Way to Russia Talk Lounge

jwilliams · Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 7:19 pm Post subject: Kremlin Tours?

Could anyone recommend a tour company that conducts an English guided tour inside the Kremlin (armoury, cathedrals, etc.)? I previously lived in Russia and toured the Kremlin several times, but my husband is going to Russia with me this time and he does not speak Russian, and I would like for him to get the most from the experience.

I checked out a couple of tour companies online, but their prices seem a little high ($52 USD for an adult). Maybe I've been away from Russia too long or I am used to paying student prices, but this seems a little steep.

overseas_expat · VIP Joined: 11 Jan 2005 Posts: 620 Location: Moscow

Yep, 52 bucks is probably about what you're going to have to pay.

The tickets alone are really expensive, like $30 or $35 and an English speaking tour guide is adding his/her fee and ticket price onto the bill.

I dunno though, as an official old goat I think the Kremlin Palace is a bore. I wouldn't pay ten dollars to see it. If ornate palaces are your thing St. Petersburg has Moscow beat hands down. You want high end palaces with oodles of glitzy stuff, get thee to St. Petersburg.

Better you will avoid the overpriced Kremlin Palace/Armory/Diamond Exchange and go to the more reasonably priced and far more interesting State Historical Museum at #1 Red Sq. That is a lovely building with all sorts of cool stuff not sufficiently gilded and jewel encrusted to make it to the Krtemlin Palace.

mediashark · Moderator Joined: 04 Nov 2004 Posts: 1601

Well, I think I was on that tour (Capital Tours) that also charged 52USD for the Kremlin Tour. However I really enjoyed the tour and the guide was great. Their partner company is also one of the very few (probably the only one) that has access to the Great Kremlin Palace and the KGB Museum, and tons of other tours around Moscow and the region.

As for the price--you will end up paying at least 20USD/h for a guide, and this excludes all tickets. The guide is not just a translator, but will tell you the history of the places.

mediashark · Moderator Joined: 04 Nov 2004 Posts: 1601

jwilliams · Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 8:00 pm Post subject:

It's good to know that you get your money's worth with Capital Tours -thanks for the recommendation. My husband definitely wants to see the inside of the Kremlin since he has never been there before, so we'll have to suck it up and pay the $52 bucks each.

Are there any lines these days for the Lenin Mausoleum? This is still free, correct?

Kerensky · Posted: Sat Nov 18, 2006 1:52 am Post subject:

Ten days ago, it was still free (so I'm guessing it's still free today Very Happy

) and the queue is usually very short, especially if you show up between 10 and 11 o'clock.

However, if you want to skip the queue entirely, there always seems to be a slightly strange looking guy walking up and down the entrance-way, offering you the opportunity to skip the 15 minute queue for 250 roubles. My friend took him up on his offer and the mausoleum guards didn't say anything.

Take note that the Mausoleum is only open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and is closed on Mondays and Fridays.