Uncle Gilyai and his time

Gilyarovsky's Private Tour of Moscow: Heroes and Contrasts

From Sukharevskaya Square to Teatralnaya
Walking tour
1 hour 30 minutes or 2 hours 30 minutes
from 7,000 ₽
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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.

Bureau guides

A guide suited to the route and your party

We match the guide to the subject, the group and your preferred pace. We confirm the name in advance, and you can view the profile on the website.

Meet all our guides
Bureau guide Anton
Anton
Bureau guide Anastasia
Anastasia
Bureau guide Alexander
Alexander
Bureau guide Maria
Maria

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).

Reviews

We took a tour of Taganka designed for 12-year-old children. It was an excellent programme. We covered a great deal of ground and learnt so much. We discovered the story of Dryanaya Street and discussed the Vladimir Highway, the surrounding monasteries and churches, and the Old Believers. We now know where Korovin was born, where Stanislavsky was born and raised, where the Morozov merchant children lived, and why Arseny Morozov was considered such an outrageous figure in his day. We also discussed Solzhenitsyn, discovered where Stalin Avenue was supposed to be built, saw the bunker, walked to the Russian metochion of the Mount Athos Monastery, and learnt why the Illuzion cinema made Taganka famous. Of course, no tour would have been complete without Vysotsky and Lyubimov. We also touched briefly on Taganka Prison, although naturally we did not go there. All in all, it was an exceptionally rich and informative tour! Our guide Alexander was superb!

Tatiana September 4, 2026

Our thanks to our guide Alexander for a magnificent sightseeing tour. Alexander’s love for Moscow and its history, his wide-ranging knowledge, elegant and engaging delivery, and personal charm make the tour not merely interesting and informative, but truly delightful! Thank you, Alexander! Tatiana and Tatiana, St Petersburg

Tatiana August 18, 2026

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thank you for a fascinating tour! It gave me so much food for thought to explore! Note: Review of the "Zamoskvorechye" tour with guide Maria.

Eugene December 7, 2025

I'd like to express my gratitude on behalf of our team! Thank you for keeping to our scheduled schedule despite our lack of organization. Our colleagues appreciated your preparation for the tour! It was informative. Note: Review of the "Modern Residential Complexes, Factory Past, and Avant-Garde" tour of the ZILART residential complex with guide Maria. Maria prepared and conducted a customized tour for employees of the Samolet Group of Companies development company.

Team of the Samolet Group December 7, 2025

Thank you! You have great talent. Good luck! ☺️ You're a wonderful guide! Thank you again! Note: This is a review of the corporate tour "The Heart of the Capital" with guide Maria.

Dmitriy December 7, 2025

Thank you for a wonderful day today!!)) Note: review of the excursion "The Soul of Moscow" with guide Maria

Natalia December 7, 2025

On behalf of the whole family, I want to thank you for a very informative and interesting tour! Note: This is a review of the "Palace Dungeons" tour with guide Maria.

Eugene December 7, 2025

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

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

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

Anastasia, good morning! Thank you and Masha for yesterday! The speakers are happy. The connection through the headphones was often lost, especially at the checkpoint, but that's just our current situation. You could hear if you were standing close, no more than 1.5 meters away. Colleagues have already asked for your contact information. I'd be happy to share it and look forward to another opportunity to work with you. Special thanks to the Director for the Bureau . Note: " Heart of the Capital " tour for participants of the 2025 Moscow Oncology Forum. Guides: Anastasia and Maria.

Tina July 8, 2025

We'd like to thank Anton and Alexander for leading the tour! It was fascinating to hear how the Krasnaya Presnya district developed and how Prokhorov's influence on our city's development. It was a pleasant immersion into a quiet, previously unexplored area!

Dmitriy July 8, 2025

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

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

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

Thank you so much for the tour of Zamoskvorechye . Despite the weather, it was very interesting and informative! Note: this refers to the tour with guide Anton.

Tatiana May 6, 2025

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

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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Guide Anastasia conducted excursion for employees A private multidisciplinary clinic located near Petrovka. The clinic's director decided to organize a walk so that the staff, who have worked in this historic district for over ten years, could finally learn more about the area's history. The purpose of the event was twofold: not only to learn about the rich history but also to organize a small corporate event with lots of photos. Read more...

Author's articles on the topic "Uncle Gilyai and his time"

Gilyarovsky’s Reportorial Method: The 1926 and 1931 Editions
Gilyarovsky’s Reportorial Method: The 1926 and 1931 Editions
Vladimir Gilyarovsky’s book Moscow and Muscovites grew out of several layers of work: newspaper assignments, relationships cultivated over many years, sketches of old Moscow and later reworking as memoir. The extensive text familiar to modern readers brings together observations and versions written in different years rather than capturing the city at a single point in time. Distinguishing between the date of an event, its first publication…

Advantages of individual excursions over group ones

How much more expensive are personal tours than mass tours?

If you are alone or in pairs, then a sum of several thousand for a walking tour of the city or twenty thousand for a car excursion is significant.

But if you're going for a walk with family or friends, the cost for an individual participant approaches one or two thousand - the amount that each person would pay for a group excursion with strangers.

For your group of 8 or more people, the price becomes even lower when calculated per person, making a private tour truly attractive.

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A mass excursion is tourism, an individual excursion is a journey through the city’s secrets with a personal guide.

As an excursion bureau, we, Radius, organize sightseeing and cultural-historical excursions around Moscow. We create individual and group routes, including a walking tour of Gilyarovsky. Our services are especially popular among corporate clients, including such companies as Yandex, Faberlic and Russian Railways.

We offer gift certificates for our excursions, which is a great option for an original gift. Our main advantage is our guides, who are very enthusiastic about their work, offer only live speech and do not use cliches.

Our tours are available in a variety of languages, including Russian, English, German, Spanish and Hebrew. We are ready to provide services for one person as well as for large groups, providing each client with an individual approach.

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