View from the river: the Moscow Transport app helps you choose a river cruise

The Moscow Transport app now has cards with detailed information about various Moskva River cruise routes. Passengers can use them to learn about the stops on route and the city’s landmarks they are about to see from the boat’s deck. The cards also have the boat’s schedule, its name and operating parameters. On top of that, there’s the trip duration, info on transfer to other river transport lines and the route’s schematics.

Tap the looking glass icon in the top right corner of the screen to view the route info. Enter the route name into the search field that appears. After that, a route card will pop up on the bottom of the screen, detailing the boat schedule and describing the route from one pier to another.

“We’re adding new functions to the Moscow Transport app. The River Transport sections now has route cards with all the data one might want. That will enable users to learn everything about their river cruise and envision their route. After launching our electric vessels, we’re going to add the first regular river transport route to our app. As instructed by the Moscow Mayor, we continue developing convenient services for passengers,” said Maxim Liksutov, Deputy Moscow Mayor for Transport.

You can also use the Moscow Transport app to buy riverboat tickets. Just enter the pier you want into the search field or find it on the interactive map. Use the vessel you want in the pop-up window and tap Buy Tickets. You will be redirected to the Suda Suda! website, a specialized service for river transport ticket purchases. Specify the number of tickets you want and confirm payment to finish the transaction.

You can download the Moscow transport app for free from RuStore, App Store, Google Play and AppGallery.

“River cruises around Moscow are getting more popular with each year. We’ve made routes more accessible and attractive, established a uniform ticketing system and a single ticketing service (Suda Suda!), made trips safer and more convenient. You can order a nice trip with an enlightening guided tour. As instructed by Sergei Sobyanin, we continue developing leisure river transport in Moscow,” said Maxim Liksutov.

Right now, the Moscow Transport app has info on eight operating river transport lines. The following cruise routes are on the cards: Istorichesky, Severny, Tsentralny, Krugovoy, Kolomensky, Zapadny, Serebryany Bor, Northern River Station — Khimki.

A cruise down the river is a great way to relax, forget about everyday affairs and get a charge of positive emotions. The boats offer views of Moscow’s best architectural and natural landmarks.

Look at Goncharnaya Sloboda and admire the River Overlook Footbridge

Istorichesky route along the Moskva River is a 2.5-hour cruise. The boat departs from the Novospassky Bridge pier. The route lies past the picturesque Krasnokholmskaya Embankment, then past the place where the Goncharnaya Sloboda used to be located in the 16 th-17 th century. The route from the Kitay-Gorod/Ustyinsky pier to the Krymsky Bridge pier shows passengers the main landmark of the historical center of Moscow: Zaryadye Park with the River Overlook Footbridge, St. Basil Cathedral and the Kremlin, the Patriarshy Bridge and the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. After that, the boat follows along Frunzenskaya Embankment towards the Luzhniki Arena. On the other bank, passengers can see the main building of the Moscow State University. The boat stops at the Luzhniki — Tsentralny pier, then goes back the same way. On the right bank of the Moskva, you can see the RAS Presidium and the Institute for Chemical Physics. After the scientific institutions, there comes a green string of parks: Neskuchny Sad, Gorky Park, Muzeon Arts Park. Next, the boat travels along Sofiyskaya, Raushskaya and Kosmodamianskaya Embankments. The Novospassky Bridge pier is the final stop. The route has six stops in total: the piers Kitay-Gorod/Ustyinsky, Krymsky Bridge, Luzhniki — Tsentralny, Andreyevsky, Neskuchny Sad, Krasny Oktyabr.

River cruises along the Severny route start from Kievsky Train Station. This enlightening trip will take 2.5 hours of your time. At the start, the boat will go along Berezhkovskaya and Vorobyovskaya Embankments. The magnificent building of Lomonosov Moscow State University can be seen from the deck. Further on, passengers can enjoy the sights of the Russian Academy of Sciences Presidium, Gorky Park and the Krymsky Bridge. New Tretyakov Gallery, Muzeon Arts Park and the arts vernissage at Krymskaya Embankment are next. One of the iconic locations along that route is the former Krasny Oktyabr confectionery factory complex built at Bersenevskaya Embankment back in the late 19 th century. At the Kitay-Gorod pier, the boat makes a turn to head back. On the return trip, passengers will have a chance to admire Zaryadye Park with the River Overlook Footbridge, the Kremlin towers and the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. The boat also passes other iconic landmarks such as the Luzhniki Arena, the cableway and the ancient Novodevichy convent. There are seven stops along the way: at Andreyevsky, Neskuchny Sad, Krymsky Bridge, Kitay-Gorod, Neskuchny Sad, Luzhniki — Tsentralny and Kievsky Railway Station.

Those with limited time for sightseeing, can choose the Krugovoy route. In just 90 minutes, you will be able to view the main architectural landmarks and modern engineering feats of Moscow. The trip starts and ends at the Tretyakovsky pier. It goes along the Vodootvodny canal at the start, under several bridges: Maly Moskvoretsky, Chugunny, Sadovnichesky, Komissariatsky, Zverev, Maly Krasnokholmsky, Shlyuzovoy. Then, the boat continues along the Moskva River. Passengers will get a chance to see one of the seven Stalin’s high rises: the one at Kotelnicheskaya Embankment. After that, they will get a view of the River Overlook Footbridge in Zaryadye and of the Moscow Kremlin. Some fanciful early 20 th century mansions can be seen on Prechistenskaya Embankment. Near the Peter I monument the boat turns left and heads back to Vodootvodny canal. The cascading fountains on Vodootvodny canal serve as the final chord of the trip. The boat will make three stops on route: at the Zaryadye, Patriarshy and Tretyakovsky piers.

Sailing under Krymsky and Patriarshy Bridges

You can embark on a river trip along the Tsentralny route starting from Gorky Park. The whole event takes a little over an hour. The boat will sail under the Krymsky Bridge. On your way, you will pass the former Krasny Oktyabr confectionery factory complex and the legendary House on the Embankment. The boat will stop at the Zaryadye pier, then turn back towards Gorky Park. This time, it will pass under the Patriarshy Bridge, one of the prettiest pedestrian bridges over the Moskva River. Built in 2004, it connects the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour and Prechistenskaya Embankment with Bersenevskaya and Yakimanskaya Embankments. A stop at the Patriarshy pier is scheduled. The trip will end at the same spot where it began-at the Gorky Park pier.

The Kolomensky route is there for those who want to enjoy picturesque views of Moscow. On a two hours long trip, you will have a chance to see the main architectural marvel of the Kolomenskoye Museum-Estate, its white stone tent-roofed Church of the Ascension. The church is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The boat will also sail along the 850 Years of Moscow park. Passengers will have a view of the modern residential developments: Maryino, Moskvorechy-Saburovo, Orekhovo-Borisovo and the green bank of the Brateevsky cascade park. Boats go on that route from the Kolomensky pier and back. Stops at the Maryino and Brateevo piers are scheduled.

The Serebryany Bor route is perfect for lovers of environmental tourism: now they can relax among the nature without leaving the mega-city. You can start that hour-long trip from the Troitse-Lykovo pier. Passengers will see the beautiful Church of Life-Giving Trinity. It’s a snow-white fanciful church was built in the late 17 th century in the Moscow Baroque style. Now it’s a cultural heritage site of federal significance. The boat will then head along the pine-covered banks and municipal beaches. Then it will pass under the Zhivopisny Bridge and make two stops: at Serebryany Bor 2 and Serebryany Bor 3 piers.

Muscovites and tourists can also choose from the Zapadny and Northern River Station — Khimki routes. Boats along the Zapadny route depart from the City-Expocenter and go to the Troitse-Lykovo pier, then back. The Northern River Station — Khimki route connects Khimki urban district and the Northern Administrative District of Moscow. The boat departs from the Northern River Station. It passes along the station’s park and the Severnoye Tushino park, as well as the Khimki urban forest.

The guided tour route network was updated following the river navigation start this year. Each river route line can be seen on the guided tours river transport map. You can travel both up- and downstream. Boats depart from piers every 15 minutes.

The Moscow Transport mobile app covers the entire municipal transport system, from metro and taxicabs to car and kick scooter rent. It makes its users able to track the above-ground transport movement in real time, draft their routes, play parking fees, call cabs, rent cars, bikes and kick scooters short term, as well as purchase river cruise tickets and even activate electric car charging stations. The app has data on the passenger load on metro and Moscow Central Circle stations, stations being closed, entrance and exit points being blocked or closed off. You can also use it to track passenger loads on metro cars. All the station infrastructure, like WCs, ATM machines, info booths, is also displayed there for the users’ convenience.

You can link your bank card or Troika card to the app. That will enable you to pay for your trips online and connect to the biometric payment service. Residents of the Troitsky and Novomoskovsky Administrative Districts have the Po Puti service available to them through the app.