golden square mile walking tour

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If it glitters, it’s Montréal’s Golden Square Mile

Richard Burnett

Explore the shining beacon of central Montréal: the Golden Square Mile, home to glitz and glamour since the 19th century. This fabled Montréal neighbourhood remains a downtown destination. 

The Golden Square Mile is bordered by Des Pins Street (at the foot of Mount Royal) on the north, Guy Street /Côte-des-Neiges Rd. on the west, Sainte-Catherine Street on the south, and Robert-Bourassa Blvd. / University Street on the east.

Billionaire Montrealers

First established during the late 18 th  century as a peaceful homestead within reach of the Port (now the Old Port), then considered “downtown”, the area owes its iconic Victorian mansions and commercial edifices to the 1850s, when it became the seat of Montréal’s impressive wealth. Some say 80% of Canada’s wealth was concentrated in the  Golden Square Mile  at the turn of the 20 th  century! To put it into perspective, today these Montréalers would all be multi-billionaires.

The area’s inhabitants were Montréal’s most famous families – captains of industry, mostly of Scottish descent – including the McGills (of  McGill University ), the Stephens (see  Le Mount Stephen Hotel ), the Molsons (current owners of the iconic NHL Montréal Canadiens ), the Allans (of the Allan Memorial Institute), the Redpaths, Ogilvies and Baggs, and the Baxters whose 24-year-old son Quigg Edmond Baxter  – a former McGill University student and hockey player with the pre-NHL Stanley Cup-winning Montréal Shamrocks – was among the many wealthy Montréalers who drowned on the Titanic .

Today, the Golden Square Mile shines with a different set of offerings: it has become central to the excitement of downtown, mixing historic charm with cultural gems and tony tourist attractions. So, get exploring!

Architecture to write home about

Victorian Montréal lives in the Golden Square Mile, home to mountainside mansions and glittering public buildings. The area was mostly developed between the 1850s and the 1930s, in the Victorian age’s eclectic mix of revival styles, including Neo-Classical, Neo-Gothic, Romanesque and a touch of Art Nouveau. To spot some of the remaining gems, walk the side streets up the hill towards the mountain from Sherbrooke Street West, or simply head to the  McGill University campus .  Thomson House  and the  J.H. Birks House  are prime examples.

Art to the left, art to the right

The Golden Square Mile is known to many as the Museum Quarter because of its illustrious cultural destinations. It’s home to the  McCord Stewart Museum , the  Montréal Museum of Fine Arts  (MMFA) and the  Redpath Museum , drawing more than a million visitors to the area each year – not to mention the dozens of private galleries along Sherbrooke Street. While the Redpath Museum will fill your history needs, the McCord Stewart Museum will do that and more with its exciting temporary exhibitions featuring contemporary and historical art works. And the MMFA is THE spot for blockbuster exhibitions featuring European greats and more.

PLEASE NOTE

The Redpath Museum is slated to undergo two years of major renovations , however the museum is currently still open. Be sure to click  here for updated opening hours before you visit.

Where business meets beauty

The name Golden Square Mile comes from the area’s commercial prosperity, a trait that remains to this day. Today the area remains true to its namesake thanks to the top firms that have established themselves along Sherbrooke Street, as well as  luxury hotels and fine dining establishments  with beautiful meeting rooms visiting tycoons can rent.  Centre Mont-Royal is also a great option: it’s a business meeting and conference space rental centre awash in natural light, featuring top-notch tech and an in-house catering service.

Higher (literally) education

On the gentle slope of Mount Royal, the Golden Square Mile boasts  McGill University  – and  Concordia University a few blocks westward. With two of the city’s most renowned higher learning houses within its bounds, you could say the area has been shaping minds for generations! The McGill campus dates back nearly two centuries and boasts some of the original McGill family homes, architectural gems. Concordia is the new kid on the block, with 40-odd years under its belt, and though it’s partially out of bounds, its heart – the Hall building – gets a Golden-Mile star – as does its top-ranked  John Molson School of Business !

Fashion from street to shop

People watching takes on a new meaning in the Golden Square Mile, where the well-heeled are literally well-heeled. Fashion rules everywhere in this neighbourhood, from the passersby to the store windows of luxury boutiques ranging from  Holt Renfrew Ogilvy to  Tiffany & Co. to  Swarovski , passing by the accessories at the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts’  Boutique and Bookstore  and the numerous private designers’ studios on second floors all along Sherbrooke Street West. The famed  Underground Pedestrian Network , of course, also runs beneath the Golden Square Mile streets.

Hospitality of the best kind

The Golden Square Mile might as well be called the Hotel Square Mile, there are so many spots to rest your head. And did we mention eat? Whether you’re looking for a stay or a feast, hospitality is at the heart of this stretch of downtown. Among the hotels there’s the  Delta Hotels by Marriott Montreal ,  Omni Mont-Royal Hotel ,  Le Mount Stephen Hotel ,  Vogue Hotel Montreal Downtown ,  McGill University’s Student Housing and Hospitality Services ,  Ritz-Carlton Montréal ,  Sofitel Montreal Golden Mile  and the new  Four Seasons Hôtel Montréal . 

And for restaurants, the list is too long to type! Want a quick lunch?  Café Notman at the  McCord Stewart Museum is lovely. A celebratory feast? Head to  Maison Boulud . A cold pint? Crescent Street icon  Sir Winston Churchill Pub and their upstairs Winnie’s terrasse have been serving up cocktails for more than 50 years.

History on every corner

The history of the Golden Square Mile is truly what shapes its identity – even more than the architecture. This was established as an upper-class Anglo-Saxon neighbourhood, which makes it distinct from the French and European heritage of other parts of the city. That’s why you’ll find English street names like Sherbrooke, Peel and Mackay, and why the architecture is more reminiscent of England and Scotland of the time than the Parisian atmosphere of Old Montréal. For an immersive sense of the past, head to the  McCord Stewart Museum , an amazing social history museum, to explore its collections of archeological Montréal objects, photography and artifacts from the 18th century and beyond.

Natural splendour at your fingertip

One of the Golden Square Mile’s most precious riches isn’t the gold in its coffers, but rather the green at its feet: Mount Royal. After you’ve wined, dined, gotten cultured and shopped, head north: the neighbourhood’s northern border leads into the lush, green  Mount Royal , a pedestrian park landscaped by Frederick Law Olmsted, of Central Park fame. It’s a wonderland in every season, for hiking, biking, cross-country skiing or snowshoeing. Only got a few minutes? Head to  Parc des Pins-Redpath Crescent , nestled just at the base of the mountain, for a quick fresh-air pause – one of the area’s many small parks and squares. 

Golden Square Mile podcast and walking tours

Put on your headphones and explore the Golden Square Mile while listening to “The Golden Square Mile – A Gem to Explore”  podcast . Check out Golden Montréal’s two  self-guided tours  of the neighborhood, as well as the  McCord Stewart Museum ’s award-winning   Urban outdoor tours . Using your phone, you can follow these various tours to discover the history of more than 75 city sites and images that bear witness to the Montréal of the past.

Made-in-Montréal podcasts have fascinating stories to tell

Richard “Bugs” Burnett is a Canadian freelance writer, editor, journalist, blogger and columnist for alt-weeklies, mainstream and LGBTQ+ publications. Bugs also knows Montréal like a drag queen knows a cosmetics counter.

Golden Square Mile

The Golden Square Mile is historically known for its mansions built on the slopes of Mount Royal and Sherbrooke Street West from the mid 1800’s thru the 1930’s. It’s also home to the old Royal Victoria Hospital, The Montreal General Hospital, McGill University, Concordia University, the McCord Museum and the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, as well as many private galleries. The original residents who built their homes here were owners and business leaders of Canadian industry such as railroads, timber, mining, banking, furs, shipping, etc. Most were Scottish or Scottish descent. The peak of the Golden Square Mile was between 1850 and 1930 and it’s believed that 70 percent of Canada’s wealth was held by these men. The Golden Square Mile that WalkMontreal is walking is bordered on the north by Pine Avenue, to the south by Sherbrooke Street, to the west by Guy Street and to the east by University Street. There are some historical old mansions that still exist between Sherbrooke south to René-Lévesque Boulevard, but, there is some debate if this area is actually included in the Golden Square Mile. The Mount Stephen House on Drummond and the Shaughnessy House on René-Lévesque Boulevard are two examples of mansions that still stand today south of Sherbrooke Street.

There is great architecture and history here, as well as beautiful streets. This walk is also a good workout, as you will be going up and down streets on the slopes of Mount Royal. We did this walk on Saturday May 23, 2020.

(1) Percy Walters Park (2) 3627 Rue Redpath (3) 3655 Rue Redpath (4) Maison Ernest-Cormier (5) 1415 Avenue des Pins (6) 1374 Avenue des Pins (7) 3685 Avenue du Musée (8) 3617 Avenue du Musée (9) Erskine And American United Church (10) The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (11) 1390 Rue Sherbrooke Ouest (12) Le Château Apartments (13) 3605 Rue de la Montagne (14) 3630 Promenade Sir-William-Osler (15) 3654 Promenade Sir-William-Osler (16) 3435 Rue Stanley (17) 3433 Rue Stanley (18) 3644 Rue Peel (19) 3484 Rue Peel (20) 3647 Peel (21) 3690 Rue Peel (22) 3661 Rue Peel (23) 1110 Avenue des Pins (24) 1020 Avenue des Pins (25) Allan Memorial Institute (26) 3650 Rue McTavish (27) Redpath Museum (28) Roddick Gates (29) McCord Museum (30) 772 Rue Sherbrooke Ouest (31) 1172 Rue Sherbrooke Ouest (32) Mount Royal Club (33) 1195 Rue Sherbrooke Ouest (34) 1201 Rue Sherbrooke Ouest (35) Acadia Apartments (36) The Ritz-Carlton (37) Linton Apartments (38) 3424 Rue Simpson (39) Trafalgar School for Girls (40) 1507 Avenue du Docteur-Penfield (41) 1513 Avenue du Docteur-Penfield (42) 1558 Avenue du Docteur-Penfield (43) 1564 Avenue du Docteur-Penfield (44) 1597 Avenue des Pins (45) 1559 Avenue des Pins (46) 13 Avenue Steyning

Percy Walters Park (includes big dog park and smaller childrens playground) bordered by Dr. Penfield, Redpath, Pine and McGregor streets

Yuille House – 3627 Redpath (built 1913)

3655 Redpath (built 1912)

Public stairs connecting Redpath Street and Pine Avenue

Maison Ernest Cormier – 1418 Pine – an Art Deco (built 1930)

Frederick Newman Beardmore House – 1415 Pine (built 1914)

Clarence de Sola House – 1374 Pine (built 1913)

Public stairs connecting Pine Avenue and Avenue du Musee

Maison Rodolphe Forget – 3685 du Musee (built 1912)

Herbert Molson House – 3617 du Musee (built 1911-1912)

Montreal Museum of Fine Arts – corners of Sherbrooke Street West and du Musee (built 1912)

New Sherbrooke Apartments – 1390 Sherbrooke (built 1905)

Erskine American Church – 1339 Sherbrooke (built 1926)

Le Chateau apartments – 1321 Sherbrooke (built 1926)

Iron fence on de la Montagne It echos an era of old

Alice Graham House – 3606 de la Montagne (1925)

Iron fence in front of Alice Graham House

Hosmer House – 3630 Promenade Sir William Osler (built 1901)

Stanley Street apartments – (built 1894)

Hugh Andrew Allan House – 3435 Stanley – (built 1895)

Andrew A. Allan House – 3433 Stanley – (built 1890)

Maison Eugene Lafleur – 3484 Peel (built 1903)

Iron fence in front of James Ross House

James Ross House – 3644 Peel – (built 1893)

J.K.L. Ross House – 3647 Peel – (built 1909)

William Forest Angus House – 3674 and 3690 Peel (built 1870-1874)

Charlotte R. Harrison House – 3661 Peel (built 1912)

Lady Meredith House – 1110 Pine (built 1894)

Mortimer Barnett Davis House – 1020 Pine (built 1907)

Steps to Mount Royal Park at Pine Avenue

Fence and Gates at Ravenscrag

Ravenscrag – 1025 Pine – (built 1861-1863)

Maison Charles-Edouard Gravel – 3650 McTavish – (built 1934)

Redpath Museum – McGill University (built 1882)

MacDonald Engineering Building – McGill University (built 1908)

Roddick Gates – McGill University (built 1924)

McCord Museum – 690 Sherbrooke (built 1921)

Strathcona Hall – 772 Sherbrooke (built 1904)

Prince of Wales Terrace – built in 1860 – it stood on north-east corner of Sherbrooke and McTavish – demolished by McGill University in 1971 image courtesy of McCord Museum

Lord Atholstan House – 1172 Sherbrooke (built 1894-1895)

Van Horne Mansion – built in 1869 – it stood at the north-east corner of Sherbrooke and Stanley – demolished by a developer in 1973 image courtesy of McCord Museum

Mount Royal Club – 1175 Sherbrooke (built 1906)

Thomas Craig House and Maison Louis Forget – 1195 and 1201 Sherbrooke (built 1882 and 1883)

Acadia Apartments – 1227 Sherbrooke (built 1925)

Ritz Carlton Hotel – 1228 Sherbrooke (built 1912)

Church of St.Andrew and St.Paul – 3415 Redpath (built 1932)

Linton Apartments – 1509 Sherbrooke (built 1908)

Linton House – 3424 Simpson (built 1868)

Trafalgar School – 3495 Simpson (built 1903)

Maison Joseph Alderic Raymond – 1507 Dr. Penfield (built 1930)

Charles G. Greenshields House – 1530 Dr. Penfield (built 1910-1911)

John Auld House – 1558 Dr. Penfield (built 1897)

Alexander Cross House – 1597 Pine (built 1895)

John Wilson McConnell House – 13 Steyning (built 1913-1914)

Percy Walters Park

Back to Top website and images © www.walkmontreal.com

9 Responses

Great pictures & years built.

This is our area to walk since March 2020

Thanks John. Glad you enjoyed the pictures and happy to hear you are walking this area. Its great!

Thanks for the trip down memory lane. Grew up on Du Musee and haven’t been back in awhile.

Hello Debbie; thanks for sharing and happy you enjoyed the photos.

..and used to toboggan down those steps. Surprised to be alive looking at them now. 🙂

This is a wonderful excuse to wander through an interesting era in Montreal’s evolution. Great suggestion.

Thanks Peter, glad you enjoyed our walk.

Great photos! I wander if anyone know of web sites that provide with architectural descriptions of these beautiful building. Merci beaucoup.

Merci Pierre! This is indeed a beautiful area with incredible buildings. We don’t know of any specific resource on the architectural descriptions of the buildings, but, maybe a viewer can help us on this. Thank you again for visiting WalkMontreal.

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Into Montréal’s glittering Golden Square Mile

Montréal is a  city of neighbourhoods , each with its own unique flair and character. Based at the foot of Mount Royal, outlined by Sainte-Catherine Street, University Street, Pine Street and Guy Street, the Golden Square Mile is a sparkling diamond of architecture and history in the city centre whose close proximity to the  Palais des congrès de Montréal  makes it perfect for some event downtime wandering. Growing from quiet “away from downtown” beginnings in the 18 th  century, by the turn of the 20 th  it’s estimated that up to 80% of Canada’s wealth was concentrated within the square mile’s borders – and that grandeur and opulence still shows.

Art and architecture

The Golden Square Mile earns another of its nicknames as the Museum Quarter, as the  Montreal Museum of Fine Arts ,  McCord Stewart Museum  and  Redpath Museum  (currently closed for renovations ) are all based here — and  available for meetings  and  executive retreats . Each museum has its specialty, from big name exhibitions to natural history and local fashion – not to mention each standing the test of time as an architectural wonder.

Built predominantly in the Victorian era, the Golden Square Mile’s blend of Romanesque, Neo-Classical, Neo-Gothic and a seasoning of Art Nouveau styles dot the side streets up the slope of the mountain. Don’t miss the  Birks building  (now a boutique hotel that’s dressed to impress, alongside a jewellery shop harkening back to its roots) and  Thomson House . That towering cluster of buildings on the mountainside isn’t Hogwarts – it’s the storied campus of  McGill University !

Learning and earning

Two of Montréal’s major centres of learning call the area home – and both McGill and Concordia universities  offer meeting spaces  that easily show off why Montréal is ranked as the  best city for students in North America . And these campuses aren’t shunted off in the outskirts of the city, but rather take their proud place in one of the hearts of business for all of Canada. Outside of the  Centre Mont-Royal  conference centre on Mansfield Street, students and visiting professionals mix and mingle.

A touch of class 

Gourmet restaurants and luxury hotels line Sherbrooke Street, many of which offer eye-popping rooms perfect for events with a touch of opulence. Alongside the grande dame  Ritz-Carlton Montréal , there are options ranging from the Four Seasons Hotel Montréal to Le Mont ,  Sofitel Montréal Golden Mile ,  Vogue Hotel Montreal Downtown ,  Hotel Omni Mont-Royal ,  Delta Hotels Montréal  and  Le Mount Stephen  that will keep your attendees feeling like VIPs. And once they’re hungry, their tastebuds won’t soon forget a night out at  Maison Boulud , followed by some after-dinner cocktails at the legendary  Thursday’s Montréal .

Shopping central

Fashion-wise, area locals truly turn it out, and you’ll see them emerging from the area’s luxury boutiques with shopping bags in hand. Big names like  Tiffany’s , Swarovski  and  Holt Renfrew Ogilvy  all hold court in the Golden Square Mile, and those looking for something original to take home won’t need to look further than the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts’  M Boutique . The neighbourhood’s malls also provide access to Montréal’s famous  RÉSO Underground City  stuffed with shopping choices.

Higher ground

Despite all the man-made masterworks in the area, the biggest gem of them all is  Mount Royal , whose lush greenery towers over the neighbourhood and keeps the air fresh and cool. Climbing its peaks is one of the ultimate Montréal experiences, and it can be achieved in less time than you think – it’s possible to trek all the way up to the Belvédère lookout point and back to the Palais des congrès  within two hours , while also taking in some of the Golden Square Mile’s most famous sights  en route.

Read this next: Know before you go: a Montréal guide for conference attendees

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Historic Walking Tour

Explore the neighbourhood that once boasted the grand homes of Montreal’s mercantile elite from between 1850 and 1930, the peak years of Montreal’s Golden Square Mile. Discover the affluent Canadian barons of industry and their families that lived within this small enclave, and the legacy their great mansions, churches, and clubs left in Montreal’s community heritage and public spaces.

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1. A Furtrader's Legacy

1. L’héritage d’un commerçant de fourrures

Once a single muddy track leading to the front of McGill University, Sherbrooke Street is now a major artery through the heart of what is known as Montreal's "Golden Square Mile." Upon his death, James McGill, a Scottish Fur Trader, entrepreneur, and member of Montreal's elite society, bequeathed 10,000 pounds and his 46 acre Burnside Estate to the Royal Institution for the Advancement of Learning (RIAL) with one simple condition: that they use these gifts to found a college in his name within ten years of his death. Today, McGill University stands as Quebec's first English language University, and one of Canada's most respected educational institutions.

2. Simon McTavish

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Looking down McTavish Street today offers a view of cold, hyper-modern glass and steel, rather than the solid stone and brick of 1890. In the time of Simon McTavish the landscape was dominated not by buildings and streets, but orchards and lush countryside. By the time McTavish passed away in 1804, Montreal was poised on the brink of massive industrialization, and within a few years, the fur trade capital became the economic nucleus of the rapidly expanding colony. A contemporary of James McGill, Scottish Highlander Simon McTavish also found his start in the fur trade. Ambitious, shrewd, and business-minded, he began trading cheap muskrat and deerskins before eventually becoming one of the owners of the North West Trading Company, the goliath Hudson's Bay Company's biggest rival. When James McGill left the fur trade behind and found opportunity in the trade of other goods, McTavish became one of the most wealthy men in the fur trade, with business ties stretching across the British colonies, from the Rockies to the Atlantic Ocean.

3. Ravenscrag

3. Les premiers manoirs

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The Italian Renaissance style Ravenscrag Mansion was owned by the Allan family until 1940 when Hugh Allan's second son, Sir Montagu Allan, donated the property to the Royal Victoria Hospital. Following the donation, the opulent, extensively decorated interior was gutted and the building repurposed for use as a medical facility. It is now part of the McGill University Faculty of Medicine. Like Ravenscrag, following the depression and the Second World War, many of the mansions of the Golden Square Mile were absorbed by the university campus.

4. The First Mansions

4. Ravenscrag

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By the 1860s, the Square Mile’s development was in full swing. Mansions in an eclectic and incredible array of architectural styles emerged among leafy canopies of maple and elm. These homes were initially summer homes for the rich to escape the congested and polluted city core, but by the mid 19th century, the houses were built for year round occupancy. Ravenscrag was among the largest of these new mansions, boasting 72 rooms, many of which provided a commanding view of the teeming masses in the city below.

5. James Ross House

5. La maison James Ross

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This photo taken in 1910, shows Scottish-Canadian civil engineer, businessman and philanthropist James Leveson Ross and sitting on a bench with his family outside his Golden Square Mile home. James Ross was a canny businessman who established a prodigious fortune through railway construction and improvement throughout the late 19th century. His son, John "Jack" Kenneth Leveson Ross, the younger of the two men in the photo, inherited the majority of the fortune after the death of his parents, but thanks to gambling and profligacy, it wasn't long before he was facing total financial ruin.

6. The Dilcoosha

6. Dilcoosha

McCord Museum MP-0000.181.4.1 On This Spot -->

Like many of the other mansions of the Golden Square Mile, Jesse Joseph's Egyptian Renaissance style house, also known as "Dilcoosha," or "Heart's Delight”, was absorbed by the rapidly expanding McGill campus after Joseph's death in 1904. After being repurposed by McGill, the house was used to house the McCord National Museum until its demolition in 1955.

7. Square Mile Takes Shape

7. Le Mille carré prends forme

McCord Museum M2011.64.2.2.277 On This Spot -->

At the corner of Stanley and Sherbrooke, several historical buildings stand, merged as the Maison-Alcan. At left is the Hugh Graham House, which belonged to Lord Atholstan, cofounder of the Montreal Star and Canadian media mogul. To its right is the old Berkeley Hotel, built in 1928 as a social gathering place for Montreal’s elite. It was here that in 1958, 125 local politicians first put forth the idea to host a world exhibition in Montreal (Expo ‘67), a defining event in the history of the city.

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Top 11 things to do in montreal’s golden square mile.

June 6, 2019 by Steve Mirsky Leave a Comment

The name of Montreal’s Golden Square Mile or Le Mille Carré, a square mile of signature historic blocks at the heart of downtown at the foot of Mount Royal, traces its origins back to 1950s real estate developers promoting the area’s prosperity. Today, “Golden” more aptly describes the stellar array of attractions available within such a small radius.

In 1983, only 30% of the district’s historic buildings survived the wrecking ball due to its convenient overlap with downtown but thanks to Heritage Montreal, numerous mansionettes built with Scottish sandstone and local granite between 1850-1930 survive featuring a wide range of unique architectural styles including Neo-Gothic, Romanesque, and Second Empire. Originally constructed for wealthy merchant families monitoring progress of their ships in the Old Port below, many historic properties are now repurposed as galleries, restaurants, and boutique hotels.

Although hard to imagine but true, all the following Top 11 Golden Square Mile experiences are within a quick walk (even during winter) from each other:

McCord Museum

T he McCord embodies the vision of passionate collector David Ross McCord whose sole mission when he opened it in 1921 was to foster a deeper understanding of Canada’s diverse heritage. To this day, culturally accurate exhibits not shying away from controversy including Canada’s indigenous experience featured in exhibits like Wearing Our Identity: The First Peoples Collection .

As the Roman numerals suggest, Le XVI XVI situated at 1616 Sherbrooke Street remains faithful to French gastronomic traditions with dishes like roasted quail and smoked sturgeon built with locally harvested Québec ingredients served in the upper level flooded in natural light and white furnishings. Head downstairs to the lounge where robot bartender R1-B1 serves up straightforward mixed drinks via a mini-conveyor belt to the bar.

Cédric Moindrot, a former Parisian restaurateur and recent Montrealer, the restaurant’s artistic director partnered with a designer, programmer, and technician to assemble R1-B1 from scratch. 2½ years years later they had the world’s first bilingual (English-French) robot bartender. R1-B1’s interactivity borders on clever thanks to 2 programmers behind the scenes with dialog such as: Customer : “What type of drink can you make? R1-B1 : “I can get you a whiskey or a beer if you want.” Customer : “Thanks all the same, but I’m working.” RI-B1 : “Nice work.”

Museum of Fine Arts

Examining the vibrant intersection of pop culture and fashion, cutting edge exhibits here like the world premiere of Thierry Mugler Couturissime delve into the essence of cultural ferment. Many of Mugler’s most prominent prêt-à-porter and haute couture creations are on display as if you’re walking into a fashion show and wandering through the dressing rooms behind the scenes. This includes over 140 outfits made between 1973 and 2001, most of them shown for the first time, as well as sketches and other memorabilia. Highlights include Cirque du Soleil’s Zumanity costumes as well as outfits for stars including Diana Ross, David Bowie, Lady Gaga, and Quebec’s very own Céline Dion.

Hotel Ambrose

Just up Stanley St. less than a block above Sherbrook with Mount Royal looming ahead, Hotel Ambrose blends in yet marks a distinctive repose among the surrounding townhouses. Converted from two turn-of-the-century homes, each of the hotel’s 20 rooms showcase unique circa 1910 Victorian architectural details. High ceilings, ornate white wood trim, and large windows flood living space with natural light. Even if you’re not staying here, the onsite café which doubles as the hotel’s check-in desk, serves specialty coffees and baked goods. An ode to its World War II rooming house origins, the original Ambrose Travel Lodge sign still hangs above the main entrance.

Les Enfants Terribles at Au Sommet Place Marie

With soaring panoramic views 44 stories above the city, Montreal’s Les Enfants Terribles at Sommet Place Ville Marie is the city’s most elevated dining festuring reinvented Québec plates like homemade black puddling and mac & cheese au gratin.

A dining area with floor to ceiling windows, a bar to the center, and open kitchen provide a soaring wide open ambiance to match the views outside. Communal wood block dining tables set the stage for craft food and libations while during summer, outside patio seating greatly expands your backdrop possibilities.

Bar George at Le Mount Stephen Hotel

Once a private club for the wealthy elite, Bar George is at the center of a magnificently preserved Renaissance Revival house once occupied by the Mount Stephen Club on Drummond Street. Shuttered for nearly 6 years before reopening to the public, its original ornately wood trimmed interior has been impeccably restored with the bar and several dining rooms totaling 200 seats along with grandly unique event space on the upper floor. A hallway discreetly connects you to Le Mount Stephen Hotel, Montreal’s newest boutique property.

In addition to Bar George’s cocktails like their signature Sour mixed with gin, St-Germain elderflower liqueur, cider, lemon, and egg, their menu skews modern British with a Québécois flair featuring Scotch eggs with St-Canut porcelet and turnip rémoulade, Beef Wellington, and veal cheek & kidney pie made with stout, wild mushrooms, sweet peas, and kohlrabi.

Gustave Restaurant

Gustave’s vintage-modern interior is on full display behind a 2-story front window wall enclosing the dining area and bar with hanging bubble glass lighting making it perfect for a silent immersion into the bustling Boulevard de Maisonneuve street life outside while dining on Mediterranean inspired French dishes like Grilled Octopus a la Nicoise and Papardelle alla Carbonara along with a craft cocktail like their Automne a Bruxelles. The terroir specificity you get with their seasonal local ingredients provide a multitude of pairing possibilites with their carefully curated wine list.

Café Kréma at Fairmont Queen Elizabeth

Located on the ground level of the Fairmont, interconnected to Montreal’s underground (RESO), and overlooking René-Levesque Boulevard, all coffee drinks here are attentively custom made to your specs by apron-clad baristas. Fair trade beans are transformed into lively espressos and cremas via their Victoria Arduino machine made in Italy since 1905. Their b uttery crescents and cocoa brownies are hand made by Marché Artisans like Jean-Marc Guillot.

Musée Grévin

Modeled after Musee Grevin’s original Paris location, Grevin Montreal features lifelike wax replicas of key Canadian and Québécois historical figures right along side prominent Hollywood superstars. Céline Dion, Justin Trudeau, and star hockey player Guy Lafleur midplay on a hockey rink frozen in time accompany George Clooney offering a toast of champagne in a grand ball room packed with other celebrities like Lady Gaga, Mahatma Gandhi, and Leonardo DiCaprio.

Spread over three floors with the main entrance on the 5th floor of Eaton Centre shopping mall in what was once a cinema complex, Musee Grevin’s windowless design and immersive floor plan make it feel like you’re stepping into a parallel dimension. Not only do you get to walk among the lifelike figures but several exhibits examine all the painstaking details behind what goes into constructing these anatomically correct works of art.

Thursday’s

A Montréal institution since the 1970s, Thursday’s narrowly escaped the wrecking ball in 2012 and instead got a top-to-bottom makeover courtesy of the next generation of Ragueneau family ownership stepping up and committing to the cause. The Bistro, Bar, and the Club at each of its 3 levels provide distinctly different ambiances accommodating Saturday nights out, business dinners, or a special date. Tip: Snagging a 3rd floor outside terrace seat puts you in full view of the Leonard Cohen mural spanning the entire height of a building across the street.

Decor combining Old English pub and French sophistication is matched with a menu featuring their classic steak tartare and rack of lamb along with newer additions like foie gras terrine, and chicken baked in hay (a bed of fregola, fava bean and matsutake mushroom ragout).

Cirque Le Monastère at St-Jax

Circus art in its pure state, Cirque Le Monastère’s acts are up close and personal without the trappings of more mainstream productions like Cirque du Soleil and Cirque Éloize. Acrobats here seek out Le Monastere for the freedom to be more expressive and less scripted similar in scope to cabaret acts throughout Europe.

Le Monastere’s most recent acquisition of performance space inside St. Jax church on Ste-Catherine Street West provides the perfect setting for returning circus arts to its minimalist cabaret origins in France with Montmartre’s 1881 “Chat Noir” that eventually spread throughout Europe including war-time Berlin with acts like the “Überbretti”.

Photos courtesy of venues covered herein, GoldenMontreal.com, & Steve Mirsky. Coverage made possible by participating in a sponsored visit.

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Retail Insider continues its  Photo Tour  series by building on our extensive Saint-Catherine Street in Montreal During COVID-19 tour which we published on March 16, 2021. This time we’re delving deeper into the upscale Golden Square Mile in the downtown core that includes several luxury stores as well as some very interesting retail history.

The Golden Square Mile’s streetscape includes grand streets, attractive architecture and several large mansions from years past. Between the years 1870 and 1900, about 70% of the wealth in Canada was held by about 50 households living in the area and particularly north of where our tour was photographed.

The photos in this tour were taken along the two block retail zone between Sherbrooke Street West and Saint-Catherine Street on Rue de la Montagne and Crescent Street. Come for a journey where we discuss what’s there, and the interesting retail that once was.

Holt Renfrew Ogilvy (Saint-Catherine Street and Rue de la Montagne)

Arriving at Rue de la Montagne reveals the beautiful Holt Renfrew Ogilvy that has been reported on extensively in Retail Insider . The original Ogilvy’s department store was founded by the Ogilvy family in the 1800s and changed ownership several times over the years. Two major ownership shifts occurred, including the Ogilvy ownership being purchased by Equidev (a Montreal development group), which performed major updates to the building in the 1980s that included developing a concession model housing 52 designer boutiques. The retailer changed owners a couple more times as decades passed and most recently was purchased in 2011 by Wittington Investments which also owns Holt Renfrew within its subsidiary company, Selfridges Group Limited.

The existing Montreal Holt Renfrew store, which had previously operated nearby at 1300 Sherbrooke Street West since 1937, closed in June 2020 to coincide with the opening of the expanded Holt Renfrew Ogilvy store on Saint-Catherine Street. The 250,000-square-foot Holt Renfrew Ogilvy store is one of the largest multi-brand luxury stores in North America and is the largest showcase of luxury brands in the Montreal market. All six retail levels were renovated and  reopened in July 2020 .

Rue de la Montagne

The two block stretch of Rue de la Montagne between Sherbrooke Street and Ste-Catherine Street is the closest thing that Montreal has to a retail “luxury run”. Several upscale stores have opened over the years on the street that is anchored by the Ritz Carlton Hotel to the north and Holt Renfrew Ogilvy to the south. At the Ritz is a 2,000 square foot Tiffany & Co. store that opened in February of 2012. The store is less than 250 metres from the 2,500 square foot Tiffany & Co. concession that opened at Holt Renfrew Ogilvy last year.

The bilevel 3,300-square-foot Chanel boutique on the street level of Holt Renfrew Ogilvy opened in the fall of 2019. A Louis Vuitton boutique is located further to the left.

Toronto-based Carttera Private Equities Inc. acquired 1455 Rue de la Montagne in September of 2020 with plans to create a high-end residential building. At its base will be retail spaces, offering an opportunity for brands to move across from Holt Renfrew Ogilvy. The 31,750-square-foot surface parking lot sold for $48.5 million on the corner of De La Montagne and De Maisonneuve Boulevard West.

Above is a slideshow on Rue de la Montagne. Swiss luxury brand Montblanc opened at 1289 Boulevard de Maisonneuve West in 2014, and Pavillon Christofle’s only Canadian store opened in the winter of 2016 at 2025 Rue de la Montagne. In the first photo is the new Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences which is connected to Holt Renfrew Ogilvy. The Residences at the Four Seasons are among the priciest in Montreal. A 3,105-square-foot condominium apartment on the 14th floor is currently asking $7,190,000 and a 6,910-square-foot penthouse on the 18th floor is asking $15,435,000.

We reported on AllSaints opening at 2138 Rue de la Montagne in 2016, SuitSupply opening in 2017 at 2152 Rue de la Montagne, and Judith & Charles opening in 2018 at 2090 Rue de la Montagne. Other retailers on the street include Montreal-based designer Marie Saint Pierre, Kar MA, Ofélia, Anthropologie, and a Chateau d’Ivoire jewellery store that will be discussed below.

Montreal is a beautiful city with unique grey stone architecture. This row of shops on Rue de la Montagne includes the AllSaints store. Other upscale brands are said to be interested in locating in the area.

Prestigious jewellery retailer Chateau d’Ivoire is almost finished building a new store on Rue de la Montagne just north of Boulevard Maisonneuve. The current location to the right of the new store will close when the new one opens this year.

The 2,000-square-foot Tiffany & Co. store at the corner of Rue de la Montagne and Sherbrooke Street West at the Ritz Carlton Hotel. Some are questioning the future of the store given its proximity to the Holt Renfrew Ogilvy Tiffany concession down the street. This photo was taken from in front of the former Holt Renfrew store at 1300 Sherbrooke Street West that closed over the summer to coincide with the completion of the nearby Holt Renfrew Ogilvy.

Rue Sherbrooke Ouest

The photo above is of the former Holt Renfrew store taken from Rue de la Montagne. The shorter windows furthest to the right were for a lower-level restaurant space. The building was constructed in 1937 and for years operated as the company’s flagship store prior to the Toronto store gaining that status in 1979.

The photo above is the corner of the former Holt Renfrew store at 1300 Sherbrooke Street West. The original store spanned about 30,000 square feet when it was built and was expanded to more than 80,000 square feet prior to its closure. In the 1990s Holt Renfrew operated a Giorgio Armani boutique on the main floor facing Sherbrooke Street.

The photo above is of the corner of Sherbrooke Street and Crescent Street. Holt Renfrew’s men’s department occupied the corner until 2016 when it was relocated as part of a reduction of the store’s footprint. The Holt Renfrew store occupied several buildings and in the late 1990s integrated several historic townhouse facades to expand the store as per the photo below.

Prior to the townhouses being integrated into the Holt Renfrew store, several retailers operated standalone stores there. In years past, a Polo Ralph Lauren store operated at 1316 Sherbrooke Street (prior to relocating to where Tiffany is now at the Ritz) and in the 1980s a Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche boutique was located at 1330 Sherbrooke Street West. The Saint Laurent boutique was operated by York Hannover which also owned the boutique at Hazelton Lanes in Toronto. French designer Sonia Rykiel had a store at 1320 Sherbrooke Street West that was connected to multi-brand retailer Clubissimo from 1986 until the early 1990s.

In the 1980s, Montreal’s Sherbrooke Street was home to several other significant luxury stores over a six block stretch which have all since closed. This included Emanuel Ungaro at 1430 Sherbrooke Street West, Pratesi at 1448 Sherbrooke Street West, Davidoff at 1452 Sherbrooke Street West, Cartier at 1498 Sherbrooke Street West, and Georg Jensen at 1178 Sherbrooke Street West in the 1980s which was replaced by Versace for several years. A pricey Zilli men’s boutique operated at 1472 Sherbrooke Street West between 2007 and 2011 and was the only store for the Italian brand in Canada.

Tiffany & Co. at the Ritz and an Escada store at 1214 Sherbrooke Street West are the only two remaining luxury brands on the street. Escada is in financial trouble and Tiffany’s future is uncertain on the street — it could be the case that all luxury retail will soon exit beautiful Sherbrooke Street which is home to several museums, heritage apartment buildings, and McGill University.

Crescent Street

Crescent Street is known for many for its restaurants which were frequented by students prior to the pandemic. In years past, several upscale stores and even luxury brand stores operated on Crescent Street.

Crescent Street is quite different now from what it was in decades past in terms of retail tenants. In the 1980s, Crescent Street was considered to be a luxury address which included several important women’s fashion stores in a row of beautiful brown stone buildings. French women’s luxury brand Celine once had a store at 2142 Crescent Street, French fashion brand Courreges had a store at 2160 Crescent Street, Upscale French women’s fashion brand Georges Rech operated at 2070 Crescent Street, Canadian fashion brand The Kettle Creek Canvas Company had a store at 2145 Crescent Street, and UK fashion and home goods brand Laura Ashley had a store at 2110 Crescent. Luxury multi-brand retailer Grege, which focused on Japanese brands, operated at 2130 Crescent Street from 1976 to 1995 when the company was dissolved. Various other upscale boutiques and food and beverage options made for a desirable destination. At one time Crescent Street advertised itself in local papers to draw in shoppers and we have included a clipping of one from 1985 below, noting that all of the upscale boutiques have since shuttered.

The photo above was taken from Sherbrooke Street looking down Crescent Street. Holt Renfrew Men occupied the building to the left for years and a museum is located to the right.

The photo above showcases some of the beautiful architecture on Crescent Street south of Sherbrooke Street. This complex was the heart of the former luxury brand stretch that characterized Crescent Street particularly in the 1980s when Montreal was a fashion mecca. French Luxury brand Celine had a store in the second storefront from the left with the bow window in the 1980s.

Upscale Toronto-based multi-brand retailer CNTRBND opened a store at 2185 Crescent Street last year. The store is located in a historic townhouse and features unique architecture inside and out. CNTRBND also has stores in Toronto and Vancouver and will be announcing a new location soon.

Given the unique situation of the street and CNTRBND’s relationship with brands, the retailer could bring new concepts to Crescent Street in the future.

Jewellery retailer Kaufmann de Suisse has operated for years at 2195 Crescent Street. It is one of the few long-term, upscale retail tenants on the street.

The building above was formerly occupied by denim brand Parasucco and is now a CQDC.

The above slideshow includes: Montreal-based restaurant Mandy’s, known for its gourmet salads, which has several stores in Montreal including one on Crescent Street. Mandy’s will be entering the Toronto market as part of an expansion. Nestlé-owned coffee concept Nespresso which operates a café and retail space on Crescent Street, and various other independent retailers and restaurants currently occupy retail spaces on the stretch between Sherbrooke and Sainte-Catherine Streets.

Thank you for joining us on this brief tour of a loop in downtown Montreal’s Golden Square Mile. The area has changed over the years and there’s more to come. Feel free to comment on your thoughts and favourite memories below.

And thank you Maxime Frechette for taking photos for this article.

Discover More Related Retail Photo Tours From Retail Insider:

• Photo Tour: Retail at The Distillery Historic District in Toronto (March 2021)
• Retail Photo Tour: CrossIron Mills in Calgary (March 2021)
• Retail Photo Tour: Sainte-Catherine Street in Montreal During COVID-19
• Retail Photo Tour: McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Vancouver (February 2021)
• Retail Photo Tour: CF Richmond Centre near Vancouver (March 2021)
• Photo Tour: The Ever-Changing Sherwood Park Mall in Sherwood Park, Alberta (February 2021)
• Photo Tour: Big Changes and New Retailers at Avalon Mall in St. John’s, Newfoundland (January 2021)
• Photo Tour: West Edmonton Mall Phase 1 and Phase 2 During COVID-19 (December 2020)
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• Photo Tour: Guildford Town Centre in Surrey During COVID-19 (December 2020)
• Metropolis at Metrotown Photo Tour (December 2020)
• The Amazing Brentwood Photo Tour (December 2020)
• Yorkville Photo Tour (November 2020)
• Bloor Photo Tour (December 2020)
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Michel’s bakery café relocates at yorkdale after 40 years , royalmount announces lineup of luxury jewellers ahead of september opening , recent retail insider videos.

I didn’t expect this addition to your cross-Canada tours of major shopping malls and commercial districts, but this is a welcome coda to your extensive coverage of Rue Sainte Catherine. Rue de la Montagne and the parallel stretch of Crescent, which I’ve found similar in ambience to Cumberland Street and Yorkville Avenue in Toronto, are still more potential than realization. Though this area with Sherbrooke Street has historically been the centre of Montreal’s luxury trade, most residents would tell you the Golden Square Mile, or Mille Carré Doré has lost much of its former lustre. It now looks more like an area that is in the process of developing into a major node of retail. If that seems pessimistic, bear in mind that I am making a distinction between an area on the rise and an area in decline. The Square Mile, especially on Rue de la Montagne has improved relative to where it was a decade ago. Even those who wax nostalgic for the rococo lobby of the old Hotel de la Montagne that stood where the sleek Four Seasons now stands would admit that the building itself was an ugly blight on the street. That honour presently goes to Wanda’s and the parking lot across the street that occupies the corner with de Maisonneuve. Carttera’s development can’t come soon enough. Let’s hope it’s something stylish and distinctive. Another bit of good news is the new Château D’Ivoire building: that might be faux greystone but it looks good and fits well into the street, filling in the gap with a superior design. It’s only a matter of time before the Tiffany store at the Ritz closes, and if I were managing that property, I’d already be searching for its replacement, preferably an upmarket brand new to Montreal. Perhaps the Ritz proprietors are waiting to see what happens with the redevelopment of the now vacant former Holt Renfrew location across the street. It’s such a beautiful edifice, and so sad to see it looking so abandoned. If the plan for condominiums and street-level retail there is able to attract affluent buyers and prestigious shops, that would be good not only for de la Montagne but also bring some chic back to Sherbrooke Street. Crescent Street is more intact with beautiful greystones and redstones, but there are still more vacancies than one would expect in such an ostensibly desirable quartier. Should Montreal experience a post coronavirus economic rebound, I see the biggest threat to the improving fortunes of the Golden Square Mile in Carbonleo’s Royalmount development in Ville Mont-Royal. That looks like a clear attempt to recreate a sort of competing suburban luxury node complete with live-work-play amenities much like Toronto’s Yorkdale juggernaut competes with Bloor-Yorkville. Perhaps it won’t matter and the consumer pie will be large enough for both locales to at least coëxist if not flourish. Given the sometimes precarious state of Montreal’s economic health, my bias is obviously with Centreville. Let’s hope the centre holds!

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Home » Europe » Moscow

EPIC MOSCOW Itinerary! (2024)

Moscow is the heart of Mother Russia. Just the mention of this city conjures images of colorful bulbous pointed domes, crisp temperatures, and a uniquely original spirit!

Moscow has an incredibly turbulent history, a seemingly resilient culture, and a unique enchantment that pulls countless tourists to the city each year! Although the warmer months make exploring Moscow’s attractions more favorable, there’s just something about a fresh snowfall that only enhances the appearance of the city’s iconic sites!

If you’re a first-time visitor to Moscow, or simply wanting to see as much of the city as possible, this Moscow itinerary will help you do just that!

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Here is a quick look at the seasons so you can decide when to visit Moscow!

The summer months (June-August) are a great time to travel to Moscow to take advantage of the enjoyable mild temperatures. This is considered peak travel season. Bear in mind that hotel prices rise along with the temperatures!

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If you’re planning a trip to Moscow during fall (September-November) try to plan for early fall. This way the temperatures will still be pleasant and winter won’t be threatening.

Russian winters (December-February) are not for the faint of heart as Napoleon learned to his peril. Some days the sun will be out for less than an hour, and snow is guaranteed. Although winters are exceptionally cold, this is when you’ll get a true glimpse of the Moscow experience!

The best time to visit Moscow is during spring  (March-May). The temperatures will begin to creep up and the sun begins to shine for significant portions of the day. Hotel rates will also have yet to skyrocket into peak ranges!

With a Moscow City Pass , you can experience the best of Moscow at the CHEAPEST prices. Discounts, attractions, tickets, and even public transport are all standards in any good city pass – be sure invest now and save them $$$ when you arrive!

Moscow is a large city with many accommodation options to choose from. Staying in a location that fits with your travel plans will only enhance your Moscow itinerary. Here is a brief introduction to a few great areas of the city we recommend checking out!

The best place to stay in Moscow to be close to all the action is Kitay-Gorod. This charming neighborhood will put you within walking distance to Moscow’s famous Red Square, thus cutting down on travel time. This will allow you to see more of the city in a shorter amount of time!

It’s surrounded by restaurants, cafes, bars, and shops. If you’re a first-time visitor to Moscow, or just planning a quick weekend in Moscow, then this area is perfect for you!

Another great area to consider is the Zamoskvorechye district. This area of the city offers a blend of new and old Moscow. It has an artsy vibe and there are plenty of fun sites you can explore outside of the main touristy areas of Moscow.

Of course, as in all areas of Moscow, it’s close to public transportation that will quickly connect you with the rest of the city and make your Moscow itinerary super accessible!

Best Airbnb in Moscow – Exclusive Apartment in Old Moscow

Modern and cozy, this apartment is in the heart of Old Moscow. Bordering the Basmanny and Kitay-Gorod districts, this two-bedroom flat is walking distance to the Kremlin and Red Square. Safe, quiet, and comfortable, this is the best Airbnb in Moscow, no question!

Best Budget Hotel in Moscow – Izmailovo Alfa Hotel

The Izmailovo Alfa Hotel is a very highly rated accommodation that provides all the components necessary for a comfortable trip to Moscow. There is an on-site restaurant, bar, fitness center, and an airport shuttle service. The rooms are modern and spacious and are equipped with a TV, heating/air conditioning, minibar, and more!

Best Luxury Hotel in Moscow – Crowne Plaza Moscow World Trade Centre

If you’re touring Moscow in luxury, the Crowne Plaza Moscow World Trade Centre is the hotel for you! Elegantly furnished rooms are equipped with a minibar, flat-screen TV,  in-room safes, as well as tea and coffee making facilities! Bathrooms come with bathrobes, slippers, and free toiletries. There is also an onsite restaurant, bar, and fitness center.

Best Hostel in Moscow – Godzillas Hostel

Godzillas Hostel is located in the center of Moscow, just a short walk from all the major tourist attractions and the metro station. Guests will enjoy all the usual hostel perks such as self-catering facilities, 24-hour reception, Free Wi-Fi, and security lockers. This is one of the best hostels in Moscow and its wonderful social atmosphere and will make your vacation in Moscow extra special!

An important aspect of planning any trip is figuring out the transportation situation. You’re probably wondering how you’re going to get to all of your Moscow points of interest right? Luckily, this sprawling city has an excellent network of public transportation that will make traveling a breeze!

The underground metro system is the quickest and most efficient way to travel around Moscow. Most visitors rely exclusively on this super-efficient transportation system, which allows you to get to pretty much anywhere in the city! It’s also a great option if you’re planning a Moscow itinerary during the colder months, as you’ll be sheltered from the snow and freezing temperatures!

If you prefer above-ground transportation, buses, trams, and trolleybuses, run throughout the city and provide a rather comfortable alternative to the metro.

Moscow’s metro, buses, trams, and trolleybuses are all accessible with a ‘Troika’ card. This card can be topped up with any sum of money at a metro cash desk. The ticket is simple, convenient, and even refundable upon return to a cashier!

No matter which method you choose, you’ll never find yourself without an easy means of getting from point A to point B!

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Red Square | Moscow Kremlin | Lenin’s Mausoleum | St. Basil’s Cathedral  | GUM Department Store

Spend the first day of your itinerary taking your own self guided Moscow walking tour around the historic Red Square! This is Moscow’s compact city center and every stop on this list is within easy walking distance to the next! Get ready to see all of the top Moscow landmarks!

Day 1 / Stop 1 – The Red Square

• Why it’s awesome: The Red Square is the most recognizable area in Moscow, it has mesmerizing architecture and centuries worth of history attached to its name.
• Cost: Free to walk around, individual attractions in the square have separate fees. 
• Food nearby: Check out Bar BQ Cafe for friendly service and good food in a great location! The atmosphere is upbeat and they’re open 24/7!

The Red Square is Moscow’s historic fortress and the center of the Russian government. The origins of the square date back to the late 15th century, when Ivan the Great decided to expand the Kremlin to reflect Moscow’s growing power and prestige!

During the 20th century, the square became famous as the site for demonstrations designed to showcase Soviet strength. Visiting the Red Square today, you’ll find it teeming with tourists, who come to witness its magical architecture up close!

The square is the picture postcard of Russian tourism, so make sure to bring your camera when you visit! No matter the season, or the time of day, it’s delightfully photogenic! 

It’s also home to some of Russia’s most distinguishing and important landmarks, which we’ve made sure to include further down in this itinerary. It’s an important center of Russia’s cultural life and one of the top places to visit in Moscow!

In 1990, UNESCO designated Russia’s Red Square as a World Heritage site. Visiting this historic site is a true bucket-list event and essential addition to your itinerary for Moscow!

Day 1 / Stop 2 – The Moscow Kremlin

• Why it’s awesome: The Moscow Kremlin complex includes several palaces and cathedrals and is surrounded by the Kremlin wall. It also houses the principal museum of Russia (the Kremlin Armory).
• Cost: USD $15.00
• Food nearby: Bosco Cafe is a charming place to grat a casual bite to eat. They have excellent coffee and wonderful views of the Red Square and the Moscow Kremlin!

The iconic Moscow Kremlin , also known as the Kremlin museum complex, sits on Borovitsky Hill, rising above the Moscow River. It is a fortified complex in the center of the city, overlooking several iconic buildings in the Red Square!

It’s the best known of the Russian Kremlins – citadels or fortress’ protecting and dominating a city. During the early decades of the Soviet era, the Kremlin was a private enclave where the state’s governing elite lived and worked.

The Kremlin is outlined by an irregularly shaped triangular wall that encloses an area of 68 acres! The existing walls and towers were built from 1485 to 1495. Inside the Kremlin museum complex, there are five palaces, four cathedrals, and the enclosing Kremlin Wall with Kremlin towers.

The Armoury Chamber is a part of the Grand Kremlin Palace’s complex and is one of the oldest museums of Moscow, established in 1851. It showcases Russian history and displays many cherished relics. Definitely make sure to check out this museum while you’re here!

The churches inside the Moscow Kremlin are the Cathedral of the Dormition, Church of the Archangel, Church of the Annunciation, and the bell tower of Ivan Veliki (a church tower).

The five-domed Cathedral of the Dormition is considered the most famous. It was built from 1475–1479 by an Italian architect and has served as a wedding and coronation place for great princes, tsars, and emperors of Russia. Church services are given in the Kremlin’s numerous cathedrals on a regular basis.

The Grand Kremlin Palace was the former Tsar’s Moscow residence and today it serves as the official workplace of the President of the Russian Federation (Vladimir Putin seems to have bagged that title for life) .

Insider Tip: The Kremlin is closed every Thursday! Make sure to plan this stop on your Moscow itinerary for any other day of the week!

Day 1 / Stop 3 – Lenin’s Mausoleum

• Why it’s awesome: The mausoleum displays the preserved body of Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin .
• Cost: Free!
• Food nearby: Khinkal’naya is a charming Georgian restaurant with vaulted ceilings and exposed brick. It’s a popular place with locals and right next to the Red Square!

Lenin’s Mausoleum, also known as Lenin’s Tomb, is the modernist mausoleum for the revolutionary leader Vladimir Lenin. It’s located within the Red Square and serves as the resting place for the Soviet leader! His preserved body has been on public display since shortly after his death in 1924.

It’s located just a few steps away from the Kremlin Wall and is one of the most controversial yet popular Moscow attractions!

Admission is free for everyone, you’ll only need to pay if you need to check a bag. Before visitors are allowed to enter the mausoleum, they have to go through a metal detector first. No metal objects, liquids, or large bags are allowed in the mausoleum!

Expect a line to enter the building, and while you’re inside the building, you’ll be constantly moving in line with other visitors. This means you won’t be able to spend as long as you’d like viewing the mausoleum, but you’ll still be able to get a good look. Pictures and filming while inside the building are strictly prohibited, and security guards will stop you if they see you breaking this rule.

The mausoleum is only open on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday – unless it’s a public holiday or a day scheduled for maintenance. The hours it’s open for each day are limited, make sure to check online before you visit to make sure you can fit this into your Moscow itinerary for that day!

Insider Tip: The Lenin’s Museum is there for people to pay their respect; remember to keep silent and move along quickly, it’s not intended for people to congregate around. Also, men are not allowed to wear hats and everyone must take their hands out of their pockets when inside the building.

Day 1 / Stop 4 – St. Basil’s Cathedral

• Why it’s awesome: A dazzling designed cathedral that showcases Russia’s unique architecture. This cathedral is one of the most recognizable symbols of the country!
• Cost: USD $8.00
• Food nearby: Moskovskiy Chaynyy Klub is a cozy cafe serving food items and pipping hot tea; it’s the perfect place to go if you’re visiting Moscow during the winter months!

Located in the Red Square, the ornate 16th-century St. Basil’s Cathedral is probably the building you picture when you think of Moscow’s unique architecture. Its colorful onion-shaped domes tower over the Moscow skyline!

The cathedral was built from 1555-1561 by order of Tsar Ivan the Terrible. It was designed with an iconic onion dome facade and enchanting colors that captivate all who see it. Fun fact: If you’re wondering why Russian churches have onion domes, they are popularly believed to symbolize burning candles!

This iconic cathedral has become a symbol of Russia due to its distinguishing architecture and prominent position inside the Red Square. It’s one of the most beautiful, wonderful, and mesmerizing historical cathedrals in the world!

The interior of the church surprises most people when they visit. In contrast to the large exterior, the inside is not so much one large area, but rather a collection of smaller areas, with many corridors and small rooms. There are 9 small chapels and one mausoleum grouped around a central tower.

Visiting the inside is like walking through a maze, there are even small signs all around the cathedral tracing where to walk, and pointing you in the right direction! The walls are meticulously decorated and painted with intricate floral designs and religious themes.

The church rarely holds service and is instead a museum open for the public to visit.

Insider Tip: During the summer months the line to go inside the cathedral can get quite long! Make sure to arrive early or reserve your tickets online to guarantee quick access into the cathedral!

Day 1 / Stop 5 – GUM Department Store

• Why it’s awesome: This is Russia’s most famous shopping mall! It’s designed with elegant and opulent architecture and provides a real sense of nostalgia!
• Cost: Free to enter
• Food nearby: Stolovaya 57 is a cafeteria-style restaurant with a variety of inexpensive Russian cuisine menu items including soups, salads, meat dishes, and desserts. It’s also located inside the GUM department store, making it very easily accessible when you’re shopping!

The enormous GUM Department Store is located within the historic Red Square. It has a whimsical enchantment to it that sets it apart from your typical department store.

A massive domed glass ceiling lines the top of the building and fills the interior with natural sunlight. There are live plants and flowers placed throughout the mall that give the shopping complex a lively and cheerful feel! A playful fountain sits in the center, further adding to the malls inviting a sense of wonder and amusement!

The GUM department store opened on December 2, 1893. Today, it includes local and luxury stores, including Fendi, Louis Vuitton, Prada, and many more! There are numerous cafes, restaurants, and even a movie theater inside!

For a special treat, head into Gastronom 1. This 1950s-style shop sells gourmet food items, like wine, freshly-baked pastries, cheese, Russian chocolate, and of course, vodka! Also, be on the lookout for a bicycle pedaling ice cream truck with an employing selling ice cream!

The ambiance is simply amazing, a trip to this idyllic shopping mall is an absolute must on any Moscow itinerary!

Insider Tip: Make sure to carry some small change on you in case you need to use the restroom, you’ll need to pay 50 rubles – or about USD $0.80 to use the bathroom in GUM.

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Novodevichy Convent | Gorky Park | State Tretyakov Gallery | All-Russian Exhibition Center | Bolshoi Theater

On your 2 day itinerary in Moscow, you’ll have a chance to use the city’s excellent public transportation service! You’ll explore a few more of Moscow’s historic highlight as well as some modern attractions. These sites are a little more spread out, but still very easily accessible thanks to the metro!

Day 2 / Stop 1 – Novodevichy Convent

• Why it’s awesome: The Novodevichy Convent is rich in imperial Russian history and contains some of Russia’s best examples of classical architecture!
• Cost: USD $5.00
• Food nearby: Culinary Shop Karavaevs Brothers is a cozy and simple place to have a quick bite, they also have vegetarian options!

The Novodevichy Convent is the best-known and most popular cloister of Moscow. The convent complex is contained within high walls, and there are many attractions this site is known for! 

The six-pillared five-domed Smolensk Cathedral is the main attraction. It was built to resemble the Kremlin’s Assumption Cathedral and its facade boasts beautiful snowy white walls and a pristine golden onion dome as its centerpiece. It’s the oldest structure in the convent, built from 1524 -1525, and is situated in the center of the complex between the two entrance gates.

There are other churches inside the convent as well, all dating back from many centuries past. The convent is filled with an abundance of 16th and 17th-century religious artworks, including numerous large and extravagant frescos!

Just outside the convent’s grounds lies the Novodevichy Cemetery. Here, you can visit the graves of famous Russians, including esteemed authors, composers, and politicians. Probably the most intriguing gravestone belongs to Russian politician Nikita Khruschev!

The Novodevichy Convent is located near the Moscow River and offers a peaceful retreat from the busy city. In 2004, it was proclaimed a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The convent remains remarkably well-preserved and is an outstanding example of Moscow Baroque architecture! 

Insider Tip: To enter the cathedrals inside the complex, women are advised to cover their heads and shoulders, while men should wear long pants.

Day 2 / Stop 2 – Gorky Central Park of Culture and Leisure

• Why it’s awesome: A large amusement area in the heart of the city offering many attractions!
• Cost: Free! 
• Food nearby: Check out Mepkato, located inside Gorky Central Park for a casual meal in a cozy setting. There are indoor and outdoor seating options and the restaurant is child-friendly!

Gorky Central Park of Culture and Leisure is a large green space in the heart of Moscow. The park opened in 1928, and it stretches along the scenic embankment of the Moskva River. It covers an area of 300-acres and offers a lovely contrast from the compact city center.

You’ll find all sorts of wonderful attractions, from boat rides to bike rentals to tennis courts and ping-pong tables, and much more! there are an open-air cinema and festive events and concerts scheduled in the summer months.  A wide selection of free fitness classes is also offered on a regular basis, including jogging, roller skating, and dancing!

Although many of the options you’ll find here are more suited for outdoor leisure during the summer, you’ll also a selection of winter attractions, including one of Europe’s largest ice rinks for ice-skating!

If you’re trying to decide what to do in Moscow with kids, the park also offers several venues designed specifically for kids. Check out the year-round Green School which offers hands-on classes in gardening and art! You can also feed the squirrels and birds at the Golitsinsky Ponds!

The park is very well maintained and kept clean and the entrance is free of charge, although most individual attractions cost money. There is also Wi-Fi available throughout the park.

With so many attractions, you could easily spend all day here! If you’re only planning a 2 day itinerary in Moscow, make sure to plan your time accordingly and map out all the areas you want to see beforehand!

Day 2 / Stop 3 – The State Tretyakov Gallery

• Why it’s awesome: The gallery’s collection consists entirely of Russian art made by Russian artists!
• Food nearby : Brothers Tretyakovs is located right across the street from the gallery. It’s a wonderfully atmospheric restaurant serving top quality food and drinks!

The State Tretyakov Gallery was founded in 1856 by influential merchant and collector Pavel Tretyakov.  The gallery is a national treasury of Russian fine art and one of the most important museums in Russia!

It houses the world’s best collection of Russian art and contains more than 130, 000 paintings, sculptures, and graphics! These works have been created throughout the centuries by generations of Russia’s most talented artists!

The exhibits range from mysterious 12th-century images to politically charged canvases. The collection is rich and revealing and offers great insight into the history and attitudes of this long-suffering yet inspired people!

All pictures are also labeled in English. If you plan to take your time and see everything inside the museum it will take a good 3-4 hours, so make sure to plan your Moscow trip itinerary accordingly! This gallery is a must-see stop for art lovers, or anyone wanting to explore the local culture and history of Russia in a creative and insightful manner! 

Insider Tip: When planning your 2 days in Moscow itinerary, keep in mind that most museums in Moscow are closed on Mondays, this includes The State Tretyakov Gallery!

Day 2 / Stop 4 – All-Russian Exhibition Center

• Why it’s awesome: This large exhibition center showcases the achievements of the Soviet Union in several different spheres. 
• Food nearby: Varenichnaya No. 1 serves authentic and homestyle Russian cuisine in an intimate and casual setting.

The All-Russian Exhibition Center is a massive park that presents the glory of the Soviet era! It pays homage to the achievements of Soviet Russia with its many different sites found on the property.

The center was officially opened in 1939 to exhibit the achievements of the Soviet Union. It’s a huge complex of buildings and the largest exhibition center in Moscow. There are several exhibition halls dedicated to different achievements and every year there are more than one hundred and fifty specialized exhibitions!

The Peoples Friendship Fountain was constructed in 1954 and is a highlight of the park. The stunning gold fountain features 16 gilded statues of girls, each representing the former Soviet Union republics. 

The Stone Flower Fountain was also built in 1954 and is worth checking out. The centerpiece of this large fountain is a flower carved from stones from the Ural Mountains! Along the side of the fountain are various bronze sculptures.

You will find many people zipping around on rollerblades and bicycles across the large area that the venue covers. It’s also home to amusement rides and carousels, making it the perfect place to stop with kids on your Moscow itinerary! Make sure to wear comfortable shoes and allow a few hours to explore all the areas that interest you!

Day 2 / Stop 5 – Bolshoi Theater

• Why it’s awesome: The Bolshoi Theater is a historic venue that hosts world-class ballet and opera performances!
• Cost: Prices vary largely between USD $2.00 –  USD $228.00 based on seat location.
• Food nearby: Head to the Russian restaurant, Bolshoi for high-quality food and drinks and excellent service!

The Bolshoi Theater is among the oldest and most renowned ballet and opera companies in the world! It also boasts the world’s biggest ballet company, with more than 200 dancers!

The theater has been rebuilt and renovated several times during its long history. In 2011 it finished its most recent renovation after an extensive six-year restoration that started in 2005. The renovation included an improvement in acoustics and the restoration of the original Imperial decor.

The Bolshoi Theater has put on many of the world’s most famous ballet acts! Tchaikovsky’s ballet Swan Lake premiered at the theater in 1877 and other notable performances of the Bolshoi repertoire include Tchaikovsky’s The Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker!

Today, when you visit the theater, you can expect a magical performance from skilled singers, dancers, and musicians with the highest level of technique!

If you don’t have time to see a show, the theater also provides guided tours on select days of the week. Tours are given in both Russian and English and will provide visitors with a more intimate look at the different areas of the theater!

The stage of this iconic Russian theater has seen many outstanding performances. If you’re a fan of the performing arts, the Bolshoi Theater is one of the greatest and oldest ballet and opera companies in the world, making it a must-see attraction on your Moscow itinerary!

Godzillas Hostel

Godzillas Hostel is located in the center of Moscow, just a short walk from all the major tourist attractions and the metro station.

• Towels Included

Cosmonautics Museum | Alexander Garden | Ostankino Tower | Izmaylovo District | Soviet Arcade Museum

Now that we’ve covered what to do in Moscow in 2 days, if you’re able to spend more time in the city you’re going to need more attractions to fill your time. Here are a few more really cool things to do in Moscow we recommend!

Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics

• Hear the timeline of the ‘space race’ from the Russian perspective
• This museum is fun for both adults and children!
• Admission is USD $4.00

The Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics is a museum dedicated to space exploration! The museum explores the history of flight, astronomy, space exploration, space technology, and space in the arts. It houses a large assortment of Soviet and Russian space-related exhibits, and the museum’s collection holds approximately 85,000 different items!

The museum does an excellent job of telling the full story of the exciting space race between the USSR and the US! It highlights the brightest moments in Russian history and humanity and is very interesting and fun for all ages!

If you’re a fan of space or just curious about gaining insight into Russia’s fascinating history of space exploration, make sure to add this to your 3 day itinerary in Moscow!

The Alexander Garden

• A tranquil place to relax near the Red Square
• Green lawns dotted with sculptures and lovely water features
• The park is open every day and has no entrance fee

The Alexander Garden was one of the first urban public parks in Moscow! The garden premiered in 1821 and was built to celebrate Russia’s victory over Napoleon’s forces in 1812!

The park is beautiful and well maintained with paths to walk on and benches to rest on. The park contains three separate gardens: the upper garden, middle garden, and lower garden.

Located in the upper garden, towards the main entrance to the park is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier with its eternal flame. This monument was created in 1967 and contains the body of a soldier who fell during the Great Patriotic War!

The park stretches along all the length of the western Kremlin wall for about half a mile. Due to its central location in the city, it’ll be easily accessible when you’re out exploring The Red Square.

It provides a bit of relief from the city’s high-energy city streets. Bring a picnic lunch, go for a walk, or just sit and people watch, this is one of the best Moscow sites to wind-down and relax!

Ostankino Television Tower

• Television and radio tower in Moscow
• Currently the tallest free-standing structure in Europe
• Make sure you bring your passport when you visit, you can’t go up without it!

For spectacular views of the city, make sure to add the Ostankino Television Tower to your itinerary for Moscow! This impressive free-standing structure provides stunning views of the city in every direction. The glass floor at the top also provides great alternative views of the city!

It takes just 58 seconds for visitors to reach the Tower’s observation deck by super fast elevator. The tower is open every day for long hours and is a great site in Moscow to check out! There is even a restaurant at the top where you can enjoy rotating views of the city while you dine on traditional Russian cuisine or European cuisine!

The tower is somewhat of an architectural surprise in a city that is not known for skyscrapers! To see the city from a new perspective, make sure to add this stop to your Moscow itinerary!

Izmaylovo District

• The most popular attractions in this district are the kremlin and the flea market
• Outside of the city center and easy to reach via metro
• Most popular during the summer and on weekends

Travel outside the city center and discover a unique area of the city! The Izmaylovo District is a popular destination for locals and tourists alike, and one of the coolest places to see in Moscow! The two main attractions we recommend checking out are the Kremlin and the flea market.

The Izmailovo Kremlin was established as a cultural center and molded after traditional Russian architecture. This colorful complex is home to several single-subject museums, including a Russian folk art museum and a vodka museum!

Next to the Kremlin is the Izmailovo open-air market, which dates back to the 17th century! The market is connected to the Izmailovo Kremlin by a wooden bridge. Pick up all your Russian souvenirs here, including traditional handicrafts, paintings, books, retro toys, and Soviet memorabilia!

You will find many hand-made and hand-painted options available at higher prices, as well as mass-produced souvenir options at lower prices!

Museum of Soviet Arcade Games

• Closed on Mondays
• Filled with old arcade games that visitors get to try out!
• The museum also includes a small cafe and burger shop

For something a little different, check out the Museum of Soviet Arcade Games! The museum features roughly 60 machines from the Soviet era, including video games, pinball machines, and collaborative hockey foosball! The machines inside the museum were produced in the USSR in the mid-1970s.

The best part is, most of the games are still playable! Purchase tickets and try the games out for yourself! The museum also has a neat little screening room that plays old Soviet cartoons and an area with Soviet magazines! This unique attraction is a fun addition to a 3 day itinerary in Moscow, and an attraction that all ages will enjoy! 

Whether you’re spending one day in Moscow, or more, safety is an important thing to keep in mind when traveling to a big city! Overall, Moscow is a very safe place to visit. However, it is always recommended that tourists take certain precautions when traveling to a new destination!

The police in Moscow is extremely effective at making the city a safe place to visit and do their best to patrol all of the top Moscow, Russia tourist attractions. However, tourists can still be a target for pickpockets and scammers.

Moscow has a huge flow of tourists, therefore there is a risk for pickpocketing. Simple precautions will help eliminate your chances of being robbed. Stay vigilant, keep your items close to you at all times, and don’t flash your valuables!

If you’re planning a solo Moscow itinerary, you should have no need to worry, as the city is also considered safe for solo travelers, even women. Stay in the populated areas, try and not travel alone late at night, and never accept rides from strangers or taxis without a meter and correct signage.

The threat of natural disasters in Moscow is low, with the exception of severe winters when the temperature can dip below freezing! Bring a good, warm jacket if you visit in Winter.

However, please note that Russian views on homsexuality are far less accepting than those in Western Europe. Likewise, Non-Caucasian travellers may sadly encounter racism in Russia .

Don’t Forget Your Travel Insurance for Moscow

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Now that we’ve covered all the top things to see in Moscow, we thought we’d include some exciting day trips to other areas of the country!

Sergiev Posad (Golden Ring)

On this 7-hour guided tour, you’ll visit several scenic and historic areas of Russia. Start your day with hotel pick-up as you’re transferred by a comfortable car or minivan to Sergiev Posad. Admire the charming Russian countryside on your drive and enjoy a quick stop to visit the Russian village, Rudonezh!

You’ll see the majestic Saint Spring and the Church of Sergiev Radonezh. You’ll also visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, one of the most famous Orthodox sites in Russia!

Lastly, you’ll swing by the local Matreshka market and enjoy a break in a nice Russian restaurant before returning to Moscow!

Day Trip to Vladimir and Suzdal

On this 13-hour trip, you’ll discover old Russia, with its picturesque landscapes and white-stoned beautiful churches! You’ll visit the main towns of the famous Golden Ring of Russia – the name for several cities and smaller towns north-east of Moscow.

Your first stop will be in the town of Vladimir, the ancient capital of all Russian principalities. The city dates back to the 11th century and is one of the oldest and the most important towns along the Ring! Next, you’ll visit Suzdal, a calm ancient Russian town north of Vladimir with only 13,000 inhabitants!

The old-style architecture and buildings of Suzdal are kept wonderfully intact. If you’re spending three days in Moscow, or more, this is a great option for exploring the charming areas outside the city!

Zvenigorod Day Trip and Russian Countryside

On this 9-hour private tour, you’ll explore the ancient town of Zvenigorod, one of the oldest towns in the Moscow region! As you leave Moscow you’ll enjoy the stunning scenery along the Moscow River, and make a few stops at old churches along the way to Zvenigorod.

Upon arrival, you’ll explore the medieval center, including the 14th-century Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery. Next, you’ll take a break for lunch (own expense) where you’ll have the chance to try out the Russian cuisine! Next, you’ll visit the Museum of Russian Dessert and sip on tea at a Russian tea ceremony.

The final stop of the day is at the Ershovo Estate, a gorgeous place to walk around and enjoy nature!

Day Trip to St Petersburg by Train visiting Hermitage & Faberge

On this full-day tour, you’ll enjoy a a full round trip to St Petersburg where you’ll spend an exciting day exploring another popular Russian city! You’ll be picked up from your hotel in Moscow and be transferred to the train station where you’ll ride the high-speed train ‘Sapsan’ to St Petersburg.

Upon arrival, you’ll start the day by touring the Hermitage Museum and the Winter Palace. Next, you’ll visit the Faberge Museum, where you’ll explore the impressive collection of rare Faberge Eggs! In the afternoon, enjoy a sightseeing boat ride and a traditional 3-course Russian lunch.

If you’re spending 3 days in Moscow, or more, this is an excellent trip to take!

Trip to Kolomna – Authentic Cultural Experience from Moscow

On this 10-hour tour, you’ll escape the city and travel to the historic town of Kolomna! First, you’ll visit the 14th-century Kolomna Kremlin, home to the Assumption Cathedral and an abundance of museums!

Next, enjoy lunch at a local cafe (own expense) before embarking on a tour of the Marshmallow Museum – of course, a marshmallow tasting is provided!  Your final stop is the Museum of Forging Settlements, where displays include armor and accessories for fishing and hunting.

Discover this beautiful Russian fairytale city on a private trip, where all of the planning is taken care of for you!

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Find out what people want to know when planning their Moscow itinerary.

How many days you need in Moscow?

We recommend that you spend at least two or three days in Moscow to take it all in.

What’s the best month to visit Moscow?

The best time to visit Moscow is over the spring, from March to May as temperatures are mild, crowds are thin and prices are reasonable.

What are some unusual things to do in Moscow?

I mean, queuing up to see an almost 100 year old corpse is pretty unsual! Check out Lenin’s Mausoleum if you fancy it!

What are some fun things to do in Moscow?

The Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics is a fun place to explore the famous space race from the perspective of the ‘other side’!

We hope you enjoyed our Moscow itinerary! We’ve made sure to cover all the Moscow must-sees as well as some unique attractions in the city! Our addition of insider tips, favorite food stops, and day trips from Moscow is an added bonus and will guarantee you make the most out of your exciting Russian vacation!

Immerse yourself in the modern and traditional Russian lifestyle! Get lost in museums, witness awe-inspiring architecture, and indulge in Russian cuisine! Spend the day strolling through all of the charming sites of Moscow, admiring the beautiful scenery and discovering the city’s fairytale-like enchantment!

Buy Us a Coffee !

A couple of you lovely people suggested we set up a tip jar for direct support as an alternative to booking through our links. So we created one!

You can now buy The Broke Backpacker a coffee . If you like and use our content to plan your trips, it’s a much appreciated way to show appreciation 🙂

Alya and Campbell

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Skowhegan Craft Brew Festival set for Saturday

The celebration of local beer and other products is expected to draw people from around the country to sample beverages from 24 Maine producers.

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A crowd gathers Sept. 2, 2023, along the Kennebec River, behind Water Street businesses, for the Skowhegan Craft Brew Festival in downtown Skowhegan. Morning Sentinel file

SKOWHEGAN — Beer lovers from around the country are expected to head to Skowhegan on Saturday for the town’s annual Labor Day weekend brew festival.

The Skowhegan Craft Brew Festival is set to feature more than 100 Maine-made craft beers, wines, ciders and spirits from 24 beverage producers, along with local food vendors and four musical acts, according to an announcement from the event’s organizer, the nonprofit organization Main Street Skowhegan.

The festival, which began in 2016, is expected to draw people from Maine, 13 other states and Canada, according to the announcement. So far, people from as far away from Texas, Arizona and Nevada have bought tickets, the organization said.

“We’re thrilled to draw people from near and far to Skowhegan for our annual brew festival,” Kristina Cannon, president and CEO of Main Street Skowhegan, said in the statement. “Not only do events showcase our growing community and all that we have to offer visitors, but they also bring people to town who spend money at our locally owned businesses. Brew fest, in particular, brings people back again and again to our community.”

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Tickets are required to attend the brew festival, and can be purchased online at skowhegancraftbrewfest.com . A $50 general admission ticket includes unlimited beverage samples from 3 to 7 p.m. and a souvenir tasting glass. “Designated driver” tickets for those who do not wish to drink alcohol are $10.

Ticket prices increase by $5 the day of the festival, so organizers suggest buying tickets by 6 p.m. Friday. Advertisement

A “VIP hour” at 2 p.m., featuring free food samples, other goodies and live entertainment, is sold out.

The brew festival is to be held along the Kennebec River in downtown Skowhegan, where the event moved last year from its previous location on Water Street .

Skowhegan Craft Brew Festival draws hundreds of beer drinkers to new location

Organizers said last year that the move was intended to help promote ongoing economic revitalization efforts along the town’s waterfront, including the planned River Park. Other events, such as the annual River Fest in August , are intended to achieve that goal, too.

With a contractor on board and the permitting process in its final stages, construction of the in-river whitewater park portion of the overall development is expected to begin in spring 2025 , Cannon said recently.

Construction of Skowhegan whitewater River Park delayed until 2025

Main Street Skowhegan uses proceeds from the brew festival to support its ongoing economic development efforts, according to organizers. The event is sponsored by more than a dozen local businesses and organizations.

The festival is expected to take place no matter the weather. As of Thursday, the National Weather Service was predicting mostly cloudy skies in Skowhegan on Saturday, with high temperatures in the mid-70s, and a 50% chance of rain showers after 2 p.m.

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