capital one aspire world travel

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All about booking with Capital One Travel

Planning the perfect getaway? Save yourself from seemingly endless online searches and choose a better way:  Capital One Travel . Capital One Travel is an online booking platform that covers every step of your trip and is designed to help you plan, book and travel with confidence. 

This guide breaks down exactly how it works and what it offers.

Key takeaways

• Capital One Travel is an online booking experience where eligible cardholders can book flights, hotels and rental cars.
• Depending on your card, you can earn as much as 10X miles on hotels and rental cars and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel.
• Booking through Capital One Travel gives you access to smarter tools like price prediction, price drop protection and more.
• Venture X cardholders receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel.
• Eligible cardholders also receive an experience credit and premium benefits on every hotel booking from the Premier or Lifestyle collection.

Go further with Capital One Travel

Earn extra rewards and find our best prices for flights, hotels and car rentals.

What is Capital One Travel? 

Capital One Travel is an online booking experience for Capital One rewards credit cardholders in partnership with Hopper. It launched in 2021 to make trip planning and travel enjoyable and hassle free for eligible Capital One cardholders.

Capital One Travel sorts through thousands of options to help you get Capital One’s best prices for flights, hotels and car rentals and confidently book your travel online. 1 As a bonus, eligible cardholders can earn extra rewards when booking through Capital One Travel.

Capital One Travel features and benefits

Cardholders can sign in to Capital One Travel to compare prices and book flights, hotels and rental cars. But that’s just the start. 

You’ll have access to unique tools and offers before and after you book, giving you a rewarding, flexible travel experience. Here’s a closer look at some of the benefits of Capital One Travel:

Cancel your flight for any reason

Need to make your travel booking more flexible? For a small fee when booking, you can add the option to cancel your flight for any reason.

This option gives you the ability to cancel your flight up to a set time within your scheduled departure. Capital One Travel will issue a refund—typically 70%-90% of the ticket price—to your original payment method. 

Sometimes, you’ll also have the option to choose an airline credit worth 100% of your original ticket cost instead of the refund. Airline credit availability depends on the airline’s policies. If you choose this option, Capital One Travel will still cover any related cancellation or rebooking fees. 2

Freeze the price of a flight

Want a little extra time to decide on a flight but don’t want to stress about the price going up? For some flights offered through Capital One Travel, you can “freeze” the price for a specific period of time by paying a small fee. 

When you freeze the price of the flight, Capital One Travel will hold that price for you until the expiration date of your frozen price. That expiration date will be given to you before completing your purchase.

If the price of the flight increases after you freeze it (and before your frozen price expires), Capital One Travel will cover any fare increase up to your maximum refund limit. And if the price goes down, you’ll pay the current lower price. 3

Earn bonus rewards

When you book that fabulous hotel room for the weekend or reserve a car rental for a scenic drive, you’re earning extra rewards you can put toward your next trip. 

Venture X and Venture X Business cardholders get 10X miles on hotels and rental cars and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel. 

And when booking through Capital One Travel with other eligible U.S.-issued Capital One cards, earn 5X miles or 5% cash back on hotels and car rentals, depending on the card:

• Travel credit cards : Venture, VentureOne
• Cash back credit cards : Quicksilver, QuicksilverOne, Quicksilver for Good Credit, Quicksilver Student, Quicksilver Secured and Capital One Walmart Rewards® Card
• Dining and entertainment credit cards : Savor, SavorOne, SavorOne Student, SavorOne for Good Credit 
• Business credit cards : Spark Miles, Spark Miles Select, Spark Cash Select, Spark Classic, Spark Cash Plus

Get price prediction and price watch alerts for flights

Looking for the best time to book flights? When you search for flights on Capital One Travel, you’ll see a recommendation to either book now or wait for a better price. Capital One Travel uses artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze billions of data points and predict how flight prices will fluctuate. 

To get started, you can set a price alert for the destination and dates you’re interested in flying. Capital One Travel will monitor prices 24/7 and let you know when it’s time to book. With help from our price predictions and alerts, you can save an average of 15% on flights. 4

Get free price drop protection for flights

Did you book a flight to visit loved ones based on Capital One Travel recommendations? If you booked at a recommended time, Capital One Travel will keep watching the price for 10 days. If it drops, you get up to $50 in travel credit for the difference. 5

Get Capital One Travel's best prices, guaranteed

If you find a better price on the same flight, hotel or car rental, Capital One Travel will match it. Simply submit a request within 24 hours of booking with us, and Capital One Travel will give you a travel credit for the difference. For hotels, we also proactively adjust our prices to guarantee they match or beat other travel sites. 6

Redeem rewards for travel

Have you been saving up your rewards? Apply them to any trip booked through Capital One Travel. Or use a combination of rewards and your card when booking. The choice is yours.

Stay in style

Elevate your stay with rooftop drinks, meals at signature restaurants, room service and other unique amenities when you book with the Premier Collection or Lifestyle Collection . The collections also include a $50 or $100 experience credit (depending on the collection) and other premium benefits like room upgrades, early check-in and late checkout when available—all to make it even easier to upgrade your next getaway. 7

Capital One Travel FAQ

Check out these frequently asked questions about Capital One Travel.

How can I access Capital One Travel?

If you have access through your card, you’ll see the option to start booking trips when you sign in and view your rewards . Through the site, you can pay for flights, hotels and car rentals with your Capital One card, your rewards or both. Don’t have an eligible Capital One card? You can compare options and benefits to get started.  

Do I need a Capital One travel rewards credit card to use Capital One Travel?

If you have any eligible Capital One credit card, you can use Capital One Travel to plan your next getaway. Travel rewards credit cards earn miles on hotels and car rentals when booking through Capital One Travel, and other eligible cards earn cash back. 

You can see if you’re pre-approved for an eligible card today—with no harm to your credit.

Can I transfer miles instead of booking through Capital One Travel?

You may be able to transfer your Capital One miles to one of Capital One’s loyalty programs .

Does Capital One offer travel insurance?

Some Capital One rewards credit cards may offer travel insurance . And some coverage may be available through your card’s network . You can check your card’s benefits and terms to determine if you qualify for travel coverage, lost luggage reimbursement or travel accident insurance.

Capital One Travel in a nutshell

Capital One Travel provides advanced booking tools, price guarantees and the ability to earn and redeem your rewards—all to help you travel smarter. All you need is a Capital One travel rewards credit card or any eligible Capital One card to use it. So if you’re jetting off to a new place soon, start planning your trip today with Capital One Travel .

Other ways to maximize your travel benefits

Who wouldn’t want to get the most out of their credit card? Here are some things to know about Capital One travel rewards credit cards: 

Get a one-time 75,000-mile bonus with the Capital One Venture X card and receive an additional 10,000 bonus miles every year, starting on your first anniversary. Terms apply.

Earn unlimited 2X miles per dollar on every purchase, every day and get 75,000 bonus miles upon signup with the Capital One Venture card . Terms apply.

Earn unlimited 1.25X miles with no annual fee with the Venture One card from Capital One . ( View important rates and disclosures .) 

Explore travel rewards card options by comparing Capital One Venture cards . 

Learn how Venture X cardholders can get access to a worldwide network of airport lounges thanks to a complimentary Priority Pass membership .

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Credit card dilemma – Replacing Capital One Aspire Travel World Elite Mastercard

Long time readers will recall my beef with some personal finance gurus and their advice of using cash and not using credit cards. If you consistently pay off your monthly balance, I believe you should ignore this advice and get a credit card that gives cash back or travel rewards on your everyday spending. Why leave money off the table when you can earn money for continue to do the same things you’ve always done? Some of you may recall that we saved over $10,000 by utilizing credit card rewards to go to Maui for 12 days a few years ago. Some people get pretty obsessed with maximizing reward points by applying for multiple cards every year and taking advantage of the sign up bonuses. While I’m not as obsessed as some, I do try to time credit card applications if we have any big planned expenses coming up.

Using credit cards to maximize rewards 

For the most part, we have been sticking to a two credit card system like below:

• Capital One Aspire Travel World Mastercard for everyday spending. The card offers 2 reward points per $1 spent on anything (i.e. 2% earning rate) then you can redeem the points on a travel purchase in the last 90 days off your credit card statement.
• PC Financial World Elite Mastercard for shopping at Superstore. The card offers 3 PC Optimum points per $1 spent at Superstore (i.e. 3% earn rate). The card offers the same earn rate with PC Travel, although I personally wouldn’t book anything with PC Travel due to the higher prices.

On the occasions that we stay at a Marriott property, we then use the American Express Bonvoy Personal Card to earn 5 Marriott Bonvoy points for every $1 spent at Marriott Bonvoy properties. I kept the Amex Bonvoy card around for the 15 annual night credit and the free 35k Bonvoy points certificate. I figured these perks are worth the $120 annual fee.

We then have been churning credit cards here and there to get the welcome bonuses. For example, last year earned close to $2,600 via credit card churning by applying and meeting the minimum purchase requirements for American Express Marriott Bonvoy cards, TD Infinite Visa and Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite.

Although Capital One Aspire Travel World Elite Mastercard has a $120 annual fee, the card provides 10,000 travel reward points every year on the card anniversary (I had the card before they rebranded it to the World Elite Mastercard and Capital One grandfathered the anniversary reward). Since applying for the card close to 10 years ago, we have redeemed over $7,500 worth of travel points. The credit card also has some pretty awesome travel insurance coverages. Thanks to these coverages, we were able to get money on a couple of baggage delays while travelling to Denmark and the flight delay when Lufthansa/Air Canada wanted to fly us from Frankfurt to Vancouver via Beijing . 

Needless to say, we loved the Capital One Aspire World Mastercard. 

But good things don’t always last forever. A few weeks ago, I received a letter from Capital One stating that as of August 5th, 2020 the card will only pay 1.5 points on every dollar spent. The real kicker is that Capital One decided to eliminate the 10,000 anniversary reward points.

With the old rules of 2% earn rate, the $120 annual fee, and the 10,000 anniversary reward points, the fee is only effective $20 per year, and we’d only need to spend $1,000 before starting earning any net reward points. Under the new rules of 1.5% earn rate, the $120 annual fee, and no anniversary reward points, that means we’d have to spend $8,000 before we start earning any net reward points. Spending an extra $7,000 each year before starting to earn any more points isn’t exactly point savvy to me. As a result, we started looking for a replacement credit card. 

Replacing Capital One Aspire Travel

I’ll be the first one to say the new conditions suck. Fortunately our card renewal isn’t until October, so we have some time to figure out a replacement credit card. Thanks to tracking every expense in a budget spreadsheet since 2011 , we have a pretty good idea of our monthly and annual expenditure.

For example, last year we spent a total of $54,906.02 for a family of four with $8,975.28 on groceries, $1,155.84 on recurring bills (phone & internet only. Hydro and natural gas come out of the chequing account directly), $2,000 on gas, $12,000 on travels, and $5,000 on dining out. 

When I started looking for credit cards available for Canadians, I found that some enticing Visa cards like TD Cash Back Visa Infinite Card and Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite Card which offer 3% earn rate and 4% earn rate respectively on groceries. However, when I looked at our grocery shopping trend, I noted that we shop primarily at Costco and Superstore and both stores only accept Mastercard. Therefore, it makes sense to find another Mastercard to replace our Capital One Aspire card.

With that in mind, I narrowed our choices to the following cards below:

• No annual fee
• 3% on US expenses, 1.5% on everything else
• $25 sign up bonus
• Minimum insurance coverages
• $150 annual fee. $50 for each supplement card.
• First year free (for the primary cardholder)
• 3 BMO points on travels, dining, and entertainment. 2 BMO points on everything else.
• 40,000 welcome points after spending $3,000 in the first three months
• Comparable insurance coverages as Capital One
• 140 BMO points per $1 for redemption 
• $149 annual fee. $50 for each supplement card.
• $100 annual travel credit redeemable towards select airline seat upgrades, airline baggage fees and airport lounge passes
• 3% on travels, 1.5% on everything else
• No foreign transaction fee
• 60,000 welcome points after spending $5,000 in the first three months
• Need to redeem minimum 250,000 points ($125) then 100,000 points increment (i.e. 350,000, 450,000, etc)
• $120 annual fee. 
• First year free.
• 10% earn rate for the 1st three months. Max $2,000 spending ($200 reward).
• 1.5% earn rate after
• Comparable insurance coverage as Capital One
• Redeem cash-back minimum of $50 to statement credit

Rewards Credit Card Comparison

I then ran calculations with the assumption that we’d charge $40,000 a year on the credit card with $7,000 categorized as travel, $3,000 as dining out, and $30,000 as the remainder (I’m being conservative with our travel and dining out numbers due to COVID-19. Also we can’t charge everything on the credit card). I then assumed that both Mrs. T and I would be holding the card. Based on that, here are what the net rewards (after fees) look like:

Rewards Credit Card Comparison Analysis

• If we just look at first year net rewards, the BMO World Elite Mastercard came out ahead. But BMO devalued the redemption and earn rates in 2018, so I’m a bit weary that they may devalue these rates again.
• The HSBC World Elite Mastercard seems to be the best card if we hold onto the card for five years. This card does have a tiered redemption system, which is not ideal. However, Capital One had a similar tiered redemption system until 2015 and I didn’t mind it (the current redemption system is way better. I can redeem as little as $1).
• The BMO World Elite Mastercard also includes four lounge passes each year which I did not put as a vlue in my calculation ($27 USD per pass). These passes can be used once we can fly internationally again.
• The BMO Cashback World Elite Mastercard statement credit redemption seems very straight forward. While the net earn rate isn’t the best, the ease of redemption is appealing.
• We can increase the potential earn rate if we don’t apply for a supplement card. This would require some spending strategies where we charge expenses to my card as much as possible.

After all the calculations and going through the fine prints of each credit card, I am currently leaning toward replacing our Capital One Aspire Travel World Card with the HSBC World Elite Mastercard. The $100 annual travel credit is nice, and I am certain we would be able to use the credit each year. However, I’m slightly intrigued by the BMO World Elite Mastercard (due to the four annual lounge passes) and the BMO Cashback World Elite Mastercard (cash back so can redeem whenever we meet the minimum redemption requirement). Fortunately since our Capital One annual fee isn’t due until October, we still have a bit of time to finalize our evaluation and decide on a card. 

Dear readers, which card would you pick if you were in our situation?

Learn how to create passive income & reach financial independence.

46 thoughts on “Credit card dilemma – Replacing Capital One Aspire Travel World Elite Mastercard”

I also have the Capital One Aspire World Elite MasterCard also and have been looking at changing. I shop allot at Costco and Costco gas, Zehrs and don’t eat out much. My mastercard bill is usually $4000 or higher. I put as much as possible on CC to max out points. I’m afraid of getting rid of World elite for something like the CIBC Dividend® Visa Infinite* Card. We were travelling before the C word came every year, but really money talks I don’t care if its cash or points for flying.. Any suggestions?

I guess you need to run some calculations and see which one credit card makes sense. We ended up with the HSBC card and collecting travel points.

Check out TD First class Visa…. I run about 2000 a month on it and it hasn’t done me wrong! Good points system for flights and hotels.

TD First Class Visa is great. I think you have to book flights and hotels via their portal though no? If you shop a lot at Costco, they don’t accept Visa.

You can book through any site and use points but if you use their Expedia site you will get extra points for booking. I always compare their’s to others and pick best deal. And Costco im not sure I haven’t been there forever…

hello! I am new in the credit card world…I have had Capital One Aspire travel for a while and is pretty decent ..like their cash back feature….I have an Aeroplan account which I have used for flights in the past and seemed great,,,so I am contemplating finding a CC with Aeroplan points,,,I like to travel but not with COVID now,,but perhaps will start next year again,,,my dilemma is if I should apply to a CC with annual fee or no a.fee? the annual fee ones I have looked so far (CIBC Aeroplan infinite vs TD Aeroplan Infinite) both annual fee $139…with great travel insurance coverage and Aeroplan points….I have also looked at CIBC Aeroplan visa with no annual fee but with basic travel coverage…..not sure what would be best? I will like a credit card that provides great perks but not sure if the idea of having Aeroplan points is limiting me? another credit card I was looking at is the CIBC Aventura infinite visa….with cash back, Aventura points….annual fee $120,,,for daily purchases,, what do you suggest?

I think you need to calculate and figure out whether you’ll get enough points to offset the annual fee. Without knowing your spending trend it’s nearly impossible to say which card would be the best for you. There are a lot of sites that can help you narrow down which cards are the best for you based on your spending trend/history.

Thank you for your help! Which websites will you recommend ?

Check out the likes of Ratehub, Credit Card Genius. Red Flag Deals’ credit card forum is another good place to check out.

I have always believed this! I have been with TD forever and love their first class travel…. I use it for monthly ALL bill payments- and with NO blackouts/ no restrictions -use my points for ALL flights…. why wouldn’t you? This card is vacation saviour…. quick flights and hotels can be booked through their Expedia as well and gain more points…. win win

I have had used that TD card before but didn’t like the idea of having to book through their Expedia site. 🙂

Yeah I have to agree with Ken regarding the Rogers calculation, it would be $600 per other year, not $300, which makes a BIG difference – makes it $3025 with or without supplemental cards. That is a higher value than everything else on the table (except HSBC with no supplemental cards, which only has a $7 advantage). It just doesn’t have as much insurance (though it didn’t actually look much worse than HSBC). So for hundreds of dollars more earnings compared to the competitors, it could be worthwhile. And are you sure you spend $100/yr on seat upgrades, lounges, and baggage? (I find baggage fees are mostly just for flights to USA not international, and if your travel expenses are in USA, Rogers earnings would also increase.)

I don’t actually have that card, it’s just that error made it really easy to dismiss when actually it’s a real competitor (and it kinda misdirects people who read this post).

One more note: I noticed HSBC has no foreign transaction fees, vs 2.5% for BMO and Rogers, so that might be about $50/yr advantage depending how much of your travel expense is in the foreign currency.

This discussion is pretty old now… what card did you end up going with?

This is an older article… I think on the Rogers calculation I assumed a certain percentage of the spending was in US dollars (i.e. travels in US, Amazon, etc). The key thing with Rogers is the lack of travel insurance like baggage delays, etc. We’ve had to use the baggage delay insurance a few times when we travelled to Denmark.

We ended up with HSBC and have had good experience so far. We’ll see if we decide to keep this card long term.

Hi Tawcan, I have until February, so I’m still debating this credit card dilemma. Thanks for writing this article. I noticed Rogers includes access to LoungeKey airport lounges which may be new or not equivalent to other airport lounge passes. I like to use my points for travel, but minimum travel this year with COVID-19. Did others just take their points in less cash back dollars instead?

Is it just the LoungeKey membership or do you get LoungeKey passes? If it’s just the membership, you’d have to pay to go into the lounge. 🙂

We are simply accumulating travel points now and wait till we can travel again to use the points.

Love the breakdown, any reason why the Tangerine MasterCard was not a consideration? Given the flexibility in picking reward categories and monthly cashback deposited.

Thank you. Tangerine Mastercard only gives you 2% on certain categories. That means we’d have to use another card to get a good earn rate. We were looking for a one card solution.

Thanks for writing up this article. I’m located in Albert, and a very similar scenario. C1 was primary shared card, with PC travel elite as secondary. Looking for a replacement currently. One of the more useful pieces of info I found was to verify that the CC you choose to go with will provide you with a high enough credit limit to meet your needs. Tho my wife and I are currently not doing home renos anymore (sold, moved, renting now), we would still need a limit of 6k+. I would verify that whatever card you apply for meets this min limiit for you before cancelling your C1.

What you think about Brim world elite

I looked at Brim for a little bit. It looks like a great card for the first year but the annual fee is quite high. If you plan to switch after the first year, Brim might be a good card to consider.

If you want to buy some time, call Capital One and ask to speak to a supervisor. Check out redflagdeals post on this. You should be able to get a 100-120 credit on your account for this year to offset the change. I was able to do this. 1.5% is still better than most mastercards for all purchases. Gives you until next Oct to find a replacement.

Thanks I have been reading redflagdeal posts and will definitely look into this.

Someone on the RFD forums put together an insurance comparison on potential replacement cards that may be helpful: https://forums.redflagdeals.com/capital-one-aspire-travel-world-elite-mc-discontinued-but-not-dead-yet-897409/685/#p32871944

Also I’m not sure how you calculated the Rogers WE rewards. Shouldn’t it be $600 per year as it’s a flat 1.5% with no annual fee? That would make it more competitive. Only downside is lack of travel insurance.

Thanks this is great.

Hmmm yea maybe I had some calculation errors with the Roger WE rewards but the lack of insurance is not ideal.

We are happy with our WestJet card – annual guest pass, free checked luggage, at $120 per year.

We had the WestJet card but decided it’s not our day-to-day card.

We are having to spend $3-4000 in 4 months to get some points and I am already having a tough time because it is Visa and not Mastercard. We do most of our shopping at Superstore/ No Frills and Costco.

Never had the Capital Aspire card but it looked great.

Yea we do most of shopping at Superstore and Costco too do got to have a Mastercard.

You may want to check with your No Frills. Ours started accepting Visa once Covid-19 hit. I can now get 3% from my Visa Infinite Cash Back card. Still need to find a good MC replacement for Costco.

I’m with R. I have used the MBNA World Elite for many years now, and it’s predecessors. I have high end travel insurance through my work already. The simplicity of getting cash back without having to think about which card to use during every purchase is worth more to me than a few bucks here or there. The rental car insurance coverage, price protection, and the doubling of warranties on items purchased are a value to some as well. There are some travel protections as well. You can double up your savings as well like at Petro Canada using your Petro card, and your MBNA card – you get points from both each fill. Link your Petro card to your CAA card and you double your points at Petro Canada.

Does your work travel insurance cover things like flight and baggage delays. I have travel health insurance with work too but delays aren’t covered. We’ve claimed flight and baggage delays with Capital One before and it was great.

I don’t think it covers those things specifically. Each person has to decide what features are the most important to them. Having a wallet full of various credit cards and memorizing each ones strengths , picking and choosing each purchase based on the maximum rewards benefit? That is just not for me personally. However renting a car 2-3 times a year on vaca. and saving the $13.95 + taxes each day of the rental for insurance, has saved me a bundle.

Hi Bob, I’ve been thinking about switching CC for better rewards as well. I saw TD Aeroplan – but not sure if Aeroplan miles are worth it or how difficult it is to get tickets with it..

Would be interesting to see what you chose.

I personally feel that Aeroplan isn’t worth collecting. If you book with Air Canada or other airlines that charge fuel surcharge, you end up paying a chunk of money on top of the Aeroplan points you need.

Also, with Aeroplan going under Air Canada again, I suspect points will get devalued. That’s why we recently redeemed a bunch Aeroplan points for Costco gift cards.

Good to know. Thanks for sharing, Bob!

I’m in the same situation – grandfathered Capital One card… it was a good time while it lasted! One point that I think you might be mistaken on though – are you sure that Superstore doesn’t take Visa? I’m pretty sure that they do – but I almost always use MasterCard so I’m not sure. Will have to confirm this before we choose our next primary spend card.

Interesting to see a few readers using the same card. Capital One Aspire Travel was such a good card!

Unless Superstore changed their policy recently, they only accept Mastercard.

Superstore does take Visa now in ontario.

Ahh good to know, I don’t think BC Superstore accepts Visa yet. Something to look into. 🙂

I asked the cashier today in my local Superstore (on Vancouver Island) – they confirmed that they take Visa. So for us, Costco is the only place we regularly shop at that doesn’t take Visa.

Ahhh that’s good to know, I had no idea that Superstore can take Visa now. I should ask next time I go. But for Superstore we only use the PC Financial Mastercard to earn 3%. That card has no annual fee. 🙂

I have always used Visa at Superstore. Scotiabank Momentum Visa Infinite—4%. cash back on groceries.

Hey Tawcan,

We are still using MBNA Rewards World Elite. The annual fee is $120 but we get free companion cards.

Cashback rate used to be 2.0% but they devalued it to 1.67% last February (2019).

However, I found a trick: I redeem $100 Amazon gift cards which works out to 1.95% cashback.

We use our MBNA card at Costco and it is our primary card.

Good luck with your decision!

Thanks R. I was looking at MBNA Rewards World Elite but it doesn’t look like it offers any travel related insurance.

Hi Bob. I have carried the BMO world elite for many years. Good card but be careful with the pricing on their travel redemption site. Hotel rooms etc always seem to retail a bit higher, therefore needing more points to redeem. I believe you can check out the website for pricing without being a card holder. Check it out. Im thinking about a switch to their cash back version. Good luck.

Thanks Chuck, that’s what I read as well. I’m always wary about having to book through the bank’s travel booking site.

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Overview of the Capital One® Aspire Travel™ World Elite MasterCard®

Capital One® Aspire Travel™ World Elite MasterCard®

Earn rewards

On other purchases

Capital One® Aspire Travel™ World Elite MasterCard® details

Compare against our best travel cards.

TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card

Earn up to $1,200 in value, including up to 50,000 Aeroplan points (enough for a round trip to New York City). Conditions apply. Account must be approved by June 3, 2024.

WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard®

Get up to $450 in WestJet dollars with the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard. Plus, get a Round-Trip Companion Voucher Every Year – for any WestJet destination starting from $119 CAD (plus taxes, fees, charges and other ATC).

WestJet RBC Mastercard®

Earn up to 100 WestJet dollars (with $1,000 spend in the first 3 months).

Detailed card summary

Benefits & features.

• Earn 2 reward miles for every $1 on all purchases – no matter where you shop

How to get approved

Eligibility.

• Minimum income $80K/yr
• Household income $150K/yr
• Recommended credit score 760+
• You are a permanent Canadian resident and have reached the age of majority in the province in which you live.

User reviews

Average user score for capital one® aspire travel™ world elite mastercard®, 5.0   |   1 review.

Yu Hou September 20, 2016

It’s fairly easy to apply. I did it online. After I filled my information, it promptly said I passed and the card arrived within a week. I think it’s probably the card with the highest rebate on the market. Although it’s not directly giving you cash, it’s not difficult to redeem the points towards travel expenses. So far I’m generally happy with it.

Capital One ® Aspire Travel™ Platinum Mastercard ® Review

• Rates & Fees

1x Earn 1 Reward Mile for every $1 spent.

$0 Annual Fee Add an authorized user for $0.

21.90% Purchase APR

21.90% Cash Advance APR

21.90% Balance Transfer Rate

Fair Recommended Credit Score

By Money.ca

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Capital One ® Aspire Travel™ Platinum Mastercard ® rewards Structure

Rewards miles come at a steady and unrestricted rate of 1 for every $1 spent. With no ambiguous purchase eligibility, cardholders can be confident that they’re earning rewards miles every time they use their card. The miles themselves are some of the most flexible travel rewards we’ve seen, and can be used retroactively to cover travel-related purchases that show up on a monthly statement. Travel can therefore be booked everywhere, and cardholders won’t be limited by in-house booking sites, seating restrictions, or blackout dates.

Miles can also be redeemed in other ways, like gift cards and cash back against the card’s statement. For more information on the nuances of Capital One miles, check out our  Loyalty Rewards Bible .

Pros and cons

Earn 1 mile per $1 with no purchase ambiguity

Flexible miles for retroactive travel purchases

• $0 annual fee

Price protection for marked-down items

Basic travel insurance coverage

Redeem miles for gift cards and cash back

Basic travel insurance compared to some competitors

$100/item limit on price protection

Limited features for high-end travel benefits

No specific travel perks or elite status

May not suit high-spenders seeking premium rewards

Feature breakdown

• Earn 1 mile for every $1 spent on purchases
• Book your own travel, pay with rewards miles
• Price protection services
• Solid array of insurance benefits

The peripheral benefits of the Aspire Travel Platinum card include  Price Protection  and insurance perks, both of which help cardholders save money. Price Protection is rather unusual among travel credit cards, and it allows cardholders to get reimbursed if they discover that something they purchased is later marked down. With Capital One ® cards there’s a $100 limit per item and collective $500 limit per year, and cardholders can only use the feature on items that were marked down within 60 days of their initial purchase. For example, if a cardholder were to buy a $500 item and then find the same item listed for $400 a month later, they could claim the difference (and still have $400 left to claim against other purchases for the remainder of the year).

The Aspire Travel card comes with basic travel insurance as well, though the key word here is ‘basic’: it’s missing some of the more valuable travel coverage that is provided by some competing travel cards. Capital One ® provides coverage for common carrier travel accidents, car rental collisions and damage, baggage delay, and travel assistance. While it’s logical that a no-fee card would only have the most basic  insurance options , some other no-fee travel cards have managed to raise the bar a bit. The Rogers World Elite Mastercard, for instance, offers a different travel insurance package that some travellers might prefer, including out-of-province/out-of-country medical coverage.

Who’s the card for?

Travellers who want the simplicity of earning a flat rate of travel rewards on all their purchases, want to book their arrangements wherever they like, and dislike annual fees are well-suited to the Capital One ® Aspire Travel™ Platinum Mastercard ® . Those who appreciate flexibility will also enjoy the opportunity to spend their miles on cash back and gift cards as well.

Read: Best Capital One credit cards in Canada

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Capital One Aspire Travel World Elite Mastercard Alternatives

Changes announced by Capital One

In a letter sent to its customers, Capital One announced several upcoming changes to its Aspire Travel World Elite Mastercard.

This credit card has not been offered to new customers for several years, but current customers had significant perks with it:

• 2 points per dollar on all purchases ( = 2% back)
• 10,000 bonus points each year (a $100 value)

And it is these benefits that will be removed or reduced as of August 5, 2020. Now:

• You will only earn 1.5 points per dollar (= 1.5% back)
• The annual bonus disappears

This is mainly due to lower interchange fees.

Here are the main features of the Capital One Aspire Travel World Elite Mastercard as of August 5, 2020:

• $150 annual fee
• 1.5 points per dollar
• Reliable insurances

With the changes, this card has become less attractive, notably for travellers, especially compared to alternative credit cards offering travel points (with welcome bonus and other benefits).

Here are 3 alternatives with:

• a lower or equal annual fee
• At least 1.5% anywhere

HSBC World Elite Mastercard

The ® Mastercard ® Quebec" href="https://milesopedia.com/en/go/hsbc-world-elite-mastercard-qc/">HSBC World Elite ® Mastercard ® is a great credit card with no foreign transaction fees, especially for travel purchases .

With the ® Mastercard ® Quebec" href="https://milesopedia.com/en/go/hsbc-world-elite-mastercard-qc/" rel="nofollow noindex">HSBC World Elite ® Mastercard ® , you earn:

• 6 points per dollar for travel purchases (flights, hotels, Airbnb, all-inclusive, etc.)
• 3 points per dollar for all other purchases

It’s a 1% to 3% value depending on your purchases! This is much better than the Capital One Aspire Travel World Elite Mastercard as of August 5, 2020.

You can apply your points on any travel purchase charged to the card (flights, hotels, Airbnb, all-inclusive, etc.). But you can also transfer your points to three airline loyalty programs : British Airways Executive Club, Asia Miles and Singapore Airlines Krisflyer.

Finally, with this card you get:

• a $100 annual travel credit (for airport lounges, for example)
• Unlimited access to Boingo WiFi hotspots around the world
• a 10% discount for hotel bookings on Expedia or Agoda

The ® Mastercard ® Quebec" href="https://milesopedia.com/en/go/hsbc-world-elite-mastercard-qc/" rel="nofollow noindex">HSBC World Elite ® Mastercard ® is, therefore, the best alternative to Capital One Aspire Travel World Elite Mastercard since the current cardholders will regain:

• a $100 annual credit
• 1.5 to 3 points earning
• And will get a credit card with no conversion fee for foreign currency transactions!

Welcome offers are different depending on your province of residence (Quebec or outside Quebec):

Outside Quebec

National bank's world elite mastercard ®.

® " href="https://milesopedia.com/en/go/world-elite-mastercard-from-national-bank/" rel="nofollow noindex">The National Bank’s World Elite Mastercard ® is one of the best credit card with insurance in Canada:

• Medical/hospital insurance Out-of-province-of-residence
• Trip Cancellation Insurance
• Trip Interruption Insurance
• Departure flight delay insurance
• Baggage insurance in case of delay
• Lost or Stolen Baggage Insurance
• Vehicle rental insurance
• Purchase insurance (180 days)
• Extended warranty (2 years)

With the ® " href="https://milesopedia.com/en/go/world-elite-mastercard-from-national-bank/" rel="nofollow noindex">National Bank’s World Elite Mastercard, you can between 1.5 and 2 points per dollar of purchases on all your purchases.

You can apply your points on any travel purchase charged to the card (flights, hotels, Airbnb , all-inclusive, etc.).

Besides, the ® " href="https://milesopedia.com/en/go/world-elite-mastercard-from-national-bank/" rel="nofollow noindex">National Bank’s World Elite Mastercard offers:

• up to $250 in travel credit per calendar year
• unlimited free access to the National Bank Lounge at Montreal-Trudeau International Airport

Finally, at this time, the ® " href="https://milesopedia.com/en/go/world-elite-mastercard-from-national-bank/" rel="nofollow noindex">National Bank’s World Elite Mastercard card has an excellent welcome bonus.

MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard

The ® Mastercard ® Card" href="https://milesopedia.com/en/go/mbna-rewards-world-elite-mastercard-qc/" rel="nofollow noindex">MBNA Rewards World Elite ® Mastercard ® is one of the last credit cards in Canada to offer 2 points for every dollar. When you redeem your points on travel expenses charged to the card, it’s a 2% value. That’s the same as Capital card Aspire Travel World Elite Mastercard!

However, travel insurance products are less robust than the ones coming with the Capital One Aspire Travel World Elite Mastercard:

• Common Carrier Accidental Death & Dismemberment Benefits
• Unexpected Return Home
• Rental Vehicle Collision Damage Waiver Benefits
• Rental Vehicle Accidental Death & Dismemberment Benefits
• Personal Effects Benefit

Therefore, there is no cancellation or travel interruption insurance.

On the other hand, purchase insurance products are attractive:

• Purchase insurance (90 days)
• Extended warranty (1 year)
• Price protection (60 days)

And its $120 annual fee is less than the $150 required by the Capital One Aspire Travel World Elite Mastercard.

So this is bad news for current cardholders of the Capital One Aspire Travel World Elite Mastercard. But as you can see, alternatives are there.

If you’re looking for other credit cards check out our rankings:

• The Best Mastercard Credit Cards
• The Best Credit cards For Insurance
• The Best Travel Credit cards
• The Best Credit cards For Costco

All posts by Jean-Maximilien

Suggested Reading

More Changes to the Capital One Aspire Travel World Elite MasterCard

UPDATE- (9:00am Oct. 15, 2015) I just gave Capital One a call and they confirmed that existing cardholders will only be charged the old $120 annual fee, and only new applicants are on the hook for the $150 fee.   

We recently wrote about the positive changes  with the elimination of the reward redemption tiers to the Capital One Aspire Travel World Elite MasterCard . Now you can get straight up 2% return on travel expenses, including partial redemptions. But all good things come with a catch. There is now an increased annual fee, from $120 to $150. Below are the new highlights of the credit card:

• $150 annual fee
• Earn 40,000 sign up bonus points after spending $1,000 within the first 3 months
• Earn 2 points for every $1 spent on all purchases

The increased annual fee is making me re-thinking whether I want to retain this credit card or not, even though I am grandfathered  from the old version , I should continue to receive my 10,000 anniversary bonus. That being said, I have until early in the new year before my annual fee is due again, so I will re-evaluate my spending habits when the time comes. I really wish that Capital One wouldn’t have raised the annual fee, but it was probably inevitable. You gotta give some to take some.

The sign up bonus is very generous though. The 40,000 sign up bonus points is essentially worth $400. I am also glad to see a spending requirement to achieve the sign up bonus. Personally, I like spending requirements, because it requires us to use the credit card, which helps justify the perks and benefits associated with the credit card.

I would note that the 40,000 sign up bonus will probably not stay around for too long as it might not be sustainable. So if you want to jump on this credit card, don’t wait too long to make a decision. At least keep the card for a year, maybe two, before deciding what to do with it.

Recommendation

Unfortunately, the increased annual fee is a real annoyance for me. Here is how I see it. If there is a requirement for minimum spending to qualify for a sign up bonus, why not have a spend requirement to have the annual fee waived as well. Something along the lines of $10,000 in spending per year on a credit card should be more than enough to help waive an annual fee.

UPDATE- Since finding out that I am grandfathered to only have to pay the $120 annual fee indefinitely, I will no doubt keep this card for as long as possible! Glad to have found this out!

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14 Comments

Are you sure the increased annual fee applies to current cardholders as well? I haven’t received any notice to that effect myself.

Thanks for spotting that Amaru! I just gave Capital One a call. They will in fact honour the $120 annual fee for existing cardholders. This will only apply to new applicants. I will update the post.

Hey Matthew…given this is the time of year when a lot of credit card offers come out, do you think Capital One will put on a promo of waiving the first year fee on top of the $400 sign up offer? Or is the $400 too good by itself. Looking to change out of my TD First Class that I’ve held since I came out years ago.

Thanks…Dave

Sorry, meant to say since it came out years ago.

Hey David, I have never seen Capital One offer a first year fee waived promotion on any of their products, so I highly doubt that we will see this any time in the near future.

Thanks Matthew. My wife and I love to travel (at least two trips per year) so I feel a travel card is the best option for me. I spend approx. $50,000 per year on my current credit card. Given that we like to both cruise and go to all-inclusives, would this be the best card for me to get at this time? I’d rather not have 5 or 6 credit cards, just one or two.

Thanks again…David

Here’s a suggestion. Why not one of you sign up for the Capital One Aspire Travel World Elite MasterCard and another one with the BMO World Elite MasterCard. Let’s say you pay $150 annual fee with Cap One, but $400 sign up bonus. You spend half your spending on it, so that’s $25,000 spending or 50,000 points earned. That’s another $500 in cash back, combined with your $400 sign up bonus. For the BMO World Elite, just try to catch when they have a $300 sign up bonus during a first year fee waived promotion . Then you put the remaining $25,000 spending or 50,000 points earned. That’s another $800 ($300 + $500) worth of cash back that you can use towards your all-inclusive cruise. Final tally: $800 + $900 – $150 annual fee = $1,550 worth during the first year of having these credit cards.

Nice…thanks Matthew. I like the idea. Then at the end of the first year, I can decide which of the two cards to keep. I have an 800+ credit score so I’m thinking of taking advantage of the sign up offers on the MBNA Best Western MasterCard (40,000 points) and the Marriott Rewards Visa too.

Awesome! Yes, those are two great options as well. Enjoy your trip!

Hi Matt Great blog! I’m looking for a credit card I can use for my new business expenses, doing consulting so expenses would be fairly low. Say $500 on average (gas, 407 and cell phone)

What card would you recommend to store these business purchases on? Thanks!

You can always look into an AMEX card: http://pointshogger.boardingarea.com/are-you-business-owner .

Otherwise, I have a post coming out tomorrow that you should watch for!

Hi Michael…just in case you weren’t aware…Capital One discontinued this card effective today. No longer available on their website. Apparently those of us with this card, can continue to keep it, but no new applications are being taken. Regards, and keep up the great work.

Sorry Matthew…put Michael instead of Matthew. Cheers…

Thanks for the heads up. I just wrote a post about it: http://pointshogger.boardingarea.com/discontinued-capital-one-aspire-travel-world-elite-mastercard

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REWARDS CANADA'S TOP FEATURES

• Canada's Top Travel Rewards Credit Cards 2022
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A few weeks ago we released a case study which has proved to be extremely popular and inadvertently brought us to this feature! The case study brought about some questions not in the comparison of what was actually presented in it but rather in two of the fixed return travel cards and how they fare against each other. This has lead us to resurrect our Credit Card Showdown feature which has been dormant for several years now! Past credit card showdowns:

• Credit Card Showdown: American Express Gold Rewards Card vs Scotiabank Gold American Express Card
• Credit Card Showdown: mbna SmartCash World MasterCard vs. American Express SimplyCash Card

The two cards in question are the BMO Rewards World Elite Mastercard and the Capital One® Aspire Travel™ World Elite Mastercard® . Questions arose in the comments of the Case Study and also via email to us. What you'll see in this showdown is that the cards are evenly matched in many regards but there are several categories where one card comes out ahead of the other that makes it the clear winner in this showdown.

Annual Fees / Sign Up Bonus

In the straight line comparison below you'll see that both cards have a primary card fee of $150 per year. No clear winner there however when you look at supplementary cards, the BMO card charges $50 per card whereas Capital One® does not charge a fee for supplementary cards which puts it ahead. For the sign up bonus, this is where there is a big difference, Capital One's offer is 40,000 miles which equates to $400 in travel whereas BMO offers 20,000 points or $200 in travel. Even if and when the BMO card offers up their first year free offer on this card you are still $50 behind Capital One®.

Interest Rate:

Capital One has the slight edge here although 19.8% to 19.99% is really negligible. Now onto the primary factors people get travel rewards cards, the rewards and the benefits.

Point Earning & Redemption

Points earning is simple on these cards. The BMO Rewards Word Elite MasterCard awards 2 points per eligible dollar spent while the Capital One® Aspire Travel™ World Elite Mastercard® awards 2 miles per dollar. Either way on either card that equates to a 2% return on your spending when you redeem for travel. Seems like a tie right? Unfortunately not when it comes to the redemption. Capital One trumps BMO here. The BMO Rewards card requires you to redeem your points via BMO Rewards, either online or by phone. We have learned anecdotally from our readers and even our contract PR guy that BMO Rewards doesn't always find you the best travel deals that you can find elsewhere. It typically takes numerous calls to the rewards centre to have them find the same offers elsewhere. As well since you are redeeming your points at the time of booking (partial or full redemption is offered) you have no option to redeem points after the fact. What does that mean? First of all, Capital One allows you to buy your travel anywhere. That means you can book that good deal you find on one travel website and not have to deal with calling in to a rewards centre to have them try to find the deal. You also don't have to have all the points or no points at all when you book as you have up to 90 days after the travel charge posts to your account to redeem points against it. That's right, that amazing deal you just booked for $350 is purchased on your Capital One® Aspire Travel™ World Elite Mastercard® for the straight $350. That charge will show up on your account within a day or two and then you can decide if you want to redeem points for it all the way up to 90 days after. You can redeem 35,000 points if you have that amount to cover the full charge or you can redeem 5,000 points for a $50 credit. Doesn't matter what you chose, it's all up to you. Further Reading: Not all Travel Points and Hybrid Credit Cards are created equal

The last factor to look at when comparing these cards are the benefits that come with the cards. This section is easy as both cards are almost equal except for a couple stand out categories. The first category that stands out is Travel Medical Insurance, both cards are comparable for those aged up to 64 years however for those 65 and up the Capital One card takes the cake. Capital One also offers price protection which the BMO card does not. The one area that the BMO Rewards Word Elite MasterCard does stand out is business class lounge access. The card waives your annual fee on a basic Priority Pass membership which is worth US$99 ( although you can get it cheaper through our 20% off special offer ) and provides four free lounge access passes each year you have the card. Each pass is valued at US$27 each, combine that with the card covering the annual fee and this benefit is worth US$207 or over C$250.

Further Reading: Rewards Canada's Guide to Business Class Lounge Access

Based on the comparison chart below and our research over the years the clear winner in this comparison which we hope answers everyone's questions from the case study is the Capital One® Aspire Travel™ World Elite Mastercard®. The main sticking points that keep the BMO Rewards Card from coming out on top are the supplementary card fee, the lower sign up bonus and the restrictions on booking travel only via BMO Rewards. True, the Priority Pass can provide decent value but lounge access isn't for everyone. In the first year of card ownership the Capital One card's sign up bonus almost makes up for that value difference but if your primary goal is that Priority Pass membership and the lounge visits then BMO is the way to go. In every other situation we have to clearly pick the Capital One® Aspire Travel™ World Elite Mastercard®

The Cards Head to Head:

Yellow background indicates the clear winner for that category. For rows that do not have yellow in either column it is a tie between the cards.

Related: BMO World Elite Mastercard Review / Capital One® Aspire Travel™ World Elite Mastercard® Review

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“The interest rates, fees, rewards details, benefits and other details of the Capital One product(s) described in the article may have changed since the time of publication. Please consult the product information pages on the Capital One website for accurate product details. In the event of any conflict between the product details in this article and the Capital One website, the details on the Capital One website shall prevail.”

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Moscow for everyone: Here's how to enjoy the Russian capital whatever your passion

Flanked by the imposing buildings of the Kremlin, the stepped granite blocks of Lenin’s Mausoleum and the fanciful onion domes of St Basil’s Cathedral, Moscow's Red Square is nothing short of legendary, but only a taste of what the Russian capital has to offer.

Manicured gardens and parks, brutalist monuments, quirky museums, open-air cinemas and glitzy boutiques co-exist in this storied city, which burst into the 21st century with a slew of restaurant openings and grand urban schemes.

Visitors have never had it so easy, with a raft of digital innovations designed to facilitate and enhance the tourist experience.

One such is the RUSSPASS , a new e-service that allows users not only to plan and book attractions in Moscow and across Russia, but also to create bespoke itineraries to suit every type of interest and budget. The RUSSPASS app is available in English and Spanish and allows tourists to buy e-tickets and to top up the balance of a Moscow transport card.

Beyond caviar and ballet

Moscow’s burgeoning gastronomic scene has been causing a stir locally and internationally. Published for the first time in 2021, the Michelin Moscow Guide awarded its prestigious stars to no fewer than nine of the city’s restaurants. A total of 69 restaurants were recommended, with three of them awarded ‘green stars’ for sustainability. Fifteen restaurants received the ‘Bib Gourmand’, which acknowledges excellent cooking at affordable prices.

Time-honoured haunts for blinis and caviar include the baroque Café Pushkin and the formidable soviet-themed Dr Zhivago , while the glass-domed White Rabbit , whose chef starred in Netflix's 'Chef's Table', continues to dazzle with creative twists on classic dishes. Also creating a stir is Twins Garden , which focuses on wildly inventive vegetable dishes and home-grown produce.

As the country emerges from the pandemic, music, theatre and exhibitions are also back on the agenda. A performance from the matchless Bolshoi Ballet has been a hot ticket since the 18th century, but the Bolshoi Theatre is just one of more than 700 Moscow cultural centers.

These include world-renowned palaces of art such as the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts , a remarkable collection bringing together masterpieces from every major Western movement as well as Egyptian antiquities.

Lesser-known but equally fascinating galleries lie all over the city. An offshoot of the Tretyakov Gallery, the New Tretyakov Gallery also focuses on modern Russian artists, and features works by Kandinsky, Chagall and Popova, among many others.

Moscow's wealth of parks and curious architecture make it a great place for children. The fairytale colours of buildings such as St Basil's Cathedral are every match for the architectural whimsy at Dream Island , a huge indoor theme park where cartoon characters wander through the crowds.

The shiplike Northern River Terminal, built in the 1930s in a Stalinist style, is also a favourite, and has recently undergone dramatic renovation. It now includes a wealth of children’s playgrounds, heating swimming pools and a winter ice rink.

Other ways to keep the little ones entertained include catching a movie at the Khudozhestvenny cinema or a trip on the Moskva River cable car. This vertiginous ride has panoramic views over the city, taking in the Moscow river, the Ostankino TV and radio tower and the skyscrapers of the business district.

These and other activities for children and families are laid out in the official city tourist portal, discovermoscow.com . Here you’ll find information on every type of attraction, from which animals can be petted at the VDNH city farm to the best street food snacks and where they can be found.

It’s a huge and colourful resource, covering the most obscure museums and secret parks, with suggestions for different days of the week and a blog-style news section. On a practical level it lays bare the transport system, COVID-19 protocols, Wi-Fi possibilities and where to hire bikes and scooters.

Rising to current challenges with innovation

Not only its attractions, but also Moscow’s enormous efforts to face the health crisis in practical and forward-thinking ways have been acknowledged on the international stage. In 2021 it has been nominated for both World’s Leading City Destination and Europe’s Leading City Destination at the World Travel Awards.”

The authorities’ support for the travel industry in troubled times has seen dozens of online events and international tourism conferences, as well as the launch of the Moscow Travel Hub, a collaborative platform to promote the creation and development of new products and services.

The spring of 2021 saw the Moscow Travel Hack, an extensive hackathon in which finalists were offered financial support for the implementation of their products, at a time when digital tourism solutions have never been so integral.

Digital tourists can use discovermoscow.com to take a virtual trip to the ballet or opera and even watch cooking or fashion shows. Together with the wealth of detail and endless images of the site, even armchair travellers can experience the wonders of Russia’s greatest metropolis.

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

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

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

Weekend in Moscow

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

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

City Tour of Moscow

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

Moscow Metro walking tour

Kremlin, Red Square and Cathedrals Tour

KGB Tour with transport

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

Soviet and Post-Soviet Moscow Tour

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

Tretyakov State Gallery Tour

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

Jewish Heritage of Moscow Tour

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

Vodka Museum Tour with transport (excursion only)

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

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

Tours to Moscow

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

Moscow, a City Like No Other

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

Moscow Tours centering on Russian History

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

Frequently Asked Questions From Our Travelers

What is the best time to visit moscow.

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

How many days are enough in Moscow?

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

Do they speak English in Moscow?

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

Is it safe to travel to Moscow?

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

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Moscow-City: 7 surprising facts about the Russian capital’s business center

1. Guinness World Record in highlining

The record was set in 2019 by a team of seven athletes from Russia, Germany, France and Canada. They did it on September 8, on which the ‘Moscow-City Day’ is celebrated. The cord was stretched at the height of 350 m between the ‘OKO’ (“Eye”) and ‘Neva Towers’ skyscrapers. The distance between them is 245 m. The first of the athletes to cross was Friede Kuhne from Germany. The athletes didn't just walk, but also performed some daredevil tricks. Their record is 103 meters higher than the previous one set in Mexico City in December 2016.

2. Domination of Europe's top-10 highest skyscrapers

7 out of 10 Europe’s highest skyscrapers are located in Moscow-City. Earlier, the  ‘Federation Tower’ complex’s ‘Vostok’ (“East”) skyscraper was the considered the tallest in Europe.

Left to right: the lower of the ‘Neva Towers’ (296 m), Commerzbank Tower in Frankfurt (300 m), Gorod Stolits (“City of Capitals”) Moscow tower (302 m), Eurasia tower (309 m), The Shard’ skyscraper in London (310 m), Mercury City Tower (339 m), Neva Towers (345 m).

However, in 2018, the construction of the 462 meter tall ‘Lakhta Center’ in Saint-Petersburg was completed, pushing ‘Vostok’ (374 m) into 2nd place. The 3rd place is taken by OKO’s southern tower (354 m).

3. The unrealized ‘Rossiya’ tower

If all the building plans of Moscow-City were realized, the ‘Lakhta Center’ in St. Petersburg wouldn't have a chance to be Europe's highest skyscraper. Boris Tkhor, the architect who designed the concept of Moscow-City, had planned for the ‘Rossiya’ tower to be the tallest. In his project, it was a 600 meter tall golden cylindrical skyscraper ending with a spire that was inspired by traditional Russian bell towers. Then, the project was reinvented by famous British architect Sir Norman Foster. He had designed ‘Rossiya’ as a pyramid ending with a spire. The skyscraper itself would have been 612 meters tall, and the height including the spire would have reached 744,5 meters (for comparison, the ‘Burj Khalifa’ in Dubai, UAE, would have been just 83,5 meters taller). Unfortunately, the investors faced a lot of economic problems, due to the 2008 financial crisis, so the ‘Rossiya’ skyscraper was never built. A shopping mall and the ‘Neva Towers’ complex was constructed at its place in 2019.

4. Changed appearance of ‘Federation Tower’

In its first project, the ‘Federation Tower’ was designed to resemble a ship with a mast and two sails. The mast was to be represented by a tall glass spire with passages between the towers. It was planned to make a high-speed lift in it. The top of the spire was going to be turned into an observation deck. But the ship lost its mast in the middle of its construction. Experts at the Moscow-city Museum based in the ‘Imperia’ (“Empire”) tower say, that the construction of the spire was stopped, firstly, due to fire safety reasons and secondly, because it posed a threat to helicopter flights – the flickering glass of the spire could potentially blind the pilots. So, the half-built construction was disassembled. However, an observation deck was opened in the ‘Vostok’ tower.

5. Open windows of ‘Federation Tower’

We all know that the windows of the upper floors in different buildings don’t usually open. Experts say that it’s not actually for people’s safety. Falling from a big height is likely to be fatal in any building. The actual reason is the ventilation system. In a skyscraper, it’s managed with a mechanical system, and the building has its own climate. But in the ‘Zapad’ (“West”) tower of the ‘Federation Tower’ complex, the windows can open. The 62nd and last floor of the tower are taken up by a restaurant called ‘Sixty’. There, the windows are equipped with a special hydraulic system. They open for a short period of time accompanied by classical music, so the guests can take breathtaking photos of Moscow.

6. Broken glass units of ‘Federation Tower’

The guests of the ‘Sixty’ restaurant at the top of the ‘Zapad’ tower can be surprised to see cracked glass window panes. It is particularly strange, if we take into consideration the special type of this glass. It is extremely solid and can’t be broken once installed. For example, during experiments people threw all sorts of heavy items at the windows, but the glass wouldn’t break. The broken glass units of ‘Zapad’ were already damaged during shipment . As each of them is curved in its own way to make the tower’s curvature smooth, making a new set of window panes and bringing them to Russia was deemed too expensive . Moreover, the investors had financial problems (again, due to the 2008 financial crisis), so the ‘Vostok’ tower even stood unfinished for several years. Eventually, the cracked window panes were installed in their place.

7. The highest restaurant in Europe

‘Birds’, another restaurant in Moscow-City, is remarkable for its location. It was opened at the end of 2019 on the 84th floor of the ‘OKO’ complex’s southern tower. Guests at the restaurant can enjoy an amazing panoramic view at a height of 336 meters. On January 28, the experts of ‘Kniga Recordov Rossii’ (“Russian Records Book”) declared ‘Birds’ the highest restaurant in Europe, a step toward an application for a Guinness World Record.

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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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Fjords, Pharaohs or Koalas? Time to Plan for Your Next Eclipse.

If you can’t get enough of totality, or missed out this time, you’ll have three more chances in the next four years in destinations like Iceland, Spain, Egypt and Australia.

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By Danielle Dowling

Are you still a little giddy from the magical moments of totality during Monday’s solar eclipse? Or did clouds swoop in to block your view? Maybe you just couldn’t make it to the path of totality this time. No matter what, the question now is “ Where and when will it happen again?”

“People who have never seen it before, the first words out of their mouth after the totality ends is ‘I’ve got to see another one, this is incredible, this is unbelievable.’ That is when you become addicted to these things and end up traveling no matter where the next one is,” said Joseph Rao, an eclipse chaser and guest lecturer at the Hayden Planetarium.

So, if like Mr. Rao, you’ve developed a raging case of umbraphilia — the love of eclipses — you’ll have three chances over the next four years to see the moon blot out the sun. The first, on Aug. 12, 2026, will start above Greenland, then strafe the west coast of Iceland and move along the Atlantic Ocean and over Spain. Almost a year later, on Aug. 2, 2027, another will skirt the Mediterranean coast of North Africa then cross Egypt and part of the Arabian Peninsula. The third, on July 22, 2028, will cut across Australia and the southern tip of New Zealand.

Future Eclipses

Eclipse chasers will have several more chances this decade to view a total solar eclipse .

Last week, as Victoria Sahami , the owner of Sirius Travel , was preparing to guide a group of tourists in Mazatlán, Mexico, for Monday’s big event, she was also planning for these other upcoming eclipses. Ms. Sahami joined the ranks of the eclipse-obsessed when she witnessed one in Venezuela in the 1990s. “Like many people, I was hooked. There was no going back,” she said.

Total solar eclipses happen fairly regularly — about every one to two years — in locations scattered around the world. “That’s the great thing about them: You wind up in places that you don’t normally go,” Ms. Sahami said.

A major spoiler is weather, which will be a big variable in the 2026 eclipse — one Greenland, Iceland and Spain will see.

“Iceland normally has a lot of cloud during that time of year,” said Paul Maley , who runs Ring of Fire Expeditions . “The data shows Spain to have the higher good-weather prospects of all three. However, the sun is low in the sky and the eclipse ends as the sun hits the horizon at sunset.”

Because of Iceland’s mercurial meteorology, Ring of Fire Expeditions is going all in on Spain, with a 10-day excursion on the mainland. Sirius Travel is offering not only a five-day trip to Majorca but also an eight-day tour around Iceland. It will be based in Reykjavik, and the itinerary will remain flexible on the day of the eclipse so the tour can easily pivot toward the location with the least cloud cover. Ms. Sahami recommends the trip for those who already have a few eclipses under their belt and would be happy just to take in the sights of Iceland if the weather doesn’t cooperate.

The 2027 eclipse, on the other hand, promises to be truly stellar: Luxor, Egypt — the site of numerous ancient temples as well as the Valleys of the Kings and Queens — sits right in the middle of the path of totality and will be bathed in darkness for a full 6 minutes 23 seconds. Weather-wise, it is what Ms. Sahami called “a slam dunk.” “You know you’re going to see it. You know that you’re not going to get any clouds,” she said.

But for all its potential, those considering Egypt should be aware that the State Department has a Level 3 “Reconsider Travel” warning for the country because of the risk of terrorism.

The 2028 eclipse will darken the skies over Sydney, Australia, for 3 minutes 49 seconds. It will be the first time the city has experienced a total solar eclipse since 1857. Ms. Sahami has her eyes on a trip based out of there, while Mr. Maley has chartered a cruise ship off the northwest coast of Australia. It will be winter there, he said, but that isn’t likely to mean bad eclipse-viewing weather.

If you want to see any (or all) of these eclipses, you should get started on planning and booking now, particularly if you want to sign up for a trip organized by a tour company. One of Sirius Travel’s excursions to Luxor is already full.

Scrutinize refund policies and look into insuring your trip. Several companies will fully refund your deposit if you cancel a year in advance. A lot can happen, Ms. Sahami said, “but if you think you’re going to go, why not?”

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024 .