Things to Do in Moscow

Choose from 38 Fun Things to Do in Moscow

Bolshoi Theatre

One of the best known theaters in the world, the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, traces its history back to 1776. This was when Empress Catherine the Great granted Prince Pyotr Urusov the privilege of maintaining theater performances of all kinds for a period of 10 years. The current Bolshoi building opened on the coronation day of Tsar Alexander II in 1856, and featured a six-tier auditorium decorated in crimson and gold that could seat up to 2,300 people.

The Bolshoi recently re-opened in October 2011 after being closed for a six-year renovation project. The reconstruction and refurbishment of the theater’s main stage employed over 3,000 specialists at the theater each day, as well as an additional 1,000 in restoration workshops outside of the theater. The project not only restored the historical appearance of the theater, inside and out, but it also restored its legendary acoustics while adding state-of-the-art machinery and stage equipment.

Today, the theater once again offers a full repertoire of operas and ballets such as La Traviata, Carmen, Swan Lake and the Nutcracker. Those wishing to catch a performance at the Bolshoi are advised to purchase tickets several weeks in advance as most tend to sell out.

Practical Info

The Bolshoi Theatre is located at 1 Teatralnaya Ploshchad and is accessible from either the Teatralnaya Metro Station (Bolshoi Theatre exit) or the Okhotny Ryad Metro Station (Theatre Square exit). The main stage box office is open daily from 12pm - 8pm, with a break from 4pm - 6pm. You may also purchase tickets online.

1, Teatralny Ploshchad, Moscow, Russia

From $ 22

Jewish Museum and Tolerance Center

Moscow’s iconic, brick-and-glass Bakhmetevsky Bus Garage was designed by avant-garde Russian architects Konstantin Melnikov and Vladimir Shukhov in 1926. By the dawn of the 21st century it was in disrepair but was restored by Roman Abramovich to house the Garage Museum of Contemporary Art. That then moved and the Jewish Museum and Tolerance Center subsequently opened at the Bus Garage in 2012. Now firmly on all the tours of Jewish heritage in Moscow, it is dedicated to the backstory of Russian Jews from medieval times to present day, with displays walking chronologically through spacious galleries making clever use of the very latest technology.

Using personal narrative, film footage, holograms, multimedia touch screens and listening stations, this is a thoroughly modern museum with a surprisingly positive message. Yes, the subject matter deals thoughtfully with programs and the Holocaust but also dedicates space to the achievements of the Jews in Moscow and St Petersburg before World War I, when they successfully played a large part in civic and cultural life. There’s a small collection of Jewish ephemera and a permanent art exhibition as well as an animated 4D movie in the Beginnings Theater, which explains the beliefs fundamental to Judaism, but the heart of the museum lies with the panoramic film projected on to a massive, curved screen that combines wartime footage with testimonies from Holocaust survivors and deals with Jewish repression under Soviet rule.

The Tolerance Center is a place in which to reflect and look forward; it houses a children’s center and the Schneerson Collection, a library of priceless Jewish books and manuscripts.

Practical Info

Ulitsa Obraztsova 11, Building 1a, Moscow. Open Thur–Sun 12pm–10pm; Fri 10am–3pm. Closed Sat and Jewish holidays. Admission adults RUB 400; seniors, students & younger than 17 RUB 200. Take the metro to Novoslobodskaya and Tram No. 19 from there.

Ulitsa Obraztsova 11, Building 1a, Moscow, Moscow Oblast 127018, Russia

Thur–Sun 12pm–10pm; Fri 10am–3pm. Closed Sat and Jewish holidays.

adults RUB 400; seniors, students & younger than 17 RUB 200

From $ 8

Kubinka Tank Museum

The Kubinka Tank Museum is the largest museum in the world of armored vehicles. Located just outside of Moscow, it houses more than 300 tanks and vehicles from throughout the 20th century. One of the most unique vehicles on display is the German super-heavy tank prototype known as the Panzer VIII Maus—one of just two made and the only one still in existence.

Other exhibits include the Troyanov heavy tank and a Karl-Gerat self-propelled artillery, as well as single and limited edition prototypes from Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union and Cold War era tanks that were war trophies from the Middle East, Africa, Vietnam and Latin America. The vehicles are displayed throughout seven hangars, including four for Soviet and Russian armor alone, divided into heavy, medium, light and wheeled vehicles hangars. In 2000, all of the old vehicles were repainted in their original manner by Russian historical specialists.

Practical Info

It was only recently that the museum began permitting foreign visitors to visit without pre-registration, but you must still provide a copy of your passport and visa. Admission is 600 rubles and a photo permit costs an extra 600. To get there, take a train from Moscow’s Belorusskaya station to the Kubinka train station. From there, it’s a short taxi ride to the museum. Alternatively, join an organized tour from Moscow.

Kubinka, Russia

Tuesday-Friday 10am-6pm, Saturday-Sunday 10am-7pm

Ticket 600 rubles; photo permit 600 rubles

From $ 138

Christ the Savior Cathedral

The Christ the Savior Cathedral was originally commissioned by Tsar Alexander I after Russia’s defeat of Napoleon, but work did not begin on it until 1839. Designed by a famed St Petersburg architect, it was modeled on the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul.

The cathedral was eventually consecrated in 1883, but its tenure was short-lived as the Soviets destroyed it in 1931 to make way for what would have been a Grand Palace of Soviets. However, the palace was never built and instead a swimming pool stood in its place for several decades. In the mid-1990s, Moscow’s mayor joined with the Russian Orthodox Church to rebuild the cathedral and construction began in 1994.

With donations from more than a million Moscow residents, the new church followed the original design, but with modern day improvements. At 103 meters tall, it is the tallest Orthodox church in the world and can accommodate nearly 10,000 church-goers. A highlight for visitors is undoubtedly the panoramic view from a 40-meter-high observation platform inside the bell tower.

Practical Info

The Christ the Savior Cathedral is located at Volkhonka ulitsa 15, on the north bank of the Moscow River and just a short walk from the Kropotkinskaya Metro station. It is open from 1 to 5 p.m. on Monday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.

ulitsa Volkhonka, 15, Moscow, Russia

Mondays 1pm-5pm; Tuesday-Sunday 10am-5pm

From $ 27

Kolomenskoye Museum and Reserve

Kolomenskoye is an ancient royal estate located a few kilometers southeast of Moscow. Perched on a bluff above the Moscow River, the estate served as a summer residence for the Grand Dukes of Moscow and Russian Tsars. In the 1920s, it became home to the first open-air museum of wooden architecture in Russia and today stretches over 900 acres.

One of the highlights of the estate is the Church of the Ascension, built in 1532 and considered to be a masterpiece of both Russian and world architecture, built in white stone with an octagonal “tent” topped by a small dome at the top. Another highlight is the reconstructed Palace of the Tsar Alexey Mikhailovich. Originally built in the mid-17th century, the wooden palace consisted of 250 rooms and a complex maze of corridors – all constructed without using nails, saws or hooks! Empress Catherine the Great demolished the palace in 1768, but a model survived, forming the basis for the full-scale reconstruction in 2010.

Other buildings to note include the 16th-century George Bell Tower, the 17th-century Vodovzvodnaya Tower and the 19th-century Hunting Pavilion.

Practical Info

Kolomenskoye is located several kilometers southeast of Moscow. To get there, take the Metro to the Kolomenskaya Station. Enter from Bolshaya street. Permanent exhibitions are open daily, except Mondays, from 11am - 7pm. Expositions at the Palace of the Tsar Alexey Mikhailovich are open weekends from 10am - 7pm. Multiple tours are also available upon request.

Moscow, Russia

From $ 22

Lenin's Mausoleum

Lenin’s Mausoleum is the current resting place of Vladimir Lenin, the former leader of the Soviet Union. Lenin’s embalmed body has been on display since he passed away in 1924 and his tomb has been visited by millions. Located near Red Square in the center of Moscow, the tomb is a small granite building that features elements derived from ancient mausoleums such as the Step Pyramid in Egypt and the Tomb of Cyrus the Great in Iran. Although a bit morbid, a visit to Lenin’s Mausoleum is considered a must for visitors to Moscow.

Practical Info

Before getting in line to visit the Mausoleum, you must check any bags and cameras in the Kutayfa tower cloakrooms. No cameras (including camera phones) are allowed inside. The line to enter the Mausoleum forms outside of the Kremlin walls. Once inside, it is quite dark and visitors are kept moving so you will only spend a few minutes inside before being ushered out.

Krasnaya Ploschad (Red Square), Moscow, Russia

Daily from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; closed Mondays and Fridays

From $ 36

Kremlin Armoury

For an inside look at the extravagance of the Russian tsars, pay a visit to the Kremlin Armoury. Housed in a mid-19th century building inside the Kremlin, the Armoury Chamber displays a wide variety of items from the tsars’ treasury, including ancient state regalia, ceremonial dress and the largest collection of gold and silver by Russian craftsmen.

Spread out over nine halls on two floors, the Armoury is home to more than 4000 items of applied art of Russia, European and Eastern countries of the fourth to the early 20th centuries. On display are Russian gold and silverware, including works by Petersburg and Moscow masters and the famous Faberge eggs. You will see European and Oriental ceremonial weapons, guns crafted in Persia and Turkey and Russian arms dating back to the 12th century. Exhibits also feature ambassadorial gifts from Germany, England, Sweden, Poland and France, including a unique collection of English Renaissance silver and French dinner and tea sets.

Also of interest are clothes from the tsars’ wardrobes, including coronation dress and accessories, crowns, scepters and orbs from the 13th to 18th centuries, and the thrones of Ivan the Terrible and the Romanov tsars. Royal carriages from the 16th to 18th centuries, including that of Catherine the Great, complete the collection, which provides a fascinating look into Russian imperial history.

Practical Info

The Armoury is located within the Kremlin but requires a separate ticket. Admission is at four times each day and tickets go on sale just 45 minutes before each admission. The Kremlin is easily accessible by Metro, with the closest stations being Borovitskaya (Боровицкая) and Biblioteka imeni Lenina (Библиоте́ка и́мени Ле́нина).

103073 Kremlin, Moscow, Russia

Fri-Wed 10am - 5pm, closed Thursdays

350 RUB

From $ 18

Hermitage Garden

Open to the public since 1894, Hermitage Garden in central Moscow offers a great escape from the hustle and bustle of Russia’s capital. Throughout its history, the park has been known for its cultural attractions and even hosted the premieres of several Anton Chekhov plays at the end of the 19th century. During Soviet times, people also flocked to the park to play chess and watch films in an open-air cinema during the summer months. Today, visitors can stroll among linden, oak and maple trees, relax on a bench or hammock, grab a bite to eat at one of several cafes or enjoy a performance at one of three theaters: Novaya Opera, Hermitage and Sphera. Cherry blossoms in the spring and an ice rink in the winter are also popular draws, as is the annual Hermitage Garden Jazz Festival. Held every August and open to the public for free, the festival is the oldest of its kind in Moscow.

Practical Info

To get to Hermitage Garden, take the Metro to Chekhovskaya, Tverskaya or Pushkinskaya. It is also about a 30 minute walk from Red Square and a short walk from many of the tourist hotels on Tverskaya Street.

Karetny Ryad Street 3, Moscow, Russia

Daily 24 hours

From $ 49

Gorky Park

Named after Russian author Maxim Gorky, Gorky Park is Moscow’s most famous park, covering 300 acres along the Moskva River near the center of the city. Opened in 1928, it was the first park of its kind in Russia and served as a model for other parks throughout the country. During Soviet times, it was a center of activity for Moscow residents, featuring roller-coasters, a Ferris wheel and other western-style carnival rides, as well as more formal gardens and woodlands.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the park fell into disrepair, but has been completely reconstructed in recent years. Old amusement park rides have been cleared away to make room for a more eco-friendly recreational area. Today, the park features contemporary art displays, new cafes and an open air cinema. Lounge chairs and pillow-shaped bean bags welcome those looking for a little relaxation and free wi-fi is available throughout. Visitors can participate in activities such as aerobics, yoga or salsa dancing classes. In the winter months, a 15,000 square-meter ice rink opens with separate areas for children, dancing, hockey and ice skating.

Practical Info

The best way to reach Gorky Park is to take the Metro to the Park Kultury station. From there, cross the Moskva River on Krymsky bridge and the entrance will be on the right.

9, Krymskiy Val, Moscow 117049, Russia

Open Daily: 10am - 10pm

From $ 174

Gulag History Museum

Opened in 2004, the Gulag History Museum is the only museum in Russia devoted to Joseph Stalin’s legacy of terror in the early to mid-20th century. Founded by a former labor camp prisoner, it tells the stories of the creation of the first labor camps in 1918, the formation of the Gulag system in the 1930s, the expulsion of Germans from the Volga region and the mass deportations in the 1940s. To give visitors a small sense of what the camps may have been like, the museum features a reconstruction of some aspects of the camps, including a barracks, a punishment cell, an investigator’s office and a guard’s watchtower.

Visitors will also learn of the personal stories of gulag victims, with exhibits displaying documents, letters and memoirs of those sent to the camps by Stalin, as well as a collection of art by former gulag prisoners. Contemporary artists have also contributed pieces of art with their interpretation of the labor camps.

Practical Info

The Gulag History Museum is located at 1-y Samotechniy Pereulok 9, Building 1, and is accessible from the Dostoevskaya and Novoslobodskaya metro stations. It is open most days from 11am to 7pm (Thursdays from noon to 9pm) but is closed on Mondays and on the last Friday of the month. Admission is 150 rubles for adults, but the third Sunday of each month features free admission. All information in the museum is available in English, while audio guides are offered in English, Russian, German, French, Spanish, and Chinese.

1-y Samotechniy Pereulok 9, Building 1, Moscow, Russia

Tues–Wed, Fri–11am–7pm; Thurs 12–9pm. Closed Monday and the last Friday of each month

Adults 150 rubles

From $ 31

Kazan Cathedral

Moscow’s Kazan Cathedral was built between 1633 and 1636 to celebrate Russia’s liberation from Polish invaders in 1612, the end of the Time of Troubles. Prince Dmitry Pozharsky often prayed to a holy icon of Our Lady of Kazan, to which he attributed his success in removing Polish occupiers. Kazan Cathedral housed the icon for two centuries.

In 1936, the church was intentionally demolished as part of a greater plan to remodel Red Square to host military parades for the Soviet Union. Using measurements and photographs of the original church, the All-Russian Society for Historic Preservation and Cultural Organization built a replica of the cathedral in 1993.

Services are held within the cathedral twice each Sunday, as well as for vespers on Monday evening.

Practical Info

Kazan Cathedral is located in Red Square. Okhotny Ryad is the nearest metro stop.

8 ul. Nikolskaya, Moscow 109012, Russia

8am to 7pm

From $ 67

Kremlin

An imposing red-brick fortress stretching along the banks of the Moskva River, the Kremlin is the grand centerpiece of Moscow and one of Russia’s most recognizable landmarks. Originally the seat of the Russian grand dukes and later home to Soviet leaders such as Lenin and Stalin, the Kremlin is now the Russian president’s official residence.

The Basics

No city tour of Moscow is complete without a visit to the Kremlin, and most sightseeing tours include at least a photo stop outside. Admission tickets to the Kremlin complex offer access to Cathedral Square, where you’ll find the Ivan the Great Bell Tower (open to the public from April to September); the Assumption, Archangel, and Annunciation Cathedrals; the Patriarch Palace; and the Church of Laying Our Lady’s Holy Robe. A separate ticket is required to enter the Armoury, which is home to the Diamond Fund plus a huge collection of ceremonial arms and armor, royal garments, horse carriages, and gold- and silverware.

While you can explore independently, a guided walking tour helps you learn more about the Kremlin’s fascinating history. Kremlin tours are often combined with other Moscow attractions such as Red Square, Resurrection Gate, and St. Basil’s Cathedral, or a cruise along the Moskva River.

Things to Know Before You Go

The Kremlin is a must for history, politics, and architecture buffs, and first-time visitors to Moscow.
Plan around two hours to visit the Kremlin; budget more time if you plan to visit the museums.
Book a skip-the-line ticket for the church, as visitor numbers are limited and lines can be long, especially in peak season.
Audio guides are available for the Armoury and the Diamond Fund in multiple languages.
Some parts of the Kremlin are accessible to wheelchair users.

How to Get There

Located in the heart of Moscow, the Kremlin is easily accessible by metro or on foot from nearby attractions like Red Square (a 5-minute walk). The main entrance is by the Kutafya Tower, just northwest of Cathedral Square, and a second entrance is located just south, through the Alexander Garden (Alexandrovsky Sad). The closest metro stations are Borovitskaya (Line 9) and Biblioteka Imeni Lenina (Lenin Library; Line 1).

When to Get There

The Kremlin is open to visitors daily except Thursdays and during public holidays or official events. The busiest time to visit is between May and September, when advance bookings are essential—visit early on a weekday morning to avoid the biggest crowds.

Architecture of Moscow

Moscow’s bold monuments and elaborate architecture are a tribute to Russia’s glorious history, and the UNESCO World Heritage–listed Kremlin and Red Square are the city’s most memorable architectural landmarks. On Cathedral Square, the 15th-century Assumption Church is a visual feast, with golden domes, Corinthian columns, and stunning frescos. Other architectural highlights include the 16th-century Resurrection Gate, a decorative entryway to Red Square, and then the star attractions of Red Square itself—17th-century Kazan Cathedral, rainbow-colored St. Basil’s Cathedral, and the State Historical Museum, with its red baroque facade.

Kremlin, Moscow, Russia

Varies

From $ 13

GUM

GUM is an abbreviation meaning “Main Universal Store”, from the Russian “Глáвный универсáльный магазѝн”. It is the name of a private shopping mall located in central Moscow, just opposite Red Square. The building is a trapezoidal shape, with a steel framework and a glass roof. This made it quite unique at the time of construction, in the 1890s. From 1890 to the

1920s, the Red Square GUM was known as the Upper Trading Rows and served as a State Department Store. It was built to replace the previous trading rows, which were destroyed during the 1812 Fire of Moscow. However, GUM hasn’t always served as a shopping destination.

In 1928, Joseph Stalin converted it into office spaces, and it only reopened as a department store in 1953. It then became one of the only stores in the former Soviet Union not to suffer from consumer goods shortage, often resulting in long shopper queues spilling into Red Square.

Practical Info

GUM is open daily from 10 am until 10 pm. It is located directly on Red Square, in Moscow. It is easily accessible via three subway stations: Ohotny Ryad, Teatralnaja, and Ploshhad Revoljucii. There is also parking on-site.

Red Square, 3, Moscow 101000, Russia

Daily from 10 am-10 pm

From $ 22

Garage Museum of Contemporary Art

Housed in a spectacular glass pavilion designed by the architectural practice OMA in partnership with Rem Koolhaas 2015 on the site of a derelict restaurant, Garage is the creation of Russian girl-about-town Daria Zhukova, the longstanding girlfriend of Roman Abramovich. Originally found in the Bakhmetevsky Bus Garage (hence the name), which is now the home of the Jewish Museum and Tolerance Center, the art gallery has a spectacular location on the fringe of Gorky Park. The temporary exhibitions held on the gallery’s two levels concentrate on promoting the work of international modern artists, while its permanent holdings specialize in the development of Russian contemporary art from the 1950s to present. Recent big names shown there include Louise Bourgeois and installation artist Rashid Johnson.

Creative workshops are held for kids and there’s a stylish café with views over Gorky Park, an arty bookshop and a research library in the museum too. A welcome addition to Moscow’s burgeoning cool cultural scene, Garage should be on the itinerary of all visitors spending time in the city.

Practical Info

Ulitsa Krymsky Val 9/32, 119049, Moscow. Open daily 11am 10pm. Admission adults RUB 400; students RUB 200; younger than 17 RUB 100. Metro to Oktyabrskaya. The gallery is five minutes’ walk from the main entrance to Gorky Park.

Ulitsa Krymsky Val 9/32, Moscow Oblast, Moscow 119049, Russia

Daily 11am–10pm

adults RUB 400; students RUB 200; younger than 17 RUB 100

From $ 123

Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics

The Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics in Moscow was built to commemorate the achievements of the Soviet Union in space exploration. Sitting at the base of the Monument to the Conquerors of Space that was erected in 1964, the museum opened in 1981, on the 20th anniversary of the first manned space flight. Among the 85,000 objects in the museum’s collection are the first Soviet rocket engine, the moon rover Lunokhod, the first Soviet satellite, the personal belongings of the first Soviet astronaut, specimens from the moon and propaganda posters reflecting the “space race.”

The museum exhibitions provide an overview of how the Soviet space program evolved, from the first man-made satellites to the first space walks and moon exploration programs. Closed for renovations for three years, the museum re-opened in 2009 with three times the original space and new exhibitions on international space programs, including the USA, Europe, China and the International Space Station. Outside, Cosmonauts Alley that connects the museum with the Metro feature large stone sculptures of the most important figures in the Soviet space program.

Practical Info

To reach the Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics, take the Metro to the VDNKh station and then follow Cosmonauts Alley to the museum. The price of admission includes a ticket to Sergey Korolev’s Memorial House nearby. Audio guides are available for and additional cost, as is admission to the interactive Buran-2 space flight.

111 Prospekt Mira, Moscow, Russia

Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday to Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.; Thursday, 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Ticket office closes 30 minutes before closing time.

250 rubles; photo pass, 230 rubles

From $ 50

Assumption Cathedral (Uspensky Sobor)

One of several churches in Cathedral Square inside of Moscow’s Kremlin, the Assumption Cathedral is arguably the most important. Constructed between 1475 and 1479 at the request of Grand Duke Ivan III of Moscow, it is regarded as the mother church of Muscovite Russia.

It was long the place of coronation for the Romanov tsars, and it was the burial place for Moscow metropolitans and patriarchs of the Orthodox Church. Designed by an Italian architect, the cathedral was built with five domes and became a model for other churches throughout Russia with its colorful frescoes that dominate the interior and its impressive iconostasis that dates back to 1547. The tsars often added icons to the iconostasis from the cities they conquered, and the oldest of those, from the 12th century, was brought to Moscow from Veliky Novgorod after it was captured in 1561. Near the south entrance to the cathedral, you can see the throne of Tsar Ivan IV.

Practical Info

To visit the Assumption Cathedral, you must buy a ticket to visit Cathedral Square inside the Kremlin. This includes admission to all museum-cathedrals inside the square and costs 350 rubles. Tickets can be purchased from a booth near the Kutafiya Tower in the Alexander Garden outside of the Kremlin. The Kremlin grounds are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, except for Thursday. The nearest Metro station is Biblioteka imeni Lenina or Borovitskaya. Photography is not permitted inside the cathedral.

Moscow, Russia

Friday-Wednesday 10am-5pm

350 rubles

From $ 71

Alexander Garden

Just west of the Kremlin, the Alexander Garden was laid out between 1819 and 1823 in an effort by Tsar Alexander I to rebuild Moscow after the end of the Napoleonic Wars. One of the first urban public parks in Moscow, it was built on the site of the riverbed of the Neglinnaya River, which was channeled underground.

The garden actually includes three separate gardens, which stretch all along the western wall of the Kremlin, but the Upper Garden is of most interest to visitors. It includes the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which contains the remains of a soldier killed in World War II. A faux ruined grotto was built underneath the Middle Arsenal Tower in 1841, and a large granite obelisk was erected in 1914 to celebrate the tercentenary of the Romanov dynasty. While it was originally engraved with the names of the Romanov tsars, the Bolsheviks re-carved it with names of socialist and communist philosophers and political leaders.

In the Middle Garden stands the Kutafiya Tower, the most prominent feature of the garden. This is also where you will find ticket booths for the Kremlin. The Lower Garden was the last to be laid out and stretches to the road to the Borovitskaya Tower, one of two entrances to the Kremlin.

Practical Info

The Alexander Garden is walkable from hotels in the center of Moscow or is accessible from the Alexandrovksy Sad or Biblioteka imeni Lenina Metro stations. The garden is open year-round and is free of charge.

Alexander's Garden, Moscow, Russia

From $ 36

Cathedral of the Archangel (Arkhangelsky Sobor)

One of several churches standing on Cathedral Square inside Moscow’s Kremlin, the Cathedral of the Archangel was the main burial place for Russian tsars for centuries until the capital was temporarily moved to St. Petersburg. Built in the early 16th century, it represented the culmination of a grand building project initiated by Ivan the Great. Built in a style unique from the other Kremlin cathedrals, the Cathedral of the Archangel features Italian Renaissance design elements, as well as five domes representing Jesus and the four evangelists.

While many of the cathedral’s treasures are now displayed in the Kremlin Armory Museum, the 17th century iconostasis remains, as do many 16th and 17th century wall frescoes, painted by more than 100 different artists. The oldest icon in the cathedral, which depicts Archangel Michael in full armor, dates back to the 14th century. Visitors can see more than 40 tombs inside the cathedral, with those of the Grand Dukes and their families lining the southern wall and the vaults of the Romanovs standing in the center of the building.

Practical Info

To visit the cathedral, visitors must buy a ticket to the Kremlin’s Cathedral Square as a whole. The ticket office is in front of Kutafya Tower and is open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It is best reached by taking the Metro to Alexandrovskiy Sad or Biblioteka imeni Lenina. The cathedral and the Kremlin are also included in most tours of Moscow’s highlights.

Kremlin, Russia

Friday to Wednesday, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm

500 rubles entrance to Cathedral Square, including the Cathedral of the Archangel

From $ 54

Izmailovo Kremlin

Opened in 2003, the Izmailovo Kremlin on the outskirts of Moscow pays homage to the other kremlins around Russia. Built in a pseudo-Byzantine style, it was inspired by both Russian fairytales and the design of early Russian palaces. More than a half dozen museums can be found within the Kremlin walls, including the Museum of the History of Vodka, the Museum of Bread, the Museum of Miniatures, the Museum of the History of the Russian Navy and the Chocolate Museum. There are also a couple restaurants and a wooden church dedicated to St. Nicholas of Myra, the patron saint of arts and crafts. Visitors can also learn more about traditional Russian matryoshka (nesting) dolls and even try painting their own.

Adjacent to the Kremlin is the Izmailovo Vernissage, a large flea market where visitors can buy a variety of souvenirs and kitschy items such as fur hats, chess sets, Soviet paraphernalia and, of course, matryoshka dolls. Prices are generally lower than elsewhere in Moscow and bartering is expected; transactions are cash only. The Vernissage is open daily, but many vendors only come out on the weekends.

Practical Info

To visit the Izmailovo Kremlin, take the Metro to Partizanskaya. Exiting the station, take a left and it is a short walk to the Kremlin. Note that there is also a Metro stop called Izmailovo, but it is actually quite far from the Kremlin.

73G, Izmailovskoye Shosse, Moscow, Russia

Daily 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

10 rubles

From $ 79

Diamond Fund (Almazny Fond)

A highlight of a visit to the Kremlin, the Diamond Fund shows off the most ostentatious of the Russian imperial jewels. Originally housed in a small room in the Winter Palace in St Petersburg, the collection of jewels begun by Peter the Great grew quickly, especially after a large contribution by Peter’s granddaughter, Empress Elizabeth I. The collection moved to Moscow in 1914 to protect it from the Germans and was kept in a vault underneath the Kremlin.

When it was reopened in 1926, two-thirds of the collection were auctioned off (contrary to Peter’s instructions) to support the government. What remained was put on display for high ranking officials and dignitaries in 1967 and was only opened to public after the fall of the Soviet Union.

The impressive collection features Catherine the Great’s coronation crown from 1762, the world’s largest sapphire, the famous 190-karat Orlov Diamond, one of the world’s largest gold nuggets weighing 3.6 kilograms and numerous Faberge eggs.

Practical Info

The Diamond Fund is located in the Armoury Fund inside the Kremlin and is accessible from the Borovitskaya or Alexandrovsky Sad metro stations. Admission is separate from the Kremlin and Armoury Fund and costs 500 rubles for adults. While other Kremlin tickets are sold near Kutafiya Tower, tickets to the Diamond Fund must be purchased in the foyer of the Armoury Fund. Visitors must join an excursion, which leave at 20 minute intervals between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. and between 2 and 5 p.m. The Diamond Fund is open daily, except for Thursdays.

Moscow, Russia

Friday-Wednesday: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. & 2-5 p.m.

Adults 500 rubles

From $ 69