Russia 11-Day 3-City Travel Guide: Moscow Edition

Last National Day holiday, I traveled to Russia and was lucky enough to see the northern lights! 🎉 I had an amazing time exploring this incredible country. The entire trip was self-planned, including the DIY visa. With this year’s National Day approaching, I highly recommend considering Russia for your next adventure! Here’s my Moscow itinerary and tips for everyone interested: 📅 11-Day Itinerary & Accommodation Day 1: Guangzhou → Moscow (SVO Airport) Arrived at 6 PM, applied for a Russian bank card at the airport (essential since Visa/Mastercard don’t work here 🚫💳). Taxis often don’t give change, so having a local card is super convenient for taxis (via app), restaurants, and stores. Stayed at Filigree Hotel — highly recommended! Close to Red Square and only ~300 RMB/night if booked early. Day 2: Armed Forces Cathedral Took a taxi (a bit far but totally worth it — stunning and impressive!). Nearby war history museum is also great if time allows. Day 3: Red Square City Walk Route: Red Square → St. Basil’s Cathedral → Lenin Mausoleum → Alexander Garden → Kremlin → Armory → Diamond Fund. Sites are concentrated but be prepared to walk… a lot! 🚶♀️ 🍽️ Restaurant Recommendations: 1️⃣ BOSCO CAFE (near Red Square) Great atmosphere — but watch out for birds trying to steal your bread! 😆 2️⃣ THE BULL (recommended by locals) Delicious pork knuckle and steak — but avoid the borscht (it’s terrible 😅). 💡 Russian cuisine might not suit everyone — try Georgian restaurants (search on Google Maps). Highly rated ones usually match Chinese tastes well! 👍 #TravelRussia #MoscowGuide #RedSquare #DIYTravel #BudgetTrip #RussiaFood #NorthernLights #NationalDayHoliday 🌍✈️❤️