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Orange Travel - data eSIM card

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Orange Travel - World eSIMs 4+

Affordable travel esim plans, designed for iphone.

• #179 in Travel
• 1.3 • 8 Ratings

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Description.

Buy a prepaid Orange eSIM plan from anywhere in the world and stay connected during your trip abroad Don’t worry about staying connected in 4G or 5G during your trip abroad. With Orange Travel app, you can buy from home, top up and manage a generous local eSIM plan comfortably, in a few clics and avoid roaming fees. Orange thought about travelers and introduced this advanced eco friendly solution, to make communication abroad easier. Providing generous and affordable eSIM plans, for any destination in the world. Your next trip hack To save you time, we propose you a simple and very quick eSIM download with no QR code scanning, and an automatic identity verification thanks to eKYC technology when requested. No need to search for local SIM stores to get connectivity. No need to insert a physical SIM on your device. No need for a second smartphone during your trip to scan any QR code. No time wasted during your trip. What is eSIM?: It’s a downsized version of a SIM card that is fully integrated by manufacturers within a device such as a smartphone, tablet, or connected watch. It works just like a classic SIM card, providing calls, SMS, and the internet. All you need is a compatible device. With eSIM, you can enjoy the same services as with a plastic SIM card, you can use it immediately wherever you are! The eSIM just has to be recognized by the operator network from which you bought the eSIM Explore the world and keep in touch without fear with your relatives: catch up with your family and friends while enjoying your trip at its fullest. Use data, voice calls and sms to share your daily activities and look for the best spots to visit. In 1, 2 ,3 steps you got your plan. =>Choose the plan you’re interested in => Pay simply with your credit card =>Install your eSIM with no need QR code scanning Your eSIM is activated automatically More freedom for your trip We provide different plans covering any destination in the world, choose the plan that suits you best, only data or data + sms and calls, as you wish. If you plan to stay longer, or need more abundance, use our top up feature, and manage your eSIM according to your need. Orange is known for​: -Competitive prices for 253 million customers. -Network quality, with worldwide partnerships, presence in 26 countries -Investing in eco friendly and sustainable projects. List of main eSIM compatible Apple devices: Iphone Xs, Xs Max and Xr under iOS 12.2 at least Iphone 11, 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max Iphone 12, 12 Pro, 12 Pro Max, 12 Mini & iPhone SE 2 (2020) and SE 3 (2022) Iphone 13, 13 Pro, 13 Mini, 13 Pro Max IPhone 14, 14 Plus, 14 Pro, 14 Max iphone 15, 15 Plus iPad Air (3rd Gen or later) iPad (7th Gen or later) iPad mini (5th Gen or later) iPad Pro 11 and 12.9 Have a good trip with Orange

Version 1.5.0

We made it easier to contact customer care and access Frequently Asked Questions. We also improved the performance of the app.

Ratings and Reviews

Poor product…no customer service.

Do not waste your money with this company at least in the UK. I got service for short periods of time and then nothing and then it would work every few days for short periods of time. Customer service consisted of telling me how to install the eSIM which had actually been no problem. After I returned to Canada and asked for a refund, they declined because it had worked once and that fulfilled their ‘terms and conditions’ Buyer beware!

Do not buy, it will not work & they will not assist.

I spent 2x25 euro on this app and nothing work! I needed to go to an orange store instead as they said that I had not amount linked to my Esim while they charged me 25 euro. I will claim as Fraud to mastercard.

Developer Response ,

Hi pkyeghoyan, We're sorry to hear about your experience. It seems like you've encountered some issues with the app. Could you please reach out to us at [email protected] ? Our team will help you with your current situation.

Be prepared to troubleshoot

After emailing with the support team and troubleshooting for the first couple days of vacation, the service has been decent. Have to occasionally toggle airplane mode to regain data connection and connections is usually 3G speed. Not sure if I would go this route next time, but to be fair, I did save some money over roaming with my home network and the customer support over email was surprisingly effective. My only warning would be to carefully follow directions on setting this up, and be prepared for it to not work on the first day you arrive (download an offline map of the area you are traveling to before you leave) and have some time/patience set aside for troubleshooting.

Hi Stew895, we're sorry to hear about your experience. We'd like to help resolve this issue for you. Please reach out to us at [email protected]. Thank you for bringing this to our attention.

App Privacy

The developer, Orange , indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer's privacy policy .

Data Linked to You

The following data may be collected and linked to your identity:

• Contact Info
• Identifiers

Data Not Linked to You

The following data may be collected but it is not linked to your identity:

• User Content

Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More

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The Savvy Backpacker

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Orange holiday europe sim card review | i test this popular tourist-focused data plan.

A hands-on review of the popular tourist-focused data plan from Orange

phones and technology

I recently traveled to France for two weeks so I needed fast and reliable mobile data for my phone. But I didn’t want to spend a fortune using my current provider’s International Data plan which would have cost me $120 for two weeks (for spotty service and low data limits).

After a bit of research, I came across the Orange Holiday Europe SIM prepaid data plan that looked promising so I wanted to test it out and share my thoughts.

In this Orange Holiday Europe review, I’ll talk about my personal experience with this prepaid SIM card, things to consider before buying the Orange Holiday Europe plan, general tips about prepaid data plans in France/Europe, and I’ll list some alternatives you might also want to consider.

Overview Of The Orange Holiday Europe Prepaid Data Plan

The Orange Holiday Europe is a prepaid data plan designed for tourists who are visiting Europe and it gives users high-speed data in every European country. As an added bonus, Orange is the 11th largest mobile operator in the world and the 4th largest in Europe so they have a robust network and coverage.

The Orange Holiday Europe plan is also designed to be super user-friendly so there is no registration needed—simply install the SIM card into your unlocked phone and it automatically connects to a local mobile provider anywhere in Europe.

The Orange Holiday Europe plan costs around $50 and it gives you 20GB of mobile data (although sometimes they have a special where you get 30GB). The main downside is that the data is only valid for 14 days—although you’re able to re-up the plan for an additional 14 days for around $30.

The Orange Holiday Europe Prepaid plan comes as both an Orange Holiday physical SIM version and an Orange Holiday eSIM version . I highly recommend the eSIM version if your phone is eSIM compatible (the price and service are the same but you don’t have to pay for shipping and it’s delivered instantly via email).

My Experience Using The Orange Holiday Europe Prepaid SIM

Ok, let’s get into my personal review of the Orange Holiday Europe plan. I’ve broken this down into multiple sections.

Purchase and Shipping

I got my Orange Holiday Europe SIM from SimOptions and had it shipped to me before I departed. I believe many Orange retail locations throughout Europe sell this same plan but that requires you to hunt down a store—I wanted data as soon as I landed.

I believe delivery was an extra $7 and it took a few days to arrive (so plan ahead).

NOTE: I highly recommend buying the Orange Holiday Europe eSIM if your phone is compatible because you get free, instant delivery via email so you save yourself some time and money. You also don’t have to remove your current provider’s SIM card (i.e. you can use your new eSIM while still using your current plan) so you can keep your old number, etc.

Installation (For The Physical SIM Card Version)

Installing the SIM card is simple.

Just pop out your old SIM and replace it with the Orange SIM card. The kit doesn’t come with a SIM extraction tool so you’ll want to bring a small paperclip so you can pop the SIM slot open.

Keep your original SIM card somewhere safe because you’ll need to reinstall it to get your old service back.

IMPORTANT: Don’t install the SIM until you’re in Europe. The service automatically activates when the SIM is installed so installing it early will count against your 14-day service period.

Orange Holiday SIM Activation

Activation was super simple.

My iPhone automatically recognized the new SIM and the service activated itself as soon as I installed the SIM card.

The entire process took about 2-3 minutes.

If your phone doesn’t automatically connect, you may have to manually enter the following APN settings into your phone:

• Access Point Name (or APN): orange
• User name: orange
• Password: orange

I received a few text messages (in French) from Orange welcoming me and asking to register my card—you can ignore those if you don’t plan on using the service for more than 14 days. You can register your Orange SIM at https://travel.orange.com/en/sim-card-registration/

I believe these texts also tell you what your new French phone number is so write that down if you plan on making/receiving calls.

Speed, Coverage, and Overall Performance

On this trip, I spent most of my time in Paris, on a 3.5-hour train ride to the South of France, and in the South of France (mainly Marsailles but also on a few day trips in the region).

Overall my service was great. I got 4G/LTE just about everywhere I went and it was very rare for me to not have any signal (In fact, I can’t remember ever not having a signal).

I mostly used Google Maps/Google, Instagram, email, some Spotify streaming, and some other basic data usage. 20GB is a solid amount of data for two weeks so most people won’t hit that cap unless they’re doing a lot of video streaming (so limit your multi-hour TikTok sessions while on data).

Other Things I Liked About My Orange Holiday Europe Plan

First, Orange is a huge company so they have a great network with extensive EU-wide coverage.

And unlike a lot of data plans, the Orange Holiday Europe plan allows data tethering so I could use my phone as a hotspot for my laptop. This came in handy when my Airbnb’s wifi stopped working and when I wanted to send a few emails/surf the web while I was on the train.

Additionally, unlike a lot of prepaid data plans, the Orange Holiday Europe plan comes with a French phone number so users can make/receive phone calls and texts (you get unlimited calls and texts in Europe and 120 minutes of worldwide calling plus worldwide 1k texts). This can come in handy if you need to make restaurant reservations or if you need to call your Airbnb host, hotel, etc.

I also liked the convenience of pre-purchasing the plan so I didn’t have to waste time finding an Orange store and dealing with salespeople (I’d rather spend my time finding the best croissants).

Considerations Before Buying The Orange Holiday Europe SIM

Buying the Orange Holiday Europe SIM plan is more expensive than waiting to buy a local SIM card once you arrive in Europe. For reference, you’ll typically pay about $30 for 20GB of data via a local SIM card.

On the other hand, pre-buying Orange Holiday Europe plans means you’ll have data as soon as you land and you won’t have to waste time trying to track down a SIM card retailer. Personally, I don’t mind paying a little extra for the convenience.

However, if you’re traveling for more than a few weeks then you’re probably better off buying a local SIM card since I believe you can only use this card for a max of 28 days.

Who Should and Shouldn’t Buy The Orange Holiday Europe Plan

Not sure if the Orange Holiday Europe plan is for you? Maybe this will help:

Who Should Buy The Orange Holiday Europe Plan

• Travelers Who Value Convenience: Just activate the plan and you’re online. It’s super easy. No need to find a mobile retailer, no need to speak to anyone, no need to register your SIM or submit your passport, no need to be without data, etc.

Who Shouldn’t Buy The Orange Holiday Europe Plan

• Ultra-Budget Travelers: If you’re on a super tight budget then you can find other plans that are cheaper if you don’t mind spending time to track them down. You might also want to consider the cheaper Orange Holiday Zen SIM and Orange Holiday Zen eSIM plans that are $30 and have 10-15GB of data.
• Long-Term Travelers: It ends up being quite a bit cheaper to buy a local SIM card if you’re traveling for more than around three to four weeks.
• Minimal Data Users: Don’t need 20+ GB of data? Then look at the cheaper Orange Holiday Zen SIM and Orange Holiday Zen eSIM plans that are $30 for 10-15GB of data.

Orange Holiday Europe SIM Alternatives

Ok, let’s take a look at a few other SIM and SIM card options you might want to check out:

ORANGE HOLIDAY ZEN ESIM: $29.90

• Price:  $29.90 (Check  SimOptions  for details)
• Data:  15GB
• Service Speed:  4G/LTE
• Calls:  Unlimited within Europe and 30 min outside of Europe.
• Texts/SMS:  Unlimited within Europe and 200 outside of Europe.
• Credit validity:  14 day
• Data tethering allowed
• Usable on any device (phones, tablets, hotspots…)
• This eSIM card comes with a French phone number

The Orange Holiday Zen plan is very similar to the Orange Holiday Europe plan but it has less data and it’s cheaper. This is a great option for users who don’t use a lot of data.

O2 GO CARD ESIM: $24.90

• Price:  $24.90 (Check  SimOptions  for details)
• Data:  10GB
• Service Speed:  4G/LTE
• Calls:  Includes $2 of credit to make calls within Europe
• Texts/SMS:  Includes $2 of credit to send/receive texts within Europe
• Credit validity:  30 day
• This eSIM card comes with a Czech phone number

The O2 Go Card Plan is on the O2 mobile network (the largest mobile network in the UK) so the service quality will be good.

And while it’s slightly cheaper than the Orange Holiday Zen plan, you get less mobile data and you don’t get the benefit of any international calls/texts—you also get a very limited amount of EU calls/texts.

SMART COMFORT X ESIM: $17.90

• Price:  $17.90 (Check  SimOptions  for details)
• Data:  5GB
• Calls:  None
• Texts/SMS:  None
• Credit validity:  30 day

The Smart Comfort X eSIM is a budget data-only eSIM plan option that gives you 5GB of data but no calls or texts (you can still send iMessage if you’re sending messages between iPhones and make calls/texts via WhatsApp, etc).

Smart Comfort X eSIM is also what’s considered an “international eSIM” so it’s not backed by a specific data provider (i.e Orange, O2, etc.). That means it will connect to a specific partner provider in each country—for example, France (Bouygues), Germany (O2), Italy (WIND), Spain (Telefonica), etc.

Because of its limited data limits, the Smart Comfort X eSIM plan is best for light data users.

THREE UK PAYG AIO15

Three UK is another large European mobile carrier and their  PAYG AIO15  plan is a good value for people who don’t need the 20GB offered by the Orange Holiday Europe plan. I like how the plan has a validity period of 30 days so it’s good for longer trips.

Plan Specs:

• PRICE:  $30
• DATA:  10GB
• CALLS:  Unlimted in Europe
• TEXT:  Unlimted in Europe
• USED AS A MOBILE HOTSPOT?:  No
• CREDIT VALID FOR:  30 Days

BOUYGUES TELECOM VACATION PREPAID PLAN

The  Bouygues Telecom Vacation Prepaid Plan  is very similar to the Orange Holiday Zen but the Bouygues plan must be activated in France—so that’s a huge drawback if France isn’t your first destination.

• PRICE:  $50
• DATA:  20GB
• USED AS MOBILE HOTSPOT?:  NO
• Must be activated in France but can be used anywhere in the EU.

Note:  SimOptions.com  has other cards for sale but these are the best options/deals.

MORE EUROPE TRAVEL TIPS FROM THE SAVVY BACKPACKER

Here are some more helpful articles I’ve written about visiting Europe on a budget:

• The Best Prepaid eSIM Data Plans for Europe
• Guide To Data Plans and Smartphone PhonesWhile Traveling in Europe
• How To Buy A SIM Card and Mobile Data Plans in Europe
• Backpacking Europe Packing List
• Europe Packing List for Women
• The Best Travel Shoes
• The Best Travel Backpacks  and  The Best Travel Backpacks for Women
• Recent Posts

• Best Prepaid UK eSIM | Data Plan Buyer’s Guide - April 21, 2024
• How to Avoid Pickpockets in Europe — Tips for Outsmarting the Thieves - April 19, 2024
• Best Prepaid eSIM For Italy | Data Plan Buyer’s Guide - April 18, 2024

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Is the Orange Europe SIM card really worth it?

If you’re looking for an easy to use and value-for-money data plan on your next trip to Europe then here’s why you should consider the Orange Europe SIM card.

I travel to Europe regularly for both work and for fun. In particular, I spend a lot of time in  France , especially in   Morzine   in the French Alps. Until recently, every time I travelled I would use my United Kingdom mobile data plan allowance . However, this was starting to get expensive. Although I wasn’t using my data allowance for phone calls, I was often using Google maps to navigate my way around French roads while driving and this meant I was tearing through my data and coming home to big phone bills. 

It was then that I was introduced to the Orange Holiday Europe eSIM prepaid data plan and decided to test it out on my next trip to France. In this Orange Holiday Europe review I share my personal experiences with this prepaid SIM card and why I think it’s a really good option if you are looking for a prepaid data plan in France and Europe . 

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. I have been or could be if you click on a link in this post compensated via a cash payment, gift or something else of value for writing this post. See our full disclosure policy for more details.

What is the Orange Holiday eSIM and how does it work?

The Orange Holiday Europe eSIM card is a prepaid data plan for travellers who want to stay connected while travelling in European countries .

Prior to Brexit, the EU Romain Regulation meant that UK mobile customers could use their domestic allowance of minutes, text messages and data throughout the European Economic Area (EEA) without incurring additional charges. However, since leaving the European Union, there has been no obligation on UK mobile operators to guarantee surcharge-free roaming . 

Some mobile operators continue to offer surcharge-free roaming while others have scrapped free roaming but offer add-on data plans to keep costs down. Anyone travelling to the EU needs to check their roaming policies of their service provider before travelling. 

The best option for avoiding surprise charges and unexpected roaming fees is to either choose a local SIM card when overseas or do like I did and opt for an Orange holiday eSIM card . 

Orange is the eleventh-largest mobile network operator in the world . They also offer the largest mobile coverage in France with   99% of the metropolitan population in 3G + and more than 98% in 4G. In other words, they are very reliable. 

The Orange Holiday Europe eSIM is an electronic SIM card that is incredible easy to use. Once you’ve purchased your eSIM you receive an email with a QR code to scan and install directly on to your mobile phone. Because it’s digital there’s no need to wait for the the postman to deliver a physical SIM card meaning that you can install your Orange SIM card on the same day as travel. As soon as you arrive in Europe, the eSIM is ready to use. 

Which eSIM card to choose? 

There are two different options to choose from when it comes to picking your travel SIM card.

The 30GB card (the Orange Holiday Europe) offers 30 gb of data plus unlimited calls (including local calls) and texts in Europe, 2h international calls from Europe to worldwide and 1000 texts.

Cards must be registered during the first 30 days otherwise the card SIM card will be blocked. Cards are initially valid for 14 days after which you will need to top up your card and then the SIM card will be valid for 6 months. Top-ups are available online . The 30 GB data eSIM costs Euro 39.99

The alternative is the 12GB card (the Orange Holiday Zen) that comes with unlimited calls and texts in Europe, 30mins International calls and 200 text message. Again, this eSIM is valid for 14 days and a top-up for an additional cost is available. The 12GB eSIM costs Euro 19.99. 

The inclusion of international calls in the packages is a a great bonus for travellers who want to stay connected with people outside any European country included in the package. The rates for these calls are competitive – and substantially cheaper than if you were using international roaming on your home network. 

Which countries does the Orange eSIM card cover?

The Orange holiday offer works in the following countries:

Andorra, Azores, Aland islands, Germany, Austria, Balearic islands, Belgium, Canary islands , Cyprus, Corfu, Crete, the Cyclades, Croatia, Denmark, Spain, Estonia, Faeroe islands, Finland, France (mainland), Gibraltar, Greece, Guernsey, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Jersey, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madeira, Malta, Isle of Man, Norway, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Rhodes, Romania, United Kingdom, San Marino, Sardinia, Sicily, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Sweden, Vatican

My experience using the Orange eSIM card

Overall I had a really good experience using the Orange eSIM holiday card. I’ve broken down the experience into sections for ease of use: 

Purchasing and Installing the eSIM card

Purchasing the Orange eSIM card online is very easy. Head to the Orange store online and, once you’ve bought your data eSIM card, you will receive an email with instructions on how to install it. The best thing about having an eSIM card is that you don’t have to remove your current mobile provider’s SIM card. 

Installation instructions vary slightly depending on whether you have an iPhone (which I have) or an Android . Regardless of which cell phone you have, however, installing the eSIM is very straightforward and detailed instructions are given. 

You are required to scan the QR code that comes in your confirmation email (this QR code can only be used once) and then you are walked through the installation process.

Essentially you are adding an eSIM to your phone (all iPhone models that support eSIM cards can have multiple eSIMs ) alongside your physical SIM card. Then, when you arrive in your destination of choice, you simply toggle between the two SIM cards . 

When I arrived in Normandy, France, I went to the Mobile Data setting and switched my UK network off and my Orange eSIM card on. This meant that I now had a French phone number to use while in the country. It was the same when I went to Switzerland. It was that easy. 

You’ll receive a text message from Orange asking you to register your card. This should be done within the first 30 days otherwise the card will be blocked. The line validity is valid for six months and a further six months after each top up. 

*Remember to only install your Orange Holiday eSIM right before leaving home, ideally on the day of travel. The service automatically activates when the eSIM is installed meaning that your 14-day period starts straight away. 

Coverage and Performance

I was travelling through rural Normandy during most of my first trip and the coverage was excellent . In Switzerland I spent time between small cities and the countryside and, again, had a great experience.

What worked well 

What I really liked about the Orange eSIM card was not only how easy it is to install and use but that I could purchase it before my trip . Last year I took a work trip to Nova Scotia in Canada and did not have an alternative SIM card to my regular UK one. When I arrived at the airport to pick up my hire car, I discovered that the car did not have inbuilt GPS and nor did they have any GPS navigation systems available to hire. I then had to use international roaming to navigate to the nearest shop where I could buy a SIM card.

Who should buy the Orange e-SIM cards

The Orange eSIM plan is a great option for short-term Europe travel . If you are doing a trip shorter than 14 days then this is fast, convenient, easy to use, and competitively priced option. If you are travelling for longer then it’s probably worth investing in a local SIM card, which is valid for longer.

Photos courtesy of Depositphotos

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Katja Gaskell

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Districts [ edit ]

Central Moscow districts [ edit ]

Outlying districts [ edit ], understand [ edit ].

Moscow is the financial and political centre of Russia and the countries formerly comprising the Soviet Union. It has a population of around 13 million and an area of 2,511 square kilometres (970 sq mi) after an expansion in 2012. One-tenth of all Russian citizens live in the Moscow metropolitan area. Moscow is the second most populous city in Europe, after Istanbul , and has the most populous metropolitan area in Europe, with some 21 million residents. Moscow is in the UTC+3 time zone; there is no daylight saving time.

Many years since the break up of the Soviet Union, the economy has improved, and the modern era has brought upon a wide variety of construction projects, modern architecture and newer transport systems replacing the derelict ones during Soviet times.

Geography [ edit ]

Moscow is a large metropolis on the Moskva River, which bends its way through the city. The historical center is on the northern bank of the river. The other major waterway is the Yauza River, which flows into the Moskva east of the Kremlin.

Much of Moscow's geography is defined by the 3 'Ring Roads' that circle the city at various distances from the centre, roughly following the outline of the walls that used to surround Moscow. With Red Square and the Kremlin forming the very centre, the innermost ring road is the Boulevard Ring ( Bulvarnoye Koltso ), built in the 1820s where the 16th century walls used to be. It runs from the Christ the Savior Cathedral in south-west central Moscow, to the mouth of the Yauza in south-east central Moscow.

The next ring road, the Garden Ring ( Sadovoe Koltso ), derives its name from the fact that landowners near the road in Tsarist times were obligated to maintain gardens to make the road attractive. In Soviet times, the road was widened, and there are now no gardens there.

The Third Ring Road, completed in 2004, is not much use for tourists but is a heavily used motorway which absorbs a bit of Moscow's traffic. It roughly follows the outline of Kamer-Kollezhsky val , the customs boundary of Moscow in the 18th – early 20th century. The outer edge of Moscow is largely defined by the Moscow Ring Road (widely known by its abbreviation: MKAD-Moskovskaya kolcevaya avto doroga), a motorway which is 108 km (67 mi) long and encircles the entire city (similar to London's M25 and Paris' Périphérique ).

Climate [ edit ]

The climate of Moscow features warm summers and long, cold winters.

Get in [ edit ]

See Russia#Get in for visa requirements to Russia.

By train [ edit ]

Moscow is a railway hub, with connections to all parts of Russia and far into Europe and Asia. Due to its hub status, Moscow's train stations are often crowded; trains are the usual form of intercity transport for most Russians. The stations have a reputation for being unsafe but paradoxically the threat of terrorism has improved things: security gates, policing and surveillance deter the casual thugs and villains. Guard your valuables and yourself as you would in any big city.

All long-distance trains are operated by Russian Railways and its subsidiaries, except for a few international trains with other operators. Tickets can be bought at stations or online . For domestic trains, you can show the ticket officer your online boarding pass; however, international trains require a printed ticket. There are usually ticket counters with English-speaking personnel - they may be marked as such, or the clerk may direct you to another counter if they can't cope with your English. See Russia#By train 2 for more details on travelling in Russia by train.

From Europe [ edit ]

All trains from Europe halted since 2020

Train stations in Moscow [ edit ]

Moscow has 10 train stations, 9 of which are near metro stations close to the center of Moscow. Be sure to note the station from which your train is departing, which will be indicated on the ticket, or online . Three stations ( Leningradsky , Yaroslavsky , and Kazansky ) are on one huge square, informally known as the "Three Stations' Square". A running joke among Moscow taxi drivers since the Soviet times is to be able to pick up a fare from one of them to the other, taking the unwary tourist on an elaborate ride in circles. Be prepared for enormous queues trying to enter or exit the Metro at peak times, as people are getting off or on the commuter trains.

By car [ edit ]

Many entry points to Moscow over the Ring Road and into the city feature rotating roadblocks, where teams of traffic police may stop a vehicle, especially if it is not featuring Moscow plates. You may be stopped and questioned but you'll be allowed to proceed if you have all the proper documents.

Foreign cars, especially expensive cars, might attract unwelcome attention, and there is cumbersome paperwork involved to enter Russia by car.

By boat [ edit ]

There is no scheduled passenger service to Moscow by boat; however, cruise ships do provide service to the Northern River Terminal, on the Moscow Canal near the Khimki Reservoir. The pier is not convenient to the city and it can take over 2 hours to reach the city centre by car.

A system of navigable channels and locks connects the Moskva River with the Volga River, which is further connected to the Baltic Sea , White Sea, the Azov, the Black Sea, and the Caspian Sea. In the Soviet times this allowed the official propaganda to refer to Moscow as "a port on the five seas".

By bicycle [ edit ]

Moscow is the easternmost destination of the EuroVelo cycling routes . Eurovelo Route 2 , the Capitals Route, is a 5,500 km (3,400 mi) route starting in Galway , Ireland , passing through Dublin , London , Berlin , Warsaw and Minsk before terminating in Moscow.

By metro [ edit ]

The Metro is open from 05:30-01:00. Station entrances are closed at 01:00, and at this time the last trains depart from all of the termini stations. After 01:00, many locals will enter the train station using the exits, which are still open. Service on the ring line runs until 01:30, although entrances are closed at 01:00. The down escalators are also shut off at 01:00.

There is signage in the Metro stations in English and the Latin alphabet, but these signs are not everywhere. Each train carriage has a map in Latin script and there is one near the entrance to each station. Note the direction of the train before you alight. It is worth printing a map of the metro system in both Cyrillic and Latin letters to take with you.

All trains in the system have free WiFi onboard, but you will need to have a Russian phone number to get the authorization code to access the WiFi. Some of the older train cars are not climate controlled.

2 or 3 stations may be connected as transfer points but will each have a different name. There are 2 stations called Smolenskaya and 2 stations called Arbatskaya , but the station pairs are not connected to each other despite having the same name. Some of the stations are very deep underground, and transfer times between certain metro lines can take a lot of time. In the city centre, it can save time to go directly to the above-ground entrance of the line you want to take rather than to enter at a connecting station and transfer underground. On the escalators, stand on the right and walk on the left except for peak hours, when standing on the left side is also allowed.

Some of the train stations include beautiful architecture and it is worth taking a guided tour of the metro system. The most interesting stations in terms of decor are Komsomolskaya (ring line), Novoslobodskaya (ring line), Kievskaya (ring line), Kropotkinskaya (Line #1 - red), Kievskaya (Line #3 - dark blue), Arbatskaya (Line #3 - dark blue), Ploschad' Revolyutsii (Line #3 - dark blue), Mayakovskaya (Line #2 - dark green). Also look at the architecture of the ground entrance building of Arbatskaya (Line #4 - light blue) and Krasnye Vorota (Line #1 - red). History buffs may appreciate that Metro Line #1 (red) has the oldest stations, opened in 1935.

The Vorobyovy Gory Metro Station on Line #1 (red) is unique in that it is on a bridge crossing the Moscow River. This bridge also carries auto traffic road on another level. There is a beautiful view through the transparent sides of the station. A great observing point around Moscow is located nearby on Vorobyovy hills, next to the main building of Lomonosov Moscow State University.

There are a couple of unique trains operating through the system and you will be lucky if you get to ride them. Aquarelle (Watercolor) is a train that includes an art gallery. The train operates daily on Line #3 (dark blue). The Sokolniki Retro Train is a train modeled after the original 1930s trains and it occasionally is placed into service, usually around a major anniversary of the metro system.

The metro is relatively safe, although pickpockets are a problem, as they are in any environment where a lot of people are pressed together. Opportunistic petty crime, such as snatching someone's mobile phone and jumping out just as the doors are closing, is also commonplace. Take the usual precautions at night when gangs of inebriated teenagers may look for an excuse to beat someone up. There is no train guard or conductor, so the first car near the driver may be the safest. Every car is equipped with an intercom to the driver's cabin; they are beige boxes with a grill and a black button near doors, and mostly work, unless visibly vandalized.

By tram [ edit ]

There are several tram routes, although trams are not common in the city centre.

By monorail [ edit ]

Moscow Monorail is a 4.7 km (2.9 mi) monorail line with 6 stations. It is slower, less frequent, and has shorter operating hours when compared with the metro (every 30 min, 08:00-20:00). However, the view is picturesque. It is useful to get to the Ostankino Tower, or to get to the VDNKh exhibition centre from Metro Line #9 (silver). Interchanges between Moscow Metro and Monorail is free, no additional fee will be charged.

By hop-on-hop-off bus [ edit ]

The hop-on-hop-off bus is a convenient way for tourists to see the major sights quickly and efficiently. The buses feature English-speaking guides to answer any questions. A 1 day pass costs $24 for adults and $15 for children.

See [ edit ]

Do [ edit ].

Moscow has many attractions, but many of them are not friendly to a non-Russian-speaker. English-language newspapers like The Moscow Times , Element [dead link] , Moscow News and others can help to navigate towards English-language friendly attractions and services.

Circuses [ edit ]

Theatres [ edit ].

• Bolshoi Theatre , one of the oldest and best known ballet and opera companies in the world.

Learn [ edit ]

Moscow remains the educational center of Russia and the former USSR. There are 222 institutes of higher education, including 60 state universities & 90 colleges. Some of these offer a wide-spectrum of programs, but most are centered around a specific field. This is a hold-over from the days of the USSR, when Sovietwide there were only a handful of wide-spectrum "universities" and a large number of narrow-specialization "institutes" (mostly in Moscow & St.Petersburg). Moscow offers some of the best business/management, science, & arts schools in the world. Moscow is also a popular destination for foreign students to learn Russian.

Work [ edit ]

You will need a work visa which is not an easy process. The visa needs to be arranged well in advance of traveling. It is possible to work in Moscow, you just need to find a good company to support you. The main obstacle for many foreigners will be a mandatory Russian language exam required to obtain a work permit.

Shopping malls [ edit ]

Large shopping malls are common near metro stations.

Tipping [ edit ]

For information on tipping in restaurants, see Russia#Eat .

Ethnic food [ edit ]

Authentic ethnic food from countries of the nearby Caucasus ( Azerbaijan , Georgia , Armenia ) is common in Moscow. Japanese food, including sushi, rolls, tempura, and steakhouses are very popular in Moscow. Other Asian cuisines including Vietnamese, Thai, and Chinese are becoming increasingly more common.

Budget [ edit ]

Street food [ edit ].

Free-standing kiosks serving sausages, meat pies, or kebobs are plentiful, although the origins of the meat served is questionable and the food has been known to occasionally make people sick.

Muscovites are also fond of their ice cream, consumed in any weather, even in the dead of winter, cheap and usually of superior quality; kiosks can be found all over the center and near all Metro stations.

Foodcourts 2.0 [ edit ]

This term is used in articles by local food critics: since 2016, several special food courts were opened with independent and small food chains, for those people who get bored of McDonald's-like food. They offer a wider choice of cuisines.

Clubs [ edit ]

Nightlife in Moscow is bustling, intense and exciting. It starts quite late; it's common for the headliners to start at 02:00-02:00. Most noticeable are areas near Solyanka street and Krasniy Oktyabr' place. At summer time a lot of clubs opening open-air terraces called "verandas". Most of clubs in Moscow are very picky of who they let in, so make sure you have a positive attitude and dress up if you are going to a fancy club.

Gazgolder [dead link] (not far from Kremlin) is among the best.

Cafes [ edit ]

Moscow has several café chains with great coffee including Coffeemania and Coffee Bean [dead link] . Moscow also has a good selection of tea saloons. High-quality infusion teas such as Newby, are widely available in cafes, both in packets and loose.

Asking to add boiling water to the tea you ordered earlier is a practice that some cafes don't welcome, but normally it's acceptable.

Sleep [ edit ]

Stay safe [ edit ].

Moscow enjoys a relatively low crime rate.

Drunk people are the most likely sources of problems. In the past years, lots of policemen were corrupt, and it was best to avoid them. Nowadays Moscow has a Tourist Police force, whose officers are able to speak foreign languages and help tourists. Police officers are equipped with body-cameras.

It is preferable to avoid some parts of the outer districts of Moscow, especially in the south. Some of those areas are notorious for gopniks (drunkards notorious for muggings and starting fights with strangers, and will do so seemingly unprovoked), who normally hang out in sparse residential areas and in industrial zones. The same problems can be witnessed in the surrounding regions and in other Russian cities as well.

While traveling in Moscow, as in the rest of Russia, you should always have your passport with you. If you look non-white, your papers may get checked more often than otherwise. The police may demand to see your papers to check if you have been registered within 7 business days of your arrival into Moscow. Always remember that if you stay in a hotel then you are automatically registered and will be handed a confirmation paper at a time of check-in, so don't worry in this case. The police are usually looking for migrants from Central Asia and unless you fit this profile, you are unlikely to be questioned.

Women should take caution walking alone late at night since they may receive unwanted attention from drunk men. Women should also stay clear of large companies of men in front of bars, restaurants, etc. It is best to walk with a friend if possible.

Streets can become very slippery in winter. Wear shoes or, even better, boots with decent grip to prevent twisted ankles. Ice patches can be hard to spot. A waterproof raincoat is also sensible.

Traffic is poorly handled, and vehicle accident rates are very high.

If you need help with translation, ask students or pupils: younger people are more likely to be able to help you than the older generations.

Connect [ edit ]

For information on using telephones and buying SIM cards in Russia, see Russia#Connect .

Mobile Internet is quite affordable in Russia, but you have to buy Russian SIM-card first.

Wireless Internet [ edit ]

Moscow Metro has Wi-Fi in all trains. It is ad-supported.

Mosgortrans has Wi-Fi spots on every bus, trolleybus and tram. Also sometimes you can find Wi-Fi spot on a public transport stop.

Beeline Wi-Fi [dead link] operates the largest network of both paid and free Wi-Fi access points. If there is a charge, you can pay online via credit card.

There is a large network of free Wi-Fi hotspots in the city centre; check your device in the middle of a busy area and you may find one.

Many cafes and restaurants offer Wi-Fi - ask for password. Most bookstores offer free Wi-Fi, including "Dom Knigi" on New Arbat Street or "Respublika" bookstore on Tverskaya near Mayakovskaya Metro Station.

Some establishments that offer free Wi-Fi may require you to verify an authorization code sent to a Russian phone number before gaining access, but for the most part, foreign numbers also work as of 2016.

Cope [ edit ]

Embassies [ edit ].

Moscow is one of the global diplomatic capitals, competing with Berlin , Brussels , Beijing , Paris , London , Tokyo and Washington D.C. . Most of the world's countries have their embassies in the city.

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US man returns from Europe to $143,000 T-Mobile bill for using phone overseas

Gigantic bill apparently reflected using 9.5 gigabytes of data on a phone that had not been set up for international roaming

A Florida man was stunned to come back from a European trip and – upon checking his phone bill – realize that he had been charged a staggering $143,000 by his phone company for using his device while overseas.

ABC Action News reported that Rene Remund and his wife had toured Switzerland last September and had even gone to a T-Mobile store to share his travel plan with his phone provider before leaving.

But the gigantic bill apparently reflected using some 9.5 gigabytes of data while overseas on a phone that had not been set up for international roaming.

Remund told ABC that he called T-Mobile and waited on hold while the charges were examined and the person he spoke with informed him that the bill was not a mistake and that he was liable for it.

Remund replied: “You’re kidding me?”

He then hired a lawyer, who contacted ABC for help. Shortly after T-Mobile were contacted by ABC, the company offered to credit Remund’s account.

T-Mobile told ABC : “We recommend our customers check the travel features of their plan, such as international data roaming, before departing … if a customer is on an older plan that doesn’t include international roaming for data and calling, they’ll need to make sure they’re using airplane mode and wifi when using data to be certain the device doesn’t connect to an international network.”

• Mobile phones (Technology)
• Mobile phones (Money)
• Switzerland

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T-Mobile’s New Internet Plan Lets You Travel With It for $160

We may earn a commission when you click links to retailers and purchase goods. More info.

Frequently roadtrippin’ people with an RV or who like to camp or are stilling clinging to #vanlife, T-Mobile has a new internet plan for you. Be warned, it is not cheap if you want unlimited data.

Called “T-Mobile Away,” this is an internet plan that costs $160 per month for access to unlimited data, includes a gateway device (that needs to be plugged in), allows for up to 64 device connections at a time, will keep you connected while in-motion, and uses all of T-Mobile’s 5G and 4G network. There’s also a $110 per month version that gets you 200GB of data. Both prices require autopay.

Who really is this plan for? T-Mobile really is suggesting it’s for “frequent travelers like RVers, campers and digital nomads.” As someone who isn’t a part of that crowd today, I don’t know what it’s like to need internet on the road 24-7. In the comparison above, I can see that there are several options to choose from, but T-Mobile is saying (of course) that it’s new Away plan is the best because of its feature set. I’ll let you decide, traveling friends.

The new plan goes live May 8.

// T-Mobile

• Home Internet

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T-Mobile unveils new 5G internet plans for enhanced home and travel connectivity

Published on April 23, 2024

• T-Mobile has announced two new 5G internet plans — Home Internet Plus, available April 26, and Away, available May 8.
• Home Internet Plus offers expanded Wi-Fi coverage and 24/7 tech support for all smart devices and costs $70/month.
• Away provides a secure Wi-Fi solution for travelers, with options for unlimited or 200GB monthly data plans.

T-Mobile has announced two new 5G Internet plans, “Home Internet Plus” and “Away.” Home Internet Plus targets a premium home internet experience with expanded Wi-Fi coverage and 24/7 tech support for smart devices. Away is designed for travelers, offering a flexible Wi-Fi solution that leverages T-Mobile’s extensive 5G network across the nation.

The company describes itself as the fastest-growing internet provider in the U.S., reporting nearly 5 million customers since the 2021 launch of its 5G home Internet service.

Home Internet Plus is designed for households that require seamless, whole-home Wi-Fi. It includes T-Mobile’s latest 5G gateway and a Wi-Fi Mesh Access Point, offering a potential coverage of up to 2,200 square feet.

Additionally, the plan includes unlimited, live technical support through a personal “TechPro.” This support covers Wi-Fi and all connected smart devices in the home, offering assistance with setup, troubleshooting, and general usage.

Pricing for Home Internet Plus starts at $70/month with AutoPay or $50/month with AutoPay and a premium voice line. It will be available beginning on April 26. Customers also benefit from T-Mobile’s Price Lock guarantee, as well as the absence of equipment fees and annual contracts.

T-Mobile’s standard Home Internet plan remains available at $40/month (premium voice plan customers) or $50/month (other voice plans). This means the Plus plan adds extended Wi-Fi and 24/7 support at an additional cost of roughly $120 per year.

Internet on the move

The Away plan is designed to keep travelers connected with a flexible Wi-Fi solution that leverages T-Mobile’s nationwide 5G network. It includes a 5G gateway that can support up to 64 devices at a time — far exceeding the capabilities of typical hotspots or using your smartphone as a hotspot.

Customers have the flexibility to choose either an unlimited data option for continuous connectivity or a plan with 200 gigabytes of monthly data. T-Mobile emphasizes the security benefits of the included gateway compared to relying on public Wi-Fi networks.

Away launches on May 8, and pricing is $160/month (unlimited data) or $110/month (200GB) with AutoPay. The plan also features T-Mobile’s signature Price Lock guarantee and a simple setup process to get you connected quickly.

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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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We Need to Talk About the ‘Challengers’ Threesome Scene. Just Not for the Reason You Think.

It’s already one of the most infamous set pieces of the year. It also uses a wildly era-inappropriate song. What gives?

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Challengers is a movie obsessed with making sure you understand its chronology. Throughout its 131 minutes, Luca Guadagnino’s new ténnage à trois flick deploys a barrage of scene-resetting phrases like “THIRTEEN YEARS EARLIER,” “THE NEXT DAY,” and even “MIDNIGHT,” in all-caps, pink-text title cards. (Also: “SET BREAK,” shortly after a match official explains that they’re going to take a break between sets.) I’m not sure all of this is necessary: Even as the plot volleys across two decades, most shifts are easy to track. We know that it’s the mid-aughts because there’s a Motorola Razr on Zendaya’s nightstand; we know that it’s closer to the present day because Josh O’Connor is swiping through Tinder on a cracked iPhone. This isn’t exactly Lost Highway ! (Though I would love to see what title cards Luca would’ve cooked up for Lynch’s neo-noir headfuck.)

This is, of course, a minor complaint—and I may be on an island here, considering the Letterboxd and Rotten Tomatoes love Challengers is getting. But it’s relevant to a question I’m about to ask: Does Luca think I’m an idiot and that I wouldn’t notice he snuck a song from the wrong decade into a scene set in (roughly) 2006?

I’m specifically referring to THE scene, as in [ insert “SPOILER” and “CONTENT WARNING” title cards here ] the infamous threesome set piece that threatens to, uh, thrust the acronym “MMF” into the mainstream lexicon. [Another title card here: “DON’T GOOGLE MMF AT WORK.”] If you have a passing familiarity with Challengers , then you know what I’m referring to—Zendaya, O’Connor, and Mike Faist on a hotel bed, both men fawning over her, things getting hot and heavy as the two men try to show her their stroke (before playing a little doubles with themselves). The movie’s been out for less than 24 hours and it’s already one of the most talked-about scenes of the year. All of my attention should’ve been on this triples match. However, I was too busy losing my mind over one small detail: the song playing on the radio during this scene. Blood Orange’s “Uncle ACE”— ace, get it? —from his breakthrough Cupid Deluxe . A song that came out in 2013—as in six or seven years after this illicit almost-affair took place.

Not them playing uncle ACE https://t.co/pJCBcnoepJ — woah kenny (@kennybeets) April 24, 2024

To be clear, “Uncle ACE” is an excellent song off Dev Hynes’s excellent album, and maybe a perfect choice, vibes-wise. It’s sexy, it’s propulsive, and it, uh, climaxes with an unbelievable sax solo. It’s also vaguely nostalgic, which should work in a movie that taps into nostalgia. The problem is that this song is supposed to be diegetic —the film nerd word meaning it exists in the world of the film, which, well, “Uncle ACE” certainly did not. (In fact, not only does Challengers imagine a world in which this song existed in 2006, but it also imagines a world in which a radio station would be conducting a lengthy interview with Dev Hynes.) If you’re a music nerd on top of being a film nerd, this is the exact kind of thing that will take you out of an experience. Instead of focusing on the Y tu Tennis También shit unfolding before your eyes, you’re desperately trying to make sense of why some dork-ass tennis prodigies in 2006 would be listening to a deep cut off of Pitchfork ’s 21st-best record of 2013 . It is all-caps, pink-text MADDENING !

A few weeks ago, before I had seen Challengers , a colleague of mine referred to it as “ Saltburn -core.” If you’ve seen both, the descriptor fits. Even if Challengers ’ threesome scene or churro-nibbling can’t come close to Saltburn ’s spunk-slurping, grave-humping chaos , there’s a certain memeable soapiness to both. Both films also share an affinity for overexplaining things—I will never forgive Saltburn for the climactic montage, which gave the Usual Suspects plot-twist treatment to things that no half-awake viewer could have ever missed. (What do you mean the bad-guy liar lied about bad things?) And maybe most importantly, both Challengers and Saltburn mine the same era for nostalgia—with apparently little care for the finer details. Infamously, in Saltburn —which is also largely set in 2006 and 2007—there are a number of issues: characters playing MGMT songs a year before they could’ve known about them, karaoke versions of yet-to-be released Flo Rida hits, the family watching Superbad on DVD before the movie was even released in theaters ! I know the rich have access to many things us plebes don’t, but I’m pretty sure Judd Apatow wasn’t sending the Catton family rough cuts of McLovin and friends. And it wasn’t just music and film nerds that noticed this stuff: The Saltburn anachronisms were so egregious that blogging about them became something of a cottage industry around the holidays .

As time goes on, it’s only natural that more and more movies will start looking back on the late 2000s and early 2010s. But if I’m going to be repeatedly confronted with the notion that my best days are now fodder for nostalgia, can’t they at least nail the details? Why bother setting the story in a not-really-that-bygone era in the first place if not? And if that doesn’t matter, then are these films being placed in the mid-aughts in service of the story or because it’s easy to tap into cheap sentimentality? Why didn’t the music supervisor for either movie step in and say, “Hey, shouldn’t these kids be listening to, like, “Daft Punk Is Playing at My House” instead? (Though if I’m being real, Art Donaldson seems more like a Band of Horses guy.) It’s not like Luca and his team didn’t focus on other small details: The product placement is self-aware, but avoids veering into Talladega Nights or Wayne’s World parody territory. The specific degradations of Josh O’Connor’s character—and the way they manifest through his court attire and the empty bottles clinking around the floor of his car—are subtly brilliant. Hell, this is a movie with an intricate understanding of the geography of Westchester County! I have my gripes with a handful of things about the film—let’s never talk about the stop-motion wind kiss under the giant “Game Changer” poster—but it’s clear some level of care went into this. (Though there is one other pedantic, also diegetic thing I have to speak my truth on: At one point, Zendaya’s kid asks to watch Spider-Verse , and while I admire the restraint shown in not referencing the mononymous star’s own role in that franchise, the winking reference doesn’t break the fourth wall so much as it splits its skull against it.)

Mistakes—or possibly just wanton flouting of chronology—like the “Uncle ACE” placement are head-scratching, but ultimately inconsequential. No one, aside from the most P4K -pilled, is going to truly care about the flattening of indie-music history. (And to be fair, during one scene, Challengers got the mid-aughts hipster catnip right with a needle drop of Spoon’s “I Turn My Camera On.” ) Also, I get it: There are a trillion small things that go into making a movie, so it’s better to have some grace, especially with the man who made Call Me by Your Name . But my culture—my skinny jeans and iPod Nano and Sailor Jerry tattoos—is not a costume, so please have some respect. If you’re going to ask me to care that much about the timeline, you have to care about every part of it. That shouldn’t be hard to grasp. Maybe if I put it on a title card in all caps, they’ll understand.

Next Up In Movies

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Winners and Losers of the Second and Third Rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft

David Tepper made a fool of himself, the Raiders look smart, Howie Roseman restocked the Eagles’ secondary, and the Bills (finally) landed a wide receiver. Here are the winners and losers of night two.

Jo and Mal are here to induct Steve Rodgers into their Hall of Fame in celebration of the fifth anniversary of ‘Avengers: Endgame’

‘Knuckles’ and ‘Stellar Blade’ Reactions

Ben and Jessica also banter about the anniversary of Thanos’s fateful ‘Fortnite’ appearance and the most popular crossover characters in ‘Fortnite’ history

Is Bravo Forcing Kyle to Out Herself? Plus ‘Summer House,’ ‘The Valley,’ and ‘Vanderpump Rules.’

And later, Rachel guesses the zodiac sign for the problematic Bravo man of the week!

The Magic Win Big in Game 3 and Embiid Drops 50 on the Knicks. Plus, the Lakers Fall 0-3.

Austin and Pausha go over Paolo Banchero and the Magic’s big win, Joel Embiid’s 50-point game, and so much more

A Falcons-Penix Zag and More NFL Draft Reaction With Todd McShay, Plus, Nuggets All but Finish Lakers, and Sixers, Magic Win

Todd McShay joins to share his thoughts on the first round of the NFL draft, including the surprise QB picks

• Anniston/Gadsden

Orange Beach softball: Few weaknesses exist in 3-time state champions

• Updated: Apr. 25, 2024, 7:03 a.m. |
• Published: Apr. 24, 2024, 12:55 p.m.

• Dennis Victory

Orange Beach softball coach Shane Alexander knew his 2024 team had a chance to be something special.

The Class 4A top-ranked Makos possess the ingredients of a dominating team. Outstanding defense with a powerful offense and steady pitching propelled Orange Beach into 34 straight wins to start the season and a No. 4 national ranking.

The Makos (34-1) may be the best team in the state, regardless of classification, with wins this season over outstanding competition.

“I go back to when I was at Hartselle and I remember playing that Mortimer Jordan team with (former Alabama All-America and Olympian) Haylie McCleney and that group,” said Alexander, who has guided two teams to four state championships. “I think this group can be at that level.”

Orange Beach hosts Class 7A Fairhope on Thursday and travels on Friday to play Florida powerhouse and No. 7 nationally ranked Pace — they handed Pace its only loss of the season in an earlier game. The Makos host the area tournament beginning on Monday.

Orange Beach played its first softball season in 2021 with mostly seventh and eighth graders, but won the Class 2A championship. The Makos repeated the Class 2A title in 2022 and captured the Class 4A championship last season.

There are few weaknesses in the team.

Orange Beach averages 10.5 runs a game with a .409 team batting average and allows only 1.3 runs a game with a team ERA of 1.36.

“We tell the pitchers all the time that you don’t have to strike out everybody because we feel like our defense is really good,” Alexander said. “If we don’t walk people or hit people, we feel like we’ve got a chance because the girls are going to hit.

“But defensively, that has been what we’re really good at. If we don’t make errors, we don’t allow a whole lot of runs. We just kind of stick to what we do, don’t make it that complicated. We play good defense, the pitchers have been really good and when you’re scoring, that’s a good combination to have.”

There are only three seniors on the team — Falyn Beebe, Kambell Kennell and Rylie Erwin — while the junior and sophomore classes are outstanding.

Junior KG Favors (14-1) is the ace in the circle with an 0.697 ERA and 131 strikeouts in 80 1/3 innings pitched. Junior Kaitlynn Robertson and eighth-grader MK McMullan are each 7-0 while junior Justine Henderson is 5-0.

The potent offense is led by sophomores Teagan Revette (.495 average) and Ava Hodo (.494 average), each with 22 extra-base hits, while Erwin is third on the team with a .478 average. Hodo leads the Makos with nine home runs and 49 RBIs while Revette has eight home runs and 38 RBIs.

Other team leaders include junior Daigle Wilson with 61 runs and six triples, sophomore Kaite King and freshman Taylor Poland each with 10 doubles and Hodo has 20 walks.

College recruiters have noticed.

Wilson has committed to Auburn while Favors has committed to South Carolina. Beebe is going to Northwest Florida (the Raiders fell in the junior college national championship last season), Robertson will play for Louisiana Christian and Henderson is expected to commit soon.

Revette and Hodo are considered two of the best sophomores in the nation.

Orange Beach proved its prowess last week against some of the best teams in the state. The Makos played in the Hoover Classic tournament Friday and Saturday, but drove to the Birmingham area on Thursday to play Class 3A second-ranked Plainview and Class 7A top-ranked Hewitt-Trussville before the tournament.

The Makos won both Thursday games, beating Plainview 11-1 and downing defending Class 7A champion Hewitt-Trussville 4-2 in eight innings.

In pool play at Hoover, Orange Beach beat Class 5A Lawrence County 11-4, Class 4A White Plains 9-7 and Class 7A No. 10 Tuscaloosa County 14-0.

The Makos downed Class 6A top-ranked Helena 4-0 in Saturday first round elimination bracket play, then beat Class 7A eighth-ranked Bob Jones 9-2 and fell 6-2 to Class 6A seventh-ranked Hazel Green in the tournament title game.

The Makos played eight games in three days.

“We ran out of gas,” Alexander said. “Now I’m not taking anything away from Hazel Green because they got hot, but coming off the field late Friday night and having the first game Saturday morning, we knew Saturday was going to be a mental struggle.

“But I was proud of them and I’ll be honest with you. I felt like the loss kind of took some pressure off of them. Everybody was talking about the national rankings, going undefeated and we knew we weren’t going undefeated. There are just too many good teams that can get you at any moment. So yeah, I think it’ll be good for us.”

In addition to the three titles at Orange Beach, Alexander coached Hartselle to 2003 Class 5A championship and fell to that loaded Mortimer Jordan team in the 2008 Class 5A title game.

The Makos have a chance this season to tie Springville and Hatton with four straight state titles — Pisgah leads with five straight.

“It’s kind of been a perfect storm down here of just the right girls at the right time,” Alexander said. “We’re just trying to enjoy it and as long as I don’t wreck the bus, we’re pretty good.”

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