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Home › Reviews › Mobilvetta › K-Yacht Tekno Line › MH-85

Mobilvetta K-Yacht Tekno Line MH-85 2017

Published: August 16, 2017

You can indulge in A-class luxury and style on a 3500kg chassis with this Mobilvetta K-Yacht Tekno Line MH-85 – but just how tempting is it?

Mobilvetta is one of a handful of motorhome brands (the others being Itineo , Rapido and Pilote , at least in Essentiel spec) that offers A-class ’vans at prices close to what ordinary folk can afford.

This Mobilvetta is a good £10k cheaper than Adria and Bürstner models with similar layouts, although they include Alde heating and a slightly higher specification.

But there are enough innovations inside Mobilvetta’s K-Yacht MH-85, including the underfloor heating and the clever kitchen, to make this a motorhome you can really grow into, even if there are one or two niggles – like the night-lights.

With Marquis Leisure’s input, you get a much more UK-friendly spec too, but you would be wise to opt for the free chassis upgrade, driving licence permitting, of course.

The kitchen has been cleverly thought out You can get a good amount in the rear garage, plus there are handy storage nets and a light/torch

Lots of lighting inside is great, but we felt it was a bit too much – especially when trying to turn them all off There’s so much storage space that it’s easy to overload the ’van!

Mobilvetta may sound and look Italian, and although it is Italian built, mamma mia , as with so much else in the motorhome industry these days, it is actually part of a much larger multi-national concern – in this case, the French-owned Trigano Group.

Despite such support, it had been largely absent from the UK market for most of the past decade, a result of the late-2000s financial crisis that saw the Italian motorhome market contract by as much as one fifth.

That was up until the start of the 2017 season, though, when the UK’s biggest motorhome and caravan dealer network, Marquis Leisure, keen to add an A-class brand to its portfolio, brought Mobilvetta back to British forecourts.

Don’t forget that Marquis is already enjoying no little success with Benimar , itself another Trigano brand.

So far, potential UK buyers have only seen three models from the brand’s K-Yacht Tekno Line , which, surprise surprise, has been designed to incorporate elements of nautical style.

Earlier this season, we tested the K-Yacht MH-80 , which carries an innovative rear-lounge layout.

Now we’re taking the K-Yacht MH-85 , with single beds in the back and a drop-down double bed over the dinette, for a spin through rural Northamptonshire and a thorough live-in test.

The cooking area is one of the best we have seen in recent times

A front dinette is usually going to be a space challenge in a motorhome with fixed beds.

Here in the Mobilvetta K-Yacht Tekno Line MH-85 it is less so, because the designers have found enough space to incorporate an L-shaped seat and a small side seat to the right of the habitation door.

But even if our team-mate did fall asleep on the move, these seats are really only moderately comfy when the motorhome is stationary. The main bench in particular seems very upright.

You would probably be more inclined, as we were, to use the swivelled cab seats if it is just the two of you. They would certainly give you a prime position for watching the TV if you were to install one on the bracket fitted to the left of the habitation door.

The table is fully adjustable, but we found it was always a little far out from the side seat, which, like the bench, is not super comfortable.

The seat is, however, a useful place for putting on any shoes you might keep in the nearby cubbyhole in the double floor.

The lounge is adequately heated with one vent to the side and another by the door. There is one mains socket in this area, which is a bit of a squeeze to get to as it is under the L-shaped seat, but the sockets in the kitchen are nearby.

A rooflight keeps this area bright and airy, even taking the drop-down bed into account, and alongside those LED striplights there are plenty of LED spotlights, including four in a row by the drop-down bed’s curtain, plus two by the door that come on automatically as you enter the motorhome.

The drop-down bed has speakers in its base, too.

The cooking area in the Mobilvetta K-Yacht Tekno Line MH-85 is one of the best we have seen in recent times.  There is only a three-burner hob, but it is cleverly tucked into the corner, and there is a large sink with a cover that alternates as a chopping board and fits into a slot on a rail that runs along the top of the partition by the sink.

That’s a useful idea, although we would be tempted to swap the board’s position with the paper towel holder that also sits on this rail so that the board is directly over the bin behind the sink, and all food waste can simply be scraped off and dropped in.

The whole work surface is well lit, with a 12V and mains socket next to the light switch, and there’s even an extractor fan.

There’s another potential resting place for the chopping board on top of the cutlery tray under the worktop. Here, it can form an extension flap.

Two large drawers and an ingenious shelving system that telescopes out next to them means that there is plenty of room for even quite large pans and utensils.

Up above, the two overhead lockers are also large.

Having so much space to hand makes you wonder why the designers bothered with the tiny apothecary shelf across the aisle.

Next to it is a three-way 150-litre Thetford fridge, and a SMEV oven and grill above that – it will be a little high for some, though.

The washroom is split across the middle of this Mobilvetta motorhome.

A stylish-looking stainless-steel basin with a soap dispenser and mug embedded into the worktop around it, and two differently angled mirrors behind it, takes up one side, along with a swivel toilet with toilet roll holder and brush.

There’s also one overhead locker and a cupboard under the basin that is partly obscured by a thin towel rail.

This area, which is partitioned off by a tambour door, also has a window and a roof vent with a fan.

Strangely, you won’t find the latter in the shower cubicle across the aisle, which also only has one drain hole – a sign, perhaps, that this is an affordable A-class.

But the shower head itself looks ultra-modern, and there are solid metal shelves for stowing all your lotions and potions.

The whole washroom area can be partitioned off from the front lounge and kitchen by means of an elegant Japanese-style door.

The comfortable fixed beds at the rear are reached by steps – each measures 2.03 x 0.83m (6’8″ x 2’9″).

The beds are reasonably high, which means you don’t have a huge amount of headroom. But as the mattresses themselves can be raised at the pillow end, support is available for sitting up in bed.

Sleepers get spotlights for reading, while in the middle between the two beds is a very large wooden shelf that could easily serve as a resting place for books.

If you would rather cuddle up for the night, you can pull out an extension over the steps and insert a couple of infills to create a double bed.

The 1.88 x 1.33m (6’2″ x 4’4″) drop-down double bed over the cab was a little more complicated to position than we had expected.

The folded cab seats need to rest an inch or so before their forward-most position, not right at the end. Trying to work this out inevitably involved accidentally sounding the horn, so you might need to be careful if you are putting this bed down late at night.

Once it is deployed, though, you get a bed that is an accessible height, and comes with spotlights and a rooflight.

You’re certainly not short of space for clothes in the MH-85.

Along with six overhead lockers in the bedroom, there are two huge wardrobes under the bed, one with a hanging rail and the other with two large shelves.

There are also clever sock shelves in the curve of the wardrobe doors, while two of the steps open up for storage.

The designers have made use of the double floor – not just externally with those two lockers, but also internally with cubbyholes along the centre of the ’van. The one by the fridge is cleverly sub-divided to take large drinks bottles – molto buono!

The excellent garage, meanwhile, has two doors, a light you can remove to use as a torch, and netted storage across the back. It is big enough to take bikes upright.

The only trouble is the modest user payload of 342kg – fill up all the available storage spaces and you’ll end up being overweight.

Buyers with C1 entitlement on their driving licences can get around this by opting for a chassis upgrade to 3650kg, which is free of charge.

Technical Specifications

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The multi award-winning Mobilvetta Tekno-Line is the ultimate in motorhome luxury featuring two unique and versatile ranges - the K.Yacht A Class and Kea Coachbuilt.

Inside each Tekno Line motorhome Mobilvetta’s expert designers have created the perfect fusion of traditional hand-crafted style furniture and contemporary Italian design.

The /Auto series offers all models with a fully Automatic 180bhp engine on a 4400kg chassis. All K.Yacht and Kea models are 4 berth with 4 travelling seats and offer a fantastic payload for all your holiday essentials. 

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Overall length 6990mm

The K-Yacht 80 is Mobilvettas rear lounge model, offering two lounges, two drop down beds and maximum day time living space. Perfect for couples or a family. The swivel cab seats and large front window make the dining space light and open and the rear lounge is perfect for parking up and soaking in the view.

Mobilvetta K Yacht 80 rear bed

Mobilvetta K Yacht 80 over bed

Mobilvetta K Yacht 80 bathroom

Mobilvetta K Yacht 80 kitchen

Mobilvetta K Yacht 80 dining

Two lounges, two drop down beds for space saving living!

• GVM: 4400kg
• External width: 2350mm
• External height: 2890mm
• Main bed dimensions: 1280mmW x 1900mmL
• Main bed configuration: Drop down bed
• Secondary bed configuration: Drop down bed over front lounge
• Main garage dimensions: 520 x 870 (locker)

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Exceptional value for money for true A-Class liveability and nominated for the prestigious ADI Design Index - Mobilvetta K-Yacht motorhomes stand out. There's nautical styling inside and a sporty exterior, plus the signature huge window that lets in light and offers fab views.

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• Motorhome detail

Mobilvetta K Yacht 80 Tekno Line

• 2019 / 69 Reg
• 10,667 miles
• Fiat Chassis
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• Electric Windows
• Electric Mirrors
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• Cruise Control
• Alloy Wheels
• Video Walkaround
• 360 Virtual Tour

Italian elegance. standing out in style. is the perfect expression of the Mobilvetta sprit. Absolute pleasure of timeless elegance: K-Yacht Tekno Line is the motorhome with dynamic and sleek lines that seduce for luxury, character and timeless style.  Bright living area, intelligent space management, technology and excellent equipment that together with every comfort summarize the perfect balance between exterior and interior. 

• Grey Leather Upholstery
• 4 Seatbelts
• Truma Combi Heating
• Truma Combi Water Heating
• Reversing Camera
• Driver Swivel Seat
• Passenger Swivel Seat
• Fly-screens
• Oven / Grill
• Fridge & Ice Box
• Good Storage
• Nice Washroom & Seperate Shower
• Removable Carpets
• 2 x leisure Batteries
• Awning Light
• External Lockers
• Digital Aerial
• Satellite System
• Solar Panel

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Cruising the Moskva River: A short guide to boat trips in Russia’s capital

There’s hardly a better way to absorb Moscow’s atmosphere than on a ship sailing up and down the Moskva River. While complicated ticketing, loud music and chilling winds might dampen the anticipated fun, this checklist will help you to enjoy the scenic views and not fall into common tourist traps.

How to find the right boat?

There are plenty of boats and selecting the right one might be challenging. The size of the boat should be your main criteria.

Plenty of small boats cruise the Moskva River, and the most vivid one is this yellow Lay’s-branded boat. Everyone who has ever visited Moscow probably has seen it.

This option might leave a passenger disembarking partially deaf as the merciless Russian pop music blasts onboard. A free spirit, however, will find partying on such a vessel to be an unforgettable and authentic experience that’s almost a metaphor for life in modern Russia: too loud, and sometimes too welcoming. Tickets start at $13 (800 rubles) per person.

Bigger boats offer smoother sailing and tend to attract foreign visitors because of their distinct Soviet aura. Indeed, many of the older vessels must have seen better days. They are still afloat, however, and getting aboard is a unique ‘cultural’ experience. Sometimes the crew might offer lunch or dinner to passengers, but this option must be purchased with the ticket. Here is one such  option  offering dinner for $24 (1,490 rubles).

If you want to travel in style, consider Flotilla Radisson. These large, modern vessels are quite posh, with a cozy restaurant and an attentive crew at your service. Even though the selection of wines and food is modest, these vessels are still much better than other boats.

Surprisingly, the luxurious boats are priced rather modestly, and a single ticket goes for $17-$32 (1,100-2,000 rubles); also expect a reasonable restaurant bill on top.

How to buy tickets?

Women holding photos of ships promise huge discounts to “the young and beautiful,” and give personal invitations for river tours. They sound and look nice, but there’s a small catch: their ticket prices are usually more than those purchased online.

“We bought tickets from street hawkers for 900 rubles each, only to later discover that the other passengers bought their tickets twice as cheap!”  wrote  (in Russian) a disappointed Rostislav on a travel company website.

Nevertheless, buying from street hawkers has one considerable advantage: they personally escort you to the vessel so that you don’t waste time looking for the boat on your own.

Prices start at $13 (800 rubles) for one ride, and for an additional $6.5 (400 rubles) you can purchase an unlimited number of tours on the same boat on any given day.

Flotilla Radisson has official ticket offices at Gorky Park and Hotel Ukraine, but they’re often sold out.

Buying online is an option that might save some cash. Websites such as  this   offer considerable discounts for tickets sold online. On a busy Friday night an online purchase might be the only chance to get a ticket on a Flotilla Radisson boat.

This  website  (in Russian) offers multiple options for short river cruises in and around the city center, including offbeat options such as ‘disco cruises’ and ‘children cruises.’ This other  website  sells tickets online, but doesn’t have an English version. The interface is intuitive, however.

Buying tickets online has its bad points, however. The most common is confusing which pier you should go to and missing your river tour.

“I once bought tickets online to save with the discount that the website offered,” said Igor Shvarkin from Moscow. “The pier was initially marked as ‘Park Kultury,’ but when I arrived it wasn’t easy to find my boat because there were too many there. My guests had to walk a considerable distance before I finally found the vessel that accepted my tickets purchased online,” said the man.

There are two main boarding piers in the city center:  Hotel Ukraine  and  Park Kultury . Always take note of your particular berth when buying tickets online.

Where to sit onboard?

Even on a warm day, the headwind might be chilly for passengers on deck. Make sure you have warm clothes, or that the crew has blankets ready upon request.

The glass-encased hold makes the tour much more comfortable, but not at the expense of having an enjoyable experience.

Getting off the boat requires preparation as well. Ideally, you should be able to disembark on any pier along the way. In reality, passengers never know where the boat’s captain will make the next stop. Street hawkers often tell passengers in advance where they’ll be able to disembark. If you buy tickets online then you’ll have to research it yourself.

There’s a chance that the captain won’t make any stops at all and will take you back to where the tour began, which is the case with Flotilla Radisson. The safest option is to automatically expect that you’ll return to the pier where you started.

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A History of Moscow in 13 Dishes

Featured city guides.

Shooter Files by f.d. walker

Street Photography Tips, Interaction, Travel, Guides

Apr 24 2017

City Street Guides by f.d. walker: A Street Photography Guide to Moscow, Russia

*A series of guides on shooting Street Photography in cities around the world. Find the best spots to shoot, things to capture, street walks, street tips, safety concerns, and more for cities around the world. I have personally researched, explored and shot Street Photography in every city that I create a guide for. So you can be ready to capture the streets as soon as you step outside with your camera!

At over 12 million people, Moscow is the largest city in Russia and second largest in Europe by population ( Istanbul is #1). An urban, cosmopolitan metropolis with more than enough glitz and glam to cater to the elite, but without losing its fair share of Soviet era roughness around the edges. It can be fast paced, brash, busy, and trendy like other big cities, but it has its blend of West meets Russia atmosphere and beauty that provides plenty of unique interest. The Red Square is as famous as it gets, but there’s so much more to this city, including the most beautiful subway system you’ve ever seen. It would take years to capture all of Moscow, but that means you have an endless amount of areas to discover.

So here’s a Street Photography guide so you can be ready to capture all that Moscow has to offer before you even arrive!

• Patriarch’s Pond
• Old Arbat Street
• Maroseyka Street
• Tverskoy Boulevard

Top 5 Street Spots:

1. red square.

The Red Square is the most famous square in not just Russia, but all of Eastern Europe. The name actually doesn’t come from the color of the bricks or communism, but from the name in Russian, Krásnaya, once meaning “beautiful” before its meaning changed to “red.” This large plaza is what you see on the cover of guide books and magazines for Moscow, with St. Basil’s Cathedral being the center piece next to Lenin’s Mausoleum surrounded by the Kremlin Wall. Of course, the Red Square attracts hordes of tourist due to the main attractions, but all that activity around an interesting atmosphere does provide street photo opportunities. It’s also the central square connecting to the city’s major streets, providing a good starting point to explore outward.

You’ll also find the popular pedestrian only Nikolskaya Street connecting the Red Square to Lubyanka Square. This line of expensive shops includes plenty of activity, while also leading you to another popular square. Filled with history rivaling any city, the Red Square and surrounding areas are the heart and soul of Russia.

2. Patriarch’s Ponds

Patriarch’s Ponds is one of the most exclusive neighborhoods in Moscow. Despite the name being plural, there’s only one large pond, but it’s worth a visit with your camera. It’s a popular spot for locals and expats to come relax or take a stroll around the pond. You get an interesting mix of young and old too, from young love to “babushkas” feeding pigeons. It’s a very peaceful park atmosphere in one of the nicer areas within the city center, while bringing enough activity for street photography. 

The pond is shallow and in the winter becomes a popular spot for ice-skating too. The area is also well-known for the location in the famous Russian novel, The Master and Margarita. 

3. Old Arbat (Stary Arbat)

Old Arbat is the most famous pedestrian street in Moscow, and dating back to the 15th century, also one of its oldest. Originally, it was an area of trade, but soon became the most prestigious residential area in Moscow. During the 18th century, Arbat started attracting the city’s scholars and artists, including Alexander Pushkin. Cafes lined the streets and impressive homes filled the neighborhood. Since then, New Arbat street was created as a highway in the area, while Old Arbat was paved for a 1km pedestrian only walkway.

Due to the historic buildings, famous artists that lived here, and the bohemian atmosphere, Old Arbat has become a big attraction for tourists today. Now, there’s a mix of cafes, restaurants, souvenir shops, street performers, street merchants and other attractions for visitors, and some locals, to come enjoy. It can get really busy here and there’s usually something interesting going on so it’s a good street to come walk with your camera for guaranteed life.

4. Gorky Park

One of the most famous places in Moscow is Gorky Park. The official name is Maxim Gorky’s Central Park of Culture & Leisure, which gives you an idea of what goes on here. When built, it was the first of its kind in the Soviet Union. Divided into two parts, it stretches along Moscow River. One end contains fair rides, foods stands, tennis courts, a sports club, a lake for boat rides, and more. This end brings more active life due to its number of attractions, while the other end is more relaxed, where you’ll find gardens, trees, older buildings, and an outdoor amphitheater.

Gorky Park attracts mostly locals so it’s a good spot to capture the non-tourist side of Moscow life. Muscovites come here to escape the city and unwind in a picturesque setting. The park remains alive outside of the warmer months too, especially when the lake turns into the city’s largest outdoor skating rink. I’d recommend taking the metro out here to spend at least half a day exploring the massive park’s life with your camera.

5. Maroseyka Street

Maroseyka Street is a popular area not too far from the Red Square. The long, winding street turns into Pokrovka and is lined with restaurants, cafes, bars and places to stay. It’s actually where I like to stay when I’m in Moscow due to its location and solid street photography opportunities itself. You have Kitay-gorod station near and if you keep walking southwest, you’ll get to the Red Square. But if you walk northwest, as it changes to Pokrovka, you can find a long street of activity for photography with its own interesting atmosphere.

6. Tverskoy Boulevard

Tverskoy Boulevard is the oldest and longest boulevard in Moscow, beginning at the end of Nikitsky Boulevard, and finishing at Pushkin Square, a spot to come for activity itself. The boulevard is made up of two avenues, with pedestrian walkways in-between. You’ll find grass, shrubbery, trees, benches and more walking it’s almost kilometer length. Many people come here to enjoy some relaxation, walk their dog, or just to use it to walk wherever they’re going. Its center location also provides a nice place to walk with your camera near plenty of other spots you’ll want to check out anyway.

Sample Street Walk:

For a full day of Street Photography, covering some of the best spots, you can follow this sample street walk for Moscow:

• Start your morning walking around the Red Square (1), while exploring the surrounding area, including Nikolskaya Street
• Then walk northwest to Patriarch’s Ponds (2) and slowly walk the pond and surrounding area with your camera
• Next, walk east to the Pushkin Monument and stroll down Tverskoy Boulevard (6)
• Once Tverskoy Boulevard (6) ends, it will turn into Nikitsky Boulevard. Follow this down until you get to the start of Old Arbat Street (3), across from Arbatskaya station
• After you’re done walking down Old Arbat Street (3) for more street photography, spend some time checking out Moscow’s beautiful metro stations
• To finish off the day with more street photography, get off the metro near Red Square (1) again, Maroseyka Street (5) or wherever you’re staying for the night.

3 Things I’ll Remember about Shooting in Moscow:

1. museum metro.

The Moscow metro system was the first underground railway system in the Soviet Union and today includes 203 stations across 340km of routes. The elaborate system has some of the deepest stations in the world too, with escalators that seem to go on forever. None of this is what makes it so special, though. Many of its stations feel like stepping inside a museum, making it without a doubt the most interesting and beautiful metro system I’ve been in.

When built, Stalin wanted to make the metro stations “palaces for the people” with marble, chandeliers, and grand architecture. The best part is the variety of architecture and styles used, making many of the stations a completely different experience visually. You could easily spend a whole day traveling the stations and there are even tours available for people who wish to do just that. My advice, though, would be just to buy a ticket and hop on and off at different stations, while exploring different lines. The museum-like surrounding mixed with the crowds of characters can make for a great photography experience.

Since there are so many stations, here are some of my favorites to check out:

• Novoslobodskaya
• Mayakovskaya
• Elektrozavodskaya
• Komsomolskaya
• Ploschad Revolyutsii
• Dostoyevskaya
• Prospekt Mira

2. Moscow is Big

It’s no secret that Moscow is a big city, but it can feel even bigger with how spread out much of it is. This is especially true if you compare it to cities outside of Asia. If I compared it to cities in Europe, I’d probably say only Istanbul would warrant more time to really discover the depths of this city. Most only explore around the Red Square and surrounding area, but that is such a small part of the city. Although, that central area does give you plenty to see on its own.

Fortunately, I had a good friend living in the city to show me around, but it opened up my eyes even more to how much there is to discover in Moscow. It’s a big city with a variety of atmosphere that can take you from “east” to “west” and trendy to rugged depending on where you go. I’d imagine you’d have to live here a while to really know the city.

3. Cosmopolitan Mix of East meets West

Modern skyscrapers mixed with amazing architecture, a world-class metro system with museum-like beauty, trendy fashion and chic clubs, Moscow is a rich mix of Russian culture and history in a more western cosmopolitan package. There is a push to keep the Russian culture, while also pushing forward with a modern metropolis the whole world will envy. This comes with an impressive skyline, that continues to grow, and endless modernities, but with soviet nostalgia and atmosphere mixed in for good measure.

Mixed in with this grand western cosmopolitan atmosphere, is a strong national pride in Russia. This includes their famous leader, Vladimir Putin. Maybe no other place will you see a country’s leader more often. All over, from the pricey tourist shops to the underground walkway stalls, you’ll find goods with Putin’s likeness covering them. From t-shirts to magnets to Matryoshka dolls. There’s a strong national pride that can be seen around the city, which also extends to their leader. Moscow is many things. It’s East meets West, modernizations meets Soviet era, and a whole lot more.

What To Do For a Street Photography Break?:

Eat at a stolovaya.

Stolovayas are Russian cafeterias that became popular in the Soviet days. You grab a tray and walk down the line of freshly prepared local dishes, and select whatever you want from the chefs. They’re usually inexpensive and a much better value than restaurants, while giving you the opportunity to try from a wide selection of everyday Russian food. They’re also very tasty. I always include some borsch on my tray and go from there. The places themselves are all over Moscow and usually come with Soviet-era aesthetics to complete the experience.

Street Safety Score: 7

*As always, no place is completely safe! So when I talk about safety, I’m speaking in general comparison to other places. Always take precaution, be smart, observe your surroundings and trust your instincts anywhere you go!

Being the 2nd largest city in Europe with over 12 million people, you’re going to have your dangerous areas, but for the most part, it feels safe walking around. Russia is statistically higher in crime compared to most of Europe, but this generally doesn’t apply to tourists and visitors. Around the Red Square and surrounding city center, you should feel completely safe walking around. Pick pocketing can happen, but no more than other touristic places. I always explore Moscow freely without coming across too much to worry about. It’s a spread out city, though, so of course it matters where you are. Just use basic street smarts, know where you are and Moscow shouldn’t give you a problem. 

People’s Reaction Score: 7

Moscow is fast paced, big city life, which usually means people aren’t too concerned with you, or your camera. I don’t find people notice or pay much attention to me when I’m out taking photos in Moscow. For the most part, people just go about their day. You shouldn’t get too many looks or concern. But it can depend on the area you are in. The more you stick out, the more you might get noticed with suspicions. I’ve never had any problems in Moscow, or Russia, but just be careful who you’re taking a photo of if you get out of the city center. Other than that, it’s about average for reactions. 

Street Tips:

Learn the alphabet .

Much of Moscow, including the metro system, doesn’t use english. The Russian alphabet uses letters from the Cyrillic script, which if you aren’t familiar with it and don’t know the sounds, can be hard to decipher the words. This is most important for street names and metro stops when trying to get around. It can save confusion and make it easier getting around if you learn the basic alphabet. At the very least then, you can sound out the words to see which are similar in the english conversion, which can help matching them to maps. When out shooting street photography, getting around is as important as anything. So save yourself some time and frustration by learning the Russian Alphabet.

Use the metro

While Saint-Petersburg feels very walkable for a city its size, Moscow can feel very spread out, even for its bigger size. Outside of the Red Square area, you can have plenty of walking before getting anywhere very interesting, so you’ll need to take the metro a lot if you really want to explore the city. Maps are deceiving here too, it will always be further than it looks.

Another reason it’s less walkable than Saint-Petersburg is its completely different set-up. Moscow’s streets are mostly contstructed in rings with narrow, winding streets in-between. This is common with medieval city cities that used to be confined by walls, but you usually don’t have it in a city this massive. Saint-Petersburg has a more grid-like pattern that also uses the canals to help you know your way around. When it comes to navigating on foot in Moscow, it can be more difficult, so bring a map and take the metro when needed. It’s why Moscow’s metro carries more passengers per day than the London and Paris subways combined.

Explore other areas if you have time

Moscow is really big. While most people stay around the Red Square within the Boulevard Ring, there’s so much more to the city. I covered some other spots outside of this circle, but if you really want to see the city, you’ll need time. If you do have time, some other areas I’d check out first are Zamoskvarechye, along some of the south and western Moscow.

Inspiration:

For some more inspiration, you can look through the Street Photography of Moscow photographer Artem Zhitenev  and check out 33 of my photos taken in Moscow .

Conclusion:

Moscow’s name brings a certain mystique, but once you’re there it might bring a different atmosphere than you expect. It’s big and sprawling, but beautiful in many ways. It can feel like a European capital on a grand scale, but you can definitely find its Russian side in there.

The urban sprawl of Moscow can be intimidating, but give it enough time and you’ll be rewarded with plenty to discover. All with the world’s best metro system to take you around.

I hope this guide can help you start to experience some of what Moscow contains. So grab your camera and capture all that Moscow has to offer for Street Photography!

If you still have any questions about shooting in Moscow, feel free to comment below or email me!

(I want to make these guides as valuable as possible for all of you so add any ideas on improvements, including addition requests, in the comment section!)

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