shedd aquarium must see tour

Shedd Aquarium

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Shedd Aquarium - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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The Behind-The-Scenes tour was amazing! - Shedd Aquarium

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• Illinois (IL)    
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• Chicago - Things to Do    
• Shedd Aquarium

The Behind-The-Scenes tour was amazing!

Add on a behind-the-scenes tour if possible. It is a great way to learn about the Shedd and the exhibits. Our children really enjoyed getting up close to the galleries and talking with our tour guide. The stingray touch exhibit opened for the season the day of our visit and that was very cool to touch the stingrays. We also enjoyed the aquatic show. Go early because it can get crowded.

The Shedd Aquarium is a must see attraction. We recently visited Chicago and took advantage of the CityPass that gave us discounted admission to multiple attractions. The aquarium was high on our list and we spent a good 4-5 hours there. The jellyfish exhibit is a must see. Well suited to couples and families.

"Over priced and disappointing" could be a sub title. The most disappointing portion of the trip was the "Acquatic Show" where the staff gave a poor demonstration of animal training and lackluster animal performances. To charge upwards of $35.00+ per person is typical of Chicago gouging public attractions. Top it off with parking rates of $22 and it can ruin the day for a family of four. I will grant you that the cost of running such a facility is expensive but they have gone too far. The jelly fish exhibits were quite good, not up to Monterey Bay's. Again they were quite good, you'll enjoy them. The facility was crowded and dirty, a true disappointing experience. The staff needs some work on how to greet guests and not to be gathering in clusters to complain about their jobs. Have they hired the right people?

It seems really expensive lately to go to the Shedd. They do offer free days or company days but those days are so crowded that it just isn't comfortable there nor does it feel safe. Of course the stars of this destination are the inhabitants of the aquariums throughout. The dolphin show is great...if you haven't seen it before. Otherwise it's rather boring and I sort of wish it was less a show and more a showcase of the animals. If I wanted a show I would go to the movies.

The Aquarium is a great day experiance. The place is clean - The stafff in formative - The shows great and instruction by staff is awesome. Take a day and enjoy this special place.

I dined here as part of a private business group last week, and it was a great experience. Spectacular view of the Chicago skyline and a nice variety of fish exhibits. This was my second visit here - first time was New Years Eve, which I would not recommend if you want to avoid major crowds. If you're looking for a place to hold a private event, business or personal, I would recommend the Shedd highly. It was very enjoyable to have the place all to ourselves. The food and service were all very good.

• Top 10 Things To Do At Shedd Aquarium Chicago

by Chicago Traveler | Top Lists for Recreation |

Whether you are just visiting the Windy City or you have lived here your whole life, an afternoon spent at Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium will be an experience you’ll never forget. Resting on the outskirts of Lake Michigan, the Shedd Aquarium is as close to Sea World as you will find in the Midwest. This one-of-a-kind destination is one of the most popular cultural attractions in Chicago, a city filled with cultural monuments! Hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Top 10 Things to Do at Shedd Aquarium

As one of the largest indoor aquariums in the world, Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium is one of the landmark monuments of this great city and is home to over 1,500 species of fish and mammals. Here are a few things to check out while you are visiting the Shedd Aquarium:

#1 The Caribbean Reef This assorted collection of oceanic life features sharks, stingrays, turtles, and more in a 90,000-gallon tank.

#2 Waters of the World This exhibit brings to life the frozen waters of northern Alaska and the tropics of Australia all in one great venue.

#3 Amazon Rising Exhibit Get inside the rainforests of South Africa and see how the lives of all living things are affected when water levels rise.

#4 Wild Reef Exhibit Learn about the function of coral reef and view over two dozen sharks in this 400,000 gallon tank.

#5 Oceanarium Exhibit Here you will find the biggest and largest saltwater marine life on display. This 3,000,000 gallon tank is home to Beluga whales and an underground penguin shore.

#6 Marine Mammal Presentation This is the show everyone talks about. Stop by to see Pacific White-Sided Dolphins and their trainers put on a spectacular show.

#7 A Day in the Life of a Sea Otter Pup If you want to see the cutest animal at the Shedd, be sure to visit this exhibit to watch Cayucos (a sea otter pup) eat, train, and play.

#8 Meet the Hairy Jellies This seasonal species of rare jellyfish has a squarish bell top and filamentous reproductive organs that light up like a light bulb.

#9 Explore Black Tip Reef Sharks These vicious animals are common in coral reefs in the Indo-Pacific, and you can see them up close at the Shedd Aquarium.

#10 Chill with the Sea Turtles The great Green Sea Turtles grown up to 500 pounds from their strict seaweed diet!

There is plenty to see and enjoy for all ages at Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium, and there’s no better way to spend a day in the Windy City!

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• Oct 17, 2023

The Complete Guide to Chicago's Shedd Aquarium

Everything you need to know about the iconic Chicago Museum Campus attraction.

There are few places in Chicago more magical than the Shedd. A beautiful building right on the shores of Lake Michigan, full to the brim with amazing sea creatures! Here’s everything you need to know about this glorious place.

Shedd Aquarium Upper Galleries

The main floor of the Shedd features a big rotunda surrounded on all sides by beautiful galleries. All these galleries have themes like the Great Lakes or the Amazon River. You’ll see local favorites like lake sturgeon, and exotic critters like piranhas and the Shedd’s resident octopus. This is also where you’ll see amphibious and river-dwelling creatures like turtles, rainforest snakes, and poisonous frogs!

These galleries are probably the least “showy” area of the Shedd, but they’re still well worth your time.

Abbott Oceanarium

This area is just down the main stairs from the upper galleries, and it’s everything aquarium dreams are made of. This is where you’ll find the amphitheater for the Shedd’s animal encounter performances. Walk in a circle around the amphitheater space and you’ll be able to look down into the tanks that house dolphins, beluga whales, and sea otters!

Oceanarium Lower Level

From the Abbott Oceanarium, you can descend another flight of stairs (or take an elevator) down to the lower level. From here, you’ll be able to view those same tanks of dolphins, whales, and otters from under the water level. The views are incredible, and it’s fabulous to watch these gorgeous sea creatures from their level.

This lower level is also where the Shedd’s flock of penguins hang out! And if you’re visiting the Shedd with small kiddos, the Polar Play Zone can entertain those youngbloods for ages.

Wild Reef (read: Sharks!)

The Wild Reef is a separate underground exhibit that you can access via elevators in the main galleries. These are big elevators, so even if the line is long, don’t despair! You’ll move through quickly, and the reward is the Shedd’s biggest coral reef inspired exhibit.

You’ll see exhibits inspired by reefs and tide pools, and the highlight of them all is the huge tank of reef fish and sharks! The shark tank covers the entire wall, giving you an up close and personal look at these beauties in all their glory.

Shedd Aquarium Shows and Experiences

There’s a whole mess of additional experiences that take place at the Shedd, and best of all, most of them are included in your admission price!

In the Abbott Oceanarium, Animal Encounter shows happen multiple times a day. The schedules are always posted right outside the amphitheater. These shows typically feature the resident dolphins, and you’ll get to see them doing all their favorite tricks and maybe learn a thing or two about them!

There are a handful of touch tanks scattered through the aquarium as well. In the lower galleries near the Polar Play Zone, there’s a starfish touch pool. And in the Great Lakes gallery on the main floor, you can touch Lake Surgeon! There’s also a stingray touch pool that’s open seasonally, so if that’s a must-do for you, check the website to make sure it’s open!

For an additional fee, you can watch movies in the Shedd’s 4D theater, with a wide variety of films and showtimes. And if you’re willing to shell out for a one-of-a-kind experience, check out the Shedd’s website for details on their up close and personal animal encounters!

Getting to the Shedd

The best way to get to the Shedd Aquarium is via public transit. You can take the red line train to Roosevelt and walk over to the museum campus from there, or the 146 bus stops right outside the Shedd’s doors! If you do want to drive in, you can park in the lots around the museum campus, but those parking spots don’t come cheap, so I recommend public transit.

At the time of writing, the only entrance to the Shedd that’s actually in use is not, in fact, the main entrance up the grand staircase. Follow the crowds slightly to the right of the main entrance, and you’ll see the line! You won’t be able to get in line until the time printed on your ticket, but this actually helps the line move faster.

On that note, tickets to the Shedd absolutely must be reserved in advance. Try to reach the building 5-10 minutes before the time printed on your ticket, to make sure you don’t waste a minute!

Be sure to check out the Shedd Aquarium on your next visit to Chicago!

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A Guide to Chicago's Shedd Aquarium

 TripSavvy / Cory Giguere 

John G. Shedd Aquarium shares the esteemed Museum Campus with Field Museum of Natural History and the Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum . Donated to Chicago by Shedd, who was the second president and chairman of the board of Marshall Field & Company, the revered Chicago institution opened in 1930. Since that time, it has added several permanent exhibits to the main aquarium, effectively doubling its size. The Shedd Aquarium boasts a National Historic Landmark designation and it's one of the top attractions in the South Loop neighborhood.

Address: 1200 S. Lake Shore Dr.

Phone: 312-939-2426

Hours:  See website for current hours.

Aquarium Admission Options:

• Express Pass: Same Day Admission (express entry, plus access to all of Shedd, including the aquatic presentation, Stingray Touch, a 4-D Experience)
• Total Experience Pass (includes the main aquarium, Oceanarium, 4-D Experience, aquatic show and the Wild Reef)
• Shedd Pass Plus (includes general admission, 4-D Experience, Wild Reef, Oceanarium)
• Shedd Pass (includes Waters of the World, Caribbean Reef, Amazon Rising, Wild Reef, Abbott Oceanarium, Polar Play Zone)
• Aquarium Only:  Waters of the World, Caribbean Reef, and Amazon Rising only
• The Shedd Aquarium is included with the purchase of a Go Chicago Card .
• The Shedd Aquarium is included with the purchase of a Chicago City Pass . ( Buy Direct )
• See current prices
• See how to visit Shedd Aquarium for free.

Getting There By Public Transportation

• By bus: south-bound CTA bus line #146 (Marine-Michigan)
• By train: Red Line CTA train south to Roosevelt, then take a Museum Campus trolley or transfer to CTA bus #12

Driving From Downtown Chicago:

Lake Shore Drive (US 41) south to 18th Street. Turn left onto Museum Campus Drive and follow it around Soldier Field . Look for signs that will point you to the visitor parking garage. The Shedd Aquarium is just north of the parking garage and the Field Museum.

Parking at the Shedd Aquarium:

There are several lots on the Museum Campus, but most tend to fill up quickly and your best bet is in the main parking garage.

Official Shedd Aquarium site

Abbott Oceanarium

The oceanarium aims to recreate the peaceful rainforest of the Pacific Northwest, and with its huge, soaring windows overlooking Lake Michigan, you might actually believe you are on the ocean. The tidal pools and coves are also home to sea stars, sea otters, Pacific white-sided dolphins and beluga whales. There are daily aquatic presentations in the Rice Amphitheater, which is located in the Abbott Oceanarium.​

Amazon Rising

Did you know the Amazon is home to one-third of all living things on Earth? Visit this exhibition to learn all about it. Look out for piranhas, tarantulas, stingrays, monkeys, and an anaconda. This exhibit offers viewers an in depth look into one of them most delicate ecosystems on the planet. Docents are always nearby to answer questions or to educate visitors by showing them replicas of fish and other animals.

Amphibians Exhibition

Shedd rivals Lincoln Park Zoo when it comes to showcasing amphibians in Chicago. Visitors will find more than 40 species of frogs, toads, salamanders, and caecilians swimming, hopping, climbing and hiding in this special exhibit. These masters of disguise are known to hide in plain sight against bark, leaves and light-dappled shadows.

Caribbean Reef

This 90,000-gallon exhibit, which is at the hub of Shedd's original galleries, is a great place to start your visit. Guests may take a 360-degree tour of the underwater reef community and watch eels, green sea turtles, stingray and even sharks co-exist and navigate within their home. Throughout the day, you can see aquarium divers inside the central tank. They'll give an informative talk while feeding the reef's inhabitants.

Polar Play Zone

While much of the Shedd is family friendly, the Polar Play Zone is designed just for kids, much like the Chicago Children's Museum and others like it. It's very interactive, allowing children to get in the spirit of the experience by slipping into penguin suits or a kid-sized submarine. Kids can crawl through tunnels and zip down slides while the caretakers watch. When play’s all done, they'll get a little closer to the whales, dolphins, and sea otters in the underwater viewing space.

The Wild Reef features a huge display of live coral, and more than two dozen sharks swimming in a 400,000-gallon habitat with tall windows that gives visitors the feeling of an underwater experience. Spot animals with the most unusual patterns, shapes and textures made expressly to blend in with the dazzling diversity of the reef. Wild Reef is home to more sharks, stingrays, and live coral than any other exhibit at Shedd .

Shedd Aquarium Dos and Don'ts

DO arrive before 9:30 a.m. to get the early bird parking rate and avoid long lines.

• DO buy the All Access Pass if you can afford it.
• DO find seating for the dolphin show at least 30 minutes early, especially on weekends.
• DON'T bring large strollers or bulky bags. It is hard to maneuver among the big crowds.
• DON'T use flash photography or tripods, both of which are prohibited.
• DO keep an eye on small kids, especially when the museum is crowded. You may want to decide on a meeting place for larger groups.

Dining at Shedd Aquarium

Shedd Aquarium has established three distinct restaurants on premises:

Soundings Café:  The largest of the three, Soundings offers fresh salads, wraps, and sandwiches made to order. All feature organic, locally grown ingredients. Starbucks coffee and beverages are also available. The casual atmosphere includes inside with lakefront views or on an outdoor terrace.

The Bubble Net:  The family-friendly menu includes pizza, grilled burgers, sandwiches and burritos. There is also vegetarian choices and healthy fare for kids.

Deep Ocean Café:  Located in the Polar Play Zone, the restaurant features favorites like Vienna hot dogs, mac and cheese, slushies, Dippin’ Dots and Mrs. Field’s cookies.

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Must See Tour @ Shedd Aquarium

More About Must See Tour @ Shedd Aquarium

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Must see tour - shedd aquarium.

Go behind the scenes for an in-depth look at the alluring sharks of the Wild Reef. Visit the Pacific white-sided dolphins and beluga whales. 

Led by an enthusiastic guide, encounter the aquatic animals that call Shedd home like never before. These experiences guaranteed, plus more to spark your curiosity on every tour!

Have a limited time to see everything at Shedd? The Must See Tour is the perfect way to hit the highlights in just a little over an hour. 

DATES AND TIMES

Daily at 11:00 a.m. and 1 p.m. Additional 3 p.m. tour and 6 p.m. tour on select days. 

Please arrive 15 minutes before your tour.

The tour will last 75 minutes

6 years and older. Participants 6 to 17 years old must be accompanied by a participating adult.  For the safety of the animals, no one under the age of 6 may attend the tour.

Adults (12 and older): $75.00 Children (6-11): $65.00 Members  (6 and older): $60.00 Admission to the aquarium is included with the purchase of a tour.

Shedd Aquarium

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Will Be Busy But Still a Must See - Shedd Aquarium

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• Shedd Aquarium

Will Be Busy But Still a Must See

The Shedd is a must see attraction in the must see Museum Campus of Chicago. If you drove, park at Soldier field where the walk won't be as severe. I would recommend buying your tickets early as it will get busy. We had tickets for 9:00am but didn't actually arrive until around 2:30. They didn't give us any issue at all. Just scanned the QR code and on we went. You will have to have your bags checked as well as pretty constant reminders about your mask. Chicago will be going into vaccination card check mode soon but as of now, they hadn't. Bring your vaccine card just in case. You are encouraged to take a digital picture of the map of the aquarium which for the main portion isn't totally necessary as you have the Caribbean portion acting like the hub of a wheel and all of the other portions branching off of it. There are a few hands on portions still around. Namely, you can touch the sturgeon (a little slimy) and some starfish (mostly rocky). There are a lot of tanks and so you would think the crowds would be spread around. Since this is a renowned aquarium, however, the crowds don't stop. Anything with a unique (or at the very least, visible) species, there will be a big crowd around it. You can also bank on the fact that because there really isn't much as far as directional flow, you may wait your turn while someone comes up to see but about a dozen people behind them will follow and give you a dirty look because they think you are the one messing up the system. In truth, get a good view when the openings become available. The spotlights are back so you can see the dolphins flip (which is the show I made it to) as well as belugas, otters, and sea lions. There are multiple levels of the Oceanarium so take your time in this area. The same area has a gift shop (the smaller of them) and a cafeteria (wasn't hungry so I skipped it). Overall, with about three hours you should be able to see the exhibits pretty solidly.

Just visited Shedd yesterday (a Monday) for the first time in many years. Despite the pandemic, the place was PACKED with holiday-break tourists from all over. In fact, it was so crowded that we quickly realized we should have dressed for much warmer weather, especially when walking through some of the top-floor areas where the climate of the ecosystems being simulated is more humid. Beware, if you do not wear your mask properly (up over your mouth AND nose) employees will not hesitate to call you out and make you pull it up! Not a complaint, just a warning to those visiting from cities/states that aren't mandating or enforcing mask-wearing. We enjoyed all our favorite exhibits, particularly the beluga whales and Caribbean Reef. The animal talks happened every hour and varied; we watched one on the belugas and another on penguins--both very entertaining despite being short (about ten minutes long apiece). We opted to rent a locker so we wouldn't have to carry our winter coats around with us all day, and the automated rental app was very glitchy when we tried to open our locker up at the end of the day--this was really the only bummer of our visit.

I went to the aquarium on December 27 (Monday) 10am and it’s extremely packed (which is weird, considering the fact that the nearby, far superior Field Museum has a pretty small crowd on the same day). I purchased the city pass and made a reservation before hand so ideally - you would believe it shouldn’t take too long to get inside. I waited for half an hour eventually, as all ticket holders (including those using city pass) has to get the 4D show ticket at the office for some reason. The aquarium (and the 4D movie) itself is pretty cool. I spent ~3 hours there and attended 2 animal spotlights (Beluga whales and penguins). Pros: I’m glad that they are showcasing amphibians and birds in certain exhibits as well- which is a nice touch. The exhibits are way more diverse than what I expected - so I gotta give props to them. Cons: the wild reef (aka shark exhibit) is gatekept behind a paywall - which is understandable, but a bit disappointing since you gotta pay extra for the “essentials” of an aquarium. About the shows: Pros: Show was great, very engaging, staff members are knowledgeable and attentive to the animals. Cons: crowd control is nonexistent and people sneak in all the time after the show begins. It was suffocatingly hot in the aquarium (probably 85 degrees). While it is understandable that certain exhibit areas’ temperature should be set to 80F or higher to create the perfect habitat for the animals, the temperature of the whole aquarium is consistently unbearable - even in the penguin exhibit. The whole place is very touristy as well and you would most likely spent most of your time waiting for the group in front of you to scooch over - after they are done looking at the exhibits. Should you check out Shedd if you happen to be in Chicago for a couple of days? Maybe. Is this the best aquarium ever? Not at all. Shedd seriously need to set up a visitor limit because it doesn’t seem like they can keep everything under control with the crazy crowd of folks. Social distance is nonexistent as well and it deadass feels like Astroworld inside.

With Covid-19 spiking- Thinking that this would be a safer family activity I could not have been more wrong. Super crowded. No staff. No social distancing of any kind.

What a wonderful aquarium. We went on a Sunday and it was busy. We were advised to buy our tickets online using the QR code posted outside. We were admitted after showing our confirmation number. Inside, you can buy tickets for the 4D short movies (12 mn each) or for the oculus experience. The restaurant on the lower level is open but the cafeteria in the shark area is closed. There are a live show with dolphins or other animals every hour. Seating is unassigned. Displays are really good. And kids can touch a shark. Everyone was masked and there are sanitizer stations everywhere.

I admit my review may be a bit biased. I spent many a lovely visit here as a young person when it was less touristy and free. I remember when they first opened the reef exhibit and later reveled at the Pacific Northwest exhibit with it's spectacular view of Lake Michigan and the inside fast food restaurant with the best views of the Chicago skyline. It was an easy place to visit with lots of street parking and quick walks to the Adler Planetarium and the Field Museum. But on our visit, it was impossible to find street parking. Our choices were the $30 covered parking lot or the $25 open parking at the former airport nearby. Add to that the $82 we spent for 2 adults tickets (there's no senior discount and admission is double what Chicago resident pay). We felt the aquarium experience did not justify the cost. Most of what I knew is still there. However, one corridor has a very good Amazon River exhibit. The Beluga Whales are there, but when we went to the amphitheater, they were highlighting the penguins. We asked a volunteer what kind of dolphins they had, and although we were right next to them, she did not know. When we went to the center reef, we tried to find out when they feed the fish. No one seemed to know. The Aquarium is in a great need to educate their staff and volunteers!

Nicki Minaj has hilarious, relatable mom moment while at Shedd Aquarium with her son

Wednesday and thursday, minaj is set to perform at the united center on her 'pink friday 2 world tour', by francie swidler • published april 24, 2024 • updated on april 24, 2024 at 11:35 am.

Visitors to a certain part of the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago this week may have been treated to a celebrity sighting.

In videos posted to Instagram Tuesday, rapper Nicki Minaj and her young son — donning a Chicago White Sox hat — appeared to visit the iconic aquarium, taking in a dolphin show and even enjoying a meet-and-greet with a penguin.

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But the area Minaj and her son spent the most time in wasn't an exhibit, Minaj said in one video. Instead, it was the cafeteria.

"A day in the life of a boy mom," Minaj said. "We thought were coming to go to the Aquarium. Instead, Papa had other plans. He had plans to to just chill in the cafeteria with new found friends that we made. So we're just sitting here waiting for Papa to be done."

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In the video caption, Minaj gave a shout out to the "amazing employees" at the attraction. "#PapaBear had a great time," Minaj continued, referring to her son.

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• Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Best of Moscow by high speed train

By shuguley , February 15, 2014 in Regent Seven Seas Cruises

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Sure would appreciate someone who has taken "Best of Moscow by high speed train" from St. Petersburg could please share their impressions of this shore excursion. From the description this sounds like a very long day.

Wondering how the 4 hour train trip was in terms of accommodations, etc. Also what time did you leave the ship and what time at night did you return? Were both legs of the trip on the high speed rail (I read that slower trains also travel the same tracks)?

My wife and I are considering this excursion. We thought that if we are making all the effort to go to Russia then how could we pass up going to Moscow, walking in Red Square, seeing St. Basil, etc.

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If you are considering this on the 2015 June Baltic cruise on Voyager; my suggestion is don't. There is so much to do in St. Petersburg and although a train is one of my favorite ways to travel the time would be far better spent in St. P.

Thanks for the advice. Yes, this would be on the Voyager during the 2015 season but not yet sure exactly which cruise.

We did the Moscow excursion "on a different luxury line", but from your brief description it sounds very much like the same trip, so I will operate on that assumption. It is a VERY long day! We left the ship at 5:30 AM and returned at 12:30 AM. The highspeed train trip is comfortable, and while they call it "Business Class" it does not compare well to the equivalent class on say Rail Europe. When we did it in 2011, we did have highspeed both ways, and the trip back seemed much longer as the adrenaline and excitement had worn off!:D

Moscow itself is not that terribly different from any other big city in the world, but this Cold War kid never thought he would ever stand in Red Square, never mind walk the grounds of The Kremlin, or tour The Kremlin Palace, or see (but not visit) Lenin's Tomb, or visit The Armoury. But he did, and he loved every minute of it! Yes, it is a long day, and you barely scratch a scratch on the surface, but it is worth it. There is a tremendous amount to see in St. Petersburg, but every Baltic cruise goes to St. Petersburg, so you can go back if you choose to. Not every cruiseline offers you the chance to see Moscow.

I have not personally done this tour, but our last time in St Petersburg, the private guide that we hired for a day was leading the regent tour to Moscow on the high speed train the next day. He said it was way better than the previous alternative, which was flying to Moscow and back. He said that you actually got to Moscow faster because you didn't have to deal with airline checkin etc. it did seem like a very long day to me, and there is so much to see and do in st. Petersburg that I didn't consider doing it.

countflorida

We toured to Moscow from St. Petersburg via the hi-speed SAPSAN train last September, from a Baltic cruise on the Oceania Marina. You need to have a two-night, three day port call in St. Petersburg to take this tour because the tour typically leaves the ship around 5:00 - 5:30 AM and doesn't return until after midnight the next day. We didn't take the ship's tour; we made private arrangements with TravelAllRussia for three days of touring, the first and third days in St. Petersburg and the second day the tour to Moscow by train. Our cost for the private tour for three days was about the same as what the ship charged for the excursion to Moscow alone. There are a number of private tour agencies that operate in St. Petersburg and offer the Moscow train tours; we would strongly recommend them over the ship's tours.

All three days had private guides with car and driver. The second day, the driver picked us up at the ship and took us to the train, but we were alone on the train, and met in Moscow by the guide on the station platform. After our tour and dinner, we were brought back to the train and after the return train trip met by the driver and taken back to the ship. Because you are alone on the train you must have your own Russian visas.

If this is your first visit to St. Petersburg, I would agree there is much more to see there. We found Moscow somewhat a disappointment, particularly Red Square. The Kremlin and the cathedral in Red Square were also worth seeing. But the best thing we saw was the Moscow subway! I worked for the Washington Metro system back in the 1980s as it grew from 40 to 80 miles and although I was in the computer area, I learned a lot about the challenges of running a subway system. We used the Moscow system to get across the city from where we had dinner to the train station, and I was amazed at the cleanliness', speed of operation, the short headways maintained, and the courtesy of everyone involved. A very impressive experience!

We had been to St. Petersburg before, and so had the time to take a day and go to Moscow. Also, I really like trains, and the SAPSAN is a German train set running on Russian rails. Seats are like first class domestic air, spacious but not too plush or comfortable, but with enough room. Not too much recline, and almost 8 hours on the train in two shots is a lot for an old man. They come through and sell drinks, candy, etc. but the sellers don't speak English and no one around us helped, so we had just poor coffee once coming, and brought stuff with us for the trip back. Not too much to see from the train either, particularly on the return when it is night the whole way.

If you decide to go, take a private tour and avoid the overly expensive ship's tour. I'm glad we did it, but wouldn't bother to repeat the tour; we've seen Moscow.

Thanks so much to all of you for the thorough and thought insight. Yhe information you have provided is most helpful.

countflorida: Your detailed post is very helpful. We are not quite ready for a Baltic cruise but should do so within a year. Time enough to do our pre travel research, bookings and visa gathering.:) Thank you!

Emperor Norton

Sure would appreciate someone who has taken "Best of Moscow by high speed train" from St. Petersburg could please share their impressions of this shore excursion. From the description this sounds like a very long day.   Wondering how the 4 hour train trip was in terms of accommodations, etc. Also what time did you leave the ship and what time at night did you return? Were both legs of the trip on the high speed rail (I read that slower trains also travel the same tracks)?   My wife and I are considering this excursion. We thought that if we are making all the effort to go to Russia then how could we pass up going to Moscow, walking in Red Square, seeing St. Basil, etc.

I did this on Seabourn. IMO DONT. Take Aeroflop (er Aeroflot). The train has non folding seats where you are literally knee to knee with your fellow passenger (facing each other). Further they don't believe in air conditioning. It's also the worlds slowed bullet train. I think I would have found more enjoyment wandering around the St. Petersburg and Moscow airports.

Countflorida,

This is a little off topic,, however we had planned a river cruise in Russia but decided we would rather stay on land and have booked about two weeks with Travel-All-Russia using the private guide and driver. I'm curious as to how you found them as a tour company.

The guides they provided were fine. We had a different guide each of the days in St. Petersburg, but both were flexible, pleasant, knowledgeable and spoke English very well, as did the guide in Moscow, incidentally. She was a bit aloof, distant, not too friendly, but otherwise fine. In fact, she was the one who suggested taking the Metro, which unexpectedly became one of the highlights of the Moscow excursion. If I have a complaint with AllTravelRussia, it is with their plan and its execution (more later).

I had requested emphasis on World War II (in Russia, the Great Patriotic War) sites and info. In scheduling us, they weren't careful about dates and a couple of the sites we wanted to see were scheduled on the third day, after we'd been to Moscow. But both sites were closed that day of the week, and that info was readily available, right on web sites describing them. Also, the included meals (lunches in St. Pete, dinner in Moscow) were not what we asked for: light meals with some choices, so we could avoid things we didn't like and choose things we did like. My request was ignored; we were given full Russian meals with a fixed menu, no choice. On the first day, a fish dish was the entre, but I am allergic to fish. Fortunately, I had the e-mail I'd sent with me and showed it to the guide, and she was able to change my entre to chicken, which was very good actually. But we didn't want a 3-4 course lunches or dinner (in Moscow). We had the guide drop the lunch the third day, although we never got any credit or refund. But, particularly in contrast to the ship's tours, the prices were so reasonable we didn't worry too much about it.

The people who were on the ship's tour to Moscow saw us boarding the same train for which they were forced to queue up and wait on the way back, and asked us what we had done. I was candid and open so they were not happy when I explained what we had arranged and particularly what it had cost. Also, when we returned to the ship, we found they had laid on a late supper for those who had gone to Moscow, so up we went and had something. Well, it turns out the late supper was supposed to be just for those on the ship's tour, but we and others on 'independent' tours, there were a dozen or more of us, crashed the party, actually got there first, and they didn't realize it until the larger group arrived and there weren't enough tables/places set. By that time, the 'independents' had all gotten served and were eating; what could they do?

A couple from the larger group sat down with us and asked us about our tour, and they were the ones I told about our arrangement and its cost. They turned to others who’d been with them and announced the details, loudly enough so the whole room heard, which started a lot of bitching and complaining. I gathered they weren't very happy with the ship's tour to begin with, and this was the straw that broke the camel's back. We finished up and beat it out of there, but overheard later that one of the excursion staff came to check on something and ran into a real mess. I caught a cold on the trip, which forced me to bed the second day following in Tallinn, so by the time we reappeared we heard about the contretemps' but apparently no one recalled who started it, thankfully.

Because of what happened to us, I would probably not use AllTravelRussia if I were to go again, or if I did, I would be sure to get confirmation of every detail of the tour. They do have good reviews generally, and we were certainly helped by their visa department and liked the guides and drivers. Their weakness, I say now with full 20:20 hindsight, is that once the sales person who plans the tour, sells it to you and collects your money, he (or she) transfers the plan to their Russia office for implementation; there is no follow-up to make sure it gets done right. And that is where our problems arose; we paid for a custom tour but got a standard package with a few destinations switched, and no one checked them out, even to see when they were open the day we were scheduled to go. If you check every detail that’s important to you, it should be OK, but that’s a hell of a way to have to do business, in my opinion.

Thank you for the 20/20 hindsight observation on your Russian tour operator, and better priced than the ship's excursion cost.

Thanks very much for the feedback.

We had the same experience as you so far as price. We originally booked a Viking Cruise but, hearing some things about the river cruises that made us unhappy, looked into other options. T-A-R cost the same or less than a cruise and had us in hotels for 11 days. We opted for the private tour. They have three tour levels, based on hotels. We originally opted for the four star as it did not cost much more than the three star hotels. Finally we decided to throw it all in and upgraded to five star. In Moscow we will be at the newly opened Kempinsky which is two blocks from Red Square. In St. Petersburg it is the Grand Hotel Europe, one of the most vaunted luxury hotels in Russia. Location is important for us as the tours use up only part of the day so being in the center of everything for our independent touring is important. As with many other cities, the less you pay, the farther out of the center of town you are.

We have been working with our salesman in D.C. and he seems to get back to us with the changes we want. He recently returned from Russia so is up on everything. When I asked they said they paid the full TA commission if I wanted so I got my usual TA on board so he is watching our back and giving us that extra level of comfort. He also set up our air, which I know pays him little or nothing, and got us business class for much less than T-A-R wanted for economy, though it took working for a while with a consolidator. He's happy to get his 10 percent on this trip without having booked it. He also took care of the trip insurance. We've been doing a lot of research on the CC sister site Trip Advisor and will write a report there. We will, I guess, become a source of info for CC members after having spent 5 days in Moscow and 6 in SP.

• 4 months later...

scubacruiserx2

Anybody considering a day trip to Moscow from St. Petersburg on the Sapsan may want to look at our travelogue filled with pictures.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1927687

Very informative. Thanks dor sharing. Jeff

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Theatres in Moscow

Cultural life of Moscow city is various and rich! Operas, ballets, symphonic concerts... Russian composers have created some of the most beautiful classical music. Russian classical music is very popular in Moscow. It is performed in many beautiful historical venues. Do not forget to include a visit to a concert hall in your itinerary when you are planning your stay in Moscow! And do it in advance.

There are almost no restrictions on dress code in Russian theatres. Visitors may wear jeans and sports shoes, they may have a backpack with them. Only shorts are not allowed.

A typical feature of Russian theatre – visitors are bringing a lot of flowers which they present to their favorite performers after the show.

Here are some practical advices where to go and how to buy tickets.

The Bolshoi Theatre

The Bolshoi Theatre is the oldest, the most famous and popular opera and ballet theatre in Russia. The word “Bolshoi” means “big” in Russian. You can buy a ticket online in advance, 2-3 months before the date of performance on the official website . Prices for famous ballets are high: 6-8 thousand rubles for a seat in stalls. Tickets to operas are cheaper: you can get a good seat for 4-5 thousand rubles. Tickets are cheaper for daytime performances and performances on the New Stage. The New Stage is situated in the light-green building to the left of the Bolshoi's main building. The quality of operas and ballets shown on the New Stage is excellent too. However, you should pay attention that many seats of the Bolshoi’s Old and New Stages have limited visibility . If you want to see the Bolshoi’s Old Stage but all tickets are sold out, you can order a tour of the theatre. You can book such a tour on the official website.

If you want, following Russian tradition, to give flowers to the performers at the end of the show, in the Bolshoi flowers should be presented via special staff who collects these flowers in advance.

In August the Bolshoi is closed.

The Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Music Theatre

This theatre is noteworthy. On one hand, it offers brilliant classical opera and ballet performances. On the other hand, it is an experimental venue for modern artists. You can check the program and buy tickets online here http://stanmus.com/ . If you are opera lover, get a ticket to see superstar Hibla Gerzmava . The theatre has a very beautiful historic building and a stage with a good view from every seat. Tickets are twice cheaper than in the Bolshoi.

The Novaya Opera

“Novaya” means “New” in Russian. This opera house was founded in 1991 by a famous conductor Eugene Kolobov. Its repertoire has several directions: Russian and Western classics, original shows and divertissements, and operas of the 20th and 21st centuries. It is very popular with Muscovites for excellent quality of performances, a comfortable hall, a beautiful Art Nouveau building and a historic park Hermitage, which is situated right next to it. You can buy tickets online here http://www.novayaopera.ru/en .

Galina Vishnevskaya Opera Center

The Opera Center has become one of the best theatrical venues in Moscow. It was founded in 2002 by great diva Galina Vishnevskaya. Nowadays its artistic director is Olga Rostropovich, daughter of Galina Vishnevskaya and her husband Mstislav Rostropovich, great cellist and conductor. Not only best young opera singers perform here, but also world music stars do; chamber and symphonic concerts, theatrical productions and musical festivals take place here. You can see what is on the program here http://opera-centre.ru/theatre . Unfortunately “booking tickets online” is available in Russian only. If you need help, you can contact us at and we can book a ticket for you. 

Tchaikovsky Concert Hall and The Great Hall of Moscow Conservatory

These are two major concert halls for symphonic music in Moscow. Both feature excellent acoustics, impressive interior, various repertoire and best performers. You can check the program here http://meloman.ru/calendar/ . You need just to switch to English. Booking tickets online is available only for owners of Russian, Ukrainian and Belorussian phone numbers. If you need help, you can contact us and we can book a ticket for you. 

Moscow International Performing Arts Center (MIPAC)

This modern and elegant concert hall houses performances of national and foreign symphony orchestras, chamber ensembles, solo instrumentalists, opera singers, ballet dancers, theatre companies, jazz bands, variety and traditional ensembles. Actually, it has three concert halls placed on three different levels and having separate entrances. The President of MIPAC is People’s Artist of the USSR Vladimir Spivakov, conductor of “Virtuosy Moskvy” orchestra. You can see pictures of the concert halls here http://www.mmdm.ru/en/content/halls . The program is impressive in its variety but is not translated into English. You can contact us at and we can find a performance for you.