How to visit Red Square: Access, Entrances and What’s Nearby

This guide explains how to visit Red Square, the cobbled square along the Kremlin wall in the center of Moscow, for travelers from abroad who do not read Russian. The square itself is free, but the buildings around it have their own tickets and hours, and the Kremlin is not entered from the square, which first-time visitors often assume.

The recommended way is to check that the square is open that day, walk in from the metro through the Resurrection Gate, and add the paid sights one by one. Events can close the square at short notice, so check before you go.

Quick answer: Take the metro to Okhotny Ryad, Ploshchad Revolyutsii or Teatralnaya, walk 5 to 10 minutes and enter through the Resurrection Gate. The square is free; events can close it at short notice, and the Kremlin is entered by the Kutafya Tower, not from the square.

At a Glance

Total time	About 1 to 2 hours for the square itself, plus the time for any museum or cathedral you add
Typical cost	Free for the square; the Mausoleum is free; St. Basil's, the Kremlin and the State Historical Museum have their own tickets
Last updated	Oktober 7, 2026

What You Need Before You Start

• A check of the day's access, since official events close the square at short notice
• Comfortable shoes* for the cobbles, and warm clothes in winter
• Rubles in cash and a plan for the paid sights, which have separate tickets
• For the Lenin Mausoleum, a day and a time within its short hours, and nothing to photograph with
• A small bag, since security checks are common around the square

Compare Your Options

Option	Duration	Price	Notes
Walk the square only	About 1 to 2 hours	Free	The recommended choice for a first visit. Open around the clock in normal times, but access can be restricted for events, parades and holidays.
Square and the Lenin Mausoleum	About 2 hours	Free	The Mausoleum is open on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 to 13:00, according to a 2026 guide; the queue forms at the Nikolskaya Tower. No photos inside.
Square and St. Basil's Cathedral	About 2.5 to 4 hours	A separate ticket for the cathedral; see the St. Basil's guide	The cathedral is a museum with its own hours, closed on the first Wednesday of the month, and a ticket that costs more for foreigners.
Square and the Kremlin	At least 4 hours more	Separate tickets for the Kremlin; see the Kremlin guides	The Kremlin is entered by the Kutafya Tower in Alexander Garden, not from Red Square, and is closed on Thursdays.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Check that the square is open

Red Square is open to the public around the clock in normal times, but official events, parades, concerts and holidays close it, and a 2026 guide says that official events close the Kremlin and Red Square at short notice. The Kremlin also closes on certain special dates, such as 9 May, and on Thursdays. Look at the official sites the day before your visit.

Tip: If the square is closed, the area around it, Zaryadye Park and Nikolskaya Street, is still open.

Step 2: Choose a metro station

Three metro stations serve the square: Okhotny Ryad on Line 1, about 550 meters away, Ploshchad Revolyutsii on Line 3, about 650 meters, and Teatralnaya, about 700 meters. A guide advises Exit 7 at Okhotny Ryad, and gives the walk as 5 to 10 minutes. Check the exit on the station plan before you go up, since the stations have several.

Tip: Okhotny Ryad is the easiest approach for first-time visitors.

Step 3: Walk in through the Resurrection Gate

From Okhotny Ryad, take the exit toward Manezhnaya Square, walk past the State Historical Museum, with the statue of Marshal Zhukov on his horse in front, go through the Resurrection Gate, and enter Red Square from the north. The red brick of the museum is on your left, and the cobbles begin under the gate. Security checks are common, so be ready to open your bag.

Tip: Stop under the gate for the first view of the cathedral's domes at the far end.

Step 4: Walk the square

Red Square is bordered by the State Historical Museum on the north, GUM, the glass-roofed arcade, on the east, the Kremlin wall on the west, with the Lenin Mausoleum, and St. Basil's Cathedral at the southern end. The restored Kazan Cathedral stands by the Resurrection Gate. Plan 1 to 2 hours, and walk the length of the square to the cathedral.

Tip: Go in the early morning or the evening for fewer people and better light.

Step 5: Add the Lenin Mausoleum if the day fits

The Mausoleum is free and open on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 to 13:00, according to a 2026 guide; it is closed on Monday and Friday and may close for events or restoration. The queue forms at the Nikolskaya Tower, by the State Historical Museum, where the metal-detector check is, and you leave your phone and bag in the cloakroom. The visit lasts a few minutes.

Tip: Photography is not allowed inside, so do not plan to take pictures.

Step 6: Know which sights need a ticket

St. Basil's Cathedral at the southern end is a museum with its own ticket, and the Kremlin has separate tickets and is entered through the Kutafya Tower in Alexander Garden, never from Red Square. The State Historical Museum and GUM, which is free to walk through, have their own hours. The guides of this site cover the tickets for the cathedral and the Kremlin.

Tip: Do not queue at the Kremlin wall for an entrance; there is none from the square.

Step 7: Leave toward Zaryadye or the metro

From the cathedral, the Moskva River is a short walk, with Zaryadye Park and its floating bridge viewpoint close behind it, according to a guide. For the metro, return through the Resurrection Gate, or walk along Nikolskaya Street, a pedestrian street leading north-west. Check the time before you go, since the square can be closed in the evening for events.

Tip: The square is lit at night, which gives a different view of the domes.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Looking for the Kremlin entrance on Red Square: you cannot enter the Kremlin from Red Square, but only by the Kutafya Tower in Alexander Garden.
• Arriving during an event or a holiday: the square can be closed at short notice, so check the day before.
• Going to the Mausoleum on Monday or Friday: it is closed on those days, and its hours are only 10:00 to 13:00 on the open days.
• Bringing a phone or a bag to the Mausoleum: you must leave them in the cloakroom, and photography is not allowed.
• Assuming that the square needs a ticket: the square is free, but the cathedral, the Kremlin and the museum have their own tickets.
• Visiting at the weekend in the middle of the day: it is very crowded, according to a review, so go early or on a weekday.
• Flying a drone: drones are banned in central Moscow, according to a guide, so leave it at the hotel.

Tickets, Payment and Booking

Red Square needs no ticket and is free to enter. The Lenin Mausoleum is free as well. The other sights have their own tickets and rules: St. Basil’s Cathedral is sold by the State Historical Museum, and the Kremlin by the Kremlin Museums, each on its own official site, as the guides of this site explain.

• Cards: guides report that the official sites of the cathedral and the Kremlin accept only Russian cards online, so carry rubles in cash for the ticket offices.
• GUM: free to walk through, with shops and cafes that charge their own prices.
• Touts: do not buy tickets from people on the square; use the official sites and ticket offices.

Check the current hours and rules on the official sites of each sight.

Moscow Vibes Tips

• Red Square is about 12 acres of cobbles along the longest wall of the Kremlin, according to a guide, so allow time to walk its length.
• In winter, GUM has an ice rink on the square side and holiday lights, according to a guide, though it is very cold, and the hours of the cathedral are shorter.
• The Kremlin Wall Necropolis, with graves along the wall, is free to visit on certain days, according to an older guide, so check if you are interested.
• Nikolskaya Street, a pedestrian street from the square toward the north-west, leads to Lubyanka and is lively in the evening, according to a review.
• Zaryadye Park, behind the cathedral, has a floating bridge with a view of the river and the Kremlin, according to a guide.
• Bags are checked at some entrances, and the Mausoleum has a metal-detector check at the Nikolskaya Tower, so travel light.

Explore Nearby How to visit Red Square

Sights near How to visit Red Square

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  Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
  Red Square Moscow · typical visit: 1–2 hours for the square, 3–5 hours with St Basil's and one museum
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  Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
  St. Basil’s Cathedral Moscow · typical visit: 45–90 minutes inside
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  Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
  GUM Moscow · typical visit: 1–2 hours
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  Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
  Lenin’s Mausoleum Moscow · typical visit: 30–60 minutes including the queue; a few minutes inside
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  Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
  Zaryadye Park Moscow · typical visit: 1–2 hours; 3 hours with the pavilions

Metro stations near How to visit Red Square

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  Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
  Okhotny Ryad Metro Station

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FAQ

Is Red Square free?

Yes. The square is free and open around the clock in normal times, though events can close it.

Can I enter the Kremlin from Red Square?

No. The Kremlin is entered by the Kutafya Tower in Alexander Garden, with its own tickets.

When is the Lenin Mausoleum open?

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 to 13:00, according to a 2026 guide; it is free and closed on Monday and Friday.

Which metro station is nearest?

Okhotny Ryad on Line 1, about 550 meters; Ploshchad Revolyutsii and Teatralnaya are slightly farther.

How long should I plan?

About 1 to 2 hours for the square, plus the time for any museum or cathedral you add.

Can I take photos?

Photography is generally allowed on the square, but not inside the Lenin Mausoleum, and drones are banned.

When is the best time to go?

Early morning or evening on a weekday, for fewer people; winter gives snow and holiday lights.

Is it safe?

It is heavily patrolled, with security checks at times; keep your belongings close in the crowds.

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