Moscow, Russia: travel guide
The Kremlin, Red Square and onion domes beside the Moskva
Capital of Russia, centred on the Kremlin and Red Square along the Moskva River.
About Moscow
Moscow is the capital of Russia and a city of vast scale, built outward from the Kremlin and Red Square on the Moskva river. Colourful domes, Stalin-era towers and modern glass sit side by side, and the metro stations are works of art.
The Kremlin and Red Square are the obvious start. The city's museums are a draw too, from the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts to the Museum of Russian Impressionism, and there are broad green spaces at Tsaritsyno Palace and Park and the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour on the river. Evening walks along the embankments show the city from another side.
Moscow suits culture seekers and first-time visitors to Russia. Late spring and early autumn are comfortable, while winter brings snow and a festive look to the squares.
- Country
- Russia
- Currency
- RUB
- Time zone
- Europe/Moscow
- Nearest airport
- MOW
Last updated
Top places to visit in Moscow
Red Square
Cultural · 4.9 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
The symbolic heart of Russia — the vast cobblestone square flanked by the Kremlin, GUM, St. Basil's Cathedral and the State Historical Museum, used for centuries for state pageantry.
Moscow Kremlin
fortress · 4.7 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate
Fortified historic complex and seat of Russian power, with cathedrals, palaces, the Armoury and Diamond Fund inside its walls; UNESCO World Heritage.
Gorky Park
urban-park · 4.7 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
Moscow's central riverside park of culture and leisure, redesigned into a modern public space with gardens, cycling, festivals and the Garage Museum.
St. Basil's Cathedral
church · 4.8 rating · about 1 h · entry ₽800 (≈ ₹910)
Russia's most recognisable building — the 1561 cathedral commissioned by Ivan the Terrible with nine uniquely shaped onion domes, each representing a military victory.
Moscow Kremlin (Grounds & Cathedrals)
church · 4.7 rating · about 3 h · entry ₽700 (≈ ₹800)
The 15th-century fortress-palace at the heart of Russia — with three cathedrals, the Tsar Cannon and Bell, and the residence of the Russian President, encircled by 2km of crenellated walls.
State Tretyakov Gallery
art-museum · 4.8 rating · about 2.5 h · check the fee at the gate
Premier museum of Russian fine art, from medieval icons (Rublev's Trinity) to 19th-century masters; located in Lavrushinsky Lane, Zamoskvorechye.
GUM Department Store
Cultural · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate
The magnificent 1893 iron-and-glass arcade stretching the full eastern length of Red Square — 200 shops and restaurants in the world's most beautiful shopping arcade.
VDNKh
exhibition-park · 4.7 rating · about 2.5 h · check the fee at the gate
Vast Soviet-era exhibition park in northern Moscow with monumental pavilions, fountains, gardens, museums and the Cosmonautics museum nearby.
Bolshoi Theatre
Cultural · 4.8 rating · about 3 h · entry ₽2,000 (≈ ₹2,280)
Russia's supreme performing arts institution — the world-famous opera and ballet company in a 1856 neo-Classical building, with the gilded chandelier auditorium and the quadriga atop the portico.
Gorky Central Park of Culture
Nature · 4.7 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
Moscow's beloved riverside park — transformed from a Soviet pleasure ground into a modern urban oasis with outdoor gyms, food trucks, design pavilions and Garage Museum of Contemporary Art.
Arbat Street
pedestrian-street · 4.5 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
Historic pedestrian street lined with cafes, souvenir shops, street artists and musicians; a lively slice of old and tourist Moscow.
Old Arbat Street
Cultural · 4.4 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
Moscow's most famous pedestrian street — a 1km Tsarist-era promenade of art galleries, souvenir shops, street musicians and the Pushkin Memorial Apartment where the poet briefly lived.
Things to do
- St Basils Cathedral Visit Heritage · 1.3 h · from RUB 1,200 per person
- Bolshoi Theatre Ballet Show · 3 h · from RUB 5,800 per person
- Russian Vodka Tasting Food Experience · 1.5 h · from RUB 2,700 per person
- Banya Russian Sauna Wellness · 3 h · from RUB 3,500 per person
- Bunker-42 Cold War Tour Historical Tour · 1.5 h · from RUB 1,700 per person
- Red Square Walking Tour Walking Tour · 2 h
- Saint Basils Cathedral Sightseeing · 1 h · from RUB 1,200 per person
- Kremlin and Armoury Guided Tour · 4 h · from RUB 2,700 per person
Day trips and tours
- Sergiev Posad Day Trip 8 h · from RUB 6,000
- Golden Ring Day Trip (Vladimir & Suzdal) 12 h · from RUB 9,500
- Moscow City Highlights Tour 6 h · from RUB 4,500
- Kremlin & Red Square Half-Day Tour 4 h · from RUB 3,800
Where to stay in Moscow
- Tverskoy about RUB 9,000 per night
Central district around Tverskaya Street, minutes from Red Square; best for first-time visitors, dense with hotels, dining and metro access.
- Kitay-Gorod about RUB 7,500 per night
Historic core east of Red Square, atmospheric old streets, churches and bars; very walkable to the Kremlin.
- Arbat about RUB 8,000 per night
Khamovniki/Arbat area around the famous pedestrian Arbat Street; arts, cafes and quieter charm near the river.
- Zamoskvorechye about RUB 6,500 per night
Leafy district south of the river, home to the Tretyakov Gallery and Gorky Park; calmer, residential, good value.
Hotels
- Four Seasons Hotel Moscow 5-star · RUB 45,000 to RUB 120,000 per night
- Four Seasons Hotel Moscow 5-star · INR 25,000 to INR 100,000 per night
- Hotel Metropol Moscow 5-star · RUB 25,000 to RUB 70,000 per night
- Hotel Baltschug Kempinski 5-star · INR 9,000 to INR 22,000 per night
- The Ritz-Carlton Moscow 5-star · INR 10,000 to INR 24,000 per night
- The Ritz-Carlton Moscow 5-star · RUB 40,000 to RUB 110,000 per night
Where to eat
- Khachapuri georgian, traditional · about RUB 1,800 per person
- Schastye european, russian, brasserie · about RUB 2,200 per person
- Cafe Pushkin russian, traditional, fine_dining · about RUB 5,500 per person
- Cafe Pushkin Russian, European · about RUB 5,000 per person
- Glavpivtorg russian, traditional, beer_hall · about RUB 2,200 per person
- Dr. Zhivago Russian, Soviet · about RUB 3,500 per person
- Stolovaya 57 Russian, Canteen · about RUB 900 per person
- White Rabbit Russian, Contemporary, Fine Dining · about RUB 8,000 per person
Getting to Moscow
Airport: Moscow (MOW), Moscow, Sheremetyevo (SVO)
Getting around
- Bus
- Metro
- Transit Pass
- Walking
Safety and scams to avoid
Unofficial / unmetered taxis
Airports, train stations, tourist spots
Drivers tout rides outside arrivals or near attractions and quote inflated fixed fares, often demanding far more on arrival.
How to avoid it: Order a ride with the Yandex Go app instead, which sets a fixed fair price up front. Avoid drivers who approach you.
Dropped wallet / found money trick
Pedestrian streets, near Red Square and Arbat
A stranger "finds" a wallet or cash near you and offers to split it; an accomplice then claims money is missing and pressures you to pay.
How to avoid it: Do not engage or touch the money. Walk away immediately and keep your own valuables secured.
Fake charity / petition clipboards
Red Square, Arbat, busy metro exits
People (often posing for a deaf or charity cause) push a clipboard at you to distract while an accomplice picks your pocket.
How to avoid it: Decline firmly and keep walking; keep bags zipped and in front of you in crowds.
Overpriced tourist restaurants near landmarks
Around Red Square and Tverskaya
Some venues present menus without prices or add large "service" and "cover" charges, producing a shockingly high bill.
How to avoid it: Check prices before ordering, confirm any cover/service charge, and ask for an itemised bill.
Currency exchange & ATM tricks
Street exchange kiosks, tourist areas
Kiosks advertise great rates but apply hidden commissions or short-change; some standalone ATMs add steep fees.
How to avoid it: Exchange at banks, and use ATMs attached to major banks. Count cash before leaving the counter.
More in Russia
Frequently asked questions about Moscow
- What are the top-rated places to visit in Moscow?
- The highest-rated places in our Moscow guide are Red Square, St. Basil's Cathedral, State Tretyakov Gallery, Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow Kremlin.
- Where should I stay in Moscow?
- Our guide covers these areas to stay in Moscow: Tverskoy, Kitay-Gorod, Arbat, Zamoskvorechye.
- How do I get around Moscow?
- Ways to get around Moscow covered in our guide: City bus, Metro, Transit pass, Walking.
- What scams should I watch out for in Moscow?
- Scams reported to us for Moscow include Unofficial / unmetered taxis; Dropped wallet / found money trick; Fake charity / petition clipboards. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.
- Which airport is nearest to Moscow?
- The nearest airport to Moscow has the code MOW.