Location: Red Square & Kitay-gorod
Top Things to do in Red Square & Kitay-gorod
Things to do in Moscow, Central Russia: The Best Specialty Museums
The political, scientific, historical, architectural and business center of Russia, Moscow displays the country's contrasts at their most extreme. The ancient and modern are juxtaposed side by side in this city of 10 million. Catch a metro from one of the ornate stations to see Red Square, the Kremlin, the nine domes of St. Basil's Cathedral, Lenin's Mausoleum, the KGB Museum and other symbols of Moscow's great and terrible past, then lighten up and shop Boulevard Ring or people watch in Pushkin Square.
Restaurants in Moscow
1. Moscow Kremlin
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7,891 reviews
Moscow's most famous historical and political landmark, the Kremlin is a walled-in complex of cathedrals, palaces and government offices, with several buildings open to the public, including the Armoury, Patriarch's Palace and the State Kremlin Palace.
Reviewed By CAPerth
The Kremlin is a collection of several attractions, the Architectural Ensemble (basically the main Kremlin grounds, museums and several historic Orthodox Cathedrals), the Armoury (the Treasury including carriages, Faberge eggs, jewellery, armour and ceremonial clothing), the Diamond Fund (basically a collection of individual stones and some set pieces) and the Ivan Bell Tower. We purchased our tickets on line for the Architectural Ensemble (day ticket) and Armoury (timed ticket, different day) from the official website as soon as our dates were available (17 days prior). The Diamond Fund tickets are purchased from inside the Armoury. Prices are quite cheap given the world class exhibits. We did not attempt to buy tickets to the Bell Tower following advice on line and confirmed by our guide that it is like winning the lottery and you have to hang around for hours on the one in a hundred chance that you might score tickets. Note that even though you buy in advance, you still have to queue up to exchange your “voucher” for a ticket and you will need your original passport as ID. Not sure if this is much quicker than buying tickets direct but since we were in peak time and Armoury tickets are quite limited, advance purchase is highly recommended. We visited the Cathedrals as part of a tour with Viki Tours (Armoury we did ourselves, audio guide is free and very good but covers the main exhibits only – to get detailed commentary on everything would take a whole day) and we had planned our visit to coincide with the Ceremonial mounting parade of Horse Guard and Foot Guard of the Presidential Regiment at midday on Saturday. This is a worthwhile addition if you can plan it, but may have also accounted for the very large crowd there that day (or that could be normal in June). Unfortunately, no photography is allowed inside the cathedrals or the Armoury Museum.
2. Diamond Fund (Almazny Fond)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,804 reviews
The Orlov Diamond, a gift to Catherine the Great from Count Orlov, her lover, is only one of the many diamonds and jewels on display in this incredible collection at the Kremlin.
Reviewed By supermic - Hoogland, The Netherlands
The treasures of the Almaznyy Fond include items that were used during the coronations and other special occasions, which were designed to demonstrate the glory and richness of the Russian empire. The question of how this wealth was obtained is of course not answered here. The Diamond Fund collection includes the so-called crown jewels including the Great Imperial Crown, which was made for the coronation of Empress Catherine II in 1762 The Diamond Fund collection contains the seven world-famous gems. The Orlov diamond is the largest and most famous of them. It adorns the imperial scepter of Empress Catherine II. The collection also includes jewelery masterpieces from the 18th-20th centuries, rare gems, insignia, gold and platinum gold nuggets of invaluable value. Tickets for the Diamond Fund cannot be obtained online, but can be purchased at kiosk numbers 4 and 5 (and in the Armory in possesion of a armoury ticket) and cost 500 RUB. Note that the Kremlin is closed on Thursdays. The entrance is at by the Borovitskaya Tower (number 20) and it is recommended to use the 45 min audio guide.
3. Chambers of The Romanov Boyars
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 160 reviews
The house was a birthplace of Mikhail Fyodorovich, the first Tsar in the Romanov dynasty.
Reviewed By ioanalauran
Small but very interesting museum, where you can see the old rich boyard’s way of living. A good option if you don’t want to stay in a queue at the Red Square.
4. English Courtyard Museum
5. The Ensemble of a Belltower of Ivan the Great
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 179 reviews
Reviewed By BackinBracknell - Bracknell, United Kingdom
Another "must-see" building in Cathedral Square in the Kremlin. Strikingly beautiful architecture, all whitewashed and with stunning golden domes. It dates from the early 16th century and was built to be the Bell Tower for the three cathedrals nearby (the Assumption, the Annunciation and the Archangel). We were not able to go inside but were happy just admiring it from the outside.
6. Doll House Museum
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 5 reviews
7. Museum of Fashion
8. Moscow Design Museum
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 5 reviews
