travel guitar dragon

01 Mar Snap Dragon Guitars

Now that we can travel again these little guitars may be the answer!

Set up by keen guitarist, Gerry Dale, some years ago when he found out how difficult it was to carry a conventional instrument on board an aircraft. He wanted an instrument that felt like a standard guitar, with conventional tuning and set-up, but could also switch from storage to playing mode in a moment with ease. 

As he couldn’t find one he designed his own and Snap Dragon was founded!

Electric Guitars

Snap Dragon Electric Guitars are designed with classic tones in mind, but all delivered in a modern and flexible package. Recording, performing on tour or practicing in a hotel room, they have one for you.

Models include the Snapaxe E, Traxe Solo, Traxe Jazz and Snapaka Twin.

Traxe Solo Fitted with the amazing Evertune® bridge, the Traxe Solo only needs to be tuned when you change the strings! With A 24 inch scale maple neck with a 20 fret maple fingerboard, this guitar is comfortable and easy to play and a zero fret makes intonation easy.

Acoustic Guitars

Their acoustic models mix old fashioned craftsmanship and innovative materials to bring you the most flexible and durable instrument for any environment, without sacrificing tone or play-ability.

Models include the Snapaxe A, Snapaka, Traxe and Mini Traxe.

Mini Traxe Their most popular model to date. It offers a perfect balance between traditional playability and compact convenience via the patented neck pivot design.

The Traxe feels and plays like a conventional guitar, with a 24 inch scale, 20 fret Maple fingerboard and 44mm nut width, but folds down to a size suitable for cabin storage and airline travel. The undersaddle piezo pickup gives you a full bodied acoustic tone and an additional passive volume control can be used to give you extra control.

Bass Guitars 

The Snap Dragon E-Bass is unmatched in the travel guitar world.

Not only is it a compact bass that can be taken as carry on luggage on any airline. It has a neck design which gives you all the feel and pliability of your full sized bass, in a short scale package.

Based Chelmsford, UK More info: Snap Dragon

Links to other pages

Best Budget Electrics Best Electrics under £500 Best Electrics under £1000

Best travel guitars: Top acoustic and electric guitars for musicians on the go

Out top picks for practicing your guitar on the move, wherever the road takes you

Best for tone

Best for volume, best for value.

• Best Strat-alike
• Best electric
• Best full-scale
• #1 acoustic-electric

Best for portability

• Best solid wood
• Buying advice
• How we choose

1. The quick list 2. Best for tone 3. Best for volume 4. Best for value 5. Best for Strat players 6. Best electric travel guitar 7. Best full-scale travel guitar 8. Best acoustic-electric model 9. Best for portability 10. Best solid-wood travel guitar 11. Buying advice 12. How we choose products

As guitar players, our passion and joy shouldn’t have to stop the second we leave the house or the practice room. Sometimes, when you’re on the go; whether that be travelling for work or just for fun, you want to be able to take your music with you. That’s where the best travel guitars come in.

Travel guitars are smaller, more compact instruments that are easier to take on the road. If you’re heading out on a road trip, and space in the car is tight, a travel guitar will fit in a much smaller gap than a full-size guitar. Some of them even pack down into a rucksack so you can take them on a plane as hand luggage.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re more into playing acoustic or electric, we’ve picked out the best travel guitars currently on offer to make sure that the music doesn’t have to stop when you hit the road.

Chris Corfield is a journalist with over 12 years of experience writing for some of the music world's biggest brands including Orange Amplification, MusicRadar, Guitar World and Dawsons Music. Chris has spent years writing about and testing guitar gear for MusicRadar, in addition to nerding out about everything from synths to microphones, DJ gear and music production hardware.

Best travel guitars: Quick list

Want to cut to the chase and find out exactly which we think are the best travel guitars on the market right now? Below, you’ll find a round-up of our top choices. You can jump to a more detailed review of every pick, along with our price comparison tool to help you find the best deals.

This ¾-sized dreadnought comes with all the quality and projection you’d expect from one of the acoustic world’s biggest names, just in a size that can be hauled around anywhere without breaking your back. Or, indeed, your wallet. 

Read more below

The Martin Backpacker has a unique body shape, that’s for sure, but coming from a name like Martin you can rest assured this guitar will perform brilliantly. What surprised us was the volume and projection this little guitar pumps out, thanks in part to the solid mahogany used in the body.

The Steinberger Spirit GT-Pro Deluxe definitely fits the travel guitar bill due to its distinctive size and shape. Despite the smaller body, the Spirit GT-Pro Deluxe features a scale length of 25.5”, making the actual playing area larger than that of a standard Les Paul.

You can instantly see those famous Stratocaster outlines of the pickguard, the three single coil pickups and the control knobs. Yet the eagle-eyed among you will have noticed anything on the body that isn’t underneath the pickguard has been shaved away, leaving a guitar which is 35% lighter and 14% shorter than a regular Strat.

This is a short-scale travel electric guitar featuring a single mini-humbucker, two-piece poplar body, bolt-on neck and fairly sturdy tuners. It doesn’t pack down any smaller than it is, though it’s very compact already and if you really needed to, you could always take the neck off, if you were packing it up in a suitcase for example.

The Shorty provides full scale-length familiarity which, when combined with the tiny body, makes for a comfortable playing experience. The single humbucker at the bridge is meaty enough to blast out your favourite riffs, while you’ll feel instantly at home with the classic maple/rosewood combination neck and fingerboard.

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The Traveler Escape Mark III comes equipped with plenty in the way of tools and toys, and it all comes in 26% shorter and 10% lighter than a standard dreadnought. The Escape Mark III features tuning pegs within the body itself, which means it has no need for a headstock and is instead strung in reverse.

This handy, foldable acoustic is great for players who want something quality but affordable. It’s got a solid spruce top and layered mahogany back and sides. You can get a great tone from it, whether you’re playing with a pick or with fingers. It’s dynamic, and while it might not be as loud as a full size guitar, can still throw out a good amount of volume.

This is one for serious acoustic players. It bears a hefty price tag, but you can get some serious tones from this guitar. Boasting a solid red cedar top and solid African mahogany back and sides, the Furch Little Jane yields a beautiful, rich and balanced tone with a good amount of projection. 

The best travel guitars right now

MusicRadar's got your back Our team of expert musicians and producers spends hours testing products to help you choose the best music-making gear for you. Find out more about how we test.

Below you'll find full and detailed write-ups for each of the best travel guitars in our list.

1. Taylor Baby Taylor

Our expert review:

Specifications

Reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

If the more outlandish styles of travel guitar aren’t for you, maybe the Baby Taylor will be. This ¾-sized dreadnought comes with all the quality and projection you’d expect from one of the acoustic world’s biggest names, just in a size that can be hauled around anywhere without breaking your back. Or, indeed, your wallet. 

The Baby Taylor would be the perfect option as a second (or third) guitar in anyone’s collection, designed to be stashed in the included gig bag and taken anywhere. Players with larger hands may feel a bit cramped navigating the 22.75” scale length, but for the majority of people the Baby Taylor is easy to recommend.

2. Martin Backpacker

We weren’t lying when we said travel guitars can jar a bit visually. The Martin Backpacker has a unique body shape, that’s for sure, but coming from a name like Martin you can rest assured this guitar will perform brilliantly. What surprised us was the volume and projection this little guitar pumps out, thanks in part to the solid mahogany used in the body.

Originally launched in 1992, the Martin Backpacker has carved itself a nice niche in the world of travel guitars, and its exceptional build quality means it will last for many more years to come.

3. Steinberger Spirit GT-Pro Deluxe

While not officially marketed as a travel guitar, the Steinberger Spirit GT-Pro Deluxe definitely fits the bill due to its distinctive size and shape. The classic Steinberger ‘headless’ design is correct and present, making the same bold visual statement of its more expensive stablemates, yet the decision to use wood over composite materials makes the whole thing more cost-effective and suited for travelling. 

Despite the smaller body, the Spirit GT-Pro Deluxe features a scale length of 25.5”, making the actual playing area larger than that of a standard Les Paul. It’s also pretty rare to find neck-thru bodies at this price point, which all adds up to a decent value instrument regardless of how you end up using it.

Best for Strat players

4. Traveler Travelcaster Deluxe

It’s called ‘cognitive dissonance’. That conflict you feel when something you know to be right is challenged. The Traveler Travelcaster Deluxe is a relative example; to look at it, you can instantly see those famous Stratocaster outlines of the pickguard, the three single coil pickups and the control knobs. Yet the eagle-eyed among you will have noticed anything on the body that isn’t underneath the pickguard has been shaved away, leaving a guitar which is 35% lighter and 14% shorter than a regular Strat. 

Weighing in at only 5 lbs, the Travelcaster Deluxe may take some getting over visually, but in use it provides that same Strat experience, the same 25.5” scale length and the same tonal versatility of those pickups. If you can get over the cognitive dissonance, it may just be the perfect travel guitar for you.

Read the full Traveler Travelcaster Deluxe review

Best electric options

5. Blackstar Carry-On Travel Guitar ST

This is a short-scale travel electric guitar featuring a single mini-humbucker, two-piece poplar body, bolt-on neck and fairly sturdy tuners. It doesn’t pack down any smaller than it is, though it’s very compact already and if you really needed to, you could always take the neck off, if you were packing it up in a suitcase for example. 

It plays great and the shorter 20.7” scale length doesn’t take long to readjust to - younger beginners might find that they can fret chords and make stretches between frets more easily too. The mini-humbucker covers a lot of ground, so will suit any musical style you can throw at it. Whether you’re playing clean or super distorted, this little thing can really pack a punch! 

There is a more expensive version that’s around double the price with some upgrades, but in terms of value for money, we feel that the Blackstar Carry-On ST is one of the best travel guitars around. 

Best full-scale experience

6. Hofner Shorty travel guitar

The Hofner Shorty has been around since the 1980s, and has long been a favourite for players looking for a portable electric they can travel with. It provides full scale-length familiarity which, when combined with the tiny body, makes for a comfortable playing experience. The single humbucker at the bridge is meaty enough to blast out your favourite riffs, while you’ll feel instantly at home with the classic maple/rosewood combination neck and fingerboard.

Sure, it’s not going to win any awards for tone, and you’re unlikely to see them used on album-of-the-year contenders, but as an inexpensive way to add a bit of portability to your line-up the Hofner Shorty is well worth consideration. 

Best of both worlds

7. Traveler Escape MKIII Mahogany

Choosing a travel guitar doesn’t necessarily mean compromising on your needs. The Traveler Escape Mark III comes equipped with plenty in the way of tools and toys, and it all comes in 26% shorter and 10% lighter than a standard dreadnought.

The Escape Mark III features tuning pegs within the body itself, which means it has no need for a headstock and is instead strung in reverse. The onboard electronics are both extensive and useful too, with an under-saddle Shadow NanoFlex piezo system, tuner, aux-in and studio headphone out making for quite a comprehensive setup for the traveling player.

8. Journey Instruments PJ410N

This handy, foldable acoustic makes for one of the best travel guitars for players who want something quality but affordable. It’s got a solid spruce top and layered mahogany back and sides. You can get a great tone from it, whether you’re playing with a pick or with fingers. It’s dynamic, and while it might not be as loud as a full size guitar, can still throw out a good amount of volume.

It fits perfectly inside the included padded rucksack, and can be assembled in 20 seconds. Simply put the neck into position, snap it in place and lock it from the back of the body. Then you’ve got a guitar with a 23” scale ready to play. It’s great for experienced players who want something that sounds good while they’re on their travels (the bag will fit under many airline seats), but also makes for a great beginner guitar for kids . 

Best all-solid option

9. Furch Little Jane LJ-10

This is definitely one of the best travel guitars for serious acoustic players. It bears a hefty price tag, but you can get some serious tones from this guitar. Boasting a solid red cedar top and solid African mahogany back and sides, the Furch Little Jane yields a beautiful, rich and balanced tone with a good amount of projection. 

The guitar can be folded down and fit into a rucksack (included). The headstock, neck and body are separate from one another to save space but can be assembled into one piece very quickly and easily. Once the neck is locked into position using Furch’s proprietary assembly system, it’s ready to play and will even go back in tune. 

The included rucksack is well padded and will ensure that it’s protected enough on your travels. Travel acoustic guitars seldom sound this good, and to be fair the price reflects that, but it really is one of the best out there. 

Best travel guitars: Buying advice

What is a travel guitar?

Essentially, a travel guitar is a guitar designed with portability and mobility as its key function. This will usually mean the guitar has a significantly smaller body or weight, and they often boast creative solutions to common issues like tuning or storage. From conception to construction, the travel guitar is designed to be thrown in a bag and transported anywhere, everywhere, and all those places in between. 

Standard-sized guitars can be, as we know, too large, too heavy or too delicate to carry around for long stretches, so travel guitars offer a specialist tool for those specific situations. Realistically, you’ll not find too many studio musicians reaching for the travel guitar to nail that perfect tone, but then that’s not what they’re for. Portability, size and weight are order of the day here, and it helps that there are travel guitars on the market today which also nail that other crucial element; tone. 

What makes travel guitars different?

At first glance, the sight of a dedicated travel guitar can jar a little. Often, they have quite striking aesthetic differences from regular guitars. Like looking at something you know, only quite different. Manufacturers employ all kinds of measures as they seek to reduce the overall size and weight of the guitar, and it’s not uncommon to see guitars without headstocks, or with radically different shaped bodies, or even no body at all. Yet a guitar still has to function, so there is still the need for tuning pegs, a bridge, and other essential components.

What are the key features of travel guitars?

There are two major schools of thought when it comes to travel guitars. One is to take a regular sized guitar and zap it with a shrink ray, keeping the same proportions relatively but in a smaller overall package. This approach ensures the instrument retains its familiarity, and also makes them attractive to younger learners.

The other approach is to redesign the instrument completely, perhaps taking the tuning pegs and installing them in the body. Of course, such radical design changes can create other problems, so you may see these compensated for with the inclusion of detachable arm and leg rests, for example. While these guitars may look unfamiliar, the playing experience should be largely the same as a regular guitar. Scale lengths, fret locations and pitch will be the same, even if the physical form of the guitar is quite different.

Are travel guitars playable?

If you’ve never had the chance to play a travel guitar, you may be looking at the best travel guitars in this list and wondering if it’s playable in the same way as a regular guitar. The good news is that yes, absolutely they are playable. In the same way that jumping from the thin neck of an Ibanez RG-style electric to a 50’s style Stratocaster neck may take a bit of readjustment in your technique, so too will the leap from a regular to certain travel-sized guitars. It’s not difficult to adjust though. You may also have to sit differently to accommodate the smaller body, but as these guitars are inherently lighter in weight, this shouldn’t cause too much of a headache. Or, more accurately, backache.

Electric or acoustic?

All of the best travel guitars will either be electric or acoustic. Electrics do tend to be thinner, as the body doesn’t need to resonate as much to get a good sound, although it’s worth remembering that you’ll need an amp to get the most out of it. The body of a travel acoustic will normally be deeper, but as a result of this you can get a fairly loud sound without any amplification.

What do I get when I spend more?

The quality of the best travel guitars does vary, and as you might imagine, it does go up as you spend more money. As the price increases, you’ll likely find better hardware, which can not only help keep the guitar in tune and playing nicely, but can also improve how it sounds too, increasing resonance and sustain.

On electrics, you’ll find better quality pickups - these will be more dynamic and have a wider frequency range so you’ll get more detail and clarity. With travel acoustic guitars, you’ll get better quality, and even solid woods which will give you a better, more responsive and richer sound.

Who might use a travel guitar?

The breadth of today’s range of travel guitars means there is a guitar to suit most playing styles and genres, so the quick answer is that yes, there is a travel guitar for everyone. In terms of scenarios, travel guitars are, as their name suggests, designed to be taken places ordinary guitars cannot reach. 

Small enough to fit on your back as you scale a mountain, or taken on a plane as part of your hand luggage, travel guitars give players the freedom and convenience of being able to play anywhere, at any time. For that, we applaud them. Let’s examine some of the best travel guitar options available today.

Can you buy travel guitars for children?

Travel guitars, as well as being the perfect accompaniment to a musician on the go, can also make for great instruments for children. If you’re looking for one of the best travel guitars to get a kid started on their guitar playing journey, then look for one that has a shorter scale length. This will mean that the notes are closer together and will be easier for small hands to fret. 

Scale length and string gauge

Speaking of short scales, the gauge of strings you use is also worth considering. The strings on a guitar with a shorter scale will feel slinkier - they will be easier to bend and to some players may even feel too loose. One way to combat this is to use thicker strings, so something like 12s on an electric might make them feel a little more like 10s on a full size guitar. Though, if you’re just starting out then the thinner, slinkier strings might be better so they don’t quite hurt your fingertips as much.

How we chose the best travel guitars for this guide

Here at MusicRadar, we are experts in our field, with many years of playing, creating and product testing between us. We live and breathe everything music gear related, and we draw on this knowledge and experience of using products in live, recording and rehearsal scenarios when selecting the products for our guides. 

When choosing what we believe to be the best travel guitars available right now, we combine our hands-on experience, user reviews and testimonies and engage in lengthy discussions with our editorial colleagues to reach a consensus about the top products in any given category.

First and foremost, we are musicians, and we want other players to find the right product for them. So we take into careful consideration everything from budget to feature set, ease of use and durability to come up with a list of what we can safely say are the best travel guitars on the market right now.

Find out more about  how we test music gear and services  at MusicRadar.

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Chris Corfield is a journalist with over 12 years of experience writing for some of the music world's biggest brands including Orange Amplification, MusicRadar, Guitar World, Total Guitar and Dawsons Music. Chris loves getting nerdy about everything from guitar and bass gear, to synths, microphones, DJ gear and music production hardware.

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Snap Dragon Folding Travel Guitars - Guitar Shop in Chelmsford

When Gerry Dale, a passionate guitarist, began flying often, he was disappointed to discover how challenging it was to get a traditional instrument on board.

A short internet search turned up a slew of collapsing  or foldable guitars, but virtually all of them had partial dismantlement, odd hinge placement, or weird tuning systems. Gerry wanted a guitar that sounded like a traditional guitar, with traditional tune and set-up, but that could easily convert from storage to performing mode.

Gerry felt he was up to the challenge with his more than 50 years of experience and a reputation as a mad scientist. Gerry discovered that constructing his customized personal guitars piqued the curiosity of friends and other artists he encountered on his travels. Snap Dragon Guitars was created as a result of this.

Snap Dragon Guitars had already grown from those humble beginnings into a thriving business. Our shop in Chelmsford, Essex, is no longer operational. Each Snap Dragon is developed and manufactured in the United Kingdom, then hand-finished and assembled before being delivered worldwide.

Opening Hours

Snap Dragon Folding Travel Guitars is open during the following hours:

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Contact Info

• 10 Eckersley Rd , Chelmsford , CM1 1SL
• 01245283259
• [email protected]

Snap Dragon Folding Travel Guitars Reviews

2 comments on “ snap dragon folding travel guitars ”.

Fantastic guitars and after-sales service.

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How to fast travel - Dragon's Dogma 2

Portcrystals, ferrystones, oxcarts, and walking: The art of fast traveling in Dragon's Dogma 2.

There are a lot of modern systems in Dragon’s Dogma 2 that aren’t as approachable or easy to understand as some players might expect. One of these is fast travel, which is set up in a rather old-school manner whereby it is possible but it’s not free. Additionally, you’re not free to fast travel wherever you want, it’s only in extremely specific locations (and sometimes a few places of your choosing). Here’s how fast travel works (and no, you don’t need to buy any microtransactions).

Fast travel to portcrystal

Players and their pawns can only fast travel to portcrystals in Dragon’s Dogma 2 and doing this costs one ferrystone . These crystals can be found in major cities, like the one behind the Pawn Guild in Vernworth. Players can also place ten portcrystals wherever they want and fast travel to them. This is like setting up a teleporter location around the world.

Once you’ve placed a portcrystal, you can leave it there as long as you like and you’ll always be able to fast travel to it. However, you can also recover the crystal and place it in a new location. Ideally, you’ll place these in areas you need to get to frequently that aren’t available via oxcart or another nearby portcrystal.

Finding and using Ferrystones

Ferrystones are what you will use to travel to a portcrystal . When you have one in your inventory, select it and choose “use” and you will be shown a map with all available portcrystals. Pick the one you want and you will be transported to it instantly, consuming the ferrystone in the process.

You will typically receive ferrystones by completing quests, searching and looting dungeons, and defeating enemies. They’re not super easy to acquire early on, so it’s a good idea to avoid unnecessary fast travel when you’re just starting.

The next best means of “fast” travel is the humble oxcart. These can be found at major settlements and will take you to another location for a small fee. The main disadvantage is that oxcarts only go to a few places around the map. If you want to get somewhere specific, your best bet is to take an oxcart part of the way there and then walk.

While using a portcrystal is instantaneous and no time will pass, when using an oxcart time will tick on at its usual rate. This means when you arrive, part of the day will be gone. Make sure you’re leaving enough time to do whatever you need to do when you get there, as some quests are time-sensitive.

Finally, the least fast method of fast travel is to go on foot. Literally walking from one location to another. Chances are you’ll be running for a bit, letting your stamina recover, and then running some more. Just keep in mind that traveling at night is a death wish. As soon as the sun sets, find a camping spot and rest until the morning.

The advantage of this method of travel is you’ll find all sorts of things. Your pawns will point out interesting locations and you can collect various resources so you can craft your potions.

Traveling around the world of Dragon’s Dogma 2 can be fast or incredibly slow. Those who want to fast travel should focus on acquiring ferrystones and placing ten portcrystals to travel to. Everyone else should find the nearest oxcart or lace up those walking boots. While you’re strolling along the road, read over our Dragon’s Dogma 2 page for more help understanding this world.

Hailing from the land down under, Sam Chandler brings a bit of the southern hemisphere flair to his work. After bouncing round a few universities, securing a bachelor degree, and entering the video game industry, he's found his new family here at Shacknews as a Guides Editor. There's nothing he loves more than crafting a guide that will help someone. If you need help with a guide, or notice something not quite right, you can message him on X:  @SamuelChandler  

• Dragon's Dogma 2

Sam Chandler posted a new article, How to fast travel - Dragon's Dogma 2

Ferrystones 10k at vendors or 8k at scrap guy.

250 Miles  by  Radio Moscow

Dragon's Dogma 2: How to Use Portcrystals (& Best Places To Put Portcrystals)

O ne thing about Dragon's Dogma 2 that some players aren't prepared for is its lack of convenient Fast Travel systems , especially for a modern open-world game. But in addition to taking Oxcarts from one location to another, players can get items that allow them to essentially place custom Fast Travel points out in the world.

Dragon's Dogma 2: What to Do With Jasper, Onyx, and Tiger Eye

In Dragon's Dogma 2 Portcrystals are relatively rare items , but once acquired, they let players do exactly this. When used, a Portcrystal serves as a Fast Travel point wherever it was set to – this guide explains exactly how to use Portcrystals, and where some of the best Portcrystal placement locations are in Dragon's Dogma 2 .

How To Place Portcrystals in Dragon's Dogma 2

To place a Portcrystal, you must be in an area where the game will allow its placement, like just outside city gates or in the open world somewhere. Open up your inventory, scroll down to the item in your All tab, and select it. Accept the prompt that appears, and the menu should simply close as your character places the Portcrystal on the ground.

After using a Portcrystal, you can teleport back to the point you set it to by using a Ferrystone. Unfortunately, you can't scroll over to the Portcrystal's location on the world map and press an input to quickly travel to it – you must use a Ferrystone from your inventory, which brings up a map that highlights all of your active Portcrystals .

Dragon's Dogma 2: Max Level Explained

Essentially, Portcrystals allows players to set a custom Fast Travel point, but they still require one Ferrystone to travel to. Custom Portcrystal locations can be set virtually anywhere in the open world, and they can save tremendous travel time when placed optimally.

Best Portcrystal Placement Locations in DD2

After acquiring your first Portcrystal, don't be too hasty to place it. These items are very limited in number, so it's not a good idea to place them in random locations – only eight can be acquired in-game, though more can be purchased from the Dragon's Dogma 2 MTX store.

These eight locations are the best places to put Portcrystals in DD2 . Bakbattahl should be your number one priority for Portcrystal placement because it does not have one, despite its size and importance in the story. All other locations listed below are recommended for the sake of convenience.

• Dragonforge Cave
• Volcanic Island Camp
• Sacred Arbor
• Checkpoint Rest Town
• Nameless Village

Your priorities should be Bakbattahl, the Dragonforge Cave, and the Volcanic Island Camp. All other locations are not necessarily difficult to get to, but the Arisen can save a lot of travel time by placing one there at some point in their journey.

There are a few locations in the game that have Portcrystals naturally, like Harve Village and Vernworth, so be sure to check your map and make sure you aren't close to another Portcrystal before placing one in a location not listed above.

Dragon's Dogma 2

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Dragon's Dogma 2

I’m having very mixed feelings about Dragon’s Dogma 2, the long-awaited sequel to Capcom’s wonderfully odd Dragon’s Dogma (later expanded and improved and appended by Dark Arisen ).

I think that my feelings stem both from the game and some of its more questionable design decisions and from my own changing interests as a gamer, 12 years after the first game’s release. 30-year-old Erik and 42-year-old Erik are simply not the same person.

In any case, that’s how reviews work. You can only assess a video game or any other work of art based on your opinions. Obviously you hope to remain objective to a degree, but the reality is every review is going to have a lot of subjectivity to it, which is why it’s important to read reviews from critics who you trust (not necessarily with whom you agree).

I am enjoying Dragon’s Dogma 2 for the most part, though I am not enjoying it as much as the original game or its improved Dark Arisen version. There are several reasons for this.

The most controversial thing about this game so far has been its (frankly bizarre) microtransactions:

Dragon's Dogma paid DLC

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This was clearly a corporate move, though it feels as though the suits and the developers came to an uneasy truce and limited the number of items a player could buy. If Assassin’s Creed took away fast-travel and sold it for $2.99 a pop, they’d sell as many as they could. Here, you can only buy one Portcrystal.

Speaking of fast travel, let’s get to the heart of Dragon’s Dogma 2’s main non-narrative problem.

Fast Travel (Or The Lack Thereof)

In Dragon ’ s Dogma 2, the world is quite vast and the fast travel system is not up for the task. The first game had very limited fast travel also—until the arrival of the Eternal Ferrystone in the Dark Arisen expansion—but its map was smaller. Perhaps there was also a novelty to that game that made trekking back and forth less tedious. It feels incredibly tedious in Dragon’s Dogma 2.

There are aspects of the game that make that tedium worse. The size of the map, as I’ve noted, is one of these. The map is roughly four times the size of the first game. It’s also just a busier world. There are more NPCs stopping you and Pawns walking around hailing you and tons of side-quests which, I hate to say, are often not that interesting.

The reason for this lack of fast travel is apparently to encourage exploration, but I often find that I’m just bored or exhausted from going from point A to point B and after the initial fun of the new world and new game wore off, I find myself mostly just annoyed that I can’t fast travel at least to places I’ve already been.

You can hire an ox cart for fairly cheap between some towns—and dozing off gets you from one to the next similar to fast travel—which is an okay system, but this often requires you to wait for the right time (so you need to “pass time” in the game) and you can be ambushed en route. The first time this happened, my Pawns and I and some soldiers we were with had to fight off a massive ogre. It was a fun, chaotic battle but afterwards I couldn’t find the ox cart. I ran in the wrong direction for a while before turning back and finding it again, whereupon I was charged a second 100 gold pieces to finish the journey I’d already paid for once.

There is nothing so thrilling in a game as riding in the back of a slow-moving ox cart.

There is only one way to properly design a game like this without fast travel, and I can describe it in two words: Dark Souls. What I mean by this, is you need to craft a game world that is dense and filled with short-cuts to discover. The opening areas of Dark Souls are built in such a manner that each section wraps up and over and under and around one another, and as you unlock short-cuts (like ladders you can kick down or doors you can only unlock from the other side) getting back from Point F to Point A becomes much quicker. Effectively, you unlock faster routes by overcoming challenge.

I still remember the first time I kicked down the ladder in the Undead Burg—after finally defeating the Black Knight, the Taurus Demon and surviving the Red Wyvern’s flames—and it led me back down to the bonfire at the start of that whole gauntlet. What a feeling that was! What relief that I had returned— returned— to safety. Now, I could leave this same point and go face the next challenge (a wyvern’s tail, but also poison-inflicting ROUS’s, another Black Knight and more).

This kind of level design was what made the first portion of Dark Souls so perfect. When you reached the Undead Parish and activated the lift down to the Firelink Shrine, it felt like coming full circle on an epic journey. Like coming home. And yet, in truth, the journey had only just begun. Eventually, Dark Souls became far more vast. You had to be flown to Anor Londo and eventually you open up the ability to fast-travel between bonfires. This made sense. As much as I’d love to see a Souls game built top-to-bottom the way that opening act of Dark Souls was, it would be a tremendous challenge. Offering up fast travel later on in the game allowed you to return to distant areas and traverse a now much vaster world without spending all your time running.

Speaking of running, I think I’ll enjoy Dragon’s Dogma 2 a lot more once I install a mod that gives you unlimited stamina. I actually think stamina is a good mechanic in games like this. It makes you think more tactically in a fight. It makes running away from a fight a little more tense. Again, in Dark Souls it works to create a very specific type of rhythm. But when you run out of stamina so quickly it gets old fast—and I find myself often over-encumbered since I can’t choose to pick up items I search for, I just automatically pick them up, and even with Pawns to share the load it’s just a hassle.

Elden Ring fixed this by giving you a summonable horse to ride. Horses would make Dragon’s Dogma 2 about ten times more fun. Again, the ox cart idea is fine, but having the ability to ride around with your pawns on horseback would be much better. Hell, go back to The Witcher 3 for another game that would have been a huge slog without Roach to ride around on. Horses are cool! Imagine Red Dead Redemption 2 without horses!

Health Regeneration (Or The Lack Thereof)

Finally, the health regeneration system—while clever—makes all of this just a tad bit worse. Basically, as you take damage you slowly start to lose your maximum health level. Without a full night’s rest—you can now camp at specific locations or rest at an expensive inn, which also serve as places to level up your vocations—you will slowly lose more and more maximum health, which you can’t recover from healing spells or items. This may be intended to create something akin to D&D, but it actually reminds me of yet another FromSoftware game: Demon’s Souls.

In that game, when you die you go into Soul Form. This does a couple things. You no longer make footstep sounds (which is good!) but you also lose a healthy chunk of your maximum health bar. And it can’t be restored until you return to human form, which requires you to beat a boss, use the Emphereal Eyes item, become a blue phantom and help another player beat a boss or invade another player’s game and defeat them as a black phantom. You could also mitigate the loss of total health by wearing the Cling Ring.

Granted, these are more challenging than resting for a night, but the entire system is pretty central to how the game works (and was still a bit annoying, and quickly abandoned for the rest of FromSoftware’s games).

The Culmination Of Game Design Choices

It’s the combination of all these factors—lack of fast travel, lack of horses to make constant stamina bar loss less of a pain and distances shorter, the decreasing maximum health bar, the size of the map, the sheer number of side-quests and NPCs, the back-and-forth nature of mission design, the lack of enemy variety—that have me already feeling a bit burnt out. I like that the world is busier, but I get a little overwhelmed by it all.

I never felt that way in Dragon’s Dogma, even before the Eternal Ferrystone. And I wonder if there isn’t something else that’s missing also. Something a little harder to pin down. Perhaps it will come to me in time.

The game is prettier than the first, though it captures the original’s aesthetic quite well. I’m just not as invested in it. I’m not obsessed with it like I was with the first.

Granted, I haven’t finished the main story yet either so this is not a full review, and maybe I’ll change my mind in the end. But for all its new systems and ideas and the much bigger, busier world, and the fun combat (that needs a dodge-roll from the start, thank you very much) something isn’t clicking with me the way the first game did. I could get lost in Dragon’s Dogma. It was the only game that even came close to Dark Souls for me at the time, and not by being a Souls-like but by doing its own weird thing. I’ve eagerly awaited the sequel for over a decade. Now that it’s here, I’m struggling to find that same joy.

The weirdness is still here, thankfully. The quirky humor is one of my favorite things about Dragon’s Dogma 2, which hams up the Pawn banter and even has you do goofy things like give your Pawns a high-five after a fight. You can still carry around pretty much anybody, and they’ll slap at your back as they struggle to be put back down. It’s hilarious. A lot about this game still works really well, including the fun powers, character customization, weapon and armor variety and much more. But I feel as though my enjoyment of the overall experience is being held back by a tedium (and busywork) that I never felt in the original.

Perhaps that’s just me. Perhaps my patience has worn thin as I’ve grown older. Perhaps I expected more from the sequel, which in some ways feels like a step back from Dark Arisen.

I’m curious to hear your thoughts. I’ll have more as I continue. I tend to be a bit of an obsessive completionist and it can take me forever to finish a game like this, but I’m honestly starting to think that might not be the case here. Wandering around and exploring has already become less fun than just doing the story missions and progressing. That’s a shame, because this is a world I genuinely do want to explore, if only it gave me the right tools do that in a way that was fun. I just don’t want to have to keep huffing and puffing back to town before nightfall, fighting the same damn goblins over and over again. I want to whistle my horse over from the Rift and ride. I want fast travel to unlock at least from a reasonable number of locations without having to use a super rare consumable.

Ah well. I want a lot of things. You don’t always get what you want.

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How to get the Checkpoint Rest Town Portcrystal in Dragon’s Dogma 2

The Checkpoint Rest Town is one of the most conveniently placed towns in Dragon’s Dogma 2 , found between Vermund and Battahl. Aside from the vendors, quests, and Pawns you can find here, there is also a hidden Portcrystal nearby.

Fast travel is in short supply in Dragon’s Dogma 2 . While Oxcarts are a fast and relatively safe means of getting between major hubs, these are stuck at fixed positions. Portcrystals are far more versatile, as you can place these almost anywhere on the map you wish to travel, but they’re naturally much harder to find.

If you’re trying to find the Portcrystal by the Checkpoint Rest Town, then below is everything that you need to know before setting out.

Where to find the Checkpoint Rest Town Portcrystal in Dragon’s Dogma 2

The Checkpoint Rest Town Portcrystal can be found in the Forested Griffin’s Nest just outside the Misty Marshes , seen in the location listed above. If you’re just starting out from Vernworth and have yet to visit any of these locations yet, the journey is actually quite simple.

Starting from the capital city of Vernworth, take the Oxcart at the western Vernworth gate to fast travel to the Checkpoint Rest Town. This is where you will eventually cross into Battahl once you’re able to obtain a permit and sort out customs. From here, head north along the main road.

Where the road splits to head further north to the Ancient Battlefield, stick along the larger road leading west. Eventually, you’ll come across a heavily misted area just after you pass by a large Cyclopes. Go off road north to the Griffin’s Nest to find the Portcrystal hidden in the nest.

Naturally, the Griffin you are faced with won’t be too eager to give up its Portcrystal. You don’t actually need to fight this monster, as the Portcrystal is a nearby item to pick up instead of a drop . If you’re like me and want to get in and out, then I recommend rushing up to the nest, picking up the Portcrystal, and getting out.

What are the best spots to place a Port Crystal in Dragon’s Dogma 2 ?

Portcrystals are incredible tools that allow you to fast travel to any location where you’ve placed a Portcrystal. Given there are very few means of fast travel in Dragon’s Dogma 2 , this is the best way to get around the map. Since your Portcrystal placement is entirely up to you, there a few spots I recommend planting these anchors.

The three best places I’ve found to plant Portcrystals are Bakbattahl, Rest Town, and the Volcanic Island Camp. If you’ve already visited Battahl, then you should know there are no fixed Portcrystals here and very few Oxcarts. This makes Battahl the hardest zone to navigate around.

Bakbattahl has tons of quests within the city and is a major point of the story, as is the case with the Volcanic Island Camp. Since you’ll spend a lot of time in these two places, placing a Portcrystal here would certainly be to your benefit. Rest Town is also squarely between the two major questing hubs, so a fast travel point here is always great.

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Where to get portcrystals in Dragon’s Dogma 2 and the best locations to place them

Here’s how to get six extra portcrystals

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Portcrystals are one of the rarest and most potent items in Dragon’s Dogma 2 . They act as anchors that you can fast travel to — as long as you have a ferrystone, that is.

But how come every town doesn’t have a portcrystal? How can you get more portcrystals? And once you do find more, where should you put them?

In this Dragon’s Dogma 2 guide, we’ll show you a list of portcrystals, tell you where to get more portcrystals , and offer our suggestion on the best locations to place portcrystals .

Permanent portcrystal locations in Dragon’s Dogma 2

If you’re sticking to the main story, the first portcrystal you find will likely be the one in Vernworth .

Naturally, you might assume it’s a fast travel point, and there are plenty more in the game. Nope. The Vernworth portcrystal is one of only two stationary crystals in Dragon’s Dogma 2 . The other is in Harve Village , a bit west of Vernworth.

As of this writing, every other portcrystal in the game we’ve found is a mobile one that you can pick up and move at will.

How to get more portcrystals in Dragon’s Dogma 2

Portcrystals come from a variety of different sources, and you can get a total of six during your first playthrough, not counting microtransactions.

You can find one portcrystal by riding a Vermund griffin to its nest, which you can do by just jumping on its back and attacking it until it tries to run home. When it brings you to its nest — or if you find the nest in the southern part of the Misty Marshes (seen on the map above) — you’ll find a portcrystal just lying inside.

In Battahl , during the main quest, you’ll come across the Dragonforged smith in the Bay Wayward Shrine. Here, you can trade Wyrmslife Crystals with him in exchange for powerful upgrades to your weapons and armor. For 20 of your Wyrmslife Crystals, he’ll sell you a single portcrystal.

Additionally, there are four portcrystals that you can get from quests in the game.

There are three (four if you’re clever) quests that give you a portcrystal when you complete them:

• “Feast of Deception”
• “A Trial of Archery”
• “A Game of Wits”

You’ll get your first portcrystal from Captain Brant after completing the “ Feast of Deception ” quest.

For your second portcrystal, you can find an elf named Glyndwr in the city square of Vernworth. He’ll give you the “Gift of the Bow” quest, which will eventually lead to the “ A Trial of Archery ” quest. Follow his questline and you’ll get a portcrystal as a reward.

The third and fourth portable portcrystal can both come from the Sphinx who gives you riddles throughout “ A Game of Wits .”

First, the Riddle of Madness asks you to place your most beloved friend in front of the Sphinx. Grab your main pawn, toss them up to the platform, and the Sphinx will hand over her one and only portcrystal.

However, during the Riddle of Conviction , the Sphinx will ask you to give her your most precious item in the world. She’ll act like she’s going to take it from you, but will instead give it back to you and give you a fully functional duplicate. If you hand her the portcrystal you just received from the Riddle of Madness, you’ll walk away two portcrystals richer.

Best portcrystal locations in Dragon’s Dogma 2

The major towns in Dragon’s Dogma 2 are very spread out. And we all know how rough fast travel via oxcart is. Ferrystones cannot fail, so if you want to travel reliably, you’ll need to have a portstone in each of the game’s major locations.

Here are our suggestions of the best locations to place your portcrystals , which you can see reflected in the map above:

• The Sphinx’s current lair
• Checkpoint Rest Town
• Volcanic Island Camp
• Sacred Arbor
• The Dragonforged smith
• The Battahl Ropeway Central Station

One last note: For reasons we won’t go into here, you’ll want to have your portcrystals spread out as much as possible before you kill the final boss and enter the endgame. So consider moving some of your portcrystals to the corners of the map before completing the game’s final quest.

For more Dragon’s Dogma 2 guides, see our lists of all vocations (including how to unlock them), all pawn specializations , and the best augments , or consult our guides on how to get more Wakestones and how to get out of gaol .

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• How to import a pre-made character
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• What vocation to pick + all vocations list
• All maister skills and how to get them
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• Best augments and augments list
• How to change your vocation
• How to unlock the Warrior vocation
• How to unlock the Sorcerer vocation
• How to unlock the Magick Archer vocation
• How to unlock the Mystic Spearhand vocation
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• The best Archer build for beginners
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• How to get a Medusa Head
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• Where to find 30 Seeker’s Tokens
• All riftstone locations
• How to reach the Nameless Village
• How to get into Battahl
• How to get to Agamen Volcanic Island
• Best quest order for Captain Brant
• When to go to the ‘Feast of Deception’ coronation
• All Sphinx riddle solutions (for ‘A Game of Wits’)
• How to get the true ending
• ‘The Arisen’s Shadow’ quest walkthrough
• ‘A Beggar’s Tale’ quest walkthrough
• ‘The Caged Magistrate’ quest walkthrough
• ‘Hunt for the Jadeite Orb’ quest walkthrough
• ‘The Ornate Box’ quest walkthrough
• ‘Oxcart Courier’ quest walkthrough
• ‘The Phantom Oxcart’ quest walkthrough
• ‘Prey for the Pack’ quest walkthrough
• ‘Readvent of Calamity’ quest walkthrough
• ‘Saint of the Slums’ quest walkthrough
• ‘Sorcerer’s Appraisal’ + ‘Spellbound’ joint quest walkthrough
• ‘Shadowed Prayers’ quest walkthrough
• ‘Tensions on the High Road’ quest walkthrough
• ‘A Veil of Gossamer Clouds’ quest walkthrough

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First look: How Universal is bringing ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ to life at Epic Universe

This is Berk – and next year, you’ll be able to visit.

On Thursday, Universal Orlando Resort revealed its first look at How to Train Your Dragon - Isle of Berk. The mythical land from the beloved “How to Train Your Dragon” franchise is one of five immersive worlds coming to life at the Florida resort’s highly anticipated Universal Epic Universe theme park in 2025.

“Guests visiting Berk will encounter one of the most breathtaking environments Universal has ever created – complete with immense architecture featuring hand-carved details, lush landscaping, and extraordinary heights of rolling hills surrounding vibrant dragon houses and local establishments,” Universal shared in a press release. 

Here’s what you can expect from How to Train Your Dragon - Isle of Berk at Epic Universe.

You can visit Berk

It may sound obvious, but for many fans, Berk has only lived on pages, screens and imaginations, like other famous franchises Universal has materialized in its parks, including The Wizarding World of Harry Potter . Universal Creative is developing this world with DreamWorks Animation and Universal Pictures filmmakers.

“Guests’ first sight of Berk will be reminiscent of the iconic sweeping vista straight from the films – featuring a vast sparkling lagoon that boasts two 40-foot-tall Viking statues set against an energetic village perched above churning seas,” Universal said.

Vikings and dragons live together on Berk, so you can expect to see “endless activity – from active dragons in their natural habitats and sheep attempting to disguise themselves as Terrible Terror dragons to sporadic bouts of fire,” according to Universal.

You can soar like a dragon

Hiccup’s Wing Gliders is one of four attractions coming to How to Train Your Dragon - Isle of Berk, three of which are rides. The family coaster will give you a taste of what it’s like to soar like Hiccup Haddock and his fellow Dragon Riders, Astrid, Snotlout, Ruffnut, Tuffnut and Fishlegs. 

“Hiccup invites brave new Vikings to take a ride in his latest glider contraption – a winged flying machine that launches aspiring Dragon Riders into the sky for a dragon’s eye view of Berk,” according to Universal. 

Family coasters tend to have lower height requirements than traditional roller coasters, so they can be enjoyed across broader age ranges without sacrificing thrills. Hiccups Wing Gliders will hit up to 45 miles per hour.

Dragon Racer’s Rally will give you a feel for the high-flying skills needed to be a Dragon Rider.

“Berk’s new Vikings racers can practice aerobatic maneuvers and high-speed barrel rolls on two Viking-made dragon-riding trainers that reach heights of up to 67 feet in the air,” according to Universal, which notes guests will be able to control how “mild” or “wild” they want the ride.

Fyre Drill is what you’d expect from mischief-making twins Ruffnut and Tuffnut. 

“Guests will board a colorful dragon-headed boat and blast water cannons at flame-like targets to practice putting out fires – a crucial skill to master when living with dragons,” Universal said. 

But you won’t just be competing for scores. Viking teams can also try to “out-soak each other on this wet-and-wild boat battle.”

Viking Training Camp will be an expansive, interactive play area for Junior Vikings, “featuring a Viking agility course, a Toothless-themed teeter-totter, baby Gronckle dragon climbers and so much more,” according to Universal.

Universal Islands of Adventure and Universal Volcano Bay water park also have dedicated play areas for kids to stretch their legs and explore. Universal Studios Florida’s new Kung Fu Panda-themed play area is opening within its new DreamWorks Land this summer.

You can see Dragon Riders in action

The Untrainable Dragon will be a live show inspired by the popular “Untrainable” show at Universal Beijing Resort .

“This dragon-filled live spectacular takes guests on an unforgettable journey with beloved characters Hiccup, Toothless, Gobber, and Astrid as they work together to solve the mystery of The Untrainable Dragon,” according to Universal. 

Fans love its sister show’s stunning visuals, swelling music and soaring night fury, Toothless. There will be some differences in Orlando's version, but it's sure to be a must-see at the new park.

Behind the scenes: What you don’t see at Universal Orlando’s Mardi Gras

You can meet Toothless

Hiccup may be the main character of the “How to Train Your Dragon” franchise, but his faithful companion Toothless is its heart.

You can meet both Hiccup and Toothless at the Haddock Paddock in How to Train Your Dragon - Isle of Berk. 

“Throughout the day, guests may also encounter other familiar Vikings and dragons while exploring Berk,” according to Universal.

You can get a taste of Berk

The main gathering and dining hall in How to Train Your Dragon - Isle of Berk will be a fast casual eatery called Mead Hall . In addition to mead and cider, it will serve savory dishes like fish and sandwiches. There will also be two quick-service dining venues, Spit Fyre Grill and Hooligan’s Grog & Gruel.

Guests who want to bring a bit of Berk back home can find themed merchandise at Viking Traders , How to Treat Your Dragon , Hiccup’s Work Shop , and Toothless’ Treasures. 

Beyond Berk, Epic Universe guests will be able to visit The Wizard World of Harry Potter - Ministry of Magic, Super Nintendo World, a Universal monsters world called Dark Universe, and Celestial Park , which Universal describes as a celestial world between worlds.

Claudia Looi

Touring the Top 10 Moscow Metro Stations

By Claudia Looi 2 Comments

Komsomolskaya metro station looks like a museum. It has vaulted ceilings and baroque decor.

Hidden underground, in the heart of Moscow, are historical and architectural treasures of Russia. These are Soviet-era creations – the metro stations of Moscow.

Our guide Maria introduced these elaborate metro stations as “the palaces for the people.” Built between 1937 and 1955, each station holds its own history and stories. Stalin had the idea of building beautiful underground spaces that the masses could enjoy. They would look like museums, art centers, concert halls, palaces and churches. Each would have a different theme. None would be alike.

The two-hour private tour was with a former Intourist tour guide named Maria. Maria lived in Moscow all her life and through the communist era of 60s to 90s. She has been a tour guide for more than 30 years. Being in her 60s, she moved rather quickly for her age. We traveled and crammed with Maria and other Muscovites on the metro to visit 10 different metro stations.

Arrow showing the direction of metro line 1 and 2

Moscow subways are very clean

To Maria, every street, metro and building told a story. I couldn’t keep up with her stories. I don’t remember most of what she said because I was just thrilled being in Moscow.   Added to that, she spilled out so many Russian words and names, which to one who can’t read Cyrillic, sounded so foreign and could be easily forgotten.

The metro tour was the first part of our all day tour of Moscow with Maria. Here are the stations we visited:

1. Komsomolskaya Metro Station  is the most beautiful of them all. Painted yellow and decorated with chandeliers, gold leaves and semi precious stones, the station looks like a stately museum. And possibly decorated like a palace. I saw Komsomolskaya first, before the rest of the stations upon arrival in Moscow by train from St. Petersburg.

2. Revolution Square Metro Station (Ploshchad Revolyutsii) has marble arches and 72 bronze sculptures designed by Alexey Dushkin. The marble arches are flanked by the bronze sculptures. If you look closely you will see passersby touching the bronze dog's nose. Legend has it that good luck comes to those who touch the dog's nose.

Touch the dog's nose for good luck. At the Revolution Square station

Revolution Square Metro Station

3. Arbatskaya Metro Station served as a shelter during the Soviet-era. It is one of the largest and the deepest metro stations in Moscow.

Arbatskaya Metro Station

4. Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station was built in 1935 and named after the Russian State Library. It is located near the library and has a big mosaic portrait of Lenin and yellow ceramic tiles on the track walls.

Lenin's portrait at the Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station

5. Kievskaya Metro Station was one of the first to be completed in Moscow. Named after the capital city of Ukraine by Kiev-born, Nikita Khruschev, Stalin's successor.

Kievskaya Metro Station

6. Novoslobodskaya Metro Station  was built in 1952. It has 32 stained glass murals with brass borders.

Novoslobodskaya metro station

7. Kurskaya Metro Station was one of the first few to be built in Moscow in 1938. It has ceiling panels and artwork showing Soviet leadership, Soviet lifestyle and political power. It has a dome with patriotic slogans decorated with red stars representing the Soviet's World War II Hall of Fame. Kurskaya Metro Station is a must-visit station in Moscow.

Ceiling panel and artworks at Kurskaya Metro Station

8. Mayakovskaya Metro Station built in 1938. It was named after Russian poet Vladmir Mayakovsky. This is one of the most beautiful metro stations in the world with 34 mosaics painted by Alexander Deyneka.

Mayakovskaya station

One of the over 30 ceiling mosaics in Mayakovskaya metro station

9. Belorusskaya Metro Station is named after the people of Belarus. In the picture below, there are statues of 3 members of the Partisan Resistance in Belarus during World War II. The statues were sculpted by Sergei Orlov, S. Rabinovich and I. Slonim.

10. Teatralnaya Metro Station (Theatre Metro Station) is located near the Bolshoi Theatre.

Teatralnaya Metro Station decorated with porcelain figures .

Taking the metro's escalator at the end of the tour with Maria the tour guide.

Have you visited the Moscow Metro? Leave your comment below.

January 15, 2017 at 8:17 am

An excellent read! Thanks for much for sharing the Russian metro system with us. We're heading to Moscow in April and exploring the metro stations were on our list and after reading your post, I'm even more excited to go visit them. Thanks again 🙂

December 6, 2017 at 10:45 pm

Hi, do you remember which tour company you contacted for this tour?

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