Description:
As a tourist, the Kremlin and Red Square should be at the top of your list of must-see Moscow sights. In fact, for most people, it’s the only thing on their lists. These two destinations are, fortunately, right next to each other in the heart of downtown. Not just the city, but the entire country revolves around what goes on here, making it one of the most important and popular destinations in the world.
View Iternary mapDay Note:
The Kremlin is the one place everyone who visits Moscow wants to go. For that reason, do yourself a favor and GET THERE EARLY. Doors open at 10…be there at 9 to ensure your Moscow trip isn't thwarted! Tour leaders will already be there buying up tickets for the rest of the day, especially for the Armory. While you're waiting, have a walk through Alexandrovsky Sad, the surrounding gardens. OK, ticket in hand, now it's time to do the Kremlin. Enter through Trinity...read more
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The Kremlin (Kreml')
Contact:
- 7 495 202 5208/ 7 495 202 3776
- visit website
Location:
- Entrance from Red Square
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Map
- user rating
Description:
Russia's walled fortress contains much of the country's history, politics and religion. The walls were originally built from white stone, but were rebuilt in the late 15th century with their distinctive red brick. Inside are four cathedrals (Dormition, Archangel, Annunciation and Twelve Apostles), three palaces (most notably the Patriarch's Palace), two major museums, and of course the official residence of the country's President. Entry to all attractions is via the Kutafia Tower on the southern side.
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Alexander Gardens (Aleksandrovskii Sad)
Contact:
Location:
- Kremlin, outer west wall
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Map
- user rating
Description:
The Alexandrovskii Gardens were developed between 1820 and 1823 and run along the west wall of the Kremlin. The gardens occupy an area of about 10 hectares. In his attempt to make the gardens as distinctive as possible Bove combined an orderly plan with the free arrangement of trees plus elements of romantic-style gardens. The gardens are bordered by decorative iron railings. Muscovites and foreign tourists often come to the gardens to visit the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
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Trinity Gate (Troitskaia Bashnia)
Contact:
- 7 495 202 3776/ 7 495 203 0349
Location:
- Kremlin
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Map
Description:
The Trinity Gate Tower is the spire-topped structure standing in the walls of the Kremlin which visitors must pass through in order to enter the grounds themselves. At 80 meters high it is the tallest of the Kremlin's towers. Construction was completed way back in 1495. As if to underline the often chilling history of the Kremlin, the area lurking underneath the tower was reserved in the sixteenth century for prisoners' cells.
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Tsar Cannon (Tsar-pushka)
Contact:
- 7 495 202 3776/ 7 495 203 0349
Location:
- Kremlin
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Map
Description:
Originally constructed as a powerful means of defending the Kremlin's Saviour Gate, this beast of a cannon (there is a lion's head roaring under the barrel) was never fired. Nevertheless, at just over 5.3 meters long and weighing 40 tons, it is one of the largest cannons ever made. The cannon itself was cast in 1586, but the depictions decorating the chassis - a lion and a snake wrestling - were added much later in 1835.
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Tsar Bell (Tsar-kolokol)
Contact:
- 7 495 202 3776/ 7 495 203 0349
Location:
- Kremlin
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Map
Description:
It has the honor of being the largest bell in the world, but is something of a historical curiosity-it has never been rung. When fire swept the Kremlin in 1737, the newly forged bell was grounded in the Kremlin's forgery. The water used to douse the flames came into contact with the superheated bell, causing an 11-ton chunk to break off the 200-ton bell. It has remained in two pieces ever since. The bell that never rang makes for a bizarre but appropriate companion to the nearby Tsar Cannon, which has never been fired.
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Ivan the Great Bell-Tower (The) (Kolokolnia Ivana Velikogo)
Contact:
- 7 495 202 5208/ 7 495 202 3776
- visit website
Location:
- Kremlin
- Moscow Kremlin
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Map
Description:
At 81 meters, this building was Moscow's tallest for nearly 350 years. Viewed from some distance, the tower looks like a giant whitewashed lipstick. Three octahedral tiers carry a short cylinder on top, crowned with a glistening golden onion dome. The 'Ivan the Great' in the tower's name is not referring to Ivan (IV) the Terrible as popularly believed, but to his grandfather Ivan III who ruled from 1462 to 1505.
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Church of the Deposition of the Robe
Contact:
- 7 495 202 3776/ 7 495 203 0349
Location:
- Kremlin
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Map
Description:
This small church nestled behind the Cathedral of the Assumption was built by skilled artisans from Pskov during the years 1484 to 1486. The church took its name from a robe said to have staved off a Tatar onslaught. The interior is covered in religious frescoes dating mostly from the seventeenth century, depicting the great figures of religion and history in Russia. Looking up you will see Christ and the Virgin Mary, while the church's pillars are decorated with portraits of the likes of Prince Vladimir and Alexander Nevskii, conqueror of the Swedes and mythic Russian hero.
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Archangel's Cathedral (The) (Arkhangelskii Sobor)
Contact:
- 7 495 202 5208/ 7 495 202 3776
- visit website
Location:
- Kremlin
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Map
Description:
The Archangel Cathedral was built in 1505-1508 by the Venetian architect Alevisio and dedicated to the Archangel Michael - protector of warriors and monarchs engaged in their rightful deeds. From the 14th to the 18th century the cathedral was used as the burial place of Moscow princes and Russian Tsars. There are 46 tombs but unfortunately the stone sarcophagus were made during the 17th century which means they all look fairly similar. In the 18th century, the Cathedral was decorated with portraits of entombed princes and Tsars. The icon of the Archangel Michael (created in 1399) can be found inside.
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Patriarch's Palace (Patriarshii Dvorets)
Contact:
- 7 495 202 3776/ 7 495 203 0349
- visit website
Location:
- Kremlin
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Map
Description:
Entering the Kremlin via Trinity Gate, this is the first building in the Kremlin which tourists can actually get inside. The palace is complemented by the Cathedral of the Twelve Apostles. The two buildings form one structure linked by an arch. The Patriarch is the head of the Russian Orthodox Church; not long after the construction of this building the church was irrevocably split by the reforms of Patriarch Nikon. The building currently contains the Museum of Seventeenth Century Russian Applied Art featuring a host of exhibits, from household items to religious paraphernalia.
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Bosco Café
Contact:
- 7 495 620 31 82
- visit website
Location:
- Red Square, 3
- user rating
Description:
Bosco Café on Red Square has a chic selection of Italian wines and the best pasta in town. It's a popular place.
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Red Square (Krasnaia Ploshchad')
Contact:
- visit website
Location:
- Red Square
- (Krasnaya Ploshad)
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Map
Description:
This is possibly the most famous central square in the world. It is a humbling sight both day and night; beautiful in winter- regally dramatic all the year round. Originally an expanse of nothing more than mud, and populated by a ragged collection of hawkers, beggars and outcasts, Red Square acquired its present grandness gradually. Nowadays, the square and its surrounds positively exude the drama of Russian past and present. The walls of the Kremlin loom on one side, their blood-red height belittling the pale GUM department store opposite. At the southern end of the square towers, is the onion-domed exuberance of St Basil's Cathedral.
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St. Basil's Cathedral (Sobor Vasiliia Blazhennogo)
Contact:
- 7 495 698 3304
- visit website
Location:
- 2 Krasnaya Ploshchad
- Kremlin
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Map
Description:
Possibly the most widely-recognized of Russia's architectural monuments, St. Basil's looms at the southern end of Red Square in all its multi-colored, multi-coned glory. The cathedral's real name is the Cathedral of the Intercession. It was built between 1555 and 1561 to commemorate the victory of Ivan the Terrible over the Tatars in Kazan. The cathedral was built near the grave of the so-called, "holy fool", St. Basil the Blessed, hence its popular and widely-used name.
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Old English Court (The)
Contact:
- 7 495 298 3952
- visit website
Location:
- 4a Ulitsa Varvarka
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Map
Description:
You can get a glimpse of the medieval residential home styles when you enter The Old English Court. It was originally a gift to the English traders by the 16th century Ivan the Terrible. Queen Elizabeth visited the restored museum in 1994. The museum features mainly the diplomatic and trading relationships between Russia and England. The main hall was named Kazennaya Palata which was said to be favored for signing trade contracts. The main hall was also a store house of valuables. It is closed on Mondays and last Friday of the month. Once inside don't forget to ask for the theatrical guided-tour called "Jerome Gorsay recounts.." which depicts the discovery of Russia by the English.
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State Historical Museum (Gosudarstvennyi Istoricheskii Muzei)
Contact:
- 7 495 692 4019
- visit website
Location:
- Red Square (Krasnaia Ploshchad'), 1/2
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Map
Description:
You'd have to try hard to miss this museum, given that it sits right on Red Square. At the entrance there's always someone dressed as Ivan the Terrible or Lenin offering themselves for a photo with you. The museum was established in 1894, and was closed for ten years, until the mid-1990s, for extensive renovation. Inside, there are various exhibitions dedicated to the sweeping richness of Russian history, from mammoth tusks and bronze age relics to Soviet-era posters.
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Krasnaia Ploshchad' dom 1 (Red Square 1)
Contact:
- 74 95 692 11 96/ 7 495 692 5198
- visit website
Location:
- Krasnaia Ploshchad' 1/2
- (in the History Museum)
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Map
- user rating
Description:
In the very heart of Moscow you can taste dishes supposedly enjoyed by Russian emperors and nobility of bygone centuries. Together with the History Museum in which the restaurant is located, the restaurant conducts a program of 'historical dinners', which are supposedly detailed replicas of the menus, toasts and etiquette employed in the past by members of the Russian court. This is a live encounter with Russian history. Historical dinners are served in the museum's luxurious entrance hall. The interior is designed in the ancient Russian tradition of white stone compartments. Those who prefer a more democratic style may choose the lower hall, which has a contemporary European design. There, they play live background jazz every evening. Most of the dishes are fairly lavish affairs, since they were originally cooked at times when Russian aristocrats could afford to use a lot of cooks and kitchen hands. There are special dishes named after the people who enjoyed the very same meals. One is Bagrationi veal soup that was created by the cook of famous Russian military leader Prince Bagration. There are traditional Russian fish dishes: one particularly fine example is salmon cooked with truffles,... read more
- Destination(s): Moscow
- 1 DAY
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