Moscow & Nizhny Novgorod: Gems of Volga region and merchant culture
- City breaks
- Culture & history
- Muslim-friendly
Overview
Four nights in Moscow, three in Nizhny Novgorod and two more in Moscow at the end. Red Square and Zaryadye Park, the metro and VDNH, an express train to the Volga, the Kremlin dungeons, the record breaking cable car over the river, a glass ornament painting workshop and a merchant tea ceremony.
- Red Square, St Basil's Cathedral and the Soaring Bridge at Zaryadye Park
- Ride through the Moscow metro and a visit to VDNH
- Express train to Nizhny Novgorod, four hours each way
- Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin with a descent into the dungeons
- Cable car over the Volga, listed in the European book of records
- Ariel factory: glassblowing tour and your own painted ornament
- Merchant tea ceremony by the samovar
- River boat cruise on the Volga and the Radisson cruise in Moscow
Itinerary
Moscow
Arrival to Moscow airport (flight TBA). Meeting by the driver with the name plate. Transfer to the hotel and check-in. Overnight at the hotel.
Moscow
Breakfast at the hotel. 10:00-14:00 city tour, meeting with the English speaking guide in the hotel lobby. The day starts with Red Square, St Basil's Cathedral (outside), the GUM department store and Zaryadye Park. The Soaring Bridge at Zaryadye Park. Right in the historical heart of Moscow, by the Kremlin walls, Zaryadye is not just a park but a cultural and educational site with plants from most of Russia's climatic zones - forests, plains, meadows and sub-Arctic terrain. Over a million plantings, including rare species from the Red List of Moscow. Leisure time. Overnight at the hotel.
Moscow
Breakfast at the hotel. 11:00 meeting with the English speaking guide in the hotel lobby. A ride through the Moscow metro - not just a transport system but an underground city with its own rhythm, rules and legends. Known as the world's most beautiful metro, it has nearly 200 stations, 44 of them recognised as cultural heritage sites, with marble walls, grand columns, high ceilings, crystal chandeliers, stained glass and mosaics. VDNH, the All-Russian Exhibition Centre, a historical and architectural complex with no analogues in the world. It holds more than 500 permanent structures, about 49 of them cultural heritage objects. Conceived in 1935 as an exhibition centre and amusement park, today it covers over 300 hectares with fountains, cafes and 80 exhibition pavilions telling of Soviet achievements. 14:00-15:30 time for lunch (pay on spot). Moscow Maket - a model of the city at a scale of 1:400, remarkable for its detail and relief: every building is detached and has four carefully recreated fronts. Ride on the Ferris wheel (tickets bought on spot). The Cosmos pavilion, one of the largest scientific and historical museums in the world. Its history began in 1964, when the monument "To the Conquerors of Space" appeared on the map of Moscow. 15:30 return to the hotel by metro. Overnight at the hotel.
Moscow
Breakfast at the hotel. Car at disposal for six hours. AfiMall for shopping in the Moscow City district. Overnight at the hotel.
Moscow - Nizhny Novgorod
Breakfast at the hotel. 08:00 transfer to the railway station. Express train "Moscow - Nizhny Novgorod" 09:25-13:31, four hours in economy seats. 13:31 meeting by the guide with the name plate, transfer to the hotel and check-in. 14:30-15:50 time for lunch (pay on spot). 16:00-18:00 visit to the Kremlin: a sightseeing tour by small golf car from 16:00 to 16:45, then a descent into the real dungeons of the local Kremlin. 18:30-19:15 the cable car over the Volga, listed in the European book of records. 19:30-20:30 time for dinner in a local restaurant (pay on spot). 20:30 transfer to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
Nizhny Novgorod
Breakfast at the hotel. 10:00 meeting with the guide in the lobby. 10:00-13:00 sightseeing tour of Nizhny Novgorod and its most beautiful viewpoints. 13:00-14:30 time for lunch (pay on spot). 14:30-15:00 transfer to the Ariel Christmas tree toy factory. Nizhny Novgorod is the birthplace of the Russian glass Christmas ornament, and the Ariel factory has kept the craft alive for decades. 15:00-16:30 a guided tour through the factory floors and museum halls, where master craftsmen blow molten glass and hand paint each ornament. Then a hands-on painting workshop, where you make your own glass ornament to take home. 16:30-17:00 transfer to the city centre. 17:00-18:00 an evening by the samovar: a traditional merchant tea ceremony in a 19th century merchant's home, with the story of how tea travelled from China along the Great Tea Road to the Nizhny Novgorod fair. Tea is sipped from a saucer, and the table is laden with jam, honey pastries and sweet breads. 18:00-18:30 transfer to the pier. 18:30-19:30 river boat cruise along the Volga with a view over the city. 19:30-20:30 time for dinner in a local restaurant (pay on spot). 20:30 transfer back to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
Nizhny Novgorod
Breakfast at the hotel. Car at disposal for six hours. Shopping at the Fantastica mall. Leisure time. Overnight at the hotel.
Nizhny Novgorod - Moscow
Breakfast at the hotel. 10:00 transfer to the railway station. Express train "Nizhny Novgorod - Moscow" 10:56-14:54, four hours in economy seats. 14:54 meeting by the guide with the name plate, transfer to the hotel and check-in. Leisure time. Overnight at the hotel.
Moscow
Breakfast at the hotel. 12:00 transfer to the pier. 13:00-15:30 the famous Radisson river cruise. 15:30 transfer to the hotel. Leisure time. Overnight at the hotel.
Moscow
Breakfast at the hotel. 12:00 check out. Meeting by the driver, transfer to the airport. Flight departure (flight TBA). End of services.
Hotels and prices
Safmar Sushchevsky 4★ in Moscow + Cort Inn 4★ in Nizhny Novgorod
Standard double or twin, 25 m² in Moscow and 23 m² in Nizhny Novgorod, bed and breakfast
- 2 pax
- $3,010
- 4 pax
- $1,885
- 6 pax
- $1,575
- 8 pax
- $1,380
- 10 pax
- $1,265
Safmar Sushchevsky 4★ in Moscow + Sheraton 5★ in Nizhny Novgorod
Standard double or twin, 25 m² in both cities, bed and breakfast
- 2 pax
- $3,050
- 4 pax
- $1,930
- 6 pax
- $1,620
- 8 pax
- $1,420
- 10 pax
- $1,305
St. Regis Moscow Nikolskaya 5★ + Sheraton 5★ in Nizhny Novgorod
Mansard or attic 40 m² in Moscow, standard 25 m² in Nizhny Novgorod, bed and breakfast
- 2 pax
- $4,095
- 4 pax
- $2,970
- 6 pax
- $2,660
- 8 pax
- $2,465
- 10 pax
- $2,350
Package price per person: four nights in Moscow, three in Nizhny Novgorod and two more in Moscow.
What is included
What is included
- Personal transport according to the itinerary
- English speaking guide according to the itinerary
- Entrance fees to the museums and cruises mentioned in the itinerary
- Visa support letter
What is not included
- Hotel accommodation (quoted separately)
- International and domestic flights
- Domestic trains
- Visa costs
- Meals and drinks
- Porterage at the hotel, railway station or airport
- Tips for the guides and drivers
Additional info
- Dates: April - August 2026.
- Nights: four in Moscow, three in Nizhny Novgorod, two in Moscow.
- Train tickets are not included. The round trip Moscow - Nizhny Novgorod - Moscow in economy class, 09:25-13:31 and 10:56-14:56, costs $150 per person.
- Please reconfirm the rates and availability before booking.
- All rates and the order of the tours are subject to availability and may change due to local administration rules.
- The Ferris wheel at VDNH, the lunches and the dinners are paid on spot.