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Moscow Kremlin

The Moscow Kremlin from the Moskva river at dusk: red walls, towers and cathedral domes
Photo: Pavel Kazachkov from Moscow, Russia, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

The essentials in 10 seconds

Ticket offices
Pavilion in Alexander Garden: 9:30–16:30 in winter, 9:00–17:00 in summer
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Hours
15 May–30 Sep 9:30–18:00, 1 Oct–14 May 10:00–17:00; Armoury 10:00–18:00 by timed entry; closed Thursdays
Time on site
A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes.
2 h 30 min
With kids
Fine with kids
Cathedral Square ticket
1,100 ₽, reduced 600 ₽; with guided or audio tour 1,600 ₽ — includes the Kremlin grounds
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Armoury Chamber
1,400 ₽, reduced 800 ₽; with guided or audio tour 1,900 ₽
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Children
Under 7 free (any nationality); 7–16 reduced ticket (any nationality)
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Cathedral Square hours
10:00–17:00 (1 Oct–14 May), 9:30–18:00 (15 May–30 Sep)
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Armoury entry times
10:00, 12:00, 14:30 and 16:30
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Closed
Thursdays — museums and ticket offices
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Ivan the Great Bell Tower
Temporarily closed to visitors
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Diamond Fund
Separate ticket (run by Gokhran), 10:00–17:00 except Thursday, entry every 20 minutes; desks 4 and 5 in Alexander Garden
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Entrances
Grounds via the Kutafya Tower; Armoury and Diamond Fund via the Borovitsky Gate
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Not allowed
Large bags and items, bikes, scooters, pets; strollers are fine
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Left luggage
By the Kutafya Tower, daily 9:00–18:30 (breaks 11:00–11:30, 15:30–16:00)
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Paying
Foreign Visa and Mastercard don’t work in Russia — bring roubles in cash
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Metro
Aleksandrovsky Sad, Biblioteka imeni Lenina, Borovitskaya, Arbatskaya — 5–7 min to the ticket office
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Coordinates
55.75167, 37.61778YesGo MapGoogleAppleYandex

Key facts

20 towersalong the walls; the tallest, Troitskaya, reaches 80 m with its star
SourceEnglish and Russian Wikipedia, “Moscow Kremlin”
1990the Kremlin and Red Square joined the UNESCO World Heritage List as site No. 545
3 sourcesUNESCO World Heritage ListEnglish and Russian WikipediaWikidata Q133274
1485–1495the present red-brick walls and towers, designed by Italian masters led by Pietro Antonio Solari
SourceEnglish and Russian Wikipedia, “Moscow Kremlin”
2,235 mof walls, 5–19 m high and 3.5–6.5 m thick
SourceEnglish and Russian Wikipedia, “Moscow Kremlin”
27.5–27.7 hainside the walls
2 sourcesEnglish Wikipedia (27.7 ha)Russian Wikipedia (27.5 ha in the text, 27.7 ha in the infobox)
1156Yuri Dolgoruky ringed Moscow with a new timber fort
SourceEnglish and Russian Wikipedia, citing the Tver Chronicle
1366–1368Dmitry Donskoy built a white limestone Kremlin
SourceEnglish and Russian Wikipedia, “Moscow Kremlin”
1479Aristotele Fioravanti completed the Assumption Cathedral, where tsars were crowned
SourceEnglish and Russian Wikipedia
81 mthe Ivan the Great Bell Tower, raised to full height in 1600
2 sourcesEnglish Wikipedia, “Moscow Kremlin”Russian Wikipedia, “Ivan the Great Bell Tower”
1586Andrey Chokhov cast the Tsar Cannon, calibre 890 mm
2 sourcesEnglish Wikipedia, “Tsar Cannon”Russia Beyond
1937ruby-glass stars replaced the gilded 1935 stars on five towers
2 sourcesEnglish Wikipedia, “Kremlin stars”Russia Beyond
1955the Kremlin opened to tourists
2 sourcesEnglish Wikipedia, “Moscow Kremlin”Russian Wikipedia

Moscow Kremlin tickets: prices and how to buy

You can’t just walk in — even the grounds need a ticket. The main one is Cathedral Square, 1,100 ₽ (reduced 600 ₽, 1,600 ₽ with a guided or audio tour). It covers the Kremlin grounds, the Assumption, Archangel and Annunciation cathedrals, the Church of the Deposition of the Robe, the Patriarch’s Palace, the Tsar Cannon and the Tsar Bell.

The Armoury Chamber is a separate 1,400 ₽ ticket (reduced 800 ₽, 1,900 ₽ with a tour) with timed entry at 10:00, 12:00, 14:30 and 16:30. The Diamond Fund, in the same building, is run by Gokhran, not the Kremlin Museums — its tickets are sold only at desks 4 and 5 in Alexander Garden or on Gokhran’s own site.

Buy only from the official Kremlin Museums website or the ticket pavilion in Alexander Garden; online sales open 17 days ahead and the e-voucher must be swapped for a paper ticket at the desk — at least 45 minutes before an Armoury slot. Children under 7 of any nationality go free (they still need a free ticket), and 7–16-year-olds of any nationality pay the reduced price. Most other discounts are for Russian citizens only.

Moscow Kremlin opening hours

From 1 October to 14 May the Cathedral Square museums open 10:00–17:00, with ticket desks 9:30–16:30. From 15 May to 30 September it’s 9:30–18:00, desks 9:00–17:00. The Armoury runs 10:00–18:00 year-round by timed entry. Every museum is closed on Thursday.

Arrive at least 45 minutes before your slot: there’s a queue at the desk and a security check at the Kutafya Tower. Opening times of the Assumption and Archangel cathedrals shift on some church holidays and in early November — the museums post changes on their homepage.

Is the Moscow Kremlin worth visiting?

Yes — Cathedral Square is the one ticket in Moscow worth buying even on a short trip. In about two hours you stand where tsars were crowned and buried, see icons by Andrei Rublev and Theophanes the Greek, and walk past the Tsar Cannon and the cracked Tsar Bell.

What it is not: a palace tour. The Grand Kremlin Palace, the Senate and the Arsenal are working government buildings, seen only from outside, and much of the grounds is off-limits. If you only have an hour and no ticket, walk Red Square and Alexander Garden instead — you’ll see the walls and towers for free.

The Armoury is worth it if you like crowns, carriages and Fabergé eggs — see our Armoury Chamber page. Pick it over the Diamond Fund unless gemstones are the point: it’s bigger, and the Diamond Fund is one hall of regalia visited on a timed slot every 20 minutes.

What to see inside the Kremlin

  • Assumption Cathedral (1479, Aristotele Fioravanti) — Russia’s coronation church, covered floor to dome in frescoes.
  • Archangel Cathedral (1508) — tombs of Moscow’s grand princes and tsars, Ivan the Terrible among them.
  • Annunciation Cathedral (1489) — the tsars’ private chapel, with an iconostasis holding works attributed to Rublev and Theophanes the Greek.
  • Tsar Cannon (1586) and Tsar Bell (1730s) — oversized, never really used, and the most photographed objects in the Kremlin.
  • Patriarch’s Palace — 17th-century rooms of Patriarch Nikon with everyday objects of the era.
  • Ivan the Great Bell Tower — 81 m, the Kremlin’s tallest building; you can see it from everywhere, but it’s closed to visitors for now.
  • Faceted Chamber and Terem Palace — from outside only; the white diamond-cut façade faces Cathedral Square.

How to get to the Moscow Kremlin

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On foot

More tips

  1. Take the metro to Aleksandrovsky Sad (line 4), Biblioteka imeni Lenina (line 1), Borovitskaya (line 9) or Arbatskaya (line 3). The four stations are linked underground and all exit near Alexander Garden.
  2. Walk to the Kutafya Tower — the low white tower at the end of a bridge leading up to the Troitskaya Tower. The ticket pavilion is right beside it in Alexander Garden, about 5–7 minutes from the metro.
  3. From Red Square, pass the State Historical Museum, go through the Resurrection Gate and turn right into Alexander Garden; follow the wall past the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier — about 10 minutes.
  4. Buy or collect your ticket, go through security at the Kutafya Tower and cross the bridge through the Troitskaya Gate.
  5. The Armoury and Diamond Fund have their own entrance at the Borovitsky Gate, at the south-west corner of the walls.
  6. Don’t drive: central Moscow parking is paid and restricted, and the metro is faster.

How long do you need at the Kremlin?

Plan 1.5–2 hours for Cathedral Square and the grounds, another 1.5–2 hours for the Armoury, and a shorter visit for the Diamond Fund. With all three and the queues, it’s a full morning. Add 30–60 minutes for Red Square next door, and the whole thing becomes a day with lunch.

Changing of the guard

The free one is outside the walls, at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Alexander Garden: the Presidential Regiment’s honour guard changes every hour during the day, a short, precise ceremony by the eternal flame. Be there a few minutes before the hour.

Inside, on Cathedral Square, there’s a bigger mounted and foot guard ceremony, usually on Saturdays at noon from spring to autumn, visible with a Cathedral Square ticket. By late October the season is normally over — the museums announce dates on their website.

Before you go: checklist

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Moscow Kremlin vs Red Square

Moscow Kremlinyou are here15th-century fortress, cathedrals, museums, presidential residenceFrom 1,100 ₽, ticket onlyThursdays2 h, half a day with the ArmouryCathedral Square, Tsar Cannon, Armoury
Red SquareThe square outside the Kremlin’s east wallFreeOpen daily; sometimes closed for events30–60 minSt Basil’s, GUM, Lenin’s Mausoleum, Spasskaya Tower

They’re a pair: do Red Square first, then walk through Alexander Garden to the Kutafya Tower. The Izmailovo Kremlin in east Moscow is a modern replica with a market — a different trip.

Moscow’s historic sights compared

Every historic place in Moscow rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.

Red Square7930 minFree5 min walk
Lenin's Mausoleum7220 minFree4 min walk
Cathedral of Christ the Saviour7240 minFree19 min walk
Moscow Metro701 h 30 min75 ₽ on Troika3 min walk
St Basil's Cathedral6545 min2,000 ₽ for foreign visitors6 min walk
Moscow Kremlinyou are here642 h 30 minfrom 1,100 ₽—
Kitay-gorod581 hFree10 min walk
Bolshoi Theatre562 hTickets on bolshoi.ru, price varies by show17 min walk
Patriarch's Ponds5330 minFree37 min walk
Arbat Street501 hFree30 min walk
State Historical Museum491 h 30 min2,000 ₽ for foreign visitors6 min walk
Tretyakov Gallery492 h 30 min700 ₽20 min walk
Tverskaya Street4845 minFree27 min walk
Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts482 h700 ₽ per building16 min walk
Novodevichy Convent481 hFree4.8 km
Kremlin Armoury441 h 30 min1,400 ₽6 min walk
Chistye Prudy4330 minFree34 min walk
VDNKh423 hFree8.7 km
Kolomenskoye382 hPark free, palace ≈ 700 ₽9.8 km
Poklonnaya Hill361 hFree7.3 km
Kuskovo Estate291 h 30 minPark 100 ₽, palace 500 ₽12.0 km
Tsaritsyno262 hPark free, palace 900 ₽15.7 km

The Kremlin and Red Square in a day

Cathedral Square at opening, the Armoury on a midday slot, out through the Borovitsky Gate and along Alexander Garden to Red Square, St Basil’s and the river at Zaryadye. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and walks.

  1. Moscow Kremlinyou are here2 h 30 min · from 1,100 ₽
  2. 6 min walk from the previous stopKremlin Armoury1 h 30 min · 1,400 ₽
  3. 11 min walk from the previous stopRed Square30 min · Free
  4. 5 min walk from the previous stopSt Basil's Cathedral45 min · 2,000 ₽ for foreign visitors
  5. 7 min walk from the previous stopZaryadye Park1 h · Free

5 places · about 6 h 44 min with walks · 29 min on foot in total

Go · my route

Nearby — add to your day

Moscow Metro

Moscow, Russia

1 h 30 min · 75 ₽ on Troika · 3 min walk

Lenin's Mausoleum

Moscow, Russia

20 min · Free · 4 min walk

Red Square

Moscow, Russia

30 min · Free · 5 min walk

St Basil's Cathedral

Moscow, Russia

45 min · 2,000 ₽ for foreign visitors · 6 min walk

How to do it right

  • Go at 10:00: Cathedral Square is quiet before the tour groups arrive.
  • One ticket only? Make it Cathedral Square — it’s the essential Kremlin.
  • Book an early Armoury slot and do Cathedral Square afterwards, so you’re not racing the clock.
  • Exit via the Borovitsky or Troitskaya gate, then it’s 10 minutes along the wall to Red Square.
  • Catch the hourly guard change at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on your way in or out.
  • Come back after dark: the lit-up walls look best from Zaryadye Park.

Questions

How much are Moscow Kremlin tickets?

Cathedral Square costs 1,100 ₽ (reduced 600 ₽, 1,600 ₽ with a tour); the Armoury Chamber is a separate 1,400 ₽ ticket. Children under 7 go free.

Is the Moscow Kremlin free to enter?

No. Even the grounds require a ticket — the Cathedral Square ticket includes them. Red Square and Alexander Garden next door are free.

What are the Kremlin’s opening hours?

10:00–17:00 from 1 October to 14 May and 9:30–18:00 from 15 May to 30 September. The Armoury runs 10:00–18:00 by timed entry. Closed on Thursdays.

Is the Kremlin open on Thursday?

No — the museums, the Armoury, the Diamond Fund and the ticket offices are all closed every Thursday.

Can tourists go inside the Kremlin?

Yes, with a ticket: Cathedral Square, its cathedrals, the gardens and the Armoury are open. Government buildings such as the Grand Kremlin Palace and the Senate are seen only from outside.

Where is the Kremlin entrance?

Through the Kutafya Tower on the Alexander Garden side, where the ticket office is. The Armoury and Diamond Fund use the Borovitsky Gate.

Which metro station is closest to the Kremlin?

Aleksandrovsky Sad, Biblioteka imeni Lenina, Borovitskaya and Arbatskaya — all about 5–7 minutes’ walk from the Kutafya Tower.

Armoury or Diamond Fund — which is better?

The Armoury, for most people: crowns, thrones, carriages and Fabergé eggs over 1.5–2 hours. The Diamond Fund is a single hall of regalia and gems on a separate Gokhran ticket.

Can I pay with a foreign credit card?

No — Visa and Mastercard cards issued abroad haven’t worked in Russia since March 2022. Bring roubles in cash.

How long should I spend at the Kremlin?

About 2 hours for Cathedral Square, half a day with the Armoury, and a full day if you add Red Square and lunch.

Have you been? Was it worth your time?

1 — no, 5 — absolutely

Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.

Sources and fact-check

  • Official website of the Moscow Kremlin Museums: museum guide, entrance tickets, getting there, FAQ and homepage notices, 29.10.2026
  • UNESCO World Heritage List: Kremlin and Red Square, Moscow, No. 545, 1990
  • English and Russian Wikipedia: Moscow Kremlin, Ivan the Great Bell Tower, Tsar Cannon, Kremlin stars; Wikidata Q133274
  • Russia Beyond: articles on the Tsar Cannon and the Kremlin stars
  • Visa and Mastercard statements on suspending operations in Russia, March 2022
YesGo editorial team · facts checked 29.10.2026 ·
How we checkedPrices, hours, closures, concessions, entrances, left luggage and rules come from the official Kremlin Museums website, checked on 29.10.2026. The site’s summary table gives ticket office hours as 9:30–16:30 with no season, while the detailed section gives 9:00–17:00 in summer and 9:30–16:30 in winter — we show the detailed version. Gokhran’s site didn’t show the Diamond Fund price without choosing a slot, so we give no figure. Sources give the area as 27.5 or 27.7 ha, so we show both. No official timetable is published for the guard change at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier or the Cathedral Square ceremony season, so we describe them without exact times. Whether the ticket desks accept cash is our expectation, not stated on the site — marked “verifying”. Walking times are our estimate from the map.

Top YesGo picks: Moscow

Kitay-gorod

Moscow, Russia

1 h · Free

Moscow City

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1 h 30 min · Free · deck from 1,000 ₽

Bolshoi Theatre

Moscow, Russia

2 h · Tickets on bolshoi.ru, price varies by show

Patriarch's Ponds

Moscow, Russia

30 min · Free

Gorky Park

Moscow, Russia

1 h 30 min · Free

Arbat Street

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1 h · Free

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