Moscow Guides and Best-of Lists

These guides and best-of lists organize Moscow by theme: architecture, nightlife, shopping, museums, food, seasons and rainy-day plans. Each list gathers ten places, with areas and practical tips for visitors.

Use the text below to choose a list that fits your trip. Start with the theme you care about most, then add a seasonal or situational list, such as autumn, spring or a rainy day. Separate lists cover VDNKh and a night out, so you can build a plan around one area or one mood.

Other areas

• 10 Best Art Museums and Galleries in Moscow – A list of 10 art museums and galleries in Moscow, from the Tretyakov Gallery and the Pushkin Museum to contemporary art, icons and Asian…
• 10 Best Food Markets and Food Halls in Moscow – A list of 10 food markets and food halls in Moscow, from Danilovsky and Depo to Usachevsky, the Central Market and Zaryadye, with areas,…
• 10 Best Parks in Moscow – Ten parks and gardens in Moscow, from riverside Gorky Park and Zaryadye to royal estates, Soviet pavilions and quiet central gardens, with what is…
• 10 Best Places for Russian Architecture in Moscow – A list of 10 places in Moscow for Russian architecture, from Saint Basil's Cathedral and the Kremlin to Naryshkin Baroque churches, Kolomenskoye, Novodevichy and…
• 10 Best Places for Soviet History in Moscow – A list of 10 places in Moscow for Soviet history, from a museum of 20th-century history and VDNKh to the Metro, space sites and…
• 10 Best Places to Buy Souvenirs in Moscow – A list of 10 places to buy souvenirs in Moscow, from the Izmailovo Vernissage market and Old Arbat to GUM, museum shops and food…
• 10 Best Places to Try Russian Food in Moscow – A list of 10 places to try Russian food in Moscow, from Cafe Pushkin and a Soviet canteen in GUM to dumpling and buffet…
• 10 Best Shopping Malls in Moscow – A list of 10 shopping malls in Moscow, from GUM on Red Square and Okhotny Ryad to Afimall City, Aviapark and Evropeisky, with areas,…
• 10 Best Squares and Streets for a Walk in Moscow – Ten squares, streets and boulevard stretches in central Moscow that suit an unhurried walk, from Red Square and Kitay-Gorod to Old Arbat, Kuznetsky Most…
• 10 Best Things to Do at VDNKh Moscow – A list of 10 things to do at VDNKh in Moscow, from the gilded fountains and the Worker and Kolkhoz Woman to space museums,…
• 10 Best Things to Do in Moscow at Night – A list of 10 things to do in Moscow at night, from lit-up Red Square and the Floating Bridge to river cruises, viewpoints and…
• 10 Best Things to Do in Moscow in Autumn – A list of 10 autumn activities in Moscow, from the Circle of Light festival and the Moscow Marathon to the book fair, golden parks…
• 10 Best Things to Do in Moscow in Spring – A list of 10 spring activities in Moscow, from tulips and apple orchards to the Japanese Garden, Museum Night and Easter concerts, with areas…
• 10 Best Things to Do in Moscow on a Rainy Day – A list of 10 indoor things to do in Moscow when it rains, from the Tretyakov Gallery and the Metro to a covered market,…
• 10 Best Viewpoints in Moscow – Ten places to see Moscow from above or from the water: two Moscow City decks, the Ostankino Tower, a cathedral platform, Sparrow Hills, a…
• 10 Landmarks in Moscow You Can See in One Day – A one-day walking route past ten Moscow landmarks, from the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour through the Kremlin, Red Square and Zaryadye Park to…
• 10 Lesser-Known Places in Moscow Worth Visiting – Ten quieter places in Moscow for a second visit or a day off the main route: a Cold War bunker, an Art Nouveau mansion,…
• 10 Most Beautiful Churches and Cathedrals in Moscow – Ten of Moscow's most striking churches and cathedrals, from St. Basil's and the Kremlin cathedrals to Christ the Saviour, Kazan Cathedral, Novodevichy and the…
• 10 Most Impressive Soviet-Era Buildings in Moscow – Ten Soviet-era landmarks in Moscow: seven Stalin-era skyscrapers known as the Seven Sisters, plus the Ostankino Tower, the VDNKh pavilions and the Metro's decorated…
• 15 Best Museums in Moscow – A list of 15 museums in Moscow for first-time and repeat visitors, from the Tretyakov Gallery and the Kremlin Museums to space, icons, architecture…
• 15 Best Things to Do in Moscow in Summer – A list of 15 summer activities in Moscow, from Gorky Park, the Floating Bridge and river cruises to beaches, gardens and open-air parks, with…
• 15 Best Things to Do in Moscow in Winter – A list of 15 winter activities in Moscow, from ice rinks and festive lights to concerts, theaters, a food market and the Metro, with…
• 15 Best Things to Do in Moscow with Kids – A list of 15 family-friendly places in Moscow, from circuses and a free roof view to space history, hands-on museums and parks, with areas…
• 20 Best Free Things to Do in Moscow – Twenty free things to do in Moscow: Red Square, riverside parks, viewpoints, cathedrals, old streets and a free festival night, with the nearest Metro…
• Top 10 Must-See Attractions in Moscow – Ten landmarks and museums that define Moscow, from Red Square and the Kremlin treasuries to the Tretyakov Gallery, the Metro and the Sparrow Hills…
• Top 10 Things to Do in Moscow for First-Time Visitors – Ten places that give a first visit to Moscow its shape, from Red Square and the Kremlin to the Metro and the Bolshoi, with…

Choose by interest

Choose the architecture list for Saint Basil's Cathedral and the Kremlin, Naryshkin Baroque churches, Kolomenskoye, Novodevichy and Tsaritsyno. Choose the Soviet history list for a museum of 20th-century history, VDNKh, the Metro, space sites and Soviet-era architecture.

Choose the art museums list for the Tretyakov Gallery and the Pushkin Museum, plus contemporary art, icons and Asian art. The VDNKh list covers the gilded fountains, the Worker and Kolkhoz Woman, space museums, the Buran shuttle, pavilions and the winter ice rink.

Each list includes areas and practical tips, so you can group stops by neighborhood.

Choose by season or situation

Choose the night list for lit-up Red Square, the Floating Bridge, river cruises, viewpoints and jazz clubs. Choose the autumn list for the Circle of Light festival, the Moscow Marathon, the book fair and golden parks.

Choose the spring list for tulips, apple orchards, the Japanese Garden, Museum Night and Easter concerts.

Choose the rainy-day list for indoor stops: the Tretyakov Gallery, the Metro, a covered market, a circus and greenhouses. Combine a seasonal list with an interest list to build a few days around the weather.

Choose by what you want to buy or eat

Choose the shopping malls list for GUM on Red Square and Okhotny Ryad, plus Afimall City, Aviapark and Evropeisky. Choose the souvenirs list for the Izmailovo Vernissage market, Old Arbat, GUM, museum shops and food gifts.

Choose the Russian food list for Cafe Pushkin, a Soviet canteen in GUM, and dumpling and buffet chains, with typical dishes. Choose the food markets list for Danilovsky, Depo, Usachevsky, the Central Market and Zaryadye.

Each list gives areas and what to expect, so you can plan a meal or a shopping stop near your other plans.

Frequently asked questions

Which list suits a first visit to Moscow?

The architecture list is a good start, since it covers the Kremlin, Saint Basil's Cathedral and major landmarks. Add a museum or Soviet history list for variety.

What can I do on a rainy day?

The rainy-day list covers indoor stops such as the Tretyakov Gallery, the Metro, a covered market, a circus and greenhouses.

Is there a list for the night?

Yes. The night list covers lit-up Red Square, the Floating Bridge, river cruises, viewpoints and jazz clubs, with areas and tips.

Where do I find souvenirs?

The souvenirs list covers the Izmailovo Vernissage market, Old Arbat, GUM, museum shops and food gifts, with advice on what to buy.

Which list covers VDNKh?

The VDNKh list has ten things to do, from fountains and the Worker and Kolkhoz Woman to space museums, the Buran shuttle and the winter ice rink.