No trip to Moscow is complete without visiting the Kremlin. Located along the Moskva River and adjacent to Red Square, it is a UNESCO World Heritage site that consists of multiple palaces and cathedrals surrounded by fortified walls and towers. Once the residence of the Russian tsars, it has served as the residence of the president of the Russia since 1991.
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Kremlin towers
The complex is generally open daily, except for Thursdays, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and there are a variety of different entrance tickets available, each granting access to different sights within the Kremlin. You may visit the Armoury Chamber, the Assumption Cathedral, the Archangel’s Cathedral, the Annunciation Cathedral, the Church of Laying Our Lady’s Holy Robe, the Patriarch’s Palace and the Ivan the Great Bell Tower Complex, although the Ivan the Great Bell Tower Complex is scheduled to be closed through April 2014. It is best to read up about the Kremlin before visiting so you can decide which type of ticket makes the most sense for you.
One of the most popular ticket options, which costs 350 rubles (about $10.75), provides access to the buildings around Cathedral Square, which includes the cathedrals, the Patriarch’s Palace and exhibitions in the Assumption Belfry and One-Pillar Chamber of the Patriarch’s Palace. However, it does not include the Ivan the Great Bell Tower Complex. This will give you a good overview of the Kremlin and its history and is a good option for those with limited time or money.
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One of the Kremlin’s several cathedrals.
When open, the Ivan the Great Bell Tower is accessible only at scheduled times: 10:15, 11:30, 1:45, 3:00 and 4:00. Tickets cost 500 rubles (about $15) and include admission to the other buildings surrounding Cathedral Square. Once the tallest building in Moscow, visiting the Bell Tower requires an ascent of 25 meters, up 137 steps. Children under the age of 12 are not allowed, so if you are not traveling with children, this can be a great option that is just a few dollars more than the basic ticket and offers nice views across the city from the top of the Bell Tower.
The Armoury Chamber is additional treat when visiting the Kremlin. One of the oldest museums in Moscow, it is home to the Russian Diamond Fund, a collection of ten imperial Faberge eggs and pieces of Russian imperial history such as the Imperial Crown of Russia and the ivory throne of Ivan the Terrible. Visiting the Armoury Chamber is at specific times only (10:00, 12:00, 2:30 and 4:30) and tickets must be purchased at least 45 minutes before your desired time. Tickets cost 700 rubles ($21.50) and do not include admission to any other part of the Kremlin.
If you plan to visit the entire Kremlin complex, including the Ivan the Great Bell Tower and the Armoury, you should allot an entire day to your visit. Arrive first thing in the morning to purchase tickets for the Armoury, then return to the ticket office after your Armoury visit to buy your tickets for a 1:45 visit to the Bell Tower. You will likely have some down time in between, but this will allow you to explore everything at your leisure, without needing to rush too much.
The ticket office for the Kremlin is located in the Alexander Gardens (Alexandrovsky Sad) and is most easily reached from the Biblioteka imeni Lenina, Arbatskaya, Alexandrovsky Sad or Borovitskaya Metro stations. If you would rather not deal with waiting in line for tickets yourself, you might also consider booking a small group tour of the Kremlin in advance.
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