Onion domes, marble metro halls and steaming banyas: the 10 best things to do in Moscow.
Moscow is where centuries of imperial grandeur, Soviet history and bold modern architecture meet. From the domes of St. Basil's to high-tech parks, world-famous ballet, underground palaces and historic bathhouses, here are ten experiences for a short layover or a longer stay.
Moscow at a glance
Top 10 Things to Do in Moscow at a Glance
Category, district and quick links
| # | Experience | Category | District |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Red Square & St. Basil's Cathedral | Iconic Landmark | Central Moscow |
| 2 | The Moscow Kremlin & Armoury Chamber | Imperial Fortress & Museum | Central Moscow |
| 3 | The Moscow Metro's Underground Palaces | Underground Art & Transit | Citywide (Circle Line 5) |
| 4 | A Performance at the Bolshoi Theatre | World-Class Ballet & Opera | Teatralnaya Square |
| 5 | Zaryadye Park & the Floating Bridge | Modern Urban Park | Moskva River Embankment |
| 6 | The State Tretyakov Gallery | Fine Art Museum | Zamoskvorechye |
| 7 | Gorky Park & the Garage Museum | Recreation & Contemporary Art | Krymsky Val |
| 8 | Old Arbat & Nikolskaya Street | Pedestrian Streets | Central Moscow |
| 9 | VDNKh & the Museum of Cosmonautics | Space History & Soviet Legacy | Ostankino |
| 10 | Sanduny Bathhouse (Russian Banya) | Cultural Wellness Ritual | Neglinnaya Street |
The 10 Best Things to Do in Moscow
From the Kremlin to the banya
Each experience below shows a different side of Moscow, from imperial landmarks and Soviet heritage to modern parks and living traditions.
Red Square & St. Basil's Cathedral
Red Square (Krasnaya Ploshchad) is the historic and symbolic heart of Russia. Framed by the red-brick Kremlin walls, St. Basil's Cathedral, the State Historical Museum and the GUM department store, it is the essential first stop.
- St. Basil's Cathedral: Commissioned by Ivan the Terrible in the 16th century to mark the conquest of Kazan, with a cluster of chapels and richly painted interiors.
- GUM: A 19th-century glass-roofed arcade with boutiques, cafés and its famous ice cream.
- Lenin's Mausoleum: The granite mausoleum where Lenin's preserved body is on display; entry is free on selected mornings.
The Moscow Kremlin & Armoury Chamber
Enclosed by about 2.2 km of late 15th-century walls and 20 towers, the Kremlin is both the official residence of the President of Russia and a vast open-air museum.
- Cathedral Square: The Assumption Cathedral, where tsars were crowned, plus the Annunciation and Archangel cathedrals.
- Armoury Chamber: Coronation robes, royal carriages, armour and imperial Fabérgé eggs.
- Tsar Bell & Tsar Cannon: The world's largest bell, which never rang, and one of the largest cannons ever cast.
The Moscow Metro's Underground Palaces
Opened in 1935, the Moscow Metro was designed as "palaces for the people". Many central stations have marble walls, chandeliers, stained glass, bronze statues and ceiling mosaics.
- Komsomolskaya: Baroque-style yellow ceilings, ornate plasterwork and mosaic panels.
- Mayakovskaya: An Art Deco gem with steel arches and ceiling mosaics on the theme of a day in the Soviet sky.
- Ploshchad Revolyutsii: Dozens of bronze figures of Soviet citizens; locals rub the border guard's dog's nose for luck.
- Novoslobodskaya: Glowing stained-glass panels.
A Performance at the Bolshoi Theatre
Founded in 1776, the Bolshoi is one of the world's most famous theatres for ballet and opera.
- The Historic Stage: A crimson-and-gold auditorium with tiers of gilded boxes.
- The repertoire: Ballets such as Swan Lake, The Nutcracker and Giselle, and operas like Eugene Onegin.
Zaryadye Park & the Floating Bridge
Opened in 2017 next to Red Square, Zaryadye Park recreates four Russian landscapes: tundra, steppe, forest and wetland.
- The Floating Bridge: A V-shaped bridge that juts about 70 metres out over the river with no supports below, offering views of the Kremlin and St. Basil's.
- Ice Cave and glass crust: A year-round ice installation and a glass-roofed amphitheatre.
The State Tretyakov Gallery
Founded in 1856 by merchant Pavel Tretyakov, the gallery holds a world-class collection of Russian art, from medieval icons to 19th-century masters.
- Viktor Vasnetsov's Bogatyrs: The famous painting of three legendary Russian heroes.
- Ilya Repin: Powerful historical canvases, including Ivan the Terrible and His Son Ivan.
- Ivan Shishkin: Russian landscapes such as Morning in a Pine Forest.
Gorky Park & the Garage Museum
Stretching along the Moskva River, Gorky Park is one of Moscow's favourite green spaces, with lawns, an open-air cinema, ponds and bike paths.
- Garage Museum of Contemporary Art: Housed in a converted 1960s Soviet restaurant, with Russian and international exhibitions.
- Winter skating: In the colder months, the park is famous for its huge outdoor ice rink.
Old Arbat & Nikolskaya Street
Moscow's pedestrian streets offer a lively mix of architecture, street life, cafés and souvenir shopping.
- Old Arbat: One of Moscow's oldest streets, once home to artists and poets, including a Pushkin museum; look for matryoshka dolls and Soviet-era art.
- Nikolskaya Street: Linking Red Square with Lubyanka, lined with historic buildings and cafés and often strung with festive lights.
VDNKh & the Museum of Cosmonautics
VDNKh is a vast Soviet-era exhibition park with grand pavilions and monumental architecture.
- Museum of Cosmonautics: Beneath the 107-metre titanium Monument to the Conquerors of Space, with capsules, spacesuits and the preserved space dogs Belka and Strelka.
- Friendship of Peoples Fountain: A gilded fountain with 16 statues representing the Soviet republics.
Sanduny Bathhouse (Russian Banya)
Open since 1808, Sanduny is Moscow's most famous historic bathhouse, with grand interiors, marble pools and carved wooden lounges.
- The parilka: Hot, wood-fired steam rooms.
- Parenie: A traditional treatment using bundles of birch or eucalyptus leaves (venik), followed by a cold plunge.
- Tea time: Herbal tea or kvass in the relaxation lounge.
Plan Your Moscow Trip
How long and when to go
How long do you have?
- MorningRed Square, St. Basil's and the Kremlin
- AfternoonZaryadye Park and the Floating Bridge, then a Metro station tour
- EveningNikolskaya Street lights or a Bolshoi performance
- Day 1Red Square, the Kremlin and the Armoury Chamber
- Day 2Tretyakov Gallery, Gorky Park, Garage Museum and Old Arbat
- Day 3Metro tour, VDNKh and the Museum of Cosmonautics, then a banya
- Day 1Red Square, St. Basil's Cathedral and GUM
- Day 2The Kremlin, Cathedral Square and the Armoury Chamber
- Day 3Metro station tour, Zaryadye Park and the Floating Bridge, evening on Nikolskaya Street
- Day 4State Tretyakov Gallery, Gorky Park and the Garage Museum
- Day 5Old Arbat, Novodevichy Convent and the view from Sparrow Hills
- Day 6VDNKh, the Museum of Cosmonautics and Ostankino Tower
- Day 7A traditional banya at Sanduny, then an evening at the Bolshoi
- Day 1Red Square, St. Basil's Cathedral and GUM
- Day 2The Kremlin, Cathedral Square and the Armoury Chamber
- Day 3Metro station tour, Zaryadye Park and Nikolskaya Street
- Day 4State Tretyakov Gallery and the New Tretyakov at Krymsky Val
- Day 5Gorky Park, the Garage Museum and a walk to Sparrow Hills
- Day 6Old Arbat and Novodevichy Convent
- Day 7VDNKh, the Museum of Cosmonautics and Ostankino Tower
- Day 8Day trip to Sergiev Posad and the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius
- Day 9Kolomenskoye and Tsaritsyno estates, then a Moskva River cruise
- Day 10Moscow City skyscrapers, a banya at Sanduny and a farewell night at the Bolshoi
Which season?
Winter · December to February
Snowy streets, festive lights, holiday markets and huge ice rinks such as Gorky Park's. Dress warmly, as temperatures are often well below freezing.
Summer · May to September
Long, warm days, green parks, river cruises and outdoor terraces. Temperatures are usually pleasant, often in the low-to-mid 20s°C.
Practical Moscow Travel Tips
Before you set out
Getting around
The Metro is fast and cheap. Use a refillable Troika card for the metro, buses and trams, and the Yandex Go app for taxis.
Money and payments
Cards issued outside Russia generally do not work. Bring cash in euros or US dollars to exchange for roubles at banks.
Language and navigation
Central metro stations and major sights have English or transliterated signs; download an offline translation app and Yandex Maps.
Visiting churches
Dress modestly. Men remove hats; women are encouraged to cover their hair and knees. Avoid photos during services.
