12 days in Istanbul & Moscow Itinerary

A physical and cultural bridge between Europe and Asia, the transcontinental city of Istanbul serves as a living reminder of the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman empires.

Spend the 9th (Wed) floating through the air with a balloon tour. There's lots more to do: get engrossed in the history at Hagia Sophia Museum / Church (Ayasofya), admire the landmark architecture of Dolmabahce Palace, delve into the distant past at Basilica Cistern, and enjoy breathtaking views from Galata Tower.

To see photos, traveler tips, maps, and more tourist information, read our Istanbul trip itinerary planner .

If you are flying in from Egypt, the closest major airports are Atatürk International Airport and Sabiha Gökçen International Airport. In January in Istanbul, expect temperatures between 10°C during the day and 10°C at night. Cap off your sightseeing on the 9th (Wed) early enough to travel back home.

Russia's political, economic, and cultural center, Moscow remains the most populous inland city in the world, famed for its colorful history and rich architectural heritage.

Kick off your visit on the 10th (Thu): admire the striking features of Lenin's Mausoleum, admire the masterpieces at The State Tretyakov Gallery, then take in the architecture and atmosphere at St. Basil's Cathedral, and finally make a trip to Red Square (Krasnaya ploshchad). Here are some ideas for day two: examine the collection at Moscow Kremlin (Moskovsky Kreml), explore the world behind art at The Armoury, and then stroll the grounds of Novodevichy Convent.

To find more things to do, reviews, where to stay, and more tourist information, refer to the Moscow road trip planning website .

Fly from Istanbul to Moscow in 7 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of shuttle and flight; or drive. Expect colder temperatures when traveling from Istanbul in January; daily highs in Moscow reach -7°C and lows reach -12°C. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 12th (Sat) to allow enough time to travel back home.