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Home/3. DESTINATIONS/3.1. MOSCOW/3. Museums, palaces and parks/

Moscow Kremlin: how to buy tickets (to avoid queues) and what to see

The Kremlin in Moscow continues to be a site that inspires many questions from tourists and I have to admit that it is a place that can be a little confusing. In this article, I try to explain what the Kremlin is, what parts can be visited, and how you can buy tickets online in order to avoid the long lines.

Updated in February 2022

MOscow Kremlin - Featured image

I'm going to talk about ...

  • 1. What is the Kremlin?
  • 2. What can you see inside the Kremlin?
    • 2.1. The grounds of the Kremlin and the Cathedral Square
    • 2.2. The Armory of the Kremlin
    • 2.3. Other palaces in the Kremlin
  • 3. Where to buy entry tickets to the Kremlin?
  • 4. How to buy tickets online
  • 5. Kremlin: Private tour in English

1. What is the Kremlin?

The word Kremlin means strength or fortified city. In Russia, you can find more than 20 Kremlins, the majority of which are old medieval cities that, with the passage of time, have grown and whose populations have extended far beyond their walls.

The most famous is the Kremlin of Moscow (Saint Petersburg does not have a Kremlin) whose significance since the end of the Soviet era has transformed and become synonymous with the Government of Russia, in the same way that the White House is with the government of the United States.

Kremlin Velikiy Novgorod Detinets
Kremlin of Nóvgorod

The complex now includes numerous palaces and cathedrals, surrounded by the Kremlin Wall in which you can find the towers of the Kremlin. The eastern part borders the Red Square.

The current Wall was constructed between the 15th and 16th Centuries, but the original Wall was made of would during the founding of Moscow somewhere around the year 1147.

The Kremlin has been the residence of the Tsars and today has two principal functions:

  • Houses the principal museum of Russia (the Kremlin Armory)
  • Serves as the official workplace for the President, although the President does not live in the Kremlin

2. What can you see inside the Kremlin?

The Kremlin occupies a large territory of 27 hectares. A large part is accessible to tourists. Basically, there are two separate types of tickets:

  • One to visit the exterior grounds of the Kremlin and the cathedrals square
  • Another to access the museum in the Armory

I recommend visiting both the cathedrals square and the Armory. It’s worth it. Visiting the grounds of the Kremlin and the cathedrals square can take at least 2 hours, while visiting the Armory can take another 2 hours (at least 4 hours total). Keep in mind that the tickets are separate. You can visit one area in the morning and the other in the afternoon. Within the Kremlin, there are no restaurants, although in the outdoor area there are usually fast food stalls (in any case, you can always take a hidden snack with you).

If you do not have a lot of time, you can just visit the grounds of the Kremlin and the cathedrals.

On this map, you can see the different buildings currently within the walls of the Kremlin:

Kremlin Moscow map

You can buy tickets online on the Kremlin’s website (later on I will explain how to do this) or at the ticket booths located in Alexander’s Gardens (number 37 on the map above).

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Once you have purchased your tickets, you can access the Kremlin via two places (identified by red arrows): by the Kutafiya tower (number 16 on the map), through which you can access the grounds of the Kremlin and the cathedrals square and by the Borovitskaya Tower (number 20) through which you can access the Armory (number 1 on the map). Keep in mind that the Kremlin does not have access to the Red Square except from the two entrances marked with red arrows.

2.1. The grounds of the Kremlin and the Cathedral Square

You can visit both the grounds of the Kremlin as well as the Cathedral Square. The ticket costs 700 rubles (free for visitors under the age of 16). The most important elements on the Kremlin grounds are:

  • The Cathedral Square, a spectacular collection of 4 cathedrals in the same plaza. This plaza is famous for being the site of the coronations and funeral processions for all of the Russians tsars. In this day and age, it is used in the ceremony for the inauguration of the President of Russia (number 38 on the map).
  • The Tsar-Cannon, a gigantic, 38-ton, 890 mm caliber cannon that was put into service in 1586 by the Tsar Fiodor I.
  • The Tsar-Bell, an enormous bell (said to be the largest in the world), that weighs 216 tons and has a diameter of 6.6 meters. It was formed out of bronze sometime between 1733 and 1735, and in 1737 it was broken during a fire.
The Archangel's Cathedral
The Archangel’s Cathedral
The Tsar-Bell
The Tsar-Bell

2.2. The Armory of the Kremlin

It is used as a museum, where you can visit:

  • The Armory Museum. In spite of its name, it does not only house weapons but also an ample collection of works of art from Russia and Europe from the 5th Century to the 20th Century: one of the largest collections in the world of Faberge eggs, genuine carriages, crowns, tsars’ royal vestments, etc.  This visit is essential. The entry fee for the general public is 1.000 rubles. Entrance is free for those younger than 16 years of age.
  • The diamond fund. This is a separate exposition within the Armory and costs 500 rubles (you can buy a ticket once you are inside the museum). It is one of the most important diamond exhibits in the world, comparable to the Crown Jewels of Great Britain.
The Armory Building - MOscow Kremlin
The Armory Building
Interior of the Armory - Carriages- Moscow Kremlin
Interior of the Armory – Carriages
Interior of the Armory - Exhibit - Moscow Kremlin
Interior of the Armory – Exhibit

2.3. Other palaces in the Kremlin

Besides the Armory and the Cathedral Square, the Kremlin also houses other buildings, some of which you can visit as well but only under certain conditions:

  • The Grand Kremlin Palace, from the mid-19th Century, is the palace in which the President of Russia holds official receptions. Visiting this site is possible in two ways: by invitation from the President of Russia or through requesting a private visit for a group (subject to availability), the base cost for which is certainly high.
The Grand Kremlin Palace - Moscow Kremlin
The Grand Kremlin Palace
The Hallway of the Order of Saint Andrew in the Grand Kremlin Palace
The Hallway of the Order of Saint Andrew in the Grand Kremlin Palace
  • Kremlin State Palace. Constructed in 1961, it is used as the Congressional Palace and as a concert hall. Tickets for events can be purchased online or the ticket sales office. The Palace is the principal center for the Kremlin Ballet, one of the most important ballet companies in Russia.
Kremlin State Palace
Kremlin State Palace
Kremlin State Palace - Interior
Kremlin State Palace – Interior
  • Presidential and administrative buildings. These are the buildings where the President of Russia works. They are made up of the Senate (the workplace of the President of Russia), the administrative buildings that belong to the Office of the Kremlin Command and the National Security Service, and the Arsenal. These buildings are not open to the public. They are outside the reach of tourists.
Senate Building in the Kremlin - Moscow
Senate Building in the Kremlin 

3. Where to buy entry tickets to the Kremlin?

The Armory is open for visitors from 10:00AM to 6:00PM with 4 exhibition sessions beginning at 10:00AM, noon, 2:30PM, and 4:30PM. The entry ticket, which costs 1,000 rubles (1,300 rubles with audio guide), grants access to the Armory museum but not to the Diamond Fund, which costs an extra 500 rubles (you can acquire these entry tickets at the ticket booths outside number 4 and 5 but also you can acquire tickets inside the Armory as well).

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The Cathedral Square can be visited freely from 9:30AM until 6:00PM (in winter from 10:00AM to 5:00PM). The entry ticket allows you to visit all of the cathedrals and the museums within the Kremlin (except Ivan the Great’s Bell Tower). The entry fee is 700 rubles (1,000 rubles with audio guide).

In order to visit Ivan the Great’s Bell Tower and its museum you must buy a ticket which costs 350 rubles (they cannot be purchased online, only at the ticket booths). There are sessions at 10:15AM, 11:15AM, 1:00PM, 2:00PM, 3:00PM, and 4:00PM with one additional session at 5:00PM from May 15th until September 30th. From the observation deck, on top of this bell tower, you can see fantastic views of Moscow. Entry is not allowed to children under 14 years of age.

VERY IMPORTANT:

  • The Kremlin is closed on Thursdays.
  • Can you take photos inside the Moscow Kremlin? It is forbidden to take photos and videos inside the Armory and the cathedrals. Outdoors you can take photos.
  • Covid-19 restrictions: they can change, so it is best to check the Kremlin museum website before the visit.

There are two types of tickets the General Entry for adults and the Free Entry for those under the age of 16.

You can buy your tickets in three ways:

  • On the official website for the Kremlin (only for General Entry tickets, not for Free Entry tickets). You can get tickets online both for the Armory as well as for the Cathedral Square.
  • At the Kremlin ticket booths, which are located in Aleksandrovsky Sad (Alexander’s Gardens), 45 minutes before the beginning of the session. The ticket offices are open from 9:30AM until 4:30PM (from 9:00AM to 5:00PM during the high season, from May 15th to September 30th). There are also machines that dispense tickets but these are only available in Russian.
  • Through a guided tour (with ticket already included), through a booking platform such as GetYourGuide.
Kremlin Ticket Booths - Moscow
Kremlin Ticket Booths

During the high season, long lines form at the ticket booths. Also, it is possible that you may want to plan your visit to the Armory at a specific time and there may not be any tickets left for that time. For these reasons, it is a good idea to buy your tickets in advance, which are sold a maximum of 17 days in advance. Those younger than 16 years old can get in free but their tickets cannot be purchased online.

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According to the general conditions for buying tickets online (part 7), tickets are refundable up until 3 hours before the entry time, however the process for getting your money back is a little bureaucratic: you must fill out a form that you can find at this link and send a scanned copy via email to this address: [email protected].

Is it worth it to buy tickets online? It depends. If you want to visit the Armory museum during the summer months, then it is worth it. If you’re visit is outside of the high season or if you are going to visit just the Cathedral Square, then maybe it would not be worth it, in this case perhaps it would be better to arrive early at the Kremlin ticket booths and buy your tickets there directly.

4. How to buy tickets online

Tickets can be purchased by following this link: http://tickets.kreml.ru/en/

Essentially there are two types of tickets that can be purchased separately: one for the Armory and another for the Cathedral Square. The process for buying your tickets is simple:

1. Select the type of ticket and the session (in the case of the Armory):

Buy electronic tickets Moscow Kremlin 1

2. Select the number of tickets that you want to buy (there is a limit of 4 per person), accept the terms of purchase, enter your email address, and click on the button that says “Order”:

Buy electronic tickets Moscow Kremlin 2

3. Next you should review to make sure that everything is correct and make the payment using you credit card. In your email, you will receive a link to download a voucher, which can be exchanged 45 minutes in advance of the time of your visit at ticket booths number 6, 7, and 8 (open from 9:00AM to 5:00PM). In this way there should not be much of a line at the ticket booths.

Buy electronic tickets Moscow Kremlin 3

5. Kremlin: Private tour in English

Through the GetYourGuide platform, you can hire one of the many agencies that conduct guided tours. For example:

  • Moscow Kremlin 3.5-Hour Private Tour: Diamond Fund & Armory
  • Moscow: Kremlin Ticket and 1.5-Hour Tour
  • Moscow: Private 4-Hour Walking Tour Including Kremlin
  • Moscow Kremlin and Armory Chamber Guided Tour
Moscow Kremlin Ticket and 1.5-Hour Tour

I hope that this article has helped you to understand the Kremlin and plan your visit.

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Written by:
Irena Domingo
Published on:
February 11, 2022
Thoughts:
32 Comments

Categories: 3. Museums, palaces and parks, 3.1. MOSCOW, STEP 5. Tickets to museums and palaces

About Irena Domingo

Hello, my name is Irena. I was born in Russia in 1974 during the Soviet era. I worked as a Russian teacher and as a translator and interpreter for the past 20 years. One of my main hobbies is traveling. I started this blog with one aim: to create the most comprehensive guide ever written for traveling to Russia and beyond.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jennifer

    August 13, 2019 at 4:25 am

    I want to buy train ticket of 13 Oct 2019 which from Moskva Yaroslavskaya to Sergiev Posad , but no ticket show that can buy, can you tell me how to buy this tickets from web sites : rzd., thanks

    Reply
  2. jimbolic

    July 17, 2019 at 3:49 am

    This was an amazing article. Thank you for the in-depth descriptions. I do have 2 questions still, though. Is it possible to walk along the Kremlin walls on top? I want to go inside and go up the Peter Tower. Is this possible? Thanks again!

    Reply
  3. Regina Tiangco

    June 11, 2019 at 4:58 am

    Hi Irena,

    I checked the website you linked to try to buy online tickets for the Armory + Cathedral Square but there are no tickets available for our chosen date, July 2. I was wondering if this is a case of being able to buy tickets only a certain number of days before your visit, and if so how many days in advance. Thanks so much for such a comprehensive guide!

    Reply
    • Irena Domingo

      June 15, 2019 at 3:06 pm

      Tickets are sold about two weeks in advance

      Reply
  4. Toni Borén

    May 22, 2019 at 4:45 pm

    Thank you for the helpfull guide! Me and my wife are travelling with our two children, and we really would not want to wait that awfully long queue. Is it possible by any ways to book tickets for them too? Thanks in advance for your answer!
    -Toni from Finland

    Reply
  5. Sardaukar

    June 11, 2018 at 4:58 am

    I have voucher, so I should get to ticket office nr 9, 10, 11 or 12. Are the offices strictly for voucher visitors or general and i’m gonna to stuck in line as long as everybody?

    Reply
  6. Niraj Shah

    June 10, 2018 at 1:12 pm

    Hello Irena,

    The point you make about whether it’s worth buying online or not means that online would be slightly more expensive than booth, but will save time. Is my assumption correct? (We are all above 16 and don’t wanna see the Armory museum)

    Reply
  7. Antareep Boraz

    March 3, 2018 at 9:09 am

    Thank you Irena for the know how. Very helpful for people calculating travel budgets.

    Reply
  8. Luckade Poonnalimpakul

    December 5, 2017 at 5:04 pm

    Thank you so much Irena. It is very useful infomation.

    Reply
  9. Yothin Phol-ut

    August 19, 2017 at 5:13 pm

    Dear Irena,
    Many thanks for value information.

    Reply
  10. orto555

    August 4, 2017 at 12:43 pm

    Dear Irena

    Thank you for your guide on buying tickets for Armoury. It is very clear and makes it so easy to understand the process.

    I noticed that you mentioned that tickets are only avaliable maximum of 14 days before date of entry. Does this mean it will not be available any earlier than 14 days?

    I visited the official Kremlin ticket website just now. I was able to see tickets for sale for the Armoury. But for the Cathedral Square, no matter what dates I clicked, there are not tickets available. Is this something that is common that tickets are not available online for the Cathedral Square?

    Thanks for your help.

    Reply
    • Irena Domingo

      August 4, 2017 at 7:42 pm

      – Does this mean it will not be available any earlier than 14 days? Yes
      – Is this something that is common that tickets are not available online for the Cathedral Square? It’s strange, I can see now the tickets online for the Cathedral Square

      Reply
      • orto555

        August 5, 2017 at 1:15 am

        Thank you for your reply. I will try again the kremlin website. 🙂

        Reply
  11. Toronto

    July 21, 2017 at 7:40 pm

    Irena i really like your summary of how to visit the Kremlin. Well its way more than a summary actualy and straight to the point
    So clearly explained. Sposibo!

    Reply
    • Irena Domingo

      July 22, 2017 at 5:14 pm

      Thank you very much!

      Reply
    • Anita Goel

      May 28, 2019 at 4:34 am

      Hello

      Reply
  12. James Colleen

    May 22, 2017 at 9:27 pm

    Hi Irina,

    Thank you for the info!

    Our mother bought tickets for us as a gift for our visit to Moscow, but she put her own name on the “who” part (it is her maiden name, so not the same as ours). Do you think that if we bring a copy of her ID card it will be ok to get in even if the tickets have another name?

    Reply
    • Irena Domingo

      May 23, 2017 at 10:26 am

      I don’t know. You should ask before by email

      Reply
      • James Colleen

        May 24, 2017 at 12:07 am

        Ok, thank you for the advice.

        Reply
      • James Colleen

        June 17, 2017 at 11:36 am

        Follow-up information : not having matching name between the reservation and our passports was indeed a problem, however it was fine when we showed the copy of our mother’s ID card.

        Reply
  13. Ken Richards

    May 9, 2017 at 10:13 am

    Hi irena,

    Do you know if the electronic vouchers must be printed, or is it possible to use an image on the phone (like for train tickets). We are not likely to have access to a printer in Moscow, and will have left home many days before the 14 day purchase window.

    Reply
    • Irena Domingo

      May 9, 2017 at 11:56 am

      Official info: “Please address to the ticket offices №9, 10, 11 and 12 to get your tickets on the day of the visit by presenting the printed out electronic check (voucher)”

      http://tickets.kreml.ru/en/…

      Reply
      • Kevin Chan

        July 9, 2017 at 6:13 am

        It then went on to say “If you made the payment but didn’t receive the voucher, your order is still valid. In this case please get your tickets on the day of your visit by telling the number of your order and presenting your ID at the ticket office.”
        … implying that you don’t need to have it printed.

        BTW. Thanks for the great website Irena. Very helpful information.

        Reply
  14. hoa

    May 7, 2017 at 4:48 pm

    Hi Irena,

    I will visit Kremlin in 23/06, we have 5 adults and 2 sons under 16 years old. I wonder which is better option: 1. book online tickets for 5 adults and come early at the Kremlin ticket booths to take free tickets for sons , but i’m afraid of they sale out the tickets when i come so i don’t have tickets for my sons.
    2. Come early at the Kremlin ticket booths to take tickets for all, but i’m afraid they sale out all tickets 🙁
    Can u suggest any option for us? Noted that I don’t know Russia language to buy tickets at the machine 🙁

    Thank you!

    Reply
    • Irena Domingo

      May 9, 2017 at 11:24 am

      Tickets for Cathedral Square are sold in unlimited quantities. Also, you can get free tickets for your sons for te Armoury

      Reply
  15. NamCy ChayaDa

    May 3, 2017 at 4:01 am

    Thank you for much for your information !
    This is a big help to manage my trip.

    Reply
  16. Stewart Jones

    March 16, 2017 at 11:43 am

    Irena
    Is it possible to book and pay for a ticket online, say to the Armory Chamber, from Australia just prior to departing, print the eVoucher also before departure and then take the eVoucher to the correct ticket booths prior to the scheduled viewing time? It isn’t clear to my whether the phone number that people supply is used – would there be a problem with an Australian phone number?

    Reply
    • Irena Domingo

      March 16, 2017 at 7:56 pm

      Yes, it is possible. Email is important. Phone number not.

      Reply
  17. Smy Issy

    February 9, 2017 at 9:22 am

    Thank you for your helpful information. I would like to know if there is any student discount to ISIC holders? I’ve read online that only ISIC is recognised by the ticketing office, is that true?

    Reply
    • Irena Domingo

      February 9, 2017 at 12:58 pm

      Kremlin web site specifically says that it’s free for Russian students only. Anyway, you can try it. Also, you can have a look at this website (use Google translator): http://isic.ru/discount/rus…

      Reply
  18. Peter

    May 16, 2016 at 9:27 pm

    Thanks Irena, This information is very helpful! It seems so complicated, but you explained it very well, especially the info with kids under 16.

    Reply
    • Irena Domingo

      May 16, 2016 at 10:57 pm

      Thank you for your comment Peter

      Reply

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Hi, I’m Irena Domingo. I was born in Russia in 1974 during the Soviet era. I started this blog with one aim: to create the most comprehensive guide ever written for traveling to Russia and beyond.

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