catamaran paine grande a pudeto

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Torres del Paine Catamaran Ferry

Pudeto to paine grande to pudeto.

NOTE: WE DO NOT SELL TICKETS IN ADVANCE – UNLESS YOU BOOK AN ALL-INCLUSIVE W TREK WITH US

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Where Does the Catamaran Operate from?

The Torres del Paine catamaran ferry service operates between the Pudeto Jetty, which is more or less in the heart of the Park, beside Pehoe Lake; and Refugio Paine Grande. However, this is NOT the catamaran that operates to see Glacier Grey – so do not be confused by this. THAT catamaran departs from Hotel Grey, way over in the western arm of the Park.

This Torres del Paine catamaran ferry service is used by people who wish to get to, or come back from, the French Valley; and those who may be coming from or going to Refugio Grey.

It is NOT POSSIBLE to make reservations. Passengers must turn up, line up and wait to board.

Length of the Crossing

From departing one end to arriving at the other side, crossing Pehoe Lake, the journey takes 25 minutes. From those waiting at the Pudeto end, there is a small cafeteria where you can buy hot drinks and snacks, as well as some public WC’s.

At the Refugio Paine Grande end, there is the restaurant in the refugio that serves snacks and drinks and, of course, public rest rooms are there too.

Information on Payment and Departure Times

It should be noted that payment for the Torres del Paine catamaran ferry service is required on board, in cash in local Chilean pesos, but during high season they often accept other HARD currencies, for example USD and the Euro. However, if ExperienceChile.Org is handling your travel itinerary WE CAN arrange tickets in advance – but these will not guarantee you space on a specific departure, you will STILL NEED to show up early and wait in line.

Season 2023- 2024 the charge is USD40 or Ch$30.000 approx. PER PERSON, EACH WAY (price given in good faith, but may change from time of publication)

Torres del Paine Catamaran Ferry 

Departure time schedule is further below.

Scheduling of the Torres del Paine catamaran ferry service is set at specific times, however, as this is a monopoly service, the owners can, at will, change the frequency of these departures to suit the economic reality associated with income derived from each sailing. In other words, if it looks to them like there will not be much demand in a particular day, they may well cancel a sailing.

Naturally, this does not help when it comes to planning travel itineraries, but it can happen, although not often.

Climate and Weather

Another influence on departure times is the state of the weather. If there is considerable wind the service can be suspended.

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Catamaran Service

Torres del paine arrivals and transfers.

Torres del Paine is quite simply one of the most amazing geographical wonders of the world. The Park is set in an area of incredible outstanding natural beauty in the heart of Patagonia. It is also a main trekking destination, home to the iconic Torres del Paine W Trek and Circuit trek trails, as well as the stunning Grey Glacier, waterfalls, rivers and lakes.

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Torres del Paine Catamaran Service

Operated Between Pudeto Jetty and Refugio Paine Grande Across Pehoe Lake

This service is subject to local weather conditions and can be delayed or cancelled. Most importantly, reservations are NOT taken in advance. Therefore, you need to organise your crossing directly at Pudeto or Refugio Paine Grande, for the 25-minute navigation.

You need to pay in cash in Chilean Pesos even though prices below are shown in USD, but in high season they accept other currencies too (established hard currencies like Euro and USD).

Prices - Season 2020 - 2021

The one-way fare is approx USD35 per person

Catamaran is operated by

Hielos Patagonias Tel: (+56) - (61) - 241 - 133 - Arrieros 1517 Puerto Natales

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French Valley Torres del Paine Hike (Mirador Britanico & Frances)

By: Author Charles

Posted on October 20, 2023

When it comes to day hikes out in Torres del Paine National Park, the Valle del Frances (or French Valley) is certainly towards the top of the list.

During a hike up you will get some of the best views you can ask for of Lago Pehoe, Lago Skottsberg, Lago Nordenskojld, Cuernos del Paine and much more.

Once you reach the Valle del Frances itself, you will also be able to visit two lookouts at Mirador Frances & Mirador Britanico (if time permits). When it comes to viewpoints at Torres del Paine, it doesn’t get much better than this.

Learn more about the Valle del Frances day hike and how it can fit into a longer W or O Trek itinerary.

*  Affiliate Disclosure : This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you make a purchase through the links provided, at no additional cost to you. Thanks for supporting the work I put into TripTins!

1) Valle del Frances (French Valley) Overview

The Valle del Frances makes up the middle section of the famed “W” Circuit. While many people add it onto a multi day trek (O or W Circuit), it is also possible to visit the valley as part of a Torres del Paine day hike.

Now, completing this as a day hike comes with some logistical and timing considerations. That is because you must take a car/bus to a catamaran dock, and then take a boat to the starting point at Paine Grande. At day’s end, you must then be sure to make that last catamaran across so you don’t get stuck in the National Park.

While I will go into logistics in the following section, I did want to lay out some high level hiking details below.

Since there are some logistical and timing concerns here as part of a day hike, many people will not be able to visit both Mirador Frances & Mirador Britanico.

As Britanico is further up the valley, many simply head to Mirador Frances before turning around .

Valle del Frances (Mirador Frances Only)

• Round Trip Length : 11.5 miles / 18.5 km
• Elevation Gain : 2,175 feet / 663 meters
• Duration : ~6-7 hours

Valle del Frances (Mirador Frances & Mirador Britanico)

• Round Trip Length : 15.6 miles / 25.1 km
• Elevation Gain : 3,250 feet / 990 meters
• Duration : ~8-9 hours

Closing Time

An important consideration when heading up the Valle del Frances are the closing times of the trail. Now these can change over time, so you will want to check once you arrive.

However, during my time in Torres del Paine, there was a sign at the Italiano Camp (around 4 miles / 7 km into the hike), that mentioned two closing times.

The trail from Italiano towards the first lookout at Mirador Frances closes at 3:00PM, meaning you can’t begin your hike after that time (this shouldn’t be an issue). It also mentioned you cannot continue onwards to Mirador Britanico after 1:00PM.

From my understanding, the closure is saying you cannot continue onwards from Italiano to Mirador Frances after 3:00PM, and you cannot then continue from Mirador Frances to Britanico after 1:00PM.

If you are trying to get all the way to Mirador Britanico, this means you will need to hike very quickly to make the cutoff further up the valley.

Torres del Paine National Park Entrance Fee

Note that there is an entrance fee for Torres del Paine that should be purchased ahead of time online . If taking part of a day hike, the “up to 3 day” ticket is $35 USD. A 3+ day ticket costs $49 USD.

2) Hike Logistics

The below is going to be more geared to the logistics of a day hike. However, I will talk about the W & O Circuit as well in the following sections.

Before starting the Valle del Frances hike, you will have two logistical parts to figure out:

1) Puerto Natales to Pudeto 2) Pudeto to Paine Grande

Puerto Natales to Pudeto

The first part of the day will entail getting yourself from Puerto Natales to the catamaran terminal at Pudeto. There are two main ways to go about this – rental car or bus.

To remove any logistical concerns throughout a trip to Patagonia, you can simply rent your own car during your time in Chile.

This will be helpful with those opting for day trips (like Mirador Las Torres ) instead of longer multi day routes. The drive should be faster and easier than the bus and you can park right at Pudeto.

Feel free to check out Rentalcars.com for plenty of rental options across various price points.

Renting a car also gives you a chance to road trip along to other places in Patagonia like Tierra del Fuego National Park , Perito Moreno Glacier , and other top highlights (such as Laguna de Los Tres ).

Instead of renting a car, you can instead take a bus to Pudeto. Bus Sur runs busses throughout the season from Puerto Natales, with the earliest one at 6:45AM.

The bus will first stop at the Amarga park entrance, before continuing onto Pudeto. The total length of the bus ride should be just around 3 hours (arriving closer to 10:00AM).

The last bus leaves Pudeto at 7:45PM and arrives in Puerto Natales at 9:50PM.

Please be sure to check the latest schedules before you go, and purchase your tickets ahead of time.

If you do not want to do this on your own, you can also join a day trip guided tour of the Valle del Frances

Pudeto to Paine Grande

Once at Pudeto, you will then need to hop on a catamaran to get to the starting point of the hike at Paine Grande. These cost $30 USD each way and do not need to be reserved ahead of time.

The first catamaran leaves at 9:00AM (not possible to make it with the bus) and the second at 10:30AM. The return catamarans leave Paine Grande at 5:00PM and 6:35PM.

Note that catamaran schedules change throughout the year. Please be sure to check out Hipsur and this Torres del Paine website for latest departure times for the catamarans.

If all of these timing still hold true, you could take the 6:45AM bus, get to Pudeto at 9:45AM, take the 10:30AM catamaran, and begin your hike just past 11:00AM.

That will give you 6-7 hours to complete the round trip hike before catching one of the last catamarans at day’s end. If you drive yourself, you can get an additional 1.5 hour head start with the earlier catamaran (a definite advantage to remove any worry).

Again, please check the latest bus and catamaran schedules before you head out.

3) Hiking Map

Below you can find the hiking map that shows the route and logistics for the day. This includes:

• Route from Puerto Natales to Pudeto
• Catamaran from Pudeto to Paine Grande
• Round trip hike up Valle del Frances

4) Day Hike vs O & W Circuits

As mentioned, there are a couple main ways to go about the hike up to the French Valley.

French Valley Day Hike

The simplest of ways is to just make this a day hike – an out and back trail from Paine Grande . If you opt for a day hike, you will need to make your way by bus or rental car from Puerto Natales to the National Park. By now you should have a good idea of what those logistics would entail.

If you do not want to worry about doing this on your own, you can also join a day trip guided tour of the Valle del Frances .

W Circuit or O Circuit

While a day hike is one way to go about it, taking part of a multi day hike around Torres del Paine is another way to do so.

The W Circuit is a 4-5 day hike that takes you towards some of the top highlights that the National Park has to offer (including Valle del Frances). On the other hand, the O Circuit is an 8 day hike that includes all of the W, in addition to exploring the “backside” of Torres del Paine.

The W trek can be done in either direction as a one-way route, while the O can only be done as a counter clockwise loop trail.

If taking part of the W Circuit, you will be visiting the Valle del Frances in the middle of your trek.

Going east to west, the Valle del Frances will most likely be your third day out on the trail. You will begin at the Frances campsite, visit the valley and then continue onwards to the Paine Grande campsite.

Going west to east, the valley may also be your third day out on the trail. The night before you would be staying at the Paine Grande campsite, before heading out to the Valle del Frances in the morning. After visiting the valley, you can then stay at the Frances campsite.

Learn more about the W Circuit and everything that it entails .

The O Circuit will be somewhat similar to the west to east option mentioned above.

The night prior you can stay at the Paine Grande campsite before taking the hike to the valley. It is then back down to the Frances campsite, where you will stay the night.

Learn more about the O Circuit and everything that it entails .

5) Weather & Forecasts

One of the most important considerations when hiking in Patagonia will be the weather. For those that are not aware already, the Patagonian weather can be quite crazy.

Not only on a day to day basis, but also on an hour to hour basis.

During my time hiking up the French Valley I had all sorts of weather. The sun, clouds, wind, rain, and even snow all came into play throughout the hike.

I remember at one point while I was at the Mirador Britanico, that it was sunny above me, but there was snow blowing in from further up the valley.

If you are doing this as a day hike, you should have more flexibility in picking a day that looks best on the forecast. The last thing you want is to arrive at the viewpoint and it all be covered in thick low lying clouds.

For weather forecasts, the locals seem to favor Windguru (linked to the Valle del Frances). Be on the lookout for days that have little/no precipitation and low lying clouds.

While forecasts are never going to be perfect, they are the best way to understand what the weather may entail.

Hiking Resources & Checklist Before heading out for the trails, be sure to read up on some of the hiking resources up on the site. These are here to better prepare you for all types of outdoor adventure. Gear : Hiking Packing List Weather : How to Prepare for Hiking Weather Navigation : Hiking GPS & Navigation Tips : 20+ Hiking Tips & Tricks for the Trail Accommodation : Book Your Hotel Today Rental Car : Book Your Car Rental Today

6) Torres del Paine Packing List

As you can tell, hiking in Patagonia, especially in Torres del Paine National Park, can bring all sorts of weather.

Due to this, you will need to come fully prepared with the appropriate hiking gear. Spending 6-8+ hours out in the mountains can have you layering up (or down) in all sorts of ways.

Below are my recommendations on what a Torres del Paine day hike packing list should look like:

→ Hiking Shorts → Hiking Pants → Short Sleeve Shirt → Long Sleeve Shirt / Sun Hoodie → Mid Layer Fleece → Puff Jacket (not always needed) → Packable Rain Jacket ( Columbia Watertight II )

→ Hiking Shoes (Recommendation: Keen Targhee ) → Hiking Socks ( Darn Tough )

Additional day hike recommendations include:

→ Hiking Backpack ( Osprey Talon 22 ) & Rain cover ( Joy Walker Cover ) → Water Bottle ( CamelBak Chute ) & Nutrition → Portable Charger ( Anker PowerCore 5000mAh ) → Hat & Sunglasses → Sunscreen & Bug Spray → Action Camera – GoPro Hero

Be sure to check out the Torres Del Paine Packing List guide I put together that will go through all of it and more

7) Valle del Frances Hike

Now that you have some information on the logistics for the day, let’s talk about the hike itself. I will go through it as a round trip day hike from Paine Grande. However, this will be essentially the same route if adding it onto the O Trek or a west to east W Trek.

Paine Grande to Camp Italiano (4.3 miles / 6.9 km)

After getting yourself off the catamaran, you will arrive right at the Paine Grande campsite and refugio. You can get yourself all prepped before continuing on the route around Lake Pehoe.

The main highlight that you will get to enjoy throughout this portion of trail are the Cuernos del Paine (the Paine Horns). These uniquely beautiful mountains will continuously be out in front of you throughout the route.

You will find the trail very easy to follow, as you continue along and make your way to a viewpoint overlooking Skottsberg Lake. While you will gain some elevation up until this point, once past the lake, the trail picks up elevation at a faster rate towards the Italiano campsite.

Just prior to camp, you will make your way on the small bridge over the Rio del Frances and be welcomed to the next portion of trail.

Camp Italiano to Mirador Frances (1.2 miles / 1.9 km)

While the next portion of trail from the campsite to Mirador Frances is just over a mile long, it also comes with just about 1,000 feet / 300 meters of elevation gain. The trail will certainly turn a bit rockier as you make your way up the valley and along the river.

While the trail is well marked, the terrain is going to be more difficult as you head up the valley. Out in front, you will begin to see the Torres del Paine mountains including Cerro Paine Grande and Glaciar Frances.

Be sure to take a look behind you at some points too, where you will be able to see the Nordenskojld Lake as well.

After climbing up for around an hour or so, you will arrive at the marked Mirador Frances. Here you will get the best views of the glacier and mountains out in front of you.

For most day hikers, I imagine this will be the turning point back to Paine Grande. For those fast hikers or for those that maybe took an earlier boat (or simply taking part of the W/O Circuit), you can also add on Mirador Britanico

Mirador Frances to Mirador Britanico (2.0 miles / 3.2 km)

Another 2 miles and 1,000 feet of elevation gain away is the final lookout of Valle del Frances. The trail up to this lookout can get steeper and trickier on loose terrain.

During my time on the trail, it was also flooded at some points, as I hiked up some slippery rocks.

Throughout the journey up, you will have more and more views of the Cuernos del Paine up above. Slowly but surely you will also begin to get those views of the back of the valley.

After making your way through a rock quarry, you will arrive at the final lookout point. Here you will get vast views of even more Torres del Paine peaks such as Cerro Catedral, Cerro Trono Blanco, Cerro Escudo, Cerro Fortaleza, among others.

You can enjoy your time up here before turning back around and heading back to Paine Grande (if taking a day trip).

Throughout the entirety of the hike, you must pay close attention to your timing, so you don’t miss that last catamaran out from Paine Grande.

8) Puerto Natales Hotels

During your time visiting Torres del Paine, you most likely will be staying in Puerto Natales at one point or another.

While you can visit the park from the Argentinian towns of El Calafate and El Chalten , I would recommend staying directly in Puerto Natales. This way you can more easily explore the park and not be subject to just a single day trip from Argentina.

Puerto Natales is a town built for the thousands of tourists who want to visit Torres del Paine. You will find plenty of gear shops, restaurants, and hotels all throughout town.

Below would be a few of my highly rated and recommended options when it comes to hotels in Puerto Natales:

• Hotel Vendaval
• Lady Florence Dixie

Note that you can also choose from one of the best Torres del Paine hotels instead!

That about wraps up a guide the French Valley of Torres del Paine. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to add them in below.

Also be sure to check out the other Patagonia itineraries and guides up on the site.

Have fun out there and safe travels!

Related posts:

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Wednesday 18th of October 2023

Hey man...this one article is throwing off my whole plan...haha

Does the hike up to Mirador Britanico really close at 1pm?! Is it enforced? Do you know why they do this?

I'm planning to head from Puerto Natales to Paine Grande to Mirador Britanico to Frances on Day 1. I don't worry about the distance at all, just worried that the trail will be closed by the time I get there.

Let me know!

Saturday 21st of October 2023

@Charles, you're awesome! Thanks for explaining and the picture helps a ton.

From the looks of it, your interpretation is spot on! :)

In that case it would be impossible to get from Puerto Natales all the way up to Britanico in time — that's assuming that at the very best, the catamaran drops you off at Paine Grande at 11am. You'd only have 2 hours to get to the start of Britanico. That's unfortunate.

I'm going to do the whole O-trek in five days in December so I'll be sure to stop by here and drop a note. Since I won't be able to try Puerto Natales to Britanico, I'll at least time it out to see if people could make it in time. Or if it is still closed at a certain time and if anyone is watching...haha

Really appreciate your help.

Great write up by the way :)

Friday 20th of October 2023

@Charles, really appreciate the reply.

I'm still a little confused: in your article you wrote that the Mirador Britanico hike is closed at 1pm? Is there a ranger station at the start of that hike (or anyone to stop you) or just at the start of the valley?

If there is no one at the start of Mirador Frances and Mirador Britanico, then that would be great news! :)

I'm just wondering if I could make it all the way from Puerto Natales (6:45am) to Pudeto to Paine Grande (11:30ish) to the start of Mirador Britanico in one day without being stopped. I do hike fast, but getting to Britanico by 1pm seems impossible!

Hey Scott - this is a question that many have had including myself. There is a higher possibility of enforcement for the 3:00PM cutoff as there is a ranger station at the start of the valley. However, at Mirador Frances, there is not someone just waiting there that tells people to turn around. My best guess is that they have the enforcement in place to be sure the trails are cleared and people are not stuck hiking later on in the day. Hope you enjoy the trek!

W Circuit Express

4 Days / 3 Nights, from/to Puerto Natales

• Accommodation
• Self-Guided
• Boat Transfer
• Physical Demand medium high

Day 1: Arrival to Torres del Paine National Park – Hike to the Base the Towers lookout

Trip from Puerto Natales to the National Park

After breakfast at the hotel, you must to go to the bus terminal to take the 7:00 am bus (we recommend being at least 10 minutes before departure) to go to Torres del Paine National Park.

Trip from Laguna Amarga to Welcome Center

You will travel through beautiful landscapes until you reach the main entrance, Laguna Amarga, where it is necessary to register with CONAF (park rangers).

Walk to the El Chileno Sector

Today's hike begins in the Ascencio Valley, enjoying its extensive forests.

Walk from El Chileno to Las Torres Base

During the final ascent, you will cross an immense field of giant rocks until you reach one of the most emblematic viewpoints in the world, the famous Base of the Towers lookout.

Las Torres Base Postcard panorama

At an altitude of 900 m.a.s.l.m., you will marvel with the 3 granite towers (north, central and south) and the bright turquoise glacial lake at its feet. Take beautiful photos and enjoy your box lunch before returning along the same path back to Torre Central.

Return to the Las Torres Sector and accommodation at the Torre Central Shelter

After a long day and enjoying the Towers, delight in dinner at the refuge.

Day 2: Catamaran – Hike to Grey

Trip to laguna amarga.

After breakfast, ask for your box lunch and take the 8:15 am shuttle bus back to Laguna Amarga.

Bus to Pudeto

Here, you must board the Bus Sur bus that will bring you to the Pudeto boat dock.

Catamaran trip to Paine Grande

At 10:30 am you will board the Hielos Patagónicos catamaran, which will sail for approximately 35 minutes through the Pehoé lake, arriving directly to the Paine Grande refuge.

Hike to Refugio Gray

Here starts your hike to Grey. The journey begins through a narrow and winding valley that leads to Los Patos lagoon. As you keep moving forward, you will start to get glimpses of the immense Southern Ice Field as well as the icebergs in the Grey lake. After passing the sometimes very windy viewpoint, the path descends through a mountainous forest until it reaches the Grey refuge.

Views of Grey Glacier

From here, you can continue your walk for about 10 minutes until you reach the Grey’s glacier lookout, where you will be facing the bluest glacier in the world.

Night at Refugio Grey

Dinner will be served at the refuge between 6:00 and 9:00 pm.

Day 3: Grey to Paine Grande Trek

Hike to paine grande.

Enjoy breakfast in the dining room at Grey refuge and remember to ask for your box lunch! In case you haven't managed to visit the hanging bridges yesterday afternoon, take the morning to explore the spectacular panoramic views of the Grey glacier. Today you will follow the same trail back to Paine Grande refuge.

Night in Paine Grande

Rest and enjoy a warm dinner inside the lodge.

Day 4: Explore the French Valley – Catamaran – Return to Puerto Natales

Walk to the French Valley

Today's hike will be a round trip, starting and finishing at Paine Grande.

Going up through the French Valley

After breakfast, ask for your box lunch and get ready for a new day full of amazing Patagonian landscapes. Hike to the core of the park, bordering the blue waters of the Skottsberg lake. After approximately 2.5 hours of walking, you will arrive to the Italiano camp (park rangers), where you will begin your journey to the French Valley.

Britanico Viewpoint

Climb large rocks and then continue through the forest until you reach the French viewpoint. Here, you will be rewarded with incredible views of Los Cuernos, turquoise glacial lagoons and amazing hanging glaciers that fall down the east face of Paine Grande Mountain (3.050 m.a.s.l.m). If you are lucky, you can hear the resounding noise of the glacier and the falling water, as well as it is very common to witness an avalanche.

Return to Sector Paine Grande

Descend the same path to the Italian camp and then to Paine Grande refuge

Navigation to Pudeto

At 6:35 pm you must take the catamaran that will take you back to Pudeto, where you will board the regular bus to Puerto Natales.

Return to Puerto Natales

The estimated time of arrival to Natales is 9:30 pm.

• 1 night accommodation in Central Sector Camping includes: tent and mountain sleeping bag and insulating mat. Shelter includes: armed bed or single bed (with sleeping bag).
• 1 night in Sector Grey Camping includes: tent and mountain sleeping bag and insulating mat. Shelter includes: armed bed or single bed (with sleeping bag).
• 1 night in Sector Paine Grande Camping includes: tent and mountain sleeping bag and insulating mat. Shelter includes: armed bed or single bed (with sleeping bag).
• Catamaran Lake Pehoé to Pudeto
• Round Trip Bus Tickets Puerto Natales – Torres del Paine Round trip in regular shared service without a guide.
• General Entrance to Torres del Paine National Park Information, Prices and forehand booking at https://pasesparques.cl
• Briefing In Puerto Natales the afternoon of the day before the departure.
• Full Board W Express Circuit Dinner, Breakfast and Box Lunch

Not Included

• Bilingual Guide spanish/english During excursions and departures mentioned in the itinerary
• Medical, accident or travel insurance

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O Circuit Torres del Paine

8 Days / 7 Nights, from/to Puerto Natales

W Circuit exit by Grey Lake

5 Days / 4 Nights, from/to Puerto Natales

Navigation in Torres del Paine

Passenger and Cargo Transport Service in Lake Pehoé 

Itinerary (Route)

Pudeto  < --- > paine grande duration: 30 minutes.

* All departures are conditioned to the weather conditions of the time of departure.

August  until Sept. 15. /23

Departures: Monday, Wednesday and Friday, subject to a minimum of 15 passengers

Departure from Pudeto

Departure from Paine Grande

September: From 15 to 30

A daily crossing (round trip)

October 2023

10:30 hrs  |

11:00 hrs  |

November 2023

09:00 hrs  |

11:00 hrs. |

09:30 hrs  |

December / 23 to March / 24

16:15 hrs  |

17:00 hrs  |

Future dates from May 2024 onwards will be informed at the appropriate time.

We are part of the W Circuit

Our navigation today is recognized for its safety standards, as well as the quality of service provided. We have a catamaran with ideal characteristics to navigate Lake Nordenskold in different types of climates and situations.   

Buy your park entrance ticket online

To enter Torres del paine, you must previously buy your ticket to the Park. You can buy it Online at  www.aspticket.cl 

Passenger Transportation

Ships designed for navigation in Patagonia

From and To Mountain trails

The cafeteria opens on October 1, 2024.

Destinations

Trekking type, how to get to torres del paine in patagonia for w-trek and o-trek, by sierd van der bij.

You want to do the W-Trek or the O-Trek in Torres del Paine National Park, but the whole transport situation seems a bit overwhelming. Is it though? We get a lot of similar questions about flights, buses, and catamarans and therefore decided to wrap it all together in a blog post. Vamos!

Where is Torres del Paine National Park?

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Torres del Paine National Park is located in Chilean Patagonia . It was established in 1595 and it attracts as much as 250.000 visitors a year. These visitors mainly make find their way there through the small town of Puerto Natales, about 2 hours south of the Torres del Paine. Puerto Natales is about 3 hours from Punto Arenas, the closest airport.

Self Guided W-Trek (Camping)

You can get to Punta Arenas (IATA code PUQ), the nearest commercial airport to the gates of Torres del Paine, from Santiago de Chile. There are several daily flights that take 3.5 to 4 hours. The most frequent flights are offered by LATAM and Sky Airline . If you come from Argentina, you will not be able to catch a direct flight to Punta Arenas. From Buenos Aires, it is best to fly to El Calafate and from here move on via bus to Puerto Natales. However, if you by any chance have to possibility to find your way to Torres del Paine via the Chilean way, then this is recommended. The border crossing between Argentina and Chile can suck up a lot of time and money. You can also fly straight to Puerto Natales, but as the number flights are limited, this is not a very common way of travel.

The best way to get to Torres del Paine is by bus. In recent years bus transportation has come a long way and buses are comfortable. The views underway are a great warming-up for what you are about to see once you have arrived for your trekking. Coming from Punta Arenas you can easily take a bus to Puerto Natales. Easy, because this is the route most people take on their way to Torres del Paine. You can take either Bus-Sur or Buses Fernandez. Expect to pay an amount of 7.000 to 8.000 pesos (12 USD) for a one-way ticket.

Punta Arenas - Puerto Natales

8:00, 9:00, 11:00, 13:00, 14:30, 16:00, 17:00, 18:30, 19:15, 20:00, 21:00

Puerto Natales - Punta Arenas

7:00, 7:15, 9:00, 11:00, 13:00, 14:30, 17:00, 18:30, 19:15, 20:00, 21:00

Your trekking company assists you with the arrangements of your bus tickets. As availability always plays a role, it is recommended to take care of this well in advance of your travels.

You can also catch a bus from El Calafate. Depending on how easy it will be to cross the border, this journey can take up to 5 hours. As buses leave early in the morning, you will need to spend the night in El Calafate.

Regardless of whether you have booked a guided or a self-guided O-Trek or W-Trek tour via Bookatrekking.com, it will include a transfer from Puerto Natales to the starting point of your trek. Hence, you do not need to organize any transport from Puerto Natales to Torres del Paine. If you have not booked a tour via Bookatrekking.com, you can explore the different options that Buses Fernandez and Bus Sur offer. Alternatively, you can organize a private transfer. This is, however, usually a costly matter. It is recommended to book a tour that has a transfer included.

Most trekking itineraries, both guided and self-guided, for Torres del Paine include an exciting boat ride by a catamaran crossing Lake Pehoe. If it is included, the fare will be taken care of. If you have not booked a tour which includes transportation, expect to pay about 40 USD for a ticket. Mind that this needs to be paid in Chilean Pesos. The crossing takes about 25 minutes and has by default the following departure time:

From Pudeto

01-09 to 31-10 11:00 18:00

01-11 to 30-11 09:00 11:00 18:00

01-12 to 28-02 09:00 11:00 14:00 16:15 18:00

01-03 to 31-03 09:00 11:00 16:15 18:00

01-04 to 30-04 11:00 18:00

01-05 to 31-08 12:00

From Paine Grande

01-09 to 31-10 11:35 18:35

01-11 to 30-11 09:35 11:35 18:035

01-12 to 28-02 09:35 11:35 14:35 17:00 18:35

01-03 to 31-03 09:35 11:35 17:00 18:35

01-04 to 30-04 11:35 18:35

01-05 to 31-08 12:35

Presuming you are enjoying the catamaran at the end of your trek, you will need to calculate some time for your bus back to Puerto Natales. That is, if you have not booked your tour through a trekking company listed on Bookatrekking.com. In Pudeto you can catch a bus back to Puerto Natales. Regardless of what catamaran and the time you arrive in Pudeto, there will be a means of transport to help you back on your way to Puerto Natales Buses Maria Jose is a good option for the traveler without a pre-booked itinerary. If you have booked your W-Trek or O-Trek through Bookatrekking.com, you can rest assured that you have tickets for the bus from Pudeto to Puerto Natales. Do you have any more questions about transportation in Torres del Paine in Chilean Patagonia? Do not hesitate to get in touch with us! Here you can have a look at our offers for Patagonia .

At Bookatrekking.com you can book many treks in Chile. We take care of all the details for you, give you personal trekking advice and give you the best service possible. Find all our offers for Chile here . Our easy-to-use platform allows you to browse and compare different trekking options and find the perfect fit for your interests, abilities, and budget.

If you have any questions about a specific trek or need help choosing the right one for you, our team of Trekking Experts is here to assist you. Simply reach out to us and we will be happy to provide you with personalized recommendations and advice to help you plan the trekking adventure of a lifetime.

Is a walking holiday in Chile not your cup of tea and are you looking for other epic adventures? Check out one of our following blog posts:

• Peter Habeler Runde
• Salzburger Almenweg
• Berliner Höhenweg
• Palaronda Trek
• Alta Via del Granito
• Everest Base Camp Trek
• Annapurna Circuit Trek
• Nepal Travel Guide
• Salkantay Trek
• Peru Travel Guide
• West Highland Way
• Rob Roy Way
• Great Glen Way

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Paine Grande - Pudeto / Catamaran - Torres del Paine National Park Forum

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How crowded is this boat from Paine Grande to Pudeto ? Do we need buy tickets before - we will be there in first week of January

Do we pay Chilean Pesos only or we can pay also US $ ? Price ?

Last question* BUS from Pudeto - to Puerto Natales ? By ticket in advance or there is many buses

The web page http://www.torres-del-paine.org/catamaran.html in English answers your questions. In summary pay in Chilean pesos and there are no advance reservations.The answer to the question about the bus will be the same.

the catamaran does get very busy, however if they can't fit everyone on the first boat they will usually make a 2nd trip. Its not possible to buy tickets in advance and best to have CLP. The cost is CLP12,000 one way approx.

For buses from Pudeto, it works in the same way where there are no seat reservations in advance even if you buy a return ticket. There are 3 main bus companies that all connect with the catamaran so there isn't usually any problems.

Thank You. Great info - needed confirmation how it works

I just came back nov 11th from W trek

Catamaran one way 15000clp buy tickets on board. From nov 16 to March 16

Schedule from Pudeto to Paine grande 9:30, 12:00,18:00

From Paine grande to Pudeto 10:00,12:30,18:00

Bus from PN to Park at 7:30 and 14:30

Return from Pudeto 13:30,19:00

From large amaga 14:30,19:45

Thank You for "fresh" info. Did you just wait for a bus without ticket ? - (from Pudeto to Puerto Natales)

Paine Grande to Pudeto is by catamaran。then you get on the same bus you came to the park from there back to puerto natales。 The bus ticket you buy from puerto natales is round trip open tickets。just remember to keep your return ticket

But we need only one way tickets, because we have transfer from El Calafate to TDP. So we will need to catch any bus from Pudeto to Puerto Natales, and I wanted to know if we need tickets before

This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity.

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Put-in tours

Original tour agency in moscow and st petersburg..

Onboard a Soviet van!

Welcome to Russia!

We are Sergey and Simon, a Russian and a Frenchman, both  passionate about Moscow, Saint-Petersburg and classic cars. Together, we have created Put-in tours. Our goal is to help you experience Russian culture off the beaten path. Join us onboard our classic Soviet van and let’s get rolling!

In Moscow we offer you a city tour to discover most of the city in an original way as well as a night tour to admire the lights. Our pubcrawl is ideal to explore Moscow’s night-life and have fun. If you are craving to discover Russian culture, come impress your senses during our monastery diner or join our 100% Russian Banya Excursion . The latest will also bring you to Sergiyev Posad and it’s famous monastery!

For the most extreme travellers, our shooting tour will deliver your daily dose of adrenaline whereas our tank excursion will let you ride a real tank and shoot a bazooka.

We also offer help to receive your visa , safe and multilingual airport transfers , as well as organisation services for team-building events or bachelor parties .

All our excursions (but the monastery diner) happen onboard our Soviet military vans and can be covered by our  professionnal photographer or videographer.

In Saint Petersburg

We welcome you in Saint Petersburg onboard our Soviet van to discover the imperial city with our city tour and night tour .

Continue your discovery in style! The adrenaline lovers will like our shooting tour  which brings 3 Russian weapons to the tip of your trigger finger.

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At Put-in tours, we put you in our classic Soviet vans to go explore Moscow, Saint Petersburg and Russian culture off the beaten path. Discover our Moscow city guided tour, visit Moscow by night, join our banya & Sergiyev Posad excursion, visit and dine in one of Moscow's oldest monastery or even Luzhniki stadium, before you party on our famous pubcrawl! Original and atypical tours : Shoot AK47 and a bazooka after riding on a tank with our tank & bazooka excursion ! Extreme tours: Fly a fighter jet in Moscow onboard a L-29 or L-39 aircraft!

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Things to do in Moscow: how to visit Moscow | Unmissable, cool & unusual

• September 2, 2023

What are the best things to do in Moscow? What to do in Moscow? First, I will list the main places to visit by theme, passing by the must-sees, but also more unusual places in Moscow. Then, I will describe what to see in Moscow in one day and how to visit Moscow in 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 days. Let’s go!

Good to know. For more information, click on the places to open the dedicated blog posts.

Main places to visit in Moscow & best things to do in Moscow

I worked in Moscow and I loved this city for its dynamism and energy. We find there from time to time to see friends, remember good memories and enjoy this giant city! Then the time has come for us to share with you our practical guide.

TOP 5 must-see places in Moscow

• Moscow Red Square
• St. Basil’s Cathedral
• Cathedral of Christ the Savior
• Bolshoi Theatre

Places of cultural, historical and religious interest in Moscow

• Novodevichy Convent and cemetery
• Tretyakov Gallery
• Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts
• Kremlin Izmaïlovo (pseudo-historic place, recently built in the image of the old, one of the best things to do in Moscow for your Instagram account 😉 )
• Park and ancient village of Kolomenskoye

Visit Moscow of the Soviet era

• Moscow State University and Sparrows Hill
• VDNKh and the Museum of Astronautics, one of the key landmarks of the Soviet era in Moscow
• GULAG Museum
• Metro stations
• The Stalinist skyscrapers, scattered all over the city

Less touristy places in Moscow

• Gorky Park and the GARAGE museum
• The old Krasny Oktyabr factory
• Zaryadye Park
• Center for Contemporary Art, WINZAVOD
• Business center, Moscow City

Main districts of Moscow to visit

• Patriarch Ponds
• Tchistye Prudy
• Kuznetsky most
• Arbat Street

However, regardless of the length of your stay, whether you are going to visit Moscow in 4 days or in 2, you need a visa. The article Obtaining a tourist visa for Russia could then be useful in any case.

What to do and see in Moscow in one day?

List of things to see and do in Moscow in one day:

• Go to Red Square
• Visit St. Basil’s Cathedral
• See Kremlin walls (but not to visit)
• Visit Cathedral of Christ the Savior
• Discover Kuznetsky most districts and see Bolshoi Theatre building
• And if you have time at the end of the day: go to the Sparrows Hill or to the Moscow City for a beautiful view

Things to do in Moscow in 2 days

If you want to visit Moscow in 2 days, there are 2 purposes: do not miss the essential places of Moscow and optimize travel.

• First day: Red Square , Saint Basil’s Cathedral , Zariadye Park, Bolshoi Theatre , Kremlin
• Day 2: Cathedral of Christ the Savior, the former Krasny Oktyabr factory on Balchug Island, Gorky Park, Moscow State University (one of the Seven Sisters buildings ) and Sparrow Hill

As 2 days os really short, be sure to choose an accommodation in the best districts where to stay in Moscow .

Walking on Red Square in Moscow: one of the unmissable things to do in Moscow

Iconic place and one of the must-see places in Moscow and even in Russia! Besides, if there was only one place to visit in Moscow in 2 days, this place would then be Red Square, without hesitation. Therefore, starting the city tour with Red Square is ideal . Several buildings are on the square, but not all of them have to be visited. Check out my blog post about Moscow’s Red Square in detail to learn more and not miss anything.

Visiting Saint-Basil’s Cathedral inside

Even more emblematic than Moscow’s Red Square! Built in the middle of the 16th century under the orders of Tsar Ivan Le Terrible, this cathedral is one of the most beautiful monuments of Orthodox art, and definitely one of the unmissable places in Moscow. Visiting Saint-Basil’s Cathedral inside is one of the most beautiful things to do in Moscow!

• Visit estimate time : 1h30
• Entry ticket : 700 RUB. Tickets can be purchased on the cathedral’s official website 45 days before the tour.
• Audio guide (recommended): 500 RUB
• Opening hours : June to August 10 am-6pm; from November to April: 11 am-5pm; May, September, October 11 am-5pm. Cathedral closed on Wednesdays. Entrance is closed 45 minutes before closing.
• Find out more in the dedicated article: Saint Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow

Take a walk in Zariadye park: one of the coolest things to do in Moscow after visiting Red Square

Zaryadie Park is just a 10-minute walk from St. Basil’s Cathedral, so it’s easy to include in your itinerary if you’re going to visit Moscow in 2 days. From its heights, you can see the red walls of the Kremlin. But, the most impressive point of view is the platform which overlooks the Moskva river. A must see! And clearly one of the coolest things to do in Moscow!

• Open 24 hours a day
• Good to know! Park Zaryadye is also a place to visit in Moscow in winter. Find out more here: What to do in Moscow in winter?

See the Bolshoi Theatre and discover the Kuznetsky Most district

The Bolshoi Theatre is the most famous Russian theater in the world. The most economical way to see a presentation at the Bolshoi Theater is to take the tickets on the theater’s official website in advance, so here is our tutorial to help you: How to buy entrance tickets to the Bolshoi? In addition, several pedestrian or one-way streets

The Bolshoi Theater is the most famous Russian theater in the world. The most economical way to see a presentation at the Bolshoi Theater is to take the tickets on the theater’s official website in advance, so here is our tutorial to help you: How to buy tickets to the Bolshoi? In addition, several pedestrian or one-way streets are located north of the theater. It is therefore very pleasant to find them to leave the main axes of the megalopolis.

Visit the Moscow Kremlin

Visit Kremlin is on top of things to do in Moscow. A place of power for centuries, the Kremlin then shows us a whole different image when viewed from the inside. If you want to visit Moscow in 2 days, the Kremlin is certainly one of the must-see places in Moscow.

• Opening hours : Daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., except Thursday.
• See our blog post about visiting the Moscow Kremlin

Visit the Cathedral of Christ the Savior

This impressive Moscow Cathedral is the seat of the Russian Orthodox Church. It is a must see if you visit Moscow in 2 days and clearly one of the things to do in Moscow. The Cathedral of Christ the Savior was first built in 1883 in memory of Russia’s victory over Napoleon’s Grand Army. Then in 1931 Stalin ordered its destruction. It was then rebuilt again (identically) only in 2000.

• Where? Ulitsa Volkhonka 15. At the foot of the Kropotkinskaya metro station.
• Opening hours . Daily: 10: 00-17: 00, except Monday: 13: 00-17: 00
• Free entry (some closing restrictions, for example a short)

Good to know! In orthodox religious places, one must avoid excessively uncovered clothing. Women should cover their heads. After visiting the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, you can explore Bolotny Island and Gorky Park. This is one of the routes our guide to Moscow.

The old Krasny Oktyabr factory: one of the coolest things to do in Moscow

If you cross the Moskva River by a pedestrian bridge which is located just in front of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, you will enjoy a beautiful view of the city and at the same time you can discover Balchug Island. Furthermore, if you want to visit Moscow in 2 days, you can include this island in your itinerary between the cathedral and Gorky park. Here is the old confectionery factory Krasny Oktyabr, which has gradually turned into a fashionable micro-district. There are then some elements of street art, cafes and restaurants and some Moscow bohemian side. At the end of the island you can see a gigantic 98-meter-high monument dedicated to the Russian reforming tsar Pierre The Great.

Good to know! You can find on this island are the trendiest nightclubs in Moscow. On weekends, there are taxi caps after midnight so there are so many people. On the other hand, if you go there in winter and during the day, the island is quite empty and less interesting to see.

Gorky Park is one of the TOP places to visit in Moscow, because it allows you to better understand the life of the locals and their rhythm. In fact, it’s a huge entertainment park. For example, in winter there is a giant ice rink and in summer – free dance or yoga lessons, sandy beaches for playing volleyball, an outdoor cinema. So, like the locals, have a Stakantchik (ice cream or cooked corn), and enjoy the atmosphere of the place: that’s one of the interesting things to do in Moscow to discover the city.

• Where? Krymsky Val 9. 20 minutes’ walk from Krasny Oktyabr, along the quays.

Sparrow Hill and Moscow State University

The Sparrow Hill, Vorobiovy Gori in Russian, is the highest point in Moscow. It is rather known to Russians, but less to travelers. A nice view on Moscow opens from the hill, and in particular on the Luzhniki Stadium. In addition, on the hill itself is the Moscow State University: an impressive skyscraper from the Soviet era.

• How to get there? By bus T7 (35 min) from Oktyaborskaya station, near Gorki Park. By metro (Vorobiovy Gorki station) + climb the hill on foot. On foot along the Moskva along the Gorky Park (1h30) + climb in funiculars.

Good to know! It is possible to cross the Moskva river by funicular. We actually tested it and it was pretty cool! That is one of our favorite things to do in Moscow!

What to do in Moscow in 3 days?

If you are going to visit Moscow in 3 days, it would be interesting to dive into the Soviet era which strongly marked the country and the city. After the Bolshevik Revolution, the capital was transferred from Saint Petersburg to Moscow, in order to mark the change of power. Moscow then became the world showcase for communist ideology. Here are the best things to do in Moscow for 3-day-trip!

VDNKh, visit Moscow of the Soviet era

VDNKh is a large exhibition center in the north of Moscow, where there are still several striking witnesses of the USSR. The most interesting are the Museum of Cosmonauts and the Statue of the Worker and the Kolkhozian , which will certainly impress you with its size!

GULAG History Museum

The explanations of the museum are very well done. We really have the feeling of going back in time. If you are going to visit Moscow in 3 days and you are interested in history and this subject in particular, I recommend this museum. Visit the GULAG History Museum is one of the most interesting things to do in Moscow.

Discover the Patriarche Pounds district

It’s a nice neighborhood in Moscow where you can come across rather affluent locals, but not necessarily very bling-bling. Take a walk in this area is really a cool thing to do in Moscow! In addition, the Ponds of Patriarch is one of the places of Bulgakov’s novel “Master and Margarita”. As this is an interesting area to see, we have included it in a walking tour of Moscow. The route ends at the Moscow Kremlin, which is very convenient, because you will be able to visit Moscow in 3 days by optimizing your trips.

What to visit in Moscow in 4 days: TOP things to do in Moscow in 4 days

If you want to visit Moscow in 3 days, you will already see a lot of things. On the other hand, if you stay one more day, you have plenty to do! The Novodevichy Convent, the Tchistie Proudy district and the Izmaylovo Kremlin are very good candidates for you, if you are going to visit Moscow in 4 days.

Visiting Novodevichy Convent in Moscow

The Novodevichy Convent is one of the most brilliant examples of Russian architecture, according to UNESCO. This beautiful complex was built in 1524 and today consists of the convent, but also of a cemetery whose status could be compared to that of Père-Lachaise in Paris. Visiting Novodevichy Convent is one of the great things to do in Moscow, if you want to go a little bit outside of the center!

Discovering Tchistye Proudy district

It’s one of the most popular areas of Moscow, with many cafes, restaurants and bars nearby. It is therefore a place to discover if you want to visit Moscow in 4 days. It is just as pleasant for a stroll as for the discovery of local life. For example, in winter the pond turns into an ice rink.

Visiting the Izmaylovo Kremlin, one of the coolest things to do in Moscow!

The Izmaylovo Kremlin is more of a tourist than a historic place. On the other hand, it is a pretty impressive place to discover, especially on weekends. Inside the Kremlin, there is a flea market where you can find a little bit of everything, but mostly good souvenirs to bring from Moscow. For example, chapka, traditional Russian scarves or matryoshka (Russian dolls). Add the Kremlin and the Izmaïlovo market to your itinerary if you are going to visit Moscow in 4 days, because it is a nice and very colorful place! Visiting the Izmailovo Kremlin is one of the things to do in Moscow, if you want to put colors in your Instagram account! 😉

In 4 days, we will have the opportunity to see several Moscow: Classic Moscow, Moscow of old Russia, Soviet Moscow and a little bit of the new Moscow. So what to visit in Moscow on the 5th day of travel?

What to visit in Moscow in 5 days?

Art lovers will be delighted to discover the Tretyakov Gallery and the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, while others will prefer to stroll along Arbat Street, see the buildings of Moskva-City or visit Bunker 42.

Admiring Russian art at Tretyakov Gallery

Founded in 1856 by an industrialist and great lover of art, the gallery has grown over the decades, and then bequeathed to the state. Today the collection includes more than 140,000 pieces, 15,000 of which are paintings. Visiting the Tretyakov Gallery is one of the things to do in Moscow if you want to discover Russian art!

• Where? Pereoulok Lavrouchinski 10. A 5-minute walk from Tretiakovskaya station
• Opening hours. Open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. Thursday and Friday. Closed on Mondays.
• Entry tickets. 500 RUB.

Visiting the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts

The Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts presents the treasures of ancient Egypt, the paintings of Rembrandt and Cézanne, a fine collection of Impressionism.

• Where? Ulitsa Volkhonka 12
• Opening hours. Daily: 10: 00-20: 00, except Thursday: 11: 00-21: 00. Closed on Mondays. The boxes close an hour before closing.
• Entry tickets. The prices vary according to the collections from 300 to 750 RUB.

Walking on Arbat Street

All Russians know Rue Arbat. So, walking on Arbat street is one of the things to do in Moscow. However, after the years, little by little it became very touristy. This is a pedestrian street only. There are souvenir shops, restaurants and cafes there, but it is no longer the most authentic neighborhood in the city.

Seeing the buildings of Moskva-City (Moscow City)

Moskva-City is Moscow’s business center, much like Paris’s Defense district. The skyscrapers of Moskva-City are among the tallest in Europe: 373 meters high! Very nice place to see at dusk.

Good to know! You can admire a nice view of Moscow City from the docks of Tarasa Shevchenko. It’s especially beautiful in the evening with all the lights on.

Bunker 42, one of the most unusual things to do in Moscow

Bunker 42 is a secret military complex which was to be used by the Soviets in the event of a nuclear attack: a space of 7000 m² 65 meters underground!

• Where? 5 Kotelnitcheski Lane, 11.
• Prices. 2200 RUB per person
• Opening hours. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Restaurant inside. Original, but rather a tourist trap.

What to visit in Moscow in 6 days or more?

There are still so many places to see, because Moscow is a big megalopolis and there is always something exciting to do there. For example: the ancient Kolomenskoye village or the WINZAVOD contemporary art center .

If you are interested in history and want to see Russian cities on a rather “human scale”, it would certainly be interesting for you to discover the cities of the Golden Ring . For example, it is very easy to get to Sergey Posad from Moscow (less than 2 hours in train). Visiting the Golden Ring is one of the best things to do in Moscow if you are staying more than a 5-6 days.

There are still plenty of places to see in Moscow, however I did my best to list here the best things to do in Moscow, what to see in Moscow in one day, but also in 2, 3, 4 or 5 days in Moscow!

Moscow travel tips:

• Airport transfer: how to go to Moscow?
• Where to stay in Moscow (hotels, districts)?
• Tourist voucher for Russian visa
• Christmas and New Year in Moscow
• What is the best time to visit Moscow?

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In Transit: Notes from the Underground

Jun 06 2018.

Spend some time in one of Moscow’s finest museums.

Subterranean commuting might not be anyone’s idea of a good time, but even in a city packing the war-games treasures and priceless bejeweled eggs of the Kremlin Armoury and the colossal Soviet pavilions of the VDNKh , the Metro holds up as one of Moscow’s finest museums. Just avoid rush hour.

The Metro is stunning and provides an unrivaled insight into the city’s psyche, past and present, but it also happens to be the best way to get around. Moscow has Uber, and the Russian version called Yandex Taxi , but also some nasty traffic. Metro trains come around every 90 seconds or so, at a more than 99 percent on-time rate. It’s also reasonably priced, with a single ride at 55 cents (and cheaper in bulk). From history to tickets to rules — official and not — here’s what you need to know to get started.

A Brief Introduction Buying Tickets Know Before You Go (Down) Rules An Easy Tour

A Brief Introduction

Moscow’s Metro was a long time coming. Plans for rapid transit to relieve the city’s beleaguered tram system date back to the Imperial era, but a couple of wars and a revolution held up its development. Stalin revived it as part of his grand plan to modernize the Soviet Union in the 1920s and 30s. The first lines and tunnels were constructed with help from engineers from the London Underground, although Stalin’s secret police decided that they had learned too much about Moscow’s layout and had them arrested on espionage charges and deported.

The beauty of its stations (if not its trains) is well-documented, and certainly no accident. In its illustrious first phases and particularly after the Second World War, the greatest architects of Soviet era were recruited to create gleaming temples celebrating the Revolution, the USSR, and the war triumph. No two stations are exactly alike, and each of the classic showpieces has a theme. There are world-famous shrines to Futurist architecture, a celebration of electricity, tributes to individuals and regions of the former Soviet Union. Each marble slab, mosaic tile, or light fixture was placed with intent, all in service to a station’s aesthetic; each element, f rom the smallest brass ear of corn to a large blood-spattered sword on a World War II mural, is an essential part of the whole.

The Metro is a monument to the Soviet propaganda project it was intended to be when it opened in 1935 with the slogan “Building a Palace for the People”. It brought the grand interiors of Imperial Russia to ordinary Muscovites, celebrated the Soviet Union’s past achievements while promising its citizens a bright Soviet future, and of course, it was a show-piece for the world to witness the might and sophistication of life in the Soviet Union.

It may be a museum, but it’s no relic. U p to nine million people use it daily, more than the London Underground and New York Subway combined. (Along with, at one time, about 20 stray dogs that learned to commute on the Metro.)

In its 80+ year history, the Metro has expanded in phases and fits and starts, in step with the fortunes of Moscow and Russia. Now, partly in preparation for the World Cup 2018, it’s also modernizing. New trains allow passengers to walk the entire length of the train without having to change carriages. The system is becoming more visitor-friendly. (There are helpful stickers on the floor marking out the best selfie spots .) But there’s a price to modernity: it’s phasing out one of its beloved institutions, the escalator attendants. Often they are middle-aged or elderly women—“ escalator grandmas ” in news accounts—who have held the post for decades, sitting in their tiny kiosks, scolding commuters for bad escalator etiquette or even bad posture, or telling jokes . They are slated to be replaced, when at all, by members of the escalator maintenance staff.

For all its achievements, the Metro lags behind Moscow’s above-ground growth, as Russia’s capital sprawls ever outwards, generating some of the world’s worst traffic jams . But since 2011, the Metro has been in the middle of an ambitious and long-overdue enlargement; 60 new stations are opening by 2020. If all goes to plan, the 2011-2020 period will have brought 125 miles of new tracks and over 100 new stations — a 40 percent increase — the fastest and largest expansion phase in any period in the Metro’s history.

Facts: 14 lines Opening hours: 5 a.m-1 a.m. Rush hour(s): 8-10 a.m, 4-8 p.m. Single ride: 55₽ (about 85 cents) Wi-Fi network-wide

Buying Tickets

• Ticket machines have a button to switch to English.
• You can buy specific numbers of rides: 1, 2, 5, 11, 20, or 60. Hold up fingers to show how many rides you want to buy.
• There is also a 90-minute ticket , which gets you 1 trip on the metro plus an unlimited number of transfers on other transport (bus, tram, etc) within 90 minutes.
• Or, you can buy day tickets with unlimited rides: one day (218₽/ US$4), three days (415₽/US$7) or seven days (830₽/US$15). Check the rates here to stay up-to-date.
• If you’re going to be using the Metro regularly over a few days, it’s worth getting a Troika card , a contactless, refillable card you can use on all public transport. Using the Metro is cheaper with one of these: a single ride is 36₽, not 55₽. Buy them and refill them in the Metro stations, and they’re valid for 5 years, so you can keep it for next time. Or, if you have a lot of cash left on it when you leave, you can get it refunded at the Metro Service Centers at Ulitsa 1905 Goda, 25 or at Staraya Basmannaya 20, Building 1.
• You can also buy silicone bracelets and keychains with built-in transport chips that you can use as a Troika card. (A Moscow Metro Fitbit!) So far, you can only get these at the Pushkinskaya metro station Live Helpdesk and souvenir shops in the Mayakovskaya and Trubnaya metro stations. The fare is the same as for the Troika card.
• You can also use Apple Pay and Samsung Pay.

Rules, spoken and unspoken

No smoking, no drinking, no filming, no littering. Photography is allowed, although it used to be banned.

Stand to the right on the escalator. Break this rule and you risk the wrath of the legendary escalator attendants. (No shenanigans on the escalators in general.)

Get out of the way. Find an empty corner to hide in when you get off a train and need to stare at your phone. Watch out getting out of the train in general; when your train doors open, people tend to appear from nowhere or from behind ornate marble columns, walking full-speed.

Always offer your seat to elderly ladies (what are you, a monster?).

An Easy Tour

This is no Metro Marathon ( 199 stations in 20 hours ). It’s an easy tour, taking in most—though not all—of the notable stations, the bulk of it going clockwise along the Circle line, with a couple of short detours. These stations are within minutes of one another, and the whole tour should take about 1-2 hours.

Start at Mayakovskaya Metro station , at the corner of Tverskaya and Garden Ring,  Triumfalnaya Square, Moskva, Russia, 125047.

1. Mayakovskaya.  Named for Russian Futurist Movement poet Vladimir Mayakovsky and an attempt to bring to life the future he imagined in his poems. (The Futurist Movement, natch, was all about a rejecting the past and celebrating all things speed, industry, modern machines, youth, modernity.) The result: an Art Deco masterpiece that won the National Grand Prix for architecture at the New York World’s Fair in 1939. It’s all smooth, rounded shine and light, and gentle arches supported by columns of dark pink marble and stainless aircraft steel. Each of its 34 ceiling niches has a mosaic. During World War II, the station was used as an air-raid shelter and, at one point, a bunker for Stalin. He gave a subdued but rousing speech here in Nov. 6, 1941 as the Nazis bombed the city above.

Take the 3/Green line one station to:

2. Belorusskaya. Opened in 1952, named after the connected Belarussky Rail Terminal, which runs trains between Moscow and Belarus. This is a light marble affair with a white, cake-like ceiling, lined with Belorussian patterns and 12 Florentine ceiling mosaics depicting life in Belarussia when it was built.

Transfer onto the 1/Brown line. Then, one stop (clockwise) t o:

3. Novoslobodskaya.  This station was designed around the stained-glass panels, which were made in Latvia, because Alexey Dushkin, the Soviet starchitect who dreamed it up (and also designed Mayakovskaya station) couldn’t find the glass and craft locally. The stained glass is the same used for Riga’s Cathedral, and the panels feature plants, flowers, members of the Soviet intelligentsia (musician, artist, architect) and geometric shapes.

Go two stops east on the 1/Circle line to:

4. Komsomolskaya. Named after the Komsomol, or the Young Communist League, this might just be peak Stalin Metro style. Underneath the hub for three regional railways, it was intended to be a grand gateway to Moscow and is today its busiest station. It has chandeliers; a yellow ceiling with Baroque embellishments; and in the main hall, a colossal red star overlaid on golden, shimmering tiles. Designer Alexey Shchusev designed it as an homage to the speech Stalin gave at Red Square on Nov. 7, 1941, in which he invoked Russia’s illustrious military leaders as a pep talk to Soviet soldiers through the first catastrophic year of the war.   The station’s eight large mosaics are of the leaders referenced in the speech, such as Alexander Nevsky, a 13th-century prince and military commander who bested German and Swedish invading armies.

One more stop clockwise to Kurskaya station,  and change onto the 3/Blue  line, and go one stop to:

5. Baumanskaya.   Opened in 1944. Named for the Bolshevik Revolutionary Nikolai Bauman , whose monument and namesake district are aboveground here. Though he seemed like a nasty piece of work (he apparently once publicly mocked a woman he had impregnated, who later hung herself), he became a Revolutionary martyr when he was killed in 1905 in a skirmish with a monarchist, who hit him on the head with part of a steel pipe. The station is in Art Deco style with atmospherically dim lighting, and a series of bronze sculptures of soldiers and homefront heroes during the War. At one end, there is a large mosaic portrait of Lenin.

Stay on that train direction one more east to:

6. Elektrozavodskaya. As you may have guessed from the name, this station is the Metro’s tribute to all thing electrical, built in 1944 and named after a nearby lightbulb factory. It has marble bas-relief sculptures of important figures in electrical engineering, and others illustrating the Soviet Union’s war-time struggles at home. The ceiling’s recurring rows of circular lamps give the station’s main tunnel a comforting glow, and a pleasing visual effect.

Double back two stops to Kurskaya station , and change back to the 1/Circle line. Sit tight for six stations to:

7. Kiyevskaya. This was the last station on the Circle line to be built, in 1954, completed under Nikita Khrushchev’ s guidance, as a tribute to his homeland, Ukraine. Its three large station halls feature images celebrating Ukraine’s contributions to the Soviet Union and Russo-Ukrainian unity, depicting musicians, textile-working, soldiers, farmers. (One hall has frescoes, one mosaics, and the third murals.) Shortly after it was completed, Khrushchev condemned the architectural excesses and unnecessary luxury of the Stalin era, which ushered in an epoch of more austere Metro stations. According to the legend at least, he timed the policy in part to ensure no Metro station built after could outshine Kiyevskaya.

Change to the 3/Blue line and go one stop west.

8. Park Pobedy. This is the deepest station on the Metro, with one of the world’s longest escalators, at 413 feet. If you stand still, the escalator ride to the surface takes about three minutes .) Opened in 2003 at Victory Park, the station celebrates two of Russia’s great military victories. Each end has a mural by Georgian artist Zurab Tsereteli, who also designed the “ Good Defeats Evil ” statue at the UN headquarters in New York. One mural depicts the Russian generals’ victory over the French in 1812 and the other, the German surrender of 1945. The latter is particularly striking; equal parts dramatic, triumphant, and gruesome. To the side, Red Army soldiers trample Nazi flags, and if you look closely there’s some blood spatter among the detail. Still, the biggest impressions here are the marble shine of the chessboard floor pattern and the pleasingly geometric effect if you view from one end to the other.

Keep going one more stop west to:

9. Slavyansky Bulvar.  One of the Metro’s youngest stations, it opened in 2008. With far higher ceilings than many other stations—which tend to have covered central tunnels on the platforms—it has an “open-air” feel (or as close to it as you can get, one hundred feet under). It’s an homage to French architect Hector Guimard, he of the Art Nouveau entrances for the Paris M é tro, and that’s precisely what this looks like: A Moscow homage to the Paris M é tro, with an additional forest theme. A Cyrillic twist on Guimard’s Metro-style lettering over the benches, furnished with t rees and branch motifs, including creeping vines as towering lamp-posts.

Stay on the 3/Blue line and double back four stations to:

10. Arbatskaya. Its first iteration, Arbatskaya-Smolenskaya station, was damaged by German bombs in 1941. It was rebuilt in 1953, and designed to double as a bomb shelter in the event of nuclear war, although unusually for stations built in the post-war phase, this one doesn’t have a war theme. It may also be one of the system’s most elegant: Baroque, but toned down a little, with red marble floors and white ceilings with gilded bronze c handeliers.

Jump back on the 3/Blue line  in the same direction and take it one more stop:

11. Ploshchad Revolyutsii (Revolution Square). Opened in 1938, and serving Red Square and the Kremlin . Its renowned central hall has marble columns flanked by 76 bronze statues of Soviet heroes: soldiers, students, farmers, athletes, writers, parents. Some of these statues’ appendages have a yellow sheen from decades of Moscow’s commuters rubbing them for good luck. Among the most popular for a superstitious walk-by rub: the snout of a frontier guard’s dog, a soldier’s gun (where the touch of millions of human hands have tapered the gun barrel into a fine, pointy blade), a baby’s foot, and a woman’s knee. (A brass rooster also sports the telltale gold sheen, though I am told that rubbing the rooster is thought to bring bad luck. )

Now take the escalator up, and get some fresh air.

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