4 days in Moscow: a day-by-day itinerary
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- 12 of 17 free; 5 paid — see “Cost”
- Duration
- 4 days, 9:30 to 17:25 each day
- Start and finish
- Moscow Kremlin → Sokolniki Park
- On foot
- ≈ 1 h 15 min in total
- Transport
- 6 rides, ≈ 2 h 19 min
- Lunch
- around 12:00
- With kids
- fine: short walks
- Best time
- From April to October the VDNKh fountains run, and from May the open deck at Ostankino opens in good weather.
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 ₽
Day 4 · Moscow09:30–16:48 · 3 places · 7 h 20 min
Ostankino Tower
· 1 h 30 min · From 1,500 ₽
- Lunch · 1 h
- 20 min · transport or taxi
VDNKh
· 3 h · Free
- 28 min · transport or taxi
Sokolniki Park
· 1 h · Free
Add nearby
Places near the plan — Yes puts one into the day and the times update.
What the route costs
12 of 17 are free; 5 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 ₽ |
| 15 | Ostankino Tower | 49 | 1 h 30 min | from 1,500 ₽ |
| Other 12 places | 13 h | Free | ||
| Total | 22 h | 12 of 17 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.
Day 4
- 15
Ostankino Tower. The observation deck at 337 m by timed session, from 1,500 ₽ on weekday mornings. Passport required; arrive an hour early; no children under 6.
- 16
VDNKh. Stalin-era pavilions and fountains, free entry. The Cosmonautics and Aviation pavilion is 700 ₽, closed on Mondays.
- 17
Sokolniki Park. Radial avenues and an almost real forest, free. 5–7 minutes from Sokolniki metro.
Who this route is for
- A 4–5 day holiday in Moscow
- You want the centre and the big parks
- On foot and by metro
- Kolomenskoye and Tsaritsyno are in the 5-day itinerary
- Ostankino — children under 6 are not allowed on the deck
From April to October the VDNKh fountains run, and from May the open deck at Ostankino opens in good weather.
What to see in Moscow in 4 days
The first three days are the same as the 3-day itinerary: the centre, the south-west along the river and the boulevards with museums. Day four is the north: the Ostankino Tower and VDNKh stand together, and Sokolniki is 20–30 minutes away by transport.
Ostankino comes first: you must arrive an hour before your session, and weekday morning sessions are cheaper. VDNKh comes after lunch: the highlights take about three hours.
Ostankino Tower: what to know
Tickets are sold by session, daily 10:00–22:00: 1,900 ₽ on weekdays, 1,500 ₽ for the 10:00 and 11:00 sessions. Every visitor needs an original passport. No food, drinks, scooters or luggage larger than 50×60×30 cm.
VDNKh in half a day
Entry is free and open around the clock; you pay only for pavilions. A free circular bus runs from the main entrance arch 9:00–21:00. The Cosmonautics and Aviation pavilion is 700 ₽ and closed on Mondays.
Can I swap the days?
Yes: each day is its own area. Keep the Kremlin off Thursday and the Tretyakov off Monday.
How to do it right
- Arrive at the Ostankino Tower an hour before your session: security and passes take time.
- The Cosmonautics and Aviation pavilion at VDNKh is closed on Mondays.
- 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 metro ticket is 800 ₽; for the fourth day take a 1-day ticket for 415 ₽ or pay per ride.
- 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 4 days in Moscow enough?
Yes: the centre, the river, the museums and the north with Ostankino and VDNKh.
What is a good Moscow itinerary for 4 days?
Three days of the centre, the riverside and the museums, then Ostankino, VDNKh and Sokolniki.
How much is the Ostankino Tower?
1,900 ₽ on weekdays, 1,500 ₽ for the morning sessions; passport required.
Can children go up Ostankino?
Not under 6.
Is VDNKh free?
Yes; only the pavilions charge.
How do I get around VDNKh?
On foot or by the free circular bus from the main arch, 9:00–21:00.
Is Sokolniki Park worth it?
Yes for a calm walk: radial avenues and an almost real forest, 5–7 minutes from the metro.
Where to stay for 4 days?
Inside the Garden Ring or near the circle metro line.
Is it good with kids?
Yes: VDNKh has the Moskvarium and the space pavilion; Ostankino is only for over-6s.
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
- Ostankino TV Tower: sessions, tickets, visitor rules
- Tretyakov Gallery: hours and tickets
