abc ultimo tours

Monday 29th July 2019 - ABC TOUR

Tour inside the sydney home of the australian broadcasting corporation. your tour will include a visit to one of two digital television production studios, an on-air radio station, a news studio and a control room. this is a fantastic experience for all ages rub shoulders with some of the country’s most respected journalists, television and radio personalities. the abc ultimo studios broadcasts some of australia’s highest rating television shows inc. abc news 24, play school, at the movies and q and a., 6:30am depart kings coach depot. pick up points are available at charlestown, belmont north, belmont, swansea and doyalson by arrangement at the time of your booking. 9:30am  approximate time of arrival at the australian broadcasting corporation, ultimo. enjoy your guided tour of the abc studios. make sure to wear comfortable enclosed shoes 12:00pm  time for lunch today will be at the harbourside shopping centre, darling harbour. there is a large selection of cafes, restaurants and food outlets. you may also like to have a look at the large selection of shops before re-joining the coach. 1:30pm     depart sydney for return travel to kings coach depot. 4:00pm     estimated time of return to kings coach depot. cost: $63.00 per person cost includes: air conditioned luxury coach travel and abc guided tour itinerary -   boarding points and approx. times -  click here for boarding points terms and conditions -   click here for terms & conditions  , start booking now.

Please enable cookies in your browser to place a booking how do I enable cookies?

Enter Number of Passengers *

Choose a date *, choose a time *.

Booking Software for City Bus Tours by Rezdy.com | Agent login

Awesome, you're subscribed!

Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon!

The best of Sydney for free.

Sign up for our email to enjoy Sydney without spending a thing (as well as some options when you’re feeling flush).

Déjà vu! We already have this email. Try another?

By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions.

Love the mag?

Our newsletter hand-delivers the best bits to your inbox. Sign up to unlock our digital magazines and also receive the latest news, events, offers and partner promotions.

• Things to Do
• Food & Drink
• Food & Drink Awards
• Coca-Cola Foodmarks
• Area Guides
• Theatre & Dance
• Music & Nightlife
• Restaurants & Cafes
• Bars & Pubs
• Visitor Guide
• Competitions
• Los Angeles

Get us in your inbox

🙌 Awesome, you're subscribed!

ABC Ultimo Centre

• Things to do

Time Out says

The ABC Ultimo Centre is a working space of ABC and includes two digital state-of-the-art television production studios, radio studios, news studios and control rooms, as well as a variety of other ABC services, including Archives and New Media.

An email you’ll actually love

Discover Time Out original video

• Acknowledgement of Country
• Press office
• Investor relations
• Work for Time Out
• Editorial guidelines
• Privacy notice
• Do not sell my information
• Cookie policy
• Accessibility statement
• Terms of use
• Reviews policy
• Competition terms
• About the site
• Modern slavery statement
• Manage cookies
• Advertising
• Report an error
• Time Out Market

Time Out products

• Time Out Worldwide

• About Aruba
• Geography & Location
• Money & Currency
• Medical & Health
• Transportation
• My Aruba Guide
• Aruba Travel Magazine
• In-room TV Channel
• Where to stay
• Things to Do
• Shops & Stores
• Restaurants & Nightlife

ABC Tours is the most popular tour company on Aruba. Knowledgeable, friendly guides guarantee fun-filled excursions each and every trip. They are proud of their track record in offering a one-of-a-kind, customer service-driven experience that is unmatched by their competition. ABC Tours is consistently rated as the #1 outdoor activity.

Unleash your inner Indiana Jones! Join ABC Tours for the experience of a lifetime. Experience a safari through Aruba’s unique countryside, complete with wildlife and ancient gold mines. Visit mysterious caves with the ghosts of legendary lovers. Explore deserted beaches, lighthouses, and old pirate haunts. Go off-roading to rugged landscapes bordered by the restless waves of the azure ocean. Try cliff jumping at Conchi Natural Pool. Snorkel warm seas with colorful reefs or swim in the shallow crystal waters at Baby Beach with the family. Friendly, expert guides ensure your safety and comfort in groups or private, customized tours. They even pick you up from your hotel, making it a smooth ride.

Book  directly now with us!

Information

ABC Tours Aruba, Schotlandstraat, Oranjestad, Aruba

ABOUT ABC TOURS ARUBA

With years of experience, ABC Tours has acquired an impeccable record for specializing in Land Rover off-road adventures. We focus on making your tour a lasting and memorable experience.

Marvin and Sharla Kelly are the energetic husband and wife team behind ABC Tours. As local-born Arubans, they used all their know-how and natural ingenuity for hospitality to take their company from a modest one-Jeep enterprise in 1996 to the dynamic tour company it is today, with a 230 seating capacity. By maintaining their attention for detail, they continue to set the bar even higher, proving themselves to be pioneers in Aruba’s tour business.

We tailor our tours to transform them into a personal experience for you. Our guides are known to offer exceptional service and share all their knowledge of the island’s historic, cultural, and natural attractions. This results in a true Aruban experience that has garnered great reviews from thousands of fans and gained ABC recognition as the “Tour of the Year” from Princess Cruise Lines.

Marvin credits the ever-growing popularity and positive client experiences to the exceptional teamwork of his staff. This is still at the core of the success of their owner-operator family business.

ABOUT OUR VEHICLES

Attention to detail is what guests can expect from the owner and managing director of Aruba’s most dynamic touring company, ABC Tours.

Once his Land Rover Defenders roll off the production line, it is Marvin Kelly who personally supervises the refinements in the essential task of converting each of his Land Rover Defender Stock Cars into Aruba’s most comfortable off-road sports vehicle.

The conversion time can take up to six weeks to turn a Land Rover into an ABC crisp and comfortable sporting vehicle.

A custom premium paint job with ABC’s signature colors — blue, yellow, and orange — is essential for our branding. Aruba artisan Paul Wong airbrushes each vehicle with playful tiger striping, and it is his creativity that makes the appealing ABC Land Rover attractive and easily recognizable.

At ABC, you enjoy extra thick and high-density foam on your seats for a super comfortable ride like no other 4×4 vehicle offered in Aruba. Seats are covered with bright yellow marine-quality vinyl, and the finishing touches are the signature ABC tri-colored flags, which proudly wave.

WILD SIDE – ALL INCLUSIVE UTV TOUR EXPLORING THE NORTHERN TREASURE

Got a wild side? We’re going to show you ours, while you’re behind the wheel of Aruba’s most requested UTV guided tour!

• Clock 8:30 a.m. & 2:00 p.m.
• Users 1-5 passengers
• Hour Glass 4-5 hours

Home » Ports of Call » Caribbean » Aruba » ABC Tours Aruba Island Ultimate Safari Review

ABC Tours Aruba Island Ultimate Safari Review

See why you should book an excursion with this highly rated tour company with our ABC Tours Aruba Island Ultimate Safari Review.

Share this post:

Our cruise to the Southern Caribbean on Royal Caribbean’s newly amplified Freedom of the Seas offered stops in the lovely ABC islands. We had not visited Aruba, Bonaire, or Curacao since 2015 and couldn’t wait to get back. Prior to our cruise, we booked an off-roading adventure with the local tour company ABC Tours Aruba . See why you too should book an excursion with this highly rated tour company with our ABC Tours Aruba Island Ultimate Safari Review.

The instructions provided by ABC Tours indicated that our meeting spot for this excursion would be the cruise terminal building. The instructions also indicated that our departure time would be 8:30 am. As soon as our ship was cleared, we made our way to the terminal building to check in with the tour provider. After only a few minutes, our group of cruisers was loaded on a bus and escorted to the nearby headquarters.

Here, we were asked to make our lunch selections from the menu provided and divided up into our appropriate tours. We were the only two from this group who were escorted to an otherwise full Jeep waiting for us outside. It is here that we met our “family” for the day along with our tour guide, Uncle Johnny.

Uncle Johnny was informative, jovial, and loved playing paparazzi. He safely, albeit bumpy, chauffeured us around the island and ensured that everyone was having a good time. It was evident that Uncle Johnny loved what he did. He is an example of what all tour guides should aspire to be.

Related Post: Freedom of the Seas Southern Caribbean Cruise Review

Let’s Get This Off-Road Adventure Started

Aruba, located just 15 miles north of Venezuela, has the least rainfall of all the Caribbean islands making the weather mostly sunny and dry year round. However, the trade winds keep temperatures in an ideal zone and lend to beautiful warm water beaches. This desert-like terrain allowed for one of the wildest off-road shore excursions ever!

Leaving the company’s office, we headed to the northwest part of the island for our first official stop at the California Lighthouse shortly after 9 am. This lighthouse was built between 1914-1916 and named after the S.S. California. Since a renovation that was completed in 2016, visitors can once again climb to the top of the lighthouse for stunning views of Aruba’s north coastline. Since we didn’t have much time at this stop, we just admired the views from ground level.

Next up on this off-road adventure was the Wish Garden. This quick stop afforded some beautiful views of the waves crashing along this rugged coastline and the intricate stacks of rocks. Then, it was a jaunt over to our next stop, the Alto Vista Chapel. This small yellow church was built in 1952 and sits on the site of the first Catholic church built in Aruba in 1750.

By about 10:30 am, we had made our way to the Wariruri natural bridge, one of the seven natural bridges on the island of Aruba. After giving us some history about these natural bridges, Uncle Johnny was more than happy to take everyone’s photo in front of this iconic attraction.

And We Are Moving On

Continuing along our wind and dust swept adventure around the island, we drove past Shark’s Mouth Cove on our way to the next stop, Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins. This mill once processed ore during the 19th century gold rush in Aruba. We were given a few minutes to explore the ruins and take photos before heading across the way to the more famous Natural Bridge.

This Natural Bridge was one of the largest natural formations until its collapse in 2005. It spanned between the Bushiribana gold mill ruins and Andicuri Beach. Despite its collapse, the remains of this “mother” bridge and the smaller “baby” bridge are still popular photo spots. We were also treated to a double rainbow-like halo around the sun, which was certainly a sight to behold.

On our way back to the company’s headquarters for lunch, we made a quick detour to drive by the Ayo Rock Formations. During our last visit to Aruba, we were able to tour another one of these rock formations, Casibari. These giant boulders have been carved out over time by nature. If we had one critique of this tour, we would have liked to be able to walk around this site briefly instead of just driving by the landmark.

We arrived at the tour office around 12 pm. Our family was seated at a large table and meals were delivered shortly after. This gave everyone the opportunity to freshen up a bit as we were all covered in dirt by now! The menu options included pasta, barbecue chicken, or kid’s chicken fingers. Most guests opted for the BBQ chicken which was quite tasty. Of course, we also had to try one of the island’s signature cocktails (for an up-charge).

Related Post: Best Things to Do in Aruba on a Cruise

Hold On, It’s Going to Get Bumpy

On a full stomach, we set off on the second half of our island tour. If you are a thrill-seeker, get ready. We headed off the beaten path on one of the bumpiest treks ever down to the Natural Pool in the Arikok National Park. I’m so glad that we left the driving to the professionals! Of course, Uncle Johnny may have purposely taken the extra rough path that kept us laughing and bouncing out of our seats the entire way.

The Natural Pool, also referred to as “Conchi”, is known as the hidden pool surrounded by volcanic stone formations. This area is only accessible by 4×4 due to the rugged surrounding terrain. There are also quite a few stairs down to the water. The surf was rather rough during our visit, but the park was still allowing guests to take a dip in this famous landmark. I stayed on dry land while DB ventured in to test the waters.

Uncle Johnny had the trip timed so that we would get to the Indian Caves, also within the Arikok National Park, before they closed at 4 pm. However, things did not go according to plan. Apparently, the Jeep that had been following us was having issues with its brakes, and it would not be safe to continue the journey. So, we waited about an hour for a replacement Jeep to arrive before we could continue the adventure.

Uncle Johnny did his best to hustle to the caves. As luck would have it though, we arrived just minutes too late. So, after a few photos from the outside, we continued on to our last stop of the day.

One Last Aruba, Ariba!

After all this excitement, we made our way to the southeastern tip of the island for some relaxation on Baby Beach. This shallow lagoon is great for families and is also a recommended snorkel location. We had slightly more than an hour here to enjoy the beach on our own. This beach has a large restaurant/bar and chairs available to rent; however, everything was closing up by the time we arrived.

After a full day on this Island Ultimate Safari, our time on the happy island of Aruba was coming to an end. Uncle Johnny rounded up the crew, and we set off back towards the cruise terminal. Making a few stops along the way to drop off other guests at hotels and Airbnb’s, we arrived back to our ship around 6:30 pm. It was here that we had to say goodbye to Uncle Johnny and thank him for showing us his island for the day. Of course, he wouldn’t let us go without a hug. After all, we were family now!

Recap of ABC Tours Aruba Island Ultimate Safari Review

The ABC Tours Aruba Island Ultimate Safari is advertised as 9.5 hours. The cost of the excursion is $108 for adults and $70 for children under 15 years old. The tour price includes pick up service that brings you to the main office and drop off right outside the cruise terminal area. It also includes lunch and ice water on the Jeep as well as entrance fees to all locations.

This tour is advertised as the “most adventurous off-road tour” and that description is pretty accurate. We have done Jeep tours and ATV tours on other Caribbean islands in the past, but nothing has compared to this excursion. It was high energy and full of thrills from start to finish. This is a great option for those who want to explore as much of the island as possible during their short visit without the hassle of driving themselves. Of course, this is a long tour, so only cruisers who have stops of 10+ hours will be able to participate.

ABC Tours Aruba comes highly rated and delivered a professional and well-executed cruise excursion. Our guide Johnny was personable, very thorough, and one of the best hosts we have ever had on an excursion. The time spent at each location was well balanced. It provided an opportunity for photos and exploration of many of Aruba’s most popular landmarks and attractions. If you have an upcoming visit to Aruba, we would highly recommend this tour or one of the other tours offered by ABC Tours. We would not hesitate to book another excursion with this provider in the future.

Disclaimer: We were guests of ABC Tours on this excursion, but all opinions in this review are our own as always.

Do you have a cruise planned that is visiting Aruba? Would you consider booking the ABC Tours Aruba Island Ultimate Safari? Drop us an anchor below to share your favorite things to do while visiting this ABC island.

Related Posts

Cruiseline module – Remove Title

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sign up to our newsletter!

DB & The Princess

Welcome Aboard! We are Don and Heidi, the husband and wife travel team behind EatSleepCruise.com. We took our first cruise vacation together 13 years ago and have been hooked ever since. Follow along as we share our travel tips, cruise reviews, information on ports of call, and the latest cruise news to help you plan the ultimate cruise vacation. Are you ready to embark on your journey to “sea the world, one port at a time”?

What’s Trending

Contact Us: [email protected]

17 Best Moscow Tours

Are you planning a visit to the capital of Russia and looking for the best Moscow tours? From Red Square to the Kremlin and from world-class art to fairytale buildings, Moscow is an enchanting city that offers plenty of excitement and elegance. Its history dates back more than 800 years, and there is culture in abundance for visitors to immerse themselves in.

Make the most of your visit with 17 of the best Moscow tours that let you see everything the city and its surroundings have to offer.

1 – Guided Tour of the Moscow Metro

Moscow’s metro is world-famous, thanks to the architectural delights on offer underground stations around the capital. This guided tour of the Moscow stations, otherwise known as “the palace of the people” lasts for 1.5 hours and includes an English-speaking guide who will tell you how the Russian metro became one of the most beautiful in the world. Highlights include Mayakovskaya station with its aviation-themed mosaics.

• Moscow metro tours

2 – Cosmonautics Museum Space Tour

Discover Cosmonautics Museum with this space tour. Dive into one of the greatest battles between the Soviet Union and the United States – the space race. Hear about the space programs of the USSR and learn about how the USSR shaped space travel and technology.

• Cosmonautics Museum tours

3 – Guided Tour of the Kremlin

A Kremlin is actually a citadel in Russian towns, and Moscow’s version is, without doubt, the most famous. The Kremlin is the heartbeat of the city, and this guided tour takes you to the most important points of interest. See Cathedral Square with its orthodox temples; Tzar Cannon with its 890mm calibre, which is the largest in the world; and the exterior of the all-important government buildings that are located within the Kremlin’s walls.

Click here to learn how to book Kremlin tickets .

• Kremlin tours

4 – Moscow City Walking Tour

One of the best Moscow tours for seeing everything the city has to offer, this small-group walking tour lasts for 2 hours and includes an expert guide. Make the most of the capital and see the cobbled spaces of Red Square, take pictures of St Basil’s Cathedral, visit the elegant Bolshoi Theatre, and enjoy the ornamental Alexandrovsky Garden.

• Moscow walking tours

5 – Night Tour of Moscow

When the sun sets, the fun begins – and it all starts with a night tour of Russia’s most famous city. The beauty of Moscow comes into full effect after hours, as iconic buildings like St Basil’s Cathedral illuminate against the night sky. Other locations on this tour include the Moscow River and the Ukraine Hotel, which is a landmark skyscraper that was constructed during the era of Stalin.

6 – Sergiev Posad Day Trip

One of the best Moscow tours that take you outside of the city, the Sergiev Posad day trip provides the opportunity to see The Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is the spiritual centre of the Russian Orthodox Church. It’s made up of a number of different buildings that include the blue domes of the Cathedral of the Assumption, Church of St. Sergius and the Bell Tower.

• Sergiev Posad day trips from Moscow

7 – City Sightseeing Moscow Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour with Optional Cruise

If your time in Moscow is limited, this hop-on, hop-off bus tour is ideal – and it even features an optional cruise on the river. Choose between a 2 and 3-day ticket and see famous landmarks like Red Square, the Kremlin and the Bolshoi Theatre from an open-top panoramic bus with informative audio commentary. Take your experience to the next level by upgrading to a boat tour.

• Moscow hop on hop off bus tours

8 – Guided Tour of the Tretyakov Gallery

As one of the world’s most important galleries, the Tretyakov Gallery is a must-see for any art lovers and is one of the best Moscow tours for culture vultures. Learn about the masterworks of Pablo Tretyakov with a guided tour and discover the secrets behind the paintings. Other noticeable artists on view include Fedotov, Vasnetsov, Rokotov and Kiprenski, who is the author of the famous “Portrait of Alexander Pushkin”.

• Tretyakov Gallery tours

9 – Alternative Moscow: 2-Hour Walking Tour

See a different side of Moscow with this 2-hour alternative tour. An expert guide will take you around quirky streets, suburbs and squares while as your veer away from the traditional tourist hotspots. Highlights include a ride on the famous “Annushka” tram and a visit to the neighbourhood of Khitrovka, which was once known as the criminal district of the city.

10 – St.Basil’s Cathedral and Red Square: Private Tour and Ticket

Combine two of Moscow’s biggest attractions with a visit to Red Square and St.Basil’s Cathedral. Admire the beautiful architecture of St.Basil’s Cathedral from inside and out, before wandering Red Square and learn about the soldiers, farmers and revolutionaries that all called this famous square their home. Round things off with the changing of the guard at Alexander Garden.

• Red Square tours

11 – Bunker-42 Cold War Museum Guided Tour

Moscow is notorious for the Cold War, which lasted for about 45 years between 1945 and 1990. Head to the world-famous Bunker-42, located 65 meters below ground level, and learn about the storied past. Visit rooms and passages that were set up to shelter 3,000 people in case of nuclear attack and discover other sections, such as the equipment room and the war-proof telecommunications system.

• Bunker-42 Cold War Museum tours

12 – Architecture Tour of Moscow’s Metro and Kolomenskoye Estate

Combine the beauty of the metro stations with the Kolomenskoye Estate and see some of Moscow’s grandest sights. After visiting the elegant metro stations, it’s time to go to the Kolomenskoye Estate, which is filled with UNESCO-listed sites that are dedicated to Tsar Peter the Great.

• Kolomenskoye tours

13 – Tour of Soviet Moscow

Unpick the history of the USSR with one of the best Moscow tours for discovering Soviet Moscow. Starting at Monument to the Conquerors of Space, a tribute to the success of the Soviet space programme, the tour includes historical landmarks and interesting tidbits about Soviet Russia. There is also a visit to the All-Russia Exhibition Centre (VDNKh), a site that was constructed under the aegis of the USSR in tribute to state achievements.

14 – Moscow: 2.5-Hour Luxury River Cruise with Dining Option

Sail down the Moscow River on this 2.5 hour tour that provides a different perspective of the city and includes landmark sights. The boat features two decks and has panoramic views as well as free Wi-Fi access. Attractions along the route include Ukraine hotel, Sparrow Hills, Christ the Saviour Cathedral, Crimean Bridge, St. Basil’s Cathedral, Zaryadye Park and more.

• Moscow boat tours

15 – Izmailovo Market and Vodka Museum Tour

Visit the museum of Vodka and gain insight into one of Russia’s most famous exports and head to the Izmailovo antique and handicraft market to find a gem or two. The tour starts with Izmailovo market, which features the iconic matryoshka dolls, fur hats and amber jewellery. Next up is a trip to the Museum of Vodka, where you will discover a distillery that dates back to the 15th century.

• Izmailovo market tours

16 – Súzdal and Vladímir Day Tour

Discover Russia’s famous “Golden Ring” on this tour of two medieval cities outside of Moscow. The historic city of Vladimir is first up with its Golden Gate, which is an ancient city-fortress that dates back to the 13th century. Next up is the neighbouring town of Suzdal, which features historic architecture and the Kremlin, where you can see its striking white walls topped with blue domes.

• Suzdal & Vladimir tours from Moscow

17- Moscow Food Tasting & Walking Tour

Sample the unique flavours of Moscow with this food tour that lasts for 3 hours and features more than 15 different food and drink tastings. Weave in and out of small alleys in the city centre while enjoying the best food spots in town. See Moscow like a local while trying classic dishes from local breakfast haunts, bustling markets, the oldest monastery in Moscow, and dumpling cafes where you can taste authentic dumplings and enjoy local coffee.

• Moscow food tours

Pop essentials and a little bit more

Never Miss A Post!

subscribe to us

Contact Us:

ABC Announce Extra Tour Dates For ‘The Lexicon Of Love’ Tour

Due to the tour’s popularity, where dozens of venues have sold out already, english pop band abc are announcing extra tour dates for their ‘the lexicon of love’ 40th anniversary tour. the legendary group have been performing their debut album in international venues since last june, commemorating its 40th anniversary since its release in june 1982, and still continue to sell out venues nearly a half century after their formation..

ABC didn’t start as ABC – they are rooted in Sheffield electronic group Vice Versa, with 2 of the 3 founding members of ABC, Mark White and Steven Singleton, formerly being part of the band. The third founding member, Martin Fry, joined them shortly after holding an interview with Vice Versa and joining them as a synth player. In September 1980, the trio held their last performance as Vice Versa, after which they split off to form ABC. They started work on their debut album, ‘The Lexicon Of Love’, shortly after, which released in June 1982, topping UK charts and becoming one of the most iconic albums of the 80s; so iconic that, even 40 years later, crowds are still filling out venues to see the legendary ABC.

The tour first came to fruition in 2009, and had been in the works between then and June 2022, when it finally launched. Despite Fry being the only official member remaining in the band, the rest of the group still came to play, creating a performance for the ages that sold out all their venues across the tour, and pushed demand for remaining tour tickets even higher. Now, the group have announced more venues for their legendary performance, going through to 2024 and touring multiple cities, including their home of Sheffield, to show the kind of performance you’d never want to miss.

Buy tour tickets through the link here (GIGSANDTOURS), or here (TICKETMASTER).

About the author

Related posts.

People Years – ‘Recognizable Animal’

Jedward To Release Fourth Album Early Next Year

With New Single, ‘I Sometimes Wish’, Estani Shares What We’re All Thinking

Leave a reply cancel reply, privacy overview.

• Skip to content
• Accessibility
• Buy Tickets

El Último Tour del Mundo 2022

• Date Mar 3 - 4 , 2022
• On Sale On Sale Now
• Seating Chart View Seating Chart

Event Details

International superstar, GRAMMY ®  and multiple Latin GRAMMY ®  winner,  Bad Bunny , will make his return to the stage following the announcement of his North American tour,  "El Último Tour del Mundo 2022 . "  The highly anticipated tour, promoted by  Cardenas Marketing Network  ( CMN ), will be presented by  Corona®  and will visit a total of 25 cities, beginning February 9, 2022 in Denver, CO at the Ball Arena. Presented by  Corona® , tickets for  "El Último Tour del Mundo 2022"  will go on sale to the general public on Friday, April 16 th , at 12pm local time through  cmnevents.com .

Red Square & Moscow City Tour

• Page active

Description

Highlights:.

• Experience medieval Kitay Gorod (China town).
• Wander picturesque Red Square and Alexander Garden.
• Explore grand Christ the Savior Cathedral on our Red Square tour.
• Breathtaking panoramic views from Patriarch bridge.
• Enjoy a hearty lunch on the large open verandah and marvel at the stunning views of the Kremlin.
• Learn about Russian culture from the local through relaxed cultural discussions.

Tour Itinerary:

Red square:.

Russia and Moscow are synonymous with Red Square and the Kremlin and that's hardly surprising as you'll find these places absolutely stunning!

• - Walk-through the Resurrection Gate and don’t forget to flip a coin so you’ll be sure to come back one day!
• - Visit the world's famous Kazan Cathedral .
• - See the State Department Store (GUM), once the Upper Trading Stalls, which were built over a century ago and still operating!
• - Admire the lovely St. Basil's Cathedral! The French diplomat Marquis de Custine commented that it combined "the scales of a golden fish, the enamelled skin of a serpent, the changeful hues of the lizard, the glossy rose and azure of the pigeon's neck" and wondered at "the men who go to worship God in this box of confectionery work".
• - Walk by Lobnoye Mesto (literally meaning "Execution Place", or "Place of Skulls"), once Ivan the Terrible's stage for religious ceremonies, speeches, and important events.
• - Entering the Alexander Garden , you’ll take in spectacular views of Russian architecture from ancient to Soviet times, as well as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier with an eternal flame. Watch Changing of the Guard Ceremony every hour in summer and every half an hour in winter.

Kitai-gorod:

Stroll along medieval Kitai-gorod with its strong ancient Russia feel, known for its bohemian lifestyle, markets and arts.

• - Nikolskaya Street. Here you will find the Russia's first publishing house, the second oldest monastery, and Ferryn Pharmacy, known as the number one pharmacy back in Soviet times and famous for its Empire-style architecture.
• - Ilinka Street. The financial street of the Kitaigorod (China Town) district, where you’ll find the Gostiny Dvor (Merchant’s Yard), which is now a showroom for Ferraris and Maseratis. The street was designed in the 1790s by Catherine the Great.
• - Varvarka street. The oldest street in Moscow, which dates back to the 14th century, and still has remnants of early Muscovite architecture, such as the Old English Court and the Palace of the Romanov’s.
• - Kamergersky Lane. Only a small road of about 250 meters, it is home to some of the oldest artifacts of the city, as each building holds a fascinating story. Some of Russia's most famous writers, poets, and composers from as far back as the Golden Age of Russian culture, have lived or worked on this lane.

Historic City Center

Walk the historical old center of Moscow with its cool local vibe, including the main Tverskaya street , and indulge in desserts in the first grocery “Eliseev's store” , housed in an 18th century neoclassical building, famous for its baroque interior and decoration.

From our tour. Impressions of our American tourist:

At 3:30, as energy flagged, lunch was on the agenda at a Ukrainian restaurant.  Just in time!  We asked our guide to order for us.  We all had the same thing....borscht (the Ukrainian version has beans and more tomatoes than the Russian version, which has more beets and includes beef). 

The special high bread served is called galushki.  Our main course was golubtsy...a dish of minced meat rolled in braised cabbage leaves.  Both dishes called for optional sour cream as a topping....of course, yes, please....I recommend it. 

Full, satisfied, and completely refreshed, it was off to Red Square and St. Basil's and GUM department store.  Red Square is not so named because of the color of the brick walls of the Kremlin.  Rather the word for 'red' and the word for 'beautiful' are similar in pronunciation....and, there you have it. 

As we made the turn by the National Museum in front of which is the mounted sculpture of the "Marshall of Victory," Giorgy Zhukov from WWII and caught our first view of St. Basil's, my friend and I simultaneously emitted "Oooohhhhh!"  There it was....the iconic onion domes of St. Basil's!  Hooray....it was open until 7....we had about 30 minutes and were allowed in, AND we could take photos with no flash. 

Now, I can give you a taste of what we saw in the other cathedrals in Cathedral Square.  What we learned is that St. Vasily and St. Basil are one in the same....Russian/English.  He was a common man who wandered Moscow unclothed and barefoot.  But, all, even Ivan the Terrible, heeded his opinions derived from his visions.  Ivan had this cathedral built over his tomb. 

As we exited and took photos up close of the onion domes, Inna presented us with chocolate (how did she know we were ready for another energy boost, and we each got a big piece of chocolate.  The baby's name pictured on the wrapper of this famous Russian chocolate is Alyonka....the Russian Gerber baby, don't you think? 

One could wear out the credit card in GUM's (capitalized because it is actually a government abbreviation), but the 'kitty' and my credit card stayed in my pocket as we strolled through the glass-topped arcade. 

We then strolled through some of Moscow's lovely pedestrian streets; paused to listen as a wonderful quartet performed Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" in an underground passage to cross the busy street (hooray!....we DID have our 'classical concert' experience after all; a request Alina tried in vain to fill because none was scheduled those days), saw the Bolshoi, which means 'big' (my friend has yet to recover that their performance schedule did not coincide with our cruise), saw the Central Telegraph Building, dating from the 1930's, and made our way to the Ritz-Carlton to see the night view of Moscow from the rooftop bar, called O2. 

There were fleece blankets to wrap yourself in....yes, it got that cold when the sun set.  We each ordered something hot to drink...the ginger, mint, lemon tea served to me in a parfait glass (for 600 rubles...about $9....you pay for the view here!) was delightful and hit the spot perfectly.  It was time to call it a night....

What you get:

• + A friend in Moscow.
• + Private & customized Moscow tour.
• + An exciting city tour, not just boring history lessons.
• + An authentic experience of local life.
• + Flexibility during the tour: changes can be made at any time to suit individual preferences.
• + Amazing deals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the very best cafes & restaurants. Discounts on weekdays (Mon-Fri).
• + A photo session amongst spectacular Moscow scenery that can be treasured for a lifetime.
• + Good value for souvenirs, taxis, and hotels.
• + Expert advice on what to do, where to go, and how to make the most of your time.

*This Moscow city tour can be modified to meet your requirements.

Write your review

About the ABC

360º studio tour.

You might also like

Abc careers.

Interested in working at the nation’s largest national broadcaster, and the independent source of Australian conversations, culture and stories? Visit ABC Careers .

Ever wanted to rub shoulders with some of your favourite ABC presenters? Come on an ABC tour!

ABC International Development

The ABC International Development team uses its media expertise to connect and empower people in the Asia-Pacific region, and globally, to have a voice. Learn more .

ABC History

The ABC has grown remarkably since it launched on 1 July 1932. This is a snapshot of our achievements, programs and personalities and celebrates the ABC's contribution to Australian life for more than 80 years.

Latest Articles

Statement from abc managing director david anderson, the abc and australian music, religion, ethics and the abc, keeping the media accountable.