Day Trip from Moscow | Golden Ring | Vladimir 🏰

Located about 200 km east of Moscow, the town of Vladimir was once the heart of the historical Vladimir-Suzdal Principality—the largest economic, political, and cultural center of ancient Russia. At that time, Moscow was just a small town within this principality. Since my friend and I couldn’t get train tickets to Vladimir directly, we first went to Suzdal and then took a taxi to Vladimir 🚖. These two Golden Ring towns are very close to each other, so I highly recommend visiting both in one trip. Suzdal feels more like a picturesque countryside village 🐄🌾, while Vladimir is a relatively developed town. 🤔 Personal tip: For the best experience, go to Vladimir first. Suzdal is so stunning that after visiting it, other Golden Ring towns might seem a bit repetitive (just more churches 🏛️😅). No offense to the other towns—Suzdal just sets the bar too high! 🚌 Transportation 1⃣️ Train Depart from Курский вокзал (Kursky Station). (I’ve shared how to buy tickets and read schedules in previous posts—check them out if needed! 📝) 2⃣️ Bus 🏛️ Attractions From the train station, walk up a long slope ⛰️, turn left at the top, and you’ll find a street filled with landmarks—all the way to the Golden Gate. You can explore everything within 3 hours, including meal time. 1️⃣ Dormition Cathedral 2️⃣ St. Demetrius Cathedral 3️⃣ Nativity Monastery 4️⃣ Old Pharmacy 🎫 150 RUB 5️⃣ Golden Gate (the only surviving medieval city gate) ...and several other beautiful churches 🍽️ Food & Drinks 1️⃣ Lucky Duck 🦆 Great atmosphere with menus in English and Russian. Excellent service—waitstaff even change cutlery promptly and ask about your dining experience. My friend and I loved their hand cream (a niche brand with gardenia and cardamom scent—long-lasting and so good we ordered it online right after!). Everything we ordered was great except the Greek salad. Their pasta is a must-try! 🍝 2️⃣ Блеск (Blesk) 🍩 Mostly known for French-style cream puffs, but also offers light meals. We had afternoon tea here while waiting for our train. 3️⃣ 22A Гастробар и Магазин A mix of restaurant and bar. 4️⃣ Blackwood 🍖 A classic Russian restaurant with beautiful décor. 5️⃣ Кофейня «Маяк» (Mayak Coffee Shop) ☕ A very cozy and atmospheric café. (The last three were recommended by my friend who visited earlier.) #Russia #Moscow #MoscowGuide #LifeInMoscow #StudyInMoscow #DayTrip #GoldenRing #Vladimir ✨