walking tour moscow

Best things to see and do in Moscow

Moscow is the capital of Russia and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Asia. It’s rich and complex history is a constant reminder of its strategic position between Europe and Asia and makes it one of the cities you should visit once in your life. In terms of the many iconic landmarks, the delicious cuisine, and the characteristic, colorful architecture it has, Moscow is full of surprises for first-timers and seasoned travelers. Apart from the main attractions, it has like the Kremlin or Red Square, Moscow has many hidden gems for you to discover on your free walking tour with your local guide. 

On any of the free guided tours we offer in Moscow , you will be able to find a selection of many tours which are available in different languages and at different times of day, like the morning, afternoon, and evening. Since Moscow is such a large metropolis, getting your bearings by doing a guruwalk with a local guide who will show you all Moscow’s hidden gems is a great idea. This way you get to learn as much as possible about the local culture and way of life. A trip to Moscow wouldn't be complete without visiting iconic places like St Basil’s Cathedral, Lenin’s Mausoleum, the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts, or the State Historical Museum, before getting some fresh air at Gorky Park, the medieval church of Kolomenskoye, or shopping at Izmailovsky Market. Don’t miss visiting the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, the Bolshoi Theater, or checking out the Tsaritsyno Museum-Reserve. 

Many travelers have left their r eviews and opinions about the local guides , gurus, and the routes they walked. If you have any questions about the routes or what is included in the tour, check out their opinions. 

Free walking tour near Moscow

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• Moscow Tours

Our 20 Best Moscow Tours of 2022

Join us on an unforgettable tour to Moscow, the capital of Russia. Imagine visiting Red Square, St. Basil’s the Kremlin and more. Moscow is one of Europe’s most vibrant cities and one of Russia’s most historical. All of our tours to Moscow are fully customizable and can be adjusted to fit any budget. Our most popular tours are listed below. Please click on the tour details to learn more or contact us for more information about our Moscow tours using the form at the side of the page. You can also schedule a call with one of our Russian travel specialists to learn more.

Classic Moscow

This is our most popular Moscow tour that includes all the most prominent sights. You will become acquainted with ancient Russia in the Kremlin, admire Russian art in the Tretyakov Gallery, listen to street musicians as you stroll along the Old Arbat street, and learn about Soviet times on the Moscow Metro tour.

Accommodation

PRIVATE TOUR

A Week in Moscow

This tour is a perfect choice for those who wish to get to know Moscow in depth. One of the highlights of this package is the KGB history tour which gives an interesting perspective on the Cold War. You will also have time for exploring the city on your own or doing extra sightseeing.

Weekend in Moscow

This tour is a great way to get acquainted with the capital of Russia if you are short of time. You will see all the main attractions of the city, the most important of which is the Kremlin - the heart of Russia. The tour starts on Friday and can be combined with a business trip.

Group Tour Moscow Break by Intourist

Russia's capital has so much to offer, from the Kremlin and the Metro to the Old Arbat street and the Tretyakov Gallery. Besides these sites, you will also visit a fascinating country estate which today is quite off the beaten path, Gorky Estate, where the Soviet leader Lenin spent the last months of his life.

Kolomenskoye Tour with transport

The history of Kolomenskoye stretches back for centuries. In 1380, Dmitri Donskoi’s army passed through Kolomenskoye on their way to the Kulikovo battlefield, and it was...

Tours by car

Kremlin, Red Sq., Cathedrals & Armory Tour

The Kremlin is truly a fascinating structure, at the same time it is an ancient tower, the city’s former military fortification, a palace, an armory, the sovereign treasury...

Walking tours

Kremlin, Red Sq., Cathedrals, Armory, Diamond Fund Tour

Old Arbat walking tour

You will be told of the street’s interesting history and view the street’s artisan culture. You will also have the opportunity to view and purchase souvenirs from the...

Tour to Sergiev Posad with transport

Considered by some to be the Russian Vatican, Sergiev Posad is the temporary residence of the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church. The Trinity St. Sergius Monastery (Lavra)...

Tour to Kuskovo with transport

The Kuskovo Estate often called the Moscow Versailles due to its perfectly preserved French park, is an example of an 18th century, luxurious Moscow summer residence. Its history...

Tour to Tsaritsyno with transport

The Tsaritsyno Estate is located in the southern part of Moscow. The estate was constructed for Catherine the Great by the Russian architects Bazhenov and Kazakov in a romantic...

Moscow Metro and Old Arbat Tour

The Moscow Metro is one of the largest and most grandly built metro systems in the world. It was meant to be a showcase of the Soviet Union’s achievements for both the Russians...

Vodka Museum Tour with transport (excursion and vodka tasting)

Vodka is an important component of Russian life, an element of national identity and everyday culture. We invite you to visit the Vodka Museum and feel the atmosphere of long-gone...

Mikhail Bulgakov Apartment Museum

This apartment museum located close to Patriarch Ponds became the prototype of the "bad apartment" described in the novel "The Master and Margarita." Currently the museum's...

Kremlin, Red Sq., Cathedrals & Diamond Fund Tour

The State Museum of Lev Tolstoy Tour

Take this opportunity to learn more about the Russian writer Lev Tolstoy. During the visit to the museum you will see part of a vast collection of exhibits connected to Tolstoy...

Novodevichy Convent Tour with transport

Tour of the Novodevichy Monastery. Founded in 1524 by Grand Prince VasiliIoanovich, the original convent was enclosed by fortified walls and contained 12 towers. The structure...

City Tour with Visit to St. Basils & Red Sq. with transport

Panoramic City Tour. This Moscow tour is a great start to your trip and the best way to get acquainted with many of the city’s major highlights. Our professional guide will...

City Tour of Moscow

Head to the heart of Moscow with a professional guide on a 4-hour private walk through the city center. See Tverskaya and Old Arbat streets, Theatre Square with the world-famous...

Moscow Metro walking tour

Kremlin, Red Square and Cathedrals Tour

KGB Tour with transport

This is a very interesting and insightful tour. You will visit places connected with Stalin’s terror - a time of great repression and fear. You will be shown monuments to...

Soviet and Post-Soviet Moscow Tour

The tour begins with a drive or walk down Tverskaya Street – a Soviet masterpiece. In the years of Soviet power, Tverskaya began to undergo a transformation: it was widened...

Tretyakov State Gallery Tour

This world-famous gallery contains masterpieces of Russian art beginning in the 10th century up until today. You will view exquisite Russian icons and paintings from the 18th and...

Jewish Heritage of Moscow Tour

This tour offers a detailed look into the history and present-day life of the Jewish community of Moscow. On the tour, you will visit sites connected with the cultural and religious...

Vodka Museum Tour with transport (excursion only)

Lena, our guide in Moscow was excellent. She was very knowledgable and could answer any question we had for her. We liked that she could pick up on our interests and take us places we might not have thought of to go. When we realized that one of the places we had chosen to see would probably not be that interesting to us, she was able to arrange entry to the Diamond Fund and the Armoury for us. Riding the Metro with Lena was a real adventure and a lot of fun. In Saint Petersburg we found Anna well versed in the history of the Tsars and in the Hermitage collection. Arkady in Veliky Novgorod was a very good guide and answered all of our questions with ease. Novgorod was perhaps a long way to go for a day trip, but we did enjoy it. Vasily was a great driver to have and kept us safe with good humour and skill. We enjoyed ourselves so much, my daughter says she is already planning to return. We would both have no hesistation to recommend ExpresstoRussia to anyone we know.

Just wanted to let you know that My grandson Bruno and I couldn´t have been more pleased with our week in Moscow (6/15 - 6/21). We were absolutely enchanted with the whole experience, including getting lost a couple of times in the Metro during our free time. Although both our guides (both Eleanas) were excellent, I would particularly commend the first one (she took us to the Tatiakov, the KGB tour, and to that beautiful cemetery where so many great Russian artists, authors, composers, musicians, militarists, and politicians are buried). Her knowledge is encyclopedic; and her understanding of today´s Russia as a product of its past was, for us, truly enlightening. I will be taking another tour in Russia, with my wife, within the next two or three years. I will be in touch with you when the time comes. Meanwhile, I will refer you to other potential visitors to Russia as I meet them.

Tours to Moscow

Our Moscow tours are land only meaning that you arrange your own air travel to Russia and our expert staff meets you at the airport and handles everything else from there. Our online Airline Ticket booking system offers some of the most competitive rates to Russia available on the web so if you need tickets, please visit our Russian air ticket center . Rest assured that you will be taken great care of on one of our Moscow tours. Express to Russia has a fully staffed office in Moscow that will help to make your visit fun, informative and unforgettable. Please remember that of all these tours are private and can be adjusted to your taste. You can add, replace or skip some sights; you can add more days to the package or cut the tour short. Our specialists will be glad to help you create the tour of your dreams!

Moscow, a City Like No Other

Moscow is Russia’s largest city with a population of between 12 and 13 million. It is also Europe’s largest city and when you visit Moscow, you can feel it. The layout and architecture of the city is eclectic, ranging from crooked, ancient streets and alleyways to wide, bustling boulevards, from medieval churches to Stalin skyscrapers and to modern, glass buildings towering over everything and of course in the center of it all is the Kremlin and the magnificent Red Square. Moscow is also home to a fantastic, efficient and very beautiful metro system – each station having its own special design. In fact, Express to Russia’s Moscow metro tours and excursions are some of our most popular attractions that we offer. On our Moscow tours, you will see this and more.

Moscow Tours centering on Russian History

Moscow has a long and interesting history and has been the capital of Russia in many of its different iterations – capital of the Grand Duchy of Moscow , the Russian Empire and of course the Soviet Union (who could ever forget the Soviet Union?). Moscow, was founded in the 12th century by Prince Yuri Dolgaruki (Yuri of the long arms – he really did have long arms!). From that time on, it was home to the Russian Tsars until Peter the Great moved the capital to St. Petersburg in 1703. The city has survived invasions and sieges from the Mongols, the Tartars, the Poles, Lithuanians and Napoleon but has always persevered. Our Moscow tours will enlighten you on this great history and give you insights into Muscovites and their unique culture. Our Moscow tours show you what the city is like today but also brings to life the past. Moscow never seems to sleep and is bursting with energy. A Moscow tour with Express to Russia is truly the best way of getting to know Russia’s largest and most vibrant city.

Frequently Asked Questions From Our Travelers

What is the best time to visit moscow.

Any time of year is fine depending on what you plan to do. Summertime is pleasantly warm, ideal for exploring the city and its vibrant atmosphere, but Moscow will be much busier and accommodation is more expensive. Winter can be quite cold but beautiful nonetheless, and this is unproblematic if you intend to spend most of your trip in museums and galleries. There are also various festivals and events organised throughout the year. For more information about the best time to visit, read our guide

How many days are enough in Moscow?

If you plan your itinerary strategically and aren’t averse to a packed schedule, you can cover Moscow’s main sights over a long weekend. Most popular attractions are in the city centre, and the Moscow Metro allows you to cover much ground in a small amount of time. Ensure that your accommodation is fairly central and book tickets in advance, so that you can make the most of your days. For an informative and well-organised day out, check out our Moscow day tours with options to suit all interests.

Do they speak English in Moscow?

As Russia’s capital city, tourists are well accommodated in Moscow. There should be English-speaking staff in restaurants, bars, hotels, shops and attractions in tourist hotspots, and there are also English-speaking tourist police. Transport services have English translations on their maps and English announcements via intercom; alternatively, order taxis from the Yandex Taxi app (Russian Uber), though it’s unlikely that your taxi driver will speak English. If you get stuck and cannot communicate, it’s fine to use Google Translate.

Is it safe to travel to Moscow?

It is no less safe to travel to Moscow than to any European city if you exercise common sense and look after your belongings. As with every city some regions can be more unsavoury than others, but no tourist attractions are located there. The traffic in Moscow is notorious, so exercise caution when crossing roads. Do not take unlicensed taxis; book in advance or take public transport, which is widespread and perfectly safe. If you encounter any problems, look for the special tourist police who can help you. For more information, read our guide about staying safe in Russia .

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A History of Moscow in 13 Dishes

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Moscow walking routes – streets, boulevards and more

To feel the magic atmosphere of the ancient and, at the same time, advanced Moscow you should discover the city with your own eyes and legs. We suggest you to walk around the famous places in the center of the city.

Arbat street walking route

Arbat is considered the oldest pedestrian street in Moscow. The name of this street was first mentioned in 1475. What is so special about this place – museum, theater scenes, marketplace, and a place for walking? Arbat is a kind of a cozy world where you can immerse yourself in the amazing creative atmosphere. The street became pedestrian in 1986. Soon, the renovated street attracted artists, musicians, street performers and vendors, creating custom creative world within Arbat. Contemporary Arbat is something like the ‘Montmartre’ where you can see people draw, sing, dance, recite poetry, oratory and much more. Perceiving its noble and intellectual traditions try to feel the uniqueness and charm of this corner of Moscow.

Restaurant «Prague»

1. Start a walk along Arbat at its eastern end – Arbatskaya Square. Here you can see a XIX century building – a famous restaurant – «Prague» . It has existed since the 1890s and always was a meeting place of the elite. The restaurant itself is now closed for a reconstruction.

«Khudogestvenniy» Cinema

2. The restaurant overlooks «Khudogestvenniy» Cinema – one of the oldest cinemas in Moscow. It was opened in 1909. Following the Arbat Street, you will see numerous beautiful buildings that represent mostly the XIX century architecture. However, the real treasures of Arbat hides in its lanes. Old building still preserve there

The Moscow State Museum «House of Burganov»

3. Turning to Bolshoy Afanasyevsky Lane you will find the beautiful Church of Athanasius and Cyril of Alexandria . Following the lane, go to the Moscow State Museum «House of Burganov» . A part of its exhibition, by the way, is clearly visible from the outside, so you can choose either to observe it from a distance or to visit this museum. Coincidentally, you will see many works of this artist travelling along this route. Next, go along the Sivtsev Vrazhek Lane all the way to Denezhny Lane, and from there, you will arrive to the Arbat.

The Melnikov House

4.If you turn left to the Krivoarbatsky Lane, you will find one of the city’s most remarkable examples of Constructivist architecture, an idealistic and futuristic movement that swept the Soviet Union in the 1920s. The Melnikov House is named after the architect who designed it in 1927. An experimental design, the house is formed from two connected cylinders and dotted with hexagonal windows. Plans to create a museum here exist, but even before that happens it is worth going to peer through the fence. Continue on Kirvoarbatsky Lane and turn right to go back to the Arbat. At the end of the lane, there will be the “Victor Tsoi Wall” , a one-of-a-kind tribute to the beloved musician.

The Vakhtangov Theater

5. At the Arbat Street you will see the Vakhtangov Theater and 6 a small fountain with golden figure of Princess Turandot, the title character of Carlo Gozzi play, and the most celebrated production of this theater.

Statue of Bulat Okudzhava

6. At the Plotnikov Lane, you will see bronze statue of Bulat Okudzhava , a famous Russian songwriter and singer, walks sure-footed to meet you. The sculptor G.V. Frangulyan did his best to recreate the spirit of the legendary Arbat so adored by the bard around this composition.

Church of the Savior on the Sands (Spasa-na-peskah)

7. Head straight up Spasopeskovsky Lane to see the pretty Church of the Savior on the Sands (Spasa-na-peskah) dating the 18th century. At the far end of the lane is the elegant Spaso House , home of the U.S. Ambassador to Russia. Make your way back to the Arbat, and turn right to continue walking west.

Statue of Russian poet, Alexander Pushkin and his wife Natalia Goncharova

8. On the right, you will notice a bronze statue of Russian poet, Alexander Pushkin, and his wife Natalia Goncharova. After their wedding at the nearby Great Ascension Church, the couple lived in the blue house on the left, which is now the Pushkin House-Museum .

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

9. The Arbat ends at Smolenskaya-Sennaya Square, which is dominated by the massive Ministry of Foreign Affairs . This is one of seven skyscrapers known as the Seven Sisters, which were built in 1947 to commemorate Moscow’s 800th anniversary.

Moscow boulevards walking route

Monument to Nikolai Gogol

1. Start the walk from Kropotkinskaya metro station and follow the boulevards clockwise. You will find yourself at Gogolevsky Boulevard , the symbolic start of the Boulevard Ring. It stretched from Prechistenskie Gate Square to Arbat Gate Square. A striking feature of this boulevard is that it is a three-tiered – external, middle and inner parts are at different heights. There are many houses and mansions of the late nineteenth century. Almost in the center of the boulevard is a monument to Mikhail Sholokhov. Two departments of Moscow Museum of Modern Art are located here. At the end of the boulevard, you can see a monument to Nikolai Gogol.

Fountain rotunda «Natalia and Alexander»

2. Coming over the Arbat Square, you will find yourself at Nikitsky Boulevard , with lots of beautiful buildings and nice cafes. The mansion of Count Alexander Tolstoy was situated here. The Niktitsky Gate completes the Boulevard. On your left, you will see fountain rotunda «Natalia and Alexander», established in honor of the 200th anniversary of Alexander Pushkin’s birth.

TASS Main Entrance

3. Moving forward you get to the longest boulevard of the Boulevard Ring – Tverskoy . At the beginning of the Boulevard, you will see the monument to Timiryazev. Also, note the TASS building on your right. In the center of the recently renovated Boulevard is a monument to Sergei Yesenin.

Monument to composer Sergei Rachmaninoff

4. Crossing the Tverskaya Street, you will get to the Pushkin square where you will see the writer’s monument. Right behind the Pushkinsky Cinema begins the Strastnoy Boulevard , the widest at the Boulevard Ring. Here you will find a monument to composer Sergei Rachmaninoff and a monument to the actor and poet Vladimir Vysotsky.

Petrovsky Boulevard

5. Strastnoy Boulevard ends by Petrovskiye Gate and Petrovsky Boulevard begins. Here you will find many architectural and historical monuments.

Female Rogdestvensky Monastery

6. Rogestvensky Boulevard starts from the Trubnaya Square. The history of this place begins with the appearance of female Rogdestvensky and men Sretensky Monasteries in the area. In 2012, worship the cross in honor of the patroness St. Euphrosyne of Moscow was established at the boulevard.

Monument to Nadezhda Krupskaya

7. Go further to Sretensky Boulevard , the shortest boulevard of the Boulevard Ring. In the beginning of the boulevard is a monument to Nadezhda Krupskaya.

Chistoprudny Boulevard

8. At the entrance to Chistoprudny Boulevard , you will see a monument to Alexander Griboyedov, and later – a monument to Kazakh poet Abai Kunanbayev. Chistoprudniy Boulevard is the only one at the Boulevard Ring where you will find the pond – “Pure ponds”(Chistie Prudi).

Pokrovsky Boulevard

9. Coming through Pokrovsky Gates Square and Khokhlovskaya Square you will appear at Pokrovsky Boulevard that flows into the Yauzsky Boulevard . They are not so well known as Tverskoy or Chistoprudniy Boulevard, but they are also quite remarkable.

Monument to Motherland Border Guards

10. Ustyinsky drive completes the Boulevard Ring. Here, in the Yauzskie Gate park area you will find a monument to Motherland Border Guards. Perhaps we have not told you everything about the Boulevard Ring. Just have a walk right at the border of unpreserved White City and see wonderful nowadays Moscow through one of its best parts.

Kitay-gorod walking route

Kitai-gorod is one of the oldest and the most interesting areas of Moscow. It was a commercial and business district in the years before the Revolution. Here you will see traces of medieval Moscow.

Fragments of the foundation and the base of the Varvarskaya tower

1. Start your walk right at the Kitay-gorod metro station . In the wall of the underpass, you will see fragments of the foundation and the base of the Varvarskaya tower of the Kitay-Gorod. Kitaygorodskaya Wall was built in Moscow in the 1530s by architect Petrok Maly. It had 14 towers and was more than 2.5 km length. The Wall began from the Arsenal Tower and ended at Beklemishevskaya Tower of the Kremlin. It was almost completely demolished in the 1930s – 1950s.

Temple of St. George on Pskov Hill

2. Go to Varvarka Street , into the area of the former medieval fortress.The street is real reserve of old Moscow: ancient temple of St. George on Pskov Hill, the cathedral of the former Znamensky Monastery and Chambers of the Romanov Boyars are situated in the street.

Temple of the Trinity in Nikitniki of XVII century

3. If you go to the Ipatievsky Lane on the opposite side of Varvarka, then at the corner of the Nikitinskiy lane you will see the beautiful temple of the Trinity in Nikitniki of XVII century.

Gostinniy Dvor

4. Return to Varvarka and continue. To your left you will see one of the oldest buildings in Moscow – Old English Court , built in the late XV century by merchant Ivan Bobrischevym. On your right, there is Gostinniy Dvor . The first mention of it dates to the beginning of the XVI century, and at the end of XVIII century, it was rebuilt by architect Quarenghi. Now it hosts an exhibition hall, shops, restaurants and cafes. Not far from Gostinniy Dvor, Barbara the Martyr Church, which gave its name to the street, is located.

Burse Square

5. Turn right to the Crystal Lane (as you might guess, there used to trade crystal and glass)and go on to Ilyinka Street . The street is named after the ancient Elias Monastery. It was abolished, and the Church of Elijah the Prophet was built in its place. Follow the Ilyinka Street to the Burse Square. Exchange building (now a CCI of Russia) is on your right. Like a hundred years ago, it is – one of the main business areas of the capital: ministries, banks, representative offices of various companies. Many buildings have preserved from pre-revolutionary times. Near the Burse Square a beautiful Epiphany Cathedral of the Epiphany Monastery – one of the oldest in Moscow is located.

Nikolskaya Street

6. Reaching the Big Cherkassky Lane , turn left and walk along the early XIX century buildings to Nikolskaya Street. It is, perhaps, the busiest street of Kitay-Gorod. At all times it was one of the main streets of Moscow. There is a wide variety of shops, malls, restaurants, cafes and clubs.

Shopping Center «Sheremetyevsky»

7. Nikolskaya Street has always been famous for many bookshops. In the beginning of the XIX century, there were 26 out of 31 Moscow bookstores!

Tretyakovsky Passage

8. Go by the street towards the Kremlin. Right in the arch – Tretyakovsky Passage – a street with fashionable shops of famous international brands. This passage was arranged in the 1870s Tretyakov brothers. The Building in the Gothic style, with a sundial, bas-relief images of a lion and the unicorn is a former Synod printing. The house was built in the 1810s. Here, in 1564 the first Russian printed book “The Apostle» was published. Russian State Humanitarian University is now located here. Walk along the Nicholskaya Street and get to the Red Square, from where you can start a wonderful study of the Moscow Kremlin.

Zamoskvorechye walking route

The Zamoskvorechye District, located at the lower bank of the Moskva River, has almost undergone any renovation. Varied in style, Moscow churches XVII – XIX centuries, the Exchequers and the homes of famous Moscow merchants retain the image of old Moscow.

The first mention of the Zamoskvorechye in the documents refers to 1365, when first settlements began to form here. Since the second half of the XIX century, the area was popular among intellectuals. Outstanding figures of Russian culture lived and worked here. For example, young Lev Tolstoy rented an apartment in the merchant’s house in 1854-1855 in Pjatnitskaya Street. Fyodor Dostoevsky often visited his aunt in a house on Bolshaya Ordynka (known as Kumaninskoe farmstead). This area is closely associated with the names of Anna Akhmatova, the famous Russian publisher and educator Ivan Sytina. The Soviet era did not cause serious damage to Zamoskvorechye and despite modern development, here preserved historical architecture.

In 2013, a new pedestrian zone near the Tretyakovskaya Gallery, and includes Pyatnitskaya street Klimentovskiy, Ordinsky, Lavrushinsky Lanes and Kadashevskaya embankment, appeared in Zamoskvorechye.

Pyatnitskaya Street

1. Start a walk from Novokuznetskaya metro station . Go through Pyatnitskaya Street to the vintage Klimentovskiy Lane that connects Bolshaya Tatarskaya and Bolshaya Ordynka streets.

Temple of the Holy Martyr Clement

2. Here you can see a wonderful piece of the XVIII century architecture – the Temple of the Holy Martyr Clement , Pope (1762-1774). The northern side of Klimentovskiy Lane forms a small district occupied by shops and cafes.

Church of All the Afflicted

3. Crossing Bolshaya Ordynka not forget to look in Ordynsky dead end , located right on your way.there you can see the Church of All the Afflicted.

The State Tretyakov Gallery

4. One of the main attractions of the pedestrian zone – The State Tretyakov Gallery is situated in Lavrushinsky Lane. The famous museum occupies the even side of the lane, called in the XVIII century by the name of the proprietor Lavrushina.

Sculptured composition by M. Shemyakin

5. Going to the Kadasheskaya Embankment , you will cross the drainage channel by Luzhkov Bridge and find yourself on Bolotnaya embankment. Nearby, at the Bolotnaya Square, you can find sculptured composition by M. Shemyakin and monument to the great Russian artist Repin. Then you can continue your walk and visit the «Red October», there are many restaurants, cafes and Lumiere Brothers Photography Center.

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A Moscow Free Walking Tour of the Iconic Red Square

Updated March 10th, 2020

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No visit to Moscow, Russia is complete unless you take a walk around the famous Red Square and see the iconic sights of the city. One of the best ways to see all the famous landmarks in Moscow and learn a little something about them too is on a free Moscow walking tour through the Red Square.

Continue reading for a sneak peek at what you will see on your free tour in Moscow and for tips on both the tour and visiting the sights. Make sure to save some time during your trip to go inside of the magnificent buildings because you will not be going in the buildings during the tour.

The State Historical Museum

The Moscow free walking tour begins at the Marshal Zhukov monument in front of the State Historical Museum . You can’t miss this massive red building. The museum’s interior is almost as spectacular as the artifacts you can see within. Read my post dedicated to the museum here to find out more on what you can see and tips for visiting. Admission is free with the Moscow City Pass .

The Kremlin

Behind the walls of the Kremlin lie the working offices of Russian’s government and president. When visiting the Kremlin you can see the Armory Chamber, Cathedral Square, the Patriach’s Palace and many more cathedrals. You definitely want to buy tickets ahead of time so you avoid the long-lines. You can get free admission with the Moscow City Pass . It’s also worth it to take a guided tour if you don’t speak Russian so you have more of an understanding of what you are seeing.

St. Basil’s Cathedral

If asked to conquer up an image of Moscow, St. Basil’s Cathedral might just be the most likely image you picture. The cathedral has a museum that you can visit at a later time. You can buy tickets at the ticket kiosk outside the cathedral or receive free admission with the Moscow City Pass .

Moskva River

Next up on the tour is the Moskva River which runs through the center of Moscow. A cruise on the Moskva River is a great way to see the city from a different perspective.

GUM Shopping Mall

Who would think a mall would be one of Moscow’s most well-known attractions? GUM shopping mall across from the Kremlin makes up one of the four sides of the Red Square. The stores might be a bit too pricey for shopping, but the gorgeous interior is worth a visit. If that doesn’t convince you, the mall has some of the best ice cream! GUM is the only building you go inside during the free walking tour. There are pay bathrooms you can use while you have a few minutes of free time.

Kazan Cathedral

Located on the northeast corner of the Red Square, the Kazan Cathedral is another impressive dome-shaped building in Moscow that is also an active place of worship. Entering the cathedral is allowed, but remember to be respectful if people are worshipping.

Bolshoi Theater

Contrary to the previous buildings, the Bolshoi Theater isn’t along one of the four sides of the Red Square. Located a few minutes away, the theater is one of the best theaters in the world. Make sure to come back for a guided tour of the inside or make reservations far ahead of time to attend a ballet or opera.

Alexander Gardens

The tour ends near the Alexander Gardens , a free public park located along the western Kremlin walls. The garden’s green lawns, sculptures and water fountains offer a nice place to take a stroll or relax a bit after some busy sightseeing.

You can visit all these sites on your own, but the best part of doing the Moscow free tour is that you learn more information and have the potential to meet new people!

During my tour I started to talk to a woman from Malaysia and she invited me to join her and her friends for a Russian meal afterwards. It’s these little impromptu meetings and opportunities that I love most about traveling and add more to the sightseeing experience. While I was a little hesitant about going to the tour myself I told myself it would be a great opportunity to possibly meet new people. I love when things work out like that!

If you have already seen the iconic sights of the Red Square and are looking for other things to do in Moscow check out my What to Do in Moscow post that gives more off-the beaten track things to do in Moscow!

Moscow Free Walking Tour Visiting Information

Moscow Free Walking Tours

How to Get There

The Moscow Free Walking Tour begins at the Marshal Zhukov monument in front of the State Historical Museum (a large red building). The website shows a map with the exact meeting point.

To get to the red square area you can take the blue 3 metro line to the Ploshchad Revolyutsii stop, or the green 2 line to the Teatralnaya station or the red 1 line to the Okhotny Ryad station. For more on how to use the metro read my Moscow Metro Guide .

Tours every day at 10:30am – 1pm in English

If you need a toilet before the start of the tour the Okhotny Ryad and GUM shopping malls are both close to the start of the tour. You will need to pay to use the toilets. There is a quick break mid-way through the tour at the GUM shopping mall where you can use the toilet if needed.

During the mid-way break in the tour you can buy some ice cream at the GUM shopping mall. There aren’t many other options or time for anything else. After the tour there are a lot of restaurants in the area. There are a couple of Varenichnaya №1 locations nearby if you would like some authentic Russian food. Their speciality is Russian dumplings. Another classic choice nearby is Grand Cafe Dr. Jhivago. While you can try traditional Russian foods like borscht and Olivier Salad, you may need a reservation. GUM has several restaurants, including a couple of buffets upstairs.

Recommendations

While I would start off your visit to Moscow with a tour of the Red Square, make sure to come back to each place to tour the inside. If you are visiting several sights consider buying the Moscow City Pass  to save money on admissions.

Other Tour Options

Another company  Moscow Free Tour  does a similar free walking tour in the Red Square. Check the site for the details on the starting point and times. If you prefer a private paid tour with a hotel pick-up and a visit to St. Basil’s Cathedral included check out this tour . For a private paid tour with a hotel pick-up and a visit to the Kremlin included you may want to take this tour or this one . Even if you don’t typically take tours, I would recommend taking tours as much as possible in Moscow. Many people do not speak English and most information is not in English either.

Where to Stay in Moscow

Find somewhere to stay in Moscow near the Red Square so you are convenient to all the sights!

More About Russia

• Moscow Things to Do:  Unique Things to Do ,   Spartak Stadium
• Moscow Markets:  Izmailovsky Market ,   Danilovsky Market
• Moscow Museums:  Moscow City Museum ,  Victory Museum ,  Museum of the Patriotic War in 1812 ,  State Historical Museum ,
• Moscow Life:  Malls ,  Christmas in Moscow ,  Metro ,  Learning Spanish ,  My Russian Apartment ,   What is Life Really Like in Russia ,  FiFa World Cup ,  Russian Winters , and more posts about  life abroad in Russia .
• St Petersburg:  City Guide ,  The Hermitage Museum ,  Kayaking the Rivers & Canals ,   Peterhof Palace

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22 comments.

The Kremlin looks rather imposing. It would be great to explore the history in Moscow.

There is a lot of history in Moscow to explore!

What a handy guide to get the most of Moscow’s red square! I’ve always wanted to try a walking tour and this looks like the perfect place to start!

I really enjoy walking tours, I think they are a great way to get to know a new place!

You have highlighted all the main sights around and in the Red Square indeed! I have visited Moscow in winter and the atmosphere was magical…even though it was cold 🙂 I’m looking forward to visiting in summer too!

Yes, there is a magical feel during the winter. I have to say I prefer the warmer, brighter summers though 🙂

Follow My Anchor

I am planning to go to Moscow and St. Petersburg this year so reading this was very helpful. I would love to do the walking tour! What time of year did you do it? I am planning to go in August as I really can’t stand the cold 😀 Do you think August might be a good time to visit Moscow? Thank you so much for your information!

I did the walking tour in September. July and August are the best times to visit Moscow in my opinion, so you are going at a great time! I lived in Moscow for a year so I have a lot of posts about Moscow and a couple for St. Petersburg too. Please check out my other posts as you are planning your trip and feel free to send any questions my way!

I’m a huge fan of taking free walking tours whenever my husband and I travel. We learn more about the history from the local’s perspective. Your walking tour in Moscow looks fun. The St. Basil’s Cathedral is beautiful and would love to see it. Thanks for sharing the must-see places in Moscow!

I’m a big fan of free walking tours too! I completely agree that you get a good perspective and introduction to the history of the city.

I would love to take the walking tour to get a good coverage of the area! The tip about paying for the bathrooms is great. That’s something I didn’t realize when I went to Europe for the first time from the US.

I always find it annoying paying for bathrooms in Europe!

I visited Moscow in June this year for the World Cup and I loved it. St. Basil’s Cathedral was the highlight for me, it’s such an impressive piece of architecture. I would’ve liked to visit more of Russia but maybe next time!

I really enjoyed Moscow during the World Cup too. The city was much livelier than usual!

I have been to St. Petersburg but never to Moscow. I think that these kind of tours are very useful to gather many information but I second your suggestion to visit the palaces inside as they have stunning interior decor and art treasures.

Yes, I think both going on tours and getting an overview and touring the inside of places are good to do.

Shreya Saha

St. Basil’s cathedral is definitely a beautiful place to visit. I would also love to stroll by the Alexander gardens and maybe spend some time in the shopping mall call mom maybe visit the theater, also I would love to visit Kremlin and the State Historical Museum. That’s a great list you have managed to provide here.

Never been to Russia, but the country’s history and culture has always fascinated me. Great list of things to do in Moscow’s Red Square. Kremlin is definitely on top of my list!

Russia does have a fascinating history and culture!

The architecture here always looks so beautiful. I would love to go to Russia. Some helpful tips here that would really help me navigate a future trip. I love the Russian ballet so a trip to the theater would be a must for me.

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Haviland Smith, who helped CIA officers avoid detection, dies at 94

While serving as the CIA’s station chief in Cold War-era Prague, he pioneered ways for agents and their handlers to evade surveillance.

Soon after he arrived in Prague in 1958, Haviland Smith discovered he was under constant surveillance, followed by secret police through the city’s narrow streets, alleys and arcades. Even when he thought he was free, a pair of eyes always seemed to be on him: After one uneventful trip around the capital, he learned from intercepted radio chatter that he had been watched by more than two-dozen vehicles.

There was a reason for all the attention. Mr. Smith, a multisport athlete with a knack for languages, was working as the CIA station chief, managing agents across communist Czechoslovakia. He was only in his late 20s, a relative newcomer to the Cold War struggle. But on his walks through the city, meandering down the road with police on his trail, he began to develop new ideas about how to operate in the hostile, heavily surveilled locations known in spy-speak as denied areas.

Experimenting in Prague and then in Berlin, Mr. Smith helped broaden the tradecraft of modern espionage, pioneering simple but effective techniques that CIA officers could use to evade detection in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. His work drew the admiration of colleagues including Tony Mendez , a master of disguise celebrated in the film “Argo,” and his wife, Jonna Mendez, who later ran the CIA disguise unit.

“Essentially what Smith had done was to prove that there were no such things as denied areas; it was simply a question of methods,” the Mendezes wrote in “The Moscow Rules,” a 2019 book about the tactics that CIA operatives adopted for the Cold War. “If the right techniques were used, anything was possible.”

Mr. Smith, who retired in 1980 after a 24-year CIA career, was 94 when he died June 20. His death, at home in Monroe Township, N.J., was confirmed by his wife, Dolores Smith, who said he had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and was recently treated for covid.

Looking back on his career, Mr. Smith was quick to dispel the idea that it was nonstop adventure, a James Bond movie come to life. The world of espionage, he once wrote, was “demanding, confusing, often boring and occasionally wildly exciting.”

Working undercover as a diplomat, he spent five years in the Middle East, where he was stationed in Beirut during the 1967 war (he called the capital “a terrific place to hunt Soviets”) and in Tehran before the Iranian revolution. He later led the CIA’s counterterrorism staff, keeping tabs on militant groups like Europe’s Red Army Faction and Red Brigades, and served as an executive assistant to CIA Deputy Director Frank Carlucci, who became secretary of defense under President Ronald Reagan.

To colleagues at the agency’s Langley, Va., headquarters, he remained best known for his contributions to tradecraft, along with “his knowledge about recruitment and development operations” targeting the Soviets, said John MacGaffin, a former No. 2 official in the clandestine branch.

Mr. Smith had served for three years in the Army Security Agency, intercepting and interpreting Russian-language messages, before joining the CIA in 1956. That experience proved crucial in Prague, where he was able to locate the radio frequency used by Czech security forces and crack their code, according to “The Billion Dollar Spy,” Washington Post journalist David E. Hoffman’s 2015 book about a Soviet electronics engineer who shared documents with the West.

Before mailing a letter or making a dead drop, in which he left a message or package at a secret location, Mr. Smith would turn on the radio and record the security broadcasts. After he returned, he would listen to the tape to see if he had been followed — and cancel the rest of the operation if he had.

Early on, when he noticed he was being followed, he tried to outpace the secret police. That method backfired: Whenever he got away from one surveillance team, speeding down the street to get away from the watchers, he’d find himself surrounded by reinforcements.

Mr. Smith’s chief innovation involved no fancy spy gear or 007-style stunts. To get around the police, he simply lulled them into passivity. “He became boring,” the Mendezes wrote, “what we call a ‘little gray man.’ ”

For months, he maintained a clockwork schedule, taking the same routes to drive the babysitter home each evening and get his hair cut every other week. Gradually, his minders stopped paying close attention during the trips, creating a window — a gap — in which he could deliver a message or make a dead drop, so long as he didn’t stray too far from his routine.

To give himself additional freedom while “working in the gap,” as he put it, he began rounding corners. By making two right turns in quick succession, he could create at least 15 seconds of separation from surveillance teams trying to catch up. He later refined a technique known as the brush pass, in which he surreptitiously delivered a package to an agent who would leave down an escape route, walking one direction while Mr. Smith went another way.

Mr. Smith trained other operatives in his techniques, including through a tradecraft course he led for officers working behind the Iron Curtain. “For years that followed,” Hoffman wrote, “moving ‘through the gap’ became a watchword and a trusted method for CIA officers.”

Some officials remained skeptical of his tactics. Richard Helms, who led clandestine operations for the agency, refused to approve the use of the brush pass in Prague in the mid-1960s, arguing that it was too risky for officers to come in direct contact with agents there, rather than keeping a distance and communicating through dead drops.

After more than a year of advocating for the brush pass, Mr. Smith organized a demonstration one day in 1965, arranging for Helms’s deputy, Thomas Karamessines, to meet him in the lobby of Washington’s historic Mayflower Hotel.

Sitting on a bench with Bronson Tweedy, the head of the CIA’s Eastern European division, Karamessines watched as a case officer came through the door, approached Mr. Smith and shook out a rain coat.

Mr. Smith walked away as his boss grew impatient.

“When are they going to do it, anyway?” Karamessines asked, according to “A Secret Life,” journalist Benjamin Weiser’s 2004 book about another Cold War-era operative.

“Tom,” Tweedy replied, “they’ve already done it.”

The rain coat had served as a form of misdirection: As the case officer shook it with one hand, he delivered a package to Mr. Smith with the other. It was sleight-of-hand that Mr. Smith said he learned from a magician — an undercover magic trick that was good enough to earn Helms’s approval.

Within a day, Mr. Smith had secured permission for the brush pass to be used in Prague. A Czech agent soon used the technique to pass hundreds of film rolls to the CIA, according to “The Billion Dollar Spy.” The tactic was later employed across Eastern Europe.

An elite education

Haviland Smith Jr. was born in Manhattan on Aug. 25, 1929, and grew up in Ridgewood, N.J. His father was a photographer and art gallery owner, and his mother wrote more than two dozen cookbooks — including “The Four Seasons Cookbook” with James Beard — under the name Charlotte Adams. They separated when Mr. Smith was about 3.

Mr. Smith, who went by Hav, graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy in 1947 and received a bachelor’s degree in English and Russian from Dartmouth College, where he played lacrosse and was a goalie for the hockey team. After Army service in Europe, he enrolled at the University of London, where he did graduate work in Russian and was recruited by the CIA.

“There were a lot of us who wanted to save the world who went to work there,” he told Dartmouth’s alumni magazine in 2008 . “I was one. I really felt that I might contribute to our not being overrun by the Soviets.”

Mr. Smith was twice awarded the Intelligence Medal of Merit, including for recruiting and managing “a particularly valuable and sensitive source,” according to a CIA citation. He was joined on his overseas tours by his first wife, the former Martha Allen, and their three sons, Gordon, Holbrook and Haviland III.

The marriage ended in divorce.

After he retired, he married Dolores Tuohey, a fellow CIA veteran. They had a daughter, Elizabeth, and settled on a farm in Brookfield, Vt., where Mr. Smith raised fallow deer, foraged for mushrooms, taught downhill skiing, coached girls’ lacrosse, turned wooden bowls on a lathe and tied his own flies, fishing in nearby lakes and ponds.

His son Haviland III died in 2008. Another son died in infancy in 1953. In addition to his wife and three remaining children, survivors include four grandsons and two great-granddaughters.

Even as he embraced the rural life in Vermont — he lived outside Burlington before moving to New Jersey about six years ago — Mr. Smith continued to follow foreign affairs, publishing newspaper op-eds and championing the CIA’s role in national security.

In 2004, he joined other retired intelligence officers in criticizing the agency’s new director, Porter Goss, a former Republican congressman from Florida. At a time when the CIA was perceived to be at odds with the George W. Bush administration, battling with the White House over the Iraq War and leaks to the media, Goss led a shake-up of the senior management ranks, angering Mr. Smith and other veterans who saw the changes as politically motivated.

“The agency’s statutory responsibility is to speak the truth, whether the truth supports the president’s plans or not,” Mr. Smith wrote in a Washington Post opinion piece . He added, “However angry this administration is with the clandestine service, whose officers run human intelligence operations, those operations are the last, best hope we have to keep up with the terrorist problem.”