Gilyarovsky's Private Tour of Moscow: Heroes and Contrasts
A walk through the places of immortal labor “Moscow and Muscovites”. On the route: Sukharevskaya Square, Grachevka, red light district, the Hell tavern, Truba, the legendary Hermitage restaurant, Sandunovskie Baths, Petrovka, Gilyarovsky Center, Stoleshnikov Lane, House of the Governor General of Moscow, Kamergersky Lane, Moscow Art Theater , Bolshaya Dmitrovka, Bolshoi and Maly theaters, the iconic Metropol hotel and restaurant.
In the Footsteps of the Characters from “Moscow and Muscovites”
Moscow is a city of contrasts. This has never been in doubt. Many visiting travellers wrote of the splendour and squalor of the Eurasian capital. Yet perhaps no other journalist experienced Moscow’s contrasts as keenly and sensitively as Vladimir Alexeyevich Gilyarovsky. A tireless adventurer, a loyal friend to the creative elite, a habitué of restaurants, a connoisseur of the slums and a companion to the destitute, he was at home everywhere and always among his own. On this tour, we shall follow in the footsteps of Uncle Gilyai, revisit vivid scenes of everyday life from bygone eras and imagine the ‘passions’ that raged beyond the walls of the handsome little houses in the city centre.
We shall peer into the distant past through the lives of the colourful figures immortalised by Gilyarovsky. The tour’s cast includes daredevil cabbies, market protection racketeers, ‘understanding’ police chiefs, embezzling officials, inventive swindlers, thieves who drugged their victims and ‘victims of the public temperament’, amorous intellectuals and resourceful entrepreneurs. We shall explore the manners and personalities of the nineteenth century and ultimately acknowledge the undeniable truth of A. S. Griboyedov’s words: ‘The houses are new, but the prejudices are old.’
Tours like this are often described as ‘a tour of Moscow for Muscovites’. Yet this tour about Gilyarovsky and his time is by no means only for Muscovites: far beyond the capital, people have long read and continue to read his book Moscow and Muscovites, while dens of vice and the flower of bohemian society fascinate curious laypeople and researchers alike.
Let's meet
Bolshaya Sukharevskaya Square (square at the exit from the Sukharevskaya metro station, near the monument to the Sukharev Tower).
Anton Latynin Moscow expert, theater and literary critic, author and leader of dozens of thematic excursions around Moscow in Russian, German and English. He received higher education in Russia and Germany. Graduate of the National Research University Higher School of Economics with a degree in journalism and media communications. A native Muscovite.
Reviews
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On July 18th, we participated in the "Soul of Moscow" group tour led by Alexander. Kitay-gorod and its surroundings revealed a new side to us, and everyone thoroughly enjoyed it. Some of us began intensively studying related materials to broaden our horizons. We'll be back, and we highly recommend it! You won't regret it.Alexander July 20, 2026
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Good afternoon, on June 23rd we had a tour called " The Soul of Moscow ," led by Alexander. He's a very pleasant young man. We visited such lovely courtyards and alleys with him that we never even knew existed, and we learned so much. We really enjoyed everything, and we hope to continue our acquaintance. Alexander! Thank you! We had a great time with you, and we thoroughly enjoyed it. See you there!Tatyana, Galina, Nadezhda June 24, 2026
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This isn't my first time with Radius. This time, I took the Moscow metro . The goal was not only to admire the underground palaces but also to learn how to navigate the metro. As a resident of a region without a metro, I was a bit apprehensive and didn't understand how to navigate the metro. Of course, the internet helps, but live communication is much better. Tour guide Yulia handled this task perfectly. The information was accessible and interesting, the presentation was calm, and the communication style was very friendly. Thank you very much for the tour and the practical experience.Julia June 20, 2026
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Good afternoon! I gave the "Soul of Moscow" tour to some of the capital's guests. We were thrilled to hear our guide, Anton. It was so informative and engaging, and very warm. To say we were absolutely delighted is an understatement. It turned out to be a truly family-friendly excursion. We learned so many interesting facts. The material was presented professionally, all our questions were answered, and we saw so much. It was simply WOW! Thank you so much, Anton, he's the best!!!!! From now on, I'll only come to you, the Radius team. I highly recommend it. I promise we'll see each other again soon on other tours.Inna May 26, 2026
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Overall, the tour left a positive impression! Thanks to Alexander for the walk through the courtyards and atmospheric spots of Kitay-Gorod; we certainly wouldn't have done it on our own. The tour was comfortable, and the guide spoke confidently and calmly. One thing we personally missed: we would have liked more of the historical part, relating to ancient Moscow and the history of Kitay-Gorod. There were quite a few stories about the Soviet period and the bar scene, but for our group, this wasn't particularly relevant. We think the program could be a little more tailored to the age and interests of the group. It would also have been interesting to add more historical facts, monuments, and details about old Moscow and the area itself. That said, the tour was still interesting, and some places and churches were truly memorable. These aren't really "cons," but rather suggestions for an even more comprehensive program.Ksenia May 25, 2026
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Hello! We had a corporate group of 10 people. Our guide was Anton, and we had a tour of Bulgakov. I would like to point out the excellent organization; everything went smoothly. The managers were very accommodating to our changes in the number of participants. The bus was very comfortable. Anton is a super-engaged and motivated guide. He lives this history and is delighted to share his knowledge and create an unforgettable experience. Everything went well. I highly recommend it!Oleg February 19, 2026
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Good afternoon! I'd like to express my gratitude and that of my guide for organizing the tour! We were very pleased. We'd like to do it again in October, but on a different route — ZIL. Note: This refers to the tour for Samolet Group developers, led by guide Maria.Elya September 27, 2025
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Thanks to Alexander for the bar tour of Baumanka ! It was fun, exciting, and we discovered so many new places! Awesome! May we reach new heights!Kira August 9, 2025
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Good afternoon! I was on a tour of Sukharevskaya Square — we went all the way to Tsvetnoy Boulevard. I didn't expect it to be so interesting! For those wondering whether to go — go for it! It truly became one of my most memorable summer memories!Kirill August 4, 2025
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Good afternoon, thank you so much, Anastasia. The " Uncle Gilyai " tour was fantastic. Even though we're Muscovites and know a lot about Moscow, the experience was amazing, so much new and interesting happened. We'll definitely be back.Victoria July 8, 2025
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Thank you for the " Heart of Moscow " and " Khamovniki " tours. Anton, a knowledgeable and passionate Moscow guide, gave me the tour. He's a great storyteller, intelligent, well-read, and captivating. You've truly opened up my Moscow to me! I'll definitely be back next summer to explore Moscow with you. I'll recommend your wonderful tour program to all my friends!Julia July 1, 2025
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Excursions with the Radius travel agency are always a positive experience if you choose them. We planned a tour of Zamoskvorechye on our next visit. We've worked with our guide, Anton, before. We'll definitely recommend him to everyone we know. The tour is informative, not overloaded with dates, and the information is comprehensive yet easy to understand, as it's presented in a light, narrative manner, not like a history textbook, dry and academic. Thank you for this approach. We'll definitely use the Radius agency again on our next visit to Moscow.Tatiana June 23, 2025
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A huge thank you to Anastasia. We had a fantastic tour of the Patriki district. We learned so much. Anastasia is a true master of her craft. The tour was captivating, not at all boring, lively and interesting. Everyone was delighted. We were full of new impressions. I definitely recommend it. You won't be disappointed!Anna May 6, 2025
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We explored the Soul of Moscow with my family and Radius on my birthday. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the walk! Anton shared so many interesting facts about the capital and its history, taking us into spiritual depths no one else had even suspected. Most of us were either born or longtime Moscow residents who spent a lot of time walking around. It was educational, heartwarming, and unforgettable. 🙂 Overall, this wasn't my first time walking around Moscow with Anton, and each time was a real adventure!Olga May 4, 2025
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Good day to all! I would like to share my impressions of the excursion "Journey to Christmas". Our guide was Anastasia. So! Everything was just magical: a slight frost of -4, snow, numerous Christmas trees, decorations, lights, garlands and all this to the interesting educational story of Anastasia. Despite the fact that we knew something about the New Year, there was a lot that was new, unexpected and interesting. And all this to the music of Tchaikovsky. In general, we are delighted. Thank you for the New Year mood you gave us. It is priceless!!!! Thank you!Victoria January 5, 2025
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