Moscow + Golden Ring

Overview

Recommended period: all the year round 
Destination: Moscow, Vladimir, Suzdal, Sergiev Pasad
Main sights: the Moscow Kremlin, Moscow metro, Assumption Cathedral in Vladimir, Suzdal Kremlin (territory), Museum of Wooden Architecture in Suzdal, Transfiguration Cathedral in Spaso-Evfimievsky Monastery, Trinity-Sergius Lavra in Sergiev Pasad, Arbat street, Kolomenskoye Museum-Reserve and Palace of Tsar Alexey Mikhailovich
Accommodation:  4*Park Inn by Radisson Sadu, Moscow/ 4* Pushkarskaya Sloboda, Suzdal
Meals: breakfasts
Transport: comfortable air-conditioner car/minivan/minibus

Itinerary
1 day
Welcome to Moscow! Your guide will meet you at the airport or at the railway station and you will go on a sightseeing tour of Moscow.
You will pass along the famous embankments and streets of the historical city: Boulevard and Garden Ring, admire the most beautiful panoramic views of the Kremlin from Sofiyskaya Embankment, see the Bolshoi Theater and Manege, Lubyanka, Slavyanskaya and Theater Squares, the legendary "Stalin's High-Rises", which are often called "Seven Sisters", the most beautiful fountains and masterpieces of architecture of the Exhibition of Achievements of National Economy, Ostankino Tower, Kutuzovsky Prospekt, Triumphal Arch, Victory Park on Poklonnaya Hill, Victory Museum, golden domes of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, Patriarchal Bridge, Swan Pond near the walls of the Novodevichy Convent, the observation deck on Sparrow Hills, the building of Moscow State University, Luzhniki Stadium, modern Moscow-City skyscrapers and much, much more.
After checking in at the hotel (check-in after 14.00) you can relax, as well as have lunch or dinner on your own in one of the nearby restaurants - your guide will be happy to advise you where to go.

2 day
Breakfast at the hotel restaurant.
After breakfast you will go on an excursion to the Moscow Kremlin - the largest medieval fortress, on the territory of which you will see unique monuments of architecture and art of the 15th - 20th centuries: temples, churches and chambers, magnificent palaces and ceremonial administrative buildings. You will walk along the Kremlin squares and streets, see the "Tsar Bell" and "Tsar Cannon", Cathedral Square and the Kremlin Palace, as well as visit the Assumption, Archangel or Annunciation Cathedral.
Then you will walk along the famous cobblestones of Red Square and walk along the Alexander Garden. You will see the multicolored domes of St. Basil's Cathedral, the monument of medieval Russian architecture "Lobnoye Mesto", the Temple of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, the State Historical Museum, the Lenin's Mausoleum, the GUM building, enjoy the splendor of the panorama of the ancient Kremlin from the Sofiyskaya embankment of the Moscow River.
You will see a new landmark of the city - Zaryadye Park, walk along the alleys of the Siberian coniferous forest in the very center of Moscow, visit the famous Soaring Bridge - a magnificent observation deck hanging right over the Moscow River!

3 day
Breakfast at the hotel restaurant, check-out.
After breakfast and checking out of your hotel rooms, you will set off on an exciting trip along the Golden Circle. For two days you will immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the Russian Middle Ages by visiting the three most famous cities of the "Golden Ring" - Vladimir, Suzdal and Sergiev Posad.
First, our way lies to the Kursk railway station in Moscow, from where you will take a high-speed train to the first city of our journey - Vladimir - the capital of the "Golden Ring" and the former capital of Russia until the 15th century. Your journey by train will take about 2 hours
Upon arrival at the Vladimir railway station, you will be met by a guide and you will go on a sightseeing tour of the city.
During the sightseeing tour, you will see the interesting sights of the city - the Dmitrievsky Cathedral, decorated with a unique white stone carving, an outstanding monument of ancient Russian architecture - the Golden Gate, the Trinity Church, a defensive earthen rampart, the Church of St. George the Victorious, a monument to Prince Vladimir - the Baptist of Russia, Cathedral Square - the heart of the city , a monument to Vladimir Monomakh, hear urban legends, and also visit the main temple of North-Eastern Russia - the Assumption Cathedral, where you can see the murals of St. Andrei Rublev.
Then we will offer you free time for lunch in a cozy cafe or restaurant in Vladimir, we will go to old Suzdal.
After accommodation in one of the hotels in the city, you will have a rest and the opportunity to walk along the historic streets of the city.

4 day
Breakfast at the hotel restaurant, check-out.
We will start this day with a sightseeing tour of Suzdal, a city-museum that has a long history. We will walk along its historic streets, see the ancient churches and cozy wooden buildings of the city. We will visit the Trade Square, which is still the center of Suzdal life, see the Assumption Church in the Naryshkin Baroque style, visit the territory of the Kremlin and see the majestic Nativity Cathedral under blue baths with gold stars, walk along the Kremlin ramparts of the 12th century. The most beautiful monasteries are waiting for you: the Robe with a high bell tower and the Pokrovsky surrounded by white stone walls and, of course, we will definitely visit the main attraction of the city - the Transfiguration Cathedral, which is located on the territory of the Spaso-Evfimievsky Monastery. Its visit will be interesting not only for those who like to visit religious places, but also for connoisseurs of ancient architecture. This cathedral is the clearest example of the white-stone architecture of Suzdal, and inside it, colorful frescoes of the 17th century are still preserved. Then you will visit the Museum of Wooden Architecture, which is an open-air complex, which contains unique buildings of the 17th-19th centuries. Arriving here (the museum is located on the outskirts of the city), you can look into the hut of a simple farm laborer or a well-to-do peasant, become a guest of a merchant's house, or visit churches that were built without a single nail.
After the excursion, you can have a little rest and have lunch at one of the restaurants in Suzdal.
Our journey along the Golden Circle will continue with a trip to Sergiev Posad. You will visit the territory of the Holy Trinity Sergius Lavra, you will see the largest Orthodox male monastery in Russia, founded by the Monk Sergius of Radonezh more than five hundred years ago and still functioning today. The Lavra ensemble includes more than fifty architectural structures of different styles. This place is one of the most visited by pilgrims, people come here in groups from all over Russia.
Then we will move to Moscow. We will finish this day with accommodation in a comfortable hotel in the capital. You will have time to dine on your own.

5 day
Breakfast at the hotel restaurant.
After breakfast, departure for an excursion to the Kolomenskoye Museum-Reserve and Palace of Tsar Alexey Mikhailovich.
You will see the "Tsar's Court" or the summer estate of the Russian tsars, especially beloved by the father of Peter the Great - Tsar Alexey Mikhailovich, who built a wooden palace there, called the eighth wonder of the world. Unfortunately, the colorful royal mansions have not survived to this day, but have been lovingly recreated by modern master restorers. On an excursion you will be transported back in time to the 17th century, see the ancient walls of the Church of the Ascension of the Lord, the Sytny courtyard, the house of Peter I, the Temple of John the Baptist. You will visit the reconstructed palace of Tsar Alexey Mikhailovich itself, examine its male and female halves and learn about how people of royal blood lived in the pre-Petrine era.
Then you will have a guided tour of theMoscow metro. This is a unique opportunity to hear a story about the Moscow metro, see its magnificent stations "Ploschad Revolyutsii", "Komsomolskaya", "Novoslobodskaya", "Belorusskaya" and enjoy the unique architecture and mosaics.
Back in the city center, you will visit one of the most famous streets in Russia - Arbat. You can plunge into the atmosphere of the past, find out where the great literary figures loved to spend their time, look at street musicians and artists, without whom it is impossible to imagine this famous street. Arbat is a symbol of old Moscow. During the excursion, you will get acquainted with the history and architecture of the Arbat, its monuments and sights, learn about the E. Vakhtangov Theater and the monument to Princess Turandot, the Pushkin Museum and the construction of the Foreign Ministry building.

6 day
Breakfast at hotel, check out.
Transfer to the airport or the railway station.