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American Express Membership Rewards Guide

How to earn amex points, how to use amex points, how to earn, use, and maximize amex membership rewards points.

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The information for the following product(s) has been collected independently by Business Insider: American Express® Green Card, Amex EveryDay® Credit Card, Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card, Chase Freedom Flex℠. The details for these products have not been reviewed or provided by the issuer.

Amex Membership Rewards points are some of the most valuable credit card rewards you can earn because they're flexible — you can redeem them for a wide variety of rewards, including travel, or cash them in for other redemptions like gift cards or statement credits.

Many of the best credit cards , like The Platinum Card® from American Express , the American Express® Gold Card , and The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express earn Membership Rewards (MR) points, and each has different bonus categories and benefits to suit your spending and travel habits.

Whether you're just getting started with American Express cards or are looking for new ways to use rewards, here's everything you need to know about earning and redeeming Amex points.

When you open an American Express card, you can often earn a large welcome bonus offer , in addition to being able to rack up points quickly through your normal, everyday spending.

American Express personal cards

Limited time offer: Earn 10X Membership Rewards® Points at restaurants worldwide for three months, on up to $25,000 in purchases when eligible card member refers a friend and the friend applies by May 22, 2024 and gets the card (terms apply). Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 per calendar year) and on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Earn 1X Points on other purchases.

See Pay Over Time APR

Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® points

Good to Excellent

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Long list of travel benefits, including airport lounge access and complimentary elite status with Hilton and Marriott (enrollment required)
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Annual statement credits with Saks and Uber
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Bonus categories leave something to be desired
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. One of the highest annual fees among premium travel cards

If you want as many premium travel perks as possible, The Platinum Card® from American Express could be the right card for you. The annual fee is high, but you get a long list of benefits such as airport lounge access, travel statement credits, complimentary hotel elite status, and more.

• Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
• Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
• $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card®. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Up Benefits are excluded.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
• $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
• $300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 back in statement credits per calendar year on an Equinox membership, or an Equinox club membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you pay with your Platinum Card®. Enrollment required. Visit https://platinum.equinox.com/ to enroll.
• $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Breeze through security with CLEAR Plus at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Platinum Card®. Learn more.
• $100 Global Entry Credit: Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
• Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• $300 SoulCycle At-Home Bike Credit: Get a $300 statement credit for the purchase of a SoulCycle at-home bike with your Platinum Card®. An Equinox+ subscription is required to purchase a SoulCycle at-home bike and access SoulCycle content. Must charge full price of bike in one transaction. Shipping available in the contiguous U.S. only. Enrollment Required.
• Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
• $695 annual fee.
• Terms Apply.

Limited time offer: Earn 10X Membership Rewards® Points at restaurants worldwide for three months, on up to $25,000 in purchases when eligible card member refers a friend and the friend applies by May 22, 2024 and gets the card (terms apply). Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X). Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com. Earn 1X Membership Rewards® points on all other purchases.

Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Great rewards for dining and for shopping at US supermarkets
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Monthly statement credit for eligible dining purchases recoups some of the annual fee
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Underwhelming welcome bonus

Foodies and travelers alike will appreciate the American Express Gold's generous welcome bonus and Membership Rewards points earning. Its Uber Cash credits are useful for rides and Uber Eats, and monthly dining credits with participating merchants like GrubHub and Seamless are easy to use.

• Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
• $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
• $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
• Get a $100 experience credit with a minimum two-night stay when you book The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel. Experience credit varies by property.
• Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• Annual Fee is $250.

Earn 1-2 points per dollar on purchases.

0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months from the date of account opening

12.99% - 23.99% Variable

Earn 10,000 Membership Rewards® Points

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. 20% points bonus when you make at least 20 purchases in a billing period
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. No annual fee
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Access to Amex Offers
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Limited bonus categories

The Amex EveryDay® Credit Card is American Express's entry-level card for earning valuable Membership Rewards points. Beyond the ability to earn Amex points without paying an annual fee, the Amex Everyday card's standout feature is a 20% points bonus when you make at least 20 transactions in a billing cycle.

Earn 1-3 points per dollar on purchases, plus a 50% bonus for making at least 30 transactions in a billing cycle

0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers (made in the first 60 days) for 12 months from the date of account opening

15.99% - 25.99% Variable

Earn 15,000 points

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Strong rewards at US supermarkets
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. You can earn a 50% points bonus each billing period when you make at least 30 purchases
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Annual cap on earning bonus rewards at US supermarkets
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Not the best option for earning rewards outside of US supermarkets and US gas stations — especially if you don't make at least 30 purchases per billing statement to earn the bonus

The Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card is worth considering if you want to earn valuable Amex Membership Rewards points — especially if you spend a lot on groceries, gas, or travel — without incurring a high annual fee. But you'll need to use the card at least 30 times a month to make it worthwhile.

Any of the Amex personal cards that earn Membership Rewards allow you to transfer points to airline and hotel partners. 

American Express business cards

Amex issues some of the best small-business cards ; the American Express business cards below earn Membership Rewards points:

Limited time offer: Earn 10X Membership Rewards® Points spent at restaurants worldwide for three months, on up to $25,000 in purchases when eligible card member refers a friend and the friend applies by May 22, 2024 and gets the card (terms apply). Earn 2x Membership Rewards® Points on everyday eligible business purchases (on up to $50,000 per year in purchases, then 1X). Earn 1x Membership Rewards® Points on all other purchases.

0% intro APR on purchases for the first 12 months from account opening

18.49% - 26.49% Variable

Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards® points

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. The rare no-annual-fee card to earn Amex Membership Rewards points
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Solid earning rate on the first $50,000 in purchases each year
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. For spending above $50,000 each year, you will only earn 1 point per dollar

If you're a small-business owner looking for a credit card that offers flexible rewards points without paying an annual fee, The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express is an excellent option. You don't need to own a full-time business to be eligible to apply, either — even freelancers and those with side gigs can qualify for a small-business card.

• Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership.
• 0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 18.49% - 26.49%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors at account opening. APR will not exceed 29.99%
• Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on everyday business purchases such as office supplies or client dinners. 2X applies to the first $50,000 in purchases per year, 1 point per dollar thereafter.
• You've got the power to use your Card beyond its credit limit* with Expanded Buying Power.
• *The amount you can spend above your credit limit is not unlimited. It adjusts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to us, and other factors.
• No Annual Fee
• Terms Apply

Limited time offer: Earn 10X Membership Rewards® points at restaurants worldwide for three months, on up to $25,000 in purchases when eligible card member refers a friend and the friend applies by May 22, 2024 and gets the card (terms apply). Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com. Earn 1.5X points on each eligible purchase at shipping providers, US construction material, hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, and software & cloud system providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else (on up to $2 million per calendar year). Earn 1X points for each dollar you spend on other eligible purchases.

19.49% - 27.49% Variable

Earn 120,000 Membership Rewards® points

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. More travel benefits than you'll find on any other business credit card
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Generous airport lounge access options, from American Express Centurion Lounges to Priority Pass (enrollment required)
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Complimentary hotel elite status (enrollment required)
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Access to Amex concierge services
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Very high annual fee
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Limited opportunities to earn bonus points
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Annual statement credits won't be useful for everyone

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is one of the best small-business cards with an elevated bonus and top-notch benefits (and a premium annual fee to match). It's an excellent offer if you like earning Membership Rewards points and you can maximize the bonus spending categories and perks — but be sure to assess whether the annual fee is worth it for you before you commit.

• Welcome Offer: Earn 120,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with your Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
• 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com, and 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases.
• Earn 1.5X points (that's an extra half point per dollar) on each eligible purchase at US construction material, hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year.
• Unlock over $1,000 in annual statement credits on a curation of business purchases, including select purchases made with Dell Technologies, Indeed, Adobe, and U.S. wireless service providers.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year for incidental fees charged by your one selected, qualifying airline to your Card.
• $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Use your card and get up to $189 in statement credits per calendar year on your CLEAR® Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Business Platinum Card®.
• The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market as of 03/2023.
• $695 Annual Fee.

Limited time offer: Earn 10x Membership Rewards® Points at restaurants worldwide for three months, on up to $25,000 in purchases when eligible card member refers a friend and the friend applies by May 22, 2024 and gets the card (terms apply). Earn 4x Membership Rewards® Points on the first $150,000 spent each calendar year in combined purchases from the top 2 business categories where your business spent the most each billing cycle (then 1x points per dollar). Earn 3x Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com. Earn 1x Membership Rewards® Points on all other purchases.

Earn 70,000 Membership Rewards® points

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. You can bonus points on the categories where you make the most purchases (from a list of options)
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. High annual fee

The American Express® Business Gold Card is a good choice if your business spends a lot in certain categories and you want to earn Membership Rewards points for travel or other redemptions. It's got a high annual fee, but if you can use the card's benefits to your advantage, it can be well worth it.

• Welcome Offer: Earn 70,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $10,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Gold Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.*
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points on the 2 categories where your business spends the most each billing cycle from 6 eligible categories. While your top 2 categories may change, you will earn 4X points on the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these categories each calendar year (then 1X thereafter). Only the top 2 categories each billing cycle will count towards the $150,000 cap.
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com using your Business Gold Card.
• Earn up to $20 in statement credits monthly after you use the Business Gold Card for eligible U.S. purchases at FedEx, Grubhub, and Office Supply Stores. This can be an annual savings of up to $240. Enrollment required.
• Get $12.95 back in statement credits each month when you pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with your Business Gold Card. $12.95 plus applicable taxes.
• Your Card – Your Choice. Choose from Gold or Rose Gold.
• *Terms Apply

Some cards come with lucrative travel and shopping benefits that can make paying their annual fees more than worthwhile . For example, the Amex Platinum charges an annual fee of $695, but in return, you get a slew of valuable benefits . 

Other Amex cards without as high an annual fee don't come with as long a list of benefits, but still offer perks like secondary rental car insurance, purchase protection, extended warranty, and more.

Once you have a healthy stash of Amex points, you've got plenty of options for using them. Be sure to log in and look at the Amex Membership Rewards portal for all the options available on your cards.

How Much are Amex Points Worth?

Amex Membership Rewards are among the most valuable travel rewards you can earn. These points offer a high upside thanks to Amex's lucrative roster of 17 airline and three hotel transfer partners, as well as a respectable value floor for eligible cardholders who book travel directly through Amex.

These features give Membership Rewards points an average redemption value of 1.8 cents per point in Personal Finance Insider's most recent valuations . Read on to learn which redemption options you should target and avoid in order to maximize your return. Amex is an Insider partner.

Insider pegs Amex points value at 1.8 cents each, on average, based on our latest points and miles valuations , but the exact value you'll get depends on how you redeem your rewards.

Transfer points to a hotel or airline partner

Just like with any transferable points program, the best potential value you can get is from transferring your Amex points to a partner program. You can transfer American Express Membership Rewards points to 17 airline and three hotel loyalty program partners, mostly at a 1:1 ratio. Amex occasionally runs transfer bonuses that let you get even more value for your points when you move them to certain partners.

This is particularly valuable for flying, as opposed to hotel stays. In many cases, the cash price and the miles price of a ticket aren't linked, so it's possible to get exponentially increased value from your points by transferring them and booking an award ticket instead. That means potentially being able to fly long-haul in first or business class with points, among other things.

Ultimately, remember to compare pricing between the Amex Travel Portal (more on that below) and how many points you would need to transfer to a frequent flyer program for an award flight. Because award tickets sometimes have cash taxes and fees — occasionally rising into the hundreds of dollars — it's good to compare.

Use Amex points for flights, hotels, and more through American Express Travel

Amex Travel is essentially a travel-booking website operated by American Express. It works similarly to travel booking sites like Expedia or Orbitz. The American Express Travel portal allows you to book flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises, and more with your Membership Rewards points. 

Airfare is the best option when you're paying with points. When you book a flight through Amex Travel, you'll get a value of 1 cent per point. You may also find "Insider Fares," which generally offer a slightly better value — a lot of these fares are on Delta.

Unfortunately, if you want to book anything else through the Amex Travel portal — like hotels, cruises, rental cars, or vacation packages — you'll only get 0.7 cents per point. The exception is Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts , which gets you 1 cent per point.

This is in contrast to Chase, which offers the same price for anything through its Chase Ultimate Rewards® travel portal — 1 cent per point if you have a basic card like the Chase Freedom Unlimited® or Chase Freedom Flex℠ , 1.25 cents per point if you have the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card , or 1.5 cents per point if you have the Chase Sapphire Reserve® .

Bid for upgrades on your next flight

American Express lets you use points to bid for discounted upgrades to first class, business class, and premium economy on participating airlines.

A number of airlines offer an option to place cash bids on upgrades before your flight — if there are available seats in premium cabins, you can snag them at a potentially steep discount. Most airlines that offer this manage it through a third-party service called Plusgrade.

Under the Amex partnership with Plusgrade, you can use Membership Rewards points to place bids on over 20 airlines, including Aeromexico, Air Canada, Etihad, Qantas, Ethiopian Airlines, and TAP Portugal.

Each Membership Rewards point is worth $0.01 toward a bid. So 10,000 points are worth $100 — a solid valuation. The best value from points, however, can be had by transferring them to one of Amex's airline or hotel partners, and booking flights or hotel stays that way.

To bid for an upgrade using your Membership Rewards points, visit americanexpress.com/upgrade and enter your reservation details. If your bid is accepted, you'll receive an email.

Redeem points for cash or gift cards

You can exchange Membership Rewards points for cash or gift cards, but keep in mind that this is usually a pretty terrible value compared to other redemption options. 

Different merchant gift cards have different prices and values for your points. Some offer a not-horrible 1 cent per point — meaning a $25 gift card costs 2,500 points — but the others are as low as 0.5 cents per point — so that $25 gift card would cost 5,000 points.

You can also redeem points as statement credits against specific charges — essentially, cash back used to pay your card. However, this is a similarly poor value, only offering 0.6 cents per point. 

Use points to check out online at major retailers 

When you check out online at a growing list of major retailers and enter your American Express card number, you can opt to pay in part or in full with points.

Merchants that currently let you pay with Amex points at checkout include:

• Saks Fifth Avenue

While promotions occasionally make this worthwhile — for instance, there have been deals where you could save up to $80 at Amazon by using a single Membership Rewards point  at checkout — it's generally a poor value of 0.7 cents per point.

Buy merchandise through Amex or tickets through Ticketmaster 

Amex offers a shopping portal that has a wide range of different products, all of which can be purchased with Membership Rewards points. However, you'll only get 0.5 cents per point (unless there's a promotional offer), so if you were set on using points for merchandise, you'd be better off going through a shopping partner like Amazon, or possibly buying a gift card.

To redeem points at Ticketmaster, you'll need to call Amex after using your card to pay for your Ticketmaster purchase, then use points at a rate of 0.5 cents each to cover the charge. 

Other ways to use American Express points

There are a few other, little-known options for redeeming your American Express rewards, including:

• Donating points to charity through JustGiving (0.7 cents per point)
• Redeeming points for food delivery through GrubHub or Seamless (0.7 cents per point)
• Paying for NYC Taxi fare with points (1 cent per point)
• Using points to offset the excise tax for transferring points to a U.S. airline (0.5 cents per point)

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here.

For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here.

For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, please click here.

For rates and fees of the American Express® Business Gold Card, please click here.

For rates and fees of The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express, please click here.

Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed in this article are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Read our editorial standards .

Please note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.

**Enrollment required.

Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Trip Delay Insurance, Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance, and Cell Phone Protection Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company. Global Assist Hotline Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers. If approved and coordinated by Premium Global Assist Hotline, emergency medical transportation assistance may be provided at no cost. In any other circumstance, Card Members may be responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers. Extended Warranty, Purchase Protection, and Baggage Insurance Plan Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss & Damage Insurance Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

Watch: Sneaky ways credit card companies get you to spend more money

• Main content

How to save hundreds on airfare with Amex’s International Airline Program

Editor's Note

The American Express International Airline Program is a lesser-known benefit for cardholders of The Platinum Card® from American Express , The Business Platinum Card® from American Express or the Centurion Card from American Express .

The IAP has undergone positive changes in recent years, making it more accessible and useful. It offers discounts on first-class, business-class and premium economy tickets, which you can book directly through Amex Travel.

Here's how to make the most of the IAP and save money on your next premium cabin flight.

The information for the Centurion Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

What is the International Airline Program?

The IAP lets eligible cardholders book premium-cabin flights for up to eight people on the same reservation (the cardmember plus seven additional travelers). To receive the savings, the cardmember must be one of the passengers.

While there are two dozen participating airlines, not all offer discounts consistently. Delta Air Lines and other SkyTeam partners typically provide discounts, but the amount saved can vary depending on the fare and route. Here is a list of the participating IAP airlines:

• Air New Zealand
• Brussels Airlines
• Cathay Pacific
• China Airlines
• Japan Airlines
• Singapore Airlines
• Virgin Atlantic

Related: The ultimate guide to Amex Membership Rewards

What tickets are eligible for the International Airline Program?

Eligible fares for the IAP include first-class, business-class and premium economy tickets with participating carriers. This benefit applies to both refundable and nonrefundable fares. The only major restriction is that the trip must originate and return in the U.S. or certain Canadian gateways, including Montreal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL), Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ) and Vancouver International Airport (YVR).

Remember, Amex Platinum cardholders earn 5 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent when booking revenue fares through this program (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar). Meanwhile, Business Platinum cardholders also earn 5 points per dollar spent on IAP purchases — plus, they'll receive a 35% rebate in points for booking first and business-class flights using Amex points, up to 1 million points per calendar year.

Additionally, since these are paid tickets, you should be eligible to earn points or miles with your preferred airline loyalty program, and they should count toward elite status qualification .

Related: Your guide to Amex's travel insurance coverage

How to book flights with the International Airline Program

After finding an inexpensive business-class fare on Google Flights , check if it can be replicated using the IAP.

It's relatively easy to book flights through IAP. You must be logged in to your American Express Platinum or Business Platinum Card account and head to the Amex Travel portal . You can filter IAP fares on the left side of the page.

The IAP can be hit or miss, with some airlines offering cheaper fares than others. While the discount is available starting with premium economy, you'll generally find the savings jump as the fare increases.

Also, even if your airline doesn't participate in IAP, you can sometimes save money by booking a codeshare flight. For example, a round-trip United business-class flight from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to London's Heathrow Airport (LHR) costs $2,884.05. However, you can book this same flight as a codeshare Austrian Airlines itinerary for $2,816.95, representing a savings of $67.10.

In general, you can expect to see the most significant savings on expensive flights, like this first-class ticket from Newark to Frankfurt Airport (FRA). On this itinerary, booking through the IAP saves $524.50.

On a round-trip, business-class Japan Airlines itinerary between San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Tokyo's Narita International Airport (NRT), booking through the IAP saves $2,025 (approximately 20%).

However, the price on IAP may be higher than on Google Flights and its suggested online travel agencies (OTAs) . For example, this flight from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) on ANA's business class is about $300 less expensive on Google Flights.

The fare you prefer may not appear as an IAP fare, even if it belongs to an IAP airline. The flight or seat may be unavailable if you cannot find IAP flights in your search results.

Related: Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights

Paying with points

While you can pay for IAP tickets using your American Express card (or any other travel credit card ), Amex members can also use Membership Rewards' Pay with Points feature to cover these tickets. During checkout, you can choose the Pay with Points option with a minimum redemption of 5,000 points. We normally don't recommend this option as you'll get a fixed 1 cent-per-point rate, and we value Amex points at 2 cents apiece when you can maximize Amex's transfer partners. If the points you redeem don't cover the entire amount, you can charge the remaining balance to your American Express card .

Business Platinum cardholders should remember that they earn 35% of their Membership Rewards points back after using points for all or part of an eligible flight, up to a maximum of 1 million points per calendar year. For example, the United-Austrian codeshare flight from Newark to London would require 281,695 Amex points for a round-trip journey. When using your Business Platinum card, you would receive over 98,000 Amex points back, which is a significant benefit.

Even if you use Pay With Points, the tickets you book should still count as revenue tickets and thus earn you miles.

Related: Amex Business Platinum for flights: When to transfer vs. when to pay with points

Bottom line

The IAP may appear complicated and difficult to understand initially. If it doesn't work, it can be overwhelming and more convenient to book your flight directly with the airline.

However, you can obtain fantastic discounts on premium cabin seats. Additionally, when you pay with your eligible card, you may receive various travel protections . Just keep in mind that the primary cardholder or an eligible authorized user must be traveling on the reservation to be eligible for these benefits.

Additional reporting by Benji Stawski and Victoria Walker.

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American Express International Airline Program: The Little-Known Secret to Huge Airfare Savings

Andrew Kunesh

Former Content Contributor

69 Published Articles

Countries Visited: 28 U.S. States Visited: 22

Keri Stooksbury

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Director of Operations & Compliance

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What Is the International Airline Program?

Premium economy discounts, business class discounts, first class discounts, step 1: international airline program website, step 2: search for flights, step 3: select your flight, step 4: confirm booking, step 5: select seats and insurance, step 6: book, final thoughts.

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One of the lesser-known benefits of the The Platinum Card ® from American Express is access to the International Airline Program. It gives you access to preferred pricing on international premium economy, business class, and first class tickets operated by a handful of American Express partner airlines.

It’s a shame that people overlook this program, because it can save you some serious money.

Anyone who books paid premium travel needs to use the International Airline Program before booking their next ticket. We’ve seen tickets discounted over 40%, bringing the price of some premium economy tickets down to the cost of a standard economy ticket for Amex Platinum cardholders .

But how do you use the program? And what kind of discount can you expect? We’ll show you the quirks and features of the American Express International Airline Program.

With the International Airline Program, cardholders of the Amex Platinum card and The Business Platinum Card ® from American Express  save on premium international airfare when booking through American Express.

However, not all tickets are eligible for a discount — it only applies when booking airfare on participating airlines.

Thankfully, the list is pretty extensive. Airlines in the International Airline Program include:

Discounts on these airlines are only available when you book international tickets in premium economy, business, or first class . Standard economy tickets aren’t eligible for the discount, nor are domestic tickets, whether for travel within the U.S. or another country.

All flights must depart from a U.S. airport or one of several Canadian gateways. Strangely, these gateways aren’t listed on the American Express website .

Select one-way itineraries are eligible for the International Airline Program discount, but not all. Again, this is a case where American Express does not elaborate on which routes and airlines offer discounts on a one-way ticket, so you have to search one-way routes on your own to see which do and do not offer discounts.

Further, you must pay for your ticket in full with an Amex Platinum card or Amex Business Platinum card . You earn 5 Membership Rewards points per dollar for an International Airline Program booking, as the program is powered by AmexTravel.com .

We value Membership Rewards at 2.2 cents per point, so you earn 11% back on your bookings . Check our monthly valuations for the most up-to-date information.

The Amex Platinum card and the Amex Business Platinum card can redeem points for flights at 1 cent per point, with the Amex Business Platinum card earning a 35% rebate  after you book your flight. However, you’re still better off transferring points to Amex airline partners to book premium award tickets in most cases.

You can book tickets for yourself and up to 7 travel companions through the International Airline Program. Just note that the primary cardholder must be traveling to receive International Airline Program fares.

Refundable, restricted, and nonrefundable tickets are also eligible for the discount, so you’re not stuck booking high-fare classes to get the discount.

How Much Can You Save?

How much you can save with the International Airline Program significantly depends on what ticket you’re booking. There’s no set discount for airlines, routes, or destinations, so savings fluctuate ticket by ticket.

American Express notes that the International Airline Program saves customers an average of $150 on premium economy tickets, $300 on business class tickets, and $600 on first class tickets. However, our research found that you can save much more than this, especially on premium economy tickets to Europe.

We’ve searched for discounts for 3 regions (Asia, Europe, and the Middle East) in each booking class and have averaged the 3 numbers for an expected discount.

To illustrate how much you can save, we found a round-trip premium economy ticket from John F. Kennedy International (JFK) to Athens (ATH) on Delta through the International Airline Program for around $2,200 flying in April 2024.

The same flights were a whopping $3,006 when booked via Google Flights, saving $800, or nearly 27%, off the flight’s standard price!

You can also save money when booking premium economy tickets to Asia.

We searched for premium economy tickets from Newark (EWR) to Singapore (SIN) and found nonstop tickets on Singapore Airlines for $1,062 through the International Airline Program.

This same ticket costs $1,250 when booked through Google Flights, yielding a discount of $188 or roughly 15%.

Finally, let’s use an example of a flight from JFK to Dubai (DXB) on Emirates. Finding premium economy flights to the Middle East is tricky, since many airlines that offer premium economy aren’t IAP members. However, Emirates is a member of the program.

We found an IAP-eligible flight for just $3,179 for a round-trip in premium economy.

If you booked directly with the airline, this flight would cost $3,262!

As you can see, you can score savings of at least $100 on premium economy flights using the International Airline Program. However, in our experience, more savings are possible, depending on factors such as your travel dates.

Business class bookings also get a decent discount through the International Airline Program.

Our first search was for a flight from JFK to London Gatwick (LGW), a nonstop flight on Delta. We found a flight via the International Airline Program for $2,648.

The same ticket is $2,753 on Delta.com, giving you a discount of $87 (or 3.18%) when you use IAP.

For our Asia search, we looked for a flight from Los Angeles (LAX) to Bangkok (BKK). Business class flights to Asia are rarely cheap, and the most economical flight on this route would cost more than $4,700 on Asiana Airlines.

With the International Airline Program, that price drops to just $4,506. This comes out to an excellent savings of 5.3%, which is certainly nothing to scoff at — especially on an already pricey ticket.

Finally, for our Middle East search, we searched for a flight from LAX to DXB on Emirates business class.

For this example, let’s look at the pricing for a flight eligible for the International Airline Program and the options you’d see if you didn’t have a premium card.

The original cost for this flight is a whopping $7,500.

But by booking through the International Airline Program, you can find this flight for nearly 10% cheaper — a savings of $701!

Like premium economy bookings, the amount you’ll save on business class bookings depends on the route you’d like to book. While you may not save as much as premium economy bookings, any savings is still a hefty discount that can’t be found elsewhere.

International first class is almost never cheap, with tickets to Europe usually topping $10,000 round-trip. However, you can find a pretty hefty discount if you book through the International Airline Program.

Here’s a look at how much you can save when booking tickets to Europe, Asia, or the Middle East.

Starting with Europe, we searched for tickets from EWR to Frankfurt (FRA). We found a nonstop, first class ticket on Lufthansa for $5,166 through the International Airline Program.

This same ticket was $7,550 booked through Google Flights , giving us a whopping discount of $2,384 or 32% through American Express. This savings alone more than cover your Amex Platinum card’s annual fee and can even get you another (cheap) business class ticket virtually anywhere in the U.S.

Further, first class flights to Asia also see a nice discount with the International Airline Program. We looked for flights from Chicago (ORD) to Hong Kong (HKG) and found a one-stop option on SWISS for $8,655 through the program.

This ticket is nearly $10,000 without the discount, so you’d save $1,331 or 13.3% by booking through the International Airline Program.

Finally, for the Middle East portion of this section, we looked for a first class ticket from JFK to DXB. Booking this ticket directly with Emirates would cost $21,963 .

We found a nonstop, round-trip flight on Emirates for $18,424 through the International Airline Program. Compared to the direct booking’s $21,963 cost, you’d get a massive $3,539 or 16.1% discount with the portal.

In the end, you’d save at least a couple hundred dollars on first class flights when booking through the International Airline Program, though you could save thousands . Just note that while this number sounds great on paper, you’d still pay well over $5,000 for a round-trip international first class ticket to most places worldwide.

However, if you’re going to make these purchases anyway, definitely use the portal to save a pretty penny.

How To Use the International Airline Program

Until a few years ago, all International Airline Program bookings had to be made over the phone. Not only did this take longer than booking through the AmexTravel.com portal, it also subjected all bookings to a $39 phone booking fee .

Thankfully, this is no longer the case because American Express has integrated the International Airline Program into AmexTravel.com. This makes utilizing the International Airline Program a lot more efficient and cheaper than it once was.

Here’s how to book a flight:

Navigate to the International Airline Program website and sign into your American Express account by clicking the Log In  button at the upper right corner of the screen.

Look toward the center of the International Airline Program screen for the flight search box. In this box, type in your origin, destination, dates of travel, number of passengers, and class of service. Then click the  Search button to the right of the box.

Look through the search results and find the flight you’d like to book. All flights with discounted fares are highlighted by a blue box that states that the fare is a benefit of the International Airline Program. Note that flights without the discount will show here, too.

Select your flight of choice by clicking the  Select  button. You’ll be prompted to select a return ticket if searching for a round-trip ticket.

The site will now present your final itinerary. Make sure all looks good and click the  Continue Booking  button. You’ll be prompted to enter all passengers’ information. As discussed earlier, the primary cardholder must be traveling with the group to get International Airline Program rates on tickets. Enter all the necessary information and move on to the next step.

Make sure to enter each passenger’s frequent flyer number at the bottom of the passenger information screen so you (and your travel companions) earn valuable flight miles for the ticket you’re booking.

Now you can select seats by clicking the  Select Seats  button at the center of the screen. You can also add travel insurance using the  Traveler Insurance selection box at the center of the page. Once you’ve selected everything you want, click the  Save & Continue  button at the bottom of the screen to move to the next step.

Always double-check the travel insurance that’s complimentary with your Amex Platinum card or Amex Business Platinum card  before buying more coverage.

We’re almost done! From this last screen, you can choose if you’d like to pay for your flight with points, your Amex Platinum card, or a mix of the 2.

If possible, pay cash, as you only get 1 cent per point (or 1.35 with the Amex Business Platinum card) in value when paying with points. Pick how you’d like to pay and click the Book Flight  button at the bottom of the screen to book your ticket.

And that’s it — your discounted premium ticket is booked! American Express will email you a confirmation shortly after your booking is completed.

There’s no doubt that the International Airline Program can help you save some serious money on premium air travel. Even if you’re not in the market for premium airfare, searching for a premium economy ticket through the Amex portal is a great idea.

The International Airline Program frequently reduces the cost of premium economy tickets to economy levels, especially when traveling to Europe.

This benefit especially benefits businesses that book premium airfare for employees and contractors. Saving 10% or more on all airline tickets can make a serious dent in your bottom line, so don’t miss out on the Amex Business Platinum card  if you think your business can take advantage of the discount.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card ® from American Express, click here . For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card ® from American Express, click here .

Frequently Asked Questions

Can i use another card to pay for my international airline program flights.

No, you must use your Amex Platinum card , Amex Business Platinum card , or Membership Rewards points to pay for your flight. You can’t use other credit cards.

Will I earn 5 points per dollar on my Amex Platinum card when booking through the International Airline Program?

Yes! Those with the Amex Platinum card or Amex Business Platinum card earn 5 points per dollar on flights booked through the International Airline Program.

Can I book tickets departing from outside the U.S. and Canada with the International Airline Program?

No, only flights departing from the U.S. or select Canadian gateways are eligible for International Airline Program fares.

Do United Airlines and American Airlines participate in the International Airline Program?

No, the only U.S.-based carrier that participates in the International Airline Program is Delta Air Lines.

Are International Airline Program fares the same as Membership Rewards Insider fares?

No, Membership Rewards Insider fares generally provide less of a discount and can be booked by anyone that has a Membership Rewards-earning credit card.

However, we’ve seen Membership Rewards Insider fares for American Airlines , LOT Polish Airlines, and other airlines that don’t participate in the International Airline Program. Additionally, some economy fares are eligible for Membership Rewards Insider pricing.

Note that you’ll see Membership Rewards Insider fares listed alongside standard and International Airline Program fares, so you can be sure that you’re always getting the best deal on paid premium airfare.

Are all premium tickets operated by participating carriers eligible for an International Airline Program discount?

No, not all tickets are eligible for International Airline Program pricing. You’ll see all eligible tickets when performing a search on the International Airline Program website.

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About Andrew Kunesh

Andrew was born and raised in the Chicago suburbs and now splits his time between Chicago and New York City.

He’s a lifelong traveler and took his first solo trip to San Francisco at the age of 16. Fast forward a few years, and Andrew now travels just over 100,000 miles a year, with over 25 countries, 10 business class products, and 2 airline statuses (United and Alaska) under his belt. Andrew formerly worked for The Points Guy and is now Senior Money Editor at CNN Underscored.

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Earn up to 175,000 points with these elevated hilton american express card welcome offers, three hilton honors amex credit cards are offering elevated welcome bonuses for a limited time..

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit  americanexpress.com  to learn more.

For a limited time, American Express is raising the welcome bonus offers on three Hilton cards — the Hilton Honors American Express Card (from 80,000 to 100,000 Hilton points), the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card (from 130,000 to 155,000 points) and the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card (from 150,000 to 175,000 points).

Below, CNBC Select highlights what you need to know about these elevated credit card welcome bonuses.

Hilton American Express welcome bonus and perks

With all three of the consumer Hilton credit cards offering an increased welcome bonus, you have options. The Hilton Aspire is the premium card and comes with top-tier Diamond elite status as well as generous benefits. For anyone not fully committed to the Hilton brand, the Hilton Honors Card is a good starting option with no annual fee (see rates and fees ).

Hilton points are worth about 0.5 to 0.6 cents each on average, according to many travel rewards experts . That means these bonuses could get you anywhere from $500 to over $1,000 towards stays at Hilton-affiliated hotels. However, the value of Hilton points can sometimes stretch much higher depending on what property you redeem them at.

Hilton Honors American Express Card

Earn 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio; 5X points on dining at U.S. restaurants; 5X points on groceries at U.S. supermarkets; 5X points on gas at U.S. gas stations; 3X points for each dollar spent on other eligible purchases

Welcome bonus

Earn 100,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 4/17/24.

Regular APR

20.99% - 29.99% variable

Balance transfer fee

Foreign transaction fee, credit needed.

Excellent/Good

See rates and fees , terms apply.

The Hilton Honors American Express Card now offers 100,000 Hilton points when you spend $2,000 on purchases within the first six months of opening the card. This bonus is 20,000 points higher than the previous offer with the same spending requirements . 100,000 Hilton points are worth between $500 and $600 on average.

The Hilton Honors American Express Card does not charge an annual fee (see rates and fees ), and it comes with a range of benefits such as:

• Complimentary Hilton Silver status (grants perks such as free bottled water and a spa discount)
• Earn Hilton Gold status by spending $20,000 or more on the card in a calendar year
• No foreign transaction fees
• Terms apply

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card

Earn 12X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton portfolio; 6X points for eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations; 4X Points for each dollar on U.S. Online Retail Purchases; 3X points for other eligible purchases

Earn 155,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card now offers 155,000 Hilton points when you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first six months of opening the card. On average, 155,000 Hilton points are worth between $775 and $930.

The Hilton Surpass Card has a $150 annual fee (see rates and fees ) and benefits such as:

• Earn up to $200 in Hilton credit (up to $50 back each quarter)
• Complimentary Hilton Gold status (grants perks such as space-available room upgrades)
• Earn Hilton Diamond status when you spend $40,000 in a calendar year
• Earn a Free Night Reward after you spend $15,000 in a calendar year
• Extended warranty coverage
• Purchase protection
• Baggage insurance

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

14X points per dollar for eligible purchases on your card made directly with a participating hotel or resort within the Hilton portfolio; 7X points for eligible purchases on flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com, on car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies, and at U.S. restaurants; 3X points for all other eligible purchases

Earn 175,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points with the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 4/17/2024

20.99% to 29.99% variable

New Hilton Honors Aspire card members can earn 175,000 Hilton points after spending $6,000 on purchases with your card in the first six months of card membership. This card has a hefty $550 annual fee (see rates and fees ), but the benefits are exceptionally valuable. Plus, you could get over $1,000 in value from the 175,000-point welcome bonus.

For starters, every card anniversary year, you'll receive an Annual Free Night Reward, which can be redeemed at nearly any participating Hilton hotel or resort outside of these exclusions . Anyone who uses the free night at an expensive hotel may find that benefit alone makes the card worth keeping.

You can also earn two Free Night Rewards each year. You'll earn one when you spend $30,000 on the card in a calendar year and a second reward when you spend an additional $30,000 (at least $60,000 in total) on the card within the same calendar year.

Other card benefits include:

• Complimentary Hilton Diamond status (which gives perks such as a 48-hour room guarantee and a 100% bonus to all Hilton points earned during a stay at a Hilton property)
• Up to $400 in Hilton resort credit each year (up to $200 back semi-annually)
• Up to $200 of flight credit each year (up to $50 back each quarter)
• Up to $189 in CLEAR Plus credit per calendar year
• $100 on-property credit at participating Waldorf Astoria and Conrad properties when you book a minimum two-night stay at Hiltonhonorsaspirecard.com
• Trip delay insurance
• Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
• Cell phone protection

What these bonuses can get you 

Hilton doesn't have an award chart for its hotels, so there's no reliable way to know what you'll pay for a specific location other than to search the Hilton site to price out the days and locations you're interested in.

The Hilton loyalty program has several features that increase the value and flexibility of your points. You can pool your points with family members for free, which makes booking a family vacation or more expensive hotels much easier. You can also take advantage of Hilton's 5th night free on award stays when you have any level of Hilton elite status (which you get for free with all Hilton cards). This benefit can be extremely useful for longer stays because every 5th night is free on stays of up to 20 nights. So you won't pay any additional points for the 5th night, 10th night, 15th night or 20th night.

Depending on how many points you have, you can book luxurious stays with Hilton points. The Waldorf Astoria Grand Wailea in Hawaii is often available to book for 110,000 points a night and can easily cost over $1,000 a night. So if you can earn an intro bonus from any of these cards, there are lots of opportunities to unlock extreme value.

Hilton Amex welcome bonus eligibility  

All of the Hilton cards are issued by American Express, and it typically limits you to earning the welcome bonus to once per lifetime per card. That means if you have or have had a specific card before, you're unlikely to be able to earn the bonus from that particular card again.

However, each card is considered a different product. So if you've previously had a Hilton Honors card, that shouldn't negatively affect your chances of qualifying for Hilton Aspire or Hilton Surpass.

Alternatives to the Hilton credit cards

American Express Membership Rewards points transfer to Hilton at a 1:2 ratio, so every Membership Rewards point you earn is worth two Hilton points. The Platinum Card® from American Express is a good option for quickly earning Membership rewards points, new card members can earn 80,000 points after spending $8,000 on purchases on the new card in the first six months of card membership. That's the equivalent of 160,000 Hilton points. Plus, American Express Platinum cardholders receive complimentary Hilton Gold status (enrollment required).

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year, 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel, 1X points on all other eligible purchases

Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Needed

Read our The Platinum Card® from American Express review .

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card (see rates and fees ) earns travel rewards that can be useful for booking any hotel. Hilton isn't a Capital One transfer partner, but you can redeem Capital One miles for one cent each toward any eligible travel purchase. This card comes with a 75,000-mile bonus you can earn after spending $4,000 on purchases within three months from account opening, that's worth $750 in travel (including Hilton hotels).

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

5 Miles per dollar on hotel and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 2X miles per dollar on every other purchase

Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening

N/A for purchases and balance transfers

19.99% - 29.99% variable

$0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you

Money matters — so make the most of it. Get expert tips, strategies, news and everything else you need to maximize your money, right to your inbox.  Sign up here .

Bottom line

If you're a frequent traveler who typically stays at Hilton Hotels at least a few times a year, you could benefit from any of the welcome bonuses offered by the Hilton Honors American Express Card , Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card or Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card . With these increased offers, you can book anything from a stopover at an airport hotel to a night at a luxury resort.

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At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every personal finance article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of financial products .  While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.

Catch up on CNBC Select's in-depth coverage of  credit cards ,  banking  and  money , and follow us on  TikTok ,  Facebook ,  Instagram  and  Twitter  to stay up to date.

For rates and fees for the Hilton Honor Surpass Card, click here .

For rates and fees for Hilton Honors Amex Card, click here .

For rates and fees for the Hilton Honors Aspire card, click  here .

For rates and fees for The Platinum Card from American Express, click here .

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These Are the Top Travel Trends of 2024, According to American Express Travel

What are people really traveling for in 2024?

Grant Faint/Getty Images

Demand for premium travel continues at a torrid pace in 2024. Not only is that being reflected in the first few months of the year, but also in the newly released trend report by  American Express (Amex) Travel . The study explored travel behaviors and trip planning from participants living in seven countries: Australia, Canada, Mexico, Japan, India, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

The majority of respondents are planning major milestone-like trips, even if there isn’t necessarily an occasion to celebrate. And 84 percent of people surveyed plan to spend more or the same amount of money on travel in 2024 compared to last year. That includes destinations like  Antarctica  and the  Galapagos Islands . (Travel agents and advisors are making a resurgence as well, with over 50 percent of people looking to leverage a travel agent or trusted advisor to book, like  T+L’s A-List .)

“The report shows that demand for travel is continuing, and that people are building itineraries to create memories—being intentional about the places they are going, and the things they are doing when they get there,” Audrey Hendley, president of American Express Travel, told Travel + Leisure .

Meanwhile, if 2023 was the year of “gig-tripping” (and the Taylor Swift effect), then 2024 is the year of long-distance travel for sporting events. Amex’s survey showed that 67 percent of millennial and Gen Z respondents are interested in traveling for sports in 2024. Paris, Miami, and New York City are the top three cities for sports travel, according to Amex. (Paris is hosting the  Olympic Games this year, Miami is hosting Formula 1, and New York City has the U.S. Open Tennis.)

In addition, solo travel will be a prominent theme in 2024, with 76 percent of millennials and Gen Z (compared to 69 percent of all respondents) saying they plan to take a solo trip this year, with a majority centered around self-love and treating themselves. “It is really interesting to see how many people are embracing solo travel,” said Hendley. “We’re seeing changes with younger travelers in particular."

Finally, Amex says that 2024 will be a notable year for spontaneous trips or what they’re calling “on-a-whim travel.” Nearly 80 percent of travelers say they plan to take a spur-of-the-moment trip, while 44 percent of respondents even expressed a preference for a spontaneous trip instead of having all the details planned. In fact, there are entire companies (like  Pack Up & Go  and  Competitours ) that offer complete itineraries where none of the details are provided in advance.

For something a bit less extreme, Henley recommended leaving unplanned time on existing trips to experience local culture and activities. “I just took an incredible trip to Thailand and relied on local experts and tour guides to show me the ‘real’ sites. I would have missed out on these local experiences – and so much incredible food – if I hadn’t left room in my itinerary to be impulsive and truly explore,” she said.

To learn more visit go.amex .

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A History of Moscow in 13 Dishes

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Home » Europe » Moscow

EPIC MOSCOW Itinerary! (2024)

Moscow is the heart of Mother Russia. Just the mention of this city conjures images of colorful bulbous pointed domes, crisp temperatures, and a uniquely original spirit!

Moscow has an incredibly turbulent history, a seemingly resilient culture, and a unique enchantment that pulls countless tourists to the city each year! Although the warmer months make exploring Moscow’s attractions more favorable, there’s just something about a fresh snowfall that only enhances the appearance of the city’s iconic sites!

If you’re a first-time visitor to Moscow, or simply wanting to see as much of the city as possible, this Moscow itinerary will help you do just that!

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Best Time To Visit Moscow

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Here is a quick look at the seasons so you can decide when to visit Moscow!

The summer months (June-August) are a great time to travel to Moscow to take advantage of the enjoyable mild temperatures. This is considered peak travel season. Bear in mind that hotel prices rise along with the temperatures!

If you’re planning a trip to Moscow during fall (September-November) try to plan for early fall. This way the temperatures will still be pleasant and winter won’t be threatening.

Russian winters (December-February) are not for the faint of heart as Napoleon learned to his peril. Some days the sun will be out for less than an hour, and snow is guaranteed. Although winters are exceptionally cold, this is when you’ll get a true glimpse of the Moscow experience!

The best time to visit Moscow is during spring  (March-May). The temperatures will begin to creep up and the sun begins to shine for significant portions of the day. Hotel rates will also have yet to skyrocket into peak ranges!

With a Moscow City Pass , you can experience the best of Moscow at the CHEAPEST prices. Discounts, attractions, tickets, and even public transport are all standards in any good city pass – be sure invest now and save them $$$ when you arrive!

Moscow is a large city with many accommodation options to choose from. Staying in a location that fits with your travel plans will only enhance your Moscow itinerary. Here is a brief introduction to a few great areas of the city we recommend checking out!

The best place to stay in Moscow to be close to all the action is Kitay-Gorod. This charming neighborhood will put you within walking distance to Moscow’s famous Red Square, thus cutting down on travel time. This will allow you to see more of the city in a shorter amount of time!

It’s surrounded by restaurants, cafes, bars, and shops. If you’re a first-time visitor to Moscow, or just planning a quick weekend in Moscow, then this area is perfect for you!

Another great area to consider is the Zamoskvorechye district. This area of the city offers a blend of new and old Moscow. It has an artsy vibe and there are plenty of fun sites you can explore outside of the main touristy areas of Moscow.

Of course, as in all areas of Moscow, it’s close to public transportation that will quickly connect you with the rest of the city and make your Moscow itinerary super accessible!

Best Airbnb in Moscow – Exclusive Apartment in Old Moscow

Modern and cozy, this apartment is in the heart of Old Moscow. Bordering the Basmanny and Kitay-Gorod districts, this two-bedroom flat is walking distance to the Kremlin and Red Square. Safe, quiet, and comfortable, this is the best Airbnb in Moscow, no question!

Best Budget Hotel in Moscow – Izmailovo Alfa Hotel

The Izmailovo Alfa Hotel is a very highly rated accommodation that provides all the components necessary for a comfortable trip to Moscow. There is an on-site restaurant, bar, fitness center, and an airport shuttle service. The rooms are modern and spacious and are equipped with a TV, heating/air conditioning, minibar, and more!

Best Luxury Hotel in Moscow – Crowne Plaza Moscow World Trade Centre

If you’re touring Moscow in luxury, the Crowne Plaza Moscow World Trade Centre is the hotel for you! Elegantly furnished rooms are equipped with a minibar, flat-screen TV,  in-room safes, as well as tea and coffee making facilities! Bathrooms come with bathrobes, slippers, and free toiletries. There is also an onsite restaurant, bar, and fitness center.

Best Hostel in Moscow – Godzillas Hostel

Godzillas Hostel is located in the center of Moscow, just a short walk from all the major tourist attractions and the metro station. Guests will enjoy all the usual hostel perks such as self-catering facilities, 24-hour reception, Free Wi-Fi, and security lockers. This is one of the best hostels in Moscow and its wonderful social atmosphere and will make your vacation in Moscow extra special!

Godzillas Hostel is one of our favourites in Moscow but they’re not taking guests right now. We’re not sure if they’re closed for good but we hope they’ll come back soon.

An important aspect of planning any trip is figuring out the transportation situation. You’re probably wondering how you’re going to get to all of your Moscow points of interest right? Luckily, this sprawling city has an excellent network of public transportation that will make traveling a breeze!

The underground metro system is the quickest and most efficient way to travel around Moscow. Most visitors rely exclusively on this super-efficient transportation system, which allows you to get to pretty much anywhere in the city! It’s also a great option if you’re planning a Moscow itinerary during the colder months, as you’ll be sheltered from the snow and freezing temperatures!

If you prefer above-ground transportation, buses, trams, and trolleybuses, run throughout the city and provide a rather comfortable alternative to the metro.

Moscow’s metro, buses, trams, and trolleybuses are all accessible with a ‘Troika’ card. This card can be topped up with any sum of money at a metro cash desk. The ticket is simple, convenient, and even refundable upon return to a cashier!

No matter which method you choose, you’ll never find yourself without an easy means of getting from point A to point B!

Red Square | Moscow Kremlin | Lenin’s Mausoleum | St. Basil’s Cathedral  | GUM Department Store

Spend the first day of your itinerary taking your own self guided Moscow walking tour around the historic Red Square! This is Moscow’s compact city center and every stop on this list is within easy walking distance to the next! Get ready to see all of the top Moscow landmarks!

Day 1 / Stop 1 – The Red Square

• Why it’s awesome: The Red Square is the most recognizable area in Moscow, it has mesmerizing architecture and centuries worth of history attached to its name.
• Cost: Free to walk around, individual attractions in the square have separate fees. 
• Food nearby: Check out Bar BQ Cafe for friendly service and good food in a great location! The atmosphere is upbeat and they’re open 24/7!

The Red Square is Moscow’s historic fortress and the center of the Russian government. The origins of the square date back to the late 15th century, when Ivan the Great decided to expand the Kremlin to reflect Moscow’s growing power and prestige!

During the 20th century, the square became famous as the site for demonstrations designed to showcase Soviet strength. Visiting the Red Square today, you’ll find it teeming with tourists, who come to witness its magical architecture up close!

The square is the picture postcard of Russian tourism, so make sure to bring your camera when you visit! No matter the season, or the time of day, it’s delightfully photogenic! 

It’s also home to some of Russia’s most distinguishing and important landmarks, which we’ve made sure to include further down in this itinerary. It’s an important center of Russia’s cultural life and one of the top places to visit in Moscow!

In 1990, UNESCO designated Russia’s Red Square as a World Heritage site. Visiting this historic site is a true bucket-list event and essential addition to your itinerary for Moscow!

Day 1 / Stop 2 – The Moscow Kremlin

• Why it’s awesome: The Moscow Kremlin complex includes several palaces and cathedrals and is surrounded by the Kremlin wall. It also houses the principal museum of Russia (the Kremlin Armory).
• Cost: USD $15.00
• Food nearby: Bosco Cafe is a charming place to grat a casual bite to eat. They have excellent coffee and wonderful views of the Red Square and the Moscow Kremlin!

The iconic Moscow Kremlin , also known as the Kremlin museum complex, sits on Borovitsky Hill, rising above the Moscow River. It is a fortified complex in the center of the city, overlooking several iconic buildings in the Red Square!

It’s the best known of the Russian Kremlins – citadels or fortress’ protecting and dominating a city. During the early decades of the Soviet era, the Kremlin was a private enclave where the state’s governing elite lived and worked.

The Kremlin is outlined by an irregularly shaped triangular wall that encloses an area of 68 acres! The existing walls and towers were built from 1485 to 1495. Inside the Kremlin museum complex, there are five palaces, four cathedrals, and the enclosing Kremlin Wall with Kremlin towers.

The Armoury Chamber is a part of the Grand Kremlin Palace’s complex and is one of the oldest museums of Moscow, established in 1851. It showcases Russian history and displays many cherished relics. Definitely make sure to check out this museum while you’re here!

The churches inside the Moscow Kremlin are the Cathedral of the Dormition, Church of the Archangel, Church of the Annunciation, and the bell tower of Ivan Veliki (a church tower).

The five-domed Cathedral of the Dormition is considered the most famous. It was built from 1475–1479 by an Italian architect and has served as a wedding and coronation place for great princes, tsars, and emperors of Russia. Church services are given in the Kremlin’s numerous cathedrals on a regular basis.

The Grand Kremlin Palace was the former Tsar’s Moscow residence and today it serves as the official workplace of the President of the Russian Federation (Vladimir Putin seems to have bagged that title for life) .

Insider Tip: The Kremlin is closed every Thursday! Make sure to plan this stop on your Moscow itinerary for any other day of the week!

Day 1 / Stop 3 – Lenin’s Mausoleum

• Why it’s awesome: The mausoleum displays the preserved body of Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin .
• Cost: Free!
• Food nearby: Khinkal’naya is a charming Georgian restaurant with vaulted ceilings and exposed brick. It’s a popular place with locals and right next to the Red Square!

Lenin’s Mausoleum, also known as Lenin’s Tomb, is the modernist mausoleum for the revolutionary leader Vladimir Lenin. It’s located within the Red Square and serves as the resting place for the Soviet leader! His preserved body has been on public display since shortly after his death in 1924.

It’s located just a few steps away from the Kremlin Wall and is one of the most controversial yet popular Moscow attractions!

Admission is free for everyone, you’ll only need to pay if you need to check a bag. Before visitors are allowed to enter the mausoleum, they have to go through a metal detector first. No metal objects, liquids, or large bags are allowed in the mausoleum!

Expect a line to enter the building, and while you’re inside the building, you’ll be constantly moving in line with other visitors. This means you won’t be able to spend as long as you’d like viewing the mausoleum, but you’ll still be able to get a good look. Pictures and filming while inside the building are strictly prohibited, and security guards will stop you if they see you breaking this rule.

The mausoleum is only open on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday – unless it’s a public holiday or a day scheduled for maintenance. The hours it’s open for each day are limited, make sure to check online before you visit to make sure you can fit this into your Moscow itinerary for that day!

Insider Tip: The Lenin’s Museum is there for people to pay their respect; remember to keep silent and move along quickly, it’s not intended for people to congregate around. Also, men are not allowed to wear hats and everyone must take their hands out of their pockets when inside the building.

Day 1 / Stop 4 – St. Basil’s Cathedral

• Why it’s awesome: A dazzling designed cathedral that showcases Russia’s unique architecture. This cathedral is one of the most recognizable symbols of the country!
• Cost: USD $8.00
• Food nearby: Moskovskiy Chaynyy Klub is a cozy cafe serving food items and pipping hot tea; it’s the perfect place to go if you’re visiting Moscow during the winter months!

Located in the Red Square, the ornate 16th-century St. Basil’s Cathedral is probably the building you picture when you think of Moscow’s unique architecture. Its colorful onion-shaped domes tower over the Moscow skyline!

The cathedral was built from 1555-1561 by order of Tsar Ivan the Terrible. It was designed with an iconic onion dome facade and enchanting colors that captivate all who see it. Fun fact: If you’re wondering why Russian churches have onion domes, they are popularly believed to symbolize burning candles!

This iconic cathedral has become a symbol of Russia due to its distinguishing architecture and prominent position inside the Red Square. It’s one of the most beautiful, wonderful, and mesmerizing historical cathedrals in the world!

The interior of the church surprises most people when they visit. In contrast to the large exterior, the inside is not so much one large area, but rather a collection of smaller areas, with many corridors and small rooms. There are 9 small chapels and one mausoleum grouped around a central tower.

Visiting the inside is like walking through a maze, there are even small signs all around the cathedral tracing where to walk, and pointing you in the right direction! The walls are meticulously decorated and painted with intricate floral designs and religious themes.

The church rarely holds service and is instead a museum open for the public to visit.

Insider Tip: During the summer months the line to go inside the cathedral can get quite long! Make sure to arrive early or reserve your tickets online to guarantee quick access into the cathedral!

Day 1 / Stop 5 – GUM Department Store

• Why it’s awesome: This is Russia’s most famous shopping mall! It’s designed with elegant and opulent architecture and provides a real sense of nostalgia!
• Cost: Free to enter
• Food nearby: Stolovaya 57 is a cafeteria-style restaurant with a variety of inexpensive Russian cuisine menu items including soups, salads, meat dishes, and desserts. It’s also located inside the GUM department store, making it very easily accessible when you’re shopping!

The enormous GUM Department Store is located within the historic Red Square. It has a whimsical enchantment to it that sets it apart from your typical department store.

A massive domed glass ceiling lines the top of the building and fills the interior with natural sunlight. There are live plants and flowers placed throughout the mall that give the shopping complex a lively and cheerful feel! A playful fountain sits in the center, further adding to the malls inviting a sense of wonder and amusement!

The GUM department store opened on December 2, 1893. Today, it includes local and luxury stores, including Fendi, Louis Vuitton, Prada, and many more! There are numerous cafes, restaurants, and even a movie theater inside!

For a special treat, head into Gastronom 1. This 1950s-style shop sells gourmet food items, like wine, freshly-baked pastries, cheese, Russian chocolate, and of course, vodka! Also, be on the lookout for a bicycle pedaling ice cream truck with an employing selling ice cream!

The ambiance is simply amazing, a trip to this idyllic shopping mall is an absolute must on any Moscow itinerary!

Insider Tip: Make sure to carry some small change on you in case you need to use the restroom, you’ll need to pay 50 rubles – or about USD $0.80 to use the bathroom in GUM.

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These are packing cubes for the globetrotters and compression sacks for the  real adventurers – these babies are a traveller’s best kept secret. They organise yo’ packing and minimise volume too so you can pack MORE.

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Novodevichy Convent | Gorky Park | State Tretyakov Gallery | All-Russian Exhibition Center | Bolshoi Theater

On your 2 day itinerary in Moscow, you’ll have a chance to use the city’s excellent public transportation service! You’ll explore a few more of Moscow’s historic highlight as well as some modern attractions. These sites are a little more spread out, but still very easily accessible thanks to the metro!

Day 2 / Stop 1 – Novodevichy Convent

• Why it’s awesome: The Novodevichy Convent is rich in imperial Russian history and contains some of Russia’s best examples of classical architecture!
• Cost: USD $5.00
• Food nearby: Culinary Shop Karavaevs Brothers is a cozy and simple place to have a quick bite, they also have vegetarian options!

The Novodevichy Convent is the best-known and most popular cloister of Moscow. The convent complex is contained within high walls, and there are many attractions this site is known for! 

The six-pillared five-domed Smolensk Cathedral is the main attraction. It was built to resemble the Kremlin’s Assumption Cathedral and its facade boasts beautiful snowy white walls and a pristine golden onion dome as its centerpiece. It’s the oldest structure in the convent, built from 1524 -1525, and is situated in the center of the complex between the two entrance gates.

There are other churches inside the convent as well, all dating back from many centuries past. The convent is filled with an abundance of 16th and 17th-century religious artworks, including numerous large and extravagant frescos!

Just outside the convent’s grounds lies the Novodevichy Cemetery. Here, you can visit the graves of famous Russians, including esteemed authors, composers, and politicians. Probably the most intriguing gravestone belongs to Russian politician Nikita Khruschev!

The Novodevichy Convent is located near the Moscow River and offers a peaceful retreat from the busy city. In 2004, it was proclaimed a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The convent remains remarkably well-preserved and is an outstanding example of Moscow Baroque architecture! 

Insider Tip: To enter the cathedrals inside the complex, women are advised to cover their heads and shoulders, while men should wear long pants.

Day 2 / Stop 2 – Gorky Central Park of Culture and Leisure

• Why it’s awesome: A large amusement area in the heart of the city offering many attractions!
• Cost: Free! 
• Food nearby: Check out Mepkato, located inside Gorky Central Park for a casual meal in a cozy setting. There are indoor and outdoor seating options and the restaurant is child-friendly!

Gorky Central Park of Culture and Leisure is a large green space in the heart of Moscow. The park opened in 1928, and it stretches along the scenic embankment of the Moskva River. It covers an area of 300-acres and offers a lovely contrast from the compact city center.

You’ll find all sorts of wonderful attractions, from boat rides to bike rentals to tennis courts and ping-pong tables, and much more! there are an open-air cinema and festive events and concerts scheduled in the summer months.  A wide selection of free fitness classes is also offered on a regular basis, including jogging, roller skating, and dancing!

Although many of the options you’ll find here are more suited for outdoor leisure during the summer, you’ll also a selection of winter attractions, including one of Europe’s largest ice rinks for ice-skating!

If you’re trying to decide what to do in Moscow with kids, the park also offers several venues designed specifically for kids. Check out the year-round Green School which offers hands-on classes in gardening and art! You can also feed the squirrels and birds at the Golitsinsky Ponds!

The park is very well maintained and kept clean and the entrance is free of charge, although most individual attractions cost money. There is also Wi-Fi available throughout the park.

With so many attractions, you could easily spend all day here! If you’re only planning a 2 day itinerary in Moscow, make sure to plan your time accordingly and map out all the areas you want to see beforehand!

Day 2 / Stop 3 – The State Tretyakov Gallery

• Why it’s awesome: The gallery’s collection consists entirely of Russian art made by Russian artists!
• Food nearby : Brothers Tretyakovs is located right across the street from the gallery. It’s a wonderfully atmospheric restaurant serving top quality food and drinks!

The State Tretyakov Gallery was founded in 1856 by influential merchant and collector Pavel Tretyakov.  The gallery is a national treasury of Russian fine art and one of the most important museums in Russia!

It houses the world’s best collection of Russian art and contains more than 130, 000 paintings, sculptures, and graphics! These works have been created throughout the centuries by generations of Russia’s most talented artists!

The exhibits range from mysterious 12th-century images to politically charged canvases. The collection is rich and revealing and offers great insight into the history and attitudes of this long-suffering yet inspired people!

All pictures are also labeled in English. If you plan to take your time and see everything inside the museum it will take a good 3-4 hours, so make sure to plan your Moscow trip itinerary accordingly! This gallery is a must-see stop for art lovers, or anyone wanting to explore the local culture and history of Russia in a creative and insightful manner! 

Insider Tip: When planning your 2 days in Moscow itinerary, keep in mind that most museums in Moscow are closed on Mondays, this includes The State Tretyakov Gallery!

Day 2 / Stop 4 – All-Russian Exhibition Center

• Why it’s awesome: This large exhibition center showcases the achievements of the Soviet Union in several different spheres. 
• Food nearby: Varenichnaya No. 1 serves authentic and homestyle Russian cuisine in an intimate and casual setting.

The All-Russian Exhibition Center is a massive park that presents the glory of the Soviet era! It pays homage to the achievements of Soviet Russia with its many different sites found on the property.

The center was officially opened in 1939 to exhibit the achievements of the Soviet Union. It’s a huge complex of buildings and the largest exhibition center in Moscow. There are several exhibition halls dedicated to different achievements and every year there are more than one hundred and fifty specialized exhibitions!

The Peoples Friendship Fountain was constructed in 1954 and is a highlight of the park. The stunning gold fountain features 16 gilded statues of girls, each representing the former Soviet Union republics. 

The Stone Flower Fountain was also built in 1954 and is worth checking out. The centerpiece of this large fountain is a flower carved from stones from the Ural Mountains! Along the side of the fountain are various bronze sculptures.

You will find many people zipping around on rollerblades and bicycles across the large area that the venue covers. It’s also home to amusement rides and carousels, making it the perfect place to stop with kids on your Moscow itinerary! Make sure to wear comfortable shoes and allow a few hours to explore all the areas that interest you!

Day 2 / Stop 5 – Bolshoi Theater

• Why it’s awesome: The Bolshoi Theater is a historic venue that hosts world-class ballet and opera performances!
• Cost: Prices vary largely between USD $2.00 –  USD $228.00 based on seat location.
• Food nearby: Head to the Russian restaurant, Bolshoi for high-quality food and drinks and excellent service!

The Bolshoi Theater is among the oldest and most renowned ballet and opera companies in the world! It also boasts the world’s biggest ballet company, with more than 200 dancers!

The theater has been rebuilt and renovated several times during its long history. In 2011 it finished its most recent renovation after an extensive six-year restoration that started in 2005. The renovation included an improvement in acoustics and the restoration of the original Imperial decor.

The Bolshoi Theater has put on many of the world’s most famous ballet acts! Tchaikovsky’s ballet Swan Lake premiered at the theater in 1877 and other notable performances of the Bolshoi repertoire include Tchaikovsky’s The Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker!

Today, when you visit the theater, you can expect a magical performance from skilled singers, dancers, and musicians with the highest level of technique!

If you don’t have time to see a show, the theater also provides guided tours on select days of the week. Tours are given in both Russian and English and will provide visitors with a more intimate look at the different areas of the theater!

The stage of this iconic Russian theater has seen many outstanding performances. If you’re a fan of the performing arts, the Bolshoi Theater is one of the greatest and oldest ballet and opera companies in the world, making it a must-see attraction on your Moscow itinerary!

Godzillas Hostel

Godzillas Hostel is located in the center of Moscow, just a short walk from all the major tourist attractions and the metro station.

• Towels Included

Cosmonautics Museum | Alexander Garden | Ostankino Tower | Izmaylovo District | Soviet Arcade Museum

Now that we’ve covered what to do in Moscow in 2 days, if you’re able to spend more time in the city you’re going to need more attractions to fill your time. Here are a few more really cool things to do in Moscow we recommend!

Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics

• Hear the timeline of the ‘space race’ from the Russian perspective
• This museum is fun for both adults and children!
• Admission is USD $4.00

The Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics is a museum dedicated to space exploration! The museum explores the history of flight, astronomy, space exploration, space technology, and space in the arts. It houses a large assortment of Soviet and Russian space-related exhibits, and the museum’s collection holds approximately 85,000 different items!

The museum does an excellent job of telling the full story of the exciting space race between the USSR and the US! It highlights the brightest moments in Russian history and humanity and is very interesting and fun for all ages!

If you’re a fan of space or just curious about gaining insight into Russia’s fascinating history of space exploration, make sure to add this to your 3 day itinerary in Moscow!

The Alexander Garden

• A tranquil place to relax near the Red Square
• Green lawns dotted with sculptures and lovely water features
• The park is open every day and has no entrance fee

The Alexander Garden was one of the first urban public parks in Moscow! The garden premiered in 1821 and was built to celebrate Russia’s victory over Napoleon’s forces in 1812!

The park is beautiful and well maintained with paths to walk on and benches to rest on. The park contains three separate gardens: the upper garden, middle garden, and lower garden.

Located in the upper garden, towards the main entrance to the park is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier with its eternal flame. This monument was created in 1967 and contains the body of a soldier who fell during the Great Patriotic War!

The park stretches along all the length of the western Kremlin wall for about half a mile. Due to its central location in the city, it’ll be easily accessible when you’re out exploring The Red Square.

It provides a bit of relief from the city’s high-energy city streets. Bring a picnic lunch, go for a walk, or just sit and people watch, this is one of the best Moscow sites to wind-down and relax!

Ostankino Television Tower

• Television and radio tower in Moscow
• Currently the tallest free-standing structure in Europe
• Make sure you bring your passport when you visit, you can’t go up without it!

For spectacular views of the city, make sure to add the Ostankino Television Tower to your itinerary for Moscow! This impressive free-standing structure provides stunning views of the city in every direction. The glass floor at the top also provides great alternative views of the city!

It takes just 58 seconds for visitors to reach the Tower’s observation deck by super fast elevator. The tower is open every day for long hours and is a great site in Moscow to check out! There is even a restaurant at the top where you can enjoy rotating views of the city while you dine on traditional Russian cuisine or European cuisine!

The tower is somewhat of an architectural surprise in a city that is not known for skyscrapers! To see the city from a new perspective, make sure to add this stop to your Moscow itinerary!

Izmaylovo District

• The most popular attractions in this district are the kremlin and the flea market
• Outside of the city center and easy to reach via metro
• Most popular during the summer and on weekends

Travel outside the city center and discover a unique area of the city! The Izmaylovo District is a popular destination for locals and tourists alike, and one of the coolest places to see in Moscow! The two main attractions we recommend checking out are the Kremlin and the flea market.

The Izmailovo Kremlin was established as a cultural center and molded after traditional Russian architecture. This colorful complex is home to several single-subject museums, including a Russian folk art museum and a vodka museum!

Next to the Kremlin is the Izmailovo open-air market, which dates back to the 17th century! The market is connected to the Izmailovo Kremlin by a wooden bridge. Pick up all your Russian souvenirs here, including traditional handicrafts, paintings, books, retro toys, and Soviet memorabilia!

You will find many hand-made and hand-painted options available at higher prices, as well as mass-produced souvenir options at lower prices!

Museum of Soviet Arcade Games

• Closed on Mondays
• Filled with old arcade games that visitors get to try out!
• The museum also includes a small cafe and burger shop

For something a little different, check out the Museum of Soviet Arcade Games! The museum features roughly 60 machines from the Soviet era, including video games, pinball machines, and collaborative hockey foosball! The machines inside the museum were produced in the USSR in the mid-1970s.

The best part is, most of the games are still playable! Purchase tickets and try the games out for yourself! The museum also has a neat little screening room that plays old Soviet cartoons and an area with Soviet magazines! This unique attraction is a fun addition to a 3 day itinerary in Moscow, and an attraction that all ages will enjoy! 

Whether you’re spending one day in Moscow, or more, safety is an important thing to keep in mind when traveling to a big city! Overall, Moscow is a very safe place to visit. However, it is always recommended that tourists take certain precautions when traveling to a new destination!

The police in Moscow is extremely effective at making the city a safe place to visit and do their best to patrol all of the top Moscow, Russia tourist attractions. However, tourists can still be a target for pickpockets and scammers.

Moscow has a huge flow of tourists, therefore there is a risk for pickpocketing. Simple precautions will help eliminate your chances of being robbed. Stay vigilant, keep your items close to you at all times, and don’t flash your valuables!

If you’re planning a solo Moscow itinerary, you should have no need to worry, as the city is also considered safe for solo travelers, even women. Stay in the populated areas, try and not travel alone late at night, and never accept rides from strangers or taxis without a meter and correct signage.

The threat of natural disasters in Moscow is low, with the exception of severe winters when the temperature can dip below freezing! Bring a good, warm jacket if you visit in Winter.

However, please note that Russian views on homsexuality are far less accepting than those in Western Europe. Likewise, Non-Caucasian travellers may sadly encounter racism in Russia .

Don’t Forget Your Travel Insurance for Moscow

ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing .

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Now that we’ve covered all the top things to see in Moscow, we thought we’d include some exciting day trips to other areas of the country!

Sergiev Posad (Golden Ring)

On this 7-hour guided tour, you’ll visit several scenic and historic areas of Russia. Start your day with hotel pick-up as you’re transferred by a comfortable car or minivan to Sergiev Posad. Admire the charming Russian countryside on your drive and enjoy a quick stop to visit the Russian village, Rudonezh!

You’ll see the majestic Saint Spring and the Church of Sergiev Radonezh. You’ll also visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, one of the most famous Orthodox sites in Russia!

Lastly, you’ll swing by the local Matreshka market and enjoy a break in a nice Russian restaurant before returning to Moscow!

Day Trip to Vladimir and Suzdal

On this 13-hour trip, you’ll discover old Russia, with its picturesque landscapes and white-stoned beautiful churches! You’ll visit the main towns of the famous Golden Ring of Russia – the name for several cities and smaller towns north-east of Moscow.

Your first stop will be in the town of Vladimir, the ancient capital of all Russian principalities. The city dates back to the 11th century and is one of the oldest and the most important towns along the Ring! Next, you’ll visit Suzdal, a calm ancient Russian town north of Vladimir with only 13,000 inhabitants!

The old-style architecture and buildings of Suzdal are kept wonderfully intact. If you’re spending three days in Moscow, or more, this is a great option for exploring the charming areas outside the city!

Zvenigorod Day Trip and Russian Countryside

On this 9-hour private tour, you’ll explore the ancient town of Zvenigorod, one of the oldest towns in the Moscow region! As you leave Moscow you’ll enjoy the stunning scenery along the Moscow River, and make a few stops at old churches along the way to Zvenigorod.

Upon arrival, you’ll explore the medieval center, including the 14th-century Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery. Next, you’ll take a break for lunch (own expense) where you’ll have the chance to try out the Russian cuisine! Next, you’ll visit the Museum of Russian Dessert and sip on tea at a Russian tea ceremony.

The final stop of the day is at the Ershovo Estate, a gorgeous place to walk around and enjoy nature!

Day Trip to St Petersburg by Train visiting Hermitage & Faberge

On this full-day tour, you’ll enjoy a a full round trip to St Petersburg where you’ll spend an exciting day exploring another popular Russian city! You’ll be picked up from your hotel in Moscow and be transferred to the train station where you’ll ride the high-speed train ‘Sapsan’ to St Petersburg.

Upon arrival, you’ll start the day by touring the Hermitage Museum and the Winter Palace. Next, you’ll visit the Faberge Museum, where you’ll explore the impressive collection of rare Faberge Eggs! In the afternoon, enjoy a sightseeing boat ride and a traditional 3-course Russian lunch.

If you’re spending 3 days in Moscow, or more, this is an excellent trip to take!

Trip to Kolomna – Authentic Cultural Experience from Moscow

On this 10-hour tour, you’ll escape the city and travel to the historic town of Kolomna! First, you’ll visit the 14th-century Kolomna Kremlin, home to the Assumption Cathedral and an abundance of museums!

Next, enjoy lunch at a local cafe (own expense) before embarking on a tour of the Marshmallow Museum – of course, a marshmallow tasting is provided!  Your final stop is the Museum of Forging Settlements, where displays include armor and accessories for fishing and hunting.

Discover this beautiful Russian fairytale city on a private trip, where all of the planning is taken care of for you!

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Find out what people want to know when planning their Moscow itinerary.

How many days you need in Moscow?

We recommend that you spend at least two or three days in Moscow to take it all in.

What’s the best month to visit Moscow?

The best time to visit Moscow is over the spring, from March to May as temperatures are mild, crowds are thin and prices are reasonable.

What are some unusual things to do in Moscow?

I mean, queuing up to see an almost 100 year old corpse is pretty unsual! Check out Lenin’s Mausoleum if you fancy it!

What are some fun things to do in Moscow?

The Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics is a fun place to explore the famous space race from the perspective of the ‘other side’!

We hope you enjoyed our Moscow itinerary! We’ve made sure to cover all the Moscow must-sees as well as some unique attractions in the city! Our addition of insider tips, favorite food stops, and day trips from Moscow is an added bonus and will guarantee you make the most out of your exciting Russian vacation!

Immerse yourself in the modern and traditional Russian lifestyle! Get lost in museums, witness awe-inspiring architecture, and indulge in Russian cuisine! Spend the day strolling through all of the charming sites of Moscow, admiring the beautiful scenery and discovering the city’s fairytale-like enchantment!

And for transparency’s sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links . That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we don’t believe are up to scratch. Again, thank you!

Alya and Campbell

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