mario's game gallery yacht

Mario's FUNdamentals

Mario's FUNdamentals , originally released as Mario's Game Gallery , is a compilation game in the Super Mario franchise, published by Interplay Entertainment and developed by Presage Software Inc. for PCs running Microsoft Windows . Exclusive to the United States , it was originally released in 1995, and later reissued and retitled in 1998, with Mindscape publishing this re-release; a version for Macintosh computers was published by Stepping Stone.

Five traditional games are included: checkers , Go Fish , dominoes , backgammon , and Yacht (an early version of Yahtzee ). Gameplay for all the games is similar to their real-world counterparts, though pieces are altered to be themed after the Super Mario universe.

Both versions of the game have received mixed reception. Upon its initial release, various publications found it to be a good educational game: The State and The Miami Herald praised it for "providing fun for the whole family"; and the Los Angeles Times said that it would appeal to younger gamers. Much later, the game was negatively received by authors David Wesley and Gloria Barczak, who labeled it and the other Super Mario games manufactured by third-party publishers in the 1990s, which were made without the supervision of Nintendo , as "a flood of ill-conceived Super Mario spin-offs" that almost destroyed the Super Mario brand. [1]

• 1.1 Checkers
• 1.2 Go Fish
• 1.3 Dominoes
• 1.4 Backgammon
• 2.2 Windows
• 8 References

Gameplay [ edit ]

Checkers [ edit ].

Checkers is played on an 8-by-8 board with alternating red and black squares. Game pieces only occupy the black squares. The player can choose to play as Yoshis or Koopas . Each player starts with 12 pieces on the closest 3 rows of the board. Players take turns moving a piece each. Pieces can only move diagonally forward to empty squares. If there is an enemy piece in the way but the square beyond it is empty, the enemy piece can be captured by jumping over it. Koopas turn Yoshis into bubbles and pop them, while Yoshis swallow the Koopas. A player must take the opportunity to jump if such move is available, continuing to jump as long as there are enemy pieces to capture. A piece that reaches the furthest row on the board becomes a king ( Big Yoshi or Bowser wearing a crown). Kings can move and capture backwards in addition to forwards. The game is over when the current player is unable to move, either due to having no pieces or all of them being blocked.

Go Fish [ edit ]

The goal is to try to make as many Books (sets of four matching cards) as possible.

Each player starts with 7 cards. During a player's turn, they may ask for a card they already have from the other player. If the other player has any cards of the chosen type, they must hand over all of them. Otherwise they are told to "Go Fish", or draw a card. Fishing is compulsory if the current player has no cards. A player can continue to ask for cards as long as they pick one the other player has or get the card they asked for after fishing. Once a player has all 4 cards of a same type, they lay down the "Book" and score for it.

The game is played with a deck of cards with no suits, each of the 13 types have four copies each. The following characters are represented:

• Rip Van Fish
• Little Toadies
• Piranha Plants
• Bowsers (misspelled as "Bowzers")

The draw pile is represented as a pool of water, from which a dolphin jumps out when the player fishes from it.

Dominoes [ edit ]

This game is played with a set of 28 bones or dominoes. Each player gets 7 dominoes at the start, the remaining 14 go into the boneyard. The player who has the highest double goes first and must play that domino. After that players take turns adding a domino to either end of the domino chain such that at least one end of the placed domino matches the value at end of the chain. If a player doesn't have any matching dominoes, they must draw from the boneyard or pass if there are no dominoes left. It is also possible to draw any number of dominoes before placing one down. The winner is the first player to end up with no dominoes at the end of their turn. If both players are unable to make a move when both still have dominoes left, the winner is the player whose dominoes in hand have the lowest sum of values.

The dominoes show all 28 possible combinations of the following values and the corresponding pictures:

• 1: Super Star
• 2: 3-Up Moon
• 4: Fire Flower ( Super Mario World design)
• 5: Super Mushroom
• 6: Cape Feather

Backgammon [ edit ]

Backgammon is played on a board with 24 triangular points and fifteen pieces for each player on a set placement. The goal is to follow a flipped C-shaped path, with Mario going from bottom to top and the human player top to bottom. One player plays as the Yoshis and the other as the Koopas. When not moving, the Yoshis hide in their eggs and the Koopas hide in their shells . The player to go first is determined by rolling a singe die, then starts their turn by rolling two dice. Each die can be used to move a single piece by the number of points shown on the die. The same piece may be moved multiple times in the same turn. A roll with same value on each dice allows for four moves with said value. Only one player's pieces can be on a particular point. A piece can't be moved if it would land on a point occupied by two or more of the opponent's pieces. Moving to a point occupied by a single opponent piece will cause that piece to go to the bar in the middle of the board. The owner must first bring those back before being allowed to make other moves. Bringing a piece back requires a dice roll that allows a legal move from "point 0" (e.g. a roll of 3 allows a piece to re-enter on the 3-point as long as there are less than 2 opposing pieces there). Once all of a player's pieces arrive in the final 6 points, they can be taken off the board by a die roll needed to move them to "point 25" (e.g. a roll of 4 allows taking a piece off from 21-point). A die roll can also be used to take off the piece furthest from the goal if the highest die roll is higher than the distance of that piece from the goal. A player that cannot make any legal moves ends their turn. The first player to take all of their pieces off the board is the winner.

There are no bets and doubling cube used in this game.

Yacht [ edit ]

The goal is to fill in an initially empty scoresheet using rolls of five dice. A player may roll the dice up to 3 times per turn and choose to hold some of the dice between rolls. The player must choose a line on the scoresheet, gaining points depending on which line is chosen and the value of the dice. Each line can only be chosen once per game. The player with the most points on the completed scoresheet is the winner.

The lines on the scoresheet are as follows:

• Yacht: 50 points if all the dice show the same value, otherwise 0 points.
• Big Straight: 30 points if all the dice show a sequence (1-2-3-4-5 or 2-3-4-5-6), otherwise 0 points.
• Sm. Straight: 25 points at least 4 dice show a sequence (1-2-3-4, 2-3-4-5, or 3-4-5-6), otherwise 0 points.
• 4 of a Kind: The sum of all dice if there are 4 with the same value, otherwise 0 points.
• Full House: The sum of all dice if there are 3 with the same value and 2 with a different but identical value, otherwise 0 points.
• Choice: The sum of all dice regardless of value.
• Sixes: The sum of the dice showing 6.
• Fives: The sum of the dice showing 5.
• Fours: The sum of the dice showing 4.
• Threes: The sum of the dice showing 3.
• Deuces: The sum of the dice showing 2.
• Aces: The sum of the dice showing 1.

Gallery [ edit ]

Ms-dos [ edit ].

The main menu of the game, with the alternative name Mario's Game Gallery

The intro to Checkers

Checkers gameplay

Checkers instructions

Go Fish intro

Go Fish gameplay

Go Fish instructions

The intro to Dominoes

Dominoes gameplay

Dominoes instructions

The intro to Yacht

Yacht gameplay

Yacht instructions

Backgammon intro

Backgammon gameplay

Backgammon instructions

Windows [ edit ]

Title screen

Media [ edit ]

Staff [ edit ], quotes [ edit ].

• Come here, fishy-fishy! Here, fishy-fishy!

See also [ edit ]

• Mario Teaches Typing

Trivia [ edit ]

• A SNES port of the game (under the Mario's Game Gallery name) is rumored to have been in development before being canceled. [ citation needed ]
• Mario refers to Toad by a pet name, "Little Toadie". This nickname originates from the 1993 Nintendo Character Guide , a set of guidelines and information given by Nintendo of America to licensing partners.

References [ edit ]

• ^ Wesley, David; Barczak, Gloria (2010). Innovation and Marketing in the Video Game Industry: Avoiding the Performance Trap . Gower Publishing Ltd. ISBN 9780566091674.
• Mario's FUNdamentals
• Educational games
• MS-DOS games
• Windows games
• Articles that need more media
• Pages with audio files
• Articles with unsourced statements

Navigation menu

Page actions, personal tools.

• Not logged in
• Contributions
• Create account
• Featured articles
• Wiki maintenance
• Recent changes
• Random page
• The 'Shroom
• Mario Boards
• Discord servers
• Anniversary
• What links here
• Related changes
• Special pages
• Printable version
• Permanent link
• Page information

• This page was last edited on April 13, 2024, at 12:14.
• Content is available under Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported unless otherwise noted.
• Privacy policy
• About MarioWiki
• Disclaimers
• Mobile view

Mario's Game Gallery

Mario's Game Gallery is a delightful blend of education and entertainment, brought to life by the legendary character, Mario. Released by Presage Software in 1995, it was Mario's first game where he was fully voiced, setting a precedent for future titles. The game features five classic games - Checkers, Go Fish, Dominoes, Backgammon, and Yacht - each reimagined with the unique Mario twist. It's perfect for players of all ages, allowing you to challenge Mario and improve your problem-solving skills. Enjoy this game now on BestDOSgames.com for free and relive the fun and learning in a whole new way.

• Release year 1995
• Publisher MacPlay
• Developer Presage Software, Inc.
• Game rate 100%

Enter the World of Mario's Game Gallery

When Presage Software released Mario's Game Gallery in 1995, it immediately captured the hearts of gamers worldwide. As an educational title designed to entertain and educate, the game truly pushed the boundaries of edutainment gaming.

Mario's Game Gallery is a compilation of five traditional games: Checkers, Go Fish, Dominoes, Backgammon, and Yacht (similar to Yahtzee). What makes it special, though, is the charming Nintendo twist on these classics. Each game is brought to life by the playful antics of Mario, who serves not only as your opponent but also your companion, engaging in friendly chatter throughout.

This game made history by being the first where Mario was fully voiced. Charles Martinet's performance gave the beloved character a new depth and personality that we've come to associate with Mario since then.

Experience the Gameplay of Mario's Game Gallery

Each game in Mario's Game Gallery adds an educational and entertaining spin on its traditional counterpart. Here, the playful spirit of Mario merges with the strategic depth of classic board games, creating an engaging experience that delights both kids and adults alike.

The gameplay variety ensures there's something for everyone. Checkers, for example, maintains its usual rules but is livened up with Mario-themed pieces and playful sound effects. Go Fish turns into a friendly competition against Mario, with each card featuring a character from the Mario universe. Dominoes, Backgammon, and Yacht also follow their usual rulesets but are set against colourful Mario-themed backgrounds, with the occasional fun interjection from Mario himself.

Play Mario's Game Gallery Online

At BestDOSgames.com, we offer the full Mario's Game Gallery experience to you completely free. Navigate the unique interface and enjoy the nostalgia of this timeless DOS game. The ability to save your progress lets you enjoy the game at your leisure, allowing for short casual plays or longer gaming sessions.

Whether you're a fan of strategy games or simply a Mario enthusiast, Mario's Game Gallery is sure to entertain and amuse. The combination of familiar gameplay and charming graphics makes it a classic title worth revisiting.

Master the Controls and Beat Mario!

Mario's Game Gallery's simple and intuitive controls make it accessible to everyone. All you need is a mouse to select and move pieces across the board. The game's straightforward nature, paired with its charming visuals and sound, makes it a timeless piece of gaming history.

Mario's Game Gallery is more than just a game; it's a piece of gaming history. Published by Presage Software, this game set a new standard for the blend of entertainment and education in video games. BestDOSgames.com brings this classic back to life, providing you with the full experience for free. 

Please note that while we host these games, we respect the rights of the original authors and only use publicly available game codes. 

Enjoy this classic game and embark on a nostalgic trip down the memory lane with Mario's Game Gallery!

Other strategy games

Sid Meier's Civilization

Heroes of Might and Magic II: The Price of Loyalty

Defender of the Crown

Command & Conquer

Mario’s Game Gallery

• Puzzle-solving

Mario’s Game Gallery is a compilation of games for the PC and Mac.

• Presage Software, Inc.
• Interplay Entertainment Corp.

The game is a collection of board games, in which you play with Mario. He talks to you, playing Checkers, Go Fish, Dominoes, Backgammon, Yacht. Most of games can be played for Yoshis or Koopas – tribes of animals. Play Mario’s Game Gallery online!

Mario’s Game Gallery game description

Mario’s Game Gallery was the first Mario related game in which Mario had a voice.

The player gets to chose between five different games to play against Mario. There is no option to play against a friend, only playing against Mario is available. Each game incorporates Mario universe themed items.

The games available are:

Play Mario’s Game Gallery online

You can play Mario’s Game Gallery online here, in web browser for free!

Most played DOS games games

Sid Meier’s Civilization

Sid Meier’s Civilization II

• Sci-Fi / Futuristic

Oregon Trail game

WarCraft II: Tides of Darkness

Mario Teaches Typing

• Licensed Title

Heroes of Might and Magic 2

• RPG Elements

Panzer General

• Historical Battle (specific/exact)
• World War II

Wolfenstein 3D

• Compilation / Shovelware

• Board / Party Game
• Buy us a beer (via paypal)
• Support via crypto .
• Begone, ugly modal window!

We uses cookies to personalize content and ads to make our site easier for you to use. We do also share that information with third parties for advertising & analytics.

Mario's Game Gallery

• Screenshots

• 1995 ( Macintosh )
• 1995 ( DOS )
• 1995 ( Windows )
• Interplay Entertainment Corp.
• Presage Software, Inc.
• Stepping Stone

Description official descriptions

The game is a collection of board games, in which you play with Mario. He talks to you, playing Checkers, Go Fish, Dominoes, Backgammon, Yacht. Most of games can be played for Yoshis or Koopas - tribes of animals.

• Board game translations
• Genre: Board game - Backgammon
• Genre: Board game - Checkers / Draughts
• Genre: Board game - Yahtzee
• Genre: Card / Tile game - Domino / Dominoes
• Genre: Card / Tile game - Go Fish
• Mario games

Screenshots +

Credits (Macintosh version)

32 People (29 developers, 3 thanks) · View all

Average score: 3.2 out of 5 (based on 11 ratings with 0 reviews)

Be the first to review this game !

Upgrade to MobyPro to view research rankings!

Related Games

Identifiers +

• MobyGames ID: 9416

Are you familiar with this game? Help document and preserve this entry in video game history! If your contribution is approved, you will earn points and be credited as a contributor.

• Ad Blurb (+1 point)
• Alternate Title (+1 point)
• Correction (+1 point)
• Critic Review (+½ point)
• Group (+¼ point)
• Product Code (+¼ point)
• Promo Images (+½ point)
• Related Site (+1 point)
• Release info (+1 point)
• Relation (+½ point)
• Tech Spec (+1 point)
• Trivia (+1 point)
• Video (+1 point)

Contributors to this Entry

Game added by POMAH .

Windows added by Jody . Macintosh added by Kabushi .

Additional contributors: Kevin Anderson .

Game added June 17, 2003. Last modified February 22, 2023.

• PlayStation 3
• PlayStation 4
• PlayStation 5
• Xbox Series
• More Systems

Mario's Game Gallery

Description.

• PLAY FIVE OF THE WORLD'S MOST POPULAR GAMES WITH ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST BELOVED CHARACTERS. Your family will love playing with Mario in these easy-to-play games for kids of all ages. Play checkers with Yoshi and the Koopa Troopers. Match the pictures in Dominoes. Test your memory with Go Fish. Wake the turtles in Backgammon. Or roll the dice against Mario in Yacht. Using digitized voice, Mario actually talks you through each game with friendly and encouraging assistance. And with easy-to-read on screen instructions and brilliantly detailed graphics, you'll be king of the game gallery in no time! * Features Backgammon, Go Fish, Checkers, Dominoes, and Yacht -- all in one fun-filled package! * Original music based on the familiar Mario themes. * State-of-the-art voice technology brings Mario to life with phonetic mouth movements. * Includes the familiar "voice of Mario" as he jokes and encourages you to play. * Animated sequences to delight and entertain the child in all of us. * Recognizable game pieces from the world of Mario. Play Checkers with Koopas and Yoshi and Go Fish with all the familiar faces... Or just roll the dice against Mario in a game of Yacht... Every game is custom fit to Mario and his realm. * Help Screens available for all the games with on-screen rules and directions.

User Ratings

• Show Spoilers
• Night Vision
• Sticky Header
• Highlight Links

Follow TV Tropes

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/VideoGame/MariosGameGallery

Video Game / Mario's Game Gallery

Edit locked.

Mario's Game Gallery is an MS-DOS game released by Interplay in 1995. As the name suggests, it's a compilation of games you play with Mario . There's five to choose from: Checkers , Go Fish, Dominos, Backgammon and Yacht .

In 1997, a Windows 3.1 and Macintosh version called "Mario's FUNdementals " was released under Interplay's "Brainstorm" division.

This game shows examples of:

• In Go Fish, the game knows what's in your hand. More often than not, when you draw from the deck, the AI will call for what you just drew .
• Continue Your Mission, Dammit! : If you take too long on your move, Mario will get impatient and start complaining.
• Continuity Nod : The suit Mario wears on the title screen is reminiscent of the suit he wears on the box art for Super Mario All-Stars , minus the top hat.
• Couch Gag : Mario will always recommend a different game to play at the title screen.
• Covers Always Lie : The jewel case for FUNdamentals has a checkerboard with circular checker pieces. In the actual game, you play as either Yoshis or Koopas.
• Mario taps his foot every once in a while on the title screen.
• During checkers, Mario will sweat if you're close to winning.
• Just Eat Him : In Checkers, Yoshis will eat Koopas alive when they jump over them.
• Luck-Based Mission : The entirety of Yacht.
• Luck Manipulation Mechanic : The entirety of Yacht.
• Malaproper : Mario (aside from the thick Italian accent) has a rather tenuous grasp on the English language in this game, leading to strange turns of phrases. For example of one such quirk, he'll often use "I'm-a" when he should be using "I" "I'm-a like-a [game of choice]" "I'm-a lost". Tellingly, this aspect of the way Mario talked was largely abandoned in the years to come.
• No Fair Cheating : Mario will say this if you try to cheat: Hey! That's not a legal move!
• Oh, Crap! : Mario will sometimes go "Uh-oh" when you jump one of his pieces in Checkers.
• Pun-Based Title : FUNdamentals , The word "fun" is in all caps to lampshade this trope.
• Tyop on the Cover : Bowser is misspelled "Bowzer" in the subtitles.
• Updated Re-release : Mario's FUNdementals has more polished graphics, new voice clips, and fixes a few bugs such as slowdowns.
• Viewers Are Geniuses : The game expects you to understand how to play Dominos and Backgammon, both of which are uncommon board games. The help menus don't help either.
• Writing Around Trademarks : Yacht is obviously Yahtzee , just renamed because it's the only game included to be trademarked. Mario even calls the game "Yacht-ee" hiding the trademark violation behind Charles Martinet 's faux Italian accent.

Alternative Title(s): Marios FU Ndamentals

• The Lost Vikings
• Creator/Interplay Entertainment
• Mario Teaches Typing
• Hotel Mario
• Franchise/Super Mario Bros.
• Mario Artist
• American Video Games
• Mario vs. Donkey Kong
• Day of the Tentacle
• Platform/IBM Personal Computer
• Video Games of 1995-1999
• Marvel Super Heroes

Important Links

• Action Adventure
• Commercials
• Crime & Punishment
• Professional Wrestling
• Speculative Fiction
• Sports Story
• Animation (Western)
• Music And Sound Effects
• Print Media
• Sequential Art
• Tabletop Games
• Applied Phlebotinum
• Characterization
• Characters As Device
• Narrative Devices
• British Telly
• The Contributors
• Creator Speak
• Derivative Works
• Laws And Formulas
• Show Business
• Split Personality
• Truth And Lies
• Truth In Television
• Fate And Prophecy
• Edit Reasons
• Isolated Pages
• Images List
• Recent Videos
• Crowner Activity
• Un-typed Pages
• Recent Page Type Changes
• Trope Entry
• Character Sheet
• Playing With
• Creating New Redirects
• Cross Wicking
• Tips for Editing
• Text Formatting Rules
• Handling Spoilers
• Administrivia
• Trope Repair Shop
• Image Pickin'

Advertisement:

• The Inventory

Mario's Game Gallery

Mario's Game Gallery Screenshots and Videos

All the Latest Game Footage and Images from Mario's Game Gallery

Discover Games

Mario's Game Gallery is a collection of board games, in which you play with Mario. He talks to you, playing Checkers, Go Fish, Dominoes, Backgammon and Yacht. The games all play similarly to their real world counterparts, featuring pieces based on the Mario universe. Mario's Game Gallery is the first game in the series to feature Charles Martinet as Mario's voice actor, who has since gone on to act as Mario's voice actor in all games that give Mario a voice since.

More from developers

Advertisement

We will keep fighting for all libraries - stand with us!

Internet Archive Audio

• This Just In
• Grateful Dead
• Old Time Radio
• 78 RPMs and Cylinder Recordings
• Audio Books & Poetry
• Computers, Technology and Science
• Music, Arts & Culture
• News & Public Affairs
• Spirituality & Religion
• Radio News Archive

• Flickr Commons
• Occupy Wall Street Flickr
• NASA Images
• Solar System Collection
• Ames Research Center

• All Software
• Old School Emulation
• MS-DOS Games
• Historical Software
• Classic PC Games
• Software Library
• Kodi Archive and Support File
• Vintage Software
• CD-ROM Software
• CD-ROM Software Library
• Software Sites
• Tucows Software Library
• Shareware CD-ROMs
• Software Capsules Compilation
• CD-ROM Images
• ZX Spectrum
• DOOM Level CD

• Smithsonian Libraries
• FEDLINK (US)
• Lincoln Collection
• American Libraries
• Canadian Libraries
• Universal Library
• Project Gutenberg
• Children's Library
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• Books by Language
• Additional Collections

• Prelinger Archives
• Democracy Now!
• Occupy Wall Street
• TV NSA Clip Library
• Animation & Cartoons
• Arts & Music
• Computers & Technology
• Cultural & Academic Films
• Ephemeral Films
• Sports Videos
• Videogame Videos
• Youth Media

Search the history of over 866 billion web pages on the Internet.

Mobile Apps

• Wayback Machine (iOS)
• Wayback Machine (Android)

Browser Extensions

Archive-it subscription.

• Explore the Collections
• Build Collections

Save Page Now

Capture a web page as it appears now for use as a trusted citation in the future.

Please enter a valid web address

• Donate Donate icon An illustration of a heart shape

Mario's Game Gallery

Item preview.

Share or Embed This Item

Flag this item for.

• Graphic Violence
• Explicit Sexual Content
• Hate Speech
• Misinformation/Disinformation
• Marketing/Phishing/Advertising
• Misleading/Inaccurate/Missing Metadata

plus-circle Add Review comment Reviews

23,980 Views

59 Favorites

DOWNLOAD OPTIONS

In collections.

Uploaded by denzquix on June 20, 2015

SIMILAR ITEMS (based on metadata)

• ALL MOSCOW TOURS
• Getting Russian Visa
• Top 10 Reasons To Go
• Things To Do In Moscow
• Sheremetyevo Airport
• Domodedovo Airport
• Vnukovo Airport
• Airports Transfer
• Layover in Moscow
• Best Moscow Hotels
• Best Moscow Hostels
• Art in Moscow
• Moscow Theatres
• Moscow Parks
• Free Attractions
• Walking Routes
• Sports in Moscow
• Shopping in Moscow
• The Moscow Metro
• Moscow Public Transport
• Taxi in Moscow
• Driving in Moscow
• Moscow Maps & Traffic
• Facts about Moscow – City Factsheet
• Expat Communities
• Groceries in Moscow
• Healthcare in Moscow
• Blogs about Moscow
• Flat Rentals

Art in Moscow: Museums, Galleries and Museum-Reserves

There is no strict dress code in Moscow museums. However, if you are going to explore ancient churches and holy places we recommend more conservative outwear. Women should have their heads covered.

All state museums and galleries are free every third Sunday of the month. Some of the Moscow museums are free on holidays, and during the «Museum days» and «Museum Night».

If you’re looking for great cultural tours around art points of Moscow, we have a great MOSCOW ART & DESIGN TOUR , available for you everyday except Mondays.

Moscow Museums

The Moscow Kremlin

Don’t miss a chance to see the very heart of Moscow, the Kremlin, the symbol of the Russian State, one of the greatest architectural ensembles in the world, a treasury of unusual relics and monuments of art. It is situated on a high Borovitskiy hill above the Moskva River, so you’ll be able to see a spectacular view of the city center. The famous Armory Chamber and the Diamond Fund are real treasure-houses, where you can see ancient Russian regalia, ceremonial tsar’s dress, church hierarchs’ vestments, arms, gold and silverware by Russian, European and Eastern masters. The Kremlin is the official President’s residence and remains a gorgeous political landmark. The UNESCO has included the ensemble of the Moscow Kremlin in the World Heritage List.

Site: http://www.kreml.ru/

The State Historical Museum

Ivan Zabelin, Aleksey Uvarov, and several other Slavophiles founded the State Historical Museum in 1872 to promote Russian history and national self-awareness. During its century-long history, the museum has collected more than 4.5 million of valuable items and over 12 million pages of documental archives. Its exhibitions range from relics of prehistoric tribes that lived in the territory of present-day Russia, through priceless artworks acquired by members of the Romanov dynasty. The museum’s historical building which was reconstructed and equipped to meet all the visitors requirements is on the Red Square.

Site: http://www.shm.ru/

The State Tretyakov Gallery

The State Tretyakov Gallery takes a special place among the national art museums of the world. Established with the efforts of one person, the dedicated collector Pavel Tretyakov, it possesses a unique collection of Russian art, more than 150000 masterpieces, created by famous Russian artists throughout the centuries. The historic building of the State Tretyakov Gallery at Lavrushinski Lane presents Russian art from the 11th through the early 20th century. The state Tretyakov Gallery at Krymsky Val has an excellent collection of Russian art of the 20th century, modern art and holds temporary exhibitions.

Site: http://www.tretyakovgallery.ru/

The Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts

The Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts is one the largest European museums of fine art. It has one of the most remarkable collections of fine arts in Russia that consists of artworks from ancient times to the present day. Visitors can see great paintings by world famous artists: Rembrandt, Botticelli, Canaletto, Tiepolo, along with the remarkable collections of Impressionists, Post-impressionists, modernists: Monet, Cezanne, Van Gogh, Picasso and others. Moreover, the museum holds the private collectors’ galleries, many of were inaccessible to public for many years.

Site: http://www.arts-museum.ru/

Moscow Museum of Modern Art

Moscow Museum of Modern Art specializes in the modern art of 20th and 21st centuries. The famous Russian artist and sculptor Zurab Tsereteli has founded it. The museum is located in four historic buildings in Petrovka Street, Gogolevsky Boulevard, Ermolaevsky lane and Tverskoy Boulevard. The museum’s collection depicts the development of avant-garde. The largest part of the collection consists of masterpieces of Russian artists, but you can also find works by Anri Russo, Joan Miro, Pablo Picasso and many others.

Site: http://www.mmoma.ru/

The Moscow Planetarium

The Planetarium in Moscow first opened its doors in 1929. After a global reconstruction, it was reopened in 2011. Now it is a multifunctional complex that combines scientific and educational resources: the interactive museum «Lunarium», the Museum of Urania, the Big Star Hall and the Sky Park, family recreation center, that focuses on different age groups. The Moscow Planetarium is one of the biggest planetariums in the world.

Site: http://www.planetarium-moscow.ru/

Moscow Galleries

Garage museum of contemporary art.

Exhibit on display during the opening of «Art Experiment»

The museum is a kind of independent platform aimed to disclose and reveal a new way of thinking. The Garage Center currently reflects the contemporary innovations of national and world’s culture. It invites you to the beautiful world of modern art, showing its best pieces. This center offers a great number of various exhibitions, educational projects for kids and adults, and publishing. The Garage Center is also called The Museum of Everything. It provides ways and reasons for public dialogue and the creation of progressive ideas.

Site: http://garageccc.com/

The Multimedia Art Museum

Fifty Years of Bond Style Exhibition

The Multimedia Art Museum opened in October 2010 at the base of the Moscow House of Photography. One of the main principles of MAMM s work is complete openness to the new forms of visual expression and for the fresh, innovative trends in the Russian and foreign media art and photography. There are seven floors of spacious exhibition halls and minimalist architecture that is a great font for modern art. The exhibition history of MAMM and Moscow House of Photography counts more than 1300 exhibitions in Russia and abroad. Moreover, Multimedia Art Museum has different educational programs and holds famous Moscow art festivals: Photobiennale, «Fashion and Style in Photography» and others.

Site: http://www.mamm-mdf.ru/

Lumiere Brothers Photography Center

This modern photo gallery is located in the very heart of Moscow, next to the Kremlin, Cathedral of Christ the Savior, big art galleries, design studios famous clubs and restaurants. The photography Center houses in an old and huge mansion at the Moskva River Embankment. Lumiere Brothers Photography Center has three huge exhibition rooms, lecture hall, library with an immense collection of rare books in photography and an independent bookshop. The Center is conducting research work, organizing educational projects, providing a base for the future Russian Museum of Photography.

Site: http://www.lumiere.ru/

Winzavod (Wine Factory) is the first and the biggest Center of Contemporary Art in our country. It unites all the areas of modern culture: exhibitions, festivals, lecture programs, cinema, concerts, theater premieres. You will find here a big amount of art galleries, artists’ workshops, designers and photographers studios, art cafes, fashion showrooms, a bookshop, children’s studio and many other things. The purpose of Winzavod is to support and to develop Russian contemporary art, art initiatives and help talented young people. Visiting Winzavod you will see the art that defines not only today’s but also tomorrow’s life.

Site: http://www.winzavod.ru/

The Manezh was built in 1817 in honor of the 5th anniversary of Russia’s victory in the 1812 war. Then it was called «Exerzierhaus», building, intended for military drills. The building has the unique construction – wooden structure trusses overlap the space of 44.86 square meters without any intermediate supports. After 1917, Manezh served as a garage for government vehicles. And since 1957 it has been continuously used for exhibitions and public events. In 2004, the building was severely damaged by fire. Renovated in 2005 the Manezh doubled its area. Nowadays it is one of the leading Moscow exhibition halls. There are two exhibition spaces, a conference room and a cafe on the third-floor observation deck. The Manezh hosts numerous fairs, festivals, and exhibitions.

Site: http://moscowmanege.ru/

Flacon Design Factory

Flacon Design Factory, located in the territory of a former glass factory, has become a pioneer in the revitalization of industrial zone outside the historic center of Moscow. Flacon has become a powerful launch pad for multiple cool projects, self-expression of creative individuals and carrying-out of sociocultural initiatives. No wonder that the atmosphere at Flacon entirely coincides with its motto: «Create as you please!» The Factory includes offices, co-working zone, shops, workshops, exhibition and creative projects spaces. Lectures, film screenings, fairs, design festivals, innovative exhibitions, presentations, concerts, limited actions and design community work days pass here weekly.

Site: http://flacon.ru/

Artplay is near Winzavod in the former industrial space in the area Kurskaya metro station and occupies an area of 75,000 square meters. Artplay, providing a new life to carefully reconstructed factory buildings, has become an important part of the contemporary cultural landscape of the city. Artplay unites designers, architects, furniture, lighting, ceramics, decorative materials shops, involving them in cooperation with each other. Young Moscow galleries, artists’ studios, cafes, bars, bookstores, music club, school of design, theater, children’s art studio are also situated here. Three exhibition halls regularly host contemporary art exhibitions, festivals, video art, alternative music concerts, performances, film screenings, lectures and master classes.

Site: http://www.artplay.ru/

CCI Fabrika

The Center For Creative Industries «Fabrika» is an art space for non-commercial creative projects. Today it is the example of peaceful coexistence of art business, operating enterprise, production, and workplaces for talented people in Moscow. CCI Fabrika is a member of the international network of non-profit cultural centers – Trans Europe Halls. This project is a typical umbrella-center. It is developing in both ways: creating and exhibiting its cultural projects and offering workspaces for other creative groups. Here you can find art studios and workshops of design, architecture, cinema, theater, cartoon animation and contemporary music studios.

Site: http://www.proektfabrika.ru/

Moscow Museum-Reserves

Tsaritsyno State Museum-Reserve

Tsaritsyno State Museum-Reserve is one of the largest historical, cultural, recreation and touristic complexes. Its total area is more than 700 hectares. It is an excellent combination of nature – marvelous rivers, ponds, streams, forests – and scientifically restored and renovated architectural and landscape monuments. The museum’s collection of historical items, exhibitions, and educational programs will be attractive for both national visitors and foreign tourists.

Site: http://www.tsaritsyno-museum.ru/

Arkhangelskoye Country Estate

Russian cultural monument is a good sublimation of the stunning beauty of a green space and luxurious collection of paintings, sculptures, unique books and pieces arts and crafts. During its long history, the estate was used as a recreation place for emperors, politicians, famous writers and poets. Today it is the finest place to have an enjoyable walk and to see the richest collection Russian art.

Site: http://www.arhangelskoe.su/

Kolomenskoe Museum-Reserve

A unique historic place – Kolomenskoe – is situated in the picturesque surrounding over the Moscow River banks. A magnificent country estate has appeared at the lands full of legends. Archeological discoveries state that the first settlements appeared here in the VIII century. It is an ancient and uniquely formed place. Today this is a unique complex of cultural monuments of high historical value.

Site: http://mgomz.ru/kolomenskoe

Sergiev-Posad City

Sergiev Posad Museum-Reserve

Museum of Sergiev-Posad is a historical and art reserve. It is located within the unique wall of the St. Sergius Trinity Lavra. This ancient monastery gathered its treasures during centuries from the tsars, princes and boyars donations. Moreover, many art and craft items were made at Lavra’s workshops. Now, the collections of Sergiev-Posad Museum-Reserve include rare, ancient icons, Cyrillic alphabet books, medieval manuscripts, visual art items, gold and silver showpieces.

Site: http://www.stsl.ru/

PLAN YOUR TRIP WITH US

Happy to help you with everything, from general plan of your visit to plane tickets or hotel stay. We may also support your Russian Visa request with a letter of invitation if you need so.

SEE OUR TOURS

We host around 60 tours every month in English, Russian, German, Italian, Spanish, Arabic and other languages. All of our tours =>

SAVE THIS LINK

If you only started to think about visiting Moscow, just save our site in your browser’s bookmarks or follow us on Facebook and Instagram to be in touch.

Our Private Tours in Moscow

Moscow art & design private tour, soviet moscow historical & heritage private tour, gastronomic moscow private tour, «day two» moscow private tour, layover in moscow tailor-made private tour, whole day in moscow private tour, all-in-one moscow essential private tour, moscow metro & stalin skyscrapers private tour, tour guide jobs →.

Every year we host more and more private tours in English, Russian and other languages for travelers from all over the world. They need best service, amazing stories and deep history knowledge. If you want to become our guide, please write us.

Contact Info

+7 495 166-72-69

[email protected]

119019 Moscow, Russia, Filippovskiy per. 7, 1

Mon - Sun 10.00 - 18.00

• Bahasa Indonesia
• Slovenščina
• Science & Tech
• Russian Kitchen

10 facts about the Tretyakov Gallery that even Russians don't know

The State Tretyakov Gallery is the foremost depository of Russian fine art in the world.

1. The museum began with the purchase of one genre painting

The gallery's chronology began with Russian merchant and collector Pavel Tretyakov's purchase of Vasily Khudyakov's painting Skirmish with Finnish Smugglers . He bought it for 450 rubles (almost $7,700 in today's worth) in 1856 at the artist's workshop in St. Petersburg.

It was the Smugglers that initiated the collection, which later would become the largest assembly of Russian art in the world. Today the painting is located in the gallery's room 16.

2. The gallery was founded by two brothers, not one

In the beginning, Tretyakov's younger brother Sergei also collected canvases painted by Russian artists. The first Russian painting in his collection was Alexei Bogolyubov's Ipatievsky Monastery near Kostroma .

It was bought on recommendation from Pavel Mikhailovich. Later, if his older brother was for some reason unable to buy a painting, it was purchased by Sergei.

3. The Tretyakov Gallery was a collection not only of Russian but also of foreign paintings

With time the younger Tretyakov began collecting western European paintings, primarily the French romantics and realists.

He bequeathed his collection to his brother. The paintings were brought to the mansion on Lavrushinsky Lane and in 1892 Pavel gifted the united collection to the city along with the house.

In 1925, during the Soviet regime, the foreign paintings in the Tretyakov Gallery were divided among the State Pushkin Museum and the State Hermitage Museum. That is how, for example, the Pushkin Museum obtained Jules Bastien-Lepage's masterpiece Love in the Village .

4. The gallery was bequeathed to the Russian people

Tretyakov was 28 years old when he drafted the first bequest on the creation of the gallery. Later, entrusting the collection to the city, he presented certain conditions: The gallery must be open "permanently" and be free of charge, and it must operate at least four days a week, excluding Easter, Christmas and New Year's Day.

5. The tsar who didn’t accept a historical painting

The first Tretyakov painting to show a historical theme was Konstantin Flavitsky's Princess Tarakanova in Prison .

Its protagonist was the daughter of Empress Elizabeth Romanov and Count Alexei Razumovsky. By order of Catherine the Great, Tarakanova was brought to Russia from Italy and imprisoned in the Peter and Paul Fortress in St. Petersburg, where she died. Tsar Alexander II did not like the painting. In the catalogue of the Art Academy's exhibition he wrote that the painting does not correspond to reality.

6. There were practically no women at the inauguration of the gallery

On opening day in August 1893 the Pavel and Sergei Tretyakov Moscow City Gallery was visited by almost 700 people.

The newspapers reported that the visitors were artists from various generations, students, artisans, shopkeepers, clerks and peasants. However, there were practically no women among them.

7. Repin's famous canvas was censored

Some canvases were forbidden to be exhibited with the collection. The first to be censored was Ilya Repin's famous Ivan the Terrible and His Son on November 16, 1581 (known as "Ivan the Terrible Kills His Son").

Tsar Alexander III categorically disliked the painting and on April 1, 1885 it was prohibited to be shown to visitors. Tretyakov had even built an annex to present it as a special work. The ban was lifted only three months later.

8. The artists valued the collector more than the tsar

Tretyakov's authority among artists was so high that he was secretly given the privilege of buying paintings first. The phrase "I ask you to consider the painting mine" was a sign of quality.

The collector's taste and ability to detect a masterpiece were undeniable. If Tretyakov showed interest in a painting, even members of the royal family sometimes could not purchase it.

9. A separate building was built for an Alexander Ivanov painting

Tsar Alexander II bought The Appearance of Christ Before the People for 15,000 rubles (almost $245,500 today) only a few hours after the death of painter Alexander Ivanov. Pavel Tretyakov was left only with its sketches. However, in 1925, in the Soviet period, it was decided to transfer the painting to the Tretyakov Gallery. A special hall was built in the gallery that could fit the 5.4 x 7.5-meter canvas. It has been there since 1932.

10. A bust of the gallery's founder replaced a sculpture of Stalin

Until 1938 a monument of Lenin had stood in front of the Tretyakov Gallery. In 1939 it was replaced with a statue of Stalin.

Only in the 1980s was Stalin's sculpture replaced by that of the gallery's founder. But the dictator’s sculpture still stands in the grounds of the gallery – in the inner courtyard.

Read more: What are Moscow’s 7 most popular museums?

Subscribe to get the hand picked best stories every week.

All rights reserved by Rossiyskaya Gazeta.

to our newsletter!

Get the week's best stories straight to your inbox

This website uses cookies. Click here to find out more.

Shooter Files by f.d. walker

Street Photography Tips, Interaction, Travel, Guides

Apr 24 2017

City Street Guides by f.d. walker: A Street Photography Guide to Moscow, Russia

*A series of guides on shooting Street Photography in cities around the world. Find the best spots to shoot, things to capture, street walks, street tips, safety concerns, and more for cities around the world. I have personally researched, explored and shot Street Photography in every city that I create a guide for. So you can be ready to capture the streets as soon as you step outside with your camera!

At over 12 million people, Moscow is the largest city in Russia and second largest in Europe by population ( Istanbul is #1). An urban, cosmopolitan metropolis with more than enough glitz and glam to cater to the elite, but without losing its fair share of Soviet era roughness around the edges. It can be fast paced, brash, busy, and trendy like other big cities, but it has its blend of West meets Russia atmosphere and beauty that provides plenty of unique interest. The Red Square is as famous as it gets, but there’s so much more to this city, including the most beautiful subway system you’ve ever seen. It would take years to capture all of Moscow, but that means you have an endless amount of areas to discover.

So here’s a Street Photography guide so you can be ready to capture all that Moscow has to offer before you even arrive!

• Patriarch’s Pond
• Old Arbat Street
• Maroseyka Street
• Tverskoy Boulevard

Top 5 Street Spots:

1. red square.

The Red Square is the most famous square in not just Russia, but all of Eastern Europe. The name actually doesn’t come from the color of the bricks or communism, but from the name in Russian, Krásnaya, once meaning “beautiful” before its meaning changed to “red.” This large plaza is what you see on the cover of guide books and magazines for Moscow, with St. Basil’s Cathedral being the center piece next to Lenin’s Mausoleum surrounded by the Kremlin Wall. Of course, the Red Square attracts hordes of tourist due to the main attractions, but all that activity around an interesting atmosphere does provide street photo opportunities. It’s also the central square connecting to the city’s major streets, providing a good starting point to explore outward.

You’ll also find the popular pedestrian only Nikolskaya Street connecting the Red Square to Lubyanka Square. This line of expensive shops includes plenty of activity, while also leading you to another popular square. Filled with history rivaling any city, the Red Square and surrounding areas are the heart and soul of Russia.

2. Patriarch’s Ponds

Patriarch’s Ponds is one of the most exclusive neighborhoods in Moscow. Despite the name being plural, there’s only one large pond, but it’s worth a visit with your camera. It’s a popular spot for locals and expats to come relax or take a stroll around the pond. You get an interesting mix of young and old too, from young love to “babushkas” feeding pigeons. It’s a very peaceful park atmosphere in one of the nicer areas within the city center, while bringing enough activity for street photography. 

The pond is shallow and in the winter becomes a popular spot for ice-skating too. The area is also well-known for the location in the famous Russian novel, The Master and Margarita. 

3. Old Arbat (Stary Arbat)

Old Arbat is the most famous pedestrian street in Moscow, and dating back to the 15th century, also one of its oldest. Originally, it was an area of trade, but soon became the most prestigious residential area in Moscow. During the 18th century, Arbat started attracting the city’s scholars and artists, including Alexander Pushkin. Cafes lined the streets and impressive homes filled the neighborhood. Since then, New Arbat street was created as a highway in the area, while Old Arbat was paved for a 1km pedestrian only walkway.

Due to the historic buildings, famous artists that lived here, and the bohemian atmosphere, Old Arbat has become a big attraction for tourists today. Now, there’s a mix of cafes, restaurants, souvenir shops, street performers, street merchants and other attractions for visitors, and some locals, to come enjoy. It can get really busy here and there’s usually something interesting going on so it’s a good street to come walk with your camera for guaranteed life.

4. Gorky Park

One of the most famous places in Moscow is Gorky Park. The official name is Maxim Gorky’s Central Park of Culture & Leisure, which gives you an idea of what goes on here. When built, it was the first of its kind in the Soviet Union. Divided into two parts, it stretches along Moscow River. One end contains fair rides, foods stands, tennis courts, a sports club, a lake for boat rides, and more. This end brings more active life due to its number of attractions, while the other end is more relaxed, where you’ll find gardens, trees, older buildings, and an outdoor amphitheater.

Gorky Park attracts mostly locals so it’s a good spot to capture the non-tourist side of Moscow life. Muscovites come here to escape the city and unwind in a picturesque setting. The park remains alive outside of the warmer months too, especially when the lake turns into the city’s largest outdoor skating rink. I’d recommend taking the metro out here to spend at least half a day exploring the massive park’s life with your camera.

5. Maroseyka Street

Maroseyka Street is a popular area not too far from the Red Square. The long, winding street turns into Pokrovka and is lined with restaurants, cafes, bars and places to stay. It’s actually where I like to stay when I’m in Moscow due to its location and solid street photography opportunities itself. You have Kitay-gorod station near and if you keep walking southwest, you’ll get to the Red Square. But if you walk northwest, as it changes to Pokrovka, you can find a long street of activity for photography with its own interesting atmosphere.

6. Tverskoy Boulevard

Tverskoy Boulevard is the oldest and longest boulevard in Moscow, beginning at the end of Nikitsky Boulevard, and finishing at Pushkin Square, a spot to come for activity itself. The boulevard is made up of two avenues, with pedestrian walkways in-between. You’ll find grass, shrubbery, trees, benches and more walking it’s almost kilometer length. Many people come here to enjoy some relaxation, walk their dog, or just to use it to walk wherever they’re going. Its center location also provides a nice place to walk with your camera near plenty of other spots you’ll want to check out anyway.

Sample Street Walk:

For a full day of Street Photography, covering some of the best spots, you can follow this sample street walk for Moscow:

• Start your morning walking around the Red Square (1), while exploring the surrounding area, including Nikolskaya Street
• Then walk northwest to Patriarch’s Ponds (2) and slowly walk the pond and surrounding area with your camera
• Next, walk east to the Pushkin Monument and stroll down Tverskoy Boulevard (6)
• Once Tverskoy Boulevard (6) ends, it will turn into Nikitsky Boulevard. Follow this down until you get to the start of Old Arbat Street (3), across from Arbatskaya station
• After you’re done walking down Old Arbat Street (3) for more street photography, spend some time checking out Moscow’s beautiful metro stations
• To finish off the day with more street photography, get off the metro near Red Square (1) again, Maroseyka Street (5) or wherever you’re staying for the night.

3 Things I’ll Remember about Shooting in Moscow:

1. museum metro.

The Moscow metro system was the first underground railway system in the Soviet Union and today includes 203 stations across 340km of routes. The elaborate system has some of the deepest stations in the world too, with escalators that seem to go on forever. None of this is what makes it so special, though. Many of its stations feel like stepping inside a museum, making it without a doubt the most interesting and beautiful metro system I’ve been in.

When built, Stalin wanted to make the metro stations “palaces for the people” with marble, chandeliers, and grand architecture. The best part is the variety of architecture and styles used, making many of the stations a completely different experience visually. You could easily spend a whole day traveling the stations and there are even tours available for people who wish to do just that. My advice, though, would be just to buy a ticket and hop on and off at different stations, while exploring different lines. The museum-like surrounding mixed with the crowds of characters can make for a great photography experience.

Since there are so many stations, here are some of my favorites to check out:

• Novoslobodskaya
• Mayakovskaya
• Elektrozavodskaya
• Komsomolskaya
• Ploschad Revolyutsii
• Dostoyevskaya
• Prospekt Mira

2. Moscow is Big

It’s no secret that Moscow is a big city, but it can feel even bigger with how spread out much of it is. This is especially true if you compare it to cities outside of Asia. If I compared it to cities in Europe, I’d probably say only Istanbul would warrant more time to really discover the depths of this city. Most only explore around the Red Square and surrounding area, but that is such a small part of the city. Although, that central area does give you plenty to see on its own.

Fortunately, I had a good friend living in the city to show me around, but it opened up my eyes even more to how much there is to discover in Moscow. It’s a big city with a variety of atmosphere that can take you from “east” to “west” and trendy to rugged depending on where you go. I’d imagine you’d have to live here a while to really know the city.

3. Cosmopolitan Mix of East meets West

Modern skyscrapers mixed with amazing architecture, a world-class metro system with museum-like beauty, trendy fashion and chic clubs, Moscow is a rich mix of Russian culture and history in a more western cosmopolitan package. There is a push to keep the Russian culture, while also pushing forward with a modern metropolis the whole world will envy. This comes with an impressive skyline, that continues to grow, and endless modernities, but with soviet nostalgia and atmosphere mixed in for good measure.

Mixed in with this grand western cosmopolitan atmosphere, is a strong national pride in Russia. This includes their famous leader, Vladimir Putin. Maybe no other place will you see a country’s leader more often. All over, from the pricey tourist shops to the underground walkway stalls, you’ll find goods with Putin’s likeness covering them. From t-shirts to magnets to Matryoshka dolls. There’s a strong national pride that can be seen around the city, which also extends to their leader. Moscow is many things. It’s East meets West, modernizations meets Soviet era, and a whole lot more.

What To Do For a Street Photography Break?:

Eat at a stolovaya.

Stolovayas are Russian cafeterias that became popular in the Soviet days. You grab a tray and walk down the line of freshly prepared local dishes, and select whatever you want from the chefs. They’re usually inexpensive and a much better value than restaurants, while giving you the opportunity to try from a wide selection of everyday Russian food. They’re also very tasty. I always include some borsch on my tray and go from there. The places themselves are all over Moscow and usually come with Soviet-era aesthetics to complete the experience.

Street Safety Score: 7

*As always, no place is completely safe! So when I talk about safety, I’m speaking in general comparison to other places. Always take precaution, be smart, observe your surroundings and trust your instincts anywhere you go!

Being the 2nd largest city in Europe with over 12 million people, you’re going to have your dangerous areas, but for the most part, it feels safe walking around. Russia is statistically higher in crime compared to most of Europe, but this generally doesn’t apply to tourists and visitors. Around the Red Square and surrounding city center, you should feel completely safe walking around. Pick pocketing can happen, but no more than other touristic places. I always explore Moscow freely without coming across too much to worry about. It’s a spread out city, though, so of course it matters where you are. Just use basic street smarts, know where you are and Moscow shouldn’t give you a problem. 

People’s Reaction Score: 7

Moscow is fast paced, big city life, which usually means people aren’t too concerned with you, or your camera. I don’t find people notice or pay much attention to me when I’m out taking photos in Moscow. For the most part, people just go about their day. You shouldn’t get too many looks or concern. But it can depend on the area you are in. The more you stick out, the more you might get noticed with suspicions. I’ve never had any problems in Moscow, or Russia, but just be careful who you’re taking a photo of if you get out of the city center. Other than that, it’s about average for reactions. 

Street Tips:

Learn the alphabet .

Much of Moscow, including the metro system, doesn’t use english. The Russian alphabet uses letters from the Cyrillic script, which if you aren’t familiar with it and don’t know the sounds, can be hard to decipher the words. This is most important for street names and metro stops when trying to get around. It can save confusion and make it easier getting around if you learn the basic alphabet. At the very least then, you can sound out the words to see which are similar in the english conversion, which can help matching them to maps. When out shooting street photography, getting around is as important as anything. So save yourself some time and frustration by learning the Russian Alphabet.

Use the metro

While Saint-Petersburg feels very walkable for a city its size, Moscow can feel very spread out, even for its bigger size. Outside of the Red Square area, you can have plenty of walking before getting anywhere very interesting, so you’ll need to take the metro a lot if you really want to explore the city. Maps are deceiving here too, it will always be further than it looks.

Another reason it’s less walkable than Saint-Petersburg is its completely different set-up. Moscow’s streets are mostly contstructed in rings with narrow, winding streets in-between. This is common with medieval city cities that used to be confined by walls, but you usually don’t have it in a city this massive. Saint-Petersburg has a more grid-like pattern that also uses the canals to help you know your way around. When it comes to navigating on foot in Moscow, it can be more difficult, so bring a map and take the metro when needed. It’s why Moscow’s metro carries more passengers per day than the London and Paris subways combined.

Explore other areas if you have time

Moscow is really big. While most people stay around the Red Square within the Boulevard Ring, there’s so much more to the city. I covered some other spots outside of this circle, but if you really want to see the city, you’ll need time. If you do have time, some other areas I’d check out first are Zamoskvarechye, along some of the south and western Moscow.

Inspiration:

For some more inspiration, you can look through the Street Photography of Moscow photographer Artem Zhitenev  and check out 33 of my photos taken in Moscow .

Conclusion:

Moscow’s name brings a certain mystique, but once you’re there it might bring a different atmosphere than you expect. It’s big and sprawling, but beautiful in many ways. It can feel like a European capital on a grand scale, but you can definitely find its Russian side in there.

The urban sprawl of Moscow can be intimidating, but give it enough time and you’ll be rewarded with plenty to discover. All with the world’s best metro system to take you around.

I hope this guide can help you start to experience some of what Moscow contains. So grab your camera and capture all that Moscow has to offer for Street Photography!

If you still have any questions about shooting in Moscow, feel free to comment below or email me!

(I want to make these guides as valuable as possible for all of you so add any ideas on improvements, including addition requests, in the comment section!)

Click Here For More City Street Guides!

(A New Guide Posted Every Other Wednesday)

Comment Here! Cancel reply

For patreon exclusive educational content:.

Limited Edition Postcard Prints!

Street Photography Workshops

Donations Always Appreciated

I'll always keep Shooter Files free for everyone, but any donations would be greatly appreciated and help me keep it going. Many thanks to everyone following along!

Cheers! -f.d. walker

Search the Files

For Exclusive Patron Content: