Moscow Tourist Attractions and Sightseeing

(Moscow, Central Federal District, Russia)

The architecture and sights within Moscow are truly like no other city in the world and as a result, visitors will be able to enjoy many extremely unique and unusual tourist attractions, such as the Tsar Kolokol (Tsar Bell), a simply enormous bell and the biggest in the whole world. Tourists can also expect to find many more traditional and commercialised attractions all over Moscow, such as the city's dolphinarium (Moskovskaia Dolfinariia) and zoo (Moskovskii Zoopark), which was established in 1864 and nationalised almost 60 years later.

Other popular tourist attractions that will make you want to get your camera out include the actual Mausoleum of Lenin (Mavzolei VI Lenina), located on Red Square and next to the Kremlin Wall. For families with young ones, the Big Moscow Circus (Bolshoi Moskovskii Tsirk) is always a safe bet and this is a huge venue with an impressive multipurpose arena, used for a variety of different performances.

Bolshoi Moskovskii Tsirk (Big Moscow Circus)

Address: Prospekt Vernadskovo 7, Moscow, RU-117296, Russia, RU
Tel: +7 0495 930 0300
One of the oldest and most popular of the city's various family orientated attractions, the Bolshoi Moskovskii Tsirk first began entertaining crowds some 40 years ago.

Audiences of almost 3,500 regularly attend the fun shows at the Big Moscow Circus, who come to watch both Russian and international entertainers, acrobats and acts.
Open hours: box office, daily - 11:00 to 19:00
Admission: charge, discounts for children and seniors

Kinosentr (Cinema Centre)

Address: Druzhinnikovskaia Ulitsa 15, Moscow, RU-123242, Russia, RU
Tel: +7 0495 255 9692
An impressive cinema complex comprising the largest city screen within the Russian Federation, the Moscow Kinosentr is a modern cinema, built at the end of the 1980s. A selection of movies are screened here each day, including many of the latest Hollywood blockbusters of today. Also onsite are various cinema-related exhibitions, with historic movie posters and memorabilia.
Open hours: daily - 15:00 to 20:00, performance times vary
Admission: charge, discounts for children and seniors

Mavzolei VI Lenina (Lenin's Mausoleum / Lenin's Tomb)

Address: Red Square, Moscow, RU-103073, Russia, RU
Lenin's Mausoleum is the actual final resting place of Russia's famous communist revolutionary, Vladimir Lenin (1870 - 1924). Constructed in subtle shades of red granite, in keeping with the nearby Kremlin Building itself, Lenin's Mausoleum is visited by thousands of people each year, particularly on January 21st, the anniversary of his death, when many flowers are laid outside of the mausoleum.
Open hours: Tuesday to Thursday, Saturday - 10:00 to 13:00
Admission: free

Moskovskii Planetarium (Moscow Planetarium)

Address: Sadovaia-Kudrinskaia Ulitsa 5, Moscow, RU-123242, Russia, RU
Tel: +7 0495 252 0217
For all things astronomical and a chance to gaze at realistic projections of stars on its gigantic domed ceiling, the Moskovskii Planetarium is for you. Home to the biggest telescope in the whole city, the Moscow Planetarium was first established in the late 1920s and features regular sky shows and a series of attractions related to the solar system and the universe as a whole. Lookout for the statues of many famous Russian scientists, and also the exceptional city views from the observation deck.
Open hours: daily, seasonal variations
Admission: charge, discounts for children

Moskovskii Zoopark (Moscow Zoo)

Address: Bol'shaia Gruzinskaia Ulitsa 1, Moscow, RU-123242, Russia, RU
Tel: +7 0495 255 6034
This is the most historic of all the many zoological gardens in Russia. Over the years, Moscow Zoo has been expanded and landscaped, with the addition of various streams and waterfalls to give it a much more natural appearance. Today, the Moskovskii Zoopark is home to in excess of 6,000 animals, such as moneys and big cats, and covers just over 52 acres / 21 hectares in total. Recently added attractions include a sea aquarium, children's zoo area and a large aviary.
Open hours: Tuesday to Sunday, April to October - 10:00 to 20:00, November to March - 10:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge, discounts for children

Moskovskaia Dolfinariia (Moscow Dolphinarium)

Address: Mironovskaia Ulitsa, 27, Moscow, RU-105058, Russia, RU
Tel: +7 0495 369 7966
A unique attraction in the city, the Moscow Dolphinarium can be found within the Palace of Water Sports, a venue originally constructed for the city's Olympic Games of 1980. Apart from the Black Sea dolphins, other marine attractions include beluga whales, seals from South Africa, and northern sea lions, all of which enjoy fresh 'sea water' provided by a natural salt lake deep below the city. Dolphin lovers can even get up close and swim with these creatures for a charge.
Open hours: performances - Wednesday and Thursday - 16:00 and 18:00, Friday - 12:00, 16:00 and 18:00, Saturday and Sunday - 12:00, 14:00, 16:00 and 18:00
Admission: charge, discounts for children

Tsar Kolokol (Tsar Bell)

Address: Kremlin, Moscow, RU-101000, Russia, RU
Tel: +7 0495 202 3776
The Tsar Kolokol is displayed within the Moscow Kremlin itself. Weighing around 216 tonnes, the Tsar Bell was created from bronze in the early 1730s, although it suffered fire damage shortly after, causing a large slab to break off while its was still actually standing within the casting pit.

Sadly the bell has never actually been rung, but it remains one of the city's most photographed sights.
Open hours: Wednesday to Friday 10:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge

Vse Rosiiskii Vystavochnyi Tsentr VVTs / V-D-N-Kh (All Russian Exhibition Centre)

Address: Prospekt Mira, Moscow, RU-129223, Russia, RU
Tel: +7 0495 760 3386
A huge exhibition site comprising almost 70 different pavilions, the Vse Rosiiskii Vystavochnyi Tsentr VVTs is perhaps better known as the All Russian Exhibition Centre. Each year literally hundreds of exhibitions are staged here, both Russian and international in origin, with these attractions regularly seeing visitor numbers in their millions.
Open hours: daily - 10:00 to 18:00
Admission: free