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One of the main perks of my job is that I get to travel internationally. I love it because I get to spend two full weeks in a city, and not have to pay for it. For my first trip I got to go to Moscow, Russia and instantly did my happy-girl squeelz. It’s been on my bucket list to go to Moscow and see the Red Square for years and I’m so blessed and fortunate to have seen it up close. It’s truly spectacular and I’d recommend it to anyone who’s obsessed with architecture.
Now, I will disclose that since I was going for work, I had to actually work while I was there. That being said, I didn’t get to see everything that I would have if I had spent the full two weeks there just sightseeing but I did the big touristy stuff. I plan on taking my future kids here, and St. Petersburg, one day because the culture and architecture are so spectacular. So I hope to come back!
How I got there:
Since Moscow is so far away, literally the other side of the world, I knew I’d have to connect. And since I fly American (DFW hub) I was connecting through London. Connecting through London was harder than I anticipated. It’s a huge airport and essentially handles the connection between Europe and the Western Hemisphere. Since they handle such a large volume of people I was expecting a little more efficiency. The hardest part for me was changing terminals. The terminal shuttles are small and the line is typically long because most people are connecting. It’s also not a short drive, typically 5-10 minutes per terminal. Next, they make you go through security, AGAIN! This was probably the most annoying because, honestly, who wants to go through security twice? Overall I’d say it would take an hour just to get to your gate! So lesson learned, make sure you do your research on the connecting airport and make sure you give yourself plenty of time between flights, for London I’d recommend 5 hours between. That way you have time if your flight is delayed.
Where I stayed: DoubleTree by Hilton – Marina
If I were going to Moscow for pleasure and not work, I would stay right off the Red Square. It’s the nicest arts of Moscow and since it’s in the middle, everything is pretty close. I had to stay at the Doubletree because it was close to office. It was very close to work and surprisingly luxurious for being on the outskirts and a cheaper price (only $150 a night!). That being said, I loved it, they even had a nice spa! But it took about 30-45 minutes to get anywhere, so that was a pain.
What We Did:
Since, I was traveling for work I didn’t really get 2 full weeks in Russia, but I did get 3 days to explore and do all the touristy stuff.
Touring the Metro Stations:
The main way we got around Moscow was by Metro. The Moscow Metro is one of the oldest in the world and it’s spectacular. I’ve traveled on 3 different Metros/subways in my lifetime (DC, New York, Paris) and this one beats all of them! So much so that when I was looking up tourist places to see in Moscow, certain subway stations are actually on the list! On the graph below the Metro stops outlined in a black box are the stations that literally look like they belong in a palace! You can see below for more pictures and my experience/impression of each. But long story short these stations are a must-see!
The Red Square:
This is by far a must see, it was even on my Bucket List! It’s just as spectacular as the photos online but seeing it in person just takes your breath away. Checkout the full blog post here for additional pictures and tips.
In the Red Square, you’ll be able to find all the mass produced souvenirs. However, there incredibly overpriced, we’re talking $160+ for a Matryoshka doll (Russian Nesting Doll). But, at this market, you’ll be able to find the same doll for half the price! We went to the market during the beginning of our trip, and as we were wandering the city later in the week, we found the exact same things. The market also has has really cool and unique things, like the hand carved, hand painted Santas.
Keep in mind before you go:
Lets be honest, the best part of this market is the architecture. It looks like a cross between an awesome carnival and a fair. Even on a cloudy day, the photos are amazing.
Where we Ate:
One thing that really surprised me about Moscow was how inexpensive the food was. I don’t think I paid more than $60 a mean, with appetizer, main course and dessert.
Cafe Pushkin is a staple and truly unique to Moscow. It’s very upscale and the place just oozes with old money class. There are two parts to this restaurant, the pharmacy and the library. The food and menu is the same for each but the library is where it’s at! It’s beautifully decorated to look like an old house library and I loved it! The food varies more toward French but they do have some good Russian options, like the dumplings.
I found out about the White Rabbit on Pinterest because it had amazing views of downtown Moscow and the Federal building. What I didn’t know about, until I Googled it, was that it’s #23 on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants . We had reservations and 10PM which is standard for Moscow. We immediately headed to the bar and the bartender recommended a new pomegranate margarita. I’m not a big drinker but I wanted to take a bath in this drink! When we were taken to our table we fell in love with the atmosphere, the couches and chairs were so comfy I felt like I could spend all day here. The food was really unique and so good! I was surprised by how large the portion sizes were. Typically at fancy restaurants the portions are very small but these portions were plenty for two people to split. Overall, I’d come back to Moscow just to eat here.
This sexy gent greets you as you step off the elevator 🙂
The Bar
Pro Tip: Credit cards are not as common, most of the time you have to pay in cash.
