Moscow City - observation deck, how to get there, ticket price, photo

Moscow City, difficult heights

The largest modern skyscraper complex in Europe is called Moscow City or Moscow International Business Center (MBC), which is also home to the largest Russian companies and foreign multinational corporations.

The Russian capital has surpassed cities such as Paris, London or Frankfurt in designing several mega-structures equipped with the latest technology.

Construction of Moscow City began in 1996 in the Presnensky district (on Presnenskaya embankment), in the western part of the city, and until now it has defied all known heights on the European continent, occupying only 1 square kilometer of surface.

Personally, this project amazes me: Moscow currently houses 6 of the 10 tallest buildings in Europe (second, third, fourth, sixth and seventh). Five of them exceed 300 meters. Until 2018, the Federation Tower (373.7 m) was the tallest skyscraper, but it was surpassed by the Lakhta Center in St. Petersburg (462 meters).

I assure you that it is really worth seeing these skyscrapers from below or getting to one of the observation decks.

Among the city's residents and visitors, it is estimated that around 300,000 people a day travel through this futuristic city, either for its endless skyscrapers, its hotels and restaurants, or its gigantic shopping mall.

But if the present belongs to the Moscow metropolis, then the future is still being written, as skyscrapers are being built in Moscow, at least until 2022. One of the planned buildings will rise to 404 meters.

Parisian Tea School at Palais des Thés

Gourmets and admirers of rituals in everything that concerns what happens at the table, the French approach the choice of tea as seriously as the choice of wine. The Parisian tea school is an attitude towards tea as an exquisite delicacy that requires adherence to the culture of its consumption. Tea sommeliers, who understand the nuances of taste and aroma of tea, select their variety for a specific dish and for a specific occasion, season, weather and even time of day. Muscovites can now learn all the intricacies of choosing and tasting tea and purchase varieties to their liking at the Parisian Tea House on Pokrovka, 4, building 1.

Here in March 2017, the first tea boutique in Russia of the famous French chain Palais des Thés, founded in 1987 by an expert and one of the best tea sommeliers Francois-Xavier Delmas, opened in Russia. The assortment includes a collection of more than 250 varieties of elite tea from different regions of the world. Traveling around the world in search of the best plantations, the boutique's experts select varieties and control the tea production process at all its stages. Author's blends are a source of special pride. The blend is based on large-leaf plantation tea; its character is achieved through the play of notes of natural ingredients - fruits, petals and buds of flowers, elite essential oils.

PHOTO: Palais des Thés

How to get to Moscow City

Moscow City has been under construction since the end of the twentieth century, but communication and transport terminals have not yet been completed. The most convenient way to get there is by metro, although you can also get to the complex by car (there are plenty of free parking spaces), by bus and even by boat.

You can get off at the metro stations “Vystavochnaya” (two stops, one after the Bagration Bridge), “Business Center” (three stops in a row in the city center) and “Mezhdunarodnaya” (three stops in a row).

Depending on the skyscraper or shopping center you plan to visit, some stations or stops will be preferable to others.

There are also excursions around Moscow City. Find it on Tripster.

Where is Moscow City located?

Address : Federation Tower, Presnenskaya Embankment, 12, Moscow

Moscow City is located approximately 4-5 kilometers from Red Square. From the center of Moscow, if you take metro line 4 at the Alexandrovsky Sad station, you will arrive in Moscow City in 15 minutes.

The multi-level terminal will connect underground areas with metro stations and public transport stops in the transport center. In addition, it is located next to the Third Ring Road.

It is also planned that a fast train will connect Moscow City with other districts of Moscow and arrive at Sheremetyevo and Vnukovo airports.

Arch of Guimard

Once on the Place de l'Europe, any Parisian will be surprised: one of the entrances to the subway (Kyiv station) is designed exactly like many metro stations in the center of the French capital. A twisted arch in the Art Nouveau style with the Metropolitain sign appeared next to the Kievsky railway station in January 2007. This is a copy of one of the works of Hector Guimard, the most prominent representative of the Art Nouveau style in France. It was Guimard who was responsible for the design of the Paris metro at the beginning of the 20th century. The arch was presented to our capital as a sign of cooperation between the mayors of Paris and Moscow. And although its creators were confident in the successful choice of location, all the beauty cannot be seen at once.

PHOTO: Depositphotos

What to see in Moscow City

The post-modernist and futuristic architecture of Moscow City has surpassed the so-called Seven Sisters of Stalin, or the seven large skyscrapers built between the 40s and 50s of the last century, which still retain all their charm. Unlike brand new buildings grouped in a common space, “Seven Sisters” are scattered throughout Moscow.

The area's most common use is in urban development, with a wide range of innovative facilities at the top of its various typologies, combining business and leisure as well as residential spaces. It is estimated that about 300,000 people visit this shopping and entertainment complex daily in the western part of Moscow's so-called Third Transport Ring.

The best European architects and engineers, Americans and even Australians took part in the design and construction of Moscow City. Old factories and industrial centers remained in their original locations.

Next to concrete, what stands out is the presence of glass and the use of the most modern materials and building structures that serve the functionality of its various purposes inside giant skyscrapers. Many of them are related to each other.

In short, it is a true vertical city designed not only for business purposes but also for entertainment. Without exhausting resources, in the Moscow City complex and buildings you can find offices and business centers, conference rooms and public events, underground parking lots and galleries, metro stations, restaurants and cafes, fitness clubs, gyms, spas and swimming pools, hotels , luxury apartments, shopping centers and cinemas, clinics, concert halls, observation decks from above, etc.

For all this, I recommend, without a doubt, to visit this emblematic site. Moscow City is not only for Muscovites.

Official website: https://citymoscow.ru

Find excursions in Moscow >>

The beginning of Moscow City: and the Bagration pedestrian bridge

Tower 2000 was the first of Moscow City's skyscrapers with its 104 meters. Situated on the right bank of the Moscow River, work began in 1998 and was completed in 2001. It has 34 floors and is designed for office use. There are also restaurants.

It should also be noted that Tower 2000 is located opposite the complex, but it is connected to the Moscow International Business Center by a covered pedestrian bridge called Bagration, with a noticeably futuristic style.

Central core of Moscow City: Afimall City, concert hall and Novotel

The main core of Moscow City, surrounded by huge skyscrapers, is formed by the Afimall City shopping center, a concert hall with 6,000 seats and the Novotel Moscow City hotel. Thus, skyscrapers are located around this central core. Below this central area there are several metro stops.

On this Yandex map you can see the central core:

In the center of Moscow, surrounded by huge skyscrapers, is the Afimall City shopping center with an area of more than 283,000 square meters with 450 shops and restaurants.

Next to the shopping center there is a concert hall in a round building, intended for holding important entertainment events, gala concerts and all kinds of public celebrations.

Right next to the Afimall shopping center there is a building with a round floor and “only” 8 floors of the Novotel Moscow City hotel.

This 4-star hotel in the heart of Moscow is a highly recommended option to stay among the skyscrapers, explore the surrounding area and reach the giant buildings for sightseeing and photography.

List of skyscrapers

The bird's eye views and panoramic views from the observation decks of some of Moscow's skyscrapers are simply incredible, whether during the day, at night or at sunset. This is one of the greatest charms of Moscow City.

However, visiting observation decks on rainy and cloudy days is not recommended for obvious reasons.

In addition, the view from below of the entire gigantic environment of Moscow City is also very valuable, especially since the buildings are very concentrated. Or from the nearest pier next to the Moscow River. Night lights are spectacular and enveloping. In short, you will see Moscow in all its extent and splendor.

To find budget accommodation (hotels, apartments, houses) in Moscow, we recommend using the Hotellook service, where you can find a huge number of accommodation options at different prices and with high ratings.

Federation Tower, the tallest (with observation deck)

Federation Tower is a collection of two skyscrapers located in the center of a complex that almost touches the sky. The smallest one, the West Tower, is 242 m.

In turn, the so-called East Tower reaches almost 374 meters: it is the second largest skyscraper in Europe. They say it could withstand an airplane strike.

Construction lasted about thirteen years, from 2004 to 2016. Its owners are the Russian International Investment Private Group. It costs about $1.2 billion, has 67 elevators and a total area of 443,000 m2. It is completely lined with glass. There is a swimming pool on the 62nd floor.

The observation deck, known as Panorama 360, is located on the 89th floor, at the top of the Federation Tower, and your visit will be unforgettable in its 1500 m2. Comfort and safety are perceived through 6-meter windows. The elevator will take you to your place at a speed of 8 meters per second.

From there you can see the Residence of the Russian Government, Moscow State University, the Ostankino Tower and the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. You may also be interested in other churches in Moscow.

In addition to enjoying the views, there are the latest interactive technologies and virtual reality gadgets. You can get a free photo. It is also wheelchair accessible.

The Panorama 360 observation deck (with its 360-degree views) has a restaurant and gift shop. From there you can get to the highest ice cream factory in the world. You'll know how they're made and you'll taste the free ice cream.

The best option to get there is from the Vystavochnaya metro station, and then go to the Afimall City shopping center to buy an entrance on the second floor.

Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 10 am to 10 pm; on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to 11 pm.

We moved to Antalya. We tell you everything in detail in our group. in contact with: https://vk.com/antalya2. Also watch our videos at YouTube:

Prices range from 1000 rubles (children from 6 to 14 years old) to 1200 rubles for adults, although there are offers and discounts for the whole family, for groups, etc. Children aged 0 to 5 years can enter the hotel free of charge when accompanied by an adult. You can make an online reservation with a 10% discount.

This is also the place where you will find couples on a romantic date.

I should also note that on the 62nd floor you will find Sixty, one of the nicest restaurants in Europe, with impressive views and gastronomic quality.

Empire Tower (skyscraper with a museum and observation deck)

The Imperial Tower consists of two skyscrapers (2006-2018), the largest of which is 239 meters high and 59 floors. Offices, hotels, apartments, shopping centers, beauty salons and restaurants await you.

The length of all pipes in the building exceeds 139 km, which allows for uninterrupted operation of water supply, sewerage, heat supply, air conditioning, refrigeration and fire safety systems.

This tower houses the Moscow City Museum, which is located on the 56th floor and also serves as an observation deck at an altitude of 215 meters.

You can learn about the history of the creation of the city of Moscow and the details of the construction of skyscrapers, on the one hand, and about the history of the Moscow capital, on the other. It is wheelchair accessible.

Entrance fees range from 540 rubles for adults to 400 rubles for children. They are a little more expensive if we include virtual reality gadgets or if we include tours. Children under 6 years old have free entry. In addition, there are also discounts for students, senior citizens and other groups.

You can make this visit with a guide.

Oko Towers (highest outdoor observation deck)

This is a complex of two skyscrapers, one of which is the second largest in Moscow City with its 354 meters and 85 floors. It opened in 2021 for offices, hotels and luxury apartments. In addition, the hotel has a restaurant and a gym. The complex occupies almost 250,000 m2.

Its glass façade is what stands out. In addition, it has a huge parking area with 12 floors and which rises to 44 m.

The Oko Towers were designed by the American firm Skidmore, Owings and Merril, the same ones that built the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai.

It is believed that the apartment could cost around $23,700 per square meter.

On the roof of the main Oko tower, at an altitude of 354 meters, you can find the observation deck High Port 354, which is the highest outdoor observatory in Europe.

Ticket price: 1,500 rubles for adults and 750 rubles for children (from 7 to 14 years old). Children under 7 years old are not allowed. There is also an entrance fee of 2000 rubles to enjoy both day and night.
Opening hours: 12:00 to 23:00, Monday to Sunday.

On its website you can buy tickets online.

It is also possible to go on guided excursions. You can also book a table for romantic dates or wedding photo sessions.

For those curious, the site hashtag is #onlyloveisabove.

You can get there through the Mezhdunarodnaya metro station.

These towers include two restaurants:

Restaurant Ruski offers stunning panoramic views from the heights and is one of the highest on the continent. It occupies the 85th floor. Elegant and modern. Russian traditional cuisine.
Restaurant Understanding. Also from High Port 354, an exceptional height and well worth a visit. Dress code and facial recognition required at entry.

Tower of Evolution, a bold and famous design

Built between 2011 and 2015, it has 255 meters and 53 floors. Designed for recreation and for offices.

Its ornate and expressive design earned it a finalist nomination for “Europe's Best Skyscraper” from the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH). She also won second place in the 2015 Emporis Skyscraper Prize, among other awards.

The building reflects two ribbons wrapped around each other, symbolizing the interconnectedness between individuals, families and generations. For others, human DNA.

From the tower there is direct access to the Vystavochnaya metro station and the Bagration Bridge.

In this building you will find “Masterslavl”, which will be like a city of state-funded professions, aimed at children from 2 to 14 years old, in which the little ones learn in workshops while enjoying leisure time. It's like a mini-city with its own infrastructure.

The Masterslavl Hotel is located in a shopping gallery connecting the Vystavochnaya metro station and the Bagration Bridge.

Mercury City Tower and its bright orange facade

Completed in 2013, Mercury City Tower measures nearly 339 meters and has a total of 75 floors of luxury residential and office space, and also houses restaurants, shops, banks, a gym and a meeting room for social events. It also became the tallest skyscraper in Europe.

Visually, its façade is very attractive as its outer surface extends the orange glow, taking advantage of the sun's rays, thus tinting the glass with a reflective bronze tone. It has a gigantic 1,350 m2 external screen made up of more than two million LEDs.

This was the first construction of the complex using advanced intelligent systems that respect the environment. For example, 75% of offices will have natural light during the day. It has two high-speed elevators that reach a maximum of 7 meters per second.

It has been renowned for several awards given its high quality multi-functional use.

The City of Capitals and its deconstructivism

These are two giant towers: one in Moscow (302 m and 73 floors) and one in St. Petersburg (257 m and 65 floors), symbolizing the two cities, built in 2005-2009.

They have offices, luxury apartments, shops, restaurants, cinemas and a sports center with a spa fitness area of 2800 square meters. It has a deconstructive and edgy style.

Embankment Tower and its complex of three buildings

Its construction lasted from 2003 to 2007. It is actually a set of three towers, with a total of 45 elevators, all interconnected, the tallest of which reaches 268 m and has 59 floors. It was the tallest building in Russia and, as a result, in Europe until 2009.

Four months before the opening, all office space was sold. The towers are also used by businesses.

Websites: https://www.ccioffices.ru and also https://bashnya-na-naberezhnoj.ru (Russian).

Eurasia: steel and panoramic elevators

This skyscraper has 309 meters, 72 floors in two sections, built from 2005 to 2014, with offices, apartments, a casino on the second floor, a hotel, a gym, a swimming pool and other entertainment spaces.

Unlike most towers in Moscow City, which use concrete, it was built using steel. It also stands out for its panoramic elevator.

In June 2021, a Russian “roofer” wanted to climb it. He was unable to reach the highest point of the skyscraper and was stopped by the police on the 52nd floor.

IQ-quarter: offices and luxury apartments

IQ Quarter is a complex completed in 2021. It consists of two skyscrapers, plus one more located on another site. Tower 3 is the tallest with 169 m and 42 floors. It is used for premium offices and apartments.

It is planned to house a multi-level transport terminal.

North Tower, class A building

The North Tower has, among other amenities, offices, conference and meeting rooms, bank branches, restaurants, a gym, a swimming pool and a concert hall since its completion in 2008.

It has 108 meters and stands out as a Class A office building, with high quality standards and automation in all air conditioning and fire fighting standards.

Expocentre, Moscow Exhibition Fair

Finally, it is worth mentioning the forum pavilion, which has become a symbol of the Moscow Exhibition Fair “Expocentre”. This is a unique building, shaped like a pyramid and completely glazed.

Eiffel Tower in Moscow how to get there

September 21.

The day started early. At 7 o'clock we left the house for the station, where we boarded a high-speed train to Paris. The trip went well, quite quickly and not tiring. Nelechka was a little capricious, cried that Uncle Rudy didn’t go, but then she calmed down and even agreed to eat and ate 3 jars of fruit puree (100 grams), which is a record for the last few days, since the snot still hasn’t gone away for us.

Coming out of the station, we thought that we had not arrived in Paris at all, because there were only blacks around, everywhere and everywhere. The stores sold wigs of all types, colors and patterns. And the first impression was strange: it was uncomfortable and I wanted to go somewhere more spacious. After 45 minutes of walking we came to Senna.

There, on the embankment, Nelechka wanted to eat. We sat on the bench and ate the last of the packaged puree. I wanted to go to the toilet. Since there was nowhere to run and there were no cafes nearby, we hid behind a tree separating the roadway from the sidewalk and did our business. So Nelya can safely boast that she wrote right on the Senna embankment

Then I wanted to eat, because the pizza I had eaten for breakfast at 7 o’clock had long been digested. But as soon as we decided that I wasn’t the only one who was still hungry and wanted to drink coffee, all the eateries and cafes suddenly disappeared and we were at the Louvre.

We decided that we needed to eat first and went deeper into the streets to find some cafe. We went to the first place we liked. We ordered coffee: Alfiya latte, I cappuccino. I realized that I couldn’t get by on coffee alone and decided to grab a sandwich. I chose from the menu where I saw at least some familiar letters and names, and they brought me a big sandwich: half a French baguette with lettuce, chicken, egg, tomato and some kind of dressing. It was delicious!!!!!

Then we walked around the outback a bit and came out again to the Louvre.

We entered the inner territory and a most magnificent view opened up in front of us: a beautiful lawn, on which people sit and lie here and there. Having looked at this, Nelya also tried it, and so did I.

Then Nelya wanted to eat and ate a whole banana - maybe the fresh air had that effect on her? And of course, she wanted something small, which we did right there, hiding behind the fence, although Nelya asked to go into the middle of the lawn.

Having received complete satisfaction from what was happening, we moved towards the Louvre itself and the small Arc de Triomphe.

No matter how much we wanted to go to the Louvre itself, alas, it was not open today; it is a day off on Tuesdays. But this did not upset us at all, because our plans were to go to the Eiffel Tower and the large Arc de Triomphe, and you could spend several days in the Louvre and still not see everything.

As soon as we headed towards the large Arc de Triomphe, Nele again wanted to go to the toilet, but it was not so easy to find it there, and the bushes no longer suited us! We left the territory and went into a cafe, fortunately the word toilet is understood in all languages. Having accomplished their plans, they continued on their way. We went out to the square near the opera house.

And then my camera battery runs out, even though I stood there and charged it all night. True, I put it on charge not completely discharged, but with half a charge, maybe I ruined it, maybe the whole point is that Alfiya, when she was carrying the camera, periodically, without knowing it, shot a video (from which we had fun in the evening).

We were a little upset, I planned to click everything and everywhere, but we remembered that Alfia also had a camera with her and its charge was enough to click at the Arch and the tower and scratched in that direction.

On the way to the Arch, somehow, with grief in half, they put Nelya to sleep in the stroller, and they themselves reached the Arch, took pictures and moved to the most popular and famous thing in Paris - the Eiffel Tower.

We walked for a long time and even lost sight of her for about 10 minutes. Once we stopped to sit on a bench when Nelya immediately woke up, but they were already very close. Having persuaded our daughter to come closer to this piece of iron and having passed about 6 more traffic lights, we found ourselves next to her, my dear.

We did not go upstairs, because there was a huge queue there, and we were already quite hungry. Therefore, having passed under the “celebrity”, we walked towards the house along the embankment in search of a cafe.

Having found one cozy cafe, we sat down, picked up the menu and looked for familiar letters. Somehow we found salads with chicken, ordered 2 identical ones and one different, unknown one (as it turned out later they were identical - Caesar, and the other was a salad from the Chef). My father-in-law and I each took a glass of dry red, and Alfiya took a cola. They gave us some chips to whet our appetite, but they all arrived quite quickly. Having seen the size of the portion, we thought that we could take 2 for everyone, or at least order half a portion for my father-in-law (he’s not used to eating that much, or rather, he’s used to not eating), so we got a lot. It was very, very tasty! I sat, ate and realized that if I died from gluttony, which never happened, I would die young, but happy! Nelechka ate what we took out of the bag, but her diet was not as voluminous as ours, just juice, a cookie, 2 bites of an apple and 2 tiny packets of gumibershen (chewing marmalade). Having finished the meal and paid (the three of us spent 60 euros and were full, satisfied and happy), we realized that we couldn’t just walk to our station in an hour and a half and decided to take the metro. Having accidentally met Russian girls who had been living in Paris for a long time, we found out the best way for us to get there and where to get off. We went down to the subway and quickly found ourselves there.

I didn’t like the French metro: it was cramped and ugly. In the carriages, the seats are not lengthwise like ours, but 2 seats across, and there are side reclining seats; in short, the passage is very, very narrow. And the doors are opened by the passengers themselves; if anyone needs to get out, there is a special handle. The stations are located very close to each other, literally a minute, or even less, and you’re already at the next one. They are not announced - they look at the name on the station itself or on the map.

Once at the station, I realized that to be completely happy I needed ice cream, which we looked for for about 15 minutes and couldn’t find anywhere. But my dream came true and I became completely happy, having eaten a double vanilla cone for 4 euros, and I didn’t care that the time was not until 12, but as much as 19 o’clock. Our train arrived, we sat down and realized how tired we were. Upon arrival, I moved from the train to the car, as if on stilts. It feels like an elephant stepped on my foot and jumped there for complete happiness.

Nelechka is a smart girl, she behaved well and positively, and we won’t even count the little whims. But after bathing, I fell asleep within a minute, not even having time to jump around on the bed.

Today turned out to be very hot and I, who went in autumn boots with heels, was hot and extremely tired, so for such a long walk as ours - 9 o’clock - I need sneakers.

What can I say about Paris. Very beautiful city. Very romantic! And I would love to walk around it for more than one day, but in the company of my husband. It is quite difficult to walk there with a 2-year-old child, because except on the territory of the Louvre and the Champs-Elysees there is nowhere to run, there are cars and other dangers everywhere.

Paris, in comparison with German cities, resembles Moscow: the same bustle, active traffic, frequent violation of rules. There are a lot of motorcycles and bicycles. I also noticed that it is simply unrealistic to rely on the weather from passers-by: some wear Uggs, some wear flip-flops with a toe strap, some wear a sheepskin coat, and some wear a summer sundress. Here, on girls and in store windows, I saw skirts, heels, and raincoats, and all in quite a variety of colors, so in this regard I really liked everything, although we didn’t go shopping ourselves, otherwise we wouldn’t have seen the city. So I hope I will come there more than once to take a walk, and maybe do some shopping specifically

Guided tours of Moscow City

Finally, if you want to take a guided tour of Moscow City, there are various excursions that will take you to the highest observation decks in Moscow City. Some of these visits include a dinner cruise all the way to and from the complex.

Everything that is useful for every tourist on a trip:

You can find and book tours online at Travelata and Onlinetours.
You can book and compare hotel prices on Hotellook. And the apartments are on Airbnb.
You can choose the cheapest air ticket among all airlines on Aviasales, and a train ticket on Poezd.
Find excursions around the world on Tripster.
Buy insurance and not worry about your health at Cherehapa.
Rent a car to see even more interesting places on Economybookings. Or a bike on BikesBooking.
Book airport transfer Kiwitaxi.

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When can you get to the Moscow City observation deck?

You can get to the observation deck with a tour from the agency (prices from 1000 rubles) or come to the Empire Tower on your own and purchase a ticket to the observation deck for 700 rubles. If you arrive in the morning on the weekend, you can save money and rise to the heavens for only 500 rubles (check for details). This amount includes the excursion. Before visiting the Moscow City observation deck, we recommend that you first study the opening hours of the observation deck. You can get to the lookout on weekends from 10 to 22. On weekdays, the lookout is open from 18 to 22. The ascent at 22 is made without a guide. Tours run every hour. But it’s better if you check the details on the official website of the observation deck in the City, you never know!

Moscow City. Schedule