Moscow

Red Square and a palatial metro

Last reviewed: 14 September 2026

Recommended stay: 3–4 days
Best time to visit: Late spring and early autumn, if official advice allows travel
Airports: SVO · DME · VKO

Moscow at a glance

Moscow is a vast capital of Kremlin ensembles, parks and palatial metro halls. Red Square, the Kremlin area, St Basil's Cathedral, GUM, the Tretyakov Gallery, the Bolshoi Theatre, Zaryadye Park, Arbat, Gorky Park and the Moscow Metro sit on metro clusters, with day trips only where current official advice and access allow. Sheremetyevo (SVO), Domodedovo (DME) and Vnukovo (VKO) are the catalogue airports. This guide does not confirm visas, flight availability or sanctions-related rules. Recheck official entry and travel advice before any plan.

Quick information

Recommended stay3–4 days

Best time to visitLate spring and early autumn, if official advice allows travel

AirportsSVO · DME · VKO

Budget travelAccommodation and reserved museum or theatre days drive costs most strongly. Payment methods can differ from home. Check current prices and rules close to travel.

Season is secondary to official entry and travel advice. If you travel under current guidance, milder months suit Red Square, Zaryadye and Gorky Park. Winter is cold for long outdoor queues. Recheck museum and theatre access close to your dates.

Plan your visit

Airport to centre

Aeroexpress / airport rail if operating

Airport rail toward a current central interchange, then metro

Check the current operator fare if the service existsTransport

Must-see sights

Red Square

Kremlin area

St Basil's Cathedral

Sights

One-day itinerary

Only go if current official travel advice and entry rules allow.
Morning: Red Square, St Basil's exterior and the Kremlin edge if access is open.
Afternoon: Zaryadye and GUM. Skip the Tretyakov if queues or rules change.

Itineraries

Best areas to stay

Kitay-gorod / Zaryadye
Kitay-gorod
A compact historic core. Gorky Park needs a metro hop.
Best for
First visits, Red Square and walking
Arbat / Smolenskaya
Arbat
Useful for evening walks. The Kremlin is a metro hop.
Best for
A pedestrian street stay
Zamoskvorechye
South of the river. Red Square is a short metro hop.
Best for
The Tretyakov and a quieter stay
Near a metro interchange
metro interchange
Choose a stay on a working line rather than an isolated courtyard.
Best for
Families who want simple line changes

Approximate budget

Budget
Varies
per day, per person
Simple rooms, local food and metro; excludes travel to Moscow.
Mid-range
Varies
per day, per person
Comfortable room, restaurants, metro and selected museums.
Comfort
Varies
per day, per person
Central stays, frequent dining, private transfers and a reserved theatre or day trip if available.

Airports

Last reviewed: 14 September 2026

SVO
Sheremetyevo International Airport
29 km from city centre
DME
Domodedovo International Airport
42 km from city centre
VKO
Vnukovo International Airport
28 km from city centre

Airport to city transport

Last reviewed: 14 September 2026

OptionTimePrice

SVO

Aeroexpress / airport rail if operatingSVOUsually the most practical public option from SVO when it is running. Confirm current operation, destination station and last services on official airport or rail information. Do not invent a timetable.
Airport rail toward a current central interchange, then metro
Check the current operator fare if the service exists
Details
Usually the most practical public option from SVO when it is running. Confirm current operation, destination station and last services on official airport or rail information. Do not invent a timetable.
Airport bus if operatingSVOUseful for luggage when a current official coach is published. Recheck last services.
Airport coaches toward selected metro or city stops
Check the current operator fare if the service exists
Details
Useful for luggage when a current official coach is published. Recheck last services.
TaxiSVOUseful for families and late SVO arrivals. Use an official rank. Do not assume every ride-hail app works.
Door-to-door journey; time varies with traffic
Confirm the current official fare
Details
Useful for families and late SVO arrivals. Use an official rank. Do not assume every ride-hail app works.
Private transferSVOUseful for groups and child seats only with a reputable provider who confirms current access. Confirm meeting point and delay terms.
Pre-booked door-to-door journey
Confirm the complete quoted price
Details
Useful for groups and child seats only with a reputable provider who confirms current access. Confirm meeting point and delay terms.

DME

Aeroexpress / airport rail if operatingDMEUsually the most practical public option from DME when it is running. Confirm current operation separately from SVO.
Airport rail toward a current southern interchange, then metro
Check the current operator fare if the service exists
Details
Usually the most practical public option from DME when it is running. Confirm current operation separately from SVO.
Airport bus if operatingDMEUseful when a current stop suits luggage better than the rail interchange.
Airport coaches toward selected metro or city stops
Check the current operator fare if the service exists
Details
Useful when a current stop suits luggage better than the rail interchange.
TaxiDMEUse an official rank. Journeys into the Kremlin area depend on traffic.
Door-to-door journey; often longer than from SVO or VKO
Confirm the current official fare
Details
Use an official rank. Journeys into the Kremlin area depend on traffic.
Private transferDMEUseful for groups if the provider confirms current access. Confirm meeting point and delay terms.
Pre-booked door-to-door journey
Confirm the complete quoted price
Details
Useful for groups if the provider confirms current access. Confirm meeting point and delay terms.

VKO

Aeroexpress / airport rail if operatingVKOUsually the most practical public option from VKO when it is running. Confirm current operation separately from SVO and DME.
Airport rail toward a current western interchange, then metro
Check the current operator fare if the service exists
Details
Usually the most practical public option from VKO when it is running. Confirm current operation separately from SVO and DME.
Airport bus if operatingVKOUseful for luggage when a current official coach is published.
Airport coaches toward selected metro or city stops
Check the current operator fare if the service exists
Details
Useful for luggage when a current official coach is published.
TaxiVKOUseful for families and late VKO arrivals. Use an official rank.
Door-to-door journey; time varies with traffic
Confirm the current official fare
Details
Useful for families and late VKO arrivals. Use an official rank.
Private transferVKOUseful for groups if current access is confirmed. Confirm meeting point and delay terms.
Pre-booked door-to-door journey
Confirm the complete quoted price
Details
Useful for groups if current access is confirmed. Confirm meeting point and delay terms.

Getting around

Last reviewed: 14 September 2026

OptionTimePrice

Metro and walkingRed Square and Zaryadye are walkable. The Tretyakov, Bolshoi and Gorky Park each need a metro hop. Download an offline map. Recheck last metro services. Some familiar international apps may not work; confirm a local map option.
Best for Red Square, the Kremlin edge, Zaryadye, Arbat and Gorky Park hops
Check current metro fare rules
Details
Red Square and Zaryadye are walkable. The Tretyakov, Bolshoi and Gorky Park each need a metro hop. Download an offline map. Recheck last metro services. Some familiar international apps may not work; confirm a local map option.
Taxi if operatingA car is unnecessary between Red Square and Zaryadye. Use official ranks.
Useful for late returns and park edges
Confirm the current official fare
Details
A car is unnecessary between Red Square and Zaryadye. Use official ranks.

Moscow at a glance

Quick information

Plan your visit

Airport to centre

Must-see sights

One-day itinerary

Best areas to stay

Kitay-gorod / Zaryadye

Arbat / Smolenskaya

Zamoskvorechye

Near a metro interchange

Approximate budget