Things to do & places to visit in Central Russia, Russia

Central Russia #2 destination in Russia 2023. The average rating score is 4.53 based on 194.2k traveler reviews, of 544 attractions. Timezone: Europe/Moscow, current date and time: Sunday, May 05, 2024, 22:32.

Top things to do (19)

Top places to visit (30 attractions) view more »

5.0 Yaroslavl Embankment (1.811 reviews)
- Golden Ring for everyone Russian trip
Historic Walking Areas

One of the most important Russian little charming cities , the capital of Golden ring, I recommend to stay in this city at least for 2 days , as it’s so nice to study about Russian history ( city is more 1000 years old!!!! ) and you can see this city on the Russian note ( guess which one ) Really impressed See more..
5.0 Tula State Museum of Weapons (1.599 reviews)
- Amazing Museum
Sunday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Speciality Museums • Historic Sites

Was founded at the Tula gun factory in 1724. Displays the valuable collections of fire-and cold steel arms, Russian and foreign, army and experimental. Gives the chance to follow evolution of arms since the late 16-th century till the present day. See more..
5.0 The Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra (1.463 reviews)
- Most amazing site !!!. The real diamond of the Golden Ring. NOT 2 B MISSED.
Sunday: 5:00 AM - 9:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Historic Sites • Architectural Buildings • Religious Sites

The Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra “In the land of Moscow and all over the world there is no other monastery equal to this one…” - Archdeacon Paul of Aleppa See more..
5.0 State Museum Preserve Rostov Kremlin (1.072 reviews)
- Allow enough time for this Church and Museum Complex
Sunday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent More than 3 hours Speciality Museums

The Rostov Kremlin is similar to other Kremlins in Russia, comprising a walled complex of old historic churches with preserved frescoes, and museums. We had a guide to explain all the entry options and elected to go with the all-inclusive tickets. The guide also explained which entry we should use to get onto the wall and where we should come down (which would have been quite confusing otherwise). We arrived mid-afternoon but were still struggling to get through all of the small museums and chapels. The museums could perhaps be omitted if you have seen other icon collections and religious art, but you basically have to follow a path around the wall of the complex. The staff were keeping the various rooms open for us as we rushed through just on closing time, which was nice. See more..
5.0 Holy Assumption Cathedral (1.035 reviews)
- Not to be missed
Spent < 1 hour Speciality Museums • Architectural Buildings • Churches & Cathedrals

Assumption Cathedral is one of the oldest Russian churches, a shrine of the Orthodox Church, a witness to the most important historical events, a grand-ducal necropolis, a repository of unique ancient paintings; the only documented and accurately dated monument that preserved frescoes of the famous icon painter Andrei Rublev, a unique monument of ancient Russian history and art included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, Assumption Cathedral is a rare combination of architecture, wall paintings, iconography, decorative and applied art of the XII-XIX centuries. The cathedral is under the operational management of the Vladimir-Suzdal Museum-Reserve. See more..
5.0 Cathedral of the Assumption (Uspensky Sobor) (700 reviews)
- Spiritual center of Smolensk
Religious Sites • Churches & Cathedrals

The Assumption Cathedral of Smolensk dominates its skyline. It is the cathedral where future Patriarch Kirill used to serve prior to his enthronement. During the Great Patriotic War it was spared from destruction by German general Gurderian. I visited it as an ordinary layman. Simply by walking up the high steps and entering the Cathedral in awe. The interior is absolutely fascinating. See more..
4.5 Red Square (20.6k reviews)
- Historic and Awe Inspiring
Sunday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Spent 2-3 hours Historic Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks

Red Square is a city square in Moscow, Russia. The buildings surrounding the Square are all significant: Nearby to the South is the elaborate brightly domed Saint Basil's Cathedral and the palaces and cathedrals of the Kremlin, Lenin's Mausoleum. On the Eastern side of the square is the GUM department store, and next to it the restored Kazan Cathedral. See more..
4.5 Moscow Metro (17.1k reviews)
- Highly efficient Underground art galleries from Stalin era
Architectural Buildings • Public Transportation Systems

The Moscow Metro, in addition to being remarkably efficient and frequent (departures every 2-3 minutes at most main stations, you just have to be aware of the closing times after midnight) and economical (we purchased troika cards and recharged as necessary) also contains a number of wonderful stations filled with Stalin era art and sculptures and architecture. It is easy to do your own on line research to see which stations you would like to see and then either spend a few hours going from one to the next (in which case it is exceptionally cheap as you are only charged a single fare if you do not exit the system), or just add in detours to the stations during your other travels. Even at relatively busy times we found that if we hung around for a few minutes we could get an opportunity for photos with not many people or you could choose to include the large crowds in the picture. The very long escalators at some stations are also a feature in themselves. See more..
4.5 Saint Basil's Cathedral (12.4k reviews)
- A real visiting card of Moscow and Russia
Sunday: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Churches & Cathedrals

Built by Ivan the Terrible in the 1550s, this intriguing cathedral bordering Red Square consists of nine separate chapels, each capped with its own individually shaped and colored dome. See more..
4.5 Moscow Kremlin (7.921 reviews)
- Meticulous planning far in advance is a must!
Sunday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Speciality Museums • Historic Sites

Moscow's most famous historical and political landmark, the Kremlin is a walled-in complex of cathedrals, palaces and government offices, with several buildings open to the public, including the Armoury, Patriarch's Palace and the State Kremlin Palace. See more..
4.5 GUM (5.998 reviews)
- One of the iconic places on Red Square
Spent < 1 hour Architectural Buildings • Department Stores

The largest department store in Russia, dating back to the days of the tsars, is located opposite the Kremlin in Red Square. See more..
4.5 State Tretyakov Gallery (5.937 reviews)
- Big heritage of Russian art
Sunday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Art Museums

The State Tretyakov Gallery is the national treasury of Russian fine art and contains more than 180,000 works of painting, sculpture and graphics created by generations of Russian artists. See more..
4.5 Tsaritsyno Museum-Reserve (3.972 reviews)
- Beautiful park
Spent 2-3 hours History Museums

The park is huge and has several buildings that can be visited. I recommend the Great Castle because it can see the architecture and life of Russia during Catherine the Second. The other two castles are ok, if you are interested in art be sure to visit them. There is a breathtaking golden hall in the Great Castle. Certainly the whole park is beautiful, in one part there is a lake around which one can remember and rest. There is a miniature museum in one section, but we have not visited it. See more..
4.5 Armoury Chamber (3.945 reviews)
- A great exhibition of wealth of the Czars of Russia
Sunday: 10:00 AM - 5:30 PM Military Museums • Art Museums • History Museums

A dazzling array of treasures from the 4th to the 20th century are housed in this Kremlin museum, including thrones and carriages of the tsars, the works of Moscow silver and goldsmiths, arms, jewels, precious Russian Easter eggs and other Russian and foreign decorative arts. See more..
4.5 Bolshoi Theatre (3.893 reviews)
- Spectacular Theater!
Architectural Buildings • Theaters

The oldest theater in Moscow, rebuilt following a fire and later a hurricane, is magnificent both inside and out, and its resident opera and ballet troupes rate among the finest in the world. See more..
4.5 Kremlin Walls and Towers (2.893 reviews)
- best seen from Bolshoy Moskvoretsky Bridge
Spent < 1 hour Historic Sites • Architectural Buildings

The Kremlin's redbrick walls and 18 towers were built at the end of the 15th century by the Italian craftsmen Pietro Antonio Solari and Antonio Fryazin. The famous Spasskaya (Saviour) Tower is the main and official entrance to the Kremlin and its symbol. See more..
4.5 Gorkiy Central Park of Culture and Recreation (2.789 reviews)
- Always worth a visit with kids
Spent 1-2 hours Parks

This popular gathering place draws adults and children alike to its recreational offerings, which include gardens, cycling infrastructure, museums, viewing point, cafes, beaches, climbing park, open-air cinema, sports center, observatory, eco-school for kids, open-air dance-floors, tennis courts, table tennis areas, free wi-fi. concerts and festivals etc. In winter the Park turns into a winter wonderland covering its surface with almost 20 000 square meters of the artificial ice. See more..
4.5 Kolomenskoye Historical and Architectural Museum and Reserve (2.662 reviews)
- A beautiful park
Sunday: 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Speciality Museums • Historic Sites

This former village and archaeological site housed summer residences of the grand dukes of Moscow, and later of the tsars, and is now a museum and reserve. See more..
4.5 PANORAMA360 (2.261 reviews)
- Perfect view
Sunday: 10:00 AM - 11:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Observation Decks & Towers

PANORAMA360 is the highest observation deck in Europe, located on the 89th floor of the Federation Tower of Moscow-City. PANORAMA360 is a full member of the World Federation of Great Towers. There are many entertainment areas on the observation deck. For example, the highest ice-cream and chocolate factories in the world and amazing 360° view of Moscow. There are also a 360 restaurant, a mini-cinema and a gift shop. See more..
4.5 Sparrow Hills (Vorobyovy Gory) (2.193 reviews)
- Amazing View!
Spent 2-3 hours Parks

Sparrow Hills is one of the highest points in Moscow and offers a panoramic view of the city. Great place to take a break from sightseeing and enjoy a picnic. See more..
4.5 Cathedral of Christ the Saviour (2.161 reviews)
- Great Cathedral
Sunday: 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM Spent < 1 hour Churches & Cathedrals

The Cathedral of Christ the Saviour is a Russian Orthodox cathedral in Moscow, Russia, on the northern bank of the Moskva River, a few hundred metres southwest of the Kremlin. With an overall height of 103 metres (338 ft), it is the tallest Orthodox Christian church in the world. See more..
4.5 The Museum of Cosmonautics (2.141 reviews)
- Buy the tickets online
Sunday: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Science Museums

The Monument to the Conquerors of Space was erected at Prospekt Mira in Moscow. This outstanding city landmark has been jointly designed by architects Michail Barsh and Andrey Kolchin, and sculptor Andrey Faydish-Krandiyevskiy. September 28th, 1967 Soviet government initiates founding of the Museum of Cosmonautics at the foot of the Monument to the Conquerors of Space to commemorate nation's achievements in space exploration. The Museum of Cosmonautics opens its doors to public on April 10th, 1981, 20th Anniversary of the first manned space flight. Museum exposition gives a retrospect on how Soviet space science evolved starting from first man-made satellites subsequently followed by the first manned space flight, first space walks, Moon exploration programs, Solar system exploration programs and international space research programs. Intricate interior design and unusual exposition altogether created a unique individuality of the Museum. However, new times set new standards. 25 years since its first opening the Museum has been closed down for a massive renovation. Now the Museum shows all the newly accumulated information and latest technologies. See more..
4.5 Aptekarskiy Ogorod Botanical Garden (1.984 reviews)
- Beautiful place!
Gardens

I visited Aptekarskiy Ogorod in August 2019 for ZventSventana concert. The place is amazing! Conservatory is so warm and tropical! See more..
4.5 The Exhibition of Achievements of National Economy (VDNKh) (1.840 reviews)
- Recommended but allow plenty of time
Sunday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Spent More than 3 hours Points of Interest & Landmarks • Architectural Buildings

The Exhibition of Achievements of National Economy is one of the largest exhibitions, museums and recreation complexes in the world. It is one of the most popular public places of the Russian capital. It hosts more than 19 million guests per year. The Exhibition was opened on 1 August 1939. Its name has changed several times, i.e. VSHV ВСХВ, VPV ВПВ, VDNH USSR ВДНХ СССР, ВВЦ VVC. In spring 2014 the Moscow City Government launched a large scale project of the VDNH’s revival commemorated to the 75-year Anniversary of the main exhibition centre of the country. On the initiative of the Mayor of Moscow, Sergey Sobyanin, and according to the results of citizens’ electronic voting the VDNH had its famous historical name of “Exhibition of Achievements of National Economy” returned. The name corresponds to VDNH in Russian. Now, the VDNH is combined with the Botanic Gardens and Ostankino Park. Its total area is more than 520 ha. On the territory of VDNH you can see many architectural masterpieces, large and small parks, and unique fountains. Forty-five sites at VDNH are recognized as cultural property sites of federal significance. More than 100 international exhibitions and congresses, dozens of festivals and special events as well as new expositions are held at VDNH yearly. With the revival of the open-air theater that was opened on 1 August 2014, the Exhibition achieved the status of popular outdoor performance stage hosting best world performing musicians from Russia and abroad. Come enjoy the VDNH! See more..
4.5 Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts (1.831 reviews)
- Serenity in the city
Sunday: 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Art Museums

The Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts (Russian: Музеи изобразительных искусств им. А.С. Пушкина) is the largest museum of European art in Moscow, located in Volkhonka street, just opposite the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. The International musical festival Svyatoslav Richter's December nights has been held in the Pushkin museum since 1981. The Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts holds one of Russia's largest collections of foreign art from ancient times to the present day. Its modern presentation introduces visitors to the Museum's extensive study collections of toned plaster casts reproducing works of Graeco-Roman art, the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. The Museum also houses original paintings and sculpture, drawings and examples of decorative and applied art. In the halls on the ground floor original works of art are displayed from Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece and Rome, together with European paintings ranging in date from the 8th to the 8th centuries. Two halls, known as the Italian and Greek Courtyards, contain casts. The halls on the first floor display for visitors casts of art works from Ancient Greece and Rome, the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. The halls, hung with paintings, exhibit works of art from the 19th and 20th centuries. Known for its outstanding temporary exhibitions, this museum also has an impressive permanent collection of Impressionist and post-Impressionist art. See more..
4.5 Diamond Fund (Almazny Fond) (1.808 reviews)
- Exceptional!
Spent 1-2 hours Speciality Museums

The Orlov Diamond, a gift to Catherine the Great from Count Orlov, her lover, is only one of the many diamonds and jewels on display in this incredible collection at the Kremlin. See more..
4.5 Tula Kremlin Museum (1.261 reviews)
- Lovely
Architectural Buildings • History Museums

The Tula Museum, a historical monument of defensive architecture. The territorial restoran in the center of Tula and is one of the landmark/ See more..
4.5 Museum of Wooden Architecture (1.149 reviews)
- Wooden fairy tale
Sunday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Speciality Museums • Architectural Buildings • Churches & Cathedrals

On the place of the former monastery of St Demetrius one can find another marvel of traditional Russian architecture – an open-air Museum of Wooden Architecture. Several churches, houses, and other authentic 18th and 19th-century wooden buildings were brought here from all over the Vladimir region in the 1960–1970s. The man-made beauty of the monuments of folk architecture merged wonderfully with the landscape of centuries-old Suzdal. The Church of the Transfiguration (1756) seems to be a town cut in wood, with its parts of different sizes and shapes ingeniously connected by the carpenters who built the entire church without metal nails. The recently reconstructed Church of the Resurrection (1776) belongs to the type of “boat-shaped” churches, when all parts of the building stretch along one axis. The ship (bark, or boat) is an ancient Christian symbol comparing the Church to the Noah’s Ark. The object is under the operational management of the Vladimir-Suzdal Museum-Reserve. See more..
4.5 Aleksandrovskiy Sad (1.146 reviews)
- Eye-catching place
Gardens

Mr. Alexander cover the river and make a nice garden, with many kind and beautiful flowers. be sure visit this place around the red square. See more..
4.5 New Tretyakov Gallery (1.139 reviews)
- For modern/contemporary art lovers
Sunday: 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Art Museums

New building of the Tretyakov Gallery at 10 Krymsky Val houses a unique museum exhibition of modern Russian art features works by Chagall, Kandinsky, Malevich and other 20th-century artists. In the same building there is the Central House of Artists, and around there is a Sculpture Park. See more..