Moscow: Kremlin, parks and culture

• The Moscow Kremlin is in the city’s geographic and historic center and is its oldest part.
• Cathedral Square is home to four of the Kremlin’s most significant churches and buildings.
• Tsaritsyno is a large nature and history park in southern Moscow, with a historic cascade of ponds.
• At Biryulyovo Forest Park, you can stroll among relict plants.

The Kremlin offers a starting point for exploring Moscow’s architectural history. Cathedral Square is home to the Cathedral of the Dormition, the Archangel Cathedral, the Annunciation Cathedral and the Ivan the Great Bell Tower; these are described as the Kremlin’s most significant churches. The five-domed Cathedral of the Dormition was built from 1475 to 1479 by the Italian architect Aristotele Fioravanti. It served as a venue for weddings and coronations of grand princes, tsars and emperors.

The layout around Red Square is also part of the cityscape: St. Basil’s Cathedral stands at its southern end, while Red Square lies below the eastern wall of the Kremlin. The cathedral was built from 1555 to 1560 to commemorate Ivan the Terrible’s victory over the Khanate of Kazan.

In southwestern Moscow, the Novodevichy Convent dates from the 16th and 17th centuries and was built in what is known as the Moscow Baroque style. It was part of a chain of monastery complexes in the city’s defense system. It is also the only old nunnery that served as a fortress; its interiors are richly decorated.

The Exhibition of Achievements of National Economy, or VDNKh for short, opened on August 1, 1939. Over time, the site also went by the names VSKhV, VDNKh SSSR and VVTs. Together, its architectural masterpieces form a monument to the Soviet era and illustrate styles from different periods. The site includes the “Worker and Kolkhoz Woman” monument and the “Friendship of Nations” and “Stone Flower” fountains.

The opening dates of individual attractions also help place the site’s development in context. In 2015, the Moskvarium Center for Oceanography and Marine Biology, the “Russia — My History” historical park, the “City Farm” education and entertainment center, and the “Robostation” opened there. The “Cosmonautics and Aviation” center was established in 2018 in the restored “Cosmos” pavilion. If you’re planning a visit, check the latest visitor information for each attraction.

Tsaritsyno is a large nature and history park in southern Moscow. It includes a historic landscape park, an experimental park with a tree nursery, and Moscow’s oldest cascade of ponds. The landscape park offers views of an 18th-century palace ensemble. The palace complex was built for Empress Catherine II in the Neo-Gothic style by Russian architects Vasily Bazhenov and Matvey Kazakov. The museum-reserve also houses an outstanding collection of applied art from the second half of the 20th century.

The museum-reserve’s offerings have included boat trips on the Tsaritsyno ponds; availability may vary by season. At Borisov Pond, created during the time of Boris Godunov, you can spot rare waterbird species listed in Moscow’s Red Data Book. Sightings are not guaranteed. At Biryulyovo Forest Park, by contrast, the focus is on strolling among relict plants. These parks offer different nature experiences: Tsaritsyno combines landscapes with historic architecture, while Biryulyovo highlights its distinctive plant life.

Discover more destinations: Podmoklovo, Strekovo, Alabushevo, Nikonovskoye, Nudol'.

Where is St. Basil’s Cathedral in relation to the Kremlin?

St. Basil’s Cathedral stands at the southern end of Red Square. Red Square lies below the eastern wall of the Kremlin.

What is historically notable about Kolomenskoye?

Kolomenskoye is one of the oldest human settlement areas in what is now Moscow. The Church of the Ascension is one of the first tent-roof churches in Russia and was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1994. A life-size historical replica of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich’s palace was built on the grounds in 2010: its facades and overall floor plan exactly match the original 17th-century building.

Are boat trips on the Tsaritsyno ponds always available?

Availability may vary by season. Check the latest information about boat trips before planning your visit.

Back to the main travel overview: Moscow.

Useful information for planning your trip:

Zvenigorod near Moscow: monastery, old town and excursions; Moscow travel guide: Kremlin, metro, museums and urban planning; Ostafyevo near Moscow: manor house, literature and park.