Excursion with Gogol and Mayakovsky in Moscow

Literary detectives at the Arc de Triomphe

It was a clear Moscow day, and the sun was playing merrily on the glass of skyscrapers, reflecting in the windows of cars racing along Kutuzovsky Prospekt. An unusual scene unfolded near the majestic Triumphal Arch, which was once erected in honor of the victory over Napoleon. It was here, under the arch, where every stone remembers the thunder of drums and the clank of sabres, that Nikolai Gogol and Vladimir Mayakovsky met to discuss one extremely important topic - the disappearance of their literary heritage.

Yes, yes, you heard right! Both titans of Russian literature, as if having traveled through time and space, found themselves in modern times to unravel the intricacies of a mysterious theft. Having settled down on a bench at the foot of the arch, they, like two old friends, began to discuss their situation.

"You know, Nikolai Vasilyevich," Mayakovsky began, playing with his fingers in the air, "I found out that someone stole my "Cloud in Trousers." They went and hid it in some newfangled archive!" His voice, as always, sounded thunderous, drowning out the noise of the cars.

- Yes, Vladimir Vladimirovich, - answered Gogol, barely holding back a smile. - And they deprived me of Dead Souls. They say that they are now in some museum, but I can’t find them anywhere.

While they were pondering how to get their property back, a young tour guide passed by, telling a group of tourists about the Triumphal Arch. He proudly mentioned how the arch, designed by the architect Bove, symbolized Russia's victory in the Patriotic War of 1812. Gogol and Mayakovsky exchanged glances, and sparks lit up in their eyes.

"Maybe we should give you a tour?" Gogol suggested, looking thoughtfully at the arch. "We'll tell you about how our works travel around the world."

- An excellent idea, Nikolai Vasilyevich! - exclaimed Mayakovsky. - Only on one condition: let our "thieves" know that we see everything and know everything. Let them tremble before the power of our word!

And so they decided. The next day, under the shadow of the Triumphal Arch, the most unusual excursion in the history of Moscow began. Gogol and Mayakovsky talked about their works, and, of course, about how they were "stolen." The tourists, enchanted by this unusual story, laughed and applauded.

The sunny day was drawing to a close, and the shadows from the arch fell on the ground like the pages of a book opened in the fresh air. Gogol and Mayakovsky, pleased with their humorous undertaking, left the arch, leaving behind them a trail of smiles and good humor.

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Of course, this is a joke, and there is no real basis for this story - just a little imagination and for the sake of a smile! And if you are interested in real facts and events, we invite you to excursions bureau "Radius", where real history comes to life!

  1. 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
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. 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
  6. 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
  7. 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
  8. 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
  9. 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
  10. Thank you for a wonderful day today!!)) Note: review of the excursion "The Soul of Moscow" with guide Maria
    Natalia December 7, 2025
  11. 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
  12. 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
  13. 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
  14. 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
  15. 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
  16. 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
  17. 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
  18. 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
  19. 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
  20. 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
  21. 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
  22. 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
  23. Anastasia, good afternoon! I wanted to thank you again for the wonderful tour on Saturday — we absolutely loved the walk, the information, and the conversations with you. We spent a long time afterwards discussing what stood out and what struck us. It seems like you've lived in Moscow your whole life, and we studied Moscow studies in school, but it turns out there's so much you still don't know! Overall, thank you so much; my mom said it was the best birthday present ever! Note: This is about the " Soul of Moscow " tour.
    Arina January 13, 2025
  24. 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

Individual excursions: advantages over group ones

  • Dive into individual excursion allows you to explore the history and culture of Moscow in greater depth.
  • The guide pays special attention to your interests and preferences.
  • The route can be adapted to your wishes, whether it is a visit to the Arc de Triomphe or places associated with Nikolai Gogol and Vladimir Mayakovsky.
  • Lack of loud comments and jokes from other participants.
  • The guide is close by and speaks only for you, reducing the strain on your hearing and attention.
  • You choose a convenient time for the excursion.
  • The opportunity to discuss personal impressions and emotions with the guide during the process.
  • No stops at retail outlets.
  • There is no rush and you can see the sights at your own pace.
  • A personal guide remembers you, and you remember him. Such moments remain in memory.
  • Opportunity to gain insight or exclusive information.
  • All attention is on you. Answers to all your questions.
  • Take a break to rest or take photos whenever you like.
  • There won't be a crowd of other participants in your photos.
  • Possibility to visit places closed to large groups.
  • An atmosphere of tranquility and privacy.
  • Freedom from other people's pressure.
  • The excursion can be either educational or easy, depending on your wishes.

Cost of personal excursions

If you are alone or in pairs, a few thousand for a walking tour of the city or twenty thousand for a car tour can seem like a lot.

However, if you are going with family or friends, the cost for each participant can be one to two thousand - similar to what you would pay for a group tour with strangers.

For groups 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.

The Radius tour agency offers a variety of cultural and historical tours of Moscow, conducted in several languages. The choice of routes includes walking tours and car excursions, as well as the possibility of creating individual routes. Our stylish guides, free from cliches and memorized texts, will provide lively speech and interesting stories, including tales about Nikolai Gogol and Vladimir Mayakovsky. We also experiment with neural networks, creating funny stories for the site.

Our services are in demand among both individual clients and corporate customers such as Yandex, Faberlic and Russian Railways. We offer unique excursions that can be presented as certificates suitable for any audience. In addition, our routes cover important cultural and historical aspects of Moscow, making each excursion unforgettable.