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Exploring Moscow: Top 15 Best Places to Visit in Moscow, Russia
Moscow is a lively city with many things to do and places to visit that you will be occupied for the whole day. The city of Moscow is a mixture of contemporary and historical sights. There are many engaging things to do in Moscow like exploring the city, going sightseeing, shopping, engaging in cultural activities in the capital, and so on; you will surely want to come back for more after your trip.
Red Square in Moscow
15 Best Activities and Tourist Attractions in Moscow
Visit Lenin’s Mausoleum
This is the ultimate love it or hates it landmark in Moscow as it is a tourist hotspot. This Mausoleum houses a glass sarcophagus containing the embalmed body of the legendary Russian revolutionary, Vladimir Lenin. When Lenin died in 1924, more than 2.5 million people came to Red Square to pay their final respects, and people still come to see Lenin’s wax-like body till now. While you visit here, you should consider that you will wait in line and go through a thorough body search to get to this illustrious building.
OPENING TIMES: Daily, 10 am to 1 pm, closed on Mondays and Fridays.
Red Square
This is the heart of Moscow, and it is the most visited Moscow attraction. This is the place where the city and even the country’s history unfolded, and it is surrounded by beautiful architecture. It was once where traders sold their goods, but it is now surrounded by unforgettable sites like St. Basil’s Cathedral, Kremlin, Lenin’s Mausoleum, and other celebrated attractions.
Moskva River
This river may not get the same attention as some of the notable cities in the world like the river Thames in London or the river Seine in Paris, but it is a good place to go for a walk or boat tour. If you prefer to stroll, it will take you about 90 minutes (depending on your walking speed) to stroll between Gorky Park and the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. You can end your tour at the cathedral if you are a fan of the religious building.
You can also go for a river cruise to get a different view of the city; you can book cruises at varying times and locations from different companies. You can also go for a night cruise, but you should also know that Moscow has a long winter and it can freeze for months, so this will not always be possible.
Moscow Kremlin
You should try to explore the Moscow Kremlin when you visit the city. This is the biggest active fortress in Europe where. You can go for a week in this fortress without getting enough of it. There are five squares to wander around, 20 towers that you will know their names, various buildings to explore, and the world’s largest bell and cannon to see when you get behind these 2,235m long Kremlin walls.
OPENING TIME: Fri – Wed: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Scenic River Cruise in Moscow
Cruise along the Moscow River, with runs through the city, where you can see many famous sites. Embark on this scenic boat tour of Moscow and enjoy the picturesque scenery along the way. Stay inside a comfortable cruise boat and opt to purchase good food found inside. The attentive and friendly onboard service staff will be more than ready to make you feel at home.
St. Basil’s Cathedral
The glistering rainbow domes of the St Basil’s Cathedral will be in your mind forever as the image of Moscow. The onion-shaped domes were designed to make the building look like the shape of a flame on a bonfire. The cathedral was commissioned in 1500 by Ivan the Terrible, and there was a story that the Tsar thought was so beautiful that he ordered that the architect should be blinded so that he would not produce another work that would be more beautiful than this.
State Historical Museum
The museum is sheltered in a neo-Russian building founded in 1872 by Aleksey Uvarov and Ivan Zabelin. The building was once the Principal Medicine store, and it now houses a magnificent collection of relics of the prehistoric tribes that once stayed in the territory of present-day Russia, the country’s largest coin collection, artworks collected by the Romanov dynasty, and some other impressive treasures.
OPENING TIME: Mon-Wed: 10:00 am – 7:00 pm, Thu: 11:00 am – 8:00 pm, Fri – Sun: 10:00 am – 7:00 pm.
Shop at Gum Department Store
This is Russia’s main department store it was built between 1890 and 1893 and was known as upper trading rows until the 1920s. You will be wowed by the stunning interior that houses a variety of high-end boutiques, and it is home to more than 200 boutiques that sell different brands, from luxurious Dior to the more affordable Zara. This place should be on your to-do list even if you are not a shopping enthusiast.
OPENING TIMES: Mon-Sun: 10:00 am – 10:00 pm
Tretyakov Gallery
If you want to dive deep into Russian art, this is the right place for you. The main historical gallery holds more than 1,300 Russian arts, which date from the 11th century to the early 20th century. You will see unique masterpieces like “Trinity” by Andrei Rublev, “The appearance of Christ to the People” by Alexander Ivanov, and some other notable arts which will blow your mind.
If you want to see some modern art that is from the past 100 years, then you should try and visit the New Tretyakovka it is up to 25 minute walk from the historical gallery, and you can then explore works in the avant-garde, socialist realism and some much more here.
Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts
This is the biggest foreign art museum in Moscow, and it consists of three branches that house a collection of incredible works by masters of ancient civilizations, the Dutch Golden Age, and the Italian Renaissance. Masterpieces by Botticelli, Veronese, Tiepolo, and Rembrandt are found in the main building, and some of these masterpieces have never been displayed before. The incredible collections of impressionist and post-impressionist paintings are located in the Gallery of European and American art next door.
OPENING TIMES: Fri – Sun: 11:00 am – 8:00 pm, Tue-Wed: 11:00 am – 8:00 pm, Thu: 11:00 am – 9:00 pm
Gorky Park
This is the Wi-Fi-equipped epicenter of Moscow’s metamorphosis into a kinder, friendlier urban space. It was opened during the Great Terror of late 1930, and the park showcases Stalin’s imperial style. The park was transformed into the city’s most happening place to hang out as the rusting roller coasters of yore were replaced by cafes, lounge chairs, yoga classes, an outdoor cinema, and free dance.
Sparrow Hills
This legendary park is a walk away from the Moscow river embankment from Gorky Park. The park does not offer many activities like the Gorky park, but you can take a look at the tallest of the seven Stalinist skyscrapers, get a cable car ride, or admire the view from the observation deck.
OPENING TIMES: Sun: 12:00 am
Moscow State University (MAIN BUILDING)
This is the most notable place that will give you a lasting impression of Moscow. The building is a wide, tall, white behemoth topped by a unique spire with a star. It was considered the tallest building in Europe when it was constructed, but it is still the tallest educational building in the world. As a tourist, you will have a close-up view of the communist architecture and a fantastic bird’s eye view of Moscow.
Bolshoi Theatre
The theatre opened in 1856 and is one of the best places in Moscow to enjoy your evening. The building houses two stages that host both opera performances and ballet. You will enjoy improved acoustics, new seating, and touched-up mosaics, which were just added after it was renovated and reopened in 2011. You can book an evening here online, and you should ensure you do that early because the ticket can sell out very fast. The theatre is closed till September 12, but you will still marvel at the mind-blowing exterior.
Ostankino TV Tower
It was built in 1967, and it was considered the tallest free-standing construction in the world when it was built. You will get a breathtaking 360-degree view of Moscow from this tower, and you should ensure to book one of the hourly tours where speedy elevators will take you to a height of 337m in no time.
OPENING TIMES: Mon-Sun: 10:00 am – 9:00 pm
Cathedral of Christ the Savior
If you are a religious fanatic, this is a must-go place for you. The Cathedral of Christ is a remarkable site, and it was rebuilt in the 1990s at the same place where it once stood before it was demolished in 1931 by the Soviet authorities. The cathedral was designed to look like the demolished predecessor and contains the icon Christ Not Painted by Hand by Sorokin that survived the demolition.
OPENING TIMES: Sun-Sat: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm, Mon: 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
This metropolis has a big, bold character and grandiose setting that’s definitely worth getting to know. It is a fun and lively place to go for your vacation as there are lots of tourist attractions to explore, the nightlife is spectacular, the gastronomy is top-notched, and many more that will give you a memorable time there, and you will surely come back for more.
Find Hotels in Moscow, Russia, according to your budget via Agoda.
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