hollow bastion second visit

Hollow Bastion second visit walkthrough ( Kingdom Hearts II )

• Edit source

Walkthrough [ ]

After landing you will be in the local Marketplace. All the shops here will sell the same items you have seen so far being sold by Moogle Shops on each world, although they are guaranteed to be outclassed by anything you can produce through Synthesis .

You will run into Cloud while going to Merlin 's house, as well as new Bookmaster Heartless in the Borough. These are immune to the basic magic spells, while attacking you in return with their own, although they can also use melee. They are fairly weak otherwise and should fall easily at this point. Note that, like the Shaman , they have a 1% chance to drop the Akashic Record weapon; a shield for Goofy . Talk to Cid and Yuffie inside Merlin's house, then go to the Bailey for another scene where you meet the Gullwings .

Afterwards, you will run into Armored Knights , which are among the weakest melee Heartless around. They always appear in groups, but are easier to dispatch than even the common Soldiers . At the bottom of the Bailey, and while en route to the Postern, are Morning Stars , which are large Heartless with several strong melee attacks. It is relatively easier to get them airborne and thus harmless, however. Enter the Postern to meet up with Aerith , then continue through the maze-like Corridors, where you will encounter Surveillance Robots , which are weak flying Heartless with laser attacks.

As before, none of the enemies encountered here should pose any trouble, so cut through them until you reach Ansem's Study, and another scene with Tifa this time. Talk to Leon after, and open the chest with the Skill Recipe , then go through the secret passage to access Ansem 's computer, which transport you to Space Paranoids ( walkthrough ).

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Hollow Bastion II

Back at the bottom.

Hollow Bastion is a lot safer this time around without the likes of Maleficent and Riku waiting in the castle. Plus, you’ve already completed all of the puzzles, which makes returning to the Castle Chapel even easier. There will still be Heartless around, but you can handle them. The only thing in your way is a very long trip back to the top.

While still in the Rising Falls, you can activate the White Trinity in the fountain where you lost your Keyblade to Riku to reveal a Treasure Chest . Proceed all the way back up to the Castle Chapel using the same route you used the last time you were here. Nothing relevant to the story happens until you get there.

Princesses of Heart

The Princesses that Maleficent had captured are now gathered in the Castle Chapel. Speak to them for a brief cutscene, then head into the Grand Hall via the Lift Stop. Now that you can actually explore the Grand Hall, you should collect some of the Treasure Chests scattered throughout the room. Hop up onto the higher outer ledge and walk up to the back balcony of the room. At the very top, you’ll find a Treasure Chest with the powerful Oblivion Keyblade inside it. It’s more powerful than the Olympia, but it does take away one unit of MP. When you’ve grabbed everything, head to the giant Keyhole to access the Dark Depths.

Boss: Behemoth

HP: 1350 / EXP: 16,000

The Behemoth may have more HP than even the Dragon, but compared to some of the battles you’ve taken on recently, this one should be a cakewalk.

The Behemoth’s weak spot is the horn on its head, which you can reach by jumping up on its back knees and then jumping up again to its back. From there, equip an Aerora spell to make use of the continuous damage. Attack the horn with a relentless stream of combos. Every now and then , the Behemoth might lower its head, knocking you off. If this happens, jump right back up and continue the assault.

The Behemoth hardly ever attacks, but when it does it can hurt a lot if your Aerora shield has worn off. Be sure to constantly recast it to keep yourself protected. When the Behemoth takes enough damage, it will collapse to the ground and remain motionless for a while, allowing you to hit with aerial combos from the ground, including your new Ragnarok ability, which can land a lot of powerful its in a short amount of time.

Victory Reward: Omega Arts Accessory

With the Behemoth defeated, Sora seals the Keyhole to Hollow Bastion. The Princesses reward you with the Firaga Magic Spell. Return to the Library to find Aerith standing by a bookcase near the stairs. Talk to her several times in a row to receive Ansem’s Report 2 , Ansem’s Report 4 , Ansem’s Report 6 , Ansem’s Report 10 , and the Curaga Magic Spell! Head up the stairs to view a cutscene in which Belle and the Beast are reunited. Talk to Belle afterwards and she’ll hand over the Divine Rose Keyblade for Sora.

Side Quest: Coliseum Tournaments

After clearing Hollow Bastion for the second time, the final three tournaments at Olympus Coliseum can be unlocked. If you’ve already cleared the Phil Cup, Pegasus Cup, and Hercules Cup (which you should have if you’ve been following this walkthrough), the Hades Cup is now available. Sealing Hollow Bastion’s Keyhole also unlocks the mysterious Platinum Match . Clearing the Hades Cup will also unlock the Gold Match . These three tournaments are a serious undertaking, but they net you a lot of really good weapons, accessories, and abilities that you might want to collect before heading off to the final world. For more details, refer to our Side Quests pages .

Side Quests: Secret Bosses

It’s also worth noting that the sealing of Hollow Bastion’s Keyhole unlocks two of the three Secret Boss battles featured in KINGDOM HEARTS Final Mix.  The first can be accessed by speaking to the Magic Carpet in Aladdin’s House in Agrabah.  The second can be reached by talking to Tinker Bell (while Peter Pan is in your Party) in the Cabin in Neverland.  For more details on these Secret Bosses, refer to our Side Quests pages .

Exit to the World Map through the Save Point in the Library. A new location appears next to Hollow Bastion, so it’s time to head off to the last world.

< Return to Traverse Town III Continue to End of the World >

Kingdom Hearts II/Hollow Bastion

• Kingdom Hearts II

Table of Contents

• Walkthrough
• Party Members
• Secret Ansem Reports
• Missions and Mini-Games
• Olympus Coliseum Tournaments
• Twilight Town (Roxas)
• Twilight Town (Sora)
• Hollow Bastion
• The Land of Dragons
• Beast's Castle
• Olympus Coliseum
• 100 Acre Wood
• Disney Castle
• Timeless River
• Halloween Town
• Pride Lands
• Space Paranoids
• The World That Never Was
• Optional Bosses
• Cavern of Remembrance
• Mushroom XIII
• Trophies ( 2.5 and 1.5 + 2.5 )

• 1.1 Defending the Gate
• 2.1.1 Boss: Demyx
• 2.2 1000 Heartless
• 3.1 Boss: Sephiroth

First visit [ edit | edit source ]

Once you land in Hollow Bastion, you'll discover that all of the shops are in the first area (the Marketplace), and that they sell exactly the same items as Twilight Town, with the addition of Ethers in the Item Shop. As you move onward, you'll see a Moogle hanging out in front of the Synthesis Shop. If you wish, you can hand over your two types of materials, and receive an Elixir in return.

When you enter the Borough area, you'll be greeted by Yuffie, but are then attacked by Dusks. Use this opportunity to test out Valor Form (this requires Goofy to be in the party and alive). Even without this, you'll be helped by the town's defensive system, which launches enemies into the air via beams of energy from the ground. After the battle, you'll receive the Marketplace Map for your troubles. Head to Merlin's House where you'll be greeted by the "Hollow Bastion Restoration Committee", consisting of Leon, Aerith, Cid, Yuffie and Merlin. After the cutscene, you will receive a Membership Card and the ability to use magic in the form of Blizzard .

Afterwards, feel free to pick up the treasure scattered around the "Borough". Grab the Hi-Potion to the left as you exit Merlin's House. For a Tent , follow the path to the right as you leave Merlin's House, and it's between two houses (found to the right of the two). A Drive Recovery can be found on the walkway leading to the Bailey, on the left-hand side. Find an AP Boost straight ahead of you as you walk up the ramp to get to the top of the Borough, and lastly, pick up the Mythril Shard to the right immediately before you enter the Bailey. Head to the Bailey, and, after the cutscene, you will be presented with your next task: defend the gate from the hoards of Nobodies.

Defending the Gate [ edit | edit source ]

The gate has a health bar, and if it happens to runs out, the task must be restarted. The enemy ranks consist of the familiar Dusks and Creepers, as well as newcomer Samurai. These Nobodies are unique in that they only seem to attack Sora when he attacks them first; while this gives them the appearance of slowness, they tend to hit hard and cause a great deal of damage, particularly when their reaction command is not formed successfully. The aforementioned reaction command, called Duel Stance , has Sora's command list empty if activated. This is with the exception of a sole command that may appear at any place in the list, called "The End". When this appears, you must select it quickly. If you don't select the command with enough speed, Sora will get hit instead. Make sure to make use of the Blizzard magic that you just received, as it may prove useful against the Samurai as well as other faraway foes. Additionally, the Nobodies drop many MP orbs, constantly giving Sora new opportunities to test his magic.

Donald and Goofy are not present for this task, so the use of Valor Form is impossible, but to make up for this, a powerful guest character aids Sora in the form of Leon. Leon's attacks include a fireball and slashes of his gunblade. After a while, his gunblade will glow white and grow considerably, giving it a much larger range and doing more damage.

Once the battle has finished, you will receive Fire magic. A cutscene shows the remaining members of Organization XIII arriving in Hollow Bastion to taunt Sora. Despite the sudden appearance and subsequent disappearance of the mysterious enemies, the Keyhole for the world will be sealed, and you'll receive Secret Ansem Report 7 .

After you leave the world automatically, you have two choices - either the Land of Dragons or Beast's Castle . This walkthrough will assume that you head to the former first (which also has the lower battle level).

Second visit [ edit | edit source ]

Head to Merlin's House, then to the Bailey. Continue down and to the right to enter a new area, the Restoration Site, and at the end of the path, the Postern. Jump onto a pipe by the entrance for a Mythril Gem . On the other side of the round structure next to this chest is another one containing the Castle Perimeter Map . Head down the path for an AP Boost and the entrance to the Corridors. This area is a bit of a maze, holding four chests in total. Turn left at the fork for a Dark Crystal . Take a right at the next fork, then another right and finally, a left for an AP Boost . Backtrack and take the next right for a Mythril Crystal . Backtrack and take the next right again, then another for the final treasure, a Mythril Stone . Follow the path back to a large room and walk the path to the left to reach Ansem's Study. Open the chest for a Skill Recipe , then speak to Leon. Head through the door opened by Leon to enter a new world: Space Paranoids .

After returning from Space Paranoids for the first time, examine the wall in Ansem's Study. King Mickey will then arrive to provide valuable information and send the party back to Tron. After the scene, Sora will obtain a new, more powerful Drive Form: Master Form . Open the chest on the way back to the computer for the Ukulele Charm , giving Sora the ability to summon Stitch. Once you're ready, access the computer to return to Space Paranoids .

Invasion of the Nobodies [ edit | edit source ]

After returning from Space Paranoids for the second time, access the computer for a lengthy scene in which Mickey explains the truth about Ansem. Exit to the Corridors for a battle against both Nobodies and Heartless. After defeating them, the group will come across the Gullwings and Sephiroth. This is the point in Final Mix where the Cavern of Remembrance , an all-new dungeon, becomes available. However, entering now is not recommended, as the enemies inside are incredibly strong and the abilities Sora receives from maxed Drive Forms are required to reach the end of it. Exit to the Restoration Site to enter a battle against Dancer Nobodies, which are capable of grabbing Sora before he can attack and throwing him far, greatly decreasing his HP. Use Limit Form's Sonic Rave or Strike Raid before they can do so. Aerial combos and Donald's Comet limit also prove useful in this situation. After the battle, you'll find yourself in the Bailey. Exit to the Castle Gate for a boss fight against one of Organization XIII's members.

Boss: Demyx [ edit | edit source ]

This battle, like many of the battles against Organization XIII, is one of the more difficult boss battles of the game. Begin by completing the same mini-game that you cleared during your last encounter with Demyx in the Underworld of Olympus Coliseum, this time for a chance to fight the powerful Nobody. If you have trouble clearing this in time, go into Wisdom Form and perform Fire combos. Wisdom Form also proves useful for the actual fight, as being a water-based fighter, Demyx's ultimate weakness is Fire. If you have any drive remaining when Demyx is stunned, use Wisdom's Fire to chase after the unsuspecting Nobody. Once your combos are concluded, Demyx will begin his attack.

The first and most powerful of his attacks will have him dash across the field, leaving a trail of water columns in his wake that launch Sora into the air if caught. Don't bother pursuing him after this attack, as he will surround himself with more water when he lands. Another attack has him playing his sitar as bubbles fall from the sky; this can easily be avoided, so this is the recommended time to combo him. Music notes will also sometimes appear; if you're having trouble, use Wild Dance to stun him. After enough damage is done, the mini-game will restart, requiring Sora to defeat another group of water forms to continue to attack. In normal battle, he will also begin attempting to trap Sora with columns of water, leaving horizontal trails in his wake. Dodge these before continuing to attack. Defeat Demyx for an extra armor slot and an upgrade in Blizzard magic for Sora, Blizzard Boost for Donald, and an increase in maximum HP for Goofy.

1000 Heartless [ edit | edit source ]

This next battle will require Sora to defeat no less than 1000 Heartless on his own. A counter in the corner of the screen shows your progress, and while this may seem like a daunting task initially, it is mostly just tiring. This is also a prime location to level Limit Form, as Sora's drive gauge increases rather quickly from the many Heartless that he hits with one attack (particularly with abilities such as Vicinity Break). Keep in mind that the reaction commands provided by the Heartless do not affect Sora's drive gauge, so use them only if you find yourself desperate for an opening. Eventually, the field thins out and the crowd becomes much more manageable, until you finally reach a kill count of 1000. Sora will earn Guard Break for surviving the battle and, after some scenes, you will also receive Secret Ansem Report 1 . After some more scenes, Sora will lock the world for good and you can continue to a revisit of the Land of Dragons .

Third visit (optional) [ edit | edit source ]

Revisiting Hollow Bastion is a necessity for completing Jiminy's Journal; there are a couple of hidden chests that can be found, one by speaking to the Gullwings at the Postern (for the Gull Wing Keyblade), and another past the Research Lab in Ansem's Study, through a door to the Heartless Manufactory opened only after completing Space Paranoids , containing a Cosmic Chain . In the Cavern of Remembrance (Final Mix only) are more chests, puzzle pieces , and the battles against Data Organization XIII , and in the Dark Depths past the Great Maw (where the battle of 1000 Heartless was fought) is a boss fight against Sephiroth. Defeating him will earn you the Fenrir Keyblade.

Boss: Sephiroth [ edit | edit source ]

Sora should have his Defense as high as possible, through the use of equipment such as Ribbon and Cosmic Arts, or by applying Defense Boosts. Ultima Weapon and Circle of Life are useful Keyblades for their MP regeneration abilities, while Decisive Pumpkin is useful for its Combo Boost. For maximum mobility, equip Sora with High Jump, Aerial Dodge, Glide, and Slide Dash; for defense equip Guard, Counterguard, Aerial Recovery, Leaf Bracer, Second Chance, and Once More, and for offense equip MP Haste, MP Rage, and Trinity Limit. Defender, Combo Boost, Air Combo Boost, Finishing Plus, Retaliating Slash, and several Elixirs are also useful, but not as essential. Reflect and Cure should be set to shortcuts, preferably at their Reflega and Curaga levels, as well as any stocked Elixirs and, in Final Mix, Limit Form's Auto Limit.

Sephiroth always opens with Flash, so be prepared to use the "Block" Reaction Command, then use the opportunity to attack with Trinity Limit and Keyblade combos. If Sephiroth warps to use Cut Combo, be prepared to guard or use Reflect, then attack again. Sephiroth will not use the more difficult-to-block Aerial Cut Combo if Sora does not hit him with a combo finisher, so it is useful to forgo using finishers during the first phase unless proficient in using Reflect. Curaga is the best way to heal during the first phase, and can be followed with Berserk Charge to deal lots of damage without Sephiroth breaking free. However, if Sora uses Berserk Charge in the air, Sephiroth will teleport away and perform Flash after several strings of combos, and if Sora uses it on the ground, Sephiroth will still teleport away, and may counterattack if Sora fails to connect with any of his hits. If Sephiroth does Aerial Cut Combo, be sure to use Retaliating Slash to catch Sephiroth and deal an aerial combo.

After losing four and a half bars of his health bar, the battle will shift to its second phase as Sephiroth calls out, "Know your place."

In the second phase, Sephiroth will begin using Firaga Wall and Shadow Flare, often in conjunction with Flash, and his Cut Combo will have greater reach and speed. Reflect will deflect each of these attacks while damaging Sephiroth, and there is a small window of opportunity to attack Sephiroth directly as he finishes Firaga Wall.

Sephiroth will also start using his signature technique, Heartless Angel. As soon as he begins to say, "Descend... Heartless Angel!", ignore any other obstacles like Shadow Flare and use High Jump and Aerial Dodge or Trinity Limit to immediately close in on Sephiroth and hit him. If Sora fails to interrupt the technique, or is too far away to even try, immediately consume an Elixir to recover health, and prepare to deflect Sephiroth's followup attack.

After losing nine and a half bars of health, the battle will shift to its final phase as Sephiroth gains an aura of darkness and calls out, "All shall be one with me."

In the final phase, Sephiroth is much faster, and will fly around low to the ground instead of walking. The best time to heal is after Sephiroth performs one of his basic techniques. Sephiroth will also start using Moving Cut and Meteor, which can be dodged or countered.

If using Limit Form, be sure to use Limits frequently (especially Sonic Rave) to attack and heal, but unless proficient in using Guard, avoid using their final blows to prevent Sephiroth from retaliating. Due to Sephiroth's speed, Strike Raid's invincibility frames may not always occur when needed, so be careful to time the attacks well.

Navigation menu

When you arrive in Hollow Bastion, travel down the steps and across the market area. Climb the steps on the opposite side; talking to the nearby Moogle will allow you to access the Synthesis Shop . Approach Scrooge to hear about his ice cream flavor venture.

You can visit Wedge's Armor Shop and Donald's nephews' Accessory Shop , Weapon Shop , or Item Shop in the Marketplace to stock up on any desired items.

Meet the Restoration Committee

After speaking with Scrooge, travel past Dewey's Item Shop and down the steps to reach the Borough. You'll need to work alongside your party members to defeat the Nobodies that appear. Use the Reversal reaction command to temporarily daze enemies; you can strike twice and repeat the reaction command until the lesser enemies are defeated.

NEW NOBODIES: Samurai

When all of the creatures are defeated, Yuffie will give Sora the Marketplace Map . Travel forward around the building and into Merlin's House along the east wall. After reuniting with old friends, Aerith provides Sora, Donald, and Goofy each with a Membership Card , and Merlin bestows the Blizzard magic spell to Sora.

Follow Leon to the Bailey

Save your game at the nearby save station and exit Merlin's House. Travel down the steps in the northwest leading away from Merlin's House and climb the long stairway to reach the upper level of the Marketplace. The passageway leading to the Bailey is on this upper level, in the northwest corner of the map.

Another World in Need

Before landing in a world, take note of its BATTLE LV in the top-right corner of the world menu. It's recommended to visit worlds in ascending order of battle level. Clearing the Asteroid Sweep gummi route will allow you to Land in the Land of Dragons.

While your Munny is limited at this point in the journey, you can return to Hollow Bastion and visit Wedge's Armor Shop and Donald's nephews' Accessory Shop , Weapon Shop , or Item Shop to stock up on any desired items. You can also acquire the remaining Puzzle Pieces .

Sora and co. will arrive in Merlin's House. Save your progress at the save station, then approach Donald and Examine The Book . Touch the paper pop-up of Pooh's House on the bottom of the left page. After the cutscene, approach Pooh and Greet him. After the cutscene, Sora will automatically move outside of Merlin's House to fight the Heartless.

Recover the Book

Use Fire magic to damage the Shadows and Soldiers when they're grouped together, and use the Cyclone reaction command for any incoming attacks from the Soldiers. After clearing out the Heartless, Sora will re-enter the Hundred Acre Wood. Return to Pooh's House through the same paper pop-up and Greet Pooh again.

Recover the Pages

When Sora leaves the Hundred Acre Wood, Merlin will explain that the Heartless have taken the Torn Pages from the book, and Sora must find them throughout various worlds. Merlin will also give Sora the Baseball Charm item, allowing the use of Summons. The party will be brought back to the World Map automatically.

Check out our Torn Pages Guide to learn where to find each Torn Page!

Before landing in a world, take note of its BATTLE LV in the top-right corner of the world menu. It's recommended to visit worlds in ascending order of battle level. Clearing the Phantom Storm gummi route will allow you to Land in Olympus Coliseum.

• Hollow Bastion
• Hollow Bastion Part II
• Walkthrough

Hollow Bastion is an original world in Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories , with loose references to Beauty and the Beast and Sleeping Beauty . In Kingdom Hearts coded , the world is divided into two episodes: Hollow Bastion Part I and Hollow Bastion Part II . In Kingdom Hearts II , the world was expanded into the town and other areas and eventually renamed Radiant Garden , which was the world's original name. It also briefly appears as a flashback in Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days , experienced by Xion .

Ansem the Wise was the former ruler of this world, before it was taken over by Maleficent .

• 1.1 Kingdom Hearts
• 1.2 Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories
• 1.3 Kingdom Hearts II
• 1.4.1 Hollow Bastion Part I
• 1.4.2 Hollow Bastion Part II
• 2.1 Before Kingdom Hearts
• 2.2 Kingdom Hearts
• 2.3 Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories
• 2.4 Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days
• 2.5 Kingdom Hearts II
• 2.6 Kingdom Hearts coded
• 3.1 Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
• 4 Characters
• 5.1 Heartless
• 5.2 Nobodies

Settings and Areas [ edit ]

Kingdom hearts [ edit ].

Sora , Donald, and Goofy enter Hollow Bastion at the Rising Falls ( 逆巻く滝の底 , Sakamaku Taki no Soko ? , lit. "Bottom of the Reverse-Winding Waterfall") , appropriately named as there are waterfalls that run up instead of down. This area, as well as all other areas on the bottom reaches of the castle, contains magical bubbles that can transport the team under the solid water, or can be frozen to be used as platforms. Jumping on icy floating rocks and ledges takes the party to some broken stairs with a lift at the end. The lift takes Sora to the Castle Gates ( 正門 , Seimon ? , lit. "Main Gates") , the main entrance of Hollow Bastion which is made up of a set of balconies and lifts running both outside and inside the castle. From here, the party can travel down into the underground water system or enter the castle itself.

Going down the nearby platform or leaping off the edge of the balcony takes the party to Base Level ( 基部 , Kibu ? ) , an area full of ledges, switches, and enemies. Successfully climbing to the balcony near the entrance earns extra treasures, while taking a nearby bubble carries them to the Waterway ( 虚ろなる城：地下水路 , Utsuronaru Shiro: Chika Suiro ? , lit. "Hollow Castle: Underground Waterway") , where a series of gates, switches, and bubbles must be navigated to operate the castle gate controls. Off of the Waterway is a small room called the Dungeon ( 地下牢 , Chika Rō ? , lit. "Underground Dungeon") .

Going through the doors at the other end of the Castle Gates area takes the party to the massive two-level Entrance Hall ( 虚ろなる城：エントランス , Utsoronaru Shiro: Entoransu ? , lit. "Hollow Castle: Entrance") , where a fight against Riku takes place. To continue onwards through the castle a puzzle at the end of the hall must be solved. When solved it'll allow access to the second half of the Castle Gates. Taking the left door in the Entrance Hall leads the party to the Library ( 虚ろなる城：書庫 , Utsuronaru Shiro: Shoko ? , lit. "Hollow Castle: Archive") , which is also the site of a large puzzle involving organizing the Hollow Bastion Library books . The room also contains one of the world's save points . After the world's Keyhole has been locked, Belle , Yuffie , Leon and Aerith can be found here.

Also accessible from the Library is the first of many entrances to the Lift Stop ( トロッコ乗場 , Torokko Noriba ? , lit. "Minecart Boarding Place") , a junction point for many of the castle's lifts, which snake throughout the castle through magical tram lines. Each route is separated from the others by mystical barriers, and many passages and hallways also converge at this hub. The ceiling of the Lift Stop is decorated with stained glass.

By taking the lift on the other side of the Castle Gates, the party can continuing up the castle to reach the Great Crest ( 虚ろなる城：大紋壁 , Utsuronaru Shiro: Daimon Kabe ? , lit. "Hollow Castle: Great Crest Wall") , which consists of three large balconies on opposite side of the castle's enormous Heartless emblem. From the first balcony, Sora can travel by use of the castle's largest lift, and after a slow journey across the front of the bastion, the party is dropped off at the second balcony. From there they can take the Lift Stop up to the third balcony, which further leads to the next area, the High Tower ( 高楼 , Kōrō ? , lit. "Skyscraper") . Located here is a smaller Heartless crest that can be moved to create a route up to the upper levels of the castle. The High Tower is divided into two areas which is connected by a passage through the Lift Stop. At the second level of the High Tower is an entrance which eventually leads to the Castle Chapel ( 虚ろなる城：礼拝堂 , Utsuronaru Shiro: Raihaidō ? , lit. "Hollow Castle: Chapel") , where Maleficent is fought. After her defeat, a portal to a secret area of the chapel can be temporarily found here, leading a fight against Maleficent in her dragon form. The portal later appears again for a fight against Xemnas .

After defeating Maleficent twice, one of the walls to the right of the Castle Chapel will reveal a hidden entrance. Through there the Lift Stop can be quickly accessed which ultimately leads to the Grand Hall ( 虚ろなる城：大広間 , Utsuronaru Shiro: Ōhiroma ? , lit. "Hollow Castle: Grand Hall") , where the Princesses of Heart are held captive and the Final Keyhole forms. Inside the Grand Hall is a Heartless Emblem-shaped portal leading to a small dimension known as the Dark Depths ( 闇の淵 , Yami no Fuchi ? ) . Here, Sora and company fight off the Behemoth guarding the Keyhole from being sealed.

The Laboratory is a room within Hollow Bastion, that can only be accessed once at End of the World . The lab consists of a short hallway blocked by a large Heartless emblem at one end, with a small room to the left. The side-room contains a large machine with a computer console and five capsules on it, hooked up to a tank of unknown liquid. Red, orange, and black warps in space dot the hall and lab.

Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories [ edit ]

In Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories , Hollow Bastion appears within Castle Oblivion as a memory. The world can be explored through boxed-in areas that draw heavy inspiration from the various balconies across the castle, as well as the Lift Stop areas. In cutscenes, areas such the Castle Gates , the Library , the Entrance Hall , and the Castle Chapel are visited. In Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories , the secret part of the Castle Chapel also serves as arena for the fight against Dragon Maleficent , while in Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories , the Castle Chapel serves as such.

When Riku visits the memories of Hollow Bastion, a new area called Riku's Room is shown in cutscene. It's quite similar to the Library in design, but is a lot smaller with also a bed in it.

Kingdom Hearts II [ edit ]

Kingdom hearts coded [ edit ].

In Kingdom Hearts coded , Hollow Bastion appears within the Datascape and is divided into two worlds. Hollow Bastion Part I and Hollow Bastion Part II, with the former being very similar to Hollow Bastion from Kingdom Hearts .

Hollow Bastion Part I [ edit ]

The Rising Falls are briefly seen in cutscenes, but Data-Sora's real journey at Hollow Bastion starts at the Castle Gates ( 正門 ? ) , where the second part of the area can now be accessed via platforms made of Bug Blox . He then heads down the underground Waterway ( 地下水路 ? ) to unlock the castle gate. After opening the gate, he soon joins with Goofy at the Entrance Hall (LL) ( エントランス(下部) , Entoransu (Kabu) ? , lit. "Entrance (Lower Level)") . After examining the Heartless slot on the exit door, Data-Sora visit the library, which is broken down into Library 1 ( 書庫1 , Shoko Ichi ? , lit. "Archive 1") , Library 2 ( 書庫2 , Shoko Ni ? , lit. "Archive 2") , Library 3 ( 書庫3 , Shoko San ? , lit. "Archive 3") and Library 4 ( 書庫4 , Shoko Yon ? , lit. "Archive 4") , to search for the missing emblem pieces. Passing through the libraries leads to Entrance Hall (UL) ( エントランス(上部) ? ) , which is the upper portion of the hall.

After joining up with Donald and finding all the emblem pieces, Data-Sora and party can leave the Entrance Hall to access the Great Crest ( 大紋壁 ? ) , a huge lift which further transports them to the High Tower ( 高楼 ? ) . The area is overflown by bugs, and to continue Data-Sora needs to activate all of the area's triggers. Doing so unlocks an entrance beneath the moveable platforms, where they can finally chase after Pete who waits in the Grand Hall ( 大広間 ? ) . Data-Sora then encounters Pete and Data-Riku at the glitched and corrupted Keyhole / Chapel ( 鍵穴:礼拝堂 , Kagiana: Raihaidō ? , lit. "Keyhole: Chapel") .

Hollow Bastion Part II [ edit ]

Hollow Bastion Part II is set within Data-Riku, who is lying comatose in the Grand Hall. Entering Data-Riku will take Data-Sora to Inside Riku's Data ( リク データ内部 , Riku Dēta Naibu ? ) , where five doors are located. These five entry points lead to desaturated versions of past worlds from the game that are overrun by Bug Blox.

The first door takes Data-Sora to the Destiny Islands ( デスティニーアイランド , Desutinī Airando ? ) . The second takes him to Traverse Town , divided into the First District ( 1番街 , Ichiban Machi ? ) and Second District ( 2番街 , Niban Machi ? ) . The third takes him to Wonderland at the Clearing ( 中央広場 , Chūō Hiroba ? , lit. "Central Square") , leading to the Lotus Forest ( ハスの森 , Hasu no Mori ? ) . The fourth takes him to Agrabah at the Cave / Hall of Beginnings ( 魔法の洞窟 始まりの間 , Mahō no Dōkutsu Hajimari no Ma ? ) , where he must travel backwards out of the cave to the Cave / Entrance ( タイガーヘッド , Taigā Heddo ? , lit. "Tiger Head") . The final door takes him to Hollow Bastion's Chapel ( 礼拝堂 , Raihaidō ? ) where he encounters the bugged Data-Riku.

After clearing all five doors, an exit appears leading to a side-scrolling segment through Inside Riku's Data, and ends with an encounter against Dragon Maleficent at the Chapel (Dragon's Lair) ( 礼拝堂(竜の間) , Raihaidō (Ryū no Ma) ? ) . Data-Sora also revisits the Grand Hall before a 3D shooting segment takes place in the Data Tunnel ( データホール ? ) . Data-Sora then fights and defeats Sora's Heartless at the Central Corruption ( 変異データ中枢 , Hen'i Dēta Chūsū ? , lit. "Central Data Mutation") .

Story [ edit ]

Before kingdom hearts [ edit ].

During the destruction of Destiny Islands , Riku is approached by Ansem and opens his heart to the darkness , allowing Ansem to linger within his heart, and steps into a Corridor of Darkness . He awakens some time later in the Rising Falls . Here, he is greeted by Maleficent, given a room to stay in, and is gifted with the Soul Eater blade.

Sora, Donald and Goofy arrive at Hollow Bastion in time to find Riku attacking another intruder, the Beast . Sora, Donald, and Goofy confront Riku, but he declares he is the Keyblade 's true holder; it jumps into his possession, leaving Sora defenseless except for his old wooden sword . Shocked at this revelation, Sora collapses to the ground. Riku departs, and Donald and Goofy, having been ordered to follow the Keybearer, reluctantly follow him. The Beast staggers on despite his injuries, and Sora quickly gets over his shock to help him. The Beast reveals that he is looking for someone important to him, and refuses to depart without her. Sora, sympathizing, takes up his old wooden sword, and the two team up to enter the castle.

After traversing the castle waterways to unlock the main door, Sora and Beast enter Hollow Bastion. Beast witnesses an illusion of Belle transforming into a Heartless, and, enraged, jumps at the Heartless, with the doors slamming shut behind him. Riku, Donald, and Goofy appear soon after, where Riku orders Sora to give up, though Sora refuses to leave without Kairi. Sora informs Riku that while the darkness may destroy his body , it can't harm his heart, and Riku decides to test Sora's theory by firing a Dark Firaga attack at him. Sora, believing it to be the end, braces himself, but Goofy rushes in and blocks the blast with his shield . After being questioned by Riku, Goofy swears that he will never betray King Mickey , but won't betray Sora after all that they have been through together, and asks Donald to apologize to the King for him; however, Donald also chooses his friendship with Sora over King Mickey's orders and rejoins Sora. Sora informs Riku that he doesn't need the Keyblade; his friends and heart are the only weapons he needs. Sora's strength of heart with his friends back by his side pulls the Keyblade away from Riku and back to him. After a fierce battle, Riku is defeated and flees. Beast rejoins the party after watching the encounter, observing that Sora's heart was what helped him win.

Riku is upset at losing the Keyblade, but encounters Ansem, Seeker of Darkness , who promises him that he can make Riku's heart stronger through darkness and allow him to regain possession of the Keyblade. Jealous and angry at Sora and shamed over his loss of control of the Keyblade, Riku succumbs to his pledge and powers, and becomes consumed by the darkness. In the meantime, Maleficent has attempted to use the gathered Princesses of Heart to open the Bastion's Keyhole. The Heartless-possessed Riku meets with her to check her progress, where Maleficent declares she will control and use the darkness for her own purposes; however, neither she nor Ansem-Riku can unlock the Keyhole without Kairi's missing heart.

Sora and friends manage to travel through the labyrinth of a castle to reach the chapel; there they meet with and confront Maleficent. Overconfident in her abilities and underestimating those of Sora's gang, she is soundly defeated. Escaping back to Riku for help, she is stabbed through the heart by his Keyblade of heart , made from the hearts of the six Princesses. It unlocks the darkest parts of her heart and allows her to transform into a large, powerful dragon; however, Sora's party defeat her again, and she is consumed and burned away by the darkness. Riku then appears and reveals that Maleficent was merely a pawn of the Heartless, unable to see the darkness swallowing her heart. He then departs and Sora and company travel to the Grand Hall, where the Keyhole and Princesses are located, to find and confront him. There, Sora finds Kairi unconscious on the floor in front of the partially opened Keyhole. He tries to wake her, but Riku appears to tell Sora her heart is missing. Riku continues to tell Sora that Kairi is one of the princesses and that her heart is within him. Sora is able to realize that Riku is no longer in control of his own body. Riku knocks both Donald and Goofy back behind a preset barrier, and Kairi's heart reacts to the Keyblade of heart's power, causing Sora crippling pain. Xehanort 's Heartless then attacks him, but Sora recovers and blocks the strike in time. After an intense battle over who would possess Kairi's heart, Sora emerges victorious.

Riku disappears, but the Keyhole begins reacting to the presence of Kairi's heart. Sora attempts to lock the Keyhole, but without Kairi's heart, it is not complete and cannot be sealed. Sora puts two and two together and realizes what he has to do; despite Donald and Goofy's desperate pleas, Sora stabs himself with the Keyblade of heart left in Riku's wake, releasing all of the princesses' hearts (including Kairi's) and completing the Keyhole, but Sora falls into darkness himself.

Kairi wakes just in time to see Sora disappear. As Kairi, Donald, and Goofy mourn the loss of Sora, Ansem, now in full possession of Riku's body and having shaped it into one resembling his original human self, reappears, declaring that Kairi's purpose is over, effectively deciding to kill her. Donald and Goofy bravely make a stand against Ansem, but both know that, without Sora, they may not be able to stop him. However, before Ansem can attack, Riku projects himself from his stolen body, manages to establish enough control to stop him in his tracks, and warns Kairi and the others that the Heartless called by Ansem will soon overrun the castle at which they heed and run to escape. The three return to the entrance, and hesitate due to Kairi's reluctance to leave Sora and Riku behind; Goofy himself is still concerned about the Keyhole (apparently failing to realize that, without Sora and the Keyblade, the Keyhole cannot be stopped). An apparently non-hostile Heartless arrives; Donald shouts at it to get lost and whacks it over the head with his staff , but Kairi realizes that the Heartless is, in fact, Sora. At that moment, massive legions of Heartless attack, and swarm Kairi and Sora's Heartless, much to Donald and Goofy's horror. However, a brilliant flash of light blows the Heartless back, and in place of the Heartless, there is Sora, fully restored. Beast stays behind to hold off the Heartless and continue looking for Belle, and so the group departs Hollow Bastion.

Cid manages to find a way to allow them to return and seal the Keyhole. They return and help Beast reunite with the re-awakened Belle, and jump through the Keyhole to fight a Behemoth Heartless. After a conversation with Leon's group, who have returned to restore their home world, Sora seals the Keyhole at Hollow Bastion.

In the Kingdom Hearts Final Mix version, Sora also has his first encounter with Organization XIII in the chapel by way of Xemnas, here known only as "Unknown". After some cryptic messages (such as stating that Sora is incomplete and looks just like "him" ), Xemnas departs. It is revealed in Kingdom Hearts II that this battle takes place shortly after Xemnas recruited Roxas into the Organization, and he fought Sora to test his abilities.

Upon arriving in the Basement of Castle Oblivion , Riku enters a memory simulation of Hollow Bastion. Guided by the voice of DiZ , Riku explores the simulation, even coming across his old bedroom, and eventually encounters Maleficent, who tries to convince him to rejoin her. Riku refuses, and she promptly transforms into a dragon to battle him. He ultimately triumphs.

Later, Sora and company also arrive in the simulation. They encounter the Beast, who is being told by Belle to stay away from her. Noticing his plight, Sora decides to help the Beast.

As the group traverses the simulation, they encounter Maleficent, who is holding Belle hostage. Maleficent declares to Beast that Belle still loves him, but is afraid to say it to avoid detection. Maleficent gives Beast one last ultimatum, but Beast refuses. Outraged, Maleficent transforms into a dragon to battle Sora and company. Sora eventually defeats Maleficent, and as she fades away, Belle and Beast rekindle their relationship.

A statue appears here in the Entrance Hall that was not present in Kingdom Hearts .

Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days [ edit ]

During Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days , when Xion experiences a short sequence of Sora's memories, the keyhole to Hollow Bastion can be seen as Sora releases his heart and his body dissipates.

After Maleficent destroys Data-Sora 's Keyblade in the datascape 's version of Agrabah and captures Data-Riku , Pete takes Data-Riku to the Datascape's Hollow Bastion. Without his weapon, Data-Sora is unable to fight, so Mickey travels there himself, leaving Donald, Goofy, and Data-Sora at Disney Castle . However, Sora runs off to Hollow Bastion on his own to confront Pete, and he manages to unlock the castle gate while dodging Heartless. Inside, Pete traps Sora and summons a horde of Heartless to attack, but Sora is rescued by Goofy. The two of them begin searching for a way to follow Pete deeper into the castle, while searching for Donald, who got separated from Goofy when they entered Hollow Bastion.

Sora and Goofy find Donald in the waterway, and the three of them explore the castle, with Donald and Goofy breaking Bug Blox and fighting Heartless in place of Sora. They find the pieces of the Heartless emblem that unlock the door leading to the upper levels of the castle, and at the High Tower, Data-Sora reflects on the bond he feels with Donald and Goofy. The three of them confront Pete in the Grand Hall, where he traps Donald and Goofy in a cage of blox. Desperate, Sora manifests a new Keyblade from his evolving heart and frees them. Pete retreats into the Keyhole , followed by Sora, who defeats him despite his own powers in the datascape. Pete then sets Data-Riku on him, having corrupted his data with bugs, but Data-Sora manages to subdue his friend after a drawn-out battle.

Although Data-Sora and Data-Riku emerge from the Keyhole, Riku's data is thoroughly corrupted, prompting Sora to enter Riku's personal datascape to destroy the bugs, in Hollow Bastion Part II. After visiting manifestations of Riku's memories of different worlds, Sora defeats the main source of the corruption, which takes Riku's form. Maleficent attempts to block Sora from returning from inside Riku's data, but he emerges, and he defeats Maleficent's dragon form in the chapel. Mickey, Donald, and Goofy say goodbye before returning to the real world, but when the datascape begins erasing itself, Data-Sora sets off through the Final Keyhole for the innermost part of the datascape to retrieve Maleficent and Pete and to confront the source of the corruption, Sora's Heartless .

As Data-Sora progresses through the Datascape's Castle Oblivion, he enters a room based on his visit to Hollow Bastion. He chases after Pete, using switches to progress, and defeats him. Pete calls Maleficent, who brings them to a long, trap-filled room, forcing Sora to traverse the obstacle course to reach the far side of the room. Upon confronting the two, Sora is returned to the Entrance Hall, with an Ending Card for Hollow Bastion.

Other appearances [ edit ]

Super smash bros. ultimate [ edit ].

Hollow Bastion is a downloadable stage in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate , released along with Sora, as part of Challenger Pack 11. When time, stocks, or health are running low, Hollow Bastion transforms into Dive to the Heart .

Characters [ edit ]

Kairi [ KH I ]

Kairi's Grandma [ KH I ]

Leon [ KH I ]

Aerith [ KH I ]

Yuffie [ KH I ]

Cid [ KH I ]

Cloud [ KH I ]

Maleficent [ KH I ] [ KH CoM ] [ KH coded ]

Hades [ KH I ]

Jafar [ KH I ]

Ursula [ KH I ]

Captain Hook [ KH I ]

Oogie Boogie [ KH I ]

Riku [ KH I ]

Beast [ KH I ] [ KH CoM ]

Ansem, Seeker of Darkness [ KH I ]

Sora-Heartless [ KH I ] [ KH coded ]

Snow White [ KH I ]

Cinderella [ KH I ]

Jasmine [ KH I ]

Aurora [ KH I ]

Alice [ KH I ]

Belle [ KH I ] [ KH CoM ]

Xemnas [ KH I FM ]

Data-Riku [ KH coded ]

Pete [ KH coded ]

Enemies [ edit ]

Heartless [ edit ], nobodies [ edit ], other [ edit ].

• Kingdom Hearts worlds
• Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories worlds
• Kingdom Hearts II worlds
• Kingdom Hearts coded worlds
• Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory worlds
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Russia: One Week Itinerary

Russia , the largest country in the world has been on my bucketlist for the longest time. This is where the first ‘women only’ tour of Ticking the Bucketlist is headed. We are off tomorrow and would be spending one week in this enchanting land!

Here is what our ‘one week in Russia’ itinerary looks like….

Day 1: Moscow – Izmailovsky Flea Market and ‘Moscow by Night’

We start our trip from Delhi on an Aeroflot flight and reach Moscow at about 0835 in the morning. We head straight to our hotel to stretch our legs and get some shut-eye. We need to charge our batteries for the Russian sojourn. We are staying in the Best Western Vega at the Izmailovsky area, which is very famous for its local flea market. The  Izmailovsky Market is the best place in Moscow for souvenir shopping …dolls, porcelain, jewelry boxes…we will buy them all from here.

Day 2: Moscow – Moscow City Tour and Kremlin Tour

A red building at the Red Square of the Kremlin

Having seen the city’s light the previous night, it is time to see the city’s colours this morning. We will set off on the Moscow City Tour shows us the highlights of city, starting with the Red Square. This is our day to click a 1000 pictures in front of all the monuments that represent Moscow…St Basil’s Cathedral, the Bolshoi theatre, the Olympic Stadium and the Sparrow Hills.

Exploring the Kremlin

Today is also the day to visit and learn more about the most famous monument in Russia. Kremlin, literally means a fort inside a city. Dynasties built on the site, one century after another and the site came to known as the Kremlin in the 14the century. The walled structure of the Kremlin includes palaces and cathedrals… and a historical past!

Later in the evening, we will enjoy the Russian circus that many of us have seen to television ever so often. Acrobats, clowns and animals….its is time to let the little girl in you come out and clap her hands!  

Day 3: Moscow – Metro Stations and Arbat Street followed by the Bolshoi Ballet 

Mosaics on the walls of the metro station

Today, we set out to explore the metro stations of Moscow, each of which is a stellar work of art. Stunning frescos and chandeliers in marble surroundings… it’s a work of art! We will then walk along the Arbat street, which is the city’s only pedestrian street, lined with shops and cafes.

As the night unfolds, I intend to don a classy dress and get set to watch one of the finest shows on earth at the Bolshoi Theatre. I have always been awestruck by the art form and would love to see some of the best performers in the world move gracefully. A performance that is rated as one of the best in the world has to be ticked off my bucketlist!

Day 4: Moscow – Day Tour to Sergiev Posad followed by a crazy bar hopping night!

Sergiev Posad is one the strongest spiritual centres in Russia. Home to stunning churches, Sergiev Posad will give us a flavour of the famous ‘Golden Ring’ of Russia. The tour will take 5-7 hours and we will be back at the hotel in second half.

Exploring Sergiev Posad

This will be our last night in Moscow, and we are not going to leave the city without sampling some fine Russian vodka. So, this night is dedicated to bar hopping and pub crawling. Hope to meet some travellers and make new friends.

Day 5: Saint Petersburg – Sapsan train experience to Saint Petersburg and Matryoshka Doll painting class

Saint Petersburg , our next destination, is at least 700 km away from Moscow… and we will zip zap zoom on the Sapsan (the high speed train) to get there in about four hours! The high speed trains are engineering marvels, worth experiencing and we ride this iron horse in the afternoon, reaching St Peterburg in the evening.

As a group, we also join a masterclass to paint our own nested Matryoshka dolls… our own little souvenir to carry and remind us of a fun week in Russia.

With our very own Matryoshka dolls!

Day 6: Saint Petersburg – City Tour and Peterhof Palace

The day starts with a city tour of Saint Petersburg that will give us a peek into what this city has… many bridges, stunning castles, colourful cathedrals and fortresses.

Post lunch, we will head to the Peterhof Palace, also called the Russian Versailles. With spring having set in, the gardens would be green and the fountains will put up a show…I am excited!

Peterhof Palace

Day 7: Saint Petersburg – Hermitage Museum and Shopping

The highlights tour on the previous day will surely make us want to see more of Saint Petersburg…and we will do so by visiting the Hermitage Museum, which is also called the ‘Louvre of Russia’. The Hermitage complex itself is of architectural delight … and the collections have stories to speak which will hopefully, spike our interest enough to make to go back read our history textbooks.

The Hermitage Museum

The rest of the day is totally free to visit any of the other monuments or simply shop … it’s every girl’s favourite sport, isn’t it?

Our last night Russia… Oh Russia!!!! Tonight we will explore the party scene in SPB … or maybe … pack for the next day?

Day 8: Saint Petersburg …Bye Bye Russia

Memories, souvenirs and new friendships… it’s time take them all back to India! We check out of our hotel and take the flight from SPB to Delhi, via Moscow.

Farewell Russia!

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About post author, 11 responses.

Your photos are beautiful! I have always wanted to visit Russia, especially after seeing Anastasia (the Disney movie) 🙂 I can’t believe those mosaics are on the walls at the METRO STATION! How unreal. Great stuff, thanks for sharing.

Wow that is quite an awesome itinerary. I mean… huge Russia in 1 week. I am still dreaming of St. Petersbourg. So many people told me that it is gorgeous. And I would die to see the Ballet

You know I have never considered Russia but this itinerary looks amazing. St. Petersburg looks beautiful. I will certainly consider a trip there now

I’ve only been to St Petersburg so far, and did a few tours in the city and around. But I have a good friend in Moscow, so the incentive is definitely there to go back. I enjoy doing those by night experiences and see how cities transform in different times of day – especially if it’s topped with a circus visit, amazing 🙂

We are thinking of heading to Russia next Summer so will deffo use this itinerary, looks amazing! Would love to visit the Kremlin in Moscow! Thanks for sharing!

I have always been fascinated by Russia. I like the colourful rounds domes on the Palaces just like an Aladin’s Palace. FIFA Football World will be held in Russia next year and I will try my best to visit this beautiful country and will follow your itinerary and contact you. 🙂

Moscow and Kremlin city tour looks amazing. Your one week itinerary is helpful and complete tour of Russian delights. St.Petersburg city tour is also enchanting and splendid. I really want to have Russian vacation now after seeing your pictures

Wow, this is awesome. Well weaved itinerary! We had always dreamed of taking pictures of those onion-domed palaces and those colors on the palaces are just mind blowing. We didn’t know that there is a Versailles in Russia the exterior paint and the colors look much similar. We had loved it in France and would love to visit it in Russia too.

The Peterhof Palace is a delight to visit. Highly recommend it if you are in SPB

I haven’t visited Russia, but it’s definitely on the list! This a great itinerary, I love how you included things to do but also gave some leeway to do things on your own as well (like shopping haha). Beautiful pictures, the buildings and Russian dolls are stunning! I wonder if they’re all hand painted.

The dolls are all hand painted. The cost increases depending on the quality of work and the artist.

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• Travel Guides

First Timer’s Travel Guide to Moscow & Saint Petersburg

Russia is this vast, diverse, and magnificent land that many international travellers dream of visiting. The capital city Moscow and the second largest city in the country St Petersburg are, in particular, one of the most magical and interesting cities in the world you can visit all year-round. That is why today we decided to focus yours and our attention to both cities. Learn how to explore them properly if you are a first-time visitor. How to ensure that you make the most of your visit. What to expect, etc.

The Kremlin, Moscow

Despite the fact that even a month or two will not be enough to explore Moscow or St Petersburg to the fullest and enjoy everything these amazing cities have to offer, not many of us have the luck to spend such a long time abroad. We would provide you with some recommendations and ideas you can totally make happen within a 4-day itinerary in Moscow and a 4-day itinerary in St Petersburg.

St Petersburg

In addition, please note that the majority of the international and continental flights are to the capital city Moscow that is a home to the biggest and most popular airport in the country. So Moscow will be the starting point of your over a week-long journey to Russia. Let’s discuss some of the basics you should know and prepare for!

The first thing you have to do when planning to visit Russia is applying for a visa. There are only a few countries in the world that are to require a visa when visiting the country. In the majority of the cases, you should have one in order to visit the country. Be prepared for your visa application by making sure you own and can provide a proof of arrival and departure dates, and an invitation letter from either a tour provider or an accommodation booked.

Make sure to check out the website of your country’s government for additional requirements and papers needed. The easiest way to get an invitation letter from an accommodation is by booking a major hotel chain. They are more used to dealing with international visitors and will assist and support you throughout the process, providing you with everything you need for entering the country. Please keep in mind that the application process can take up to a few weeks and you have to send your original passport away, so make sure you don’t need it during this time.

However, there is one way to visit St Petersburg for three days visa-free. This happens if you arrive by ferry or cruise ship when you will be allowed to arrive and stay in the city for 72 hours without applying for a visa. This is the only way and a great option to visit one of the most magnificent and impressive cities in Russia without going through the whole visa application process that can be pretty overwhelming, indeed.

Well, Russian language is not the most popular in the world, despite the fact it is spoken by a big number of people, who are citizens not only of the country but also of the ex-USSR. Chances are, you are not familiar with the language and with the Cyrillic alphabet used in the country, where you will find that the majority of the signs around the cities are in Cyrillic, which can make it harder for you to find your way around, but also a great bunch of the names of many international brands and companies. In addition, once you get to Russia you will find out that English is definitely not widely-spoken by the general population, even in big cities such as Moscow and St Petersburg, where most of the people, no matter their age, will speak little to no English.

However, don’t be afraid that you will get lost or in trouble. Let Google Translate, hand gestures, and a little common sense make all the hard work and you will be ok. Keep in mind that having an Internet connection on your phone all the time will be very helpful for finding your way around. In addition, many restaurants in the main tourist areas in both cities have an English menu you can ask for, while the same applies to the maps and brochures of the major tourist attractions.

Getting Around

Both Moscow and St Petersburg have an awful traffic, which means that taxis can cost you a lot. Buses and cars can take a long time when traffic is at its full potential and in order to save yourself some time and coins. We highly recommend you using the metro/underground systems in both cities. Moscow’s metro system is simply amazing. It has a huge network of interconnecting lines that will help you get around and across the city very efficiently.

Make sure to grab a map of the Moscow’s metro, which will make it very easy to navigate, plus the stations are announced in English. In addition, using the metro is incredibly cheap and it will get you anywhere in the city for less than $1. Moscow’s metro is also known for some of the most beautiful and spectacular metro stations in the world that are definitely worth visiting as amazing tourist attractions of their own.

The metro is St Petersburg isn’t nearly as extensive as the Moscow’s one and the stations are more spread out. In this case, you can take advantage of the Uber service in the city and explore St Petersburg by ordering an Uber driver that will cost you significantly cheaper than a taxi. Thanks to the big number of drivers available, you will be able to find a free car very quickly. However, considering the fact that St Petersburg is more touristy and most of the main sights are located in what is called the Golden Triangle, you can easily explore the main tourist attractions by foot. There are also sightseeing buses and canal transports that will take you all along and around the main sights in St Petersburg.

The Russian currency is Russian ruble and you can expect to spend a lot of it because both Moscow and St Petersburg are pretty expensive cities with a higher standard and cost of living. Knowing that both cities are generally pretty expensive will help you plan that fact into your budget and consider some way to spend money if you are not travelling with a limitless budget. For example, make sure to choose a hotel that is in the outskirts of the city and in a short walking distance from a metro station. This way you can save a huge amount of money compared to a hotel in the city centre and you can also save on travel time. If you are student do not forget to take your valid student ID with you since some attractions and museums are offering a student discount.

Tickets and Attractions

When it comes to tickets for shows, museums, and attractions, the best way is to buy them beforehand. This way you can save time and not wait in hours-long lines, you can even benefit from an online purchase discount, and most importantly – you can make sure that your place and visit is reserved since many attractions in Russia sell a limited amount of tickets per day. There are some places that are very popular and tickets can sell out weeks in advance. An online purchase will help you figure out what and when you can visit, and you can plan your tour better and more effectively.

The weather in Moscow and St Petersburg can be pretty unpredictable all year-round. Because of that make sure to pack a variety of clothes for all seasons, dress in layers, and don’t take the weather forecast for the day as a final promise. Make sure to always take an umbrella or a raincoat with you. For women, bringing a scarf can be very useful for a practical reason, but also because some churches and cathedrals in Russia expect you to cover your hair with a scarf.

If you are a foodie, you will be happy to know that Russia has its very own and unique cuisine and we highly recommend you trying out some of the most popular dishes in the country including the Russian dumplings pierogi, the infamous Russian salads such as Olivie, Mimoza, and Seliodka pod shuba, etc. However, if you are not willing to try out the local cuisine, there are many international restaurants and familiar fast food chains in both cities Moscow and St Petersburg.

Things to Do and Places to See

Both Moscow and St Petersburg are cities that offer a lot to be seen, explored, experienced, and enjoyed. Some of the most important, stunning, and exciting sights in Moscow: the Red Square, where you can visit the St. Basil’s Cathedral and the GUM Department Store. The Kremlin that contains the Great Bell Tower. The Tsar Bell, Tsar Cannon, several cathedrals, gardens, and the Armory Chamber. Arbat Street is the most touristic street in Moscow with a lot of places to eat, plenty of shops to buy, and all the souvenirs you can ever imagine and want to take home with you.

St. Basil’s Cathedral

The metro stations, despite the fact that they are one of the busiest in the world, are definitely very clean and beautifully constructed and ornamented. Izmaylovsky Flea Market is just a few metro stations away from the centre. It is a great place to get to know the Russian culture and everyday life while shopping for some more authentic and interesting souvenirs. Sparrow Hill is one of the highest spots in Moscow and offers some great views of the modern city, plus it is the location of the Lomonosov Moscow State University.

Saint Petersburg is often referred to as one of the most beautiful and stunning cities not only in Russia but in the whole world. It has plenty of unique sights and magnificent things to see in the city. If your time is limited you should make sure to cover at least the highlights. The Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, since its exterior and interior, are equally breath-taking.

The Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood

Hop on a canal cruise to explore the city from a different perspective. Visit Kazan Cathedral and St. Isaac’s Cathedral, where you can go inside and also climb the stairs to the top and enjoy some stunning views of the city. The Palace Square, which is home to the Winter Palace, which was the lavish residence of the Russian monarchs and is nowadays a part of the Hermitage Museum.

Kazan Cathedral

Of course, visiting Saint Petersburg without visiting the Hermitage Museum is like going to Rome and not seeing the Pope. The Hermitage is one of the largest and most spectacular museums in the world and a day is not enough to explore each and every one of its nooks and corners. When in the city, you can also visit the Peter and Paul Fortress, the Peterhof Palace.

Despite the fact that media loves to sensationalise the negative stories in Russia and the fact that the country is often portrayed as a pretty unsafe place by the western media, the chances of you getting into a trouble, feel threatened, or in a danger are as minimal as possible. However, keep in mind that some things are rather recommended not to do, for example taking a picture of any government, military or security building. Despite not forbidden, you better use your camera for capturing some more exciting moments. In addition, always bring a photocopy of your passport and visa with you, since police can demand you to legitimize yourself anytime.

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