Flight to Moscow. Transfer to the Novotel Moscow Centre hotel (or similar) for 4 nights.
This morning, visit the Tretyakov Gallery, the largest repository of Russian paintings and icons. Continue with a tour of the city's stunning metro system, whose 44 stations have been designated architectural landmarks. Finish with a walking tour of the Arbat, a downtown pedestrian street with a large number of souvenir shops, street performers, restaurants, cafes and bars. Afternoon at leisure. (B)
This morning, leave the centre of Moscow for an excursion to Gorki Leninskiye. This 18th-century estate is where the revolutionary Vladimir Lenin spent his last years before his death in 1924. Today it is a large museum complex displaying many of Lenin's possessions. This afternoon, take a Moscow sightseeing tour with photo opportunities including Red Square, the Kremlin, the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, Vorobyovy Gory (or Sparrow Hills) and other major landmarks. (B)
Join a walking tour of the Kremlin grounds and the Armoury. This architectural ensemble is included in the Unesco world heritage list: the stunning gold-domed cathedrals, the gigantic Tsar Cannon and the Tsar Bell are all excellent examples of Russian architecture and casting. See the Kremlin Palace, which was formerly the imperial residence, and the historical buildings of the Senate and Arsenal. Visit one of the cathedrals to admire its frescoes and icons before continuing to the Armoury Chamber where a rich collection of gold and silver articles, precious stones, crowns of the tsars and other regalia are housed. Return to Moscow city centre for an afternoon at leisure. (B)
Morning at leisure. Afternoon transfer to the airport and fly to your next destination. (B)