A 3 night city break, ideal for a pre-Christmas getaway to experience the magical winter scene in Moscow.
DAY 1
Upon arrival at Moscow airport you will be met in the arrivals hall by your English-speaking guide and privately transferred to your hotel in Moscow city centre. Enjoy your evening at leisure at the Hotel Baltschug Kempinski , positioned overlooking the Kremlin and with excellent leisure facilities including indoor pool.
DAY 2
Today enjoy a sightseeing tour to the Kremlin grounds. For centuries, the Kremlin has been witness to many famous and tragic events in Russia's past and is a treasure trove of Russian history. Visit the Kremlin's cathedrals: Assumption, the place of coronations and the burial church of religious leaders, Archangel, the royal burial church and Annunciation, the home church of Moscow Great Princes and Tsars.
The tour will continue with the State Armoury, the oldest museum in Russia and home to a collection of precious stones, masterpieces of 18th and 19th century jewellery and priceless artifacts dating as far as the 14th century as well as an impressive collection of carriages from the best Russian and European masters, precious fabrics, and royal gala clothes. The Armoury is also famous for its fine collection of Faberge eggs.
Enjoy time exploring the Diamond Fund on your own, with its dazzling exhibition of gems. before taking lunch at your leisure.
Later today, enjoy the evening charms of the lit up Red Square with its splendid sights as you are taken on a guided walk. Red Square is the focal point on the city, the square lies on the east wall of the Kremlin surrounded by a thick, red fortress wall containing 20 towers all at various intervals. Originally alloted for a market, the square itself appeared around the end of the 15th century when Ivan III ordered all wooden buildings in the vicinity of the Kremlin to be demolished to protect the Kremlin from fires.
This evening, immerse yourself in the magical winter atmosphere of city's main ice-skating area, right in the heart of Red Square, widely considered a favorite place of Muscovites and capital's guests for the whole winter period. Everyone can go skating, enjoy theatrical shows on ice, get master-classes from Russia's figure skating stars and meet many interesting people who also enjoy this thrilling winter fun.
DAY 3
Visit Izmailovsky Souvenir Market and Craft Center where you can find all those Russian souvenirs you would like to take home. From Matryoshka dolls to fur hats and lacquer boxes. Some of the vendors even make their products themselves. You'll also see kitschy military uniform, Soviet memorabilia, coins, pre-war cameras and binoculars, traditional Russian handicrafts, an impressive selection of paintings and a wide choice of traditional Russian Christmas decorations.
Enjoy lunch at leisure before visiting the Tretyakov Gallery, containing the best collection of Russian art in the world. Reopened in 1995 after a nine-year renovation, it houses an outstanding display of pre-revolutionary Russian art as well as an extensive collection of icons. In the evening you might wish to visit the famous Bolshoi Theatre (cost of the tickets is not included in the package price).
DAY 4
Depart Moscow for your return flight home.
We appreciated knowing the travel specialist (Katie Sims) from the previous A&K holiday. The hotels in Grenada and Cordoba were excellent.
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