Three red double-decker buses hit the streets around the Kremlin Saturday, navigating potholes and curious traffic police, as Moscow became the last European capital to introduce the tourist vehicles that are a familiar sight for holidaymakers across the world.

Spain's City Sightseeing invested between 2 million and 2.5 million euros ($2.5 million — $3.1 million) to start the service in 2012 in Russia, President Enrique Ybarra said.

But the launch has been a long time coming. Negotiations dragged on for four years, and red tape created problems up until the last moment.

The three buses unveiled at a demonstration tour for guests and reporters cost about 150,000 euros each, according to City Sightseeing. After a period doing tours in Stockholm and Copenhagen, they were refitted in Germany before being shipped to Russia early this year.

During a test period that will last until New Year's, they will run on a 9-kilometer circuit taking in St. Basil's Cathedral, Bolotnaya Ploshchad, Christ the Savior Cathedral, the Bolshoi Theater and Lubyanskaya Ploshchad.

Passengers can hop on and off the buses, which currently offer commentary in English and Russian, as many times as they like.

Sourse: The Moscow Times