Russia 2019 Day 7: Cycling Moscow

Friday, April 24, 2026

Russia 2019 Day 7: Cycling Moscow

You are at - Jotaro's Blog/Footsteps-AhPek Biker/Russia 2019/ D7: Cycling Moscow | Go to D1/D2/D3/D4/D5/D6/D8/D9/D10/D11/D12/D13/D14

AhPek Biker - Riding Adventures

Russia 2019 Day 7:

Cycling Moscow!

Russia 2019 Day 7: 15th May (Wednesday)

Small Group (Non-cycling) Tour of Russia (Moscow, St. Petersburg & the Golden Ring Cities).

Day 7 - Moscow (Cycling Moscow & Zaryadye Park):

Veliy Hotel>walk>Bolshoy Kamenny Bridge>The State Tretyakov Gallery>Moscow Bike Tours>cycle>Kotelnicheskaya Embankment>St. Andronicus Monastery>Church of the Ascension>The Clean Ponds>Perlov Tea House>Lubyanka Square> World Clock Fountain>Monument to Vladimir the Great>Bolotnaya Square>St. Basil's Cathedral>Red Square>Children Victims of Vices Sculpture>Moscow Bike Tours>walk>Zaryadye Park>Soaring Bridge>Veliy Hotel.

This is page 7 of a 14-page blog. Click Here To Go To Title Page

< D6: Izmaylovskiy Market | Go to Other Days | D8: Danilovsky Market >

Route recommendations: Here are some tips on travelling to and around Russia:

1. Traffic Directions!

Driving in Russia is left-hand drive, and driving is on the right-hand side of the road. Do look to the correct side when crossing roads.

Speed limits are between 60 km/h within urban areas, 110 km/h along expressways, and 120 km/h on highways.

2. Getting to & around Russia.

Since Russia's "special military operation" into Ukraine, accessibility to Russia by air has been limited. But several airlines (including Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad, and Turkish Airlines) still operate flights to Moscow and St. Petersburg.

We flew return with Thai Airways from Kuala_Lumpur (KLIA) to Moscow (Domodedovo Airport) with short transits at Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi Airport). Presently, Thai Airways still flies from Bangkok to Moscow but now lands at Vnukovo Airport.

We booked hotels, train tickets, and several meals via the internet. Ground arrangements (and airport transfers) in Moscow were made through Alexander of Angel Tour, who can be contacted through WhatsApp at this phone number: +7926-435-86-87.

Ground arrangements (and train station transfers) in St. Petersburg were made through Tayna (contact no.: +7921-923-12-27), a local agent in St. Petersburg.

Travelling around the cities was in a 16-seater van. Travelling between Moscow and St. Petersburg was by the Red Arrow Sleeper Train and the Sapsan High Speed Train. Within Moscow, we got around using the Moscow Metro.

For out-of-pocket spending, we exchanged some Russian Rubles before leaving. We also brought along our Big Pay debit cards, as these can be used to withdraw Russian Rubles at ATMs. Debit and credit cards can also be used, but many smaller shops or market stalls only accept cash transactions. Click here for exchange rates to Rubles (presently 1MYR = 18.67 RUR, i.e. Russian Rubles).

3. Immigration & Customs Requirements

Tourists entering Russia will need a tourist visa, which can only be obtained via a TOURIST CONFIRMATION VOUCHER issued by a Russian travel agency or a Russian hotel that has the license to invite foreign tourists. This can be done through a local travel agency with affiliation to a Russian travel agency to obtain this invitation letter. The following is a list of countries that are visa-exempt to enter Russia.

For Malaysians, leaving and returning to Malaysia, getting through immigration is easier now. Just install and register MyBorderPass, and getting through will be a breeze. A QR code will be generated, have this scanned, and you're through.

4. Places & Things of Interest

In the morning, I joined a cycling tour with Moscow Bike Tours, with guide Vado taking me on an off-the-beaten-track route. The cycling lasted until just after lunch, and I rejoined my compatriots to visit Zaryadye Park. and The Soaring Bridge (Paryashiy Most). Along the way, there were many scenic and interesting places of interest along the way, but one should not miss the following:

a. Bolshoy Kamenny Bridge (Большой Каменный мост) (GPS: 55.74673, 37.61216) along the Moskva Riverside, crossing over to Bolotnyy Ostrov Island.
b. Tree of Love (Деревья любви) (GPS: 55.74435, 37.61863) at Luzhkov Bridge (Лужков мост) (GPS: 55.74400, 37.61902) over the Vodootvodny Canal, crossing to Zamoskvorechye District, in the south.

c. Bench of Reconciliation (Скамья примирения) (GPS: 55.74409, 37.61899).
d. The State Tretyakov Gallery (website) (Государственная Третьяковская галерея) (GPS: 55.74138, 37.62086).
e. Moscow Bike Tours (GPS: 55.74550, 37.62774).
f. Kotelnicheskaya Embankment Building (Высотка на Котельнической набережной) (GPS: 55.74719, 37.64273) one of the stately Seven Sisters buildings built by Stalin.

g. St. Andronicus Monastery (Спасо-Андроников монастырь) (GPS: 55.74915, 37.67010).
h. Church of the Ascension on Gorokhovo Field (Церковь Вознесения на Гороховом поле) (GPS: 55.76406, 37.67134).
i. The Clean Ponds (Чистые пруды) (GPS: 55.76107, 37.64468).
j. Red Gates Skyscraper (Небоскреб «Красные ворота») (GPS: 55.76932, 37.64914), another of the stately Seven Sisters buildings built by Stalin.

k. Perlov Tea House (Чайный Дом Перлова) (GPS: 55.76398, 37.63592).
l. Bolshoi Theatre (Большой театр) (GPS: 55.76013, 37.61864).
m. World Clock Fountain (Фонтан Часы Мира) (GPS: 55.75582, 37.61469) at Manezhnaya Square.
n. Children are the Victims of Adult Vices Sculpture (Скульптура «Дети – жертвы пороков взрослых») (GPS: 55.74594, 37.6194).
0. Zaryadye Park (Парк Зарядье) (GPS: 55.75145, 37.62879).
p. The Soaring Bridge (Paryashiy Most) (GPS: 55.74946, 37.6295).

5. Food

a. Breakfast

Western/Russian fare at Restaurant Bratya Tretyakovy (Ресторан братьев Третьяковых, Restaurant Brothers Tretyakovs) (GPS: 55.74169, 37.62073) next to the The State Tretyakov Gallery.

b. Lunch

Buffet Deli at Karavaev Brothers (Братья Караваевы) (GPS: 55.76115, 37.63243).
c. Tea
Soup and fish at Zaryadye Gastronomic Сenter (Гастроцентр Зарядье) (GPS: 55.75042, 37.6287) in Zaryadye Park.

d. Dinner
Take-away KFC Russia.

6. Accommodations

Fourth of four nights at Veliy Hotel Mokhovaya (Велий Отель Моховая Москва) (GPS: 55.75104, 37.61031) (now known as Mirros Hotel Moscow Kremlin) in Moscow.

7. Communicating with Each Other

When travelling in a group, it's important to be able to communicate with each other, especially if one gets lost from the rest. Back then, it was not easy to buy Russian Sim cards, and our Moscow guide got the Beeline physical SIM cards (with 14days unlimited data) at 700 RUR (MYR 37.50) for us before we arrived.

Even now, it is not easy to purchase a SIM card. However, it is possible to buy Russian Sim cards online; just be aware of the restrictions posted earlier.

8. Communicating with Locals

At hotels and tourist spots, locals speak fairly good English. In the smaller towns, most locals speak only Russian. As such, it would be good to know some basic Russian.

9. Dressing

When entering churches and monasteries, it is advisable to wear long pants, especially for women. Ladies will also have to wear headscarves or veils. Caps and hats should be taken off when in churches and monasteries.

10. Weather

Daytime and nighttime temperatures in Moscow were 19°C and 3°C, respectively.

Useful weather forecast sites for Russia is AccuWeather. For more detailed weather, including cloud cover and wind speed, use Weatherspark and Ventusky.

11. Navigation

I used MapMyRide to track our routes and stops. Geo-tagging of places of interest was via FaceBook or Google Maps.

___________________________________________________________________________

PRELUDE

Yesterday, we continued exploration of the Moscow Metro followed by visits to the Izmaylovskiy Flea Market and the Museum of the History of Vodka! In the evening, we had a fine Russian dinner at Café Pushkin.

Today, I am off for a bit of cycling while my compatriots did they own touring. We meet up again after lunch to visit a park.
___________________________________________________________________________

DAY 7: CYCLING MOSCOW

Map ok Small Group (Part-cycling) Tour of Russia (Moscow, St. Petersburg & the Golden Ring Cities).

Day 7 - Moscow (Cycling Moscow & Zaryadye Park):

(Zoom out to see more)

(Click Here Russia 2019 Days 7: Cycling Moscow Route Map)

Many of the posts below are linked to my Facebook postings during the trip and are embedded here with some comments. (NOTE: Click on respective posts to link to the FB post to read more details. If you can't see the posts, please log out of your Facebook first.)

I am joining a guided cycling tour (which I pre-booked earlier), and my compatriots have decided to join me on the walk from our hotel to the Moscow Bike Tours shop in South Moscow. Our walk took us onto the Bolshoy Kamenny Bridge, spanning across the Moskva River, within view of the Vodovzvodnaya Tower of the Kremlin. From there, it was a short walk across the Bolotnyy Ostrov Island, and onto the Luzhkov Bridge spanning the Vodootvodny Canal.
Here is where things got interesting: the Luzhkov Bridge is home to many Trees of Love full of love locks. And next to them is the Bench of Reconciliation. This AhPek took his turn to profess his love to his darling, Mrs. AhPek 😊. As we are still very much in love, we had no need for the Bench of Reconciliation, but all the same, we couldn't help taking a couples-photo sitting on the angel-winged bench with a large, flowery heart in front of us!

Just slightly further along was the Restaurant Bratya Tretyakovy, where we all stopped for a very good Western/Russian breakfast. This is a cozy place with nice decor and very good food; I highly recommend it.
Also, next to it is the The State Tretyakov Gallery, which is the foremost depository of fine Russian art in the world. The gallery was started in 1856 by the Muscovite merchant Pavel Mikhailovich Tretyakov, who acquired works by Russian artists of his day. In 1892, Tretyakov presented his already famous collection of approximately 2,000 works (1,362 paintings, 526 drawings, and 9 sculptures) to the Russian nation.

After that sumptuous breakfast, I was ready to start my cycling tour with Moscow Bike Tours. I had pre-booked their 4-hour Grand Moscow Bike Tour for €60. I was fortunate to be the only customer for this morning's tour, and my guide, Vado, took me on an off-the-beaten-track route.

Above are some photos from my daily log.

And above are some photos from my AhPek Biker blog on Cycling Moscow, on an off-the-beaten-track route.

From Moscow Bike Tour's shop, located at the Zamoskvorechye District, we rode our bicycles over the Chugunny Bridge, crossing the Vodootvodny Canal onto the Bolotnyy Ostrov Island. Taking a right and riding along Sofiyskaya Embankment, running beside the Moskva River. On the opposite bank can be seen the Soaring Bridge.

Stopped at the Bolshoy Ustyinskiy Bridge, from where can be seen the Kotelnicheskaya Embankment Building. It is a thirty-two-level building, 176 metres tall, and incorporates a 9-story apartment block
This is one of Seven Sisters buildings built by Stalin between the 40s and 50s to commemorate the 8th Centennial of the city (in 1947). They combine the Russian Baroque and Gothic styles with the neoclassical one, with influences from the New York skyscrapers of the 30s, and keeping also the Soviet realist art in the facades and ornamentations.

We rode across the Bolshoy Krasnokholmsky Bridge back to South Moscow, stopping at the St Nicholas Church Bolvanovka, a church of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. It's a very noticeable building with a strong pinkish-red colour.

Further along is the St. Andronicus Monastery, is a former monastery on the left bank of the Yauza River, and is named after the most famous monk of this abbey, St. Andronik of Moscow. Presently, it houses the Andrei Rublev Museum of Old Russian Art.

We rode across alleys running below buildings and also through tunnels.

At the Red Gates Skyscraper, another of the Seven Sisters buildings. This administrative building has a total height of 133 meters and 24 levels. It used to house the soviet ministry of heavy industries. Apparently, it is now the headquarters of Transstroy Corporation.
I look tall too, don't I? 😂

1:30pm - Passing by Perlov Tea House, a Chinese-looking building in Moscow?
It is a three-story building used from 1893 to 1917 as a tea shop and apartment building. In 1875, tea magnate Sergei Vasilyevich Perlov purchased it. In 1895, news broke of the arrival of the Ambassador Extraordinary and Chancellor of the Chinese Empire, Li Hongzhang, for the coronation of Nicholas II. Hoping to attract the attention of the high-ranking guest and secure exclusive tea contracts, Sergei Perlov decided to remodel his own home in a Chinese style.

Buffet Deli lunch at Cook Shop "Karavaevy Brothers". Food is paid for by how much it weighs.

We continued our ride, passing by the Bolshoi Theatre and then the World Clock Fountain at Manezhnaya Square.
Decorated with the figure of St George at the top, the fountain works like a clock. From it, one can tell the time in different cities, marked on its map. St George is immortalised in the legend of Saint George and the Dragon and as one of the most prominent military saints. The countries of Portugal, England, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Georgia, Ukraine, Malta, Ethiopia, Catalonia, and Aragon; and the cities of Moscow and Beirut have claimed George as their patron saint.

Rode by St. Basil's Cathedral, Red Square, and Vladimir the Great Statue. Not far away could be seen the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour.

We have looped back to Bolotnyy Ostrov Island, passing by Bolotnaya Square, and at the other end of the park is the Children are the Victims of Adult Vices Sculpture. The artwork is a group of bronze sculptures created by Russian artist Mihail Chemiakin. The monument consists of fifteen figures of children surrounded by sculptures in the form of anthropomorphic monsters, personifying "adult" vices - such as:
Drug addiction – depicted as a bald man with bent wings offering a syringe.
Prostitution – depicted as a woman with the head of a frog.
Theft – depicted as a man with a boar's head, carrying away a bag of money. Etc.

3:00pm -Thumbs up with Vado, "Otlichnaya rabota!" i.e. "Well done!"

Click here for the AhPek Biker Moscow Cycling blog link, and here for the Moscow Cycling Route Map.

I rejoined the group who was taking a walk at Zaryadye Park, where we went for afternoon tea at the Zaryadye Gastronomic Сenter. I had a wild time recounting my cycling experience to my friends 😊. A first for me, cycling in Russia!