3 days in Moscow: a day-by-day itinerary
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- 10 of 14 free; 4 paid — see “Cost”
- Duration
- 3 days, 9:30 to 17:25 each day
- Start and finish
- Moscow Kremlin → Tretyakov Gallery
- On foot
- ≈ 1 h 15 min in total
- Transport
- 4 rides, ≈ 1 h 31 min
- Lunch
- around 12:00
- With kids
- fine: short walks
- Best time
- Start on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Saturday: the Kremlin and the Tretyakov are then open on the right days.
Day-by-day plan
Times include walking and lunch. Drag a stop by ≡, remove it with the cross or add one nearby — the plan updates.
Day 1 · Moscow09:30–16:38 · 5 places · 7 h 10 min
Moscow Kremlin
· 2 h 30 min · From 1,100 ₽
- Lunch · 1 h
- 5 min on foot
Red Square
· 30 min · Free
- 5 min on foot
Kitay-gorod
· 1 h · Free
- 6 min on foot
St Basil's Cathedral
· 45 min · 2,000 ₽ for foreign visitors
- 7 min on foot
Zaryadye Park
· 1 h · Free
Day 2 · Moscow09:30–17:25 · 5 places · 8 h
Gorky Park
· 1 h 30 min · Free
- 19 min · transport or taxi
Cathedral of Christ the Saviour
· 40 min · Free
- 19 min on foot
Arbat Street
· 1 h · Free
- Lunch · 1 h
- 25 min · transport or taxi
Moscow City
· 1 h 30 min · Free
- 27 min · transport or taxi
Sparrow Hills
· 45 min · Free
Day 3 · Moscow09:30–16:38 · 4 places · 7 h 10 min
Patriarch's Ponds
· 30 min · Free
- 16 min on foot
Tverskaya Street
· 45 min · Free
- 20 min · transport or taxi
Moscow Metro
· 1 h 30 min · 75 ₽ on Troika
- Lunch · 1 h
- 17 min on foot
Tretyakov Gallery
· 2 h 30 min · 700 ₽
Add nearby
Places near the plan — Yes puts one into the day and the times update.
What the route costs
10 of 14 are free; 4 charge entry — prices below, check them on site.
| 1 | Moscow Kremlin | 64 | 2 h 30 min | from 1,100 ₽ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | St Basil's Cathedral | 65 | 45 min | 2,000 ₽ for foreign visitors |
| 13 | Moscow Metro | 70 | 1 h 30 min | 75 ₽ on Troika |
| 14 | Tretyakov Gallery | 49 | 2 h 30 min | 700 ₽ |
| Other 10 places | 9 h | Free | ||
| Total | 16 h 30 min | 10 of 14 free |
Tips for each stop
Day 1
- 1
Moscow Kremlin. First thing, at opening time: Cathedral Square is 1,100 ₽, the Armoury 1,400 ₽ by timed session (10:00, 12:00, 14:30, 16:30). The Kremlin is closed on Thursdays.
- 2
Red Square. The square is free and usually open around the clock; it closes for major events.
- 3
Kitay-gorod. Nikolskaya, Ilyinka and Varvarka with 16th–17th-century churches — an hour on foot. The Romanov Boyars' Chambers are 700 ₽, closed on Tuesdays.
- 4
St Basil's Cathedral. Inside is a museum, 700 ₽, free under 7. Last entry 17:00; closed on the first Wednesday of the month.
- 5
Zaryadye Park. End day one on the floating bridge over the Moskva river with a view of the Kremlin — free, at any hour.
Day 2
- 6
Gorky Park. Start day two on the embankment and in Neskuchny Garden. The main entrance arch is under restoration; the park is free.
- 7
Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. Russia's largest church, free. On Mondays the upper church opens only at 13:00.
- 8
Arbat Street. Old Arbat from Arbatskaya Square to Smolenskaya — an hour on foot. Do not confuse it with New Arbat.
- 9
Moscow City. Walking between the towers and in Afimall is free; Panorama 360 on the 89th floor is from 2,000 ₽. The Bagration bridge is closed.
- 10
Sparrow Hills. The viewpoint by Moscow State University is free and open around the clock. The cable car to Luzhniki is 800 ₽, until 21:00.
Day 3
- 11
Patriarch's Ponds. Day three starts quietly: a lap of the pond where The Master and Margarita begins — half an hour.
- 12
Tverskaya Street. Down Tverskaya towards the Kremlin: Pushkin Square, the Yuri Dolgoruky statue, the mayor's office — 30–45 minutes on foot.
- 13
Moscow Metro. An hour and a half through the most beautiful stations for one fare: 75 ₽ on a Troika card, as long as you do not exit.
- 14
Tretyakov Gallery. The main collection of Russian painting: 62 halls, 700 ₽. Closed on Mondays, last entry 20:00.
Who this route is for
- A first trip to Moscow for 3–4 days
- You want the centre, a museum and the views
- On foot and by metro
- VDNKh, Ostankino and the estates are in the 4- and 5-day itineraries
- Monday — the Tretyakov is closed; put day three on another day
Start on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Saturday: the Kremlin and the Tretyakov are then open on the right days.
What to see in Moscow in 3 days
Each day is its own area. Day one is the Kremlin and everything around Red Square. Day two runs south-west along the river to Moscow City and Sparrow Hills. Day three is the boulevards and museums: from Patriarch's Ponds down Tverskaya, through the metro to the Tretyakov.
The metro as a sight
On day three the metro is a stop of its own: marble halls, chandeliers and mosaics of the Stalin-era stations. An hour and a half through the best stations costs one fare — 75 ₽ on a Troika card — as long as you do not exit.
Walking in Moscow
Day three is almost all on foot: Patriarch's Ponds to Tverskaya is 16 minutes, and down Tverskaya to the Kremlin 30–45 minutes with stops. Day one is on foot too, 3–7 minutes between stops.
If you have time left
Next to the Tretyakov is GES-2 on Bolotnaya embankment: free entry with registration, open until 22:00. In the evening — a performance at the Bolshoi Theatre. With more days, take the 4- or 5-day itinerary.
How to do it right
- Check the days of the week: the Kremlin is closed on Thursdays, the Tretyakov Gallery on Mondays, St Basil's on the first Wednesday of the month.
- A 3-day unlimited Yediny metro ticket is 800 ₽ — handy if you ride a lot.
- Large bags are not allowed into the Kremlin — left luggage is by the Kutafya Tower.
- Tretyakov last entry is 20:00, closing 21:00 — it works for an evening.
- Russia uses the rouble (₽). Bank cards issued abroad usually do not work in Russia — plan how you will pay before the trip; for the metro, buy a Troika card at the ticket office.
Questions
Is 3 days in Moscow enough?
Yes for a first trip: the centre, the views, the metro and the Tretyakov.
What is a good Moscow itinerary for 3 days?
Day one the Kremlin and Red Square, day two the riverside to Sparrow Hills, day three Patriarch's Ponds, Tverskaya, the metro and the Tretyakov.
How much is the Tretyakov Gallery?
700 ₽; closed on Mondays.
Which metro stations are the most beautiful?
The Stalin-era stations of the circle line and the centre; the route on day three takes an hour and a half for one fare.
Is there an unlimited metro ticket?
Yes: 415 ₽ for a day, 800 ₽ for three days.
What does 3 days in Moscow cost in tickets?
Kremlin 1,100 ₽, St Basil's 700 ₽, Tretyakov 700 ₽, plus the metro.
When is everything open?
Avoid the Kremlin on Thursday and the Tretyakov on Monday.
Where to stay?
Inside the Garden Ring or near the circle metro line.
Is it good with kids?
Yes: the metro, Zaryadye and Gorky Park work well with children.
How do I pay in Moscow?
Russia uses the rouble (₽). Bank cards issued abroad usually do not work in Russia — plan how you will pay before the trip; for the metro, buy a Troika card at the ticket office.
Sources and fact-check
- Prices, opening hours and time on site come from each place's page, with its own sources and check date
- Moscow Kremlin Museums: tickets, Armoury sessions, visitor rules
- Moscow Metro: fares, hours, Troika card
- mos.ru: Zaryadye, Gorky Park, Sparrow Hills, VDNKh
- Wikipedia: Red Square, Moscow Kremlin, Kitay-gorod
- Tretyakov Gallery: hours and tickets
