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2009 Trek Soho

A 700c aluminum frame general urban bike with high-end components and rim brakes. Compare the full range

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Jun 2008 · Gary Boulanger

As the average bicycle purchase climbs higher with so many art house brands entering the fray, and with no end in sight for the crazy-spendy carbon racer bikes, it’s pretty cool to see Trek putting its resources into a rather hip and smart urban commuter like the Soho 4.

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Last updated June 29 Not listed for 2,477 days

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Trek Soho 4.0 commuter review

Urban commuter equally comfortable in tails or Chuck Taylors

Gary Boulanger

gary boulanger

The industrial design influences found on the US$1,100 Trek Soho 4.0 make it one of the more intriguing urban commuters, and with the wonderful Shimano Alfine internal 8-speed rear hub, the bar has been raised on what makes a solid commuter.

Trek has always done well with its hybrid line, but there's a finicky bunch amongst newer commuters, and sometimes a perceived 'frumpy' hybrid bike just doesn't deliver. Trek's engineers did their homework with the Soho 4.0, and the finished product is delightful to look at as well to ride.

Ride & handling: acceleration when it matters most

The semi-upright handlebar position works well in traffic and when transporting a backpack. Trek specced the Soho 4.0 geometry like a road bike, with nearly 73 parallel head and seat angles, which, coupled with a longer head tube and chubby 700 x 32c tyres, makes for a lively, nimble and enjoyable city bike.

The gentle swept-back Bontrager Satellite Plus arc bars make riding in traffic fun, providing confident steering while being easy on the wrists, unlike most straight bars.

But the strength of the 28.5lb Soho 4.0 (and there needs to be plenty at this price) lies in the bike's ability to stomp and accelerate instantly, keeping its pretty self and its driver out of harm's way. The Soho 4.0 proved itself worthy several times during our long term testing.

Frame: clean lines and smart add-ons

Don't let the satin platinum finish fool you - this is a mean street machine. Trek benefits from its engineering and research and development efforts on its high-end road and mountain racing bikes. Trickling down from those machines is the extensive use of lightweight hydroformed aluminium which adds subtle and sexy lines to the Soho 4.0. Those clean lines are nicely uninterrupted because Trek has chosen disc brakes rather than V or cantilever brakes.

Trek also wisely provides braze-ons galore for racks, mudguards and chainguard.

One of the coolest aspects of the Soho 4.0 frame is the integrated rubber bumper, designed to protect the tapered top tube from nicks, scratches and the like.

Equipment: Shimano Alfine reigns supreme

As we mentioned earlier, the drivetrain is based on Shimano's fine Alfine 8-speed internal hub gear. The whisper quiet and nearly effortless trigger shifting is a boon at stop lights and in situations where meddling too much with looking down and trying to commandeer a bike through busy traffic is a hazard.

Trek's house brand Bontrager provides much of the finer components on the Soho 4.0, namely its Nebula deep-section aluminium rims and puncture-resistant Satellite Nebula tyres. Taking a nod from the popular (and smart) trend for commuters, Bontrager includes a reflective sidewall strip on the tyres to make the Soho 4.0 more visible to traffic from the sides at night. The larger platform pedals provided ample room for street shoes, and never once felt cheap or flexy like most stock commuter pedals.

Gearing is provided by the Bontrager Nebula 44-tooth crankset and Shimano's 18-tooth rear cog, while slowing and stopping duties are provided by Shimano's M65 mechanical discs and Tektro two-finger alloy brake levers. Our tester's hands enjoyed the ergonomically-friendly shaped grips, a trend we hope to see on more bikes soon.

Verdict: spending more and getting every penny's worth

As the average bicycle purchase climbs higher with so many art house brands entering the fray, and with no end in sight for the crazy-spendy carbon racer bikes, it's pretty cool to see Trek putting its resources into a rather hip and smart urban commuter like the Soho 4.0.

As we experienced with the similarly smart Specialized Globe Centrum Sport last year, a good commuter needs more than one speed to be really effective on a daily basis.

The Trek Soho 4.0 adds credibility to the thinking that, as the price of gas in the US creeps way above US$4 a gallon, there's really no limit to what even urban commuters can and should spend for reliable transportation.

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Trek Soho Commuter Bike

• Frame: Alpha Black Aluminum
• Fork: Bontrager Edge, aluminum w/lowrider mounts
• Shifters: Shimano Alfine, 8 speed
• Cassette: C-Drive 24T alloy belt sprocket
• Pedals: Soho, alloy body w/alloy cage
• Seat Post: Bontrager Satellite Nebula
• USER REVIEWS

Low maintenance belt drive. Low maintenance internal gears. All weather disc brakes.

Heavy!!! Subpar brakes. Slippery pedals.

I have the 2011 version which is basically the same as the 2013 version except for the older generation Gates pulleys. I had find Trek Soho Dlx disappointing. Due to the weight, it's slow to start from a stop. I feel the weight going up steep hills. The disc brake is better than rim brakes in the rain but it's not as effective as other disc brakes. The pedals are small and slippery when wet. The frame is very stiff as a prerequisite to having belt drive. It's a jarring ride over potholes. The bike took so much fun out of riding for it's practicality that I had given up on it. Then I came across the Gates website and thought I can change the front pulley to better handle the hills. I went with CenterTrack Front Pulley 46 tooth to replace the original 55 tooth. It made a big difference in the hills while still fast enough on the flats. I only changed the front pulley and belt. The CenterTrack belt works with the older rear pulley without any problems. The change in gear ratio along with newer version of disc brake pads have given new life to the bike. I've also changed the pedal, removed the chain guard, changed to lighter fenders and put Ergon grips on. With all the changes the bike is a pretty pleasant ride now. The belt drive requires zero maintenance and no messy lubricant. The internal gears also has been zero maintenance over the past 4 years. Trek Soho Dlx is a unique bike. It's not a bike to fall in love with due to the ride characteristic. But with the modifications, it's become quite likable with the inherent strengths.

I originally wrote a massive review but I found it was the same review I found everywhere. Yes, this bike is fantastic. It is robust and utilitarian in design. I think the geometry is simple and beautiful. The Belt drive is awesome. The 8 speed internal is very responsive. The bike is wicked quiet and overall wicked awesome. I love it. I strongly recommend it. I own 3 bikes and it is my favorite. I chose this bike based on a decision to commute all year round. The belt drive and internal gear proved to be low maintenance which is why I chose it. Be aware that this is a commuter bike, this means you sit more upright for improved visibility both for yourself and for others. As a result, you are not the fastest bike on the road.

I'll start small and then get into the bigger issues. - Could have been even cleaner if the cables were internal. - Coffee cup that it comes with is silly and so cheap that it would be better if it didn't exist. Also the cage is not very impressive. - Rubber flap at the end of the fenders are poorly installed. I caught it with my foot and tore one of the 2 mounting points off when turning at slow speed. My solution was to rip it off and crazy glue it to the outside of the fender rather than the inside. - Pedals are not grippy at all. Every street shoe I tried slipped all over the place. It would be a good idea to swap these out. My solution was to put zip ties with small amounts sticking out like spikes. - Poorly balanced where majority of the weight is in the rear. It's also quite a bit heavier than my other bikes. I've found that I yearned for an even higher gear for climbs more often than I ever used the lowest. I'm happy my regular route isn't one with large hills. It is difficult to hop obstacles on this bike and hitting an object is likely to end in a flat tire. I blew a tire going from path to grass at speed. - As a commuter bike I would have liked to see a factory installed quality kick stand. - I'm not sure if there’s a break-in period but I found that the tension on the belt wouldn't stay optimal. Although in the later months this stopped being a problem all on its own. I advise you learn how to adjust this yourself instead of going into a shop every time it drifts. - Handle grips are subpar. I really like palm rests and this bike is equipped with them. However you can't torque them down so they spin around and I constantly have to readjust them. Get rid of them and put traditional grips or proper ones like Ergon GS1. ran out of space. see Review summary.

The rear brake is a Shimano roller. This by far my biggest (read: only real) complaint. During the summer, I found I just had to get used to it. I like disc brakes and this in comparison was really spongy. I didn't like it but it wasn't a deal breaker, I think they put it on because you have better control of the bike while trying to stop. When winter showed up (note: you're gonna need a different pair of tires) this brake has become a massive frustration. It seizes up at a temperature of -2 degrees Celsius. Either the brake lever doesn’t budge or it will but the brake won't release and the lever moves freely. Whichever failure occurs, it’s terrible, the latter being worse. Less than 5 minutes of being in a warm environment and performance springs back to normal. I brought it into the shop thinking maybe some water found its way into the weather sealed mechanism. They did a full clean and checked over everything. Next ride, same problem. I called the shop and also contacted Shimano directly. No great tips. The shop had the bike for a week and I know they were talking to Shimano. Next ride, same problem. For winter riding this brake is DREADFUL. Currently I have not solved this problem. I've disconnect the rear as trying it as left me worse off more often than not. My next step is to remove it and put a disc brake installed but I'm not sure what that cost will be. Online reviews suggest that this is not a common problem and Shimano was a little surprised to hear it as well. All that being said, I've disappointedly driven my vehicle more often that I’ve cycled to work. Overall this bike is fantastic and I recommend it to anyone who doesn't want to put a lot of time maintaining their bike. I bought my 2011 in 2014. It was "used" but had less than 50 km on it. The first thing I did was take it in for a tune up. The shop looked through it and told me to save my money as it was in no need for a tune. I then rode it like a bandit all summer. This bike is Fantastic.

Soho Deluxe (2012): Absolutely magisterial ride quality, solid and stable. Turnkey drive train with adequate gearing for hilly city. Thoughtful extras. Anti-theft black paint. Rubber trim to protect top tube. Decent tires.

Weight. Cost. Handlebar too wide and modern mustache style is ill chosen. Rear end not easy to service. Saddle more suited to a woman giving birth.

Buy it and ride every day to recoup your investment.

Similar Products Used:

Gary Fisher commuter.

Thanks to the belt drive the bike is quiet and stays clean. The brakes work well even when wet. Then internal hub is sealed well and again stays clean. The rubber top tube bumper is great. The Rainy Day Gray Color is beautiful.

If you get a flat on the road you are somewhere between terribly put out, and screwed. The lack of ability to repair a flat on the side of the road is almost a deal breaker as much as I love the bike.

The bike is as quiet as a church mouse. Elegant lines. The rubber bumpers on the top tube are a huge plus, and attractive. The Gates Carbon Belt stays tight, and does not attract dirt the way a chain does. The Shimano Nexus internal 8 speed hub is wonderful and provides a wide range of gears even in hilly areas around town. The only complaint I have is repairing a flat, especially in the rear is a major pain and not something to do on the side of the road.

All major mechanisms enclosed. Hub gear, roller brakes. No difference in braking performance in pouring rain. The ability to come to a rapid halt, then select a gear suitable to set off again in is great for traffic situations. Quite comfortable for a 2 hour longer ride as well. Comes with substantial mudguards. Attachment points for pannier rack.

None so far. Assumption is that will require very little maintenance because of enclosed components. Real test will be level of reliability through British Winter. I doubt I will be using the coffee cup much.

Price was £450, not $. List price £700 GBP. Got the 2009 Soho S with carbon fibre belt drive via cyclescheme, hence price difference. Main purpose is daily 8.5 mile round trip commute to work. Initial impression very positive, gear shift positive, brakes effective, very little noise, belt drive much quieter than a chain, effortless steering. Sufficient gear ratios for all road situations. Durham (UK) is moderately hilly, and bike is fine for sustained climbs. 1st gear low enough for any hill, 8th quite high enough. Very much prefers a good quality road surface, though it's easy to zip around potholes, raised ironwork etc. Hopefully a reliable commuting machine with no chain to accumulate vast amounts of muck. Cleaning a chain outside in winter is no joke. Perhaps not so good for off road use, though should cope with cycle paths OK.

Previous bike Dawes Kalahari 2007 hybrid.

It's a sturdy workhorse. The rubber top-tube insert is a nice touch for leaning the bike against posts, etc. The internal hub is definitely the way to go if you don't have a lot of hills to contend with.

Not a good value. For an around-town errand bike, it's stripped down - no lights, or internal light wiring, no racks, no stock fenders, no kickstand. I added all of these to make it a totally functional around town bike,day or night, and it added hundreds of dollars to the bottom line. The coffee mug that comes with the bike is completely silly. Bianchi and Specialized offer complete setups for less money. The front disk brake needs constant adjustment.

Bought the Soho 4 for an around town commuter & errand bike. I thought for a relatively flat area I would not need the gearing of a triple crank and the mess of a deraileur, so I went with the internal hub. It's heavy, but when the panniers are filled with 20 lbs. of groceries, who cares? Great bike for around town. Very comfortable.

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• 2009, Trek, Soho

2009 Trek Soho

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Trek Soho review

• by Cyclesgo

Trek are the first of the major manufacturers to introduce belt-driven bikes into their range. Compared to the slick singlespeed District, the Soho is less of a funky looking street machine, with a potentially more usable and sensible specification. The Gates belt drive system is combined with Shimano’s Nexus eight-speed hub gear, front and rear Nexave roller brakes slow things down, and all the contact points are from Bontrager’s Nebula range. Full colour co-ordinated mudguards and a belt cover keep the muck off your clothes. The frame is built from Trek’s Alpha aluminium, with shaped tubing reminiscent of the company’s road bike frames. There are plenty of braze-ons should you wish to fit front and rear racks, as well as provision for a Dutch/nurse’s lock on the seatstays.

The Ribble CGR 725 top tube has a full length rubber strip embedded in it which protects it from scratches, and one neat accessory is an insulated aluminium coffee mug. Although the frame is reasonably slender, the build with a hub gear and hefty roller brakes all adds up to the bike’s 30lb-plus weight. Once aboard though, the weight isn’t an issue. A combination of 700C wheels and fast-rolling 32mm tyres make it easy to propel the Soho up to a reasonable cruising speed.

Trek have moved away from the traditional sit-up-and-beg position commonly used for town bikes and have gone with a flatter, longer riding position, and a gently swept back bar – a cross between a mountain bike style riser and traditional moustache type. The Ribble CGR 725 whole combination results in a bike that’s great to cruise around on yet deals easily with sprinting away from the lights.

For winter riding, weather protection is spot-on, the full-length guards keeping spray off your front and back, and although belt drives don’t get quite as grubby as bikes with an oily chain, the cover fitted is a good bit of insurance. Shifting through the eight hub gears is marginally slower than a standard derailleur setup and requires a bit more anticipation, especially on the climbs. It’s not awkwardly slow, but it is noticeable.

One major issue, though, is the Nexave roller brakes. We like the idea of the enclosed mechanism that isn’t affected by wet weather, but that’s a small plus point compared to the drawback of a woeful lack of braking power on fast descents. Initially nothing seems to be happening; complete inertia. Then the braking starts to ramp up a little. But even grabbing big fistfuls of lever and pulling them all the way to the bar still only slows you, never actually bringing you to a complete halt.

Pitting the Soho against a V-brake equipped mountain bike and doing emergency stops, the Soho’s stopping distance could be measured in metres more. Not good. With a bit of adjustment and fettling we managed to improve them, but not by as much as we’d like, and we’d recommend a try before you buy. If you find the same issues we did, get your bike shop to sort it straightaway.

Luckily, the frame has provision for a standard long reach calliper front and rear, which we would suggest as an upgrade anyway, despite the fact that they’ll need more upkeep during the wet winter months. We were happier with the contact points. The Nebula saddle is wider than standard and fairly flat but with deep cushioning; it’s comfortable over longer distances even when not wearing padded shorts. The Ribble CGR Ti ergonomic grips are supremely comfortable and the aforementioned bar is superb. Braking issues aside, what Trek have achieved with the Soho is admirable, taking what could be quite a bland hybrid template and creating a bike that looks great and rides really well. With the brakes sorted it would be perfect for cruising around town and commuting on through the winter.

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2012 Trek Soho

• Serial: WTU093C1899E
• Manufacturer: Trek
• Name: Trek Soho Blue-Gray
• Model: Soho
• Primary colors: Blue
• Frame size: 54CM
• Wheel diameter: 700 C
• Frame Material: Aluminum
• Handlebar type: Flat or riser

Distinguishing features

Alpha Aluminum Frame Drivetrain: Gates Centre Track stainless steel cassette and chainring, Gates Centre Track Belt Shimano Nexus 8-speed rear hub Shifter: Shimano Alfine, 8-speed trigger Brakeset: Shimano IM50 roller rear brake.

Additional parts

Drivetrain and brakes, frame and fork.

• Lights monkey light on front wheel
• Stem Bontrager Soho, 15 degree
• Rear Brake Shimano roller brakes w/Tektro alloy levers
• Pedals double sided, clipless/flat
• Headset Slimstak, semi-cartridge bearings, sealed
• Fork Bontrager Alloy, straight blade for roller brake w/lowrider mounts
• Front Wheel Shimano IM40 front hub, Shimano Inter-7 rear hub; Bontrager Nebula 36-hole rims

• Trek Soho S 2008
• General Urban

Bike summary

Bike components.

Alpha Black Aluminum

Suspension Fork

Cro-Moly w/lowrider mounts

Rear Derailleur

Front derailleur, shift levers.

Shimano 17T freewheel/16T cog

Bontrager Nebula 44T w/chainguard

Nylon body w/alloy cage

Alloy flip flop high flange hubs; alloy rims

Bontrager Race Lite, puncture resistant, 700x28c; 60 tpi

Alloy dual pivot w/Tektro alloy levers

Bontrager Soho, 15 degree

Bontrager Crowbar Sport, 25mm rise

Aheadset Slimstak w/semi-cartridge bearings, sealed

Bontrager Select City

Bontrager Satellite Nebula

Bike geometry

Model overview.

Soho S belongs to the Trek Soho model. Trek released 16 bikes variations of this model so far. Check out the entire range from 2008 of this model, by clicking this link .

Take safety seriously when you ride your bike, and always wear your helmet. Moreover, don’t ride on the sidewalk. This is actually against the law in some states and can be dangerous for both you and pedestrians.

Average price for General Urban bikes

If you want to purchase a solid General Urban bike, it is important to know that the average cost is 499 $ . However, even if your budget is less than the average, you might still be able to get a top-quality General Urban bike. To sum up, when you purchase your bike, make sure to check if it has reviews, and also do some components research.

Soho S components

Fork material.

The fork on this bike is made out of steel, so, it can add some extra weight to your bike. However, steel is a pretty tough and durable material.

Wheels size

As for the wheels, Trek Soho S 2008, has a 700c aluminum model. There is no doubt, that 700c wheels are very popular on all road bike models. However, these wheels don’t perform so well when passing over obstacles.

When you want to stop the bike in time, the brakes are vital. The Soho S has Rim brakes. Slightly lighter than hydraulic brakes, rim brakes are a budget choice. However, they have problems in wet conditions.

Trek Soho models from 2013

Trek soho models from 2012, trek soho models from 2011, trek soho models from 2010, trek soho models from 2009, trek soho models from 2008, trek soho models from 2007, trek soho models from 2006.

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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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