The Moscow Cathedral Mosque is the main mosque of the capital, standing on Vypolzov Lane near Prospekt Mira Metro and the Olympic Stadium. The first mosque on the site was built in 1904, and the current building was inaugurated on 23 September 2015 after the old one was demolished in 2011.
It can hold up to 10,000 worshippers at a time, which makes it among the largest mosques in Europe, and it is a working place of worship rather than a museum. This guide explains where to find it, what the exterior and the surrounding area offer, how the history led to the new building, what etiquette applies to visitors, when the mosque is busiest, how to reach it from the Metro, and how to combine a short visit with other places north of the center.
Quick Facts
| Russian name | Московская соборная мечеть |
|---|---|
| Built / opened | 1904 |
| Architect(s) | Nikolay Zhukov (the original mosque of 1904); the rebuilt mosque of 2015 followed a reconstruction project that initially involved Ilyas Tazhiev |
| Address | Vypolzov Lane 7, Moscow 129090 (near Olimpiysky Avenue and the Olympic Stadium) OpenStreetMap · Google Maps |
| District | Meshchansky |
| Metro | Prospekt Mira (Line 5, brown, and Line 6, orange, the nearest station; a walk of about 10 minutes toward the Olympic Stadium) |
| Opening hours | A listing gives the mosque as open 24 hours, but access for visitors who are not praying was not verified, and prayer times differ through the day and year, so check the official site before you go (as of October 2026 – check the official site). |
| Admission | Entry to the mosque is free according to guides; visitors who are not Muslim should check the current rules on the official site. |
| Best time to visit | Weekday mornings and afternoons outside prayer times are the calmest, and Friday midday prayers and major Muslim holidays are the busiest. The exterior is photogenic in all seasons. Check the official site for prayer times. |
| Recommended duration | About 30 minutes to 1 hour |
| Website | mihrab.ru |
| Last updated | October 9, 2026 |
What Is (and Isn't) Part of a Visit to Moscow Cathedral Mosque?
| Part | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| The exterior, dome and minarets | Included in the standard ticket | Visible from the street for free. |
| The prayer hall | Separate ticket or institution | Used for worship; access for visitors who are not praying should be checked on the official site. |
| The Museum of Islam | Separate ticket or institution | Listed in a guide; its hours and access were not verified. |
| Prayer times and holidays | Not open to visitors | The building is reserved for worshippers during prayer and on major holidays. |
| The Olympic Stadium | Outside / not part of it | A separate sports complex next to the mosque. |
| The Apothecary Garden | Outside / not part of it | A botanical garden nearby; see the Apothecary Garden Moscow guide. |
Why Visit Moscow Cathedral Mosque?
The mosque is a landmark of Moscow’s multi-faith history. The original of 1904 served the city’s Tatar community, remained open throughout the Soviet period and was threatened with demolition before the 1980 Olympics, and the rebuilt mosque, inaugurated in 2015, was designed to expand capacity substantially.
The new building is a six-storey complex with a golden central dome and tall minarets, and, according to a guide, a Museum of Islam and a conference hall inside. The facade is a good example of Kazan Tatar influences in modern Islamic design. It is a calm stop for a short visit, with the Olympic Stadium and the streets of Meshchansky nearby.
How Moscow Cathedral Mosque Is Laid Out
The mosque stands at Vypolzov Lane 7, a short walk from Prospekt Mira Metro and next to the Olympic Stadium. The main building is a large six-storey structure with a central dome and two minarets, and the main prayer hall is the heart of the complex.
The complex also contains other facilities, which a guide lists as a Museum of Islam and a conference room, and the surrounding open spaces fill on major Muslim holidays. Visitors enter through the entrance indicated by staff, and the prayer hall is for worshippers at prayer times. Check the official site for visiting rules and for the entrance used by visitors who are not praying.
Highlights of Moscow Cathedral Mosque
The golden dome and minarets
The rebuilt mosque is topped by a central dome covered in gold leaf, according to a guide, with two tall minarets rising above it, and the facade combines Kazan Tatar architectural influences with modern design. Look at the dome and minarets from the street before you enter. Check the weather, since the dome catches the light best on sunny days.
Tip: Photograph the exterior from Vypolzov Lane in the late afternoon light.
The main prayer hall
The main prayer hall is the heart of the mosque, a bright space with chandeliers and hand-made carpets from Turkey, according to a guide, and the building as a whole can accommodate up to 10,000 worshippers. It is a place of prayer, so visitors should stay quiet and avoid prayer times. Check the rules for visitors who are not praying.
Tip: Ask staff when visitors may enter, since the hall is used for prayer.
The 2015 reopening
The mosque reopened on 23 September 2015 in a ceremony attended by the Russian president and the presidents of Turkey and Palestine, with Turkey and Kazakhstan contributing to the reconstruction. It was described as the biggest mosque in Europe. Check the official site for the mosque's own history page.
Tip: Read the history page before your visit for context.
The 1904 origins
The first mosque on the site was built in 1904 to a design credited to Nikolay Zhukov, and housed a religious school that became a secular Tatar school after the revolution. It remained open during the Soviet period and was the only functioning mosque in central Russia after 1936. Check the history page for details.
Tip: Remember that the current building is a 2015 reconstruction on the old site.
The Museum of Islam
A guide lists a Museum of Islam and a conference room within the complex, which may offer a way to learn about the faith and the community. Its opening hours and access were not verified. Check the official site for what is open to visitors.
Tip: Check the museum's opening hours before you plan a visit.
Holiday crowds
Before the 2015 reconstruction Moscow had only four mosques with a combined capacity of roughly 10,000, and on major holidays such as Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha large crowds of worshippers fill the surrounding streets. The new building was meant to relieve this. Check the dates of holidays before you plan a visit.
Tip: Avoid the mosque on major Muslim holidays unless you want to see the crowds.
Atmosphere
On Vypolzov Lane the mosque rises above the low buildings with a gold dome and slender minarets, and on Friday afternoons worshippers arrive in groups with prayer rugs under their arms. Inside, the sounds change to hushed voices, footsteps on carpet and the call to prayer.
Visitors are local worshippers, families and a few tourists, and the mood is quiet and respectful. The streets outside are busy with traffic from the Olympic Stadium area, while on major holidays the pavements fill with people at prayer. Early mornings and weekday afternoons are the calmest.
History of Moscow Cathedral Mosque
The first mosque on the site was built in 1904 for the city’s Muslim community, mainly Tatars, to a design credited to the architect Nikolay Zhukov, and it housed a religious school that became a secular Tatar school after 1917. The mosque was not closed during the Soviet period and became the only functioning mosque in central Russia after 1936.
Before the 1980 Moscow Olympics the mosque, next to the Olympic sports complex under construction, was threatened with demolition, and it was saved by religious leaders and ambassadors of Arab countries. In the post-Soviet decades the building was too small for the city’s Muslim population, and a reconstruction project was designed by the architect Ilyas Tazhiev.
The old mosque was demolished on 11 September 2011, the first religious building demolished in Moscow since 1978, and a new mosque was built on the site. It was inaugurated on 23 September 2015 and can hold up to 10,000 worshippers, with Turkey and Kazakhstan contributing to the reconstruction. Dates and details should be checked against the mosque’s official site, and this history is shorter than requested because few facts could be verified; guides differ on the architects and on the interior details.
Tickets and Booking for Moscow Cathedral Mosque
Entry. The mosque is described in guides as free and needs no ticket or booking, but visitor access to the prayer hall and the museum was not verified, so check the current rules on the official site mihrab.ru or with staff at the entrance. Visitors should follow the mosque’s rules on dress and behavior, and rules may differ at prayer times and on holidays.
Payment. Cash in rubles is the safe option for any donations or purchases. Foreign Visa and Mastercard cards are reported not to work in Russia, and your country’s sanctions rules may restrict some payment services, so check this yourself.
Plan and Book
Suggested Itineraries for Moscow Cathedral Mosque
30 minutes
Walk from Prospekt Mira Metro to Vypolzov Lane, look at the dome and minarets from the street and ask staff whether you may enter.
1.5 hours
Visit the mosque, then walk to the Apothecary Garden for a quiet stroll among the greenhouses.
Half day north of the center
Combine the mosque with Sretenka and Tsvetnoy Boulevard, following the Chistye Prudy, Myasnitskaya and Sretenka Walking Itinerary.
How to Get to Moscow Cathedral Mosque
Take the Metro to Prospekt Mira (Line 5, brown, or Line 6, orange) and walk about 10 minutes toward the Olympic Stadium to Vypolzov Lane 7.
- By taxi: ask for Vypolzov Lane 7, the Cathedral Mosque.
- On foot: the mosque is next to the Olympic Stadium and close to Olimpiysky Avenue.
- Orientation: look for the gold dome and the minarets above the roofs.
Accessibility
A tourist listing tags the mosque as wheelchair accessible, but this was not verified on the official site, so check mihrab.ru or ask before you go.
Food Nearby
The streets around Prospekt Mira Metro have cafes and shops, and a guide notes a cafe within a short distance; the exact venues were not verified. See the Moscow Food Tour: Russian Cuisine and Local Specialties itinerary.
What to Bring
Bring modest clothing covering arms and legs, a scarf for women to cover the hair, and socks, since shoes are removed in the prayer hall.
Best Views and Photo Spots of Moscow Cathedral Mosque
The mosque from Vypolzov Lane
The gold dome and minarets rising above the street.
Best time: Late afternoon.
The minarets against the sky
Two slender minarets against a clear sky.
Best time: Winter mornings.
The facade entrance
The main entrance and the carved details of the facade.
Best time: Weekday mornings.
The mosque with the Olympic Stadium
The mosque and the large stadium building nearby.
Best time: Dusk.
Photography Rules
Photography of the exterior from the street is generally fine, but photography inside the prayer hall and of worshippers may be restricted, so ask staff and follow signs. Drones must not be flown over the mosque or the stadium.
Family Suitability
Suitable for children who can be quiet and respectful, since it is a place of worship; strollers are possible on flat approaches but the interior access was not verified. Keep visits short with young children.
Moscow Vibes Tips
- Check prayer times before you go, since the prayer hall is reserved for worshippers.
- Avoid the mosque on major Muslim holidays unless you want to see the crowds outside.
- Dress modestly and bring socks, since shoes are removed in the hall.
- Remember that this is a 2015 reconstruction on the 1904 site.
- Combine the visit with the Apothecary Garden, which is a short walk away.
- Ask staff at the entrance about visitor rules, since they can change.
Explore Nearby Moscow Cathedral Mosque
Sights near Moscow Cathedral Mosque
Apothecary Garden Moscowabout 400 m away (~7 min walk) · typical visit: About 1.5 to 2.5 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Nikulin Moscow Circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevardabout 1.1 km away (~17 min walk) · typical visit: About 2.5 to 3 hours for a performanceMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Hermitage Garden Moscowabout 1.4 km away (~23 min walk) · typical visit: About 1 to 2 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Gulag History Museum Moscowabout 700 m away (~12 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Central Armed Forces Museum Moscowabout 900 m away (~14 min walk) · typical visit: 2–3 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
State Museum of Decorative Arts Moscowabout 1.2 km away (~19 min walk) · typical visit: About 1.5 to 2 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Metro stations near Moscow Cathedral Mosque
Prospekt Mira Metro Stationabout 500 m away (~8 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Sukharevskaya Metro Stationabout 750 m away (~12 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Dostoevskaya Metro Stationabout 850 m away (~14 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Restaurants and cafes near Moscow Cathedral Mosque
Sakhliabout 1.2 km away (~19 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Butcher Steak Houseabout 1.2 km away (~20 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Ollucoabout 1.2 km away (~20 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Gorynychabout 1.4 km away (~23 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Nightlife near Moscow Cathedral Mosque
Katie O'Shea'sabout 500 m away (~8 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Insider Barabout 1.1 km away (~18 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Hotels near Moscow Cathedral Mosque
Azimut Hotel Olympic Moscowabout 700 m away (~11 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Jackpot Energy Hotelabout 1.0 km away (~17 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Okno Aparthotelabout 1.6 km away (~27 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Train stations and river piers near Moscow Cathedral Mosque
Rizhsky Railway Terminalabout 1.6 km away (~26 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Leningradsky Railway Terminalabout 1.8 km away (~29 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Related guides
Tsvetnoy Boulevard: Nikulin Circus, Clowns Fountain and MarketMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Sretenka: Moscow’s Old Pilgrim Road, Monastery and BoulevardsMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Chistye Prudy, Myasnitskaya and Sretenka Walking Itinerary: RouteMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
EUROSPAR: Supermarkets in Central Moscow, 24-Hour Stores and PaymentMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Jam Club Music: Live Jazz and Blues on Sretenka StreetMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Browse more: More in Meshchansky · All Landmarks · All Sightseeing
FAQ: Moscow Cathedral Mosque
Is it the oldest mosque in Moscow?
No. The first building dates from 1904, and the current one was inaugurated in 2015.
How many people does it hold?
Up to 10,000 worshippers at a time.
Which Metro station is closest?
Prospekt Mira, about 10 minutes on foot.
Can non-Muslims visit?
Guides say many mosques welcome visitors, but check the current rules for this one.
Why was the old mosque demolished?
It was too small, and a larger building was built on the site in 2011 to 2015.
Is it free?
Guides describe it as free; see the booking section.
Is the interior open all day?
Not for visitors at prayer times; check the official site.
Can I pay with a foreign card?
Foreign Visa and Mastercard cards are reported not to work in Russia, so carry cash in rubles; see the booking section for sanctions rules.
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Last updated: October 9, 2026. Found an error or something out of date? Report it and we will check and fix it.
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