Way to Russia Talk Lounge

03franny · Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 5:33 pm Post subject: Kremlin/Armory tickets

I just joined the discussion and apologize if this naive question has been answered. My husband and I will be traveling to Moscow on September 11th from the US, easy to remember the date. We want to include a visit to the Armory as well as other sites. Is it included in the Kremlin tours and referred to as the "Great Kremlin Palace" or is that another ticket? Can they be purchased in advance? There is a WTR tour for $92 each but I don't know if that particular site is included in the price. Thank you for your response(s).

03franny

danbrew · Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 3:00 am Post subject:

I can't speak with any authority on whether the Great Kermlin Palace tour includes the Armory, but it looks as if it does not. (http://tours.waytorussia.net/listing/61)

My recommendation is to book it (http://tours.waytorussia.net/index.php?page=contact_listing&company_id=&companyuser_id=&user_id=&listing_id=61) and then ask when you receive confirmation - you can book without payment.

I did the Armory tour a few years ago and it was superb - not to be missed superb.

Once you book the tour above, the WTR folks will forward your booking to the tour operation, from whom you can then ask detailed questions. Sorry it's so kludgy - hopefully an admin here will see this thread and offer his two cents (ah, rubbles).

Enjoy!

Smile

03franny · Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 3:19 am Post subject: Kremlin/Armory tour

Thanks for the tip! I was told it is fabulous. We have Russian neighbors who told me they weren't allowed to tour the Armory. This I thought a bit strange! Our itinerary takes us to St. Petersburg next and half a dozen other cities including Tallinn before getting to my husband's meeting in Sweden.

Any tips on getting around Moscow? We are seriously considering a private tour guide to maximize our time and minimize frustration due to a lack of language facility and limited time. <sigh>

danbrew · Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 4:24 am Post subject:

Moscow is not really that complicate to do on your own - but a lack of language and the alphabet will hamper you. Guides are good. Search here and online for lots of guide references. I wouldn't pay more than $100/day - and that would be for a top notch guide. You have to determine what you're looking for and then tailor your day around that.

Good luck!

overseas_expat · VIP Joined: 11 Jan 2005 Posts: 612 Location: Moscow

Bypass the Armory. It is not amazing, it's not even second rate to the Hermitage. The collection is mostly dishes and knicknacks and vases and clocks. Not exciting, not worth the $40 it takes to get in. I believe individuals are not allowed, visitors must be part of a tour group and the stay is limited to a couple of hours. Meh. Really not worth it, nothing breathtaking.

You're going to St. Petersburg anyway, the Hermitage is top of the line, first rate, awesomely amazing. Everything in the Armory can be seen in the Hermitage X 10. Do a couple of days at the Hermitage and give the Armory a miss. Entry for the Hermitage is a lot cheaper too, no tour group necessary.

In Moscow there are better choices:

1) The New Tretakov Gallery. Across from Gorky Park next to the Moscow river. A pretty area. Metro Oktabraskaya. The New Tretakov is in the building Dom Kultury. It houses the finest collection of soviet art on the planet. Four floors of art celebrating the building of the soviet empire. Grand works, huge canvasses, massive collection of 20th century Russian art. One of a kind museum, cheap entry, never anybody there. Astounding collection to be found nowhere else. Outside of Dom Kultury is the park of the Moscow sculpture garden. Acres of sculptures installed permanently outdoors. Absolutely brilliant, some contemporary and some soviet, including the only statue of Stalin I've ever seen, in a sculpture installment that is chilling. Really not to be missed. And on weekends the whole area is a huge art fair with hundreds of artists selling their paintings on the grounds. The Armory is humdrum, the New Tretakov and Dom Kultury grounds are amazing. Middle of town, easy to access.

(Reminder: not to be confused with the Tretakov Gallery, a standard issue art museum in another part of town. It's nice too, but not amazing.)

2) The State Historical Museum #1 Red Square, can't miss it. This is the massive red brick castle that stands at the entrance to Red Square. Not many dishes or vases or other dreary totchkes, but a lot of historical objects not to be found anywhere else in Russia. Medieval suits of Russian armor, early Russian furnishings, early decorative arts, books, lots of wildly interesting stuff. Four floors of the most gorgeous barrel vaulted Russian building you've ever seen all intricately painted with traditional flower motifs. Cheap entry, go on a weekday when there are fewer visitors. If you miss this museum, you've missed the best collection of 1000 years of Russian artifacts in existence.

Really, if you're doing the Hermitage, bow off the Armory. Nye nada.

BrianR · Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 11:54 am Post subject: Re: Kremlin/Armory tour

Woland's Advocate · Frequent Guest Joined: 09 Jul 2008 Posts: 10

greg222 · VIP Joined: 15 Feb 2005 Posts: 523

My understanding is that the Great Kremlin Palace tour is only the palace, which you don't get to visit if you go to the Kremlin as an individual. I'm not sure it would even include a tour of the Kremlin grounds. But do as Danbrew said and check with the company that runs it.