Private Moscow City Tour and Scenic River Cruise

Visit the very heart of Moscow with a private English-speaking guide leading the way. Cruise Moscow River in a festive restaurant-equipped vessel. Landmarks like St. Basil's Cathedral, the Red Square, the Kremlin, and Christ The Savior Cathedral are showcased from near and afar. Book this Moscow tour for a rich Russian experience at a low price.

Your journey through this revered capital starts at Manezhnaya Square-the same open pedestrian park where demonstrators famously celebrated the fall of communism in 1991. You'll continue to Alexander Garden, then the Red Square, home of the Kremlin.

Commissioned by Tsar Alexander following the War of 1812 victory over Napoleon, Alexander Garden is composed of the Upper, Middle, and Lower Gardens. Most notable is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Another highlight is the Obelisk erected by Lenin commemorating 19 leading socialists.

Then, travel the Vasilievsky Descent (named after the revered Byzantine scholar) en route to St. Basil's Cathedral. Built-in the 16th century to resemble a bonfire rising to the sky, the Byzantine structure is now a museum. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991, its colorful domes and spires make it the most iconic building in Russia.

Next, your private driver will pass through the Kremlin Embankment, stopping by Christ the Savior Cathedral. At 338-ft., this opulent cathedral dominates the skyline along the Moscow River. It's the tallest Orthodox Christian church in the world and was the scene of the 1882 premiere of Tchaikovsky's famous 1812 Overture.

Crossing the Bluvarnoye and Sadovoye Rings, you'll reach the Novodevichy (New Maiden) Convent. Commissioned in 1524 by Vasili III to commemorate his conquest of Smolensk, the grand structure is Russia's best-known cloister. In 2004, it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Next on your private Moscow tour, you'll visit Poklonnaya Hill (bow-down hill) to see the Triumphal Arch, built-in 1829 to honor the victory in the War of 1812. Many tanks and other war machines used in WWII are on display here.

Departing from your private vehicle, you'll walk along the Old Arbat street to shop the boutiques and see Moscow's fashionable residences. Nearing mid-afternoon, your driver will transport you to the Scenic River Cruise.

Enjoy the ship's open-air upper deck or settle into the fully-heated lower saloon for a few hours of sightseeing, noticing landmarks like the Novodevichy Convent, which can only be enjoyed from the Moscow River. Another fresh and notable sight is the Russian White House, where the seat of government is located.

A wide range of food, soft drinks, and adult beverages are available at the ship's restaurant (not included in tour price). This private, pleasurable tour of Moscow is an ideal way to cover the historic capital's prime sights.

Note that all of our tours in St. Petersburg are operated by authorized guides, and you, therefore, do not need to secure an independent visa to participate in this tour. However, to book this tour, you must provide us with full names, dates of birth, nationality, and passport numbers for each tour participant so that our guides can secure the proper tour visas on your behalf. Note also that, if you wish to explore St. Petersburg on your own while not accompanied by one of our guides, you will need to secure an independent visa.

Please be aware that cruise lines occasionally mislead passengers by telling them that they are not allowed to disembark the ship in St. Petersburg unless they are on an excursion purchased through the cruise line. Also, the cruise lines also sometimes tell passengers that they cannot disembark the ship until the passengers on the cruise lines' excursions have done so first. This is incorrect, and you are free to exit the ship as soon as passengers start to disembark because Russian law states that a cruise ship cannot hold passengers onboard against their will as long as they have the proper documents. To clear immigration, you will need to bring along: 1) Your passport; 2) A photocopy of the picture page of your passport, and 3) A copy of your tour tickets. We will provide you with your tour tickets as part of the documents we e-mail to you after you make a tour booking.