Your COMPLETE guide to ALL Moscow Kremlin Museums

This red brick fortress in the very center of Moscow is a unique architectural ensemble that is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List (in 1990). In addition, the most important relics for the history of Russia, jewelry and art objects from tsarist times are kept there.

But, it is important to remember that the president of Russia often also works in the Kremlin, so this is a high-security facility and it will not be possible to access it as you please.

Common rules: 

• To get to the Moscow Kremlin, you need to travel to ‘Borovitskaya’, ‘Biblioteka Imeni Lenina’, ‘Arbatskaya’ or ‘Alexandrovsky Sad’ subway stations. They are all roughly 3-5 minutes on foot from the visitors' entrances.
• From May to September, all Moscow Kremlin museums are open from 9:30 to 18:00.
  The ticket offices, meanwhile, are open from 9:00 to 17:00.
  From October to April, the museums are open from 10:00 to 17:00.
• The Kremlin Museums are always closed on Thursdays. 
• The Museums’ management recommends planning a visit at least 45 minutes in advance, taking into account potential long waiting lines.
• Access to the Moscow Kremlin is through the Kutafya Tower. And to the Armory Chamber and the Diamond Fund – through the Borovitskaya Tower.
• You cannot enter the Moscow Kremlin in shorts, T-shirts, flip-flops or dirty clothes.
• A luggage room is located in the Alexandrovsky Garden, next to the Kutafya Tower, where you can leave large backpacks or bags.
• Everyone who enters the Moscow Kremlin must go through a security check system.
• The museum's ticket offices are located in the glass pavilion in the Alexandrovsky Garden. You can also buy tickets on the official website: tickets.kreml.ru. However, you must exchange your online ticket for a real one in the ticket office upon arrival.  
• You can also order a group tour on the website: tickets.kreml.ru.

The architectural complex of the Moscow Kremlin

To enjoy the architecture of the Moscow Kremlin and take a walk inside, you can buy a single ticket.

• How much does a ticket cost? A basic entrance ticket (without extra benefits) costs 1,100 rubles (approx. $13.75). Audio guides are available in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Chinese. A ticket with an audio guide costs 1,500 rubles (approx. $18.75).
  If you do not visit the Moscow Kremlin with a combined ticket, then you can still buy separate tickets to visit the cathedrals at the ticket offices. Each one costs 300 rubles.
• Guided tours: You can also join a group tour (however, in Russian only). It lasts 90 minutes and costs 1,500 rubles (approx. $18.75). 

What’s inside?

• Cathedral square and its churches: Assumption, Annunciation and Archangel cathedrals, as well as the Church of the Deposition of the Virgin's Robe, Patriarch's Palace and the Twelve Apostles' Church.
• Permanent exhibitions: The 'Treasures and Antiquities of the Moscow Kremlin' on the basement floor of the Annunciation Cathedral, exposition of Russian wooden sculpture and carvings, 'Ascension Convent in the Moscow Kremlin' in the southern annex of the Archangel Cathedral and others.
• You can also see the legends of the Moscow Kremlin – the ‘Tsar Bell’ and ‘Tsar Cannon’, as well as a collection of artillery pieces. 
• Temporary exhibitions. The Patriarch's Palace, the Assumption Belfry and the Armory have exhibition halls where temporary exhibitions are held. You can buy tickets to them here. 

❗ Please note that the Ivan the Great Bell Tower is temporarily closed to the public until further notice.

Check a map of the Moscow Kremlin before visiting.  

Armory Chamber

This is the main treasury museum of the Moscow Kremlin and is located in the Grand Kremlin Palace. Therefore, the entrance to the Armory is through the Borovitskaya Tower.

• How much does a ticket cost? A basic entrance ticket (without extra benefits) costs 1,400 rubles (approx. $17.50). Audio guides are available in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Chinese. A ticket with an audio guide costs 1,800 rubles (approx. $22.50). 
• Guided tours: You can also join a group tour in Russian. It lasts 1.5 hours and costs 1,800 rubles (approx. $22.50). 
• What’s inside:
  The Armory Chamber houses the tsarist state regalia, ceremonial clothes and coronation dresses, gold and silver products of Russian craftsmen, masterpieces of weapons craftsmanship, a collection of carriages and much more. The Armory occupies two floors, so be prepared to spend at least an hour inside.

Take a virtual tour before visiting the Armory Chamber.

Diamond Fund

The ‘Diamond Fund’ exhibition is also located in the Armory building. But, formally, it doesn’t belong to the structure of the Moscow Kremlin Museums. So, you need to buy a separate ticket.

• How much does a ticket cost? An entrance ticket costs 800 rubles (approx. $9.99). You can buy one at the box office in Alexandrovsky Garden or book it in advance on the official website: tickets.gokhran.ru
• Audio guides are available in Chinese, German, English, Spanish, French, Italian and Japanese.
• The ‘Diamond Fund’ is visited in sessions with an interval of 20 minutes.
• The entrance is through the Borovitskaya Tower.
• What’s inside?
  The Diamond Fund holds the coronation regalia of Russian tsars and emperors, including the Great Imperial Crown and Monomakh's Cap. Rare nuggets, historical stones and gems, diamonds and precious orders are also kept there.