Moscow is one of those cities that feels completely different from what I expected. Before visiting, I imagined Russia as mostly historic buildings, churches, and snowy streets. But once we arrived in Moscow, we realized that the city has so many different sides. Thats why we created this Moscow travel guide
You have the iconic Red Square and the Kremlin, beautiful churches with colorful domes, grand Soviet-era Metro stations, shopping streets, and then suddenly you are surrounded by huge modern skyscrapers in Moscow City.
So if you’re planning a trip and wondering what to do in Moscow or looking for the best places to visit in Moscow, here are some of the places we visited and really enjoyed.
1. The Moscow Kremlin
Let’s start with one of the most famous places in Moscow: the Kremlin.
Located right next to Red Square, the Moscow Kremlin is a huge fortified complex filled with churches, palaces, museums, and government buildings.
And honestly, it is much bigger than I expected.
Inside the Kremlin, you can walk around Cathedral Square, see several historic churches, and visit museums such as the Armoury Chamber.
The Armoury Chamber is especially interesting if you want to see historic Russian treasures, including royal clothing, ceremonial weapons, carriages, jewelry, and other items from the former tsars’ treasury. The museum currently houses more than 4,000 objects from Russia, Europe, and Asia.
But even if you are not a museum person, I think the architecture alone is worth seeing.
You will find beautiful golden domes, white stone buildings, huge palace facades, and detailed decorations everywhere you look.
And the best part is that the Kremlin is right beside Red Square, so you can easily visit both on the same day.
📍 Location: Moscow city center
🚇 Metro: Alexandrovsky Sad, Arbatskaya, Borovitskaya, or Biblioteka Imeni Lenina
Kremlin ticket tip
The Kremlin isn’t completely free. You need a ticket to enter the museum and Cathedral Square areas.
The official museum currently recommends buying tickets in advance because visitor numbers are limited, and tickets are released 17 days before the visit date. The Kremlin Museums are also closed on Thursdays.
So if you know your travel dates, book your Kremlin ticket early.
2. Red Square
Of course, you cannot visit Moscow without going to Red Square.
This is probably the most iconic place in the entire city.
And what’s interesting is that Red Square isn’t just one attraction.
There are several famous Moscow landmarks surrounding it, so you can easily spend a few hours exploring the area.
Here are the ones you shouldn’t miss.
1. Saint Basil’s Cathedral
This is probably the first image that comes to mind when you think about Russia.
Saint Basil’s Cathedral is famous for its colorful onion-shaped domes, and it honestly looks almost unreal in person.
Every dome has a different pattern and color, making the whole building look completely different from any church I’ve seen before.
This is also one of the most recognizable landmarks in Russia, so obviously we had to take way too many photos here.
The cathedral dates back to the 16th century and sits directly at the southern end of Red Square.
Even if you don’t go inside, walking around Red Square and seeing Saint Basil’s from different angles is already an experience.
📍 Location: Red Square
💡 Tip: Visit both during the day and at night. The cathedral looks completely different when it is illuminated.
2. GUM Mall
Right opposite the Kremlin is GUM, one of the most beautiful shopping malls in Moscow.
And this is not what I normally imagine when someone says “shopping mall.”
The building itself is incredibly grand, with a huge glass roof, beautiful architecture, and long shopping galleries.
One of the most famous spots inside GUM is the central fountain.
You’ll probably notice that a lot of people are taking photos around it.
The fountain has been part of GUM’s history since the early 20th century, and it returned to the center of the mall in 2007.
You can find luxury brands, restaurants, cafés, and smaller shops inside.
But even if you don’t plan to shop, I still recommend walking through it.
📍 Location: Red Square
💰 Entrance: Free
Pro tip: Don’t leave immediately after seeing the fountain. Walk through the different floors and look up at the glass ceiling. The architecture is one of the main reasons to visit.
3. Kazan Cathedral
Just a short walk from GUM is Kazan Cathedral.
Compared with Saint Basil’s Cathedral, this one is much smaller, but I actually think that’s part of its charm.
The colorful red-and-white exterior makes it very easy to spot while you’re exploring the area around Red Square.
Because it is right beside GUM and Red Square, you don’t really need to make a separate trip here.
Just add it to your walking route.
📍 Location: Red Square / Nikolskaya Street area
💰 Entrance: Free
3. Nikolskaya Street
If you’re already at Red Square, don’t just leave after taking a photo.
Walk over to Nikolskaya Street.
This is one of my favorite streets to explore around Red Square because it feels much more lively than the square itself.
The street is filled with restaurants, cafés, shops, historic buildings, and beautiful architecture.
And I especially recommend coming here at night.
Once the lights turn on, the entire street becomes super photogenic.
There are lights hanging above the pedestrian street, people walking around, restaurants everywhere, and beautiful historic buildings on both sides.
It almost feels like a completely different place compared with daytime.
📍 Location: Next to Red Square
💰 Entrance: Free
⏰ Best time: Evening
This is also an easy place to stop for dinner after exploring the Kremlin and Red Square.
4. Moscow City
Now let’s see the completely different side of Moscow.
Welcome to Moscow City.
If the Kremlin and Red Square show you the historic side of Moscow, Moscow City shows you the modern side.
This business district is filled with huge skyscrapers, shopping malls, restaurants, hotels, offices, and observation decks.
And the contrast is crazy.
One moment you’re standing next to a centuries-old cathedral…
Then you arrive at Moscow City and suddenly you’re surrounded by massive glass skyscrapers.
Some of the towers are seriously huge. The Moscow City complex includes towers such as One Tower, Federation Tower, OKO, Neva Towers and others, with several reaching hundreds of meters high.
For shopping and food, you can visit Afimall City, which is right in the heart of Moscow City.
The mall has more than 450 shops and cafés across six floors, and it is directly connected to the Moscow City and Delovoy Tsentr metro stations.
But for me, the main reason to visit Moscow City is the city views.
From the observation decks, you can see how massive Moscow really is.
📍 Location: Moscow City
🚇 Metro: Moscow City / Delovoy Tsentr
Pro tip: Come around sunset if you want to see both the daytime skyline and Moscow’s skyscrapers lighting up at night.
5. Explore the Moscow Metro Stations
This might be the biggest surprise from our trip.
I knew Moscow had a famous Metro system, but I didn’t expect the stations to be this beautiful.
Some of them honestly look more like museums, palaces, or ballrooms than public transportation.
The Moscow Metro opened in 1935, and many of its famous historic stations were built during the Soviet era. Several stations from the 1930s–1950s feature huge halls, chandeliers, sculptures, marble, and detailed mosaics.
And the best part?
You don’t need a separate museum ticket to see them.
Just take the Metro.
There are hundreds of stations across Moscow, but these are some of the most beautiful ones we visited.
1. Komsomolskaya
Komsomolskaya is probably my personal favorite.
The station has a huge yellow-and-gold interior with massive chandeliers and incredibly detailed decorations.
It feels super grand and historic.
The Circle Line station opened in 1952 and was designed by architect Alexey Shchusev and his collaborators. Its decoration includes large mosaic panels and elaborate architectural details.
When you first walk in, it doesn’t feel like you’re underground.
It feels like you’ve entered a palace.
⭐ My favorite Moscow Metro station
2. Mayakovskaya
Next is Mayakovskaya.
This station has a completely different style.
Instead of feeling like a giant palace, it feels more elegant and futuristic.
The huge ceiling arches and columns make the station almost feel like a ballroom.
Mayakovskaya opened in 1938 and is famous for its 34 ceiling mosaics depicting scenes from Soviet life.
It’s one of those places where you might forget you’re actually waiting for a train.
3. Belorusskaya
Belorusskaya has a more elegant and traditional atmosphere.
You’ll find detailed decorations, marble, and beautiful carvings throughout the station.
It’s another great example of how much effort went into designing Moscow’s Metro stations.
And because you’re already using the Metro to travel around Moscow, you can easily add these stations to your itinerary without spending extra money on sightseeing.
4. Kievskaya
Then we have Kievskaya.
This one is famous for its beautiful historic mosaic murals.
The mosaics cover the walls and are surrounded by elegant decorative frames.
Every time you look at a different section, you’ll notice another scene or detail.
If you love photography, this is definitely a station worth adding to your list.
5. Novoslobodskaya
And finally, Novoslobodskaya.
This one might be the most unique.
The colorful stained-glass panels almost make the station look like something from an Alice in Wonderland movie.
Instead of massive paintings covering the walls, you get these beautiful glowing glass panels surrounded by decorative details.
It’s completely different from Komsomolskaya or Mayakovskaya.
⚠️ Moscow Metro tip
Don’t worry too much about waiting for your train.
Moscow Metro trains run very frequently, especially during busy periods. The system is known for very short intervals, with peak-hour headways often around 90 seconds or less.
So you can take your time looking around the station.
And when the train comes?
Just hop on and continue your sightseeing.
6. Arbat Street
Another fun place to visit in Moscow is Arbat Street.
This is one of the city’s most famous pedestrian shopping streets.
Compared with the huge squares and grand buildings around the Kremlin, Arbat feels much more relaxed.
You’ll find restaurants, cafés, souvenir shops, street performers, and plenty of historic buildings along the street.
It’s a great place to simply walk around without having a strict plan.
And if you’re looking for Russian souvenirs, this is one of the areas where you’ll find plenty of options.
I recommend visiting around the afternoon and staying until evening.
Grab some food, walk around the shops, and just enjoy the atmosphere.
📍 Location: Central Moscow
🚇 Metro: Arbatskaya or Smolenskaya
💰 Entrance: Free
7. Aviapark Mall
And finally, something a little more unexpected: Aviapark.
This is one of the biggest shopping malls in Moscow, but what makes it interesting for tourists is the huge aquarium inside the mall.
Yes, an aquarium inside a shopping mall.
The massive cylindrical aquarium stretches through the atrium and is one of the most recognizable features of Aviapark.
So if you’re looking for something different from churches, museums, and historic buildings, this is a fun place to visit.
The mall itself has hundreds of shops, restaurants, cafés, entertainment, and plenty of indoor space, so it’s also a good option if the weather isn’t great.
📍 Location: Khodynsky Boulevard
🚇 Metro: CSKA
💰 Entrance: Free to enter the mall
Where To Stay in Moscow
It is hard to book hotels in Russia. What you can do is use Trip.com, but you have to change the language to anything other than English or European languages. I think this is because of the sanctions.
1. The Carlton Moscow (formerly Ritz-Carlton Moscow)
An ultra-luxury hotel right beside the Kremlin. It’s quite expensive, but you get an amazing level of service.
The interior was amazing too. We loved our room so much and really enjoyed our stay here.
2. Marriott Imperial Plaza Moscow
A 5-star hotel near Komsomolskaya Station. Great location, with lots of shops and restaurants nearby. Great service and breakfast too.
It’s also very close to the train stations that will take you to St. Petersburg.
Final Thoughts
Moscow surprised me.
I expected the city to be beautiful, but I didn’t expect there to be so many completely different sides of Moscow.
You have the colorful domes of Saint Basil’s Cathedral, the historic buildings around Red Square, the grand interiors of GUM, beautiful pedestrian streets like Nikolskaya and Arbat, and then the huge modern skyscrapers of Moscow City.
But honestly, the Moscow Metro was probably the biggest surprise for me.
I never thought I would say that a Metro station was one of my favorite attractions in a city.
But after seeing Komsomolskaya, Mayakovskaya, Kievskaya and Novoslobodskaya, I completely understand why people call the Moscow Metro an underground museum.
And that’s what I love about traveling.
Sometimes the places you don’t expect to be attractions end up being the most memorable ones.
So if you’re planning your first trip to Russia, make sure you don’t just visit Red Square and the Kremlin.
Take the Metro, explore the side streets, visit Moscow City, and see the different sides of this incredible city.
FAQ: Places to Visit in Moscow
What are the best places to visit in Moscow?
Some of the most popular places to visit in Moscow include the Kremlin, Red Square, Saint Basil’s Cathedral, GUM, Nikolskaya Street, Moscow City, Arbat Street, and Moscow’s famous Metro stations.
How many days do you need in Moscow?
For a first trip, 3 days in Moscow is a good starting point. This gives you enough time to explore the Kremlin and Red Square, visit the famous Metro stations, walk around Arbat Street, and see the modern Moscow City district.
Is Moscow Metro worth visiting?
Yes! The Moscow Metro is not just public transportation. Many historic stations feature grand architecture, mosaics, chandeliers, marble, and sculptures. The Metro opened in 1935 and some of its most famous stations were built during the Soviet period.
Which Moscow Metro station is the most beautiful?
There are many beautiful Moscow Metro stations, but Komsomolskaya, Mayakovskaya, Kievskaya, Belorusskaya, and Novoslobodskaya are particularly popular with visitors because of their historic architecture and decorative interiors.
Can you visit the Moscow Kremlin?
Yes. The Kremlin Museums are open to visitors with tickets. The main visitor areas include the Cathedral Square architectural complex and the Armoury Chamber. Tickets are sold through the official Kremlin Museums website, and advance booking is recommended.
Is Red Square free to visit?
Yes, you can walk around Red Square without buying a general entrance ticket. However, individual attractions around the square, such as Saint Basil’s Cathedral and the Kremlin museums, have their own admission rules and tickets.
What is Moscow famous for?
Moscow is famous for landmarks such as the Kremlin, Red Square and Saint Basil’s Cathedral, as well as its grand Metro stations, historic streets, museums, Soviet architecture, and modern skyscrapers.
What is the best area to stay in Moscow for sightseeing?
For first-time visitors, staying in central Moscow makes it easier to reach major attractions such as Red Square, the Kremlin, Arbat Street, and the city’s main Metro lines.
Explore More Hidden Gems in Russia
If you’re planning a longer trip, check out our other Russia travel blogs featuring Moscow, Saint Petersburg, and many other cities — each offering its own unique blend of nature and culture.
- All Posts
- Back
- Hong Kong
- Thailand
- Taiwan
- China
- Singapore
- Japan
- Malaysia
- Indonesia
- Russia
Moscow is one of those cities that feels completely different from what I expected. Before visiting, I imagined Russia as...
We strongly believe that before you judge a place, you should at least visit it first. With all the stigma and...
