Moscow on a Budget: One-Day Free Sightseeing Itinerary: Six Free Stops

The Moscow on a Budget: One-Day Free Sightseeing Itinerary shows that the best views of the city need no tickets. Six of the best-known places in the center are open to everyone: a river park with a bridge, the main square, a garden under the Kremlin wall, a huge cathedral, a riverside park and a hill with a view.

It assumes about eight hours at a steady pace, with a lot of walking and a few rides on a single Metro line. By the end you will have seen the Kremlin wall, the colored domes, the river from three different places and the skyline from the hill, and the only cost will be your Metro fare and your food.

At a glance: Walk from Zaryadye Park to Red Square and Alexander Garden, continue on foot to the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, then ride Line 1 to Gorky Park and Sparrow Hills for the evening view.

One Day: Six Free Stops from Zaryadye to Sparrow Hills

The route follows one line from the oldest part of the city to the western hills. The morning is on foot around the Kremlin, the middle is a walk to a large cathedral, and the afternoon uses one Metro line for the last two stops. Interiors that charge, such as the Kremlin and St. Basil's, are left out on purpose.

1. Zaryadye Park – Start at Kitay-Gorod (Line 6, orange, or Line 7, purple); the park and the V-shaped floating bridge over the Moskva River are free and open all day, with a view of the Kremlin and the cathedral (1 hour)
2. Red Square – Walk to the square for the Kremlin wall, GUM and the domes of St. Basil's Cathedral; looking is free, while the interiors and the museums have their own tickets, and Lenin's Mausoleum has its own opening days (30 to 45 minutes)
3. Alexander Garden – Pass through the Resurrection Gate into the long garden under the Kremlin wall, with benches and fountains, a free walk to the Metro at Aleksandrovsky Sad (Line 4, light blue) (30 minutes)
4. Cathedral of Christ the Saviour – Walk about twenty minutes to the huge white cathedral, which is free to enter as a church, then cross the Patriarshy Bridge for the view of the river; check whether any exhibition inside has a ticket (45 to 60 minutes)
5. Gorky Park – Ride Line 1 from Kropotkinskaya to Park Kultury (Line 1, red); the park is free to enter, with a riverside promenade and playgrounds, and only the Garage Museum and some exhibitions are paid (1.5 to 2 hours)
6. Sparrow Hills – Ride Line 1 to Vorobyovy Gory (Line 1, red) for the terrace over the river bend and the university tower, timed for sunset (1 hour)

Tip: Buy a single Metro fare option that covers the two rides, and keep the free walk between Red Square and the cathedral for the middle of the day, when you need to rest and eat.

Moscow Vibes Tips

• Bring a snack and a refillable bottle: the free route has no cheap lunch stop right on it, and a canteen meal is the cheapest hot lunch; see the How to order food in a Russian canteen guide.
• Walk the free route in the order given so that the longest walk, from the garden to the cathedral, falls in the middle of the day when you are fresh.
• At the cathedral, dress modestly and keep your voice low, since it is a working church even though entry is free.
• Look at Red Square from the Resurrection Gate end first, so that the domes of St. Basil's are the last thing you see as you walk across the cobbles.
• Keep the evening for Sparrow Hills: the view over the stadium and the river bend is free and is at its best an hour before sunset.
• For other free ideas for another day, see the 20 Best Free Things to Do in Moscow list, and carry a few rubles for water, since foreign cards are reported not to work.

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FAQ

Is everything on this route really free?

The six places are free to enter or see. You still pay for the Metro rides and for food, and any optional museum or exhibition has its own ticket.

Can I go inside St. Basil's Cathedral for free?

No. The inside of St. Basil's Cathedral has a ticket, so the route only looks at the outside; see the How to visit St. Basil's Cathedral guide.

Is the Kremlin free?

No. The Kremlin interior needs a ticket, but Alexander Garden, which runs along its wall, is free; see the How to buy tickets for the Moscow Kremlin guide.

How much walking is there?

About eight to ten kilometers in the day, with most of the walking in the morning and between Red Square and the cathedral.

Which days are best?

Any day for the parks and the squares, but some official events close Red Square and the Kremlin area, so keep Zaryadye Park and Gorky Park as the backup.

Is Gorky Park free in winter?

Entry to the park is free all year, and the skating rink is free to enter while the skate rental is paid; see the How to go ice skating in Moscow in winter guide.

Can I do the route in the rain?

Partly. Swap the park and the hill for the free Metro stations; see the Moscow Metro Tour: Most Beautiful Stations Itinerary.

Can I pay with a foreign card?

Foreign Visa and Mastercard cards are reported not to work in Russia, and your country's sanctions rules may restrict some services, so carry some rubles and check this yourself.

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