably rude.

This is the worst travel agency ever! Don't use! They deserve negative 10 stars! I have traveled all over the world and this agency is the worse. Promised a lot but didn't deliver. Got my tickets messed up and the sales rep didn't really know what tour package she was selling. Got to my destination and didn't get anything that was promised. Miserable. Very low accommodations but they charged a lot. This agency needs to be reported to authorities because they RIP people off!

Feb 28, 2011

My name is Lloyd Murray and I am the president of Palace Travel, Inc. Although this report has been on line for some time it was brought to my attention for the first time on Sunday, February 27, 2011. Palace Travel has been in business for twenty years, operating from the same location in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. We have arranged tours and /or safaris to fifty one (51) African countries (including the Indian Ocean Islands). We have a high percentage of repeat clients including: the solo traveler, families, social groups, schools, universities and churches, but our most loyal clients are travel agents for whom we arrange tours. It is our intention that every customer is sufficiently pleased with the service we provide so that they not only repeat but that they refer others. A partial list of our repeat clients can be viewed on our website at: http://www.palacetravel.com/page/clients. As any business providing a service, the travel industry is no exception, not every transaction will be perfect or go as planned. However, we always learn from our mistakes and improve the service we provide. Although the report from this person is vague, we have searched our records but cannot identify anyone who fits this description. Obviously we fell short of your expectations and for that we apologize. If you will make us aware of whom you are and list the areas where our agent on the ground in Africa did not live up to your expectations, we will investigate and contact you. We know that whatever happens on the ground in Africa, Palace Travel bears ultimate responsibility. To all those who have traveled with us or use our service, we value and benefit from your feedback, and will endeavor to improve the service we provide during this, our Twentieth year arranging tours and safaris to Africa. We look forward to hearing from you. Very truly yours, Lloyd C. Murray President, Palace Travel, Inc.

I booked a trip to Senegal and Gambia for March. The itinerary was well planned and the guide in Senegal was exceptional. I especially liked my hotel in Dakar, which was in a great location. I needed flexibility in my schedule and was glad to be accommodated. I think this agency strives to provide good customer service and is open and appreciative of feedback. Check out their newly designed Web site which describes the many trips to Africa that are offered.

Mar 23, 2014

Dear Mattie S. Thank you for your comments. I know your trip to Senegal and Gambia was not all smooth sailing, especially when you were crossing from Senegal to Gambia because two of the three ferries were not working. But that is what traveling in many parts of Africa can be like, unpredictable.. About Palace Travel, Inc. Palace Travel has operated under the same ownership, from the same location in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania since 1991. In this our 23rd year of continuous operation, we have provided tours and other travel arrangements to every African country except one. In addition to the usual African destinations, some of the countries to which we have arranged travel include the seldom visited locations of Eritrea and Djibouti in East Africa, Western Sahara and South Sudan in North Africa, and the Comoros Island along the Indian Ocean. Our tours have ranged from a 47- day trip to 9 Countries for a solo traveler, to the numerous parents of Peace Corps Volunteers who visit their sons and daughters in remote villages in West and Central Africa; to the repeated cultural immersion faculty-led trips to West , Central, North and Southern Africa arranged at the end of the academic year for a U.S. Military Academy , to seminars and conferences arranged for philanthropic organizations, to the numerous churches, universities and social groups that repeatedly engage our Africa travel expertise. But our most consistent partners are the numerous travel agencies, tour operators and meeting planners who repeatedly and continuous rely on our expertise and entrust their clients Africa travel arrangements to us. We thank them all. Although the overwhelming majority of our Africa travel clients originate from North America, we have arranged trips for travelers originating from every continent except Antarctica. In our 23 years of operation we have never arranged a perfect trip, even when the client reports: "it was perfect" We learn from every trip and use the experience to improve the services we offer. A few of our client's comments can be reviewed at https://www.palacetravel.com/our-clients/ There are 14 reviews about Palace Travel on Yelp, 11 of those reviews are positive and 3 are negative including one reviewer who we are absolutely certain has never transacted any business with Palace Travel. 10 of the positive reviews are hidden including reviews posted by our customers who traveled as a group to Senegal and South Africa in October 2013. These October 2013 travelers were recently made aware of a January 2013 negative review and notified Palace Travel. To our solo travelers and those who travel with families, church groups and groups from educational institutions , travel agents, tour operators and meeting planners, we thank you for your patronage during these past 23 years and hope to continue providing for your Africa travel needs. Sincerely, Lloyd C. Murray Founder and President Palace Travel, Inc. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania www.palacetravel.com

I wish I had read the reviews prior to making arrangements with Palace Travel last year. I made arrangements to go go Senegal and South Africa. I was under the impression the trip was with a church group from D.C. I had taken out travel insurance and was ready to make the last payment 2 months out from the travel date. My travel companion was not able to go due to a family emergency. She had to cancel her arrangements. I was still going to travel with the arrangements made but expected to pay the solo price. I found out at that time the church group that was originally planned for this trip was no longer going. So the trip would have been for just me and my travel companion. I was not willing to go on this trip alone. I needed to cancel the trip. The travel agency held on to my money for 2 months before they issued a refund. This was with a credit card. The refund was not a full refund. I lost $900.00 by canceling this trip. This does not include the $500.00 in immunization shots I received preparing for the trip. Needless to say, this was not a good experience for me. The agent (Mary) basically told me they had to pay for many of the arrangements they made including my airfare. I can't imagine much was really paid for 2 months prior to the trip. I have no intention on using this agency again. I may have been more disappointed had I taken the trip. I plan to contact the BBB as well. This should not be common practice. I have traveled many places and used many agencies. None have been as seedy as this one. Very disappointed.

Mar 24, 2014

At Palace Travel we regret any time a customer expresses dissatisfaction with the lawful and ethical way in which we operate our business. However, some complaints are unavoidable and this is one such case. I regret that these two experienced travelers incurred legitimate and documented cancellation fees that were clearly stated on the reservation forms which they completed and signed. These cancellation fees were the cost to cancel airline tickets more than 3 months after the tickets were issued. when airline tickets are canceled several months after purchase airlines generally charge a cancellation fee and in some cases the tickets are non-refundable.. Here are facts which Renee R omitted: In March 2012 Renee R. and her travel companion completed the reservation form and paid the required deposit for an 11 day group tour of Senegal and South Africa, https://www.palacetravel.com/terms-and-conditions/. The reservation form explains terms and conditions including cancellation charges. In addition to the reservation forms we never fail to inform travelers of the importance of purchasing travel insurance which Renee R stated in her review that she purchased. The price of the tour was $ 4890 per person including flights to Senegal, South Africa and within South Africa. Cost was based on a group of minimum 10 travelers. The group was to depart November 29 2012. The tour included a total of 10 night's hotel accommodation in 4 hotels. In June 2012 Renee R was notified that the main group was postponing the trip until October 2013 and that the only two travelers for November 2012 would be Renee R and her travel companion. They refused to postpone their trip and travel with the main group later. Even though there would now be only two travelers we offered Renee R and her travel companion the same prices they would have paid if the main group had not canceled. Since the number for the tour and airline tickets were now only two, and not a group of at least 10, Renee R was notified that the tickets would have to be purchased by a designated date in order to guarantee the price of the ticket and thus maintain the $ 4890 per person price. In June 2012 Renee R made an added payment which was then adequate to cover the cost of her tickets plus supplier deposits. On September 21, 2012, more than 3 months after the airline tickets were issued , Renee R canceled the trip because her friend's grandchild was expected to be born during the trip and she did not want to miss the birth. The travel companion also canceled since she did not want to travel alone. The reviewer stated that she purchased travel insurance. The insurance company did not reimburse cancellation charges because the birth of a friend's granddaughter is not a covered reason. When Renee R notified Palace Travel that she was canceling we promptly processed the refund, but we did not keep 50% of the deposit as stated in our terms and conditions, only the lesser amount needed to pay suppliers cancellation charges were deducted from her deposit. In summary: Renee R was traveling with a group and the group postponed their trip until October 2013. The group traveled in October 2013 and the group leader posted a positive review on Yelp which has been hidden. Even though there were only two travelers Palace Travel maintained the same group price for Renee R that she would have paid had she traveled with a group of at least 10. Renee R knew several months before she cancelled that her November 2012 tour would be for two people only. Palace Travel refunded a higher percentage than the amount required under the contract which the reviewer agreed to when she completed, signed and faxed the reservation forms to Palace Travel. Although Renee R authored this inaccurate review on January 2013, Palace Travel was not aware of it until a traveler who went on the originally postponed trip in October 2013 recommended Palace Travel to a friend, the prospective traveler noticed the review on Yelp and reported back to our past customer. After Palace Travel was alerted in January 2014 about this review we contacted Renee R and she mentioned that the refund she received was less than 1/2 of the actual amount we refunded to her. We provided her with a copy of the check which she cashed more than a year earlier. She promised to verify accuracy and update us, we have not heard from her despite numerous calls and emails. We at Palace Travel regret that Renee R's insurance provider did not reimburse the cancellations charges including for the airline tickets which were canceled more than 3 months after they were issued. To all our customers ,we thank you for your patronage during these past 23 years and hope to continue providing for your Africa travel needs. Sincerely, Lloyd C. Murray President Palace Travel, Inc. www.palacetravel.com

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Red Square & Moscow City Tour

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Description

Highlights:.

• Experience medieval Kitay Gorod (China town).
• Wander picturesque Red Square and Alexander Garden.
• Explore grand Christ the Savior Cathedral on our Red Square tour.
• Breathtaking panoramic views from Patriarch bridge.
• Enjoy a hearty lunch on the large open verandah and marvel at the stunning views of the Kremlin.
• Learn about Russian culture from the local through relaxed cultural discussions.

Tour Itinerary:

Red square:.

Russia and Moscow are synonymous with Red Square and the Kremlin and that's hardly surprising as you'll find these places absolutely stunning!

• - Walk-through the Resurrection Gate and don’t forget to flip a coin so you’ll be sure to come back one day!
• - Visit the world's famous Kazan Cathedral .
• - See the State Department Store (GUM), once the Upper Trading Stalls, which were built over a century ago and still operating!
• - Admire the lovely St. Basil's Cathedral! The French diplomat Marquis de Custine commented that it combined "the scales of a golden fish, the enamelled skin of a serpent, the changeful hues of the lizard, the glossy rose and azure of the pigeon's neck" and wondered at "the men who go to worship God in this box of confectionery work".
• - Walk by Lobnoye Mesto (literally meaning "Execution Place", or "Place of Skulls"), once Ivan the Terrible's stage for religious ceremonies, speeches, and important events.
• - Entering the Alexander Garden , you’ll take in spectacular views of Russian architecture from ancient to Soviet times, as well as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier with an eternal flame. Watch Changing of the Guard Ceremony every hour in summer and every half an hour in winter.

Kitai-gorod:

Stroll along medieval Kitai-gorod with its strong ancient Russia feel, known for its bohemian lifestyle, markets and arts.

• - Nikolskaya Street. Here you will find the Russia's first publishing house, the second oldest monastery, and Ferryn Pharmacy, known as the number one pharmacy back in Soviet times and famous for its Empire-style architecture.
• - Ilinka Street. The financial street of the Kitaigorod (China Town) district, where you’ll find the Gostiny Dvor (Merchant’s Yard), which is now a showroom for Ferraris and Maseratis. The street was designed in the 1790s by Catherine the Great.
• - Varvarka street. The oldest street in Moscow, which dates back to the 14th century, and still has remnants of early Muscovite architecture, such as the Old English Court and the Palace of the Romanov’s.
• - Kamergersky Lane. Only a small road of about 250 meters, it is home to some of the oldest artifacts of the city, as each building holds a fascinating story. Some of Russia's most famous writers, poets, and composers from as far back as the Golden Age of Russian culture, have lived or worked on this lane.

Historic City Center

Walk the historical old center of Moscow with its cool local vibe, including the main Tverskaya street , and indulge in desserts in the first grocery “Eliseev's store” , housed in an 18th century neoclassical building, famous for its baroque interior and decoration.

From our tour. Impressions of our American tourist:

At 3:30, as energy flagged, lunch was on the agenda at a Ukrainian restaurant.  Just in time!  We asked our guide to order for us.  We all had the same thing....borscht (the Ukrainian version has beans and more tomatoes than the Russian version, which has more beets and includes beef). 

The special high bread served is called galushki.  Our main course was golubtsy...a dish of minced meat rolled in braised cabbage leaves.  Both dishes called for optional sour cream as a topping....of course, yes, please....I recommend it. 

Full, satisfied, and completely refreshed, it was off to Red Square and St. Basil's and GUM department store.  Red Square is not so named because of the color of the brick walls of the Kremlin.  Rather the word for 'red' and the word for 'beautiful' are similar in pronunciation....and, there you have it. 

As we made the turn by the National Museum in front of which is the mounted sculpture of the "Marshall of Victory," Giorgy Zhukov from WWII and caught our first view of St. Basil's, my friend and I simultaneously emitted "Oooohhhhh!"  There it was....the iconic onion domes of St. Basil's!  Hooray....it was open until 7....we had about 30 minutes and were allowed in, AND we could take photos with no flash. 

Now, I can give you a taste of what we saw in the other cathedrals in Cathedral Square.  What we learned is that St. Vasily and St. Basil are one in the same....Russian/English.  He was a common man who wandered Moscow unclothed and barefoot.  But, all, even Ivan the Terrible, heeded his opinions derived from his visions.  Ivan had this cathedral built over his tomb. 

As we exited and took photos up close of the onion domes, Inna presented us with chocolate (how did she know we were ready for another energy boost, and we each got a big piece of chocolate.  The baby's name pictured on the wrapper of this famous Russian chocolate is Alyonka....the Russian Gerber baby, don't you think? 

One could wear out the credit card in GUM's (capitalized because it is actually a government abbreviation), but the 'kitty' and my credit card stayed in my pocket as we strolled through the glass-topped arcade. 

We then strolled through some of Moscow's lovely pedestrian streets; paused to listen as a wonderful quartet performed Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" in an underground passage to cross the busy street (hooray!....we DID have our 'classical concert' experience after all; a request Alina tried in vain to fill because none was scheduled those days), saw the Bolshoi, which means 'big' (my friend has yet to recover that their performance schedule did not coincide with our cruise), saw the Central Telegraph Building, dating from the 1930's, and made our way to the Ritz-Carlton to see the night view of Moscow from the rooftop bar, called O2. 

There were fleece blankets to wrap yourself in....yes, it got that cold when the sun set.  We each ordered something hot to drink...the ginger, mint, lemon tea served to me in a parfait glass (for 600 rubles...about $9....you pay for the view here!) was delightful and hit the spot perfectly.  It was time to call it a night....

What you get:

• + A friend in Moscow.
• + Private & customized Moscow tour.
• + An exciting city tour, not just boring history lessons.
• + An authentic experience of local life.
• + Flexibility during the tour: changes can be made at any time to suit individual preferences.
• + Amazing deals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the very best cafes & restaurants. Discounts on weekdays (Mon-Fri).
• + A photo session amongst spectacular Moscow scenery that can be treasured for a lifetime.
• + Good value for souvenirs, taxis, and hotels.
• + Expert advice on what to do, where to go, and how to make the most of your time.

*This Moscow city tour can be modified to meet your requirements.

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Matador Original Series

These 7 Palaces in Moscow Are Straight Out of a Fairy Tale

M oscow’s past is inextricably linked with the tsars and their favorite people, who, because of their status, did not live in communal flats but in incredibly fancy palaces. The palaces of St. Petersburg are world-famous, but Russia’s capital also has its fair share of magnificent noble residences, most of which are now museums. All the palaces impress with their beautiful architecture and equally beautiful interiors, as well as with their tumultuous histories. We have selected seven of them for you to add to your Moscow itinerary .

1. Tsaritsyno

Photo: Sergey Dzyuba /Shutterstock

In 1776, Tsaritsyno was built on the order of Catherine the Great who fell in love with the pastoral beauty of the area; however, she never lived here. The empress did not like the creation of Vasily Bazhenov, so his work was torn down. A second attempt by architect Matvey Kazakov got cut short — Catherine the Great died before he could finish the 20-year enterprise. The building was abandoned until it was beautifully renovated between 2005 and 2007.

Photo: dimbar76 /Shutterstock

Today, Tsaritsyno is a museum within a large, 1,000-acre park. Tsaritsyno is located south of Moscow, a 40-minute metro ride from the city center to the Tsaritsyno metro station and a 10-minute walk to get to the gate. The palace is in the middle of the park, so you’ll have to walk for another 10 minutes to access it, but the greenery, and the fountains and bridges that dot it, are a sight to see and well worth the extra footwork. The palace complex is closed on Monday, but you can access the park daily, from 6:00 AM to midnight.

2. Kolomenskoye

Photo: Gubin Yury /Shutterstock

As early as the 16th century, Kolomenskoye was the summer residence of the tsars. In the 17th century, Tsar Alexei Romanov built a great wooden palace on the royal estate, which was unfortunately torn down on the order of Catherine the Great in the late 18th century. The current magnificent wooden palace in Kolomenskoye was built using drawings of the one that stood on the estate so long ago.

Photo: EvgenySHCH /Shutterstock

Today, the Kolomenskoye estate is comprised of 17 architectural monuments on 990 acres, including the 16th-century Ascension Church, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site ; 17th-century wooden fortresses; and a 400-year old wooden Orthodox Church. The open-air museum is opened for visitors daily, except Mondays. To get there is a 50-minute metro ride from the center of Moscow to Kolomenskaya station.

3. Petrovsky Palace

Photo: Yury Dmitrienko /Shutterstock

Built as a station on the tsars’ journeys from St. Petersburg to Moscow by order of Catherine the Great, the red and white Petrovsky Palace is the work of the famous Russian architect Matvey Kazakov (and, as such, bears a resemblance with Tsaritsyno).

Today, the palace is used as a four-star hotel , so visiting it is not an option unless as part of a rare guided tour. The edifice is also used as the House of Receptions of the Government of Moscow since 2009. To get to the Petrovsky Palace, located in the northwest of Moscow, travel on the metro to the Dinamo station and walk for fewer than 10 minutes.

The huge Kuskovo complex was built between 1740 and 1780 by the wealthy and noble Sheremetev family to be used as a holiday residence. Besides the palace that was intended for receptions only, and which remains exactly the same as it was in the 18th century, the complex includes the Dutch House (a pavilion modeled on a 17th-century Dutch townhouse), Italian House (built in the style of 17th-century Italian villa), the Grotto, the Menagerie, the Hermitage and other structures in a large park with fountains, ponds, canals and a formal garden.

Photo: Dmitry Zimin /Shutterstock

The superb ensemble is a museum of 18th-century manor life that contains 50,000 pieces such as paintings, drawings, sculptures, and artistic furniture. The complex is also the host for the State Museum of Ceramics, where works of porcelain, glass, and ceramics are displayed. Kuskovo is a 35-minute metro ride from the city center to the Novogireevo metro station and a 15-minute walk to the complex.

5. Grand Kremlin Palace

Photo: Laborant /Shutterstock

The Grand Kremlin Palace is the largest building in the Kremlin, a fortified complex of cathedrals and palaces located in the heart of the Russian capital. The Grand Kremlin Palace was built between 1837 and 1849 and used to be the tsar’s residence; nowadays, it is the residence of the President of the Russian Federation. Although the outside may seem fancy, it is nothing compared to the lavish interior. With its intricate domed ceilings; huge, sparkling chandeliers; and gold -covered everything, it’s even fancier than Versailles . It is possible to visit the beautiful palace, but the only way to do it is by booking a two-hour tour .

Photo: Natalia Sidorova /Shutterstock

One of the most beautiful estates in Moscow, Bykovo — also known as Marino — unfortunately sits abandoned. The complex is comprised of the incredible Church of the Vladimir Icon of the Virgin, built in 1789 and said to have been designed by famous Russian architect Vasily Bazhenov; a palatial manor rebuilt in 1856, which served as a tuberculosis sanitarium after the Bolshevik Revolution; and a rotunda by large pond, all of which sits on an overgrown, forested park.

Photo: Julia Trubarova /Shutterstock

Because the estate is neglected, it is not possible to visit the interior of the manor; however, you can walk around and enjoy the architecture from the outside. In winter, the long slope in front of the manor serves as a tobogganing spot for local kids. Unlike the rest of the estate, the church is currently being renovated. It’s a bit of a trek to get to Bykovo by public transport, but if you have a vehicle or can afford a taxi ride, it’s only a 50-minute car ride from the center of Moscow.

Photo: Shevchenko Andrey /Shutterstock

The Marfino estate is a unique and prime example of Gothic architecture in Moscow as it’s an ensemble where every building is of the Gothic style. After being burned down by the French in 1822, it was later rebuilt by famed architect Mikhail Bykosvky. The ensemble is comprised of a large park, large ponds, a beautiful bridge, stone gates, sculptures, the Nativity Church, a rotunda, a pavilion, and, of course, the red and white manor.

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The Petrovsky Palace – a gem of Russian neo-Gothic architecture

No comments · Posted by Sergei Rzhevsky in Architecture , Cities , Photos

The Petrovsky Palace was built as stopover palace at the entrance to Moscow from St. Petersburg . It is an example of Russian neo-Gothic architecture.

The palace was built by the order of Catherine II in 1776-1780 after the victory in the Russian-Turkish war of 1768-1774 as a residence for nobility to rest after a long journey from St. Petersburg to Moscow. Photos by av_otus

During the French Invasion of Russia (the Patriotic War of 1812), after the great fire in Moscow, French Emperor Napoleon stayed for a while in the palace. In 1896, during the coronation of Nicholas II, a lot of people died at Khodynka field because of mass stampede. This field is located just opposite the palace.

In 1920, the Petrovsky Palace was transferred to the Air Force Engineering Academy. Since 1997, it is managed by the administration of Moscow city. March 5, 2009 the palace was opened after the 11-year renovation.

Today the Petrovsky Palace is used as luxury hotel and meeting venue. The address: Moscow, Leningradsky prospekt, 40. The nearest metro station: “Dinamo”. The location of the palace on Google Maps .

Tags:  Moscow city

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